A non-circular iris localization algorithm using image projection function and gray level statistics

Iris recognition technology identifies an individual from its iris texture with great precision. A typical iris recognition system comprises eye image acquisition, iris segmentation, feature extraction, and matching. However, the system precision greatly depends on accurate iris localization in the segmentation module. In this paper, we propose a reliable iris localization algorithm. First, we locate a coarse eye location in an eye image using integral projection function (IPF). Next, we localize the pupillary boundary in a sub image using a reliable technique based on the histogram-bisection, image statistics, eccentricity, and object geometry. After that, we localize the limbic boundary using a robust scheme based on the radial gradients and an error distance transform. Finally, we regularize the actual iris boundaries using active contours. The proposed algorithm is tested on public iris databases: MMU V1.0, CASIA-IrisV1, and the CASIA-IrisV3-Lamp. Experimental results demonstrate superiority of the proposed algorithm over some of the contemporary techniques.