Different biometric recognition methods offer different set of features, advantages and disadvantages. Cost is also an important factor to consider while choosing a biometric recognition system. For high security applications, multi-factor authentication or multi-modal biometric implementation can be considered, while low security applications can be implemented with single biometric modality. Multi-modal biometric applications may hike up the investment required multi-fold, so there has to be a balance of everything and a thorough return on investment study may be required before taking up multi-modal biometric recognition. Fingerprinting is the most popular modality among all biometric recognition methods. Being inexpensive, easy to implement and use, it has most penetration in authentication and access control applications as well as consumer electronics like mobile phones and portable devices. Fingerprint scanners make use of sensors to scan a pattern. These sensors come equipped with different techniques to read and produce image of the fingerprint pattern.
Following are the common types of sensors used in fingerprint scanners:
Optical sensors
Optical sensors capture the image of fingerprints with a specialized digital camera setup. This is the most common type of fingerprint sensors, which are widely available at cheap prices. Optical sensors pose shortcomings like quality of scan is impacted with dirty fingers and they are easier to be tricked than other types of sensors.
Capacitive scanners
Capacitive scanners make use of pixel array of capacitors instead of visible light, to produce image of fingerprints. Capacitive scanners are hard to forge because they cannot be fooled with fingerprint images. They are more expensive than optical sensors.
Ultrasound/ultrasonic sensors
Ultrasonic scanners use very high frequency sound wave to read pattern of fingerprints. Ultrasonic sound waves reflected form the fingertip surface are measured by the sensor and fingerprint pattern image is produced. Performance of ultrasonic sensors stay unaffected by dirtiness of finger surface as it doesn’t capture image like optical sensors.
Thermal line sensors
These sensors read a fingerprint pattern by measuring temperature variation in fingertip ridges and valleys. It requires finger to be moved over a linearly arranged narrow array of thermal sensors. They are small in size and require finger movement to measure fingerprint patterns.
Cost of a fingerprint recognition system can be highly dependent on the sensor type used in the device.
Use of fingerprint scanners rose steeply during 2010s. Consumer electronics, specially mobile phones and tablets made extensive use of fingerprint sensors.
Following chart shows how revenue and order inflow skyrocketed for fingerprint :
Image: Fingerprint Cards AB: Revenues & Order Inflow (Source: Carnegie Research)List of popular fingerprint devices
Pricing Table
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Hamster Plus ($73.00)
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★★★★☆
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Secugen Hamster Plus is a versatile fingerprint reader with Auto-On™ and Smart Capture™, featuring a comfortable, ergonomic design.
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Hamster IV ($89.00)
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★★★★☆
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Secugen Hamster IV fingerprint reader is built with the industry’s most rugged and advanced optical sensor using patented SEIR fingerprint biometric technology.
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BioMini Plus 2 ($135.00)
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★★★★★
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BioMini Plus 2 is a high performance fingerprint authentication scanner which features Suprema’s award-winning algorithm.
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Hamster Pro 20 ($82.00)
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★★★★☆
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High-performance, maintenance-free optical fingerprint sensor with Auto-On™ & Smart Capture™ features.
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Lumidigm M301 ($233.00)
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★★★★★
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M301 is a high-performing stand-alone biometric reader equipped with Lumidigm’s word-class multi-spectral imaging technology.
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Columbo ($170.00)
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★★★★☆
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Columbo comes with a full featured SDK to enable effective integration into applications. Available in desktop and embedded module (OEM) versions.
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Fingkey Hamster I DX ($85.00)
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★★★★☆
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Fingkey Hamster I DX USB fingerprint reader for precise user authentication through the distinct algorithm.
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Hamster Pro ($45.00)
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★★★☆☆
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Hamster Pro features advanced optical sensors engineered with patented technology.
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Watson Mini ($350.00)
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★★★★★
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Small, light, and fast dual fingerprint scanner enables fingerprint capture in standalone applications in combination with smart phones and tablets.
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Sherlock ($575.00)
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★★★★☆
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World’s smallest, lightest, and fastest two print (dual) fingerprint live scanner featuring Light Emitting Sensor technology.
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Fingkey Hamster II ($99.00)
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★★★★☆
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Nitgen Fingkey Hamster II DX is a cutting-edge fingerprint sensor that prevents use of fake fingerprints.
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Fingkey Hamster III ($115.00)
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★★★★☆
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Fingkey Hamster III fingerprint scanner can be connected to PC along with a normal mouse and used for all the areas involving passwords.
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eNBioScan-D Plus ($700.00)
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★★★★☆
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eNBioScan-D Plus dual fingerprint scanner delivers fast, accurate and reliable results for identification, verification and enrollment programs.
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eNBioScan-F ($470.00)
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★★★★☆
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eNBioScan-F is a FBI PIV certified advanced fingerprint recognition scanner with large fingerprint input window.
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