MorphoAccess® VP Series - User Guide
Section 1:
Introduction
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January 2011
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.
Figure 1: Minutiae are classified in two categories: ridge ending and bifurcation
Present on your fingers is skin, which is different from that on other areas of your
body. This skin is rough or corrugated, consisting of raised portions that are 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 major ridge pattern type such as Whorls, Loops and
Arches etc. Unique characteristics known as Minutiae identify those points of a
fingerprint where the ridges become 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.
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
criteria such as user acceptance, easiness of use, performance, stability, cost
effectiveness and interoperability.
Since the early eighties, Morpho has 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.