Mantra Softech India Pvt. Ltd. has received a U.S. patent for an optical fingerprint scanner that detects spoofing attempts using coherent gating techniques. The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted patent US 12,315,287 B2 on May 27, 2025, bolstering the company’s growing intellectual property portfolio in biometric security.
Dual-layer scanning for liveness detection
The patented design captures both external surface ridges and subsurface fingerprint features using a dual-path optical system built around a broadband light source and a Michelson interferometer. This configuration enables the scanner to verify liveness by isolating reflections from living tissue, without relying on complex multi-spectral analysis. The system represents an evolution of Mantra’s optical scanning technologies first patented in India in 2023.
By focusing light at specific depths below the skin, the device can detect structural patterns like sweat ducts that are nearly impossible to replicate using artificial materials. Mantra claims the design is more compact and cost-efficient than optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanners, potentially making it suitable for commercial devices with lower bill-of-materials costs.
Addressing spoofing threats in a shifting market
The patent arrives as the biometrics industry faces increasing challenges from spoofing, deepfakes, and injection attacks. To combat these threats, companies such as Jumio have introduced advanced liveness detection systems that complement hardware-based anti-spoofing solutions like Mantra’s. The scanner is designed to detect presentation attacks involving silicone, printed images, or molded fingers—use cases that are growing more common across identity verification and access control.
The development also builds on Mantra’s broader biometric product strategy, which includes fingerprint, iris, and facial recognition solutions. In April, the company expanded its licensing agreement with Fingerprints AB to support new iris-based offerings. The new patent reinforces its position in the competitive subsurface biometric scanning space, where players like NEC, Dermalog, and Apple have also pursued coherent imaging solutions.
According to USPTO filings, the patented system prioritizes liveness detection while remaining adaptable to government ID programs, border control, and secure financial devices—applications where biometric spoofing risks are especially acute.
Source: Tech Times
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
