BIOMETRIC SENSOR AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATION OF A PORTION OF A FINGER

One embodiment includes a biometric sensor for generating a three-dimensional representation of a portion of a finger, the finger comprising a three-dimensional structure including a surface tissue layer and a subsurface tissue layer, the biometric sensor comprising: a platen; a first transducer; a drive system; a controller; and a software module. The platen is configured to receive the finger. The first transducer is arranged about the platen, configured to scan at least a portion of the finger by transmitting ultrasound waves toward the finger and receiving the ultrasound waves after the waves reflect off of the finger, and further configured to output signals based upon the received ultrasound waves. The drive system is configured to motivate the set of transducers accurately about a central axis substantially parallel to the length of the finger to be scanned. The controller is configured to control the motion of the drive system. The software module is configured to receive a form of the signals from the first transducer and to compose the form of the signals into a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the surface tissue layer of the finger.