Electro-optic palm scanner system employing a non-planar platen

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to an electro-optic imaging system for obtaining prints of the palm and heel of an individual's hand.
The system includes a platen having an upper contact surface including a first convex section for contact with a user's palm, and a second planar section for contact with the heel of a user's palm.
The platen is fabricated such that total internal reflection is frustrated when a palm or heel of an individual is rested upon the platen.
A pattern of the ridge structure of the palm and heel is thereby visible and may be scanned by an associated imaging system to form a palmprint combined with a heelprint.
The associated imaging system includes a light source, lenses, and a linear CCD array which are all supported by a movable optical carriage.
The CCD array detects changes in light intensity which give information about the ridges and valleys of the hand.
During palm scanning, the optical carriage is moved in a first direction along the length of the platen.
After a first scan, the palm is then rotated onto the heel of the hand, which is scanned to form another image.
The palm and heel images may be combined to formed an integrated image.