Palm vein recognition in access control

Biometrics is effective where card systems for access control are ineffective. It is the method of choice for uniquely identifying a person. Palm vein recognition, used at access stations in high-security areas, is particularly simple and straightforward. But how does biometric access control via palm vein scanning work? Quite simply. Palm vein recognition uses the pattern of veins in a person's palm. This pattern is unique to each person and remains unchanged throughout their life, making it an ideal biometric feature.

Unlike fingerprint recognition, skin contamination or superficial injuries have no effect on palm vein recognition, as the process takes place under the skin.

What technology does it use?
The method is based on the absorption of infrared radiation (also known as heat radiation) in the blood. The access reader's sensor emits near-infrared radiation towards the palms of the hands. Oxygen-reduced blood in the veins then absorbs this radiation. The sensor's camera then creates an image of the vein pattern and encrypts it with AES-256 before sending it to the controller. The controller then converts the image into a 0.8 kB template. This template is then stored either in a database for identification purposes or on a card or key fob for verification purposes. The entire process takes place at lightning speed with no time delay. The modern sensor is so precise that it is not necessary to position the hand exactly in front of the sensor; holding the hand over the glass dome is sufficient.

Convenient high security!

Hand vein recognition therefore offers a unique combination of convenience and security, playing an increasingly important role in security-critical applications such as access control to critical infrastructure (KRITIS), data centres, and other sensitive areas. It is particularly suitable for use where two-factor authentication is required. Sometimes, simply possessing an access card is not enough of a security feature; it must also be verified that the cardholder is the authorised person.