1. A method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints which comprises a sensor, said method comprising:
recording a fingerprint with the sensor; and
evaluating whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint on the sensor or from a finger placed on the sensor on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor in relation to an integral coordinate system of the sensor.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation step comprises comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.
3. A method according to claim 3, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was considered as originating from a finger placed on the sensor.
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was accepted.
5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of at least one feature of the recorded fingerprint with the location on the sensor of the corresponding feature of the previously recorded fingerprint.
6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of a partial area of the recorded fingerprint with the location of a corresponding partial area of the previously recorded fingerprint.
7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of matching at least one partial area of a reference fingerprint with the recorded fingerprint to obtain at least one matching partial area of the recorded fingerprint, wherein the step of comparing the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint comprises comparing the location on the sensor of the matching partial area with the location of the corresponding partial area of the previously recorded fingerprint.
8. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of, if the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor and the location of the previously recorded fingerprint essentially correspond, considering the recorded fingerprint as originating from a latent fingerprint.
9. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of storing information about the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor if the recorded fingerprint is not considered as originating from a latent fingerprint.
10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor and the location of the previously recorded fingerprint essentially correspond, considering the recorded fingerprint as originating from a latent fingerprint.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was considered as originating from a finger placed on the sensor.
12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the previously recorded fingerprint is the immediately preceding fingerprint which was accepted.
13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information about the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor if the recorded fingerprint is not considered as originating from a latent fingerprint.
14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the comparison of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint is carried out only in the event that a matching between a reference fingerprint and the recorded fingerprint reveals that the recorded fingerprint originates from an authorised person.
15. A storage medium for digital information, which medium is readable for a computer system, the storage medium containing a computer program for preventing false acceptance of fingerprints, wherein said program implements the method in claim 1.
16. A system for fingerprint checking comprising a sensor, wherein the system is arranged to detect a latent fingerprint on the sensor so as to prevent false acceptance, and wherein the sensor has an integral coordinate system.
17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the system is further arranged to record a fingerprint by means of the sensor and, on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor, evaluate whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint on the sensor or from a finger placed on the sensor.
18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the system further comprises a comparison means for comparison of the location of a recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.
19. A method of preventing false acceptance in a system for checking fingerprints which comprises a sensor, said method comprising:
recording a fingerprint with the sensor; and
evaluating whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint disposed on the sensor or from a subsequent fingerprint disposed on the sensor on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor in relation to an integral coordinate system of the sensor.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the subsequent fingerprint corresponds to that of a finger in contact with the sensor at the time the recorded fingerprint is recorded by the sensor.
21. A system for fingerprint checking comprising:
a sensor having an integral coordinate system; and
a processing unit coupled to the sensor,
wherein the system is configured to record a fingerprint using the sensor; and
wherein the processing unit is configured to evaluate whether the recorded fingerprint originates from a latent fingerprint disposed on the sensor or from a subsequent fingerprint disposed on the sensor on the basis of the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor in relation to the integral coordinate system of the sensor.
22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the location of the recorded fingerprint on the sensor with the location of a previously recorded fingerprint on the sensor.
23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the subsequent fingerprint corresponds to that of a finger in contact with the sensor at the time the recorded fingerprint is recorded by the sensor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A light source apparatus comprising:
a first light source and a second light source that output light in mutually opposing directions along a single optical axis;
a wavelength conversion element that is disposed between the first light source and the second light source and that, upon being irradiated with the light output from the first light source and the second light source, generates light of a wavelength different from that of said light;
a first optical member that is disposed between the wavelength conversion element and the first light source, that transmits the light from the first light source, and that, of the light generated in the wavelength conversion element, reflects back light that is scattered towards the first light source, toward the wavelength conversion element, parallel to the optical axis; and
a second optical member that is disposed between the wavelength conversion element and the second light source, that transmits the light from the second light source, and that, of the light generated in the wavelength conversion element, deflects, in a direction intersecting the optical axis, the light scattered toward the second light source and the light reflected back by the first optical member.
2. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength conversion element has a fluorophore or quantum dot that is excited by the light output from the first light source and the second light source.
3. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first collimating optical system that is disposed between the wavelength conversion element and the first optical member and that converts the light scattered towards the first light source from the wavelength conversion element into collimated light; and
a second collimating optical system that is disposed between the wavelength conversion element and the second optical member and that converts the light that is scattered towards the second light source from the wavelength conversion element into collimated light.
4. The light source apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first collimating optical system and the second collimating optical system includes a collimating lens or a rod integrator.
5. The light source apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of sets each consisting of the wavelength conversion element, the first collimating optical system, and the second collimating optical system are provided in series on the optical axis, and the wavelength conversion elements in the individual sets generate light of different colors from each other.
6. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
an additional light source that is disposed on the opposite side of the second optical member from the direction in which the light is deflected by the second optical member and that outputs light along the same optical axis as the light deflected by the second optical member,
wherein the second optical member also transmits the light output from the additional light source.
7. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the wavelength conversion elements are provided, which are arranged in a direction along the optical axis or in a direction intersecting the optical axis so that the light from the first light source and the second light source is radiated all together, and which generate light of different colors from each other.
8. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets each including the first light source, the second light source, the wavelength conversion element, the first optical member, and the second optical member are provided in parallel, with the optical axes of the light deflected by the second optical members being a common axis.
9. The light source apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a first collimating optical system that is disposed between the wavelength conversion element and the first optical member and that converts the light scattered towards the first light source from the wavelength conversion element into collimated light; and
a second collimating optical system that is disposed between the wavelength conversion element and the second optical member and that converts the light that is scattered towards the second light source from the wavelength conversion element into collimated light.
10. The light source apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the first collimating optical system and the second collimating optical system includes a collimating lens or a rod integrator.
11. The light source apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of sets each consisting of the wavelength conversion element, the first collimating optical system, and the second collimating optical system are provided in series on the optical axis, and the wavelength conversion elements in the individual sets generate light of different colors from each other.
12. The light source apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of sets each consisting of the wavelength conversion element, the first collimating optical system, and the second collimating optical system are provided in series on the optical axis, and the wavelength conversion elements in the individual sets generate light of different colors from each other.
13. The light source apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
an additional light source that is disposed on the opposite side of the second optical member from the direction in which the light is deflected by the second optical member and that outputs light along the same optical axis as the light deflected by the second optical member,
wherein the second optical member also transmits the light output from the additional light source.
14. The light source apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
an additional light source that is disposed on the opposite side of the second optical member from the direction in which the light is deflected by the second optical member and that outputs light along the same optical axis as the light deflected by the second optical member,
wherein the second optical member also transmits the light output from the additional light source.
15. The light source apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
an additional light source that is disposed on the opposite side of the second optical member from the direction in which the light is deflected by the second optical member and that outputs light along the same optical axis as the light deflected by the second optical member,
wherein the second optical member also transmits the light output from the additional light source.
16. The light source apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the wavelength conversion elements are provided, which are arranged in a direction along the optical axis or in a direction intersecting the optical axis so that the light from the first light source and the second light source is radiated all together, and which generate light of different colors from each other.
17. The light source apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the wavelength conversion elements are provided, which are arranged in a direction along the optical axis or in a direction intersecting the optical axis so that the light from the first light source and the second light source is radiated all together, and which generate light of different colors from each other.
18. The light source apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the wavelength conversion elements are provided, which are arranged in a direction along the optical axis or in a direction intersecting the optical axis so that the light from the first light source and the second light source is radiated all together, and which generate light of different colors from each other.
19. The light source apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of sets each including the first light source, the second light source, the wavelength conversion element, the first optical member, and the second optical member are provided in parallel, with the optical axes of the light deflected by the second optical members being a common axis.
20. The light source apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of sets each including the first light source, the second light source, the wavelength conversion element, the first optical member, and the second optical member are provided in parallel, with the optical axes of the light deflected by the second optical members being a common axis.
21. The light source apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of sets each including the first light source, the second light source, the wavelength conversion element, the first optical member, and the second optical member are provided in parallel, with the optical axes of the light deflected by the second optical members being a common axis.