| 摘要 |
A fingerprint reading system includes a guide mechanism that defines the path of a finger across an interrogation region defined by an imaging device and includes a locking mechanism that selectively restricts the guide mechanism. In one embodiment, the guide mechanism is a finger guide that is restricted from following its established slide path, unless there is an applied force in the direction generally perpendicular to the slide path. The finger guide includes a finger-supporting region with an opening configured to expose the finger to the imaging device. Following a fingerprint reading operation, the finger guide is returned to a rest position by at least one spring mechanism. Preferably, the locking mechanism is configured to require pressure on opposite sides of the finger guide, with the opposite sides being aligned with the slide path. This alignment is intended to provide proper finger placement, since it requires finger contact at both the forward and rearward sides of the finger-supporting region. In another embodiment, the guide mechanism is a pair of rollers that are restricted from rotation by at least one locking mechanism having a release member. The rollers are on the forward and rearward sides of an imaging window, while the release members are on the lateral sides, but are sufficiently close to the rollers that a single finger is in contact with the rollers and the release members during a fingerprint reading operation. The release members are depressable actuators that restrict roller rotation when the release members are in a relaxed condition.
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