PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow permanent biometrics without risk of forgery, and to allow bio-attribute identification simultaneously with the biometrics.SOLUTION: A recess/protrusion distribution pattern of deep layer tissue of skin shielded by epidermal tissue is read to extract a pattern unique for the living body. The biometrics is performed based on the read pattern. The reading of the recess/protrusion distribution pattern of the deep layer tissue of the skin is optically performed by using difference in optical characteristic between the epidermal tissue and the deep layer tissue of the skin. At that time, long-wavelength light, for example, light in a near infrared ray band is used as irradiating light for irradiating the epidermal tissue. A position to be detected is set to be, for example, a branched part of a blood vessel under the skin to determine the position to be detected from a shape of the branched part. At that time, the bio-attribute identification using the blood vessel under the skin can be performed.COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO
