IP Library Granted Patent US 8,391,566
Granted Patent B2
US 8,391,566 · App. 12/744,009 · Granted Mar 5, 2013

Method of identifying a person by his iris

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,391,566
App. No.
12/744,009
Granted
Mar 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of identifying a person by his iris through determining an interior limit and using a predefined exterior limit to form an analysis zone. A code associated with the analysis zone is generated and compared with a previously generated reference code. If there is no match another predefined exterior limit is used. The process repeats as long as predefined exterior limits exist or until a positive match is made.

Claims (49)

1. A method ( 100 ) of identifying a person by his iris ( 252 ), the identification method ( 100 ) comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing ( 102 ) an image of an eye ( 250 ) to be identified;

(b) determining ( 104 ) an interior limit ( 304 ) of the iris ( 252 ) from the said image;

(c) placing ( 106 ) a predefined exterior limit ( 306 ) on said image, the exterior limit being predefined at the time of recording of a reference code;

(d) analysing ( 108 ), for said exterior limit ( 306 ), the area ( 308 ) of the image lying between the interior limit ( 304 ) and the said exterior limit ( 306 );

(e) generating ( 110 ) a current code associated with the said analysis;

(f) comparing ( 112 ) the current code with the previously generated reference code;

(g) measuring ( 114 ) the resemblance between the current code and the reference code from the comparison;

(h) making a decision ( 116 ) concerning the identity of the person from the result of the measurement; and

(i) looping back to the placing step ( 106 ), with another predefined exterior limit ( 306 ), as long as there exist different predefined exterior limits ( 306 ) or as long as the decision taking step ( 116 ) is not positive.

2. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein each exterior limit ( 306 ) is a closed curve.

3. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein, when there are several closed curves ( 306 ), they define surfaces included in one another.

4. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein each positive comparison of a distinctive element of the reference code with the current code increments a score by a first value, and wherein each negative comparison of a distinctive element of the reference code with the current code decrements the score by a second value.

5. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the first value is equal to or greater than the second value.

6. A device ( 150 ) for identifying a person by his iris ( 252 ), the identification device ( 150 ) comprising:

(a) a means ( 202 ) of capturing an image of an eye ( 250 ) to be identified;

(b) a means ( 204 ) of determining an interior limit ( 304 ) of the iris ( 252 ) from the said image;

(c) a means ( 206 ) of placing a predefined exterior limit ( 306 ) on said image, the exterior limit being predefined at the time of recording of a reference code;

(d) a means of analysis ( 208 ) which, for the exterior limit ( 306 ), is designed to analyse the area ( 308 ) of the image lying between the interior limit ( 304 ) and the said exterior limit ( 306 );

(e) a means ( 210 ) of generating a current code associated with the said analysis;

(f) a means ( 212 ) of comparing the current code with the previously generated reference code stored in a database ( 218 );

(g) a means ( 214 ) of measuring the resemblance between the current code and the reference code from the comparison, and;

(h) a means of making a decision ( 216 ) concerning the identity of the person from the result of the measurement; and

(i) a means of looping back that is designed to choose another predefined exterior limit ( 306 ), as long as there exist different predefined exterior limits ( 306 ) or as long as the decision taking means ( 116 ) has not delivered a positive decision.

7. A method ( 100 ) of identifying a person by his iris ( 252 ), the identification method ( 100 ) comprising the steps of:

(a) capturing ( 102 ) an image of an eye ( 250 ) to be identified;

(b) determining ( 104 ) an interior limit ( 304 ) of the iris ( 252 ) from the said image;

(c) placing ( 106 ) a predefined exterior limit ( 306 ) on said image;

(d) analysing ( 108 ), for said exterior limit ( 306 ), the area ( 308 ) of the image lying between the interior limit ( 304 ) and the said exterior limit ( 306 );

(e) generating ( 110 ) a current code associated with the said analysis;

(f) comparing ( 112 ) the current code with a previously generated reference code;

(g) measuring ( 114 ) the resemblance between the current code and the reference code from the comparison, wherein each positive comparison of a distinctive element of the reference code with the current code increments a score by a first value, and wherein each negative comparison of a distinctive element of the reference code with the current code decrements the score by a second value;

(h) making a decision ( 116 ) concerning the identity of the person from the result of the measurement; and

(i) looping back to the placing step ( 106 ), with another predefined exterior limit ( 306 ), as long as there exist different predefined exterior limits ( 306 ) or as long as the decision taking step ( 116 ) is not positive.

8. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein the first value is equal to or greater than the second value.

9. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein the exterior limit ( 306 ) is predefined from elements exterior to the captured image.

10. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein each exterior limit ( 306 ) is a closed curve.

11. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein, when there are several closed curves ( 306 ), they define surfaces included in one another.

12. The identification method ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein each exterior limit is predefined at the time of recording of the reference code.

13. A device ( 150 ) for identifying a person by his iris ( 252 ), the identification device ( 150 ) comprising:

(a) a means ( 202 ) of capturing an image of an eye ( 250 ) to be identified;

(b) a means ( 204 ) of determining an interior limit ( 304 ) of the iris ( 252 ) from the said image;

(c) a means ( 206 ) of placing a predefined exterior limit ( 306 ) on said image;

(d) a means of analysis ( 208 ) which, for the exterior limit ( 306 ), is designed to analyse the area ( 308 ) of the image lying between the interior limit ( 304 ) and the said exterior limit ( 306 );

(e) a means ( 210 ) of generating a current code associated with the said analysis;

(f) a means ( 212 ) of comparing the current code with a previously generated reference code stored in a database ( 218 );

(g) a means ( 214 ) of measuring the resemblance between the current code and the reference code from the comparison, by incrementing a score by a first value, when the comparison of a distinctive element of the reference code with the current code is positive, and by decrementing the score by a second value, when the comparison of a distinctive element of the reference code with the current code is negative;

(h) a means of making a decision ( 216 ) concerning the identity of the person from the result of the measurement; and

(i) a means of looping back that is designed to choose another predefined exterior limit ( 306 ), as long as there exist different predefined exterior limits ( 306 ) or as long as the decision taking means ( 116 ) has not delivered a positive decision.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER REPLACING 10158873 WITH 10185873 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 71930 FRAME 625. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Apr 1, 2026
From: IDEMIA IDENTITY & SECURITY FRANCE
To: IDEMIA PUBLIC SECURITY FRANCE
Reel/Frame 075530/0067 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2025
From: IDEMIA IDENTITY & SECURITY FRANCE
To: IDEMIA PUBLIC SECURITY FRANCE
Reel/Frame 071930/0625 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 1, 2023
From: MORPHO
To: IDEMIA IDENTITY & SECURITY FRANCE
Reel/Frame 062895/0357 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 21, 2010
From: SAGEM SECURITE
To: MORPHO
Reel/Frame 024722/0969 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2010
From: COTTARD, MARTIN
To: SAGEM SECURITE
Reel/Frame 024420/0776 →