JP2001215109A - Iris image input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an iris image input apparatus which enables inputting of an iris input simply and comfortably. SOLUTION: A stereoscopic display 2 is arranged to display a three- dimensional image, a video camera 1 to photograph eyes of a user, and an eye position gaining means 4 to gain the positions of the eyes of the user. Also provided is a three-dimensional object generation means 7 which generates the optimum position object B for indicating the optimum position in the extraction of an iris pattern for the user, while an eye position object C for indicating the eye positions of the user with respect to the optimum positions is generated sequentially based on the eye positions of the user obtained by the eye position gaining means 4, and displays the three-dimensional objects on the stereoscopic display 2. A judging means 8 is provided to determine whether the eye positions of the user obtained by the eye position gaining means 4 coincide with the optimum positions or not, and an iris pattern extraction means 9 to extract the iris patter from the images taken by the video camera when the judging means determines the coincidence with the optimum positions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an iris image input device for inputting a human iris (iris) image used for identifying an individual.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices have been developed in which an iris pattern of a human eye is used to identify an individual. This iris pattern has advantages such as higher discriminability than fingerprints and the like and can be performed in a non-contact manner, and thus has been actively used as identification data in various devices.

In this type of device, when inputting an iris, a user stands in front of the device and looks into an LCD (liquid crystal display) of the device. Then, the apparatus detects this, captures the user's eyes with the video camera (S11), and measures the distance between the video camera and the user with the distance measurement sensor (S1).
2) Further, the iris center position is extracted from the image taken by the video camera (S13). The eye image of the user photographed by the video camera is displayed as it is so that the user himself can confirm it (S14). The user moves the eyeball left and right so that the eye image is at the center of the screen while looking at the image of his own eye displayed on the LCD screen, and moves back and forth so that the image is in focus. I do. When the iris center position and the distance between the iris center and the video camera become the optimum positions for iris pattern extraction by the user's operation (S1)
5) The apparatus automatically extracts an iris pattern (S16).

[0004]

As described above, when inputting an iris pattern, the user operates while watching his own eye image so that his or her own eyeball is at the optimum position. Although it is easy to determine whether or not the user's own operation direction is correct based on the movement of the eye image on the LCD screen, it has been difficult to determine the front and rear direction. As described above, there is a problem that it is very difficult to guide the position of the eye to the position optimal for iris pattern extraction.

[0005] In addition, since the user performs an input operation while checking his or her own eye image, there is a problem that the user is very eerie and uncomfortable, and the input of the iris is accompanied by discomfort.

[0006] Under such circumstances, there has been a demand for the development of an iris image input device capable of performing iris input easily and comfortably.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) An iris image input device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a display means for displaying a three-dimensional image, an image pickup means for photographing a user's eye, and a user's eye. An eye position obtaining means for obtaining the position of the eye, and a three-dimensional optimum position object for indicating to the user an optimum position for iris pattern extraction, and the user's eye position obtained by the eye position obtaining means A three-dimensional object generating means for sequentially generating a three-dimensional eye position object indicating a user's eye position with respect to the optimum position, and displaying the three-dimensional object on a display means; and a user acquired by the eye position acquiring means. And an iris pattern for extracting an iris pattern from an image picked up by the imaging means when it is determined that the eye position of the eye coincides with the optimum position. Out in which and means.

(2) In the iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention, in (1) above, the eye position acquiring means extracts the iris center position in the plane direction of the user from the image captured by the imaging means. It is provided with an iris center position extracting means and a distance measuring means for measuring a distance in a depth direction from a user's face.

(3) In the iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention, in the above (1) or (2), the depth direction of the optimum position corresponds to the focal position of the imaging means.

(4) An iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention, wherein in any one of the above (1) to (3), an infrared output means for outputting infrared light and an infrared light from the infrared output means are passed. Or a hot mirror that reflects light to irradiate the user's eyes.

(5) An iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention provides the iris image input device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the eye position of the user does not reach the optimum position within a predetermined time.
A notification means is provided for notifying the user of a message for guiding the user's eyes to the optimum position.

(6) An iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention is the iris image input device according to (5), wherein the notification means is a voice means or a display means.

(7) An iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention is the iris image input device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the iris image input device performs personal identification using an iris pattern. The iris pattern is incorporated in the device or is configured to be able to output the iris pattern to an external device.

(8) An iris image input device according to another aspect of the present invention is the iris image input device according to any one of the above (1) to (6), wherein the iris image input device is different from the other device using the eye position of the user. It is configured to be incorporated or to be able to output its eye position to an external device.

In the present invention, the user's eye position and the optimum position indicating the optimum position for iris pattern extraction are expressed in three dimensions, and the relative relationship between the user's eye position and the optimum position becomes clear. To do. Based on this three-dimensional object, the user moves the position of his or her own eye to the optimum position, and when the user matches the optimum position, acquires the iris pattern of both eyes.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an iris input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of displaying a stereoscopic image on the stereoscopic display of FIG. This iris image input device includes a video camera 1 with an infrared lamp 1a for photographing a user's eyes, a stereoscopic display 2, a hot mirror 3, and an eye position acquisition unit 4.
An iris center position extracting unit 5 and a distance measuring sensor 6 constituting the eye position acquiring unit 4; a three-dimensional object generating unit 7; a judging unit 8; an iris pattern extracting unit 9; , An audio output unit 11 and a control unit 12 for controlling the entire iris image input device including these units.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stereoscopic display 2 displays a three-dimensional image by displaying an image for the left eye to the left eye and an image for the right eye to the right eye. For example, an existing device such as a combination of a flat display such as an LCD and a lenticular plate, a parallel dual screen, a liquid crystal shutter glasses and a liquid crystal shutter interlocking display can be applied, and any device capable of displaying a three-dimensional image can be used. No restrictions.

In front of the stereoscopic display 2, a hot mirror 3 (visible light is transmitted and infrared light is reflected) is inclined.
Is provided, and the video camera 1 is arranged below it. The three-dimensional image displayed on the stereoscopic display 2 passes through the hot mirror 3 and is guided to the user's eyes, while the light from the infrared lamp 1a of the video camera 1 is reflected by the hot mirror 3 and reflected by the user. The light is radiated to the eye and the reflected light is reflected by the hot mirror 3 and guided to the video camera 1.
Since the iris of the eye has a high reflectance in the near-infrared region, a high-contrast image can be obtained by photographing while irradiating the user's eyes with infrared light using the infrared lamp 1a.

The eye position obtaining means 4 obtains the position of the user's eye, and includes an iris center position extracting means 5 for obtaining a position in a plane direction and a distance measuring sensor 6 for obtaining a position in a depth direction.
It consists of. The iris center position extracting means 5 extracts an iris center position (X, Y) from an eye image taken by the video camera 1. The distance measuring sensor 6 measures the distance to the user, specifically, the distance (Z) to the user's face. Note that the distance measuring sensor 6 measures the distance (Z) to the user's face, and there is no one that accurately measures the distance to the eyes. However, even if the distance to the face is regarded as the eye position, the iris is not considered. There is no particular problem in pattern acquisition. As shown in FIG. 2, an X axis and a Y axis are set in the plane direction, and a Z axis is set in the depth direction. The intersection of each axis is formed at the center of the screen and on the installation position of the distance measuring sensor 6.

The user's eye position obtained by the iris center position extracting means 5 and the distance measuring sensor 6 is output to the judging means 8.

The three-dimensional object generating means 7 generates a plurality of three-dimensional objects and displays them on the stereoscopic display 2.
Then, an optimal position object B for indicating the optimal position for iris pattern extraction to the user is generated and displayed on the stereoscopic display 2. Further, based on the user's eye position (X, Y, Z) acquired by the eye position acquisition means 4, a three-dimensional eye position object C indicating the user's eye position in a three-dimensional space is sequentially generated, and a stereoscopic display is performed. 2 is displayed.

The eye position object C moves following the movement of the user, and allows the user to relatively recognize his or her own eye position with respect to the optimum position.
Here, the optimal position corresponds to the center of the screen in the X and Y directions and the focal length of the video camera 1 in the Z direction. It is configured to match the optimum position object B when they are combined. In addition, such a three-dimensional object calculates the image of each of the right eye and the left eye by hyperopia, and is displayed on the stereoscopic display 2. Such a three-dimensional image display technology is known in the art. Since the technology is used, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a stereoscopic display on which these three-dimensional objects are displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, on the stereoscopic display 2, a three-dimensional cross line that is the optimum position object B is displayed at the center of the three-dimensional space (room) (corresponding to the center of the screen), and a spherical eye position object is displayed. C is displayed. As described above, since the optimal position and the eye position are represented by the three-dimensional object, the mutual relationship can be recognized at a glance, and the user can easily move his or her own eyeball to the optimal position. become.

The judging means 8 judges whether or not the user's eye position coincides with the optimum position based on the eye position (X, Y, Z) from the eye position acquiring means 4, and judges that they have coincided. In this case, an extraction instruction signal is sent to the iris pattern extraction means 9 described later.

Upon receiving the extraction instruction signal from the judging means 8, the iris pattern extracting means 9 extracts the iris patterns of both eyes from the image taken by the video camera 1. In addition,
As described above, the iris pattern is known for its high discriminability, and it is possible to discriminate up to about 100,000 persons with one eye. Thus, according to the authentication of both eyes, the discrimination ability can be increased to 10 billion persons Can be enhanced.

On the other hand, the distance to the user measured by the distance measuring sensor 6 is output to the user detecting means 10, and the user detecting means 10 determines the distance of the user to a predetermined range (from the distance from the distance measuring sensor 6). For example, it is detected whether the distance is within the range of the focal length of the video camera 1). When the user is detected by the user detecting means 10, the control means 12 starts the operation of the video camera 1 and the whole apparatus.

The control means 12 measures the time from the start of the operation of the apparatus, and when the extraction instruction signal is not transmitted from the determination means 8 within a predetermined time, that is, the eye position of the user does not coincide with the optimum position within the predetermined time. In this case, a guidance message for guiding the user's eyeball to the optimal position is output from the audio output means 11 or displayed on the stereoscopic display 2 in characters or pictures. Of course, it is possible to guide the user only by using the eye position object C and the optimum position object B without using the guidance message as described above. However, such a function is provided to further enhance the guidance.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the user stands in front of the iris image input device and looks into the stereoscopic display 2,
The user detecting means 10 detects that the user has approached within a predetermined distance. As a result, the video camera 1 operates, and infrared rays are output from the infrared lamp 1a. The infrared rays are reflected by the hot mirror 3 and radiated to the user's eyes. The eye irradiated with the infrared rays reflects the infrared rays, and the reflected light is reflected by the hot mirror 3 and input to the video camera 1, and the user's eyes are photographed by the video camera 1 (S).
1). On the other hand, the eye position acquisition means 4 extracts the user's eye position and outputs it to the three-dimensional object generation means 7 and the judgment means 8. That is, the distance (Z) to the user's face is measured by the distance measuring sensor 6 (S2), and the iris center position (X, Y) is extracted by the iris center position extracting means 5 (S3).
The user's eye position (X, Y, Z) thus obtained
Is output to the three-dimensional object generation means 7 and the judgment means 8.

The three-dimensional object generating means 7 generates and displays a background object A and an optimum position object B, generates an eye position object C based on the user's eye position (X, Y, Z), and displays the three-dimensional object. 2 (S4). The user adjusts the eyeball position so as to move the eye position object C to the center of the optimum position object B while watching the display screen.

On the other hand, the judging means 8 checks whether or not the user's eye position coincides with the optimum position based on the eye position (X, Y, Z) from the eye position acquiring means 4 (S5). If the position coincides with the optimum position, an extraction instruction signal is sent to the iris pattern extraction means 9, and upon receiving the extraction instruction signal, the iris pattern extraction means 9 extracts the iris patterns of both eyes (S
6).

The control means 12 measures the time from the start of the operation. If the extraction instruction signal is not sent from the judgment means 8 within a predetermined time, the voice output means 11 outputs "Please move forward a little more." , Etc., and characters and pictures to that effect are displayed on the stereoscopic display 2.

The iris pattern extracted as described above is output to an external device and used as identification data. As the external device, for example, a personal identification device, a registration device for registering an iris pattern in advance in using the personal identification device, a device for unlocking the door described in the related art,
Furthermore, a game machine installed in a game center or the like corresponds to the game machine. Of course, it is not limited to these devices.
Also, instead of connecting these devices externally, the iris image input device itself may be incorporated in these devices. For example, when incorporated in a game machine installed in a game center or the like, personal identification can be performed with an iris pattern. For example, services such as managing operation histories for each user and providing a game according to the operation histories are provided. It becomes possible. Further, a plurality of such game machines are connected to a host computer via a network, and an iris pattern acquired on the game machine side is compared with an iris pattern registered in advance on the host computer side to identify a user, thereby identifying a user. It is also possible to configure a game system that can provide the above-mentioned service using any game terminal on the network.

As described above, the user's eye position and the optimum position are represented by a three-dimensional object, so that the user can recognize at a glance the relative relationship between the user's own eye position and the optimum position. The user can easily determine how to operate to adjust his / her eye position to the optimal position, and can easily perform the iris input operation.

Also, since the feedback image for indicating the eye position is a three-dimensional object, a comfortable input operation can be performed without giving any discomfort unlike a conventional device that displays an eye image as it is.

In addition, since the input operation can be performed in the sense of a game by using the three-dimensional object as described above, the present invention can be applied to a case where an iris pattern is to be extracted without the user's knowledge.

Since the video camera 1 with the infrared lamp 1a and the hot mirror 3 are used to photograph the user's eyes while irradiating the user with infrared light, a good iris image can be photographed. .

Further, since the iris patterns of both eyes are extracted, the iris image input device is very effective in a device which needs to identify an unspecified number of individuals.

The acquired user's eye position (X, Y,
Z) can also be output to an external device that performs various processes using the eye position. Further, instead of externally connecting a device requiring such an eye position, the iris image input device itself may be incorporated in the device.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the eye position object that follows the movement of the user's eye and the optimum position object indicating the optimum position for iris pattern extraction are represented in three dimensions. In addition, the relative relationship between the user's eye position and the optimal position is made clear, so that the user can easily determine how to operate to adjust his / her own eye position to the optimal position. The iris input operation can be easily performed. Further, since the image indicating the position of the eye is not a conventional eye image itself but a three-dimensional object, the user does not feel uncomfortable when inputting the iris.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an iris image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of displaying a stereoscopic image on the stereoscopic display of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a stereoscopic display.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a conventional process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Video camera (imaging means) 2 Stereoscopic display (display means) 3 Hot mirror 4 Eye position acquisition means 5 Iris center position extraction means 6 Distance measuring sensor 7 Three-dimensional object generation means 8 Judgment means 9 Iris pattern extraction means 11 Voice output means

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Kinya Endo 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F065 AA03 AA04 AA06 AA17 BB05 CC16 FF04 FF42 GG21 HH13 JJ01 JJ03 JJ05 JJ05 JJ09 JJ19 LL00 NN20 PP22 QQ21 QQ28 SS01 SS02 SS03 SS13 TT02 4C038 VA07 VB04 VC01 VC05 5B047 AA23 AB02 AB04 BB06 CA12 CA23 CB11 CB22

Claims (8)

[Claims] A display means for displaying a three-dimensional image; an imaging means for photographing a user's eye; an eye position acquisition means for acquiring a position of the user's eye; A three-dimensional optimal position object for indicating an optimal position; and a three-dimensional eye position object indicating a user's eye position with respect to the optimal position based on the user's eye position acquired by the eye position acquiring means. Are sequentially generated, and a three-dimensional object generating means for displaying these three-dimensional objects on the display means, and a judgment for judging whether or not the eye position of the user acquired by the eye position acquiring means coincides with the optimum position Means; and an iris pattern extracting means for extracting an iris pattern from the image picked up by the image pick-up means when it is determined that the position is optimum by the judging means. Aya image input device. 2. An eye position obtaining means for extracting an iris center position in a plane direction of a user from an image picked up by the imaging means, and measuring a distance in a depth direction from a face of the user. The iris image input device according to claim 1, further comprising a distance measuring unit that performs distance measurement. 3. The iris image input device according to claim 1, wherein a depth direction of the optimum position corresponds to a focal position of the imaging unit. 4. An infrared output means for outputting infrared light, and a hot mirror for irradiating a user's eye by passing or reflecting infrared light from the infrared output means. The iris image input device according to claim 3. 5. A notifying means for notifying the user of a message for guiding the user's eyes to the optimum position if the user's eye position does not reach the optimum position within a predetermined time. The iris image input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: 6. The iris image input device according to claim 5, wherein said notification means is one of a voice means and said display means. 7. The iris image input device according to claim 1, which is incorporated in another device that performs personal identification using an iris pattern, or outputs the iris pattern to an external device. An iris image input device, characterized in that it can be configured. 8. The iris image input device according to claim 1, wherein the iris image input device is incorporated in another device that uses a user's eye position or the eye position can be output to an external device. An iris image input device comprising: