Methods and apparatus for directing the gaze of a user in an iris recognition system

Abstract

The present disclosure describes systems and methods for directing a gaze of a user to one of different locations or positions of an iris biometric acquisition system for accommodating different heights of individuals. A user attention device may be positioned behind a visibility limiting device, for use in guiding the gaze of the user and positioning an eye of the user with respect to the iris biometric acquisition system. The visibility limiting device may be configured to limit an angular field of view of the user attention device. A sensor may be positioned at, behind or adjacent to the visibility limiting device. The sensor may be configured to acquire imagery of an iris from the eye positioned using the user attention device and the visibility limiting device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for directing a gaze of a user for biometric acquisition, the system comprising:
 a visibility limiting device configured to limit an angular field of view of locations behind the visibility limiting device, the visibility limiting device comprising a plurality of louvers oriented non-parallel to each other towards a first location to align a user's gaze towards the first location when the user is at a preferred distance from the visibility limiting device; and   a sensor positioned relative to the visibility limiting device, the sensor configured to acquire a biometric image of the user positioned using the visibility limiting device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user attention device located behind the visibility limiting device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visibility limiting device includes a privacy film. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a first subsystem and a second subsystem, the first subsystem comprising the visibility limiting device, a user attention device located behind the visibility limiting device, and the sensor, and the second subsystem comprising a second visibility limiting device, a second user attention device located behind the second visibility limiting device, and a second sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first subsystem and the second subsystem are spatially displaced with respect to each other to accommodate different users. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first subsystem and the second subsystem are spatially displaced with respect to each other by between  4  inches to  12  inches. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein an angular field of view of the user attention device of the first subsystem and an angular field of view of the second user attention device of the second subsystem overlap by a minimal to zero amount when the user is located at an operating distance of the iris biometric acquisition system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising an adjustment mechanism for collectively moving the visibility limiting device, the user attention device and the sensor to different positions or locations. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising a pivot mechanism for collectively tilting or rotating the visibility limiting device, the user attention device and the sensor to different relative positions about an axis. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the angular field of view of the locations is configured to project upwards at an angle above horizontal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an angular field of view of the sensor overlaps with the angular field of view of the locations. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user attention device comprises at least one of a mirror or a graphical user interface display. 
     
     
         13 . A method for directing a gaze of a user for biometric acquisition, the method comprising:
 limiting, by a visibility limiting device, an angular field of view of locations behind the visibility limiting device;   providing, by the visibility limiting device, guidance to a user to position the user in accordance with the limited angular field of view, the visibility limiting device comprising a plurality of louvers oriented non-parallel to each other towards a first location to align a user's gaze towards the first location when the user is at a preferred distance from the visibility limiting device; and   acquiring, by a sensor positioned relative to the visibility limiting device, a biometric image of the user positioned using the provided guidance.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the guidance to the user further comprises providing the guidance using a user attention device located behind the visibility limiting device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user attention device includes at least one of a mirror or a graphical user interface display. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the visibility limiting device includes a privacy film. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising moving, by an adjustment mechanism, the visibility limiting device, a user attention device located behind the visibility limiting device, and the sensor collectively, to a first position relative to the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising tilting or rotating, by a pivot mechanism about an axis, the visibility limiting device, a user attention device located behind the visibility limiting device, and the sensor collectively, to a first position relative to the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the visibility limiting device, a user attention device located behind the visibility limiting device, and the sensor are arranged as a first subsystem, and a second subsystem comprises a second visibility limiting device, a second user attention device located behind the second visibility limiting device, and a second sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , providing the first subsystem and the second subsystem spatially displaced with respect to each other by between 4 inches to 12 inches.