IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,170,300
Granted Patent B2
US 8,170,300 · App. 12/213,903 · Granted May 1, 2012

Biometric image pickup apparatus

Assignee: Sony Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,170,300
App. No.
12/213,903
Granted
May 1, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A biometric image pickup apparatus with a simple configuration capable of reducing light amount variations in a picked-up image. The biometric image pickup apparatus includes: a light source applying light to a living organism; a detection section for placing the living organism thereon; an image pickup lens section condensing light from the living organism; an image pickup device obtaining image pickup data on the basis of the light condensed by the image pickup lens section; and a transmittance distribution filter arranged between the detection section and the image pickup device, in which the transmittance distribution filter has a transmittance distribution in which the transmittance is higher in a region far from the light source than in a region near the light source.

Claims (34)

1. A biometric image pickup apparatus comprising:

a light source applying light to a living organism;

a detection section for placing the living organism thereon;

an image pickup lens section condensing light from the living organism;

an image pickup device obtaining image pickup data on the basis of the light condensed by the image pickup lens section; and

a transmittance distribution filter arranged between the detection section and the image pickup device,

wherein the transmittance distribution filter has a transmittance distribution in which the transmittance is higher in a region far from the light source than in a region near the light source, and

wherein the detection section is configured such that the living organism does not make direct contact with the detection section.

2. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in the transmittance distribution, the transmittance gradually increases with distance from the light source.

3. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the transmittance distribution is a quadratic distribution in which the transmittance increases with distance from the light source.

4. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

a plurality of the light sources are arranged so as to face one another with the detection section in between.

5. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source is arranged on the same side as a side where the image pickup device is arranged relative to the detection section.

6. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source emits light of near-infrared wavelength region.

7. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a near-infrared pass filter between the image pickup lens section and the image pickup device.

8. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the transmittance distribution filter allows near-infrared light to pass through according to the transmittance distribution.

9. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image pickup lens section includes a plurality of microlenses.

10. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image pickup device obtains image pickup data of veins of the living organism.

11. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an authentication section performing authentication of the living organism on the basis of image pickup data obtained in the image pickup device.

12. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a pattern storing section configured to store a biometrics authentication pattern for use by the authentication section.

13. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a micro lens array that includes a plurality of microlenses arranged in a matrix form and placed below the transmittance distribution filter such that an image of a desired observation on plane inside the living organism is formed on a light-receiving plane on the image pickup device.

14. The biometric image pickup apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

each microlense of the plurality of microlenses are configured to change a focal position to facilitate double biometric authentication that includes vein authentication and fingerprint authentication.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2008
From: YAMAMOTO, KENJI; ICHIMURA, ISAO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021203/0515 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-181075 · Jul 10, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090016578A1 · Jan 15, 2009