FINGERPRINT AUTHENTICATING APPARATUS, LIVE-FINGER DETERMINING APPARATUS, AND LIVE-FINGER DETERMINING METHOD

Abstract

A fingerprint sensor acquires fingerprint information of an object being in contact. A light source irradiates a light to the object from a lateral side of the fingerprint sensor. A measuring unit measures a diffusion pattern of the light passing through the object. A determining unit determines whether the object is a live finger or an artificial finger based on the diffusion pattern measured by the measuring unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic for illustrating an example of an arrangement of a light source and light receiving elements;

FIG. 1B is an example of a diffusion pattern of a light from the light source in a case of a gummy fingerprint;

FIG. 1C is an example of detecting a diffused light from the gummy fingerprint;

FIG. 1D is an example of a diffusion pattern of a live-finger;

FIG. 1E is an example of detecting a diffused light from the live-finger;

FIG. 1F is an example of a diffusion pattern of a rubber finger;

FIG. 1G is an example of detecting a diffused light from the rubber finger;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining a structure of a fingerprint authenticating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematics for explaining the arrangement of the light source and the light receiving elements in combination with an optical planar fingerprint sensor;

FIG. 4 is a schematic for explaining the arrangement of the light source and the light receiving elements in combination with a weak-electric-field planar fingerprint sensor;

FIG. 5 is a schematic for explaining the arrangement of the light source and the light receiving elements in combination with a reed-shaped fingerprint sensor;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation performed by a live-finger determining unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic for explaining the concept of a live-finger determining method according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram for explaining a structure of a fingerprint authenticating apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an operation performed by a live-finger determining unit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic of a planar fingerprint sensor; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic of a reed-shaped fingerprint sensor.

Claims

1. A fingerprint authenticating apparatus that authenticates a user by comparing fingerprint information acquired from the user with pre-registered fingerprint information, the fingerprint authenticating apparatus comprising: a fingerprint sensor that acquires fingerprint information of an object being in contact;a light source that irradiates a light to the object from a lateral side of the fingerprint sensor;a measuring unit that measures a diffusion pattern of the light passing through the object; anda determining unit that determines whether the object is a live finger or an artificial finger based on the diffusion pattern measured by the measuring unit.

2. The fingerprint authenticating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of light receiving elements that detects the light, each of which being arranged with a different distance from the light source, whereinthe measuring unit measures the diffusion pattern based on which light receiving element, from among the light receiving elements, detected the light.

3. The fingerprint authenticating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving elements are arranged inside of the fingerprint sensor.

4. The fingerprint authenticating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving elements are arranged in positions on which the object is expected to be in contact with the fingerprint sensor.

5. The fingerprint authenticating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is an optical fingerprint sensor; andthe measuring unit acquires image data of the object from the fingerprint sensor when the light is irradiated to the object, and measures the diffusion pattern based on the acquired image data.

6. A live-finger determining apparatus comprising: an input panel on which an object is to contact;a light source that irradiates a light to the object being in contact with the input panel from a lateral side of the input panel;a measuring unit that measures a diffusion pattern of the light passing through the object; anda determining unit that determines whether the object is a live finger or an artificial finger based on the diffusion pattern measured by the measuring unit.

7. The live-finger determining apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of light receiving elements that detects the light, each of which being arranged with a different distance from the light source, whereinthe measuring unit measures the diffusion pattern based on which light receiving element, from among the light receiving elements, detected the light.

8. The live-finger determining apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a light receiving element that detects the light, being arranged with a predetermined distance from the light source, whereinthe measuring unit measures the diffusion pattern based on a combination of a result of detecting the light by the light receiving element and an intensity of the light from the light source.

9. The live-finger determining apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the measuring unit acquires image data of the object from the fingerprint sensor when the light is irradiated to the object, and measures the diffusion pattern based on the acquired image data.

10. A live-finger determining method comprising: irradiating a light to an object from a lateral side of the object;a diffusion pattern of the light passing through the object; anddetermining whether the object is a live finger or an artificial finger based on the diffusion pattern measured at the measuring.