{"id":9932,"date":"2023-03-16T18:07:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T23:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/?p=9932"},"modified":"2023-03-16T18:09:20","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T23:09:20","slug":"fingerprint-biometrics-basic-concepts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/fingerprint-biometrics-basic-concepts\/","title":{"rendered":"Fingerprint Biometrics: Basic Concepts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The term biometrics is used to designate a series of technologies and statistical analyses, whose purpose is to uniquely recognize human beings, based on some of their physical traits, such as fingerprints, face, retina, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The term biometrics comes from the Greek words <strong>bio <\/strong>meaning life and <strong>metron <\/strong>meaning measure.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Biometr\u00eda-de-huellas-digitales.jpg\" alt=\"Fingerprint biometrics\" class=\"wp-image-6272\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fingerprint biometrics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We invite you to continue reading in the following pages some basic aspects of fingerprint biometrics technology:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a fingerprint?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a characteristic of the fingers of human beings that contains unique and non-transferable information that identifies each person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In order to study this information, its basic characteristics must be known:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the fingerprint essentially we find the nucleus which is the central part of the fingerprint, ridges which are the protuberances in the form of curved lines, and finally the terminations and bifurcations of these ridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-1024x634.png\" alt=\"Fingerprint biometrics Characteristics of a fingerprint\" class=\"wp-image-6251\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fingerprint biometrics Characteristics of a fingerprint<br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The terminations and bifurcations of the ridges are called minutiae of the fingerprint. It is these minutiae that determine the characterization of a fingerprint and its quality for full identification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fingerprint Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a fingerprint three areas are discriminated, namely: Nuclear area, which is near the nucleus or center of the fingerprint; marginal area located above the nuclear area; and the basilar area which is located below the nuclear area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-1.png\" alt=\"Fingerprint structure\" class=\"wp-image-6252\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> <br>Fingerprint structure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The figure below highlights three parts of the footprint, the core which is the highest point of the inner cycle, and delta which is the intersection of the three areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-2-1024x493.png\" alt=\"Fingerprint core and delta\" class=\"wp-image-6253\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> <br> Fingerprint core and delta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the measures that discriminate a footprint is the number of ridges between the core and the delta.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-4.png\" alt=\"Number of ridges between core and delta\" class=\"wp-image-6255\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> <br>Number of ridges between core and delta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Classification of fingerprints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fingerprints are classified according to the characteristics of the ridges in relation to the nucleus and its delta(s). Thus we find the following types of fingerprints:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-5.png\" alt=\"Fingerprint classification\" class=\"wp-image-6256\" width=\"880\" height=\"645\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fingerprint classification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arches<\/strong>: This type of tracks are characterized because they do not have a delta, while the crests form arches that do not return on themselves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Presilla<\/strong>: These are fingerprints that have the delta on the left or right side of the nucleus, while the crests that arise from the nucleus move in the opposite direction to the delta.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Whorls<\/strong>: In these fingerprints there are two deltas, one on each side of the nucleus. While the nucleus adopts a circular or spiral shape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Others<\/strong>: They are fingerprints with different patterns that do not fit in the above classification.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reasons to use fingerprints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why choose fingerprints instead of other biometric systems such as face or retina to identify people?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fingerprint recognition technology has a low probability of error, approximately 1 in 100 million.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a technology that has been used in the world for more than 100 years, with great success by police agencies in criminal cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Finally, fingerprint biometrics can be easily massified, with low implementation costs in its lighter versions, being accurate and non-intrusive in terms of measuring human physical characteristics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fingerprint quality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a fingerprint to be considered of good quality, the following aspects must be considered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The core must be very clearly identified.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There should be no deformations in the ridges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fingerprint taken must contain at least 63 minutiae.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-6.png\" alt=\"Low-quality fingerprint detail\" class=\"wp-image-6257\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Low-quality fingerprint detail<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These examples show deformations in the ridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-7.png\" alt=\"Fingerprints with little minutiae\" class=\"wp-image-6258\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fingerprints with little minutiae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> In these other examples, the core of the print cannot be clearly identified:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-8.png\" alt=\"Coreless fingerprints\" class=\"wp-image-6259\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coreless fingerprints<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Failure to identify the nucleus means that a fingerprint cannot be characterized in the mathematical model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-9.png\" alt=\"Dactylic footprints with blurred nucleus\" class=\"wp-image-6260\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dactylic footprints with blurred nucleus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this type of poor quality prints, where there are areas that are not clear, where the core is not well recognized, the systems easily recognize <strong>false minutiae<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-10.png\" alt=\"Fingerprints with blurred images and false minutiae\" class=\"wp-image-6261\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fingerprints with blurred images and false minutiae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we have good quality images of footprints, the nucleus is clearly identified, the ridges are sharp, and the minutiae are easily identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-11.png\" alt=\"Good quality fingerprints\" class=\"wp-image-6262\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Good quality fingerprints<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-12.png\" alt=\"Good fingerprinting minutiae\" class=\"wp-image-6263\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Good fingerprinting minutiae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A good quality fingerprint is then identified by the position of the nucleus and all its minutiae, which are converted into a mathematical model, which by numerically representing the fingerprint in terms of its most important characteristics, allows easy comparison with other fingerprints in the matching process. This means that the comparison of fingerprints is not made between images, but between the mathematical models that represent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This matching of fingerprints can be found in two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1:1<\/strong> : When a fingerprint of a particular finger of a person is compared with the stored fingerprint of that same finger of the same person. This is a quick and easy process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1:N:<\/strong> In this case the matching is done between a captured fingerprint with all the stored fingerprints of many individuals. This process is used to find if a person is not registered in a system, or in a forensic process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of fingerprint scanners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this section we will describe some types of fingerprint readers available on the market:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Capacitive Fingerprint Readers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because the skin is a good conductor of electricity, this type of reader has an array of capacitors that generate an image of the fingerprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus the ridges of the fingerprint in contact with the capacitor array have higher capacitance, while the valleys have lower capacitance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-13.png\" alt=\"Capacitive fingerprint readers\" class=\"wp-image-6264\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Capacitive fingerprint readers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Advantages<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They have a small size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are low cost.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can handle dry and wet prints.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-14.png\" alt=\"Capacitive fingerprint reader\" class=\"wp-image-6265\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Capacitive fingerprint reader<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disadvantages<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are very sensitive to static electricity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And they are characterized by low accuracy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ultrasonic Fingerprint Readers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are characterized by using ultrasound for fingerprint detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Advantages<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In addition to reading the fingerprint, they allow to recognize if it is a live finger or not.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They provide very good biometric information of the fingerprint.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-15.png\" alt=\"Ultrasonic fingerprint readers\" class=\"wp-image-6266\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ultrasonic fingerprint readers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disadvantages<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Larger than capacitive readers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High cost readers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are slow in the fingerprint scanning process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optical Fingerprint Readers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This type of readers are characterized because they use an array of phototransistors or photodiodes that convert light energy into electrical energy to characterize a fingerprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fingerprint is then illuminated by an array of LEDs in the process of scanning the finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Advantages<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The images obtained with this type of reader is of very good quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-16.png\" alt=\"Optical fingerprint readers\" class=\"wp-image-6267\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Optical fingerprint readers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disadvantages: <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This type of readers have a high cost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to these characteristics, the readers are classified as FBI-compatible or non-FBI-compatible, based on their accuracy and image quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/image-17.png\" alt=\"FBI Compatible and NON FBI Compatible type readers\" class=\"wp-image-6268\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FBI Compatible and NON FBI Compatible type readers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Applications using fingerprint biometrics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to the accuracy, speed and low intrusion of the use of fingerprints in the recognition of people, we find a number of applications for biometrics with fingerprint, such as the following examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As identification of people in voting tables in electoral processes or in other voting processes in the congresses of the countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is widely used in access control systems of people, because it does not allow the impersonation of people at the time of entry or exit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the banking environment, which lends itself well to the impersonation of people for all kinds of frauds, the registration and matching of fingerprints for personal identification has become infallible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal identification on cell phones: Lately, the use of fingerprints for unlocking cell phones has expanded, as well as for approving online purchases from mobile devices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In conclusion, fingerprint biometrics is currently one of the most reliable processes in the unique detection of people, widely used by different agencies and applications worldwide, hence the great importance of knowing its operation and characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is part of the knowledge dissemination system of <a href=\"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/data-analytics-company\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ITSoftware SAS, Data Analytics Company\"><strong>ITSoftware SAS<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you liked it, please do not forget to share it on social networks. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span style=\"font-size: 12px\">* Art\u00edculo basado en el curso del sistema de biometr\u00eda NEC AFIS-DMA de Necar.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The term biometrics is used to designate a series of technologies and statistical analyses, whose purpose is to uniquely recognize human beings, based on some of their physical traits, such[&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1527,521],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biometria","category-software"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9932\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsoftware.com.co\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}