Patent Grant
10747982
The present invention relates to an imaging sensor, and more particularly to a contact image sensor using electrically switchable Bragg gratings.
A contact image sensor is an integrated module that comprises an illumination system, an optical imaging system and a light-sensing system—all within a single compact component. The object to be imaged is place in contact with a transparent outer surface (or platen) of the sensor. Well known applications of contact image sensors include document scanners, bar code readers and optical identification technology. Another field of application is in biometric sensors, where there is growing interest in automatic finger print detection. Fingerprints are a unique marker for a person, even an identical twin, allowing trained personnel or software to detect differences between individuals. Fingerprinting using the traditional method of inking a finger and applying the inked finger to paper can be extremely time-consuming. Digital technology has advanced the art of fingerprinting by allowing images to be scanned and the image digitized and recorded in a manner that can be searched by computer. Problems can arise due to the quality of inked images. For example, applying too much or too little ink may result in blurred or vague images. Further, the process of scanning an inked image can be time-consuming. A better approach is to use “live scanning” in which the fingerprint is scanned directly from the subject's finger. More specifically, live scans are those procedures which capture fingerprint ridge detail in a manner which allows for the immediate processing of the fingerprint image with a computer. Examples of such fingerprinting systems are disclosed in Fishbine et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,414 and 4,933,976); Becker (U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,498); McMahon (U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,711); and Schiller (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,544,267 and 4,322,163). A live scanner must be able to capture an image at a resolution of 500 dots per inch (dpi) or greater and have generally uniform gray shading across a platen scanning area. There is relevant prior art in the field of optical data processing in which optical waveguides and electro-optical switches are used to provide scanned illumination. One prior art waveguide illuminator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,703. This device is an electro-optic beam deflector for deflecting a light beam within a predetermined range of angle. It includes an array of channel waveguides and plural pairs of surface electrodes formed on the surface of a planar substrate of an electro-optic material such as single crystal Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3).
While the fingerprinting systems disclosed in the foregoing patents are capable of providing optical or optical and mechanical fingerprint images, such systems are only suitable for use at a central location such as a police station. Such a system is clearly not ideal for law enforcement and security applications where there is the need to perform an immediate identity and background check on an individual while in the field. In general, current contact image sensor technology tends to be bulky, low in resolution and unsuitable for operation in the field. Thus there exists a need for a portable, high resolution, lightweight optical contact sensor for generating images in the field.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable, high resolution, lightweight contact image sensor for generating images in the field.
In a first embodiment of the invention a contact image sensor according to the principles of the invention comprises the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarisation light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column elements, and ITO electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates and the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first TIR beam direction; an air gap; a transmission grating; a third transparent substrate (low index glue layer); a SBG cover glass; a ITO layer; a second SBG array device comprising an array of selectively switchable SBG column elements; a ITO layer; a barrier film; a waveguiding layer comprising a multiplicity of waveguide cores separated by cladding material having a generally lower refractive index than the cores, the cores being disposed parallel to the first beam direction; an upper clad layer having a generally lower refractive index than the cores; a priming layer; and a platen. The apparatus further comprises: means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide; means for coupling light out of the core into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element, the photosensitive element being optically coupled to at least one the core. ITO electrodes are applied to the opposing faces of the third transparent substrate and the waveguiding layer. The column elements of the first and second SBG arrays have longer dimensions disposed orthogonally to the first TIR beam direction. In one embodiment of the invention the air gap may be replaced by a refracting material layer.
Each SBG element in the first and second SBG arrays has a diffracting state when no electric field is present across the ITO electrodes and a non-diffracting state when an electric field is present across the ITO electrodes, the SBG elements diffracting only the first polarization light.
The elements of the second SBG device which are in a non-diffracting state have a generally lower refractive index than the cores. The third transparent substrate has a generally lower refractive index than the cores. At any time one element of the first SBG array is in a diffracting state, one element of the second SBG array is in a diffracting state, and all other elements of the first and second are in a non-diffracting state.
In one embodiment of the invention an active SBG element of the first SBG array in a diffracting state diffracts incident first TIR light upwards into a first beam direction. The transmission grating diffracts the first beam direction light upwards into a second beam direction. When contact is made with an external material at a point on the platen a portion of the second beam direction light incident at the point on the platen contacted by said external material is transmitted out of the platen. All other light incident on the outer surface of the platen is reflected downwards in a third optical path, the third optical path traversing the cores. An active SBG element of the second SBG array along the third beam direction diffracts the third angle light downwards into a fourth beam direction. The fourth beam direction light is reflected upwards at the third transparent substrate into a fifth beam direction. The fifth beam direction light exceeds the critical angle set by the core/clad interface and the critical angle set by one of the core/second SBG array or second SBG array/third transparent substrate interfaces, providing a TIR path to the detector. The first to fifth beam directions lie in a plane orthogonal to the first SBG array.
In one embodiment of the invention the third transparent substrate has a generally lower refractive index than the element of the second SBG array in its diffracting state.
In one embodiment of the invention the third transparent substrate has a generally lower refractive index than the element of the second SBG array in its non-diffracting state.
In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus further comprises a transparent slab of index lower than that of the third substrate disposed between the third substrate and the transmission grating.
In one embodiment of the invention the output from detector array element is read out in synchronism with the switching of the elements of the first SBG array.
In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus further comprises a transparent slab of index lower than that of the third substrate disposed between the third substrate and the transmission grating. An active SBG element of the first SBG array in a diffracting state diffracts incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path in a plane orthogonal to the first SBG array. The transmission grating diffracts the first optical path light upwards into a second optical path. When contact is made with an external material at a point on the platen a portion of the second beam direction light incident at the point on the platen contacted by said external material is transmitted out of the platen. All other light incident on the outer surface of the platen is reflected downwards in a third optical path, the third optical path traversing the cores. The third optical path traverses the core. An active SBG element of the second SBG array along the third optical path diffracts the third angle light downwards into a fourth optical path. The fourth optical path light is reflected upwards at least one of the third transparent substrate or the slab into a fifth optical path. The fifth optical path light exceeds the critical angle set by the core/clad interface and the critical angle set by one of the core/second SBG array, second SBG array/third substrate or third substrate/slab interfaces, providing a TIR path to the detector. The first to fifth optical paths lie in a plane orthogonal to the first SBG array.
In one embodiment of the invention the illumination means comprises a laser and a collimator lens.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide is a grating.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide is a prismatic element.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling the second TIR light into the waveguide is a grating.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling light out of the waveguide is a grating.
In one embodiment of the invention the first and second SBG arrays each comprise continuous SBG layers and the selectively switchable elements of first and second SBG arrays are defined by configuring at least one of the transparent electrodes as a multiplicity of selectively switchable electrode elements.
In one embodiment of the invention an air gap is provided between the first SBG array and the transmission grating.
In one embodiment of the invention the sensor further comprises a priming layer between the upper clad layer and the platen.
In one embodiment of the invention at least one of the transparent electrodes and substrates sandwiches a barrier layer.
In one embodiment of the invention the transparent substrates are fabricated from plastic.
In one embodiment of the invention the transparent substrates are fabricated from a polycarbonate
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguide cores are fabricated from an electrically conductive material.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguide cores are fabricated from PDOT
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguide cores are fabricated from CNT.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguides are fabricated from CNT using a lift-off stamping process.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguides are coupled to linear array of detectors.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguides are coupled to a two dimensional detector array.
In one embodiment of the invention the transparent electrodes are fabricated from ITO.
In one embodiment of the invention the transparent electrodes are fabricated from CNT.
In one embodiment of the invention the transparent electrodes are fabricated from PDOT.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguides are fabricated from PDOT.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguide cores are fabricated from a conductive photopolymer the waveguide cores and second SBG array elements being disposed such that only the portions off the SBG array elements lying directly under the waveguide cores are switched.
In one embodiment of the invention the SBG arrays are fabricated using a reverse mode HPDLC.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of making a contact image measurement comprising the steps of:
a) providing an apparatus comprising the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarisation light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column elements, and ITO electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates and the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first beam direction; an air gap; a transmission grating; a transparent substrate (low index glue); an SBG cover glass; a ITO layer; a second SBG array device comprising array of selectively switchable SBG column elements; a ITO layer; a barrier film; a waveguiding layer comprising a multiplicity of waveguide cores separated by cladding material having a generally lower refractive index than the cores, the cores being disposed parallel to the first beam direction; an upper clad layer having a generally lower refractive index than the cores (which is also referred to as the bottom buffer); a priming layer; a platen; and further comprising: means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide; means for coupling light out of the waveguide into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element, wherein ITO electrodes are applied to the opposing faces of the substrate and the waveguide core;
b) an external material contacting a point on the external surface of the platen;
c) sequentially switching elements of the first SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
d) sequentially switching elements of the second SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
e) each diffracting SBG element of the first SBG array diffracting incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path,
f) the transmission grating diffracting the first optical path light upwards into a second optical path,
g) a portion of the second optical path light incident at the point on the platen contacted by said external material being transmitted out of the platen and any other light being reflected downwards in a third optical path, the third optical path traversing one the core,
h) an active SBG element of the second SBG array along the third optical path diffracting the third angle light downwards into a fourth optical path,
i) the fourth optical path light being reflected upwards into a fifth optical path at the third substrate, the fifth optical path light exceeding the critical angle set by the core/clad interface and the critical angle set by one of the core/second SBG array or second SBG array/third substrate interfaces, and proceeding along a TIR path to the detector.
The first to fifth optical paths lie in a plane orthogonal to the first SBG array.
In one embodiment of the invention the method further comprises a transparent slab of index lower than the substrate disposed between the substrate and the transmission grating, such that the fourth optical path light is reflected upwards at the substrate into a fifth optical path and the fifth optical path light exceeds the critical angle set by the core/clad interface and the critical angle set by one of the core/second SBG array, second SBG array/third substrate or third substrate/slab interfaces, providing a TIR path to the detector.
In one embodiment of the invention the air gap may be replaced by a refracting material layer.
In one embodiment of the invention the illumination means comprises a multiplicity of laser illumination channels, each said channel comprising a laser and collimating lens system. The illumination means provides a multiplicity of collimated, abutting beams of rectangular cross section.
In one embodiment of the invention the illumination means comprises a laser and a collimator lens. The said illumination means provides a collimated beam of rectangular cross section.
In one embodiment of the invention the optical wave guiding structure comprises a multiplicity of parallel strip cores separated by cladding material.
In one embodiment of the invention the optical wave guiding structure comprises a single layer core.
In one embodiment of the invention the SBG elements are strips aligned normal to the propagation direction of the TIR light.
In one embodiment of the invention the SBG elements are switched sequentially across the SBG array and only one SBG element is in its diffracting state at any time.
In one embodiment of the invention the sensor further comprises a micro lens array disposed between the SBG device and the first cladding layer.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide is a grating.
The illumination device of claim the means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide is a prismatic element.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling the second TIR light into the wave-guiding structure is a grating.
In one embodiment of the invention the means for coupling light out of the wave-guiding structure is a grating.
In one embodiment of the invention, the output light from the wave guiding device is coupled into a linear detector array.
In one embodiment of the invention, the output light from the wave guiding device is coupled into a two dimensional detector array.
In one embodiment of the invention a contact image sensor further comprises a half wave retarder array disposed between the air gap and the transmission grating. The half wave retarder array comprises an array of column-shaped elements sandwiched by transparent substrates. Each retarder element in the half wave retarder array is switchable between a polarization rotating state in which it rotates the polarization of incident light through ninety degrees and a non polarization rotating state. The column elements of the half wave retarder array have longer dimensions disposed parallel the first TIR beam direction. Each half wave retarder array element overlaps at least one strip element of the first SBG array. At any time one element of the first SBG array is in a diffracting state and is overlapped by an element of the half wave retarder array in its non-polarization rotating state, one element of the second SBG array is in a diffracting state, all other elements of the first and second SBG arrays are in a non-diffracting state and all other elements of the half wave retarder array are in their polarization rotating states.
One embodiment of the invention uses a SBG waveguiding structure. In this embodiment there is provided a contact image sensor comprising the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarisation light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column, and transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of said substrate, the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first TIR beam direction; a transmission grating; a second SBG array device further comprising third and fourth transparent substrates sandwiching a multiplicity of high index HPDLC regions separated by low index HPDLC regions and patterned transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates; and a platen. The apparatus and further comprises: means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide; means for coupling light out of the second SBG array device into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element. The high index regions provide waveguiding cores disposed parallel to the first beam direction. The low index HPDLC regions provide waveguide cladding. The third and fourth substrate layers have a generally lower refractive index than the cores. The patterned electrodes applied to the third substrate comprise column shaped elements defining a multiplicity of selectively switchable columns of SBG elements which are aligned orthogonally to the waveguiding cores. The patterned electrodes applied to the fourth substrate comprise elongate elements overlapping the low index HPDLC regions. The detector comprises an array of photosensitive elements, each photosensitive element being optically coupled to at least one waveguiding core. Each SBG element in the first and second SBG arrays is switchable between a diffracting state and a non-diffracting state with the SBG elements diffracting only first polarization light.
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure the diffracting state exists when an electric field is applied across the SBG element and a non diffracting state exists when no electric field is applied.
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure the diffracting state exists when no electric field is applied across the SBG element and the non diffracting states exists when an electric field is applied.
In one embodiment based on an SBG waveguiding structure, at any time, one element of the first SBG array is in a diffracting state, one element of the second SBG array is in a diffracting state, and all other elements of the first and second are in a non-diffracting state.
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure an active SBG element of the first SBG array in a diffracting state diffracts incident first TIR light upwards into a first beam direction. The transmission grating diffracts the first beam direction light upwards into a second beam direction. When contact is made with an external material at a point on the platen a portion of the second beam direction light incident at the point on the platen contacted by the external material is transmitted out of the platen. Light incident on the outer surface of the platen in the absence of external material is reflected downwards in a third optical path which traverses the cores. An active column of the second SBG array along the third beam direction diffracts the third angle light into a second TIR path down the traversed core towards the detector. The first to third optical paths and the first and second TIR paths lie in a common plane.
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure the output from detector array element is read out in synchronism with the switching of the elements of the first SBG array.
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure there is provided an air gap between the first SBG array and the transmission grating.
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure there is provided a method of making a contact image measurement comprising the steps of:
a) providing an apparatus comprising the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarisation light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column elements, and transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates and the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first beam direction; a transmission grating; a transparent substrate; a second SBG array device further comprising third and fourth substrates sandwiching a multiplicity of high index HPDLC regions separated by low index HPDLC regions and patterned transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates; a platen; and a detector; and further comprising: means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide; means for coupling light out of the second SBG array device into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element; the high index regions providing waveguiding cores disposed parallel to the first beam direction and the low index HPDLC regions providing waveguide cladding; the substrates layers having a generally lower refractive index than the cores, the patterned electrodes applied to the third substrate defining a multiplicity of selectively switchable columns orthogonal to the waveguiding cores and the patterned electrodes applied to the fourth substrate overlapping the low index HPDLC regions;
b) an external material contacting a point on the external surface of the platen;
c) sequentially switching elements of the first SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
d) sequentially switching columns of the second SBG array device into a diffracting state, all other columns being in their non-diffracting states;
e) each diffracting SBG element of the first SBG array diffracting incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path,
f) the transmission grating diffracting the first optical path light upwards into a second optical path,
g) a portion of the second optical path light incident at the point on the platen contacted by the external material being transmitted out of the platen, while portions of said second optical path light not incident at the point are reflected downwards in a third optical path, the third optical path traversing one core,
h) an active SBG column element of the second SBG array along the third optical path diffracting the third angle light in a second TIR path down the traversed core and proceeding along a TIR path along the core to the detector.
In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a contact image sensor using a single SBG array layer comprising: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarisation light; an SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG columns, and transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates, said SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first TIR beam direction; a first transmission grating layer overlaying the lower substrate of the SBG array device; a second transmission grating layer overlaying the upper substrates of the SBG array device; a quarter wavelength retarder layer overlaying the second transmission grating layer; a platen overlaying the quarter wavelength retarder layer; and a polarization rotating reflecting layer overlaying the first transmission grating layer. The apparatus further comprises: means for coupling light from said illumination means into said SBG array device; means for coupling light out of the second SBG array device into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element.
In one embodiment of the invention a contact image sensor comprises: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarization light; an illuminator waveguide for propagating light in a first TIR path containing a first array of switchable grating columns; a detector waveguide for propagating light in a second TIR path containing a second array of switchable grating columns; a beam steering means comprising at least one grating disposed between the platen and the detector waveguide; a first waveguide coupler for coupling light from the illumination means into the illuminator waveguide; a second waveguide coupler for coupling light out of the detector waveguide into an output optical path; a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element; and a platen. Each switchable grating element in the first and second switchable grating arrays is switchable between a diffracting state and a non-diffracting state. The switchable grating elements diffract only the first polarization light. Each external surface of the detector waveguide is divided into a first grid of strips interspersed with a second grid of strips. The first and second grids have different light-modifying characteristics. Overlapping strips from the first grid of strips on each external surface are operative to waveguide light. Overlapping strips from the second grid of strips on each external surface are operative to absorb light scattered out of regions of the detector waveguide sandwiched by overlapping strips from the first grid of strips on each external surface. The strips are orthogonal to the switchable grating columns.
In one embodiment the first grid of each external waveguide surface is one of clear or scattering and the second grid of at least one external waveguide surface is infrared absorbing.
In one embodiment the beam steering means comprises: a first transmission grating layer; a half wavelength retarder layer overlaying the first transmission grating layer; a second transmission grating layer overlaying the half wavelength retarder layer; and a quarter wavelength retarder layer sandwiched by the second transmission grating layer and the platen.
In one embodiment the external faces of the detector waveguide and the illuminator waveguide abut an air space or a low refractive index material layer.
In one embodiment the first waveguide coupler couples light from the illumination means into the first TIR path in the illuminator waveguide. A switchable grating element of the illuminator waveguide in a diffracting state diffracts the first TIR path light towards the platen into a first beam direction. The beam steering means deflects the first beam direction light towards the platen in a second beam direction. When contact is made with an external material at a point on the platen a portion of the second beam direction light incident at the point on the platen contacted by the external material is transmitted out of the platen. Light incident on the outer surface of the platen in the absence of the contact with an external material is reflected towards the detector waveguide in a third optical path. An active column of the second switchable grating array along the third beam direction diffracts the third angle light into a second TIR path in the detector waveguide. The second waveguide coupler couples the second TIR path light into an output optical path towards the detector. In one embodiment the first to third optical paths and the first and second TIR paths are in a common plane. In one embodiment the first direction light traverses the detector waveguide. In one embodiment the second direction light traverses the illuminator waveguide.
In one embodiment a method of making a contact image measurement is provided comprising the steps of:
a) providing an apparatus comprising: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarisation light; an illuminator waveguide for propagating light in a first TIR beam direction containing a first array of switchable grating columns; a detector waveguide for propagating light in a first TIR beam direction containing a second array of switchable grating columns; a beam steering means comprising at least one grating disposed between the platen and the detector waveguide; a first waveguide coupler for coupling light from the illumination means into the illuminator waveguide; a platen; a second waveguide coupler for coupling light out of the detector waveguide into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element. The external surfaces of the detector waveguide comprise interspersed multiplicities of strips with different light modifying characteristics. The strips are orthogonal to the switchable grating columns, each light modifying strip overlapping a clear strip;
b) coupling light from the illumination means into the illuminator waveguide;
c) an external material contacting a point on the external surface of the platen;
d) sequentially switching elements of the first switchable grating array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
e) sequentially switching columns of the second switchable grating array into a diffracting state, all other columns being in their non-diffracting states;
f) each diffracting switchable grating element of the first switchable grating array diffracting incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path;
g) the beam steering means deflecting the first optical path light into a second optical path;
h) a portion of the second optical path light incident at the point on the platen contacted by the external material being transmitted out of the platen, portions of the second optical path light not incident at the point being reflected into a third optical path;
i) an active switchable grating column element of the second switchable grating array along the third optical path diffracting the third angle light in a second TIR path; and
j) coupling light out of the detector waveguide towards the detector.
In one embodiment the first to third optical paths and the first and second TIR paths are in a common plane.
A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like index numerals indicate like parts. For purposes of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with some or all of the present invention as disclosed in the following description. For the purposes of explaining the invention well-known features of optical technology known to those skilled in the art of optical design and visual displays have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the basic principles of the invention.
Unless otherwise stated the term “on-axis” in relation to a ray or a beam direction refers to propagation parallel to an axis normal to the surfaces of the optical components described in relation to the invention. In the following description the terms light, ray, beam and direction may be used interchangeably and in association with each other to indicate the direction of propagation of light energy along rectilinear trajectories.
Parts of the following description will be presented using terminology commonly employed by those skilled in the art of optical design.
It should also be noted that in the following description of the invention repeated usage of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
In the following description the term “grating” will refer to a Bragg grating. The term “switchable grating” will refer to a Bragg grating that can be electrically switched between an active or diffracting state and an inactive or non-diffractive state. In the embodiments to be described below the preferred switchable grating will be a Switchable Bragg Grating (SBG) recording in a Holographic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (HPDLC) material. The principles of SBGs will be described in more detail below. For the purposes of the invention a non switchable grating may be based on any material or process currently used for fabricating Bragg gratings. For example the grating may be recorded in a holographic photopolymer material.
An SBG comprises a HPDLC grating layer sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates to which transparent electrode coatings have been applied. The first and second beam deflectors essentially comprise planar fringe Bragg gratings. Each beam deflector diffracts incident planar light waves through an angle determined by the Bragg equation to provide planar diffracted light waves.
An (SBG) is formed by recording a volume phase grating, or hologram, in a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) mixture. Typically, SBG devices are fabricated by first placing a thin film of a mixture of photopolymerizable monomers and liquid crystal material between parallel glass plates. Techniques for making and filling glass cells are well known in the liquid crystal display industry. One or both glass plates support electrodes, typically transparent indium tin oxide films, for applying an electric field across the PDLC layer. A volume phase grating is then recorded by illuminating the liquid material with two mutually coherent laser beams, which interfere to form the desired grating structure. During the recording process, the monomers polymerize and the HPDLC mixture undergoes a phase separation, creating regions densely populated by liquid crystal micro-droplets, interspersed with regions of clear polymer. The alternating liquid crystal-rich and liquid crystal-depleted regions form the fringe planes of the grating. The resulting volume phase grating can exhibit very high diffraction efficiency, which may be controlled by the magnitude of the electric field applied across the PDLC layer. When an electric field is applied to the hologram via transparent electrodes, the natural orientation of the LC droplets is changed causing the refractive index modulation of the fringes to reduce and the hologram diffraction efficiency to drop to very low levels resulting in for a “non diffracting” state. Note that the diffraction efficiency of the device can be adjusted, by means of the applied voltage, over a continuous range from near 100% efficiency with no voltage applied to essentially zero efficiency with a sufficiently high voltage applied. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,942,157 and 5,751,452 describe monomer and liquid crystal material combinations suitable for fabricating SBG devices.
To simplify the description of the invention the electrodes and the circuits and drive electronics required to perform switching of the SBG elements are not illustrated in the Figures. Methods for fabricated patterned electrodes suitable for use in the present invention are disclosed in PCT US2006/043938. Other methods for fabricating electrodes and schemes for switching SBG devices are to be found in the literature. The present invention does not rely on any particular method for fabricating transparent switching electrodes or any particular scheme for switching arrays of SBGs. Although the description makes reference to SBG arrays the invention may be applied using any type of switchable grating.
To clarify certain geometrical of aspects of the invention reference will be made to the orthogonal XYZ coordinate system where appropriate.
A contact image sensor according to the principles of the invention is illustrated in the schematic side elevation view of
In functional terms the first SBG device 20 comprises an array of strips or columns aligned normal to the light propagation direction of the TIR light. The second SBG array also comprises an array of strips or columns aligned parallel to the strips in the first SBG device. The SBGs in the first and second SBG arrays are recorded as single continuous element in each case. Transparent electrodes are applied to the opposing surfaces of the substrates 21,22 with at least one electrode being patterned to define the SBG elements. As explained above each SBG element in the first and second SBG arrays has a diffracting state when no electric field is present across the ITO electrodes and a non-diffracting state when an electric field is present across the ITO electrodes, the SBG elements diffracting only the first polarization light. Transparent electrodes are applied to the opposing faces of the third transparent substrate and the waveguiding layer with at least one electrode being patterned to define the SBG elements. Typically the first SBG array has a resolution of 1600 elements. The resolution of the second SBG array is lower, typically 512 elements.
The column elements of the first and second SBG arrays have longer dimensions disposed orthogonally to the first TIR beam direction. The elements of the second SBG device which are in a non-diffracting state have a generally lower refractive index than the waveguide cores. The third transparent substrate has a generally lower refractive index than the cores. At any time one element of the first SBG array is in a diffracting state, one element of the second SBG array is in a diffracting state, all other elements of the first and second SBG arrays are in a non-diffracting state.
In the embodiment illustrated in
The contact image sensor further comprises a means 11 for coupling light from said illumination means 1 into the first SBG array lightguide. The invention does not assume any particular coupling means. One particular solution discussed later is based on prismatic elements. In one embodiment the coupling means may be based on gratings. The contact image sensor further comprises a means for coupling light out of the wave-guiding structure into an output optical path leading to a detector. The coupling means which schematically represented by the dashed line 52 is advantageously a grating device which will be discussed in more detail later.
The column elements of the first and second SBG arrays are switched sequentially in scrolling fashion, backwards and forwards. In each SBG array the SBG elements are switched sequentially across the SBG array and only one SBG element in each array is in its diffracting state at any time. The effect is to produce a narrow scanning column of light that sweeps backwards and forwards across the platen. The disposition of the SBG elements in the first SBG array is illustrated in
We next discuss the operation of the device with reference to the schematic side elevation views of
During a scan the fingers are placed onto the scanner surface. In the absence of finger contact the light incident on the platen outer surface is totally internally reflected downwards towards the wave guiding structure 50 and then on to the detector. When finger contact is made the finger skin touching the platen surface causes reflection at the outer surface of the platen to be frustrated such that light leaks out of the platen. The parts of the finger skin that touch the platen surface therefore becomes the dark part of the finger print image because light never makes it to the detector array. The X coordinate of the contacting feature is given by the detector array element providing the dark-level or minimum output signal. The latter will be determined by the noise level of the detector. The Y coordinate of the contacting feature is computed from the geometry of the ray path from the last SBG element in the first SBG array that was in a diffracting state just prior to TIR occurring in the platen and a signal from the reflected light being recorded at the detector. The ray path is computed using the diffraction angle and the thicknesses and refractive indices of the optical layers between the SBG element and the platen surface.
In one embodiment of the invention an alternative detection scheme is based on the principle that in the absence of any external pressure art the platen/air interface the incident light is transmitted out of the platen. Now, external pressure from a body 62 of refractive index lower than the platen (which may a feature such as a finger print ridge or some other entity) applied on the outer side of the platen layer causes the light to be totally internally reflected downwards towards the wave guiding structure 50. Hence the X coordinate of the contacting feature is now given by the detector array element providing the peak output signal. The procedure for computing the Y coordinate remains unchanged.
An SBG when in the state designated as “non-diffracting” will, in practice, have a very small refractive index modulation and will therefore diffract a small amount of light. This residual diffraction is negligible in most applications of SBGs. However, in applications such as the present invention any residual refractive modulation will result in a small amount of light being diffracted out of the light guide. For example referring to
The wave guiding structure 50 and the SBG array 4 together provide the means for coupling light out of the sensor onto a detector array. The SBG provides the lower cladding and the layer 51 provides the upper cladding. The coupling of light into the waveguide relies on the second SBG array which acts as a switchable cladding layer as will be discussed below. The second SBG array is operated in a similar fashion to the first SBG array with column elements being switched sequentially in scrolling fashion, backwards and forwards. Only one SBG element is in a diffracting state at any time. The non active elements perform the function of a clad material. The role of the active SBG element is to steer incident ray into the TIR angle. It should be appreciated that in order that light reflected down from the platen can be diffracted into a TIR path by an active (diffracting) SBG element the refractive index of the SBG in its active state must be lower than the core index. To maintain TIR the refractive index of the SBG elements that are not in their diffracting states must be lower than that of the core. The operation of the waveguiding structure will now be explained more clearly referring to
The invention also covers the case where the SBG substrate abuts a low index slab 42 which has a lower index than the third substrate. The layer 42 is not essential in all applications of the invention but will in general provide more scope for optimizing the optical performance of the sensor. Referring to
In one embodiment of the invention the third transparent substrate has a generally lower refractive index than an element of the second SBG array in its diffracting state.
In one embodiment of the invention the third transparent substrate has a generally lower refractive index than the element of the second SBG array in its non-diffracting state.
As indicated in
Turning back to
We next discuss the means for coupling light out of the wave-guiding structure into an output optical path leading to a detector. The coupling scheme which was only indicated schematically by the symbol 52 in
Many different schemes for providing the waveguiding routing elements referred to above will be known to those skilled in the art of integrated optical systems. The apparatus may further comprise a micro lens array disposed between the waveguide ends and the detector array where the micro lens elements overlap detector elements.
In the above described embodiments of the invention the detector 8 is a linear array. In an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in
In practical embodiments of the invention the beams produced by the illumination means will not be perfectly collimated even with small laser die and highly optimized collimating optics. For this reason the interactions of the guided beams with the SBG elements will not occur at the optimum angles for maximum Bragg diffraction efficiency (DE) leading to a small drop in the coupling efficiency into the waveguiding structure. Having coupled light into the waveguiding structures there is the problem that some of the light may get coupled out along the TIR path by the residual gratings present in the non diffracting SBG elements. The reduction in signal to noise ratio (SNR) resulting from the cumulative depletion of the beam by residual gratings along the TIR path in the output waveguide may be an issue in certain applications of the invention. A trade-off may be made between the peak and minimum SBG diffraction efficiencies to reduce such out-coupling. The inventors have found that minimum diffraction efficiencies of 0.02% are readily achievable and efficiencies as low as 0.01% are feasible. To further reduce the risk of light being coupled out of the waveguiding structure, a small amount of diffusion (˜0.1%) can be encoded into the SBG to provide a broader range of angles ensuring that guided light is not all at the Bragg angle. A small amount of diffusion will be provided by scatter within the HPDLC material itself. Further angular dispersion of the beam may also be provided by etching both the ITO and the substrate glass during the laser etching of the ITO switching electrode.
In one embodiment of the invention the refractive index modulation of second SBG array is varied along the length of the array during exposure to provide more uniform coupling along the waveguide length. The required variation may be provided by placing a variable neutral density filter in proximity to the SBG cell during the holographic recording. In any case the power depletion along the waveguide can be calibrated fairly accurately.
Only light diffracted out of the active element of the first SBG array should be coupled into the output waveguide structure at any time. In practice the SBG array comprises a continuous grating with the individual elements being defined by the electrode patterning. The gaps between the elements of the first SBG arrays should therefore be made as small as possible to eliminate stray light which might get coupled into the waveguiding layer reducing the SNR of the output signal. Ideally the gap should be not greater than 2 micron. The noise signal contributed by the gaps is integrated over the area of an active column element of the second SBG array element while the light contributing to the useful signal is integrated over the simultaneously active column element of the first SBG array. An estimate of SNR can be made by assuming a common area for the first and second SBG arrays and making the following assumptions: number of elements in the second SBG array: 512; number of elements in first SBG array: 1600; SBG high diffraction efficiency: 95%; and SBG low diffraction efficiency: 0.2%. The SNR is given by [area of second SBG array element×high diffraction efficiency/[area of SBG element×low diffraction efficiency=[1600×0.95]/[52×0.02]=148. Desirably, the SNR should be higher than 100.
In one embodiment of the invention the transparent electrodes are fabricated from PDOT (poly ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive polymer. This material has the advantage of being capable of being spin-coated onto plastics. PDOT (and CNT) eliminates the requirement for barrier films and low temperature coating when using ITO. A PDOT conductive polymer can achieve a resistivity of 100 Ohm/sq. PDOT can be etched using Reactive Ion Etching (ME) processes.
In one embodiment of the invention the first and second SBG arrays are switched by using a common patterned array of column shaped electrodes. Each element of the second SBG array, which is of lower resolution than the first SBG array uses subgroups of the electrode array.
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguides are fabricated from PDOT. The inventors believe that such a waveguide will exhibit high signal to noise ratio (SNR).
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguides are fabricated from CNT using a lift-off stamping process. An exemplary CNT material and fabrication process is the one provided by OpTIC (Glyndwr Innovations Ltd., St. Asaph, Wales, and United Kingdom).
In one embodiment of the invention the waveguide cores are conductive photopolymer such as PDOT or CNT. Only the portions of the SBG array lying directly under the waveguide cores are switched. This avoids the problems of crosstalk between adjacent waveguide cores thereby improving the SNR at the detector.
In one embodiment of the invention used for finger print detection which uses infrared light of wavelength 785 nm the TIR angle in the platen depends on the refractive indices of the platen glass and the thin layer of water (perspiration) between the subject's skin and the platen. For example, if the platen is made from SF11 glass the refractive index at 785 nm is 1.765643, while the index of water at 785 nm is 1.3283. From Snell's law the arc-sine of the ratio of these two indices (sin−1 (1.3283/1.76564) gives a critical angle of 48.79°. Allowing for the salt content of perspiration we should assume an index of 1.34, which increases the critical angle to 49.37°. Advantageously, the TIR angle at the platen should be further increased to 50° to provide for alignment tolerances, fabrication tolerances, and water variations as well as collimation tolerances too for less than perfect lenses and placements of these parts. Alternatively, other materials may be used for the plate. It is certainly not essential to use a high index to achieve moisture discrimination. One could use an acrylic platen (index 1.49), for example, where the ray angle is in the region of 65°. In practice, however, the choice of platen material will be influenced by the need to provide as large a bend angle as possible at the SBG stage. The reason for this is that higher diffraction efficiencies occur when the bend angle (i.e. the difference between the input angle at the SBG and the diffracted beam angle) is large. Typically bend angles in the region of 20-25° are required.
In one embodiment of the invention the platen may be fabricated from a lower refractive material such as Corning Eagle XG glass which has a refractive index of 1.5099. This material has the benefit of relatively low cost and will allow a sufficiently high TIR angle to enable salty water discrimination. Assuming the above indices for perspiration (salt water) of 1.34 and water of 1.33 the critical angle for salt water is 62.55777° and the critical angle for water of 61.74544°.
In one embodiment of the invention the indices of the SBG substrates and the element 42 are all chosen to be 1.65 and the platen index is chosen to be 1.5099. The material used in the low index layer 42 is equal in index to the SBG substrates, or slightly lower. The TIR angle in the SBG layer is 78 degrees. At this index value the diffracted beam angle with respect to the surface normal within the upper SBG substrate will be 55 degrees. For a TIR angle of 78 degrees in the SBG the effective diffraction bend angle is 23 degrees. The TIR angle in the platen based on the above prescription is 63.5 degrees allowing for typical refractive index tolerances (i.e. a 0.001 refractive index tolerance and 0.3 degree minimum margin for glass tolerances).
The above examples are for illustration only. The invention does not assume any particular optical material. However, the constraints imposed by the need for perspiration discrimination and the bend angles that can be achieved in practical gratings will tend to restrict the range of materials that can be used. Considerations of cost, reliability and suitability for fabrication using standard processes will further restrict the range of materials.
The required refraction angles in any layer of the sensors can be determined from the Snell invariant given by the formula n·sin (U)=constant where n is the refractive index and U is the refraction angle. Typically the constant will be set by the value of the Snell invariant in the platen. For example if the platen index is 1.5099 and the critical angle is 63.5° the Snell invariant is 1.5099×sin (63.5°)=1.351. The only exception to this rule will be the cases where diffraction occurs at elements of the SBG arrays or the transmission grating where the change in angle will defined by the respective grating prescriptions.
In the embodiment of
The invention requires tight control of refractive index and angle tolerances to maintain beam collimation otherwise cross talk between adjacent waveguides may occur leading to output signal ambiguities. Index variations: of 0.001 may lead to TIR boundaries shifting by around 0.25° for example. Angular tolerances are typically 0.1° in transmission. At reflection interfaces the angular error increases. In the worst case a ray will experience reflections off five different surfaces. Note that the TIR paths used in the sensor can typically undergo up to 18 bounces. The effects of a wedge angle in the substrates will be cumulative. For example, a 30 seconds of arc wedge may lead to a 0.3° error after 18 bounces. Desirably, the cumulative angular errors should allow a margin for TIR of at least 1°. Typical refractive indices and layer thicknesses used in the embodiment of
In one embodiment illustrated in the schematic plan view of
A sensor according to the principles of the present application may fabricated using the HPDLC material system and processes disclosed in PCT Application No.: PCT/GB2012/000680 entitled IMPROVEMENTS TO HOLOGRAPHIC POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTAL MATERIALS AND DEVICES which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The SBG substrates may fabricated from polycarbonate, which is favored for its low birefringence. Two other currently available plastic substrates materials are a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) manufactured by TOPAS Advanced Polymers and sold under the trade name TOPAS. The other was a cyclic olefin polymer (COP) manufactured by ZEON Corporation and sold under the trade names ZEONEX and ZEONOR. These materials combine excellent optical properties (including high transmission and low birefringence) with excellent physical properties (including low specific gravity, low moisture absorption, and relatively high glass transition temperature). The inventors have found that an adequate diffraction efficiency (i.e. ≥70%) can be obtained when using plastic substrates. The diffraction efficiency compares favorably with glass. The switching time of plastic SBG is also found to be sufficient to produce satisfactory devices.
Transparent conductive (ITO) coatings applied to the above plastics have been found to be entirely satisfactory, where satisfactory is defined in terms of resistivity, surface quality, and adhesion. Resistivity values were excellent, typically around 100 Ω/square. Surface quality (i.e., the size, number and distribution of defects) was also excellent. Observable defects are typically smaller than 1 micron in size, relatively few in number, and sparsely distributed. Such imperfections are known to have no impact on overall cell performance. ITO suffers from the problem of its lack of flexibility. Given the rugged conditions under some SBG devices may operate, it is desirable to use a flexible TCC with a plastic substrate. In addition, the growing cost of indium and the expense of the associated deposition process also raise concerns. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a relatively new transparent conductive coating, are one possible alternative to ITO. If deposited properly, CNTs are both robust and flexible. They can be applied much faster than ITO coatings, are easier to ablate without damaging the underlying plastic, and exhibit excellent adhesion. At a resistivity of 200 Ω/sq, the ITO coatings on TOPAS 5013S exhibit more than 90% transmission. At a resistivity of 230 Ω/sq, the CNT coatings deposited on the same substrates material exhibited more than 85% transmission. It is anticipated that better performance will results from improvements to the quality and processing of the CNTs
An adhesion layer is required to support the transparent conductive coating. The inventors have found that the adhesion of ITO or CNT directly to plastics such as TOPAS and ZEONEX was poor to marginal. The inventors have found that this problem can be overcome by means of a suitable adhesion layer. One exemplary adhesion layer is Hermetic TEC 2000 Hard Coat from the Noxtat Company. This material has been found to yield a clear, mar-resistant film when applied to a suitably prepared plastic substrate. It can be applied by flow, dip, spin, or spray coating. TEC 2000 Hard Coat is designed to give good adhesion to many thermoplastic substrates that are cast, extruded, molded or blow molded. When applied to TOPAS, ZEONEX or other compatible plastics, the strength and break resistance provided by TEC 2000 is nearly as scratch and abrasion resistant as glass. Hermetic Hard Coat forms a transparent 3-6 micron film on plastic surfaces. The Refractive index of the coating is 1.4902. A sample of TOPAS plastic sheet coated with TEC 2000 Noxtat protective Hard Coat is shown in
A fundamental feature of SBGs fabricated using current HPDLC material systems is that the grating is present when the device is in its passive state. An electric field must be applied across the HPDLC layer to clear the grating. An alternative HPDLC material system that may be used with the present invention provides a reverse mode SBG in which the grating is clear when in its passive state. A reverse mode SBG will provide lower power consumption. Reverse mode SBG devices are disclosed in PCT Application No.: PCT/GB2012/000680.
A method of a method of making a contact image measurement in one embodiment of the invention in accordance with the basic principles of the invention is shown in the flow diagram in
At step 501 providing an apparatus comprising the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarization light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column elements, and ITO electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates and the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first beam direction; an air gap; a transmission grating; a third transparent substrate (low index glue layer); a SBG cover glass; a ITO layer; a second SBG array device comprising array of selectively switchable SBG column elements; a ITO layer; a barrier film; a waveguiding layer comprising a multiplicity of waveguide cores separated by cladding material having a generally lower refractive index than the cores, the cores being disposed parallel to the first beam direction; an upper clad layer having a generally lower refractive index than the cores (also referred to as the bottom buffer); a priming layer; a platen; and further comprising: means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide; means for coupling light out of the waveguide into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element, wherein ITO electrodes are applied to the opposing faces of the substrate and the waveguide core;
At step 502 an external material contacting a point on the external surface of the platen;
At step 502 sequentially switching elements of the first SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
At step 503 sequentially switching elements of the second SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
At step 504 each diffracting SBG element of the first SBG array diffracting incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path,
At step 505 the transmission grating diffracting the first optical path light upwards into a second optical path,
At step 506 a portion of the second optical path light incident at the point on the platen being transmitted out of the platen and light incident on the outer surface of the platen in the absence of said contact with an external material being reflected downwards in a third optical path, said third optical path traversing said cores,
At step 508 an active SBG element of the second SBG array along the third optical path diffracting the third angle light downwards into a fourth optical path,
At step 508 the fourth optical path light being reflected upwards into a fifth optical path at the third substrate, the fifth optical path light exceeding the critical angle set by the core/clad interface and the critical angle set by one of the core/second SBG array or second SBG array/third substrate interfaces, and proceeding along a TIR path to the detector.
In one embodiment of the invention the first to fifth optical paths in the method of
In one embodiment of the invention the method of
A contact image sensor according to the principles of the invention is illustrated in the schematic side elevation view of
The column elements of the half wave retarder array have longer dimensions disposed parallel to the Y-axis i.e. orthogonally to the first TIR beam direction. Each half wave retarder array element overlaps at least one strip element of the first SBG array. At any time one element of the first SBG array is in a diffracting state and is overlapped by an element of the half wave retarder array in its non-polarization rotating state, one element of the second SBG array is in a diffracting state, all other elements of the first and second SBG arrays are in a non-diffracting state and all other elements of the half wave retarder array are in their polarization rotating states.
Turning now to
In one embodiment of the invention illustrated in
In the above described embodiments the contact sensor essentially comprises three modules: a scanner a detector and the platen. These components are illustrated in
As already discussed the contact sensor comprises the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarization light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column, and transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first TIR beam direction; and a transmission grating; and a platen, as illustrated in
The second SBG array device further comprising third and fourth transparent substrates 46A,46B sandwiching the SBG layer which is generally indicated by 48 and will be explained in more detail next. The layer essentially consists of a multiplicity of high index HPDLC regions separated by low index HPDLC regions. Patterned transparent electrodes 47A,47B are applied to opposing faces of the substrates. The high index regions provide waveguiding cores disposed parallel to the first beam direction generally indicated by 250. The low index HPDLC regions provide waveguide cladding. The waveguide structure is shown in plan view in
As in the embodiment of
In one embodiment of the invention based on an SBG waveguiding structure the SBGs operate in reverse mode such that the diffracting state exists when an electric field is applied across the SBG element and a non diffracting state exists when no electric field is applied. Alternatively the SBGs may operate in forward mode, that is the diffracting state exists when no electric field is applied across the SBG element and a non diffracting states exists when an electric field is applied. At any time one element of the first SBG array is in a diffracting state, one element of the second SBG array is in a diffracting state, all other elements of the first and second are in a non-diffracting state. An air gap may be provided between first SBG array and the transmission grating. Alternatively a low refractive index material may be used for this purpose.
In one embodiment based on an SBG waveguiding structure discussed above an active SBG element of the first SBG array in a diffracting state diffracts incident first TIR light upwards into a first beam direction. Referring to
In one embodiment based on an SBG waveguiding structure the output from detector array element is read out in synchronism with the switching of the elements of the first SBG array.
In one embodiment based on an SBG waveguiding structure there is provided a method of making a contact image measurement comprising the steps of:
i) providing an apparatus comprising the following parallel optical layers configured as a stack: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarization light; a first SBG array device further comprising first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of selectively switchable SBG column elements, and transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates and the SBG substrates together providing a first TIR light guide for transmitting light in a first beam direction; a transmission grating; a transparent substrate; a second SBG array device further comprising third and fourth substrates sandwiching a multiplicity of high index HPDLC regions separated by low index HPDLC regions and patterned transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates; a platen; and a detector; and further comprising: means for coupling light from the illumination means into the first TIR light guide; means for coupling light out of the second SBG array device into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element; the high index regions providing waveguiding cores disposed parallel to the first beam direction and the low index HPDLC regions providing waveguide cladding; the substrates layers having a generally lower refractive index than the cores, the patterned electrodes applied to the third substrate defining a multiplicity of selectively switchable columns orthogonal to the waveguiding cores and the patterned electrodes applied to the fourth substrate overlapping the low index HPDLC regions;
j) an external material contacting a point on the external surface of the platen;
k) sequentially switching elements of the first SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
l) sequentially switching columns of the second SBG array device into a diffracting state, all other columns being in their non-diffracting states;
m) each diffracting SBG element of the first SBG array diffracting incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path,
n) the transmission grating diffracting the first optical path light upwards into a second optical path,
o) a portion of the second optical path light incident at the point on the platen contacted by the external material being transmitted out of the platen, while portions of said second optical path light not incident at the point are reflected downwards in a third optical path, the third optical path traversing one core,
p) an active SBG column element of the second SBG array along the third optical path diffracting the third angle light in a second TIR path down the traversed core and proceeding along a TIR path along the core to the detector.
In one embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the schematic side elevation view of
We next discuss a further embodiment of the invention directed at further simplification of the detector component. The new contact sensor architecture which is shown in detail in
In the embodiment of
Turning again to
As in the earlier embodiments the first and second TIR paths are parallel to each other the switchable grating columns are preferentially orthogonal to the TIR paths. The first and second switchable grating arrays are switched in cyclic fashion with only one the column element in each array being in a diffracting state at any time. The illuminator and detector waveguides each comprise first and second transparent substrates sandwiching an array of switchable grating columns, and transparent electrodes applied to opposing faces of the substrates. The switchable grating is one of a forward mode SBG, a reverse mode SBG, or a stack of thin switchable gratings. For conventional forward mode SBGs the diffracting state exists when no electric field is applied across the switchable grating element and the non diffracting states exists when an electric field is applied. This situation is reversed for reverse mode SBGs. At any time one element of the first switchable grating array is in a diffracting state, one element of the second switchable grating array is in a diffracting state, all other elements of the first and second switchable grating arrays are in a non-diffracting state. The output from detector array element is read out in synchronism with the switching of the elements of the first switchable grating array.
As in the earlier embodiments, the scanned light needs to be directed onto the platen 6 at a preferred angle. This ensures a clear image capture that is tolerant to the enrollee's hand and finger moisture. This is accomplished by passive tilt gratings 64B,64D one (64B) for the upward beam 286 and a reversed version (64D) for the downward reflected light. The tilt gratings are essentially passive transmission grating recorded in holographic polymer film such as the material manufactured by Bayer Inc. A Quarter Wave Film (QWF) 64A which is sandwiched by the upward beam tilt grating and platen converts the upward going S-polarized light 287 into circularly polarized light 287A. On reflection from the platen the sense of the circular polarized light is reversed as indicated by the symbol 287B so that P polarized light 288 is produced after the second pass through the QWF. The tilt grating 64D diffracts this light normal to the detector layer in the direction 289.
During a scan, the user's four fingers are placed onto the platen surface. Wherever the skin touches the platen, it “frustrates” the reflection process, causing light to leak out of the platen. Thus, the parts of the skin that touch the platen surface reflect very little light, forming dark pixels in the fingerprint image. The image is built up line by line into a 500 dpi, FBI-approved industry standard picture ready for comparison checking.
The detector 65 comprises an SBG column array 65A similar to the scanner array sandwiched by substrates 65B, 65C. Electrodes (not illustrated) are applied to the opposing surfaces of the substrate with at least one being pattern with ITO columns overlaying the SBG column elements. An outcoupling grating 38 (or other equivalent optical means such as prism) out couples light 292 from the detector waveguide towards a detector array 37. The TIR path in the waveguide from an active SBG column element 67 to the outcoupling grating 38 is represented by 290.
The detector and scanner waveguides may be air separated. Alternative they may be sandwich a low index material layer which is schematically indicated by the thin layer 68. Since the scanner waveguide is transparent the out coupled light from the detector waveguide may in an alternative embodiment be transmitted through the detector layer onto a detector array which is disposed alongside the laser source. Other implementations that will result in further compression of the sensor form factor should be apparent to those skilled in the art.
As shown in
Each external surface of the detector waveguide is divided into a first grid of strips interspersed with a second grid of strips. The first and second grids have different light-modifying characteristics. Overlapping strips from the first grid of strips on each external surface are operative to confine light to a waveguide path. Overlapping strips from the second grid of strips on each external surface are operative to absorb light scattered out of regions of the detector waveguide sandwiched by overlapping strips from the first grid of strips on each external surface. The strips are orthogonal to the switchable grating columns. The first grid of each external waveguide surface is one of clear or scattering and the second grid of at least one external waveguide surface is infrared absorbing. Essentially, three types of surface strip are required: clear, scattering and light (infrared) absorbing. Typically the scattering properties will be provided by frosting the surface or applying some computer generated surface relief structure using an etching process. Other methods of providing controlled scatter using diffractive surface structures may also be used. The stripes define parallel propagation channels terminating at the linear detector array. Typically, the channel widths are 40 micron with gaps of 12 micron give a pitch of 52 micron equivalent to 500 dpi.
Collimated reflected beams from the platen enter the detector layer in the gaps between the IR absorbing stripes and undergo TIR within up to the detector array as indicated by the rays 293,294. Hence the beam propagation is analogous to that provided by waveguide cavities. Since there will be collimation errors owing to imperfections in the lasers collimation optics and a small amount of scatter from the PDLC material and optical interfaces, there is a risk of cross talk between adjacent detector channels as indicted by the ray 295. The combination of the IR absorbing layers and frosted surfaces overcome this problem. Light scattered out of a give channel is scattered by the frosted layer and absorbed by the IR coating. Any forward scattered light or multiple scatter between near neighboring channels will tend to diminish in intensity with each ray surface interaction and will form a background noise level that can be subtracted from the fingerprint signature by the processing software. In one embodiments shown in
As shown in
It should be noted that in most implementations whether a particular strip pattern is at the top or bottom of the waveguide is not critical. It is of course necessary to ensure that at least one of the strips on the waveguide surface nearest the platen is transparent to allow light reflected from the platen to enter the detector waveguide.
In one embodiment the scanner SBG operates in reverse mode. That is the SBG columns diffract only when an electric field is applied across the ITO electrodes. With normal mode SBGs the noise from diffraction and scatter occurring within the gaps between the electrodes would swamp the optical signal.
The linear array of photo detectors 37B, is connected to the detector layer via an array of micro lenses 37A as shown in the schematic illustration of
The linear detector may be based on any fast, high resolution array technology. One candidate technology would be CCD. An alternative technology that may be used is the Contact Image Sensors (CIS) which is rapidly replacing CCDs in low cost low power and portable applications such as copiers, flatbed scanners as well as barcode readers and optical identification technology. A typical CIS will provide high speed sensing; high speed ADC 12 bit 600 dpi. At the time of writing an exemplary CIS is Mitsubishi Electric WC6R305X. Current CIS will not have as high sensitivity as the best commercially available CCD arrays. With collimated laser illumination a CIS detector can be highly power efficient, allowing scanners to be powered through the minimal line voltage supplied via a USB connection. From the ergonomic perspective, a CIS contact sensor is smaller and lighter than a CCD line sensor, and allows all the necessary optical elements to be included in a compact module, thus helping to simplify the inner structure of the scanner. The CIS greatly simplifies the sensor electronics. Many other detector configurations may be used with the invention. In one embodiment two linear arrays may be combined. However, such embodiments require complicated waveguiding and electronics routing and output signal stitching.
In one embodiment a method of making a contact image measurement using the apparatus of
a) providing an apparatus comprising: an illumination means for providing a collimated beam of first polarization light; an illuminator waveguide for propagating light in a first TIR beam direction containing a first array of switchable grating columns; a detector waveguide for propagating light in a first TIR beam direction containing a second array of switchable grating columns; a beam steering means comprising at least one grating disposed between the platen and the detector waveguide; a first waveguide coupler for coupling light from the illumination means into the illuminator waveguide; a platen; a second waveguide coupler for coupling light out of the detector waveguide into an output optical path; and a detector comprising at least one photosensitive element. The external surfaces of the detector waveguide comprise interspersed multiplicities of strips with different light modifying characteristics. The strips are orthogonal to the switchable grating columns, each light modifying strip overlapping a clear strip;
b) coupling light from the illumination means into the illuminator waveguide;
c) an external material contacting a point on the external surface of the platen;
d) sequentially switching elements of the first switchable grating array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in their non-diffracting states;
e) sequentially switching columns of the second switchable grating array into a diffracting state, all other columns being in their non-diffracting states;
f) each diffracting switchable grating element of the first switchable grating array diffracting incident first TIR light upwards into a first optical path;
g) the beam steering means deflecting the first optical path light into a second optical path;
h) a portion of the second optical path light incident at the point on the platen contacted by the external material being transmitted out of the platen, portions of the second optical path light not incident at the point being reflected into a third optical path;
i) an active switchable grating column element of the second switchable grating array along the third optical path diffracting the third angle light in a second TIR path; and
j) coupling light out of the detector waveguide towards the detector.
A method of making a contact image measurement in one embodiment of the invention (using the apparatus of
At step 550 provide a light source; a platen; an illuminator waveguide containing a first array of SBG elements; a detector waveguide containing a second array of SBG elements, external surfaces of the detector waveguide being divided into interspersed grids of light-modifying strips, a beam steering grating system; a first coupler for coupling light into the illuminator waveguide; a second coupler for coupling light out of the detector waveguide towards a detector.
At step 551 couple light from light source into TIR path in illuminator waveguide.
At step 552 an external material of lower refractive index than said platen contacts a point on the external surface of said platen.
At step 553 sequentially switch first SBG array elements into diffracting state.
At step 554 sequentially switch elements of second SBG array into a diffracting state, all other elements being in non-diffracting states.
At step 555 each diffracting SBG element of first SBG array diffracts incident light into a first optical path.
At step 556 beam steering grating system diffracts first optical path light into second optical path.
At step 557 second optical path light incident at said point on platen is reflected in a third optical path.
At step 558 active SBG elements of second SBG array along third optical path diffract third angle light into TIR path in detector waveguide.
At step 558 couple light out of detector waveguide towards detector.
Although the switchable grating arrays used in the detector and illuminator waveguide components essentially one dimension arrays of column shaped elements (as shown in
In applications such as finger print sensing the illumination light is advantageously in the infrared. In one embodiment of the invention the laser emits light of wavelength 785 nm. However, the invention is not limited to any particular illumination wavelength.
In fingerprint detection applications the invention may be used to perform any type “live scan” or more precisely any scan of any print ridge pattern made by a print scanner. A live scan can include, but is not limited to, a scan of a finger, a finger roll, a flat finger, a slap print of four fingers, a thumb print, a palm print, or a combination of fingers, such as, sets of fingers and/or thumbs from one or more hands or one or more palms disposed on a platen. In a live scan, for example, one or more fingers or palms from either a left hand or a right hand or both hands are placed on a platen of a scanner. Different types of print images are detected depending upon a particular application. A flat print consists of a fingerprint image of a digit (finger or thumb) pressed flat against the platen. A roll print consists of an image of a digit (finger or thumb) made while the digit (finger or thumb) is rolled from one side of the digit to another side of the digit over the surface of the platen. A slap print consists of an image of four flat fingers pressed flat against the platen. A palm print involves pressing all or part of a palm upon the platen.
The present invention essentially provides a solid state analogue of a mechanical scanner. The invention may be used in a portable fingerprint system which has the capability for the wireless transmission of fingerprint images captured in the field to a central facility for identity verification using an automated fingerprint identification system.
It should be emphasized that the drawings are exemplary and that the dimensions have been exaggerated.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that while the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/148,583, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Contact Image Sensing” to Popovich et al., filed on Oct. 1, 2018, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/670,734, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Contact Image Sensing” to Popovich et al., filed on Aug. 7, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/910,921, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Contact Image Sensing” to Popovich et al., filed Feb. 8, 2016 and issued on Aug. 8, 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,727,772, which is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2014/000295, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Contact Image Sensing” to Popovich et al., filed on Jul. 30, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/958,552, entitled “Method and apparatus for contact image sensing” to Waldern et al., filed on Jul. 31, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
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