Fingerprint Biometrics Sensors

High-performance & Low-cost Fingerprint Solution

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	What's Biometrics

What is Biometrics?

We have all seen spy movies where the hero enters a high security door with a swipe of his fingerprint. Did you know that this application is now widely used for security systems around the world? Fingerprint recognition or authentication can be found in all sorts of applications such as mobile phones, lap tops, security doors, immigration, park tickets, etc. The most common use for the everyday user is possibly fingerprint authentication for computers.

This method of identification technology called biometrics, measures and analyzes unique biological features such as fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements, for authentication purposes. Each biometric method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages ranging from the level of intrusiveness, reliability, cost, speed, convenience, portability and storage space needed. For example, iris validation may cause damage to the iris, palm print has insufficient features to be identified, vocal recognition is highly sensitive to surrounding noise and easily duplicated by high-class recording and DNA verification is accurate but time-consuming.

Fingerprint Authentication

Due to its relatively low cost and extreme reliability, fingerprint authentication is the most popular choice in biometric technology. Nowadays, it is quite common to find a notebook PC and computer peripherals with built-in fingerprint readers. This means that only the person with a pre-registered fingerprint can log on to the computer and access the files within it. Fingerprint authentication is not only an accurate means of identification due to the uniqueness of the pattern of friction ridges and valleys on one’s fingertips, but it is also extremely convenient since there is nothing to carry (like a physical key) or to remember (like passwords or PINs).

How does it work?

Fingerprint sensors usually consist of three main components which are:

-	A reader or scanning device
-	Software that converts the scanned information into digital form and compares match points
-	A database that stores the biometric data for comparison

When a user swipes his finger over the sensor, his unique fingerprint pattern are captured, encrypted and kept in a database. This image is captured digitally, normally at 500dpi (dots per inch) resolution in gray-scale using 8 bits per dot. The software will identify specific points of data as match points and a template is created and stored on the database. Users will be required to scan their registered finger for future logons. When this happens, a new template will be generated and matched against the values in the database. If required values match, the logon will be allowed.

Choosing a Fingerprint Recognition Solution

With many companies out-competing each other in the fingerprint sensor market, it can be difficult to know which is most suitable for your type of application. Important factors to consider when choosing a fingerprint sensor include technology used, standards compatibility, power consumption, memory consumption, sensor size, durability and sensitivity.

EgisTec's fingerprint sensor uses a unique imaging technology using only a few MOS transistors in every sensor pixel. The super sensitive sensor can discriminate very small capacitance variation and the sensor has a matrix resolution of 1000dpi. EgisTec's Self-Calibration technology produces excellent quality images even for various skin conditions such as sweaty, scarred or dry skin. EgisTec's sensor is also the first silicon fingerprint sensor to pass the 15KV ESD testing in the world. The sensor is operable at temperatures ranging from -20℃ ~ +85℃ and the scratch resistant, ultra-hard coating can withstand up to 20 million swipes.

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