GB2414589A

GB2414589A - Ultrasonic recognition system

Info

Publication number: GB2414589A
Application number: GB0409629A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Vincent Conway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-29
Filing date: 2004-04-29
Publication date: 2005-11-30
Also published as: WO2005106770A1; GB0409629D0

Abstract

A recognition system comprises an ultrasonic transducer T which, transmits ultrasound, C, towards the face of the subject. Ultrasound is reflected by the subject's face, N. The reflected ultrasound is picked up by the transducer T, which provides a corresponding output signal. The output signal from the transducer T is passed to a signal processor to provide an output or "signature" which is dependent upon the features of three-dimensional shape of the subject's face and this signature is compared with records held in a data memory, in order to verify the subject. The system may be used to authenticate transactions at an ATM. The position and orientation of the subject may also be determined.

Description

24 1 4589 Recognition System The present invention relates to a

recognition system, which may be used to verify the identify of a person before permitting that person to use a machine (for example a cash dispensing machine) or to gain access to a restricted zone.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a recognition system which comprises ultrasound transmitting and receiving means for directing ultrasound onto an individual and for responding to ultrasound reflected from the individual to provide an output representative of features of three-dimensional shape of the part or parts of the individual from which the ultrasound is reflected.

Preferably the recognition system includes means for comparing its said output, or signature, with a record stored in memory, in order to verify the individual. This memory may comprise part of the recognition system, or be located remotely and accessed over a telecommunications network, or it may be provided on an identity or other card or device carried by the individual and required to be presented to and read by reading means of the recognition system.

The recognition system may be arranged to direct ultrasound onto, or respond to ultrasound reflected from, the face of the individual to be recognized or verified. Preferably the system includes means for positioning the individual's face at a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means; for example, a rest may be provided for the individual or subject to rest his or her chin upon, at a predetermined distance in front of the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means; alternatively, an optical or other means may be provided for detecting when the individual's head is at a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means, in order to activate the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means.

Instead of directing ultrasound at just the face of a subject, the recognition system may be arranged to direct -/// ultrasound at, or respond to ultrasound reflected from, the head and shoulders of a subject, or the head and upper body of a subject, or the whole body of the subject. In each of these cases, the system still provides an output or signature which represents features of three dimensional shape of the subject, and is therefore capable of distinguishing one person from one or more others.

The recognition system may be arranged to determine the position of a person within an area under its supervision.

Thus, the system may be arranged to provide an output or signature one component of which represents features of three- dimensional shape of the part or parts of the person from which it receives ultrasound reflections, and another component which is indicative of the position of the person, and preferably also the direction in which that person is facing. The system preferably comprises a visual display on which a representation, although typically symbolic, is given of the position, or successive positions, of the person.

The recognition system may comprise a single transmitter and a single receiver, which may be combined as a single transducer. Instead, the system may comprise an array of transmitters and/or an array of receivers: each such array may comprise a linear or one-dimensional array, or a twodimensional array, or a three-dimensional array. The distribution of transmitters and/or receivers should be such as to ensure that echoes are received from all relevant facial features. In the case of two or more transmitters, these may be energised one-after-another, each for a predetermined period of time, so that the receiver or receivers provide successive output signals corresponding to the successively-energised transmitters: the system is then arranged to respond to the plurality of the output signals in order to provide the final output or "signature".

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way example and with reference to the accompanying j drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic side view of a recognition system in accordance with the present invention, incorporated in a cash dispensing machine; FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view of a recognition system arranged to monitor the position, or successive positions, of a person in an area supervised by the system; and FIGURE 3 is a similar plan view of the system of Figure 1, arranged to give a visual indication of the movements of a person within the supervised area.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a recognition system incorporated into a cash dispensing machine M: Figure 1 also shows the head H of a person who has approached the machine in order to use it. The recognition system comprises an ultrasonic transducer T which, in use, transmits ultrasound, generally in a cone indicated at C, towards the face of the subject. Ultrasound is reflected by the subject's face, as indicated at N in the case of reflections from his or her nose. The reflected ultrasound is picked up by the transducer T. which provides a corresponding output signal.

The transducer T may comprise a combined transmit-and-receive transducer, or may comprise separate transmitter and receiver transducers.

The output signal from the transducer T. provided in response to the ultrasound reflected to or from the subject's face, is passed to a signal processor to provide an output or "signature" which is dependent upon the features of three- dimensional shape of the subject's face. The recognition system is arranged to compare this signature with records held in a data memory, in order to verify the subject: alternatively, the recognition system may be arranged to compare the signature, derived from the ultrasound reflected from the subject's face, with corresponding data read from an identity card (or credit or debit card) which the subject is required to enter into the machine M. Once the recognition system has successfully verified the subject, he or she is permitted to use each machine as desired, in conventional manner.

Whilst the recognition system of Figure 1 has been described as having a single transmitter and a single receiver, it may instead comprise an array of transmitters and/or an array of receivers: each such array may comprise a linear or one-dimensional array, or a two-dimensional array, or a threedimensional array; the distribution of transmitters and receivers is such that as to ensure that echoes are produced from all relevant facial features. Where there are two or more transmitters, these may be arranged to emit a burst of ultrasound one-after-another, so that the receiver or receivers provide successive output signals corresponding to the successively-energised transmitters: the output signals of the receiver or receivers are passed to the signal processor to provide the recognition signature.

Whilst the recognition system of Figure 1 is arranged to direct ultrasound onto the face of a person to be recognised, and to respond to ultrasound reflected from the face, the system may be arranged to direct ultrasound more generally onto the subject, such as onto the head or shoulders of the subject, or onto the head and upper body, or even onto the whole body of the subject. In each of these cases, the output provided by the signal processor is dependent upon the features of three- dimensional shape of the part or parts of the subject from which the reflected ultrasound is picked-up.

Figure 2 shows a recognition system used in an area in which one or more people are free to move around. The system in this case comprises a number of ultrasound transmitter and receiver transducers T spaced-apart from each other, the ultrasound from the transmitters being reflected from the head and shoulders of the individuals in the area under supervision.

The same person P is shown at three different positions, in which he or she is facing in three different directions.

Regardless of the position of the person, the output of the recognition system will include a signature component uniquely representative of that person (in respect of his or her features of three-dimensional shape), so that the person can be recognized. The output signal of the system signal processor will also include a component varying according to the position of the person and the direction in which he or she is facing at that time. The system signal processor is arranged to derive signals indicative of the position and facing-direction of the person, and these signals can be used to provide a visual, symbolic indication or representation on a visual display D. As indicated in Figure 3, the recognition system of Figure 2 may provide, on the visual display D, an indication of the movements of an individual within an area under supervision or surveillance. Thus, the system is able to form, from ultrasound reflections, a "signature" of a person who enters the area, and is then able to recognise the same person subsequently, regardless of the position or positions to which the person moves and the direction which he or she faces. In Figure 3, the successive positions of the person are indicated on the visual display D, and the system also provides a visual indication of the path R which the person has followed.

Claims

Claims 1. A recognition system comprising an ultrasound transmitting and

receiving means for directing ultrasound onto an individual and for responding to ultrasound reflected from the individual to provide an output representative of features of a three-dimensional shape of the part or parts of the individual from which the ultrasound is reflected.
2. A recognition system according to claim 1, including means for comparing said output with a record stored in a memory, in order to verify the individual.
3. A recognition system according to claim 2, wherein the memory comprises part of the recognition system.
4. A recognition system according to claim 2, wherein the memory is located remotely and accessed over a telecommunications network.
5. A recognition system according to claim 2, wherein the memory is provided on an identity device carried by the individual and required to be presented to and read by reading means of the recognition system.
6. A recognition system according to claim 5, wherein the identity device is an identity card.
7. A recognition system according to any preceding claim, including means to direct ultrasound onto and/or respond to ultrasound reflected from, the face of the individual to be recognized or verified.
8. A recognition system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system includes positioning means for positioning the individual's face at a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means.
9. A recognition system according to claim 8, wherein the positioning means comprises a rest for the individual to rest his or her chin upon, at a predetermined distance in front of the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means.
10. A recognition system according to claim 8, wherein the positioning means comprises an optical means for detecting when the individual's head is at a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound transmitting and receiving means.
11. A recognition system according to claim 10, wherein the positioning means is associated with an activation member which operates when the individual's head is detected as being in a correct position ultrasound transmitting and receiving means.
12. A recognition system according to any preceding claim, wherein the recognition system is also arranged to direct ultrasound at, or respond to ultrasound reflected from, the head and shoulders of a subject, or the head and upper body of a subject, or the whole body of the subject.
13. A recognition system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output represents features of three dimensional shape of the subject in order to distinguish one person from one or more others.
14. A recognition system according to any preceding claim arranged to determine the position of a person within an area under the supervision of said recognition system.
15. A recognition system according to claim 14 arranged to provide an output wherein one component of said output represents features of threedimensional shape of the part or parts of the person from which it receives ultrasound reflections, and a second component which is indicative of the position of the person within a defined area.
16. A recognition system according to claim 15, wherein the second component is indicative also of the direction in which that person is facing.
17. A recognition system according to any preceding claim, including a visual display on which a representation is given of the position and/or successive positions, of the person.
18. A recognition system according to any preceding claim, including a single transmitter and a single receiver.
19. A recognition system according to claim 18, wherein the transmitter and receiver are combined as a single transducer.
20. A recognition system according to any of claims 1 to 17 comprising an array of transmitters and/or an array of receivers.
21. A recognition system according to claim 20, wherein the array comprises a linear or one-dimensional array, or a two dimensional array. l
22. A recognition system according to claim 21, wherein when two or more transmitters form the array, said transmitters are energized one-afteranother, each for a predetermined period of time, so that the receiver or receivers provide; successive output signals corresponding to the successively energised transmitters.
23. A recognition system according to claim 22, wherein the system is arranged to respond to the plurality of the output signals in order to provide a final output.
24. A recognition system according to any preceding claim incorporated in a cash dispensing machine.
25. A cash dispensing system incorporating a recognition system according to any preceding claim.
26. A recognition system as substantially described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.