3-D light system revolutionizes way fingerprints are taken

The goal: develop a machine that can snap 10 fingerprints in high resolution in less than 10 seconds, without human intervention.

Such technology is on its way in the form of a 3-D light system developed by the University of Kentucky, according to the US Department of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate.  In fact, DHS this month gave FlashScan3D, which works with the University of Kentucky  $418,912 to further develop a contactless finger print/biometric system.  

According to the DHS, the University of Kentucky's Center for Visualization and Virtual Environments, has developed a technique called structured light illumination, where a pattern of dots or stripes is projected onto a curved or irregular surface. By calculating how the pattern warps over a curve, scientists can calculate an object's exact shape-similar to how a flying bat uses sonar to distinguish foe from food-by comparing its readings from different angles, the DHS said.

Using topological algorithms, software then captures all of a finger's tiny ridges recorded from three cameras and combines them into a single three-dimensional image. The 3-D image is then flattened into a 2-D virtual fingerprint that's more precise than an ink-rolled print, DHS said.

The systems can perform its fingerprinting in less than 10 seconds versus the often messy, ink-rolled technique which can take 5 to 10 minutes per person. In addition the about 5% of the population has fingerprints that are too worn or damaged to be captured using contact ink-rolled fingerprinting, according to the University.

"We believe that these prints will eventually become the gold standard," said Professor Laurence Hassebrook, the University of Kentucky's principal investigator in a release. Indeed, by capturing prints with depth information in 256 shades of grey, the structured-light fingerprinter will produce a higher quality of print. One of the benefits of this quality will be the ability to match prints with far greater accuracy, he said. 

The University system is but one of a number of systems that fall under the Department of Justice's Fast Capture Technologies which seeks to greatly enhance fingerprinting technologies.

According to the DOJ Web site, three technological approaches are being used to find a fast capture fingerprinting technology:

1. One approach constructs a 3-dimensional visual model of the entire hand using up to 10 micro-cameras positioned at different angles to image the hand (Carnegie Mellon University, "Handshot ID: A Fast 3-D Imaging System for Capturing Fingerprints, Palm Prints, and Hand Geometry."

2. Another technology uses a three-camera system that captures prints as it scans under the fingers. The system captures detailed finger ridge and valley characteristics using novel image-processing algorithms (TBS North American, Inc., "Fast Capture Technology to Capture Up to 10 Roll-Equivalent Fingerprints Within 15 Seconds.")

3. The approach uses a two-dimensional silicon contact sensor array on a polymer plastic foil to capture the equivalent of a rolled fingerprint. The polymer conforms to the shape of the finger on contact (Smiths Detection, Inc., "Fast Capture Fingerprint and Palm Print Technology.")

Layer 8 in a box

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