Cameras move into iris recognition

Sony's FCB-type block cameras have been chosen as the key image sensing component within the IrisGuard IG-H100 handheld iris recognition camera.

Sony's FCB-type block cameras have been chosen as the key image sensing component within the IrisGuard IG-H100 handheld iris recognition camera.

Designed to satisfy the exact needs of iris identification in large-scale applications such as border control and mass-transit terminals, the camera uses a 680,000 pixel sensor and can capture up to eight images in less than three seconds.

Customers such as governments and access control integrators need iris recognition cameras that can deal with large numbers of image acquisitions, but at the same time provide the highest possible quality.

The IG-H100 uses Sony's FCB modules to provide the necessary focus accuracy and image quality, working at ranges of 150 to 300mm; it also integrates an advanced 16bit microcontroller that controls illumination, focal distance, voice control and communications with a host application, running on a PC.

The IG-H100 can be used as a handheld unit or in a variety of mounting configurations, and for increased flexibility can communicate with laptop computers via its USB II interface, which eliminates the need for cumbersome PCI graphics cards.

These features mean that iris recognition can now be deployed in situations in which it would previously have been impractical.

The system has already been proven in use, with more than 220,000 travellers participating in a field trial in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the world's largest Iris recognition deployment has been successfully deployed by IrisGuard: as a result the IG-H100 has itself been selected to replace older iris recognition technology devices in the UAE.

"We are delighted to be collaborating with IrisGuard", said Julien Dalle, European Product Manager in Sony ISS.

"Their expertise in iris recognition and our camera technology complement each other perfectly".

"Iris recognition is the most accurate biometric identifier available today: the IG-H100 exploits this inherent accuracy to create a system that conforms to all safety standards, without compromising effectiveness".

The two companies will continue to collaborate on iris recognition developments, working to create systems which function at higher speed or at greater distance from the target.

Sony will also bring to bear its ability to apply genuine mass-market economies of scale to cost-reduce the hardware element of such systems.

The H100 has already been awarded Proof Positive certification by Iridian Technologies, the company behind the patented PrivateID method for mathematically encoding the iris pattern into PID Packet.

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