Fingerprint image database and method of matching fingerprint sample to fingerprint images

1 . A database of fingerprint images, comprising at least two impression images produced by a single finger, each of the impression images showing a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger.

2 . The database of claim 1 , wherein one of the impression images corresponds to an end of the finger.

3 . The database of claim 1 , wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a right side of the finger.

4 . The database of claim 1 , wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a left side of the finger.

5 . The database of claim 1 , wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a palm-side of the finger.

6 . The database of claim 1 , wherein one of the impression images corresponds to a portion of the finger presented in a tilted position and pressed to an imaging surface.

7 . The database of claim 1 , further comprising a rolled impression image corresponding to the finger.

8 . A method of comparing a sample fingerprint to a database of fingerprint images, comprising:

providing a database of fingerprint images, wherein at least two of the images are impression images produced by a single finger, each of the impression images showing a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger;

providing a sample fingerprint;

comparing the sample fingerprint to each of the impression images;

determining whether the sample matches the impression images; and

providing an indication as to whether a match was found with the impression images.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the sample matches includes determining whether the sample is similar enough to the impression images to constitute a match.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining a similarity indicator for each of the images;

mathematically combining the similarity indicators to provide a combined indicator; and

comparing the combined indicator to a threshold value.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein mathematically combining includes:

multiplying a weighting factor to each similarity indicator to provide a weighted score for each image; and

adding the weighted scores to provide the combined indicator.

12 . A method of comparing a sample fingerprint to a database of fingerprint images, comprising:

providing a database having a set of fingerprint images, wherein the set includes at least two impression images produced by a single finger, each of the impression images showing a different portion of the friction ridge surface of the finger;

providing a first sample fingerprint and a second sample fingerprint;

comparing the first sample to one of the impression images to produce a first similarity indicator;

comparing the second sample to one of the impression images to produce a second similarity indicator;

mathematically combining the similarity indicators to produce a combined-similarity-indicator;

comparing the combined-similarity-indicator to a threshold value; and

providing information indicating whether the combined-similarity-indicator is less than, greater than or equal to the threshold value.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein mathematically combining the similarity indicators includes:

multiplying the first similarity indicator with a weight to provide a weighted first indicator;

multiplying the second similarity indicator with a weight to provide a weighted second indicator;

adding the weighted first indicator to the weighted second indicator to provide the combined-similarity-indicator.