Published Date : 7/21/2025Â
Mantra Softech, a prominent player in biometric solutions, has secured a US patent for its advanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) fingerprint liveness detection method. The patent, granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is titled “Optical Fingerprint Scanner and Method for Detecting Optical Coherent Gating Liveness.”
The invention leverages OCT technology to measure the optical properties of the subsurface, or internal surface plane, of the finger. This method involves capturing both the conventional external fingerprint image and the internal microstructure of the finger by shining a broadband light source. The light from the second source is split, collimated, and passed through a Michelson interferometer for coherent gating, generating an image that reflects the spatial micro profile depth or reflectance properties of the preselected internal surface plane.
Mantra’s innovative approach to liveness detection using OCT is highly robust and effective in preventing a wide range of biometric spoof attacks. The company has been at the forefront of fingerprint biometric scanners with built-in presentation attack detection (PAD) for several years. One notable example is the MELO31 FAP30 device, launched in 2023, which uses a PAD system based on measuring how light is reflected or refracted by the skin.
The new liveness detection method based on OCT is not only cost-effective and compact but also highly secure, with lower complexity and computational overhead compared to multispectral or 3D optical systems. According to Mantra Softech Founder Hiren Bhandari, the patent is a testament to the strength of the company’s R&D and the broader capabilities of Indian technology on the global stage.
The patent adds to Mantra’s global credibility and opens up opportunities for international licensing, commercial partnerships, and product integrations. The liveness detection method is particularly suitable for industries where identity verification and fraud prevention are critically important, such as banking and finance, border security and immigration, defense and law enforcement, government welfare programs, healthcare, workforce management, and consumer electronics.
Mantra Softech, founded in 1999, is headquartered in India and has established itself as a leading provider of biometric solutions. The company’s commitment to innovation and security is evident in its ongoing R&D efforts and the successful acquisition of this significant patent.Â
Q: What is Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in the context of fingerprint biometric liveness detection?
A: OCT is a non-invasive imaging technology that measures the optical properties of the subsurface of the finger, allowing for the detection of live tissue and preventing spoof attacks.
Q: How does Mantra Softech's new liveness detection method work?
A: The method captures both the external fingerprint image and the internal microstructure of the finger using a broadband light source and a Michelson interferometer, generating an image that reflects the spatial micro profile depth or reflectance properties of the finger's internal surface plane.
Q: What are the benefits of using OCT for liveness detection?
A: OCT-based liveness detection is cost-effective, compact, and highly secure, with lower complexity and computational overhead compared to other methods like multispectral or 3D optical systems.
Q: What industries can benefit from Mantra Softech's liveness detection technology?
A: Industries such as banking and finance, border security, defense and law enforcement, government welfare programs, healthcare, workforce management, and consumer electronics can benefit from this technology due to its robust identity verification and fraud prevention capabilities.
Q: What is the significance of Mantra Softech's patent in the global market?
A: The patent adds to Mantra's global credibility and opens up opportunities for international licensing, commercial partnerships, and product integrations, highlighting the company's R&D strength and the capabilities of Indian technology on the global stage.Â