Fingerprint biometrics is the most popular, widespread, reliable and efficient biometric technology available today. Due to its versatility, fingerprint biometrics is applicable in almost all areas that require clear identification.

Fingerprint Biometrics Features

Fingerprints are distinct to each person thanks to unique papillary features and are different even in twins. Fingerprint patterns remain unchanged throughout the entire adult life and are easily produced for identification.

If a finger is damaged, other fingers that are previously enrolled into the system can also be used for identification.

Processing Fingerprints

Special biometric scanners are used to capture fingerprints. There are three major types of fingerprint scanners: capacitive, sweep and optical.

Capacitive scanners are the most affordable but they are not durable. Since capacitive scanners generate an image of the ridges and valleys that make up a fingerprint using electrical current, such scanners are extremely vulnerable to electrostatic charges. They fail to perform once a person with electrified fingers (wearing wool or silk clothing) touches a scanner. In addition, fingerprint images captured by capacitive scanners are of an extremely poor quality.

The most reliable scanners are optical ones. They are a little more expensive than other biometric devices, but are durable, cost-effective and user-friendly. Fingerprint images taken by an optical scanner are of the highest quality.

Sweep (thermal) scanners are somewhere in between. To capture a fingerprint, a finger is swept over the sensor and is captured in rows, sub-images or slices, forming a biometric template. To be successfully identified with sweep scanners, users have to apply a consistent speed and manner of applying a finger, which is no easy task.

According to the latest research, optical scanners are the best as far as hygiene-related issues are concerned.

BioLink solutions based on fingerprint biometrics are:

• BioLink U-Match, an optical fingerprint scanner;
• BioLink IDenium, a biometric identification solution for corporate networks and shared resources;
• BioTime, a biometric T&A and access control system;
• BioLink FingerPass, a biometric terminal;
• BioLink U-Match Mobile, a mobile identification terminal;
• BioLink AMIS, an automated multi-biometric information system;
• BioLink SDK and BioLink WebSDK, development toolkits.