MorphoAccess® SIGMA Family Administrator Guide
Introduction
2017_2000025464-v03
This document and the information therein are the property of Morpho. They must not
be copied or communicated to a third party without the prior authorization of Morpho
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July 17
About Biometrics
About fingerprint biometrics
Fingerprints are permanent and unique. They are formed before birth and last throughout one's
life. Classification and systematic matching of fingerprints for different purposes have been in
use since the late 19th century.
The skin on the underside of fingers is different from the skin on other areas of a human body.
This skin has raised lines called; ‘ridges’.
These ridges do not run continuously from one side to the other, rather they may curve, end, or
divide into two or more ridges (bifurcation and endings). Barring accidental or intentional
mutilation, the ridge arrangement is permanent.
Fingerprints can be divided into three major ridge patterns such as Whorls, Loops and Arches.
Unique characteristics known as Minutiae identify those points of a fingerprint wherein the
ridges become either bifurcation or endings, as illustrated in Figure 1. These minutiae are the
unique features, which form the basis of any system using fingerprint comparison techniques
for identification and verification purposes.
Figure 1:
Minutiae are classified in two categories i.e. ridge ending and bifurcation
Fingerprint is a mature biometrics, in use for various applications based on individual’s
authentication or identification, as it offers an excellent trade-off between criterias such as user
acceptance, easiness of use, performance, stability, cost effectiveness and interoperability.
Since the early eighties, Morpho has carried an extensive research in the field of studying
fingerprints and continually refined its expertise in the domain of fingerprint based recognition
systems. It has lead the market in studied fingerprint characteristics and continually refined its
expertise in fingerprint identification technology, developing first AFIS systems (Automated
Fingerprint Identification Systems) and then applying its unique know-how and worldwide
leading position to markets such as physical access control (premises), logical access control
(computers and networks), secure payment transactions and OEM applications.