APPARATUS AND METHOD OF BIOMETRIC DETERMINATION USING SPECIALIZED OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEMS
Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics. Apparatuses are disclosed that incorporate a spectral biometric sensor with a personal electronic device such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, wristwatches, electronic fobs for the purpose of providing secure biometric access to protected property.
1 .- 11 . (canceled)
12 . A method of determining a liveness state of a sample, the method comprising:
illuminating the sample with light emitted from a light source;
detecting light emanating from the sample with a plurality of light detectors having different separations from the light source; and
analyzing the detected light to determine whether the sample comprises living tissue.
13 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein the light emitted from the light source comprises near-infrared light.
14 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein the light source and the plurality of light detectors are on opposite sides of the sample.
15 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein the light source and the plurality of light detectors are on the same side of the sample.
16 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein analyzing the detected light comprises analyzing the detected light to determine whether the sample comprises living human tissue.
17 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources and plurality of light detectors defining a plurality of different light-source-light-detector separations.
18 . The method recited in claim 17 wherein the plurality of light sources comprise light sources having different center wavelengths.
19 . The method recited in claim 17 wherein the plurality of light sources have the same wavelength characteristics.
20 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein analyzing the detected light comprises:
converting the detected light to an electrical signal; and
digitizing the electrical signal.
21 . The method recited in claim 20 wherein analyzing the detected light further comprises performing a spectral comparison with the digitized electrical signal.
22 . The method recited in claim 12 wherein analyzing the detected light further comprises performing a biometric identification or biometric identity verification with the sample.
23 . A method of determining a liveness state of a sample, the method comprising:
illuminating the sample with near-infrared light emitted from a light source;
detecting light emanating from the sample with a plurality of light detectors disposed on a same side of the sample and having different separations from the light source;
spectrally analyzing the detected light to determine whether the sample comprises living human tissue.
24 . A sensor comprising:
a light source;
a plurality of light detectors having different separations from the light source;
a microprocessor or computer adapted to determine whether a sample comprises living tissue with light received by the light detector when the sapmle is illuminated with light emitted from the light source.
25 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the light source comprises a near-infrared light source.
26 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the light source and the plurality of light detectors are on opposite sides of the sample.
27 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the light source and the plurality of light detectors are on the same side of the sample.
28 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the microprocessor or computer is adapted to determine whether the sample comprises living human tissue.
29 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources and plurality of light detectors defining a plurality of different light-source-light-detector separations.
30 . The sensor recited in claim 29 wherein the plurality of light sources comprise light sources having different center wavelengths.
31 . The sensor recited in claim 29 wherein the plurality of light sources have the same wavelength characteristics.
32 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the microprocessor or computer is adapted to determine whether the sample comprises living tissue by converting the detected light to an electrical signal, digitizing the electrical signal, and performing a spectral comparison with the digitized electrical signal.
33 . The sensor recited in claim 24 wherein the microprocessor or computer is further adapted to analyze the received light to perform a biometric identification or a biometric identity verification with the sample.
34 . A sensor comprising:
a near-infrared light source;
a plurality of light detectors disposed on the same side of a sample as the infrared light source; and
a microprocessor or computer adapted to determine whether the sample comprises living human tissue by spectrally analyzing light received by the plurality of light detectors when the sample is illuminated with light emitted from the infrared light source.