A Practical Approach to Liveness Detection for Biometric Systems
Facial authentication systems are rapidly expanding across access control, identity verification, and border processing environments. As deployments scale, preventing presentation attacks such as printed photos, replayed videos, and masks becomes a critical performance requirement. Depth sensing introduces a spatial verification layer that enables biometric systems to analyze facial geometry instead of relying solely on 2D image data.
This blog outlines the technical requirements for depth-assisted anti-spoofing and how DepthVista Helix provides the depth and infrared sensing capabilities required to support these applications.
Key Sensing Considerations for Depth-Based Anti-Spoofing
Biometric solution providers evaluate depth sensing technologies based on their ability to accurately capture facial contours, maintain stability across environmental conditions, and provide reliable data streams for liveness detection algorithms.
The key sensing requirements include:
High Depth Accuracy at Authentication Distances
Most biometric terminals operate within close capture ranges. Accurate depth measurement is required to capture micro-contours such as nasal protrusion, orbital depth, cheek curvature, and surface discontinuities that are essential for presentation attack detection.
Consistent Performance Across Lighting Conditions
Authentication systems must operate reliably in indoor lighting, low-light environments, and high contrast scenes. Active near-infrared illumination ensures stable depth capture independent of ambient lighting variations.
Real-Time Depth Output
Low latency depth streaming enables liveness detection algorithms to operate without introducing delays in user interaction.
Availability of Multiple Output Streams
Availability of depth, IR intensity, and confidence maps provides useful input data that biometric algorithms can leverage depending on implementation design.
Low Processing Overhead
On-camera depth computation reduces CPU load on the host system, enabling efficient integration into embedded biometric platforms.
e-con Sytems’ DepthVista Helix Capabilities for Facial Anti-Spoofing
To support these sensing requirements, biometric OEMs require a depth camera that delivers stable close-range accuracy, synchronized output streams, and real-time performance for seamless integration into authentication systems.
DepthVista Helix is a 1.2 MP onsemi® AF0130 CW-iToF depth camera designed to provide synchronized depth, IR, and confidence outputs that can be used by biometric solution providers.
Flexible Depth Modes for Close Range Applications
The camera supports multiple depth modes:
- 1.2 MP mode optimized for 0.2 m to 2 m capture range
- VGA mode supporting 0.5 m to 6 m sensing
For high precision use cases, VGA mode can be configured for shorter operating ranges depending on application requirements.
Depth Measurement Precision
The camera is designed to deliver stable depth measurements that enable reliable reconstruction of facial geometry when used within recommended operating ranges.
Active 940 nm NIR Illumination
Provides stable depth capture across varying lighting conditions including low light and high contrast environments.
Output Streams
DepthVista Helix provides synchronized depth, IR intensity, and confidence maps, allowing solution providers to use one or more data streams based on algorithm requirements.
Real-Time Onboard Depth Processing
Integrated depth computation reduces host system load and enables efficient deployment in embedded biometric devices.
Multiple Interface Support
The USB interface with UVC compliance enables plug-and-play connectivity with Windows and Linux systems, simplifying integration into biometric terminals and development platforms.
The GMSL variant provides a robust option for embedded deployments requiring longer cable runs and industrial grade system design.
DepthVista Helix Output Demonstration
The following examples show depth data captured using DepthVista Helix, demonstrating how facial surface characteristics differ between a live subject and a presentation attack artifact.
Real Face Depth Map captured using DepthVista Helix
Mannequin Depth Map captured using DepthVista Helix
These outputs illustrate how depth sensing provides spatial information that can be leveraged by liveness detection algorithms to identify anomalies.
Integration Scenarios for DepthVista Helix
DepthVista Helix is positioned as a depth sensing companion module within biometric capture architectures, providing spatial data required for liveness detection while enabling flexible system design.
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Airport and Border Control Biometric Systems
Automated border control gates, immigration kiosks, and passenger verification systems require highly reliable facial authentication to prevent identity fraud and presentation attacks. DepthVista Helix supports accurate facial geometry capture and depth-assisted liveness detection, helping authorities verify genuine users while minimizing false acceptance caused by photos, videos, or masks.
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Smart Access Control Terminals
DepthVista Helix enhances enterprise and secure facility access systems by providing depth-assisted liveness verification.
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eKYC and Identity Verification Kiosks
DepthVista Helix provides spatial sensing for digital onboarding workflows, enabling reliable liveness detection and user authentication.
Why DepthVista Helix for Biometric OEMs
e-con Systems’ experience in depth sensing and multi-camera design enables biometric OEMs to integrate depth-assisted liveness detection into production-ready systems with reduced development effort.
- Reliable depth sensing performance for biometric deployments
- Optimized close-range accuracy for facial capture
- Availability of multiple synchronized output streams
- USB plug-and-play integration
- Flexible deployment across multiple biometric architectures
Depth sensing is becoming an important component in modern biometric architectures as organizations seek stronger protection against presentation attacks. By enabling accurate capture of facial geometry and reliable performance across varied lighting conditions, depth cameras enhance liveness detection and improve system robustness.
Explore DepthVista Helix for Biometric Systems
To learn more about DepthVista Helix, download the product datasheet.
If you are looking for the right depth camera for your biometric or liveness detection system, please write to camerasolutions@e-consystems.com.
Prabu is the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Camera Products at e-con Systems, and comes with a rich experience of more than 15 years in the embedded vision space. He brings to the table a deep knowledge in USB cameras, embedded vision cameras, vision algorithms and FPGAs. He has built 50+ camera solutions spanning various domains such as medical, industrial, agriculture, retail, biometrics, and more. He also comes with expertise in device driver development and BSP development. Currently, Prabu’s focus is to build smart camera solutions that power new age AI based applications.