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A fingerprint input apparatus includes an image sensor which responds to scattered light emanating from a finger. The scattered light is generated inside a finger having a fingerprint pattern in accordance with external light. The sensor may be a two-dimensional image sensor made of a large number o

A fingerprint input apparatus includes an image sensor which responds to scattered light emanating from a finger. The scattered light is generated inside a finger having a fingerprint pattern in accordance with external light. The sensor may be a two-dimensional image sensor made of a large number of light-receiving elements arranged in a two-dimensional array or a one-dimensional sensor made of a large number of light-receiving elements arranged in a line-type array. In the latter case, the fingerprint is input by swiping the finger across the image sensor and reconstructing the fingerprint image. The fingerprint input apparatus is used to control use of a variety of devices, including electronic devices such as cellular telephones and personal computers, and access to buildings, rooms, safes and the like. The fingerprint input apparatus makes possible the elimination of personal identification numbers (PINs) and signatures in a variety of transactions.

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1. An image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor comprising:a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover in a narrow line-

1. An image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor comprising:a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover in a narrow line-type array, wherein when said first surface of said cover is in sliding contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate an electrical signal representing a raw image of a fingerprint as said skin surface is slid across said first surface of said cover; and means responsive to said electrical signal representing a raw image of a fingerprint for reconstructing an image of the fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array. 2. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling a door for entry into a building, room or vehicle comprising:an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals authorized to enter the building, room or vehicle; and a lock mechanism at a door responsive to said image sensor for accessing said data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting entry to the building, room or vehicle. 3. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus controls entry to a room in a hotel and the data storage means is a server for registering guests for temporary stays, the fingerprint data for a guest being deleted upon termination of a temporary stay at the hotel.4. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus further controls access to a hotel room safe.5. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus controls entry to a vehicle for which a plurality of operators may be registered in said data storage means, said data storage means further storing information on individual seat and mirror position positions for each registered operator and said lock mechanism initiating seat and mirror positioning upon permitting entry to the vehicle.6. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 2, wherein the a plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising means for reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.7. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling access to a safe, locker or display case for securing cash, documents, securities and/or valuables comprising:an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals authorized to access the safe, locker or display case; and a lock mechanism responsive to responsive to said image sensor for accessing said data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting access to the safe, locker or display case. 8. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus controls access to a safe or locker and the data storage means is a server for registering users of the safe or locker for a temporary period of time, the fingerprint data for a user being deleted upon termination of the temporary period of time.9. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus controls access to a safe or a display case and the data storage means registers first and second fingerprint data of individuals authorized to access the safe or display case, said lock mechanism upon matching said first fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting access to the safe or display case but upon matching said second fingerprint data stored in said data storage means generates an emergency signal.10. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 7, wherein the a plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising means for reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.11. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling authenticating a user of a telephone, personal computer, terminal or communication device comprising:an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals; and authenticating means accessing said data storage means for authenticating a user of the telephone, personal computer or terminal upon matching an image of a fingerprint input by the user with fingerprint data stored in data storage means. 12. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 11, wherein the terminal is an automated teller machine (ATM) which, upon authentication of a user, permits a user initiated financial transaction.13. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 11, wherein the terminal is a teller terminal which, upon authentication of a user, permits user initiated financial transactions.14. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 11, wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone and the plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, further comprising means for reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.15. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 11, wherein the PC is connected in a local area network (LAN) and, upon identification of the user of the PC, initiates a login procedure to the LAN.16. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication device is a television receiver and the image sensor is incorporated into a remote control device for controlling access to channels on the television receiver.17. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising means for reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.18. Fingerprint apparatus for controlling credit card transactions comprising:a credit card reader incorporating an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; data storage means for registering fingerprint data of individuals to whom credit cards have been issued; and a database system receiving credit card and fingerprint data and accessing said data storage means for determining if the person offering the credit card for a credit transaction is the owner of the credit card. 19. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 18, wherein the database system also determines if the person offering the credit card for a credit transaction has sufficient credit for the transaction and, if so, authorizing the transaction.20. The fingerprint apparatus of claim 18, wherein the a plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising means for reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.21. Fingerprint method for controlling a door for entry into a building, room or vehicle comprising the steps of:affixing an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger to or adjacent to the door, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; registering in data storage means fingerprint data of individuals authorized to enter the building, room or vehicle; and in response to a fingerprint applied to said image sensor, accessing the data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting entry to the building, room or vehicle. 22. The fingerprint method of claim 21, wherein the method controls entry to a room in a hotel and the data storage means is a server for registering guests for temporary stays, further comprising the step of deleting the fingerprint data for a guest upon termination of a temporary stay at the hotel.23. The fingerprint method of claim 21, wherein the method further controls access to a hotel room safe.24. The fingerprint method of claim 21, wherein the method controls entry to a vehicle for which a plurality of operators may be registered in said data storage means, further comprising the steps of:storing information on individual seat and mirror position positions for each registered operator said data storage means; and initiating seat and mirror positioning upon permitting entry to the vehicle. 25. The fingerprint method of claim 21, wherein the a plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising the step of reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.26. Fingerprint method for controlling access to a safe, locker or display case for securing cash, documents, securities and/or valuables comprising the steps of:affixing to the save locker or display case an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; registering fingerprint data in a data storage means of individuals authorized to access the safe, locker or display case; and in response to a fingerprint applied to the image sensor, accessing said data storage means, and if an input fingerprint matches fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting access to the safe, locker or display case. 27. The fingerprint method of claim 26, wherein the method controls access to a safe or locker and the data storage means is a server for registering users of the safe or locker for a temporary period of time, further comprising the step of deleting the fingerprint data for a user upon termination of the temporary period of time.28. The fingerprint method of claim 26, wherein the method controls access to a safe or a display case, further comprising the steps of:registering in the data storage means first and second fingerprint data of individuals authorized to access the safe or display case; upon matching said first fingerprint data stored in said data storage means, permitting access to the safe or display case; and upon matching said second fingerprint data stored in said data storage means generating an emergency signal. 29. The fingerprint method of claim 26, wherein the a plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising the step of reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.30. Fingerprint method for controlling authenticating a user of a telephone, personal computer, terminal or communication device comprising:affixing to the telephone, personal computer, terminal or communication device an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; registering in data storage means fingerprint data of individuals; and accessing said data storage means for authenticating a user of the telephone, personal computer or terminal upon matching an image of a fingerprint input by the user with fingerprint data stored in data storage means. 31. The fingerprint method of claim 30, wherein the terminal is an automated teller machine (ATM) further comprising the step, upon authentication of a user, permitting a user initiated financial transaction.32. The fingerprint method of claim 30, wherein the terminal is a teller terminal further comprising the step, upon authentication of a user, permitting user initiated financial transactions.33. The fingerprint method of claim 30, wherein the telephone is a cellular telephone and the plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, further comprising the step of reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.34. The fingerprint method of claim 30, wherein the PC is connected in a local area network (LAN), further comprising the step, upon identification of the user of the PC, initiating a login procedure to the LAN.35. The fingerprint method of claim 30, wherein the communication device is a television receiver and the image sensor is incorporated into a remote control device for controlling access to channels on the television receiver.36. The fingerprint method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, further comprising the step of reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.37. Fingerprint method for controlling credit card transactions comprising:incorporating into a credit card reader an image sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal representing an image of a skin surface of a finger, said image sensor including: a transparent cover having first and second surfaces; and a plurality of light responsive means arranged under said second surface of said cover, when said first surface of said cover is in contact with said skin surface of said finger, said light responsive means being responsive only to light directly emerging from an inside of said finger through said cover to generate said electrical signal representing said image of said skin surface of a finger; registering in a data storage means fingerprint data of individuals to whom credit cards have been issued; and receiving credit card and fingerprint data by a database system and accessing said data storage means for determining if the person offering the credit card for a credit transaction is the owner of the credit card. 38. The fingerprint method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:determining by the database system if the person offering the credit card for a credit transaction has sufficient credit for the transaction; and, if so, authorizing the transaction. 39. The fingerprint method of claim 37, wherein the a plurality of light responsive elements under said second surface of said cover are arranged in a narrow line-type array, and further comprising the step of reconstructing an image of a fingerprint when the skin surface of said finger is swiped across and perpendicular to said narrow line-type array.