CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of USA Provisional Application SN 61/122,505 filed December 15, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention is generally in the field of creation and manufacture of engraved jewelry and other objects. The invention is particularly directed at engraving fingerprints or other representations of body parts or portions thereof on at least one surface of an object. A finger print is advantageously captured directly using a digital image capture device and the image is transmitted directly to a PC (often remotely located) and after code conversion and editing to an engraving machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Today what is called fingerprint jewellery is made by a wax impression and mold method such as that of US Patent 6648056. This is time consuming, labour intensive, error prone, and incompatible with economies of scale using remotely located equipment. It takes considerable time and skill and limits the appeal of such jewellery, due to high cost, slow turnaround and customer objection. In addition the wax impression and mold process, in both aspects, often does not provide the level of reproduction accuracy desired. [0004] Recently some attempts have been made to streamline the process, such as US Pending Patent application publication # 20060144549 by Lehmann et al. This application uses an inking process to transfer a fingerprint from the person to a piece of paper, which is scanned or other wise photographed and a file created there from. The file produced is then used to control a machine to machine a wax mold, similar to USP 6648056 above. This process offers little or no improvement in the manufacturing process, but does allow the inked paper copy to be faxed to a remote manufacturing location, something that avoids a wax impression having to be carefully packed and mailed. This remote location could in theory service hundreds of retail sites, but the process of manufacture is still slow, and requires expensive hand finishing of the molded item which thus renders high volume remote manufacture difficult or impossible. This is especially true, since for funerary purposes, the finished engraved jewellery is ideally provided to the family of the deceased within 72 hours or less of the actual taking of the finger print and its related selection of jewellery. [0005] Furthermore, I have come to realize that there are problems of ink prints and their transmission, and the subsequent human editing at the remote location which can lead to a destruction of authenticity of the resulting jewellery, a major disadvantage to many customers. In other words, and in one example, the expensive engraved jewellery produced, may not accurately reflect their loved ones actual fingerprint (or other engraved feature). This can render it worthless to the family. In addition, prior art does not address the need for security of the created fingerprint with respect to identification with the deceased or other person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] My invention in one stroke solves the problems of the prior art, creating a fast, accurate, and quick turnaround method applicable to many types of objects including, but not limited to, fingerprint jewellery. The fingerprint is digitally scanned at the source from the finger itself, and accepted by the customer viewing a digital image of the scanned fingerprint, often further including the step of selecting a desired image to be engraved from a group of such images. The image chosen is then transmitted (directly, or over the internet) to a CNC engraving machine which engraves the jewellery, in some cases with no intermediate steps at all. Intermediate steps if required, generally concern final polishing and/or adapting the image transmitted to the type of jewellery the customer has selected (e.g. a ring), and not modification of the fingerprint image (or other desired object image) itself. The invention offers the only known customer authenticated method and has a minimum of process steps, both improving accuracy and reducing cost, while providing fast turnaround. The process further contains steps which insure the integrity of the fingerprint as that desired from the subject, and safeguard the identity of the person whose fingerprint it is.

[0007] Further embodiments of the invention concern methods and apparatus for obtaining other forms of prints of persons or animals, whether fingers, hands, noses, paws, palms, feet and the like. [0008] It is a goal of the invention to both improve and simplify the manufacture of fingerprint jewellery and other objects in which images of body parts are engraved, generally onto planar surfaces but not limited thereto.

[0009] It is a further goal of the invention to provide an easy to use and accurate means of customer interaction with the system.

[0010] it is an additional goal to provide a method for the customer to select and authentic ate information to be engraved.

[0011] It is a still further goal to provide means for scanning fingerprints using standard biometric finger print readers. [0012] It is also a goal to provide for encrypted transmission of customer related identity or image information.

[0013] It is a further goal of the invention to create finished jewelry which requires little or no manual work after the engraving is done, making it possible for the engraving site to ship product directly to the customer without having goldsmiths or other skilled artisans on staff and further insuring the integrity of the engraved fingerprint or other data engraved.

[0014] It is a goal of the invention to provide a method for editing image files to best adapt them to particular objects to be engraved.

[0015] It is also a goal to provide method and apparatus for scanning larger body objects of humans, pets and the like, for example hand prints of babies.

[0016] It is a goal of the invention to provide a process which can provide a fast turnaround from fingerprint data to a finish engraved object, typically a ring or other jewelry item.

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a basic process embodiment of the invention. [0019] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a ring being engraved with a fingerprint. [0020] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of a preferred process of the invention. [0021] Figure 4 illustrates a human interface computer screen of the invention from which selection of a best print example can be made for subsequent transmission. [0022] Figure 5 Illustrates an alternative scanning and engraving arrangement. [0023] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment in which engraved information on an object is used a stamp to provide a fingerprint likeness in ink or other media. [0024] Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a biometric scanner employed in a laptop for identification/password purposes acquires the persons fingerprint image. [0025] Figure 8 illustrates a further process block diagram of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a basic layout of the invention, in which a contacting portion of a body part such as a person's finger tip 100 is placed on a planar surface to be scanned as an image. In this case the surface is the platen window 105 of a biometric fingerprint scanner 110 such as a DigitalPersona model UarU. Scanner 110 in turn is connected to and controlled by personal computer 115, which may for convenience, be a laptop computer which can also display to a customer on display 116 a fingerprint image taken. The scanner and computer can be located at a vendor location 118 such as a funeral home, or may be carried to another location as desired. When taking images of a deceased person, the computer in general displays the fingerprint image (or other image if desired) taken for use by a further person (such as a family member) in deciding whether it is desired to be engraved. Typically multiple tries are needed to obtain a satisfactory fingerprint image and these images may be evaluated by the further person (or persons) before one is selected for engraving. In the case that all images taken are good, this selection step is not needed. However, for persons new to fingerprint taking, and especially where they are trying to take the fingerprint of a deceased person, multiple attempts are generally needed. This is especially the case since the goal is in general to create high value jewelry, and one rightly wishes the best likeness to be captured and engraved. [0027] Once an image is so selected, computer 115 is used to format the scanned image file for transmission over the Internet with optional encryption function to assure security of the transmitted fingerprint image taken by scanner 110. The encryption process serves to code the name (and /or other personal data as desired) of the person associated with a particular fingerprint image file. Alternatively one may encode the image file, or both image and personal data files, such that a fingerprint or other image cannot be associated with the deceased person, a situation which could give rise to fraudulent transactions or the like. [0028] In an engraving location, typically, but not necessarily, distant from the point which the fingerprint is scanned, a computer 120 connected to the Internet receives the fingerprint image and converts it, if necessary, from the fingerprint biomethc scanner file to a fingerprint image file. This fingerprint image file can be generated alternatively by computer 115, if not in a bitmap or other format from the fingerprint scanner. De-encryption is also performed by computer 120 if the image itself has been encrypted for transmission by computer 115.

[0029] The fingerprint image file is then edited by an operator looking at the display 130. Alternatively it can be automatically edited by a software program which may fit a chosen portion of a fingerprint to the available space on the jewelry surface to be engraved, at the print line density desired. The edited file is then converted to a PLT File or other CNC language and used to drive a CNC engraving machine 140 having as a cutting tool 141 , which may be either fixed or rotating used to cut the work, in this case a dog tag 150 mounted to fixture 160. Suitable CNC engraving machines are made for example by Datron or Signature (President Series). The material to be engraved can be soft, hard, porous or non porous and of many different metals or other materials. For fingerprint jewelry, gold is often preferred. [0030] Typically depth of engraved cut is 0.0003 inches but can be greater or smaller, within the limits of the machine, tool, and fixture employed. Figure 2 [0031] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a ring 220 being engraved with a fingerprint 200 located approximately in the central portion of a flat ring, having polished surface 210. The radius of the polished surface R1 is substantially larger typically than the approximate radius R2 of the fingerprint in one dimension. In this case shown the two radii are shown in the same direction. However, it is noted that generally finger prints are oblong, and generally (but not necessarily) laid out as shown with the long axis perpendicular to the ring axis. Optionally in the same setup, the machine can be programmed to engrave letters or other alphanumeric or graphics 250 (shown in the drawing as the letters A, B, C) onto the plane of surface 210 as well. [0032] An advantage of this particular arrangement is that the surface 210, is polished as received from the ring blank supplier, and the engraving work is simply done on top of the polished surface, cutting ridges of approximately .0003 inches to .001 inch depth, but not disturbing the polished original surface in other regions. This means that the engraved item can be provided to the customer with little or no additional finishing effort. This assumes that the cutting tool, which could be a diamond engraving tool, is operated within a regime of proper operation of the machine tool such that burrs and other machining surface faults are not created that would require excessive finishing. [0033] Cutting depths of this fine dimension require that the fixture and surface 210 be known precisely with respect to the machine axis. This in turn can require good quality blanks, and/or precise fixtures and tools. Alternatively, or in addition, probing with Renishaw or other touch probes adjacent the tool ( or interchanged in place of the tool in a measuring step ) may be done in order to establish tool point location in the axis perpendicular to surface 210 being engraved.

[0034] If the machine has a controlled z-axis range of motion in the vertical direction of the figure it can be programmed to provide lettering, graphical, or other information on other regions of the jewelry item that are not in the plane 210. For example, one might engrave the name of a deceased person on the side of the rings surface in the region 270. To do this takes additional software, and generally touch probing capability as well, in order to take due account the curvature of the ring. However surfaces on the jewelry item or other object be engraved which are parallel to 210 and a machine axis but in a different plane can be engraved more easily. [0035] In many cases I have found it is often best not to use all the image data which may be acquired (see fig 4 for examples of such data) when one presses a finger on the planar image acquisition surface 105 of the fingerprint image acquisition unit 110. There are three reasons for this. First, it's more pleasing on for example a ring, to not have such a big fingerprint region, leaving the region between radius R2 and the outer edge of planar zone 210 (at radius R1 >R2) to "show off" the polished ring material. The region used for example, might be only half the extent of the finger tip image taken.

[0036] A second reason is that sometimes, at least in my work to-date, the data from the finger near the edges of the finger print is potentially unreliable, due to liftoff from the platen window 105 on taking the finger print. A further reason is simply to save cycle time on the machine tool. You would like to make the cut in four minutes or less, and lost cycle due to over machining an item, lowers the production capacity. Figure 3

[0037] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the preferred process of the invention.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the fingerprint image is acquired in step 300. If the image is provided directly by the camera or other scanning means, for example as a bitmapped 512x512 pixel image over a USB cable to the computer then the image may be in step 320 displayed for the customer and accepted as discussed in fig 4. It is then subsequently transmitted to the engraving site in step 330. An optional encryption program step can also be used (along with a corresponding decoding step at the receiving computer employed in step 340). Alternatively it may be desired to encrypt the person's personal data, while transmitting a raw fingerprint image associated with the data. [0039] If a biometric fingerprint scanner such as the DigitalPersona one mentioned in figure 1 or another fingerprint scanner used for identification purposes is employed, an additional step 310 may be needed to convert the data from a format used for identification using finger print templates or the like, into a readable fingerprint image to be used in step 320. [0040] The server in step 340 receives the bitmapped or other image file and converts it into CNC code for the engraving operation of step 350. An optimum machine path to make the ridges of the fingerprint, without wasted machine motion is calculated, allowing the process to be economically implemented. [0041] Optionally, and often desired, is an editing step using the server display and software to either manually or automatically select portions of the transmitted image to be engraved, and to lay them out with respect to the object to be engraved. They are manually viewed by the editor and the best zone is chosen for the jewelry type ordered, generally in the center region as the data at the edges of the finger print image may be of reduced contrast or resolution depending on how the customer pressed on the platen of the scanner.

[0042] In an alternative editing method, the region to be engraved is automatically chosen by the computer software in the server to be let us say some area centered on some portion. For example, it could be a third of the total area centered on the centroid of area on a particular planar ring surface. Or it could be a fourth of the area centered on the centroid for a decorative pin. It doesn't have to be centered on the centroid of the area, though. For example, it could be centered on a feature of the fingerprint, such as a scar. In an automatic mode, the fingerprint can be scanned for any sort of unusual feature (such as a scar) and the image to be engraved automatically located with reference to the determined feature.

[0043] In step 360 the surface of the object is engraved, and the finished piece is shipped to the customer as step 370. For fingerprint jewelry of deceased persons it is generally desired that the total process from image taking to jewelry arriving in the customers hands take 72 hours or less. Figure 4

[0044] Figure 4 illustrates a representative human interface computer display screen for use by persons associated with the person whose fingerprint is to be digitized and engraved. If the subject person is deceased, his or her finger can be positioned on surface 105 by a further person, such as a funeral home employee or family member. Similarly if one is taking a finger print of a newborn baby, the baby's finger can be so positioned by another person. Similarly, a babies hand can be positioned on a scanning surface, if a hand print is desired. A nose or paw of a pet can also be so positioned for print recordation. [0045] At this point two steps may alternatively or in combination be employed. In the first case the person in charge of obtaining the print, may move the finger tip around on the scanner while viewing the image on a computer display until the he or she is happy with the general appearance of the image, and then press a button or give another signal to accept that image. In another case, which is more often used, the person taking the image does so several times in succession, and those images are each recorded in the computer and displayed after the image taking process is complete, as shown in the bottom left of figure 4. At this point the person enters his choice of that image to be engraved. This would typically be a situation where he would choose an image that represented what he felt was the characteristic finger mark (which could and often does include a scar or identifying distortion. In some relatively rare cases the customer might choose more than one image to be transmitted, with some instructions to the machine operator relative to which one to engrave.

[0046] At this point the desired image has been accepted by the customer. In the process of the invention this image is ideally never altered again other than to crop it or center it at the engraving site during the editing function to suit the jewelry or other object design being engraved. This maintains the integrity of the engraving, which may be done most efficiently at a remote site and is quite different than those trying to use ink recorded fingerprints and remotely edit, where an ink or fax caused blur could appear like a scar that should not be removed in the editing process but probably would be as it would be difficult to tell the difference between a real scar and a ink error.

[0047] I have found in practicing the invention that it is generally useful to ask the person taking the fingerprint to do this sliding around on the surface 105 and acceptance of image procedure a plurality of times. In the case shown in figure 4, the user has done this three times represented by the three images across the top of the screen, which results from this same procedure being repeated three times. In thus it is the customer himself who chooses the appearance of the image he desires. [0048] Another goal of this procedure is to give the editor in charge of the engraving operation a chance to optimize the image that is received, in order to fit the particular piece of jewelry or other object that is to be engraved. For example, one often wishes the engraving to be substantially less in size than the area on the piece itself. This optimization for integrity reasons is spatial size and location, not the fingerprint lines and their shape. [0049] The image(s) that the customer thinks is valuable are the one transmitted, and there is thus no miss-transmission of poor images or the wrong parts of the finger for example in the customer's eyes. The editing person at the receiving end then looks at these images and chooses the best part of for example of one of them to control the engraving process. This choice of size and location of the zone of the fingerprint image used is based at least in part on the jewelry type such as a ring, bracelet or dog tag. Figure 5

[0050] Figure 5 illustrates an alternative scanning and engraving arrangement. In this example, it is desired to scan the hand 500 of a child, which is placed on the platen 510 of a conventional document scanner such as an Epson 1250. The scanner is connected to a PC 520 which in this example is directly connected to the computer 530 used to edit the image and convert the files for machining. In this case the engraving is performed by a laser 540 with beam 545, which is used to engrave a silver plate 550 moved under the laser beam by X-Y table 560. This arrangement could be used with an Internet or other remote connection rather than directly connected as shown.

[0051] Alternatively the child's hand can be de-magnified and engraved onto jewelry. It should also be noted that the image of a hand, animal paw or any other desired input object can be taken by an ordinary webcam with an appropriate lens and positioned with respect to the object in order to provide a sufficiently accurate image to be entered into the computer 520. Such webcam images can be transmitted to the machining site for conversion into a machine tool cutting program or a laser engraving program, though laser engraving is generally speaking not as directly acceptable for fingerprint jewelry purposes as a CNC milled fingerprint [0052] To recap, the accuracy and aesthetically pleasing appearance made possible by the invention is not considered possible with either the ink or the wax transfer image acquisition arrangements used in the prior art. It is also not desirable to have humans adulterating the integrity of the image, a step eliminated by the invention, but commonplace when persons "touch up" conventionally produced ink prints, impressions or molds. Figure 6

[0053] Figure 6 illustrates a stamp created by the invention used to stamp out fingerprints on objects or for use in a printing press or other application. In this case the CNC engraving machine further removes material from around the engraved fingerprint such that the fingerprint ridges 601 are raised above the base material 600 (which could for example be the planar surface 210 of the ring depicted in figure 2). One application of such a stamp is to press in identifiers on objects such as dog tags or personal possessions such as trophies, or the like. And it can in a printing manner act as a form of seal, to the extent the engraved fingerprint portion is unique. For regular use as a stamp, harder materials such as titanium are desirable rather than soft metals. Figure 7 [0054] Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a biometric scanner 710 employed in a laptop computer 700 is touched by a person's finger 720. The computer acquires the persons fingerprint image and processes it using templates or other techniques known in the fingerprint identification art to determine user identity, and in addition (and perhaps at the same or another time), makes the image file available to the computer's internet based communication services for transmission to a remote engraving site of the invention, including encryption if used.

[0055] It should be noted that with sufficient sensor depth of field, it is possible to determine the 3-D shape of the person's fingertip including the print thereof. In some cases it could be useful to machine therefore a 3D model of the fingertip and print. This can be done using one of the many 3D prototyping machines if desired, or an NC Mill.

[0056] Figure 8 illustrates an alternative process block diagram. Data 801 concerning the person's identity is entered into the computer 810. Multiple images A, B and C of a deceased person's fingertip are taken with a finger print scanner are entered into the memory of computer 810. This image information is then displayed 815 and observed by a relative of the person on the computer display and selection 820 of the best image made. The identity information is then encrypted 850 and this information and the selected image information are then transmitted 855 to a computer, typically remotely located which converts in step 860 the image information to machine tool program code. A machine operator may additionally select 865 a region of the image to be engraved, and the location of the engraving with respect to the object to be engraved if necessary. The machine then in step 870 engraves the object, and the object is shipped 875 to the funeral home or other vendor site, with the engraved object identified by the encrypted user identity identification which the vendor then associates with the person whose fingerprint was taken.

[0057] While the foregoing disclosure has emphasized fingerprint engraving on jewelry, it is understood that such engraving may be done using the invention on other objects, for example picture frames and gravestones, and that such fingerprints while usually engraved life-size, may be magnified or de-magnified. Magnification for example is desirable in many cases for baby fingerprints, while in some cases for example, a dog nose might be de-magnified to fit it onto a jewelry item such as a pendant or ring. [0058] While surfaces to be engraved are typically planar, it is also possible to engrave fingerprint images on curved surfaces, using geometric transformations known in the art to match the print to the curved surface. [0059] While the invention has been described in connection with numerous embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific mechanisms and techniques that have been described are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and numerous modifications may be made to the methods and apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.