초록 ▼

An atomated fingerprint identification system (10), which utilizes an encoded identification card, such as a credit card (12). When a person applies for a credit card (12) they must register a finger of their choice with the card issuance company. At the company, the finger is scanned and a composit

An atomated fingerprint identification system (10), which utilizes an encoded identification card, such as a credit card (12). When a person applies for a credit card (12) they must register a finger of their choice with the card issuance company. At the company, the finger is scanned and a composite number (14) is produced that consists of several fingerprint identifying parameters. The composite number (14), corresponding to the fingerprint is encoded onto the card (12) and is also stored in a card database (50) and/or a server database (52). When a person wants to use the card (12), the card (12) is inserted into a card reader (22) and the person's finger is scanned by a fingerprint scanner (24) which produces a composite number (14) that is compared with the composite number (14) in the card or server database (50, 52). If the two composite numbers (14) are similar, use of the card is allowed. Conversely, if they are not similar, use of the card is disallowed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An automated fingerprint identification system comprising:a) means for encoding a card with digitized indicia representing a fingerprint, obtained from the fingers of either hand, of a card applicant, wherein said digitized indicia comprises a personal identification number (PIN) o

[ We claim:] [1.] An automated fingerprint identification system comprising:a) means for encoding a card with digitized indicia representing a fingerprint, obtained from the fingers of either hand, of a card applicant, wherein said digitized indicia comprises a personal identification number (PIN) or an account number which is further comprised of the following fingerprint identifying parameters:(1) block orientation which utilizes block sizes of 5.times.5 or 15.times.15 wherein if the majority of the 25 pixels or 225 pixels in a 5.times.5 or 15.times.15 block respectively have an orientation angle of .phi. degrees, then the respective block is assigned a block orientation of .phi. degrees,(2) row flow wherein the flow of a fingerprint is determined by the number of rows of said block wherein a row flow value is sequentially determined from the top to the bottom of the fingerprint block,(3) side detection wherein the width of the fingerprint is determined,(4) region flow wherein a single region of a fingerprint is analyzed,(5) ridge counting wherein an average pixel count of ridges changes from dark to bright values for each of a minimum number of "main orientations", and(6) average brightness wherein the average brightness is the sum of the brightness value of each pixel divided by the total number of pixels in the sample,b) means for reading said card and supplying said digitized indicia to a card database or a server database for storage and subsequent retrieval,c) means for scanning a fingerprint belonging to a presenter of said card and for producing a digitized indicia representing the fingerprint of the card presenter, andd) means for comparing the digitized indicia retrieved from said card database with the digitized indicia from the card presenter, wherein if said digitized indicia is similar, said card is validated and conversely, if the two digitized numbers are not similar, said card is invalidated.