Это очень показательная история для понимания того, как сложно иметь дело с американскими конкурентами, особенно в столь чувствительной сфере как IT-бизнес.
Не далее как вчера выяснилось, что Samsung получил патент на собственную 3D-систему распознавания лиц владельцев смарт-гаджетов. Напомним, что первой такую технологию под названием Face ID внедрила корпорация Apple в своём юбилейном iPhone X, дебютировавшем осенью прошлого года.
Однако самым интересным является тот факт, что Samsung подал свою патентную заявку ещё в 2014-м году, то есть задолго до того, как это сделали их главные конкуренты.
А дальше начались "чудеса" под названием "ловкость рук и никакого мошенничества". Узнав, что южнокорейцы готовят столь грозное оружие, в Apple удачно подсуетились и обтяпали дело так, что их патент был одобрен американским управлением по патентам и торговым маркам (USPTO) с космической быстротой (своих не обижаем!), в то время как детище Samsung чиновники "мусолили" без малого 4 года. Как говорит один небезызвестный телеперсонаж:
В результате столь "оперативного" рассмотрения, Samsung успеет внедрить своё изобретение в массовое производство не ранее 2019 года. Так что, в лучшем случае, это решение сможет найти применение в столь же "юбилейном" Galaxy X (если его назовут именно так), который представят то ли в рамках январской выставки CES 2019 в Лас-Вегасе, то ли на февральском мероприятии MWC 2019 в Барселоне.
Впрочем, после позорного судилища, разыгранного в Калифорнии по пресловутому делу "о краже дизайна закруглённых углов" (тот самый 7-летний процесс Apple vs Samsung), вряд ли стоит чему-то удивляться.
Samsung registered a patent application for a face recognition system much earlier than Apple, but USPTO approved it only now
The fact is that Samsung had filed a patent in 2014 covering 3D sensing for facial recognition that was granted in late Q2 of this year. So the rumor that Samsung is working on such a smartphone feature is definitely supported technologically by the presence of this patent that was ahead of Apple's Face ID. Samsung will be able to claim that they're technically not copycatting Apple's Face ID, even if it's late to market.
Samsung notes in their patent background that various camera systems exist to capture images of the iris. In particular, there is interest in providing a biometric camera system that can be realized in a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Such biometric camera systems face a number of challenges during their operation, including 1) ambient illumination (e.g. be able to operate in full sunlight); 2) motion blur (e.g. user's hand shaking while holding the smartphone and capturing iris); 3) depth of field at close distances (e.g. while taking pictures at short ("macro") distances, the object being further or closer than the focused distance makes the image blurry); 4) additional cost and additional space for a biometric sensor; and 5) limited field of view (e.g., the camera must capture a high-resolution image of the iris for reliable identification. Since the iris is small- e.g. 12 mm in diameter - while the distance between the camera and the iris is considerable- e.g. arm's length, .about.25 cm - the camera must be considerably "zoomed in" on the face and iris area, rather than image the user and his/her surroundings as in a wide-angled shot).
Therefore, a need exists to provide a biometric camera system that is capable of addressing the above issues.
Samsung's granted patent / invention covers a biometric camera system for a mobile device that includes a near infrared (NIR) light source on the mobile device that flashes a user of the mobile device with near infrared light during image capture; a biometric camera located on the mobile device offset from the NIR light source, the biometric camera comprising: an extended depth of field (EDOF) imaging lens; a bandpass filter located adjacent to the EDOF imaging lens to reject ambient light during image capture; and an imaging sensor located adjacent the bandpass filter that converts an optical image of an object into an electronic signal for image processing; and a processor configured to receive video images of an iris of a user from the image sensor, and attempt to match the video images of the iris with previously registered images stored in an iris database, wherein if a match is found, the user is authenticated.
Samsung's patent FIG. 1 presented above illustrates a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a mobile device biometric camera system. The camera system could apply to a smartphone, tablet, television, notebook or desktop.
Samsung's patent FIG. 2 noted above is a block diagram illustrating components of the biometric camera; and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the captured image bounded by a frame in which a window of interest containing an iris has been identified.
Additionally, Samsung states that their biometric camera could optionally perform functions including proximity sensing, night-vision camera, 3D time-of-flight sensor, eye position and gaze tracking camera, and structured light for 3D sensing. Combined with a user-facing front-face camera, the system is able to automatically identify whether the left and/or right eye is being imaged.
In the big picture, Samsung's patent covers Depth of Field, Extended Depth of Field, proximity sensing, night-vision, 3D time-of-flight sensing, eye position and gaze tracking, motion detection, a structured light for 3D sensing, 3D Face Recognition for Biometrics and a built-in rolling shutter or a freeze-frame shutter.
Samsung filed for this patent in the U.S. in Q3 2014 and UPSTO granted the invention in Q3 2018.
Some of Samsung's top engineers were listed on the patent as inventors including Mr. Ovsiannikov, VP at Samsung Semiconductor; Ms. Wang, Senior Director, 2D/3D Imaging; and Mr. Smits, VP of Samsung Electronics in the Bay Area.
