Patents in Biometric
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Title
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Ultrasonic Biometric Imaging And Identity Verification System
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Abstract
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An ultrasonic imaging system and method lor imaging human or animal tissue having a surface and including a probe comprising a platen lor denning the surface in a manner supporting the human or animal tissue lor imaging the same, a transducer positioned closely adjacent the supporting platen lor providing an output ultrasonic beam directed on the surface so that the size ol the beam at its local point is as small as possible to maximize the resolution ol the system an electrically operated motor lor moving the transducer in a manner such that the ultrasonic beam is directed in a path along the surlace. A fluid-tight housing extends from the tissue-supporting surface and has an interior region containing the transducer and motor which region is filled by an electrically non-conductive fluid having an acoustic impedance substantially equal to that ol water and having a viscosity sufficiently low so as not to impede the movement ol the transducer. The housing is provided with a bellows lor accommodating thermal expansion and contraction ol the fluid. In one aspect ol the invention, the motor provides oscillatory output motion and the output shaft is coupled to the transducer so that in response to oscillation ol the shaft the output ultrasonic beam is directed in the path along the surlace. An encoder is mounted on the shaft between the motor and coupling to minimize any distortion in the information provided by the encoder. The coupling is in the form ol an elongated arm having a structure ol sufficient rigidity so as not to bend or flex during oscillation ol the motor shaft while having minimal drag as the arm moves through the fluid.
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Inventors
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John K. Schneider, Snyder, N.Y.; Gerald F. Marshall, Morgan Hill, Calil.; Andrew D. Vassallo,
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Patent Number
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5935071
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International Classification
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10-Aug-99
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