Biometric identification, authentication and verification using near-infrared structured illumination combined with 3D imaging of the human ear

1. A method of biometric identification and authentication of a user by imaging of an ear of the user, the method comprising:

providing a biometric imaging system including:

a source of near-infrared structured light operable to provide at least one structured pattern of near-infrared light;

an image acquisition device operable to capture an ambient light image and operable to capture a near-infrared image of an ear illuminated with a structured pattern of near-infrared light; and

a support holding the sources and the acquisition device;

acquiring an ambient light image including the ear using the image acquisition device;

processing the ambient light image to define an analysis area including the ear, by locating the ear in the ambient light image;

illuminating the ear with a first structured pattern of near-infrared light from the source of structured light, the structured pattern of near-infrared light being a periodic pattern of spaced apart lines of near-infrared illumination;

acquiring a first near-infrared image of the illuminated ear using the image acquisition device;

setting an analysis area of the near infrared image defined by the processing of the ambient light image;

processing the analysis area of the near-infrared image to extract identifying features;

determining if the identifying features correspond to an authorized user;

processing the analysis area of the near-infrared image to determine a reflectivity of the ear;

determining if the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person; and

authenticating the user if the classified identifying features correspond to an authorized user and the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person.

2. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the source of near-infrared structured light is operable to provide a plurality of patterns of near-infrared light, the source comprising a near-infrared LED and a dynamic optical element or a pattern-generating mask or filter for forming the patterns.

3. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising:

illuminating the ear with a second structured pattern of near-infrared light from the source of structured light, the structured pattern of near-infrared light being a periodic pattern of spaced apart lines of near-infrared illumination; and

acquiring a second near-infrared image of the illuminated ear using the image acquisition device;

wherein the processing step comprises processing the analysis area of the first and second images.

4. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the processing step includes the steps of:

localizing the analysis area;

enhancing the near-infrared image;

extracting identifying features from the near-infrared image; and

classifying the extracted identifying features.

5. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the ear of the user is at least one ear of the user, the at least one ear being selected from the group comprising a left ear, a right ear and both ears;

further comprising defining an at least one ear selected from the group as being a qualifying ear;

the step of determining if the identifying features correspond to an authorized user further including determining if the identifying features correspond to a qualifying ear.

6. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

repeating the illuminating with ambient light, acquiring an ambient light image and processing the ambient light image for an opposite ear of the user; and

repeating the illuminating with near-infrared light and acquiring a near-infrared image for the opposite ear;

wherein the processing to extract identifying features step comprises processing the image of the ear and the image of the opposite ear to determine a difference between the ear and the opposite ear and extracting identifying features of this difference.

7. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the image acquisition device includes a digital imaging sensor.

8. A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

the imaging system including a source of ambient light; and

the ear is illuminated with ambient light from the source of ambient light when the ambient light image is acquired.