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white paper
Anatomy of Finger Vein Imaging
Vein
Image Sensor
Near Image Image Sensor Image
Infrared Sensor Sensor
Light (LED) (CCD Camera) (CCD Camera)
Figure 1 Figure 2
fingerprinting. And people don’t have to veins are hidden inside the body, there is little
remember a pin number. Hitachi’s system is risk of forgery or theft.
being used in Japan to verify user identities for ■ High accuracy: The authentication accuracy
ATMs, door access systems and computer log-in is less than 0.01% for the FRR (False
systems. Rejection Rate), less than 0.0001% for the
FAR (False Acceptance Rate), and 0% for the
Summary of Authentication Process FTE (Failure to Enroll).
■ Unique and constant: Finger vein patterns
Near-infrared rays generated from a bank of
are different even among identical twins and
LEDs (light emitting diodes) penetrate the
remain constant through the adult years.
finger and are absorbed by the hemoglobin in
the blood. The areas in which the rays are ■ Contactless: The use of near-infrared light
absorbed (i.e., veins) thus appear as dark areas allows for non-invasive, contactless imaging
in an image taken by a CCD camera located on that ensures both convenience and cleanli-
the opposite side of the finger. Image ness for the user experience.
processing can then construct a finger vein ■ Ease of feature extraction: Finger vein pat-
pattern from the camera image. This pattern is terns are relatively stable and clearly cap-
compressed and digitized so that it can be tured, enabling the use of low-resolution
registered as a template of a person’s biometric cameras to take vein images for small-size,
authentication data. The finger vein pattern and simple data image processing.
the template are then authenticated by means ■ Fast authentication speed: One-to-one
of a pattern-matching technique. authentication takes less than one second.
Moreover, the authentication device can be
Features compact due to the small size of the fingers.
white paper 2
Comparison of Lighting Methods
Figure 3
the image sensor are placed on the same side of of the finger as shown in Figure 4 (below). Near-
the finger, and the image sensor captures the infrared light shines through the sides of the
reflected light from the surface of the finger. In finger and scatters inside the finger, then
the case of “light transmission,” the finger is passing through the other side of the finger and
placed between the image sensor and the light detected by the image sensor to capture the
source, and the near-infrared light passes vein pattern image. This new method enables
through the finger where it is captured by the high-contrast imaging as well as easy placement
image sensor. of the finger on an open, ceiling-less device.
Image Image
Image Sensor Sensor Image Sensor Sensor
(CCD Camera) (CCD Camera)
Figure 4
3 white paper
Finger Vein Authentication in Action
Block Diagram of Finger Vein Authentication
Image
Filter Sensor
(CCD Camera) Video IO CPU Core
IC Card
Image Network
Sensor
System Bus
Vein
Figure 5
all sorts of signal processing, video I/O for into applications such as opening automobile
capturing data from the image sensor, LED doors with a simple grip of the handle, for which
power controller, and I/O controller. The the necessary grip-type authentication
authentication outcome flows through the I/O technology is already in development. Grip-type
controller. Security applications such as door technology embeds personal authentication in
locking are activated by the signal from the the natural motion of opening a door, ensuring
controller. The system executes four tasks: the highest security without forcing the user to
learn complicated new procedures. This
(1) Capturing of finger vein pattern image technology will be applicable to home, office or
(2) Normalization of the image car doors and will usher in a secure future
without keys.
(3) Feature pattern extraction from the image
(4) Pattern matching followed by judgment of The expansion of finger vein authentication
outcome applications is the miniaturization of this
technology. Miniaturization enables finger vein
Conclusion authentication technology to be embedded in a
greater variety of devices and is thus the driving
Finger vein products have been successfully
force behind the expansion of finger vein
adopted by major corporations in the fields of
authentication applications. One of the principal
financial, physical and logical security in Japan
mechanisms behind miniaturization of finger
and other parts of Asia. In Japan, finger vein
vein authentication technology is the
products have enjoyed great success in the
miniaturization of the image sensor. With the
financial sector2. Physical security systems
popularization of camera phones, small yet
(standalone or connected by server and used
highly sensitive image sensors have become
with a smartcard, PIN code or by itself) have
widely accessible.
also sold widely in Asia, and particularly in
Singapore, where well-known buildings such as
Using the highly secure authentication principle
IBM Singapore, Mizuho Bank, the Caltex Tower,
of finger vein authentication, corporate and
and the Hitachi Tower have adopted finger vein
banking Institutions can ensure customer
technology for biometric entry access.
identity and data security and minimize data
security breaches and cyber crimes taking place
Beyond embedded applications for portable IT
at enterprises worldwide.
devices such as cellular phones, finger vein
authentication will in the future likely expand
white paper 4
Footnotes
1 Hitachi Omron – Finger Vein Authentication Technology
The biometric method known as “Finger Vein Authentication” (introduced widely by Japanese
banks few years ago), is claimed to be the fastest and most secure biometric method.
2 70% of major financial institutions have adopted finger vein technology as a biometrics solution
that ensures privacy by storing templates securely on a smart card rather than in a database.
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