Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A fingerprint verification device comprising:
a fingerprint sensor including an imaging surface, the fingerprint sensor configured to capture images of a user’s finger when the finger is swiped against the imaging surface;
a memory for storing fingerprint data; and
a controller for comparing minutiae in the captured images with the stored fingerprint data to verify the user’s identity, the controller configured to determine whether the finger is a real human finger based on the spacing of minutiae in the captured images.
2. The fingerprint verification device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to capture a first set of images of the finger when the finger is swiped in a first direction on the imaging surface, and capture a second set of images of the finger when the finger is swiped in a second direction on the imaging surface.
3. The fingerprint verification device of claim 2, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to generate a first stitched image based on the first set of images, and a second stitched image based on the second set of images, and wherein the controller is configured to compare minutiae in the first and the second stitched images with the stored fingerprint data to verify the user’s identity.
4. The fingerprint verification device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to compare the spacing between minutiae in the first stitched image with the spacing between minutiae in the second stitched image.
5. The fingerprint verification device of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the finger is a real human finger based on the comparison of the spacing between minutiae in the first and the second stitched images, and the stored fingerprint data.
6. The fingerprint verification device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a delta value representing a difference between the spacing of minutiae in the first stitched image and the spacing of minutiae in the second stitched image.
7. The fingerprint verification device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to compare the delta value to the stored fingerprint data to determine whether the finger is a real human finger.
8. The fingerprint verification device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a first value representing the spacing between a first minutia and a second minutia in the first stitched image, calculate a second value representing the spacing between the first minutia and the second minutia in the second stitched image, and wherein the delta value represents the difference between the first value and the second value.
9. The fingerprint verification device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is an optical swipe sensor.
10. A method of recognizing a fingerprint, the method comprising:
providing a fingerprint sensor;
capturing a first set of images of a finger when the finger is swiped in a first direction on the fingerprint sensor;
stitching the first set of images together to form a first stitched image;
capturing a second set of images of the finger when the finger is swiped in a second direction on the fingerprint sensor;
stitching the second set of images together to form a second stitched image;
comparing minutiae in the first and the second stitched images to stored fingerprint data; and
determining whether the finger is recognizable based on the comparison.
11. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:
comparing the distance between features in the first stitched image with the distance between features in the second stitched image.
12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising:
determining whether the finger is a real human finger based on the comparison of the distance between features, and the stored fingerprint data.
13. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:
calculating a delta value representing a difference between the distance between features in the first stitched image and the distance between features in the second stitched image.
14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:
comparing the delta value to the stored fingerprint data to determine whether the finger is a real human finger.
15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:
calculating a first value representing the distance between a first minutia and a second minutia in the first stitched image;
calculating a second value representing the distance between the first minutia and the second minutia in the second stitched image; and
wherein the delta value represents the difference between the first value and the second value.
16. The method of claim 10, and further comprising:
generating movement information with the fingerprint sensor, the movement information indicative of movement of the finger on the fingerprint sensor; and
wherein the first and the second stitched images are formed based on the movement information.
17. An electronic device comprising:
an optical swipe sensor including an imaging surface, the optical swipe sensor configured to capture a first set of images of a user’s finger when the finger is swiped in a first direction on the imaging surface, and capture a second set of images of the finger when the finger is swiped in a second direction on the imaging surface, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction;
a memory for storing fingerprint data; and
a processor for extracting minutiae from the first and the second set of images, the processor configured to compare the extracted minutiae with the stored fingerprint data to verify the user’s identity, the processor configured to distinguish between a real human finger and a fake finger based on the spacing of features appearing in the captured images.
18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the optical swipe sensor is configured to generate a first stitched image based on the first set of images, and a second stitched image based on the second set of images.
19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to compare the spacing between minutiae in the first stitched image with the spacing between minutiae in the second stitched image.
20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to distinguish between a real human finger and a fake finger based on the comparison of the spacing between minutiae in the first and the second stitched images, and the stored fingerprint data.

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 system for use in locating an object, comprising:
a transceiver device for placing with an object to be located, the transceiver device comprising a first radio frequency communication module; and
a locator device comprising: a second radio frequency communication module for communicating with the transceiver device; distance determining means for estimating separation between the transceiver device and the locator device based on a status signal received from the transceiver device; and alarm means for alerting a user when separation between the transceiver device and the locator device falls below a predetermined distance.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver device is configured to transmit a status signal in response to an activation signal received from the locator device.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the transceiver device is configured to transmit a plurality of status signals in response to receipt of an activation signal.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the distance determining means comprises a signal strength meter for measuring strength of status signals received from the transceiver device.
5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more further transceiver devices each comprising a respective radio frequency communication module.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein each transceiver device has a unique identification code associated therewith.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the locator device is configured to identify the identity of a transceiver device activating the alarm means.
8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the locator device is configured to selectively address one or more of the transceiver devices.
9. A system according to claim 6, wherein the activation signal comprises a message packet including a tag identifier for identifying which of the plurality of transceiver devices is to be activated.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein each transceiver device is assigned a different bit in the tag identifier.
11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver device and the locator device are configured to communicate with each another using a wireless specification based on IEEE 802.15.4.
12. A system for use in locating an object, comprising:
a transceiver device for placing with an object to be located, the transceiver device comprising a first radio frequency communication module; and
a locator device comprising: a second radio frequency communication module for communicating with the transceiver device; distance determining means for estimating separation between the transceiver device and the locator device using a status signal received from the transceiver device; and an output for providing information based on the estimated separation between the transceiver device and the locator device provided by the distance determining means;
wherein the transceiver device and the locator device are configured to communicate with each another using a wireless specification based on IEEE 802.15.4.
13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the transceiver device and locator device are configured to distinguish between signals sent from the other respective device and signals sent from a device which is not part of the system.
14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the distance determining means comprises a signal strength meter for measuring strength of status signals received from the transceiver device.
15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the locator device further comprises a directional aerial.
16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the output is configured to provide an indication of the separation between the transceiver device and the locator device.
17. A system according to claim 12, wherein the output is configured to raise an alarm when the estimated separation between the transceiver device and the locator device exceeds a predetermined distance.
18. A system according to claim 12, wherein the output is configured to indicate when the estimated separation between the tag and the locator device falls below a predetermined distance.
19. A system according to claim 12, wherein the transceiver device is configured to switch intermittently between an inactive mode, in which the first radio frequency communication module is unresponsive to incoming signals, and an active mode, in which the first radio frequency communication module is responsive to incoming signals.
20. A system according to claim 12, further comprising one or more further transceiver devices each comprising a respective radio frequency communication module.
21. A system according to claim 20, wherein each transceiver device has a unique identification code associated therewith.
22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the locator device is configured to identify the identity of a transceiver device activating the output.
23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the locator device is configured to selectively address one or more of the transceiver devices.
24. A system according to claim 21, wherein the activation signal comprises a message packet including a tag identifier for identifying which of the plurality of transceiver devices is to be activated.
25. A system according to claim 24, wherein each transceiver device is assigned a different bit in the tag identifier.

1. A method comprising:
receiving at least length and space information for a first edge segment;
receiving at least length and space information for a second edge segment, said second edge segment being adjacent and collinear to said first edge segment, and said first edge segment having length less than a length threshold;
determining a first bias for said first edge segment;
determining a second bias for said second edge segment; and
conditionally lengthening said first edge segment.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said conditional lengthening occurs upon determining if a combined length of said first edge segment and said second edge segment is greater than twice said length threshold and if said combined length is greater than twice said length threshold, modifying said first edge segment length and said second edge segment length so as to provide for each of said first edge segment length and said second edge segment length being at least said length threshold in length.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving at least length and space information for a third edge segment, said second edge segment being adjacent and collinear to said first edge segment; and
wherein said conditional lengthening occurs upon determining if a combined length of said first edge segment, said second edge segment and said third edge segment is greater than thrice said length threshold and if said combined length is greater than thrice said length threshold, modifying said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third segment length so as to provide for each of said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third edge segment length being at least said length threshold in length.
4. An apparatus comprising:
a machine readable medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to operate said apparatus to enable said apparatus to:
receive at least length and space information for a first edge segment;
receive at least length and space information for a second edge segment, said second edge segment being adjacent and collinear to said first edge segment, and said first edge segment having length less than a length threshold;
determine a first bias for said first edge segment;
determine a second bias for said second edge segment; and
conditionally lengthen said first edge segment;
a processor coupled to said machine readable medium to execute said programming instructions.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein conditional lengthening occurs upon determining if a combined length of said first edge segment, said second edge segment and said third edge segment is greater than thrice said length threshold and if said combined length is greater than thrice said length threshold, modifying said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third segment length so as to provide for each of said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third edge segment length being at least said length threshold in length.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said programming instructions further operate to
receive at least length and space information for a third edge segment, said second edge segment being adjacent and collinear to said first edge segment; and
wherein said conditional lengthening occurs upon determining if a combined length of said first edge segment, said second edge segment and said third edge segment is greater than thrice said length threshold and if said combined length is greater than thrice said length threshold, modifying said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third segment length so as to provide for each of said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third edge segment length being at least said length threshold in length.
7. A machine accessible medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to operate an apparatus to enable said apparatus to:
receive at least length and space information for a first edge segment;
receive at least length and space information for a second edge segment, said second edge segment being adjacent and collinear to said first edge segment, and said first edge segment having length less than a length threshold;
determine a first bias for said first edge segment;
determine a second bias for said second edge segment; and
conditionally lengthen said first edge segment.
8. The machine accessible medium of claim 7 wherein said conditional lengthening occurs upon determining if a combined length of said first edge segment and said second edge segment is greater than twice said length threshold and if said combined length is greater than twice said length threshold, modifying said first edge segment length and said second edge segment length so as to provide for each of said first edge segment length and said second edge segment length being at least said length threshold in length.
9. The machine accessible medium of claim 7 wherein said programming instructions further operate to:
receive at least length and space information for a third edge segment, said second edge segment being adjacent and collinear to said first edge segment; and
wherein said conditional lengthening occurs upon determining if a combined length of said first edge segment, said second edge segment and said third edge segment is greater than thrice said length threshold and, if said combined length is greater than thrice said length threshold, modifying said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third segment length so as to provide for each of said first edge segment length, said second edge segment length and said third edge segment length being at least said length threshold in length.

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. An imaging system, comprising:
a portable source of radiation;
a portable detector operable to detect the radiation from the portable source, wherein the detector is adapted to move independently of the portable source in all degrees of freedom; and
an alignment system comprising a plurality of transmitters disposed on an anti-scatter grid disposed over the portable detector, wherein the alignment system is operable to establish an orientation of the portable detector relative to the portable source based on signals from the plurality of transmitters.
2. The imaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment system is adapted to initiate the indicator when the portable detector is aligned with the portable source to receive radiation from the portable source.
3. The imaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator is a visible indicator.
4. The imaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmitters are disposed on the anti-scatter grid and on the portable detector around the anti-scatter grid.
5. The imaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment system comprises a plurality of sensors disposed around the portable source to receive signals produced by the plurality of transmitters.
6. The imaging system as recited in claim 5, wherein the alignment system is operable to indicate when the portable detector is within range of the portable source.
7. The imaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicator is an audible indicator.
8. An imaging system, comprising:
an X-ray source;
a portable X-ray detector operable to detect X-rays from the X-ray source;
an anti-scatter grid disposed over the detector; and
an alignment system comprising a plurality of transmitters disposed on the anti-scatter grid, wherein the alignment system is operable to establish an orientation of the portable X-ray detector relative to the X-ray source based on signals from the plurality of transmitters.
9. The imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein the alignment system is adapted to initiate the indicator when the portable X-ray detector is aligned with the X-ray source to receive radiation from the X-ray source.
10. The imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein the indicator is a visible indicator.
11. The imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of transmitters are disposed on the anti-scatter grid and on the portable X-ray detector around the anti-scatter grid.
12. The imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein the alignment system comprises a receiver attached to the X-ray source to receive signals produced by the plurality of transmitters.
13. The imaging system as recited in claim 8, comprising a foam pad disposed over the anti-scatter grid to prevent scattered X-rays from reaching the portable X-ray detector.
14. The imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein the indicator is an audible indicator.
15. An imaging system, comprising:
a portable source of radiation;
a portable detector operable to detect the radiation from the portable source, wherein the detector is adapted to move independently of the portable source in all degrees of freedom;
an alignment system comprising an indicator, wherein the alignment system is adapted to initiate the indicator when the detector is aligned with the portable source to receive radiation from the portable source; and
wherein the alignment system comprises a plurality of transmitters disposed on an anti-scatter grid disposed on the portable detector and the alignment system is operable to establish a location of the portable detector relative to the portable source based on signals from the plurality of transmitters.
16. The imaging system as recited in claim 15, wherein the indicator is an audible indicator.
17. The imaging system as recited in claim 15, wherein the indicator is a visible indicator.
18. The imaging system as recited in claim 15, wherein the alignment system comprises a plurality of sensors disposed around the portable source to receive signals produced by the plurality of transmitters.
19. The imaging system as recited in claim 15, wherein the alignment system is operable to establish an orientation of the portable detector relative to the portable source based on the signals from the plurality of transmitters.
20. The imaging system as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed on the anti-scatter grid and on the portable detector around the anti-scatter grid.