IP Library Granted Patent US 8,300,897
Granted Patent B2
US 8,300,897 · App. 12/246,550 · Granted Oct 30, 2012

Personal authentication apparatus and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,300,897
App. No.
12/246,550
Granted
Oct 30, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a finger-vein authentication apparatus including a light source for illuminating one surface of both side-surfaces of a fingertip of a finger with light, and an image sensor for imaging the other surface of the fingertip, the light source and the image sensor being positioned at both sides of a nail of the fingertip with the nail sandwiched therebetween, wherein a fingertip guidance jig for supporting the fingertip and a finger-root guidance jig for supporting a finger-root of the finger are disposed between the light source and the image sensor, a light-shielding unit being disposed on the light-source side, the light-shielding unit being used for shielding the illumination light such that the illumination light will not travel to a ball side of the finger.

Claims (15)

1. A finger-vein authentication apparatus for identifying an individual person by using a vein pattern of a finger, said finger-vein authentication apparatus comprising:

a set plane on which a finger is placed;

a light source for illuminating one surface of both side-surfaces of a fingertip of said finger with light; and

an imaging unit for imaging the other surface of said fingertip, said light source and said imaging unit being positioned at both sides of said set plane;

wherein a light-shielding means is provided on a light-source side of a position facing said finger placed on said set plane, said light-shielding means being used for shielding said illumination light such that said illumination light does not travel to a ball side of said finger; and

an empty clearance is provided at a position under said finger on an imaging plane side such that said finger on said imaging plane side is prevented from touching said set plane.

2. The finger-vein authentication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said side surface of said finger to be imaged is a range covering from said fingertip of said finger to a first joint thereof.

3. The finger-vein authentication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said finger-vein authentication apparatus is mounted onto a steering wheel of an automobile.

4. The finger-vein authentication apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

patterns of a plurality of fingers are registered in advance per individual person, and

a function to be started up after said authentication is changed according as each finger.

5. The finger-vein authentication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

said finger-vein authentication apparatus is mounted onto a transmission lever of an automobile.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058481/0935 →
DEMERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058960/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2008
From: NAGASAKA, AKIO; MATSUMURA, TAKAFUMI; HAYASHI, MASAHIDE; MIYATAKE, TAKAFUMI; MIURA, NAOTO; KIYOMIZU, HARUMI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 021833/0825 →