The fingerprint recognition technology found in modern biometric time clocks is a fascinating example of what can happen when two separate branches of technological development are combined. Though most people record their fingerprints and clock in with little thought for the device they’re using, that piece of technology carries with it a fascinating history and an equally captivating inner world.
To give you just a few examples, you can thank law enforcement agencies and governments around the world for the incredible blend of affordability and advanced technology fingerprint time clocks offer. Every time you press your finger to the pad, you can also revel in the knowledge that you’re engaging in a fingerprinting tradition that stretches back to ancient China and Babylonia. The time and attendance aspect of the technology is far younger, but it’s still more than a century in the making.
What is a biometric time clock exactly?
Before we dive into the inner world of these beneficial devices, let’s set ourselves up with a quick, clear overview of the purpose they serve. Whether part of a simple time clock or a comprehensive biometric access system, fingerprint scanners are designed to record, store, and verify the unique characteristics of your team’s fingerprints.
The best fingerprint scanners are capable of reading a large number of data points, even through dirt, grease, moisture, and gloves. This allows them to create highly detailed profiles for every authorised person saved in the system. When a person with a stored profile scans their fingerprint, the system matches it with the appropriate record and takes the requisite action. This could mean clocking them in or out for the day or granting them access to the premises or secured areas or data within the building.
How fingerprint scanning technology works
As mentioned earlier, the need for sensitive and highly accurate fingerprint scanning technology in law enforcement and government security has driven innovation. With no shortage of funding, the industry has been able to develop systems that are both sophisticated and affordable.
When a biometric system scans your fingerprint, you may assume it simply stores a digital image – like a scan or photograph – of the arches, loops, or whorls. While it certainly does record these minutiae of your fingerprint, the profile it creates is more mathematical, based upon the key points in the print and the distances between them.
This data can be obtained via one of three routes:
- Optical scanners
- Capacitive scanners
- Ultrasonic scanners
Let’s take a look at each one in more depth.
Optical fingerprint scanners
The optical scanner operates in much the way you might expect – using a bright light, it captures a scan or photograph of your fingerprint. Using a light-sensitive microchip, the system then transforms this into a digital image. Using sophisticated logic, the computer then algorithmically derives a unique pattern from this digital image. This is what is stored in the database to match against the next time you scan your finger.
Optical scanners can be placed within the display screen, allowing for larger screens and simpler devices. The technology is low-cost, making the devices more affordable. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s the least secure fingerprint scanning method. Since they capture 2-D images, optical scanners can often be fooled by fingerprint clones or even pictures of fingerprints.
Ultrasonic fingerprint scanners
A more recent development in the world of biometrics, ultrasonic fingerprint scanners send an ultrasonic pulse out to your finger. Some of this pulse will be absorbed by your finger, while some will bounce back. Whether or not the pulse absorbs or bounces back will depend on the unique pattern of valleys, ridges, pores, and other subtle nuisances. This allows the scanner to create a marvelously accurate 3-D image of your fingerprint.
Though there are clear benefits to having a highly detailed 3-D image, this newer form of technology is far slower than its counterparts. Currently, it is most commonly used in smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S20 series.
Capacitive fingerprint scanners
As the name suggests, capacitive scanners use capacitor circuits to generate the digital image of your fingerprint. The tiny array of circuits sends out electrical currents to map the ridges and valleys of your fingerprint. The processor then analyses key points and measures the distance between them. From here on out, the process of storing and matching is much the same as the one described in the optical fingerprint scanning section.
Because capacitive scanners use electrical currents, pictures of fingerprints simply will not work. Even carefully constructed silicone fingerprint clones fail to trick the system as the silicone does not have the same conductivity as a real finger. Capacitive scanners are, at this stage, faster and more efficient than the other two methods currently available. Add to this the fact that capacitive technology is generally just as affordable as optical scanners, and the advantages are clear.
Do you have any questions remaining about fingerprint recognition technology? If so, the Nexus Biometric team would be happy to help. Contact us today, and one of our technicians will be happy to talk you through the inner world of biometrics and how this technology can support your business.
