Mobile Fingerprint Scanner And Docking Station

Abstract

A system including a mobile or portable fingerprint scanner and one or more docking stations adapted to operatively receive the scanner. The scanner can be hand carried to various locations for obtaining fingerprint images and other information such as images from bar code scanning. The scanner is battery operated and has the capacity of storing a number of such images. The docking station is in the form of a receptacle into which the scanner is inserted after obtaining one or more images. While the scanner is operatively received in the docking station, the image(s) stored in the scanner are downloaded via a connection to a personal computer or the like, the scanner battery is recharged and the docking station performs various diagnostic operations on the scanner before it is withdrawn from the docking station for further use.

1 . A fingerprint identification system comprising: 
 a portable fingerprint scanner which can be hand carried to various locations for obtaining fingerprint images and for storing the images obtained in the scanner for later retrieval;    at least one docking station at a location spaced from the location where fingerprint images are obtained, the docking station being in the form of a receptacle for receiving the scanner, the docking station being physically separate from the scanner when the scanner is obtaining fingerprint images, the fingerprint images being downloaded from the scanner when the scanner is received in the docking station; and    a computer operatively connected to the docking station for processing fingerprint images downloaded from the scanner and wherein the computer and docking station are further operatively connected so that diagnostic routines are provided by the computer for operation on the scanner while in the docking station and the scanner is automatically disabled and an indication is provided in response to the detection problem.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanner is battery operated and wherein the docking station is provided with a voltage source for recharging the scanner battery when in the docking station.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanner is an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanner has barcode scanning capability.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the docking station is located in a law enforcement vehicle and wherein the scanner is adapted to be carried by a law enforcement officer.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the scanner is provided with an external magnetic component for attachment to a vehicle during use in obtaining images.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanner has an infrared data link for wireless transmission of fingerprint images while received in the docking station.  
   
   
       8 . A fingerprint identification system comprising: 
 (a) a portable fingerprint scanner which can be hand carried to various locations for obtaining fingerprint images and for storing the images obtained in the scanner for later retrieval, the scanner having barcode scanning capability to read personal identification mediums such as driver's licenses and vehicle identification mediums such as vehicle registrations for law enforcement applications;    (b) at least one docking station at a location spaced from the location where fingerprint images are obtained, the docking station being in the form of a receptacle for receiving the scanner, the docking station being physically separate from the scanner when the scanner is obtaining fingerprint images, the fingerprint images being downloaded from the scanner when the scanner is received in the docking station;    (c) a computer operatively connected to the docking station for processing fingerprint images downloaded from the scanner wherein diagnostic routines are provided by the computer for operation on the scanner while in the docking station; and    (d) the scanner having a data link for wireless transmission of fingerprint images while received in the docking station.