Infrared Identification of Faces and Body Parts (Englisch)

Abstract

Infrared imaging offers a robust technique for identification of faces and body parts. The anatomical information which is utilized by the infrared identification (IRID) technology involves subsurface features unique to each person. Those features may be imaged at a distance, using passive infrared sensor technology, with or without the cooperation of the subject. IRID therefore provides an unique capability for rapid, on-the-fly identification, under all lighting conditions including total darkness. A comparison between minutiae from facial thermograms and from fingerprints, based upon the anatomical structures underlying each, supports the experimental findings that facial thermograms are as unique as fingerprints. For many biometric applications, identification based upon facial thermograms is preferable over fingerprints, since the former requires no physical contact with the subject and can be collected on-the-fly. Also, a significant percentage of the population does not produce good enough fingerprints for identification; in contrast with the fact that every living person presents a thermal pattern. Thermal images of part of the face may be identified if a sufficient area is seen, just as with latent fingerprints. Systems for analyzing fingerprint minutiae may be utilized to analyze facial thermal minutiae with good results.