Fingerprint recognition provided by Linux-based embedded kit

10 March 2004 DSP, Micros & Memory

FS Forth-Systeme has released its UNC20FP Developer's Kit, which it says includes all hardware and software needed to add biometric fingerprint recognition to embedded applications such as access control equipment.

The kit provides a simple hardware platform for evaluation, proof-of-concept, and customer demonstrations, says the company.

With the market for biometric sensors growing, fingerprint recognition is the most popular form of biometric recognition due to its ease of use and high security. Fingerprint recognition can be used to control access to buildings, computers, networks, and even vehicles. Access systems can be standalone or networked and the UNC20FP system supports both types of applications.

The UNC20FP is a UNC20 module from FS Forth-Systeme containing a uClinux image and licensed IKENDI software. The Developer's Kit consists of the ARM7TDMI-based UNC20FP module assembled on a baseboard with the Fujitsu MBF200 fingerprint sensor, an alphanumeric display (2 lines by 20 characters), a keypad, a 10/100 Ethernet interface, and an RS485 interface. The kit's Linux-based software includes release 2.4 of LxNETES, a uCLinux development package, as well as a binary distribution of IKENDI fingerprint recognition software. Source code for a program demonstrating the use of the keypad and display is included, as are the standard GNU tools for a Linux host.

The application flow is described as follows: IKENDI fingerprint recognition software reads the fingerprint and stores it as a template in flash memory on the UNC20FP module. The template can be stored in a database server connected via the Ethernet interface. When authorisation is required, the fingerprint read from the sensor is compared with the template and if the match is sufficient, authorisation is granted. The threshold as to when a match is deemed sufficient is determined by the application, which allows users to make a tradeoff between ease-of-use and security.

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