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Total Internal Reflection

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16 views3 pages

Total Internal Reflection

Uploaded by

cherrydevm
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION - Research on its application in any of the

fields(Telecommunication systems, Automotive rain sensors and windscreen wipers,


Optical fingerprinting devices etc) and explain how it works. Comment on the advantages and
disadvantages.
Optical fingerprinting devices utilizing Total Internal Reflection (TIR) leverage the optical
properties of light to capture and recognize fingerprint patterns. Here’s a detailed explanation of
how they work, their advantages, and disadvantages:
How It Works

1. Total Internal Reflection (TIR) Principle:


- TIR occurs when a light wave traveling through a medium (like glass) hits the interface of a
less dense medium (like air) at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing the light to be
reflected entirely back into the original medium.
- This phenomenon is used in fingerprint scanners to capture detailed images of a fingerprint.

2. Structure of TIR Fingerprint Scanners:


- Prism/Glass Plate: A prism or glass plate is used as the medium where TIR occurs.
- Light Source: An LED or similar light source illuminates the prism at an angle that ensures
TIR.
- Finger Placement: The user places their finger on the surface of the prism.
- Image Sensor: Positioned to capture the reflected light patterns.

3. Imaging Process:
- When a finger is placed on the prism, ridges of the fingerprint come into direct contact with
the glass while valleys are separated by air.
- Light hitting the ridges undergoes TIR and gets scattered, whereas light hitting the valleys
reflects directly back into the prism.
- This differential reflection creates a contrast pattern corresponding to the fingerprint’s ridges
and valleys.
- The image sensor captures this pattern, and the data is processed to create a high-resolution
image of the fingerprint.

Advantages
1. High Resolution and Accuracy:
- TIR-based fingerprint scanners can capture fine details of a fingerprint, resulting in high-
resolution images.
- They are highly accurate due to the precise differentiation between ridges and valleys.

2. Non-Intrusive and Hygienic:


- Users only need to place their finger on the scanner surface, making it a non-intrusive
method.
- With proper cleaning, the glass surface can maintain hygiene standards.

3. Durability:
- The lack of moving parts in optical fingerprinting devices makes them more durable and less
prone to mechanical failure.
- Glass surfaces are typically robust and resistant to wear.

4. Speed:
- Optical scanners can quickly capture and process fingerprint images, providing fast
authentication.

Disadvantages

1. Susceptibility to Dirt and Oil:


- Fingerprints can leave residues like dirt and oil on the glass surface, affecting the quality of
the captured image.
- Regular cleaning is necessary to maintain optimal performance.
2. Vulnerability to Spoofing:
- Optical scanners can sometimes be fooled by high-quality images or molds of fingerprints.
- Advanced spoofing techniques can potentially bypass the security of TIR-based devices.

3. Lighting Conditions:
- The performance of TIR fingerprint scanners can be influenced by ambient lighting
conditions.
- Excessive external light might interfere with the reflection patterns, reducing image quality.

4. Size and Design Constraints: The need for a prism or glass plate can impose design
constraints, making the scanners bulkier compared to other technologies like capacitive
fingerprint scanners.
Conclusion
Optical fingerprinting devices using Total Internal Reflection are effective tools for capturing
high-resolution fingerprint images with notable accuracy and speed. They are durable and user-
friendly but require regular maintenance and are somewhat vulnerable to spoofing. Despite these
drawbacks, their high resolution and reliability make them suitable for various applications
where precision and durability are paramount.

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