Biometric Sensors and Detectors

What are biometric sensors?

In order to capture images of the unique biological traits used to identify, verify, and authenticate via biometric technology, specialized hardware is often required. Biometric sensors are made to do just that. Whether they are high definition cameras for capturing face biometrics, infrared cameras for scanning irises, ultrasound devices for picturing multiple layers of a fingerprint, or sub-dermal imaging devices for mapping palm and finger veins, sensors and detectors are an essential aspect of a full biometric ecosystem.

The sensor is the part of a biometric solution that a user interacts with. It could mean touching the home button on her phone to have her fingerprint scanned, or it could mean looking into a mirror for iris-protected border control, but no matter how the image capture occurs, it will involve a sensor and a user.

Where can I find biometric sensors?

Technically, anywhere you can find biometric technology you can also find a sensor. New developments in biometric software, combined with the proliferation of connected cameras and microphones on mobile devices, have created a scenario in which even the basic components of a smartphone can be considered sensors in certain contexts. That said, there is an increasingly good chance that your own smartphone has a specialized fingerprint sensor, either embedded into the device’s rear or integrated into the home button.

Iris scanning cameras can be found in physical access and border control deployments around the world. Finger vein sensors can be found in online corporate banking scenarios where authentication is paramount. Fingerprint sensors can be found used in law enforcement, healthcare, and an increasing number of enterprise and consumer deployments. Fingerprint sensors will even likely be found on smart cards in the near future, giving them further purchase in the financial and access control markets.

How are biometric sensors making a difference?

Thanks to Windows 10’s biometric security platform, Windows Hello, users and businesses can easily add biometric sensors to their machines. Plug and play USB sensors are available right now for this purpose, ready to replace your password with strong authentication.

Iris scanners and fingerprint sensors are enabling biometric capture in India for its ambitious national ID program, Aadhaar.

The boom in mobile fingerprint biometrics lead to a fingerprint sensor manufacturer being Europe’s best performing stock of 2015.