JP2007207256A - Fingerprint sensor device and fingerprint authentication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the error of the position of a fingerprint image in authenticating the fingerprint image with respect to a preliminarily registered fingerprint image. <P>SOLUTION: One guide protrusion 14 arranged so as to be in contact with the finger tip when a user places the finger on a fingerprint sensor is provided on a casing. The guide protrusion is provided on the wall surface of the opening part of the casing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensor device that reads a user's fingerprint when the user is authenticated using the fingerprint, and a fingerprint authentication device that performs personal authentication using the fingerprint sensor device.

Currently, in order to realize reliable user authentication, many user authentication systems using physical characteristics of users have been developed. Among them, the method using fingerprints is one of the most widely used in terms of reliability and system miniaturization. In personal authentication using a fingerprint, the user's fingerprint is read by a fingerprint sensor, and when it is determined that the read fingerprint is the same as a pre-registered fingerprint, the user is authenticated as a legitimate user (person). Do.

As described above, in a personal authentication system using a fingerprint, a fingerprint sensor that collects a fingerprint of a user to be authenticated is important. A conventional general fingerprint sensor device has a sensor window 102 in a casing 101 as shown in FIG. 6, and the fingerprint sensor 103 is exposed from the sensor window 102. As shown in FIG. The finger fingerprint can be read by touching the finger 103 (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
Non-patent document 2, Non-patent document 3, Non-patent document 4). The applicant has not yet found prior art documents related to the present invention by the time of filing other than the prior art documents specified by the prior art document information described in this specification.

"Fingerprint authentication system" SecureFinger (R) "", [online], NEC Corporation, [March 3, 2003 search], Internet <http://www.sw.nec.co.jp/pid/ prismusb.html> "DIGITUS (R) FIC-200", [online], Silex Technology Co., Ltd., [March 3, 2003 search], Internet <http://www.jci.co.jp/japan/products/fingerprint /fic200.html> "DIGITUS (R) MUSB200-COMBO", [online], Silex Technology, Inc., [March 3, 2003 search], Internet <http://www.jci.co.jp/japan/products/fingerprint /musb200combo.html> “Fingerprint authentication“ ID Mouse ””, [online], Kanematsu Communications Co., Ltd., [March 3, 2003 search], Internet <http://www.kcs.ne.jp/syouhin/idmouse/ID-Mouse_DM /index.html>

As described above, in personal authentication using a fingerprint, personal authentication is performed by comparing and collating a fingerprint image read by the fingerprint sensor device 100 with a fingerprint image read by the fingerprint sensor device 100 and registered in advance. For this reason, it is desirable that the finger position on the fingerprint sensor 103 be as similar as possible during registration and during authentication. However,
In the fingerprint sensor device 100 shown in FIG. 6, since there is nothing that becomes a mark when the user places a finger on the fingerprint sensor 103, it is difficult for the user to place the finger on the same position on the fingerprint sensor 103. There is a problem that a positional deviation occurs between the fingerprint image at the time of registration and the fingerprint image at the time of authentication.

Therefore, in the conventional fingerprint authentication device, in the image processing and verification process after fingerprint reading,
The position error with the pre-registered fingerprint image is corrected by software processing (image processing). However, if the reading position error increases, the amount of calculation and processing required to correct the error increase, and authentication processing is performed. There is a problem that the time required for the process becomes longer. In addition, when the reading position error increases, there is a problem that the area of the fingerprint image that can be used for collation with the fingerprint image registered in advance is reduced, and the authentication accuracy is lowered.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce as much as possible an error in the position of a fingerprint image at the time of authentication with respect to a fingerprint image registered in advance.

The fingerprint sensor device of the present invention is a fingerprint sensor device including a fingerprint sensor for reading a fingerprint and a casing having an opening through which the fingerprint sensor surface is exposed. A user places a finger on the fingerprint sensor in the casing. At this time, one guide protrusion is provided so as to be in contact with the fingertip.
In the fingerprint sensor device of the present invention, the guide protrusion disposed on the housing is provided on the wall surface of the opening of the housing.
In addition, one configuration example of the fingerprint sensor device of the present invention includes a processing device that processes a detection result of the fingerprint sensor to generate a fingerprint image.
The fingerprint authentication device of the present invention includes a fingerprint sensor device and a determination device that determines whether a fingerprint image read by the fingerprint sensor device is identical to a fingerprint image registered in advance.

According to the present invention, by providing a guide protrusion, a guide scale, or both of the guide protrusion and the guide scale around the fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint is registered when the user places the finger on the fingerprint sensor during authentication. Since it becomes easy to place a finger on the same position on the sensor as the time, it is possible to read a fingerprint image with little positional deviation from a previously registered fingerprint image. As a result, the amount of calculation required to correct the position error of the fingerprint image can be reduced, so that the time required for the authentication process can be shortened compared to the conventional method and used for collation with a fingerprint image registered in advance. Since the area of the fingerprint image that can be obtained is increased, the authentication accuracy can be improved as compared with the conventional technique.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fingerprint authentication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fingerprint authentication device determines whether or not the fingerprint sensor device 1 that reads a user's fingerprint and outputs fingerprint image data is identical to the fingerprint image data read by the fingerprint sensor device 1 and the previously registered fingerprint image data. And a determination device 2 that performs user authentication.

The fingerprint sensor device 1 includes a housing 11, a fingerprint sensor 13 disposed in a sensor window 12 that is an opening of the housing 11, and guide protrusions 14 that come into contact with the finger when the user places the finger on the fingerprint sensor 13. And a processing device 15 that processes the detection result of the fingerprint sensor 13 to generate fingerprint image data.

The guide protrusion 14 is a hemispherical protrusion provided on the sensor window 12 around the fingerprint sensor and having a size and height that can be recognized by touching with a finger. The user
When registering one's own fingerprint in the fingerprint authentication device, as shown in FIG.
3. Place on top. The fingerprint sensor 13 detects the capacitance formed between the skin and the skin, for example, replaces the uneven skin pattern of the finger with the distribution of electrical signals, and outputs it.
The processing device 15 processes the electrical signal output from the fingerprint sensor 13 to generate fingerprint image data. The determination device 2 registers the fingerprint image data output from the processing device 15 in an internal storage device.

When such a fingerprint is registered, the user can roughly know the positional relationship between the finger and the fingerprint sensor 13 by touching the guide protrusion 14 arranged around the fingerprint sensor. Therefore, the user remembers the position of the guide protrusion 14 with respect to the finger felt during registration, and when performing fingerprint authentication later, the user places the finger on the fingerprint sensor 13 so that the guide protrusion 14 comes to the same position as that learned during registration. It is possible to easily place a finger at the same position as when registering.

The processing device 15 generates fingerprint image data from the output of the fingerprint sensor 13 as in the registration, and the determination device 2 uses the fingerprint image data output from the processing device 15 and the fingerprint image data registered in the storage device. If the comparison is made and the fingerprint images match, it is determined that the user is a registered regular user.

Thus, in this embodiment, a fingerprint image with little positional deviation from the registered fingerprint image can be read at the time of authentication, so that the position error of the fingerprint image, which has been a problem with the conventional fingerprint sensor, can be reduced. As a result, the authentication time can be shortened and the authentication rate can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the guide protrusion 1 is located at a position corresponding to the fingertip of the sensor window 12.
4 is installed, but it is not limited to this as long as the user touches when placing a finger on the fingerprint sensor 13.
4 can be installed. Further, in the present embodiment, one hemispherical guide protrusion 14 is arranged, but if the user can confirm the position with a finger,
The shape and number of the guide protrusions 14 may be arbitrarily determined. In addition, this protrusion is indented (
A concave shape).

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fingerprint authentication apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The difference between the fingerprint authentication device of the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that a guide scale 16 is provided around the sensor window 12 of the fingerprint sensor device 1a in place of the guide protrusion 14.

The guide scale 16 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11 and is provided by the user with the fingerprint sensor 13.
It is a scale of a size that can be seen when a finger is placed on the top. When the user registers his / her fingerprint in the fingerprint authentication apparatus, the user places his / her finger on the fingerprint sensor 13 as shown in FIG. Similar to the first embodiment, the determination device 2 registers the fingerprint image data output from the processing device 15 in an internal storage device.

At the time of registration of the fingerprint, the user visually confirms the positional relationship between the finger placed on the sensor 13 and the guide scale 16 around the finger so that the finger and the fingerprint sensor 1 are registered.
It becomes possible to roughly know the positional relationship with 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when a finger is placed on the sensor 13, for example, the fingertip comes to the position A in FIG. 5 or the base of the nail comes to the position B in FIG. By confirming the fingerprint sensor 13
It becomes possible to know the position of the finger on the top.

Therefore, the user remembers the positional relationship between the finger and the guide scale 16 confirmed at the time of registration, and when performing fingerprint authentication later, the positional relationship between the finger and the guide scale 16 becomes the same as the positional relationship learned at the time of registration. By placing the finger on the fingerprint sensor 13 as described above, it is possible to easily place the finger at the same position as during registration.

Thus, in this embodiment, a fingerprint image with little positional deviation from the registered fingerprint image can be read at the time of authentication, so that the position error of the fingerprint image, which has been a problem with the conventional fingerprint sensor, can be reduced. As a result, the authentication time can be shortened and the authentication rate can be improved.

The guide scale 16 may be printed on the housing 11 as long as it is visible, or the housing 11 may be formed into a shape having the guide scale 16. In the present embodiment, the guide scales 16 are arranged on both sides of the finger (left and right direction in FIG. 5).
It is also possible to arrange in other places. For example, if a guide scale is arranged in the front-rear direction of the finger (vertical direction in FIG. 5), it is possible to reduce the rotation error of the finger position on the fingerprint sensor 13. The size, number, and interval of the guide scales 16 can be arbitrarily changed so that the user can easily recognize them.

In the first embodiment, the guide protrusion 14 is provided on the fingerprint authentication device 1 and the guide scale 16 is provided on the fingerprint authentication device 1a in the second embodiment.
4 and the guide scale 16 may be provided in the fingerprint sensor device. In the first and second embodiments, the determination device 2 is provided separately from the fingerprint authentication devices 1 and 1a. However, the determination device 2 may be mounted in the casing of the fingerprint authentication device.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fingerprint authentication apparatus used as the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a mode when a user mounts a finger on a fingerprint sensor in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fingerprint authentication apparatus used as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a mode when a user mounts a finger on a fingerprint sensor in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows a mode when a user mounts a finger on a fingerprint sensor in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional fingerprint authentication apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows a mode when a user puts a finger | toe on a fingerprint sensor in the conventional fingerprint authentication apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a ... Fingerprint sensor apparatus, 2 ... Determination apparatus, 11 ... Housing | casing, 12 ... Sensor window, 13 ... Fingerprint sensor, 14 ... Guide protrusion, 15 ... Processing apparatus, 16 ... Guide scale.

Claims (4)

In a fingerprint sensor device comprising a fingerprint sensor for reading a fingerprint and a housing having an opening through which the fingerprint sensor surface is exposed,
The casing has one guide protrusion arranged so as to come into contact with a fingertip when a user places a finger on the fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor device, wherein the guide protrusion is provided on a wall surface of the opening of the housing. The fingerprint sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 2,
A fingerprint sensor device comprising a processing device for processing a detection result of the fingerprint sensor to generate a fingerprint image. The fingerprint sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A fingerprint authentication device comprising: a determination device that determines whether a fingerprint image read by the fingerprint sensor device is the same as a fingerprint image registered in advance.

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