Biometrics is a class of user verification with the focus of identification of humans using characteristics unique to a particular human. Google thinks that conventional biometric systems and techniques of today are relatively inconvenient to use. The inconvenience is exacerbated as the number of secure devices continues to grow. As such, new approaches for user verification are need and desired. This is Google's second patent on bringing Iris scanning technology to the forefront based on a unique contact lens system. However the original patent laying the foundation out for this invention was filed before Apple's Touch ID was publicly introduced. Apple's Touch ID is convenient and has been recently extended to their mobile wallet application called Apple Pay. In that light, it is the Google Contact Lenses biometric system that now appears to be the inconvenient biometric methodology in the big picture. Yet with that said, Google's invention has its strengths and our report points them out.
Next-Gen Contact Lenses using Iris Biometrics ID
Google's patent application presents an invention that generally relates to a contact lens that facilitates iris scanning. The contact lens can include: a transparent substrate formed to cover at least a portion of an iris of an eye; and a circuit.
The circuit can include: one or more light sensors disposed on or within the transparent substrate and that detects light filtered through the iris and incident on the one or more light sensors; readout circuitry, operably coupled to the one or more light sensors, that outputs information indicative of the light filtered through the iris and incident on the one or more light sensors; and a power component, operably coupled to the readout circuitry, that supplies power to the readout circuitry.
In one or more implementations, Google's invention relates to a method facilitating biometric iris recognition. The method can include: detecting, at one or more light sensors disposed on or within a transparent lens covering at least a portion of an eye, light reflected from light incident on an iris of the eye, wherein the light reflected includes image data indicative of a pattern associated with the iris; and outputting an iris fingerprint based in part on the image data.
Biometric ID: Comparing Iris Fingerprints
In one or more implementations, Google's invention relates to a method of biometric identification. The method can include employing logic circuitry to execute computer executable components stored within a memory to perform: comparing a first iris fingerprint with a second iris fingerprint, wherein at least one of the first iris fingerprint or the second iris fingerprint is generated based, at least, on an iris pattern retrieved via readout circuitry communicatively one or more light sensors disposed on or within a contact lens and configured to detect light filtered by an iris on which the contact lens is substantially positioned; and determining whether a biometric match exists between the first iris fingerprint and the second iris fingerprint based, at least, on the comparing.
In one or more implementations, the disclosed subject matter relates to a system facilitating biometric identification. The system can include a memory that stores computer executable components; and logic circuitry that executes the following computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can include: a comparison component that compares a first iris fingerprint with a second iris fingerprint, wherein the first iris fingerprint is based, at least, on an iris pattern retrieved from circuitry coupled to one or more light sensors disposed on or within a contact lens, wherein the one or more light sensors detects light filtered by an iris on which the contact lens is substantially positioned; and a biometric match component that determines whether a biometric match exists based, at least, on a comparison by the comparison component.
In Google's patent FIG. 1 noted below we're able to see is an illustration of a block diagram of an exemplary non-limiting system that facilitates iris scanning and/or biometric identification.
The system 100 includes a contact lens #102 covering at least a portion of an iris and having a circuit, including one or more light sensors, a power component and/or readout circuitry that's shown in FIGS. 2a, b and c below, disposed on the substrate of the contact lens that performs iris scanning and/or facilitates biometric identification.
In various implementations, the light source can be the sun, ambient light (e.g., light inside of a building) and/or a specific interrogation light spectra. For example, the interrogation light spectra can be one or more wavelengths to which the light sensors of the contact lens are responsive.
In various implementations, the light (#110) is received at the iris and is reflected. The one or more light sensors detect the light reflected from, and thus filtered through, the iris. The light filtered through the iris can be information #112 indicative of an iris fingerprint for the wearer of the contact lens. In various implementations, the iris fingerprint can be read, processed and/or stored by the iris fingerprint reader #114.
The iris fingerprint can also be employed to determine whether access to secure devices can be provided, and/or whether secure information can be downloaded to third-parties, for example.
Google's patent FIG. 4 noted above is an illustration of a block diagram of an exemplary non-limiting system that facilitates biometric identification.
Google's patent FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrated below show a series of various diagrams of exemplary non-limiting contact lens patterns that could facilitate iris scanning in accordance with implementations of the invention.
In various implementations, the readout circuitry noted in the figures above can output the information from the contact lens wirelessly. In various implementations, the information can be formatted and/or output according to a near field communication standard, far field communication standard, optical techniques or the like. In some implementations, the near field communication can be provided via a cellular telephone that can emit a signal to trigger scanning of the contact lens and/or that can emit a polling signal to poll the contact lens and thereby cause the readout circuitry to output the information.
Additionally, the information output from the readout circuitry can be employed for biometric identification, authentication, as a password or the like. For example, the information can be employed to unlock one or more secure devices (e.g., automobiles, buildings, computers, telephones, safe deposit boxes).
In some implementations, the information can be employed to facilitate uploading or downloading information from a cloud-based system. For example, if a biometric identification system (such as that described below with reference to FIG. 4) determines that the information is indicative of a person having access to the cloud-based system, the information can be employed to provide access to the cloud-based system. Additional information stored in the memory of the readout circuitry can be uploaded to the cloud. Similarly, additional information about the person can be downloaded from the cloud to the contact lens and/or to a third-party system if so desired by the person.
Google further notes that the communication component (#308 of FIG. 4 above) can be configured to transmit and/or receive the iris fingerprint and/or other information about the wearer of the contact lens.
In some implementations, the other information about the wearer of the contact lens can include passport information, driver's license information, passwords, biographical information, medical information (e.g., for use by medical personnel during a medical emergency), pictures or the like, as may be authorized by the wearer.
The information can be transmitted and/or received in response to biometric identification of the wearer of the contact lens. For example, information can be transmitted and/or received to or from a server-based or cloud-based system in response to the successful identification.
Google's patent FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary flow diagram of a method that facilitates iris scanning; FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary flow diagram of a method that facilitates biometric identification.
It should also be noted that Google is working on an iris scanner for Google Glass. We covered that story on Patently Apple earlier this week in a report titled "Intel Processors will Power Google Glass in 2015."
Google filed their patent application this past summer which was published yesterday at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Google's first iris scanner/contact lens patent was granted to them earlier this summer.
Our Other Google Contact Invention Reports
Google Takes their Glass Vision to Smart Contact Lenses
Google Invents Micro Camera System for Future Contact Lenses
An Avalanche of new Google Contact Lens Patents Come to Light
A New Google Smart Contact Lens Patent Comes to Light Covering Glucose Testing & Beyond
Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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