Revolutionizing Fingerprint Sensors

Fingerprint sensors are the most commonly deployed biometric sensors for providing access control assurance as well as performing automatic identification of individuals. Fingerprints are ideal for physical and logical access control because they are generally easily accessed and provide a unique identifying pattern.

The Problem with Conventional Technology

We all learned in grade school that everyone’s fingerprint ridges are unique. Seems like a foolproof way to identify people, doesn't it? However, because conventional systems depend on contact of the ridges to the sensor, anything that interferes with this results in an inadequate image. For example, if an individual’s fingertips are worn, as in the case of a carpenter, it may be impossible to distinguish ridges. If it is D.C. in July, there may be sweat in the valleys, obscuring the ridges. If people are rushing through a turnstile during their morning commute, they may not completely press their fingers on the sensor, leaving complete areas of the fingerprint unread. If a person steps off a trans-Atlantic flight, her skin may be too dry for the sensor to detect. If an unauthorized person wants access, he may use fraudulent latex ridges (a “spoof”), and the traditional sensor wouldn't know the difference! These and many other commonplace situations can prevent a conventional imaging system from correctly verifying identity.

The Multispectral Imaging Solution

Lumidigm has developed a multispectral imager that is able to collect additional information from below the surface of the skin. Unlike traditional technology, multispectral imaging technology is not dependent on the quality or authenticity of the fingerprint ridges presented. The Lumidigm sensor can look beyond surface ridges to verify their authenticity and enhance the identifying image. If the carpenter with the worn ridges presses the platen, the Lumidigm sensor can read the unique unaffected fingerprint under the skin and enhance the image. Similarly, if there is water or “normal” city grime obscuring the surface ridges, or if the finger isn't fully touching the sensor, environmentally robust multispectral imaging technology can enhance the incomplete surface ridge information with data from below the surface of the skin. The Lumidigm sensor’s spoof detection ability is unique! Multispectral imaging technology can detect a fraudulent fingerprint (a “spoof”) easily by measuring the subsurface data (or lack of subsurface data!) against known characteristics of living skin. It can even compare subsurface data to surface data to make sure that they are the same!

Thus, multispectral imaging technology is a revolutionary access control system that is vastly superior to conventional fingerprint technologies. Currently deployed systems cannot obtain adequate fingerprints from up to sixteen percent of the population; Lumidigm sensors can reduce that rate to nearly zero.

To read about how multispectral imaging technology looks below the skin, click here. For more information about Lumidigm, contact us.

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