Importance

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Abstract

A fingerprint imaging apparatus for use in an identity verification system or the like. The imaging apparatus includes a carriage rotatably mounted on a frame, with the carriage being driven by a stepper motor. A transparent optical element having an arcuate recess for receiving a finger to be imaged is secured to the frame. The rotatable carriage supports a light source and mirror which are positioned adjacent the optical element. The mirror is positioned with respect to the source and optical element to receive light issuing from the element which originated from the source. The light is reflected by the mirror through a lens arrangement to a second mirror and then to a linear photo-diode array which are also mounted on the carriage. When a finger is positioned in the recess of the optical element, the motor causes the carriage to rotate so that the finger is scanned by the light source. The linear diode-array is periodically read out during the scan with the output of the array containing imaging data. The data is then processed as required to accomplish the identity verification function or the like.

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First Claim