Patent US6911037B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US7627147B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US7627147B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for obtaining iris biometric information from a moving subject

Assignee: Princeton Identity Inc
•
Filing: 2006-03-16
•
Granted: 2009-12-01
•
Expires: 2026-03-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for obtaining iris biometric information that provides increased standoff distance and capture volume is provided herein. In one embodiment, a system for obtaining iris biometric information includes an array of cameras defining an image capture volume for capturing an image of an iris; and an image processor, coupled to the array of cameras, for determining at least one suitable iris image for processing from the images generated for the image capture volume. The image capture volume may include a plurality of cells, wherein each cell corresponds to at least one of the cameras in the array of iris image capture cameras.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dominick Loiacono
  • 👤 James R. Matey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 11:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/18; G06V40/19; G06F; G06F18/00; G06F18/40; G06V10/00; G06V10/94; G06V10/945

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 177 words
A system for obtaining iris biometric information, comprising: an array of cameras defining an image capture volume for capturing a plurality of images of an iris; a trigger sensor for sensing the presence of a subject entering or about to enter the image capture volume, the trigger sensor being separate and distinct from the array of cameras; and an image processor, coupled to the array of cameras, for determining at least one suitable iris image for processing from the images generated from the plurality of images for the image capture volume, the trigger sensor being coupled to the array of cameras, and configured to trigger the capturing of images when the presence of a subject is sensed; and at least one illumination controller for synchronizing with the array of cameras at least one illumination source for illuminating the iris with a plurality of photons; wherein a light intensity of the illumination source is increased during a strobe to maintain a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 177 words
A system for obtaining iris biometric information, comprising: an array of cameras defining an image capture volume for capturing a plurality of images of an iris; a trigger sensor for sensing the presence of a subject entering or about to enter the image capture volume, the trigger sensor being separate and distinct from the array of cameras; and an image processor, coupled to the array of cameras, for determining at least one suitable iris image for processing from the images generated from the plurality of images for the image capture volume, the trigger sensor being coupled to the array of cameras, and configured to trigger the capturing of images when the presence of a subject is sensed; and at least one illumination controller for synchronizing with the array of cameras at least one illumination source for illuminating the iris with a plurality of photons; wherein a light intensity of the illumination source is increased during a strobe to maintain a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the image capture volume further comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each cell corresponds to at least one of the cameras in the array of iris image capture cameras.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein each cell corresponds to a single one of the cameras in the array of iris image capture cameras.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 19 words
The system of clan 2 , wherein at least a subset of the cells are immediately adjacent one another.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 19 words
The system of clan 2 , wherein at least a subset of the cells are immediately adjacent one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein at least a subset of adjacent cells are spaced apart from one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein at least a subset of the cells overlap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the cells correspond to the resolution of the cameras in the array of iris image capture cameras.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the cells correspond to the depth-of-field of the cameras in the array of iris image capture cameras.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the image processor further comprises: a memory containing an iris-based biometric system software that, when executed, analyzes at least one image obtained by the array of iris image capture cameras.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each camera in the plurality of cameras has a fixed position and focal length.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for obtaining iris biometric information, comprising: defining an image capture volume from an array of cameras; sensing with a trigger sensor the presence of a subject entering or about to enter the image capture volume, the trigger sensor being separate and distinct from the cameras; obtaining a plurality of images of an iris from the array defining the image capture volume, the obtaining being triggered by the sensing of the presence of the subject by the trigger sensor; and processing at least one of the plurality of images with an image processor to determine at least one suitable image within the plurality of images; and synchronizing with the array of cameras at least one illumination source for illuminating the iris with a plurality of photons using at least one illumination controller; wherein a light intensity of the illumination source is increased during a strobe to maintain a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for obtaining iris biometric information, comprising: defining an image capture volume from an array of cameras; sensing with a trigger sensor the presence of a subject entering or about to enter the image capture volume, the trigger sensor being separate and distinct from the cameras; obtaining a plurality of images of an iris from the array defining the image capture volume, the obtaining being triggered by the sensing of the presence of the subject by the trigger sensor; and processing at least one of the plurality of images with an image processor to determine at least one suitable image within the plurality of images; and synchronizing with the array of cameras at least one illumination source for illuminating the iris with a plurality of photons using at least one illumination controller; wherein a light intensity of the illumination source is increased during a strobe to maintain a predetermined signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of defining an image capture volume further comprises: defining a plurality of cells that correspond to each camera within the array of iris image capture cameras.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising aligning the cells such that at least a subset of cells are immediately adjacent to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising aligning the cells such that at least a subset of adjacent cells are spaced apart from each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising aligning the cells such that at least a subset of cells overlap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 70 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein obtaining iris biometric information further comprises designing a system for obtaining iris biometric information comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of design constants for a minimally constrained environment; calculating at least one calculated parameter; and providing a design for an iris biometrics system that operates within the plurality of design constraints, the design being based on the at least one calculated parameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the minimally constrained environment comprises at least one of: a security checkpoint, an office, a boarding bridge, a corridor, and an automobile.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5291560A Cited
US20030169334A1 Cited
US7118042B2 Cited
US20050084179A1 Cited
US20060140454A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2012-11-30 2013-06-01 2013-12-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2016-11-30 2017-06-01 2017-12-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2020-11-30 2021-06-01 2021-12-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag