Mantra Softech Gets Patent Approval for Optical Fingerprint Scanner

Mantra Softech has received approval from the Property Office of India for a patent concerning its Optical Fingerprint Scanner.

Rather than relying on multi-spectral or 3D imaging techniques, Mantra Softech’s solution leverages the coherent gating image technique of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a method of getting high-resolution cross-sectional images of biological tissues or materials.

In OCT, a broadband light source, such as a superluminescent diode or a femtosecond laser, is used to generate a short-pulsed light beam. This light is split into two arms: the reference arm and the sample arm. The reference arm directs the light to a reference mirror, while the sample arm directs the light to the target tissue or material under investigation.

When the light from the reference arm and the sample arm is recombined, interference occurs. The interference arises due to the interference between the backscattered or reflected light from the tissue and the light reflected by the reference mirror. The interference pattern carries depth information about the sample, which can be used to reconstruct a cross-sectional image.

Here is where the coherent gating technique comes into play. By adjusting the delay between the reference arm and the sample arm, the interference signal can be selectively obtained from a specific depth within the sample. This gating is achieved by tuning the reference arm path length using a scanning mechanism.

The depth information is obtained by measuring the time delay between the reference and sample arms required for interference to occur. This is accomplished by scanning the reference arm path length and recording the interference signal as a function of the delay. The recorded signals are then processed to extract depth-resolved information, and a cross-sectional image of the sample is reconstructed.

Mantra Softech’s fingerprint scanning technology involves the use of a special kind of Michelson interferometer, an optical instrument used to measure small displacements, characterize optical components, and study interference phenomena. In a regular Michelson interferometer, two beams of light are split by a beam splitter and sent through two separate paths before being recombined. The resulting interference pattern is then observed.

In a Zero path difference Michelson interferometer, the path lengths of the two arms are made to be equal, meaning that both beams travel the same distance. This can be achieved by carefully adjusting the mirrors or by introducing compensating optical elements.

Mantra Softech says its configuration enables the capture of both the external and internal surfaces of a fingerprint.

In a statement attributed to both Mantra Softech’s technical director, Hiren Bhandari, and its head of R&D, Haresh Khadsalia, the executives said the patent “reaffirms our commitment to providing businesses and individuals with cutting-edge solutions that protect against identity theft and unauthorized access.”

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July 17, 2023 – by the FindBiometrics Editorial Team