Biometric identification, authentication and verification using near-infrared structured illumination combined with 3d imaging of the human ear

Abstract

A biometric identification or authentication images an ear of the user. A source of near-infrared structured light illuminates the ear with at least one structured pattern and an image acquisition device captures a near-infrared image of an ear illuminated with a structured pattern of near-infrared light. An analysis area of the near-infrared image is processed to extract identifying features and it is determined if the identifying features correspond to an authorized user. The analysis area of the near-infrared image is processed to determine a reflectivity of the ear and it is determined if the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person. The user is authenticated if the classified identifying features correspond to an authorized user and the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person.

We claim:  
     
         1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of biometric identification or authentication of a user by imaging of an ear of the user, the method comprising:
 providing a biometric imaging system including:
 a source of near-infrared structured light operable to provide a structured pattern of near-infrared light; 
 an image acquisition device operable to capture a near-infrared image of an ear illuminated with structured pattern of near-infrared light; 
 a support holding the source and the acquisition device; 
   illuminating an ear of a user with a structured pattern of near-infrared light from the source of structured light;   acquiring a near-infrared image of the illuminated ear using the image acquisition device;   defining an analysis area in the near infrared image by locating the ear in the image;   processing the analysis area of the near-infrared image to extract identifying features of the ear; and   determining if the identifying features of the image correspond to a predefined user.   
     
     
         10 . A method of biometric identification or authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising:
 acquiring an ambient light image including the ear; and   processing the ambient light image to define an analysis area including the ear by locating the ear in the ambient light image;   setting an analysis area of the near infrared image defined by the processing of the ambient light image;   wherein the step of processing the near-infrared image comprises processing the analysis area of the near-infrared image.   
     
     
         11 . A method of biometric identification or authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising:
 processing the analysis area of the near-infrared image to determine a reflectivity of the ear; and   determining if the reflectivity corresponds to an ear of a living person.   
     
     
         12 . A method of biometric identification or authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein:
 the source of near-infrared structured light is operable to provide a plurality of patterns of near-infrared light, the source comprising a near-infrared LED and a dynamic optical element or a pattern-generating mask or filter for forming the patterns.   
     
     
         13 . A method of biometric identification or authentication in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising:
 illuminating the ear with a second structured pattern of near-infrared light from the source of structured light, the structured pattern of near-infrared light being a periodic pattern of spaced apart lines of near-infrared illumination; and   acquiring a second near-infrared image of the illuminated ear using the image acquisition device;   wherein the processing step comprises processing the analysis area of the first and second images.   
     
     
         14 . A method of biometric identification or authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein:
 the processing step includes the steps of:
 localizing the analysis area; 
 enhancing the near-infrared image; 
 extracting identifying features from the near-infrared image; and 
 classifying the extracted identifying features. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein:
 the ear of the user is at least one ear of the user, the at least one ear being selected from the group comprising a left ear, a right ear and both ears;   further comprising defining an at least one ear selected from the group as being a qualifying ear;   the step of determining if the identifying features correspond to an predefined user further including determining if the identifying features correspond to a qualifying ear.   
     
     
         16 . A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising:
 repeating the illuminating with ambient light, acquiring an ambient light image and processing the ambient light image for an opposite ear of the user; and   repeating the illuminating with near-infrared light and acquiring a near-infrared image for the opposite ear;   wherein the processing to extract identifying features step comprises processing the image of the ear and the image of the opposite ear to determine a difference between the ear and the opposite ear and extracting identifying features of this difference.   
     
     
         17 . A method of biometric identification and authentication in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein:
 the structured pattern of near-infrared light is a periodic pattern of spaced apart lines of near-infrared illumination.   
     
     
         18 . A method of authenticating or identifying a user, comprising:
 illuminating an ear of a user with a structured pattern of near-infrared light;   acquiring an image of the ear illuminated with the pattern of light;   processing the acquired image to determine if the user is a predetermined user.