JP2009066059A - Biological information reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispose a finger in a natural state to appropriately execute a biometric authentication processing. <P>SOLUTION: The biological information reading device includes a device body 2 having a finger disposing part 6 allowing disposition of one finger along a bending shape in a relaxed state and guide parts 5a and 5b to dispose fingers other than the one finger in a relaxed state with the one finger disposed in the finger disposing part 6; and imaging means 18 provided inside the device body 2 for imaging the one finger disposed at the finger disposing part 6 to acquire biological information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological information reader.

  Conventionally, as a biological information reader, light from an irradiating means is passed through an irradiation window formed on a finger rest through an imaging window, and is distinguished from the rough surface of the surrounding texture near the imaging window and the irradiation window. The structure which provided the touch feeling part with the smooth surface of a touch is disclosed (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2007-89941 A

  However, in the conventional biometric information reader, it is necessary to put the finger in a stretched state in order to place the finger on the finger rest and properly authenticate it. In addition, since the finger placement table is flat, it is difficult to place the finger placement position and the finger rotation position at the same position for each photographing. For this reason, if the finger placement state differs between the finger biometric information (vein pattern) registration and the authentication, the user may not be properly authenticated regardless of the identity.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a biometric information reader that can place a finger in a natural state and can appropriately perform biometric authentication processing.

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides:
A biological information reader;
One finger can be placed along a bent shape with the force removed, and with one finger placed on the finger placement part, the other fingers except for one finger An apparatus main body having a guide portion that can be arranged in a state in which
An imaging means provided in the apparatus main body, for acquiring biometric information by imaging one finger arranged in the finger arrangement unit;
It is set as the structure provided with.

  With this configuration, any one finger can be naturally placed on the finger placement portion. Moreover, fingers other than those placed on the finger placement portion can be placed on the guide portion in a natural state. Accordingly, it is possible to place the finger at a position where the biometric information can be appropriately read by the imaging means without applying extra force. Further, since the fingers other than one finger are arranged in the guide unit, the rotational position of the hand with respect to the biometric information reading device is fixed, and thereby the direction of the one finger arranged in the finger arrangement unit is also fixed. . As a result, it is possible to prevent biometric information photographed by the same person from being different for each photographing, and to prevent an authentication failure.

  The finger placement unit preferably includes a finger positioning unit that positions the one finger at a photographing position by the photographing unit.

  With this configuration, the finger can be accurately positioned by the finger positioning unit as compared with the case where only the finger is placed on the finger placement unit. That is, it is possible to accurately read the biological information by the photographing unit with the finger positioned at the photographing position.

  It is preferable that an operation button for driving another member is disposed in an area that can be operated with the thumb in a state where any of the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger is disposed on the finger placement portion of the guide portion.

  With this configuration, it is possible to operate the operation button while maintaining the state where the finger is photographed by the photographing unit, so that it is possible to drive other members while performing the authentication process, and it is possible to improve operability. .

The guide portion is formed on both sides of the finger placement portion, and guides the fingers placed on the finger placement portion, and includes a guide wall having an outer edge formed in an arc shape,
It is preferable to provide an external light filter that can slide along the outer edge of the guide wall.

  With this configuration, the photographing unit can appropriately read the biological information of the finger without being affected by external light.

  According to the present invention, since the finger placement portion and the guide portion are provided, the finger can be placed in a natural state, and a desired portion of one finger can be appropriately photographed by the photographing means.

  1 to 4 show a biological information reader 1 according to the present embodiment. The biological information reading apparatus 1 includes a main body 2 and a fixing unit 3.

  The main body 2 is formed by integrating dome-shaped side wall portions 5 a and 5 b on both sides of the cylindrical portion 4.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 4, a finger placement portion 6 is formed, a portion of which is recessed in a circular arc shape toward the inner diameter side. That is, the finger placement portion 6 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center line C shown in FIG. 1 and is curved to be smoothly recessed from both sides toward the center line and along the center line direction. And a flat portion 8 formed at the boundary between the curved portion 7 and the outer peripheral surface.

  The bending portion 7 is formed such that a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the center line C is bent along the abdomen of the index finger. Further, the cross-sectional shape along the direction of the center line C is formed so as to bend along the abdomen of the finger in a state where the force is removed from the index finger and the first joint and the second joint are bent naturally. A finger positioning portion 9 is formed at a central portion of the bending portion 7 by a rib protruding in a substantially U shape.

  In addition, a rectangular opening 9 a is formed at the center of the finger positioning portion 9. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 9 a is provided with a biometric authentication device 11 covered with an infrared filter 10 that blocks visible light. A portion covered with the infrared filter 10 is a photographing position. When the index finger A is placed on the finger positioning unit 9, the ribs of the positioning unit 9 come into contact with both side portions and the tip of the index finger A, and the site for biometric authentication (second joint portion of the index finger) is positioned at the imaging position. It has become so.

  Further, the flat portion 8 is formed so that the vicinity of the third joint of the index finger is positioned naturally.

  Each of the side wall parts 5a and 5b has an outer surface swelled in a shape suitable for placing other fingers in a natural state with the index finger placed in the finger placement part 6 in a natural state. One side wall 5a is provided with a thumb, and an engine start button 12 is provided on the side wall 5a for easy pushing operation. A middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger are arranged on the other side wall portion 5b. However, the engine start button 12 can also be provided on the side wall portion 5b. As described above, in a state where each finger is arranged in the biological information reader 1, the side wall 5a is sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger, and the side wall 5b is sandwiched between the index finger and the middle finger. As a result, the rotational position of the hand with respect to the biological information reader 1 is determined to be constant, and the rotational position of the index finger is also determined to be constant. As a result, it is possible to prevent the biometric information of the finger photographed by the same person from being different for each photographing, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of authentication failure.

  Step portions 5c are respectively formed on the outer peripheral edge portions of the side wall portions 5a and 5b on the opposing surface (guide wall) side, and an external light filter 13 is slidably provided there. The external light filter 13 prevents light from entering from the outside and closes the finger placement portion 6 between an open position where the finger placement portion 6 can be opened and an index finger can be placed. Are slidable in the circumferential direction indicated by S and S ′. In this way, if the external light filter 13 is provided on the side walls 5a and 5b provided on both side surfaces of the finger placement portion 6, it is not necessary to provide a separate stand for attaching the external light filter 13, The biological information reader 1 can be downsized.

  Two LEDs 14a and 14b are provided at positions corresponding to the finger placement portion 6 on the outer edges of the side wall portions 5a and 5b, respectively. One pair of LEDs 14a is for indicating the status of the registration mode and the deletion mode. The other pair of remaining LEDs 14b blinks and prompts the finger placement unit 6 to place a finger when waiting for authentication or waiting for registration. In addition, when the verification and registration are appropriately executed, the flashing state is changed to the lighting state, and the fact that the action has been normally performed is displayed. Further, if the verification or registration is not properly executed, a warning is given by changing the lighting color.

  The fixing part 3 is integrated with the one side wall part 5a. The fixing unit 3 is used to attach the biological information reader 1 to a predetermined position. For example, when the biometric information reader 1 is used as authentication when starting an engine in a vehicle, it is fixed to a door handle support panel (not shown).

  The fixing unit 3 is provided with a registration button 15 and a delete button 16. The registration button 15 is used when a vein pattern, which is biometric information, is newly registered for the master finger registered as the finger of the person to be authenticated. For example, it is used when registering the middle finger other than the index finger or registering another person's finger. The delete button 16 is used when deleting registered vein patterns excluding vein patterns registered as master information.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the biometric authentication device 11 includes a case 17, an infrared irradiation unit 18, a camera unit 19, a first storage unit 20, a first control unit 21, a first communication unit 22, and a first unit. 1 power supply unit 23 is provided.

  The case 17 is substantially box-shaped, and the plane exposed to the finger placement portion 6 is covered with the infrared filter 10 as described above.

  Infrared irradiation part 18 consists of a plurality of LEDs arranged in a row on both sides of the flat part and in the vicinity of both side ribs of finger positioning part 9. Near-infrared rays are emitted from the infrared irradiation unit 18 so that the finger vein pattern can be read.

  The camera unit 19 is housed in the case 17 and captures a vein pattern of a finger (mainly near the second joint) placed on the finger placement unit 6. The camera unit 19 can be a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera, a COMS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) camera, or the like.

  The first storage unit 20 stores in advance biometric information (for example, digitized finger vein patterns) for authentication by the biometric information reading device 1. Further, a control program for executing an authentication process described later is stored.

  The first control unit 21 functions as a personal authentication unit that executes a personal authentication process based on the vein pattern photographed by the camera unit 19 as described later. The vein pattern is digitized by image processing and compared with biometric information registered in the storage unit (also digitized) to determine whether or not the vein pattern is a registered person.

  The digitization of the vein pattern is performed as follows. That is, the near infrared rays irradiated to the finger are easily absorbed by reduced hemoglobin that has flown through the veins in the blood after carrying oxygen. For this reason, the image is dark for the veins and bright for the portions other than the veins. Therefore, the brightness at each part is converted into numerical data of “0” or “1” by the binary system.

  The first communication unit 22 transmits the result of the personal authentication process performed by the first control unit 21 to the smart entry control unit 24.

  The biometric information reader 1 having the above configuration is used by being incorporated in a biometric authentication system.

  FIG. 5 shows a biometric authentication system employed in a vehicle. In addition to the biometric information reader 1, a smart entry control unit 24, a door lock control unit 25 (door lock C / U), an electric steering lock 26 (electric STL) ), An engine control unit 27 (engine C / U), a start switch 28 (SW), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the smart entry control unit 24 includes a second storage unit 29, a second control unit 30, a second communication unit 31, an input / output unit 32, and a second power supply unit 33.

  Next, the operation of the biometric authentication system having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the smart entry control unit 24. Here, when door opening / closing is detected by door opening / closing detection means (not shown) such as a switch or a sensor, the detection signal is input to the smart entry control unit 24. In the smart entry control unit 24, when it is determined that the door is opened and then closed (step S1), the biometric information reader 1 is driven by outputting a power-on signal (step S2), and an authentication start signal is output. The biometric authentication process is started (step S3).

  As will be described later, if the biometric authentication process in the biometric information reader 1 is completed and the result is transmitted (step S4), whether or not the corresponding biometric information has been registered as a result of the verification process. Is determined (step S5).

  If the collated result is authenticated (step S5: YES), a signal to be transmitted to each part (mirror, seat, steering, engine, etc.) is set (step S6). As a signal to be transmitted to the electric steering lock 26, an STL release signal for releasing the locked state is prepared, and an engine start signal is prepared as a signal to be transmitted to the engine.

  On the other hand, if the collation result is not authenticated or the biometric information reader 1 cannot receive an appropriate signal due to a failure or the like (step S5: NO), the biometric authentication process is terminated.

  When the setting of the transmission signal is completed and the start switch 28 is input (step S7), an STL release signal is transmitted to the electric steering lock 26 (step S8). The electric steering lock 26 releases the locked state of the electric steering lock 26 based on the STL release signal, and outputs an unlock signal as an unlocked state.

  If it is confirmed that the unlock signal is input from the electric steering lock 26 (step S9), ID information is transmitted to the engine control unit 27 (step S10), and an engine start process described later is executed. Then, if an engine start signal is input from the smart entry control unit 24 and it is confirmed that the engine has started (step S11), the process is terminated.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the biometric authentication process in the biometric information reading device 1. Here, when a power-on signal is input from the smart entry control unit 24 (step S21), the power is turned on to start driving (step S22). At this time, the system of the first control unit 21 is initialized (step S23). And it is judged whether it is biometric authentication based on the input start signal (step S24).

  If it is not biometric authentication (step S24: NO), it is determined whether biometric information is registered (step S25). Since the biometric information registration process is not directly related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted. If it is not biometric information registration, the process is terminated.

  If it is biometric authentication (step S24: YES), infrared rays are irradiated by the infrared irradiation unit 18 (step S26). Then, the finger is detected (step S27), and it is determined whether or not the finger is placed on the finger placement unit 6 (step S28). As shown in FIG. 4, if it is determined that a finger is placed on the finger placement unit 6 (step S28: YES), the camera unit 19 captures the finger vein pattern (step S29). The photographed vein pattern is digitized by image processing (step S30) and collated with biological information stored in advance in the first storage unit 20 (step S31). The collation result is transmitted to the smart entry control unit 24 (step S32), and the biometric authentication process is terminated. If it is determined that no finger is placed on the finger placement unit 6 (step S28: NO), after determining whether 30 seconds have passed since infrared irradiation (step S26) (step S33), if 30 seconds have not passed, The process returns to step S27 again to detect the finger.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the engine start process in the engine control unit 27. Here, it is determined whether an unlock signal is input from the electric steering lock 26 (step S41), and it is determined whether an ID number is input from the smart entry control unit 24 (step S42). If the unlock signal is input and the ID number is input, the engine is started (step S43). Then, an engine start signal is transmitted to the smart entry control unit 24 (step S44), and the engine start process is terminated.

  As described above, in the biological information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface (cylinder part 4) of the main body part 2 formed in a substantially disc shape is arranged along the bent shape in which the finger force is removed. Since the possible finger placement part 6 is provided and the finger is placed on the finger placement part 6, the outer peripheral part (side wall parts 5a, 5b) of the main body part 2 is positioned so as to correspond to the curved shape of the palm. It is possible to place hands and fingers on the biological information reader 1 so as to grip the ball. Thereby, it is possible to quickly start the biometric authentication operation without a sense of incongruity.

  Note that the biological information reading apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the main body 2 is formed in a substantially disc shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the main body 2 is formed in a substantially semi-disc shape (in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. Half shape). Even if it forms in this way, while the index finger is arrange | positioned at the finger | toe arrangement | positioning part 6, while the side wall part 5a is clamped between the thumb and the index finger, the side wall part 5b is clamped between the index finger and the middle finger. As a result, the rotational positions of the hand and the finger can be made constant for each photographing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the bending degree of the bending portion 7, the size of the finger positioning portion 9, and the length and thickness of each joint portion of the index finger that seems to be average among general adults, and Although the position of the flat part 8 is set, it is not limited to this. For example, because it is possible to shoot biometric information using the middle finger or ring finger, the shape and arrangement of the component parts are set based on the length and thickness of each joint part of the middle finger or ring finger. May be. Similarly, when the middle finger or the ring finger is set to the finger placement unit 6, the other fingers are placed in a natural state with respect to the degree of swelling of the outer side surfaces of the side walls 5 a, 5 b and the outer dimensions. You may set so that. In addition, the finger size that seems to be average in the general adult can be predicted by sampling each finger size of general adult men and general adult women of any number of people and calculating the average value. . In addition, for simplicity, the shape and arrangement of the components may be set based on the dimensions of the finger of an arbitrary person.

  Further, for example, in the state where the middle finger is arranged in the finger placement part 6, the side wall part 5a is sandwiched between the index finger and the middle finger, and the side wall part 5b is sandwiched between the middle finger and the ring finger. It becomes possible to make the rotation position of the hand and the finger constant for each photographing. Further, when the ring finger is placed on the finger placement portion 6, similarly, the side walls 5a and 5b are sandwiched between the ring finger and the fingers on both sides thereof, so that the same effect can be obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the operation button 12 for driving other members is arranged in an area that can be operated with the thumb with the index finger placed on the finger placement unit 6, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation button 12 for driving another member may be arranged in an area operable with the thumb in a state where the middle finger or the ring finger is arranged in the finger arrangement unit 6. Even in this case, since the operation button 12 can be operated while maintaining the state where the camera unit 19 has photographed the finger, it is possible to drive other members while performing the authentication process.

It is a front view of the biometric information reader according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view of the biometric information reading apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 illustrating a state in which a finger is placed on a finger placement unit. It is a block diagram of the biometric authentication system concerning this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the smart entry control unit and the biological information reading device in FIG. 5. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in the smart entry control unit of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in the biometrics apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content in the entry control unit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Biometric information reader 2 ... Main-body part (apparatus main body)
3 ... Fixing part 4 ... Cylinder part 5a, 5b ... Side wall part (guide part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 6 ... Finger arrangement | positioning part 7 ... Bending part 8 ... Flat part 9 ... Finger positioning part 10 ... Infrared filter 11 ... Biometric authentication apparatus 12 ... Engine start button 13 ... External light filter 14a, 14b ... LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Registration button 16 ... Delete button 17 ... Case 18 ... Infrared irradiation part 19 ... Camera part (imaging means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... 1st memory | storage part 21 ... 1st control part 22 ... 1st communication part 23 ... 1st power supply part 24 ... Smart entry control unit 25 ... Door lock control unit 26 ... Electric steering lock 27 ... Engine control unit 28 ... Start switch 29 ... 2nd memory | storage part 30 ... 2nd control part 31 ... 2nd communication part 32 ... Input-output part 33 ... 2nd power supply part

Claims (4)

One finger can be placed along a bent shape with the force removed, and with one finger placed on the finger placement part, the other fingers except for one finger An apparatus main body having a guide portion that can be arranged in a state in which
An imaging means provided in the apparatus main body, for acquiring biometric information by imaging one finger arranged in the finger arrangement unit;
A biological information reading apparatus comprising:   The biological information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the finger placement unit includes a finger positioning unit that positions the one finger at a photographing position by the photographing unit.   An operation button for driving another member is arranged in an area that can be operated with the thumb in a state where any of the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger is arranged on the finger arrangement portion of the guide portion. The biological information reader according to claim 1 or 2. The guide portion is formed on both sides of the finger placement portion, and guides the fingers placed on the finger placement portion, and includes a guide wall having an outer edge formed in an arc shape,
The biological information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an external light filter that is slidable along an outer edge of the guide wall.

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