Finger Vein Recognition
Near-infrared imaging of vascular patterns inside fingers provides high liveness assurance for authentication.
Overview
Finger vein systems illuminate the finger with near-infrared light and capture subdermal vein patterns that are difficult to replicate.
How it works
- Shine near-infrared light through the finger.
- Image absorbed vs transmitted light to reveal veins.
- Extract features and match against stored templates.
Common use cases
- ATM and banking authentication
- High-security access points
- Research on wearable devices
Strengths and limitations
Strengths: Built-in liveness; privacy-friendly since patterns are internal.
Limitations: Specialized sensors; smaller vendor ecosystem.
Key terms
- NIR (Near-Infrared): Wavelength used to image veins.
- Vein template: Feature representation of vascular patterns.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is finger vein used?
It appears in banking ATMs, physical access systems, and some consumer devices.
How does it compare to fingerprints?
Vein patterns are sub-dermal and difficult to copy, offering strong liveness properties; sensors are more specialized and costlier.