Fujitsu Incorporating Biometric Palm Vein Scanner Into Laptops

04-22-2011 • h-online.com/security

A new photographic optical system has allowed Fujitsu to build a palm vein scanner that's only about the size of a coin. According to the company, the palm vein structure is much harder to replicate than finger prints and offers a higher number of reference points to provide secure user authentication. Vein scanners have been known to be an effective alternative to finger print scanners for some time. Measuring just 29 mm × 29 mm [x× 11.2 mm, the new sensor is considerably smaller than its predecessor; Fujitsu said that this is also due to a new image-reflective method. With the new smaller size, the option of using a vein scan to log into a notebook is therefore coming within reach. To collect the largest possible amount of recognition data with the highest possible degree of precision, the sensor captures images of the user's palm at a rate of 20 frames per second. The best picture is then selected for authentication. Users no longer need to hold their hand motionless above the sensor or touch the sensor: It is sufficient to simply place the palm over the sensor briefly.