A method and an apparatus for distinguishing a latent fingerprint is provided
to
prevent a fingerprint recognition apparatus from mis-recognizing a latent fingerprint
as a fingerprint of a biomass due to a fingerprint residual on an imaging surface
of an optical fingerprint input apparatus. According to the present invention,
there is provided a backlight control device for controlling switching on and off
of the backlight; an image acquisition device for acquiring a fingerprint image
without illuminating the backlight onto the imaging surface; a fingerprint detection
device for detecting the existence of a fingerprint from the image acquired by
the image acquisition device; and a device for determining that the fingerprint,
if detected by the fingerprint detection device, is a latent fingerprint detected
due to an external light.
