JP4395613B2 - Reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reading device for reading a fingerprint or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional fingerprint readers include a device in which a finger pressed against a fingerprint reading surface is irradiated with light from a light source, and fingerprint image light obtained thereby is read by a two-dimensional image sensor (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-250229
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional fingerprint reading apparatus, for example, a two-dimensional image sensor is used as an image reading sensor, and the fingerprint reading surface requires at least a size corresponding to the size of the finger. The surface required a relatively large area. On the other hand, in recent years, devices such as mobile phones are required to have a security function as well as an image display function as a result of higher functionality. In this case, since it cannot be said that a password other than the principal cannot be used at all, it is considered that the fingerprint of the principal is read in order to prevent the password from being used by anyone other than the principal. However, when a fingerprint reading surface having a relatively large area is arranged on the surface of the casing of such a device, there is a problem that the casing becomes large. In addition, since a two-dimensional image sensor is used as an image reading sensor, the arrangement space thereof is relatively large, and there is a problem in that the casing is also enlarged.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a reading apparatus that can reduce the size of the image reading surface.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is formed of a cylindrical frame-shaped member formed of a permeable material, and is rotatably provided so that a subject contacts the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical frame-shaped member, and the subject contacts And an image reading surface forming body having an image reading surface as an image reading surface, and provided outside the hollow region surrounded by the cylindrical frame-shaped member and equidistant from a plurality of positions on one end face of the cylindrical frame-shaped member. The cylindrical frame-shaped member has a light source for entering light, and the light incident from the light source is totally reflected by the inner surface of the image reading surface in a region where the subject is not in contact with the image reading surface. In the area where the subject is not in contact with the image reading surface and the subject is in contact with the image reading surface, the illumination light is emitted from the image reading surface to the outside and irradiated to the subject in contact with the image reading surface. illuminating means for, surrounded by a frame-like member of said cylindrical Provided in the hollow area, according to the subject that is in contact with the image reading surface, and a one-dimensional image sensor for receiving the reflected light of the illumination light, is characterized in that it comprises a.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the light guide guides the reflected light from the subject to the one-dimensional image sensor between the image reading surface and the one-dimensional image sensor. Means are provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the light guiding means comprises a rod lens array.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical frame member rotates as the subject moves, and the one-dimensional image sensor moves each time the subject moves. In addition, an image of the subject in contact with the image reading surface is read.
Invention according to claim 5, in the invention described in claim 4, when the frame-like member of said cylindrical pivots with the movement of the object, the moving distance of the outer peripheral surface of the frame-shaped member of the cylindrical It has a moving distance detecting means for detecting.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical frame-shaped member is provided in a housing having an opening through which the image reading surface is exposed. Is.
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the casing is a casing of a portable device.
The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 , a reflector is provided on the other frame end surface of the cylindrical frame-shaped member .
The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical frame member excluding the image reading surface is rotatably supported by a non-transparent support member. It is characterized by this.
According to the present invention, the subject is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable cylindrical member made of a transparent material, and the one-dimensional image sensor provided in the cylindrical member responds to the movement of the subject. Since the image reading surface is configured to read an image of a subject that is sequentially brought into contact with the cylindrical member, and the region where the subject is in contact with the cylindrical member is used as the line-shaped region, the image reading surface The size can be reduced. In addition, since a one-dimensional image sensor is used as an image reading sensor, an arrangement space for the image reading sensor or the like can be reduced.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a main part of a device such as a mobile phone provided with a reading device as a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. is there. This device includes a device housing 1. A rectangular opening 2 is provided at a predetermined location on the flat surface of the device housing 1.
[0007]
A support member 3 made of an impermeable resin or the like is provided inside the device casing 1 at the opening 2 portion. The support member 3 has a substantially C-shaped cross section, and has a structure having an opening 4 in a predetermined part of the cylinder, that is, in a portion corresponding to the opening 2 of the device housing 1. Support discs 5 and 6 made of an impermeable resin or the like are provided at both ends of the support member 3.
[0008]
A cylindrical image reading surface forming body 7 made of a transparent material such as an acrylic resin is rotatably provided inside the support member 3. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the image reading surface forming body 7 is projected (exposed) to the outside of the device housing 1 through the opening 4 of the support member 3. A predetermined line-shaped region on the outer peripheral surface of the image reading surface forming body 7 protruding outside the device housing 1 is in contact with the finger (subject) 8 and the fingerprint image light (subject image light) of the contacted portion. ) Is the image reading surface 9 on which it is incident. Then, the image reading surface forming body 7 rotates with the movement of the finger 8 so that the position of the finger 8 in contact with the image reading surface 9 is changed.
[0009]
Inside the image reading surface forming body 7, a one-dimensional image sensor 11 made of a CMOS, a CCD, or the like provided on the circuit board 10 is provided to face the image reading surface 9. A rod lens array 12 is provided between the one-dimensional image sensor 11 and the image reading surface 9. A light source 13 including a light emitting diode array for irradiating the image reading surface 9 with light is provided at a predetermined location inside the image reading surface forming body 7.
[0010]
Here, both end portions of the circuit board 10, the rod lens array 12, and the light source 13 are supported by the support disks 5 and 6. When the finger 8 pressed against the image reading surface 9 of the image reading surface forming body 7 and the vicinity thereof is moved leftward or rightward in FIG. 1, the image reading surface forming body 7 is moved by the contact force of the finger 8. It is rotated in the same direction, and the movement distance of the outer peripheral surface of the image reading surface forming body 7 at that time is detected by a movement distance detecting means (not shown).
[0011]
Here, the dimensions of the reading device are not particularly limited, and may be any size as long as a fingerprint image of a general adult finger can be read. For example, the outer diameter of the image reading surface forming body 7 is about 9 mm. The width can be about 15 mm. The length of the one-dimensional image sensor 11 can be about 15 mm.
[0012]
Next, the operation of this reading apparatus will be described. When the finger 8 pressed against the image reading surface 9 of the image reading surface forming body 7 and the vicinity thereof is moved leftward or rightward in FIG. 1, the image reading surface forming body 7 is moved in the same direction by the contact force of the finger 8. Is rotated.
[0013]
At this time, when the light source 13 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 13 passes through the image reading surface forming body 7 and is emitted from the image reading surface 9 as shown by an arrow in FIG. Then, light is reflected at a portion of the finger 8 that contacts the image reading surface 9 and corresponding to the convex portion (ridge) of the fingerprint, and light is reflected at a portion corresponding to the concave portion (downline) of the finger 8. Scattered. Thus, fingerprint image light that is optically bright and dark according to the unevenness of the fingerprint of the finger 8 is obtained.
[0014]
The fingerprint image light is incident on the image reading surface 9, passes through the image reading surface forming body 7, is imaged on the surface of the one-dimensional image sensor 11 by the rod lens array 12, and is read by the one-dimensional image sensor 11. In this case, since the finger 8 moves on the image reading surface 9 composed of the line-shaped region of the image reading surface forming body 7, the fingerprint of the finger 8 is sequentially scanned, and the scan fingerprint image light is sequentially read by the one-dimensional image sensor 11. It is done. Then, based on the read scan fingerprint image light and the movement distance data of the outer peripheral surface of the image reading surface forming body 7 detected by the movement distance detecting means, a fingerprint image as a whole fingerprint of the finger 8 is obtained. .
[0015]
As described above, in this reading apparatus, the finger 8 passes through a predetermined line-shaped region on the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion of the rotatable transparent cylindrical image reading surface forming body 7 exposed outside the device housing 1. Since the contact area is the image reading surface 9 on which the fingerprint image light of the contacted portion is incident, the size of the image reading surface 9 can be reduced.
[0016]
In addition, since the circuit board 10 including the one-dimensional image sensor 11, the rod lens array 12, and the light source 13 are provided in the image reading surface forming body 7, the arrangement space can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the reading device, and thus to reduce the size of the device housing 1.
[0017]
Further, since the image reading surface forming body 7 has a cylindrical shape, even when it is rotated, the distance between the image reading surface 9 and the one-dimensional image sensor 11 is always constant, and stable image reading can be performed. Further, the support member 3 that rotatably supports the image reading surface forming body 7 and the support disks 5 and 6 provided at both ends thereof are formed of a non-permeable resin or the like. It can be suppressed as much as possible.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the light source 13 is provided in the image reading surface forming body 7 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the right support disc 5 is formed of a transparent material such as acrylic resin, and on the outside thereof, as shown in FIG. A circuit board 21 may be provided, and a plurality of light emitting diodes 22 may be provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the disk-shaped circuit board 21 facing the support disk 5.
[0019]
In the case of such a structure, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 22 passes through the support disk 5 and is incident on the left end surface of the image reading surface forming body 7 and travels in the image reading surface forming body 7 ( Is guided) and emitted from the image reading surface 9. However, in this case, the light is totally reflected on the image reading surface 9 in the portion corresponding to the concave portion of the fingerprint of the finger 8, and the light is not emitted to the finger 8 side. On the other hand, light is emitted from the image reading surface 9 in the portion corresponding to the convex portion of the fingerprint of the finger 8, reflected by the convex portion of the fingerprint of the finger 8, and incident on the image reading surface 9.
[0020]
Therefore, in this case, fingerprint image light in which light and dark are emphasized optically according to only the convex portion of the fingerprint of the finger 8 is obtained. In other words, fingerprint image light that is optically bright and dark is obtained only in accordance with the convex portion of the fingerprint of the finger 8 regardless of individual differences due to the strength of the fingerprint color tone, so that fingerprint recognition accuracy can be improved. .
[0021]
Further, as in the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, a non-transparent resin is provided which includes a non-transparent box 24 provided apart from the support disk 5 and having a light-emitting diode 23 provided therein. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of through holes 25 are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the left support disc 5 made of, for example, an optical fiber having a diameter of about 0.5 mm, for example. One end portion of the optical fiber 26 is inserted and fixed with an adhesive or the like, and the other end portions of the plurality of optical fibers 26 are bundled and fixed with an adhesive or the like. The fixed portion is inserted into the opening 27 of the box 24 with an adhesive or the like. The other end surface of the optical fiber 26 may be fixed so as to face the light emitting diode 23 provided in the box 24.
[0022]
In the case of such a structure, even if the thickness of the image reading surface forming body 7 is as thin as about 1 mm, for example, one end surface of the optical fiber 26 having a diameter of about 0.5 mm is used as the left end surface of the image reading surface forming body 7. When facing each other, light leakage can be prevented as much as possible. Further, the left support disk 6 is formed of a metal plate made of highly reflective aluminum or the like or a resin plate having a nickel plating layer, and the light emitted from the right end surface of the image reading surface forming body 7 is reflected to form an image. When returned to the reading surface forming body 7, the light utilization rate can be improved. Note that the left support disc 6 in FIG. 3 may be such a reflector.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a subject is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of a rotatable cylindrical member formed of a transparent material, and the subject is provided by a one-dimensional image sensor provided in the cylindrical member. As the image reading surface is an area where the object contacts the cylindrical member, the image reading surface is defined as a line area. The size of the image reading surface can be reduced. Further, since the one-dimensional image sensor is used as the image reading sensor, the arrangement space for the image reading sensor or the like can be reduced. Further, a light source for irradiating the subject with illumination light is provided outside the cylindrical member, and light is incident on one end surface of the cylindrical member from the light source, and the incident light is in contact with the cylindrical member. In a region where there is no light, it is totally reflected by the inner surface of the cylindrical member and is not emitted from the cylindrical member. Thus, the contrast between the convex and concave portions in the read image of the subject can be increased.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a device provided with a reading device as a first embodiment of the invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a reading apparatus as a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a right side view of the circuit board shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a reading apparatus as a third embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a right side view of the left support disc shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus housing 2 Opening part 3 Support member 4 Opening part 5 and 6 Support disk 7 Image reading surface formation body 8 Finger 9 Image reading surface 10 Circuit board 11 One-dimensional image sensor 12 Rod lens array 13 Light source

Claims (9)

An image comprising a cylindrical frame-shaped member formed of a transparent material, which is rotatably provided so that a subject is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical frame-shaped member, and an area where the subject contacts is an image reading surface A reading surface forming body;
Provided outside the hollow region surrounded by the cylindrical frame-shaped member, and has a light source that enters light into the cylindrical frame-shaped member at equal intervals from a plurality of positions on one end face of the cylindrical frame-shaped member. The light incident from the light source is totally reflected by the inner surface of the image reading surface in an area where the subject is not in contact with the image reading surface and is not emitted from the image reading surface, and the subject is Illuminating means for emitting illumination light to the subject that is emitted to the outside from the image reading surface and is in contact with the image reading surface in an area in contact with the reading surface;
A one-dimensional image sensor that is provided in a hollow region surrounded by the cylindrical frame-shaped member and receives reflected light of the illumination light from the subject in contact with the image reading surface;
A reading apparatus comprising: In the invention of claim 1,
A reading apparatus comprising light guide means for guiding the reflected light from the subject to the one-dimensional image sensor between the image reading surface and the one-dimensional image sensor. In the invention of claim 2,
The reader is characterized in that the light guide means comprises a rod lens array. In the invention of claim 1,
The cylindrical frame-shaped member rotates as the subject moves,
The reading device, wherein the one-dimensional image sensor reads an image of the subject that contacts the image reading surface every time the subject moves. In the invention of claim 4,
When the frame-like member of said cylindrical pivots with the movement of the subject, the reader characterized by having a moving distance detecting means for detecting a moving distance of the outer peripheral surface of the frame-shaped member of the cylinder. In the invention of claim 1,
The reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical frame-shaped member is provided in a housing having an opening through which the image reading surface is exposed. In the invention of claim 6,
A reading apparatus, wherein the casing is a casing of a portable device. In the invention of claim 1,
A reading device , wherein a reflection plate is provided on an end face of the other frame of the cylindrical frame member . In the invention of claim 1,
A reading apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical frame member excluding the image reading surface is rotatably supported by a non-transparent support member.

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