{"id":687,"date":"2011-03-14T12:17:08","date_gmt":"2011-03-14T16:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.m2sys.com\/blog\/?p=687"},"modified":"2022-06-21T00:56:44","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T04:56:44","slug":"how-to-properly-clean-biometric-hardware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.m2sys.com\/blog\/biometric-resources\/how-to-properly-clean-biometric-hardware\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Properly Clean Biometric Hardware"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unintentional Consequences Resulting From Good Intentions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"How-To-Properly-Clean-Biometric-Hardware\"<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Recently, an end user contacted us to report that one of their fingerprint readers had mysteriously been damaged and unable to properly scan.\u00a0 Turns out that the glass surface where the finger rests during the scanning process had become scratched and thus could not properly capture a fingerprint image.\u00a0 Although no one on staff was claiming responsibility for the damage or the cause, management suspected (due to another fingerprint reader being damaged in a similar way a few months prior) that it was due to someone improperly wiping the surface with a prohibited cleaning agent.<\/p>\n

Taking into consideration that fingerprint readers <\/a><\/strong>and other biometric hardware devices are an investment and have a shelf life just like most other electronic equipment, it prompted us to think that perhaps it was an appropriate time to write a blog post on how to properly clean biometric hardware to prolong the hardware longevity and get the most out of your investment.\u00a0 Since regular use of biometric hardware devices (especially fingerprint readers) leaves residues or other foreign materials on the surface, this post will offer tips on how to properly maintain the devices.<\/p>\n

\"fingerprint<\/a>Wear And Tear More Prevalent For Fingerprint<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

No matter where you have a biometric system deployed, your hardware will undergo wear and tear as your end users place their fingers or palms on the device for recognition.\u00a0 However, fingerprint readers tend to have shorter life spans due to the fact that an end user must make physical contact with the fingerprint sensor in order for the device to capture a print and identify through a biometric software interface<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Within environments where staff is prone to having dirty, greasy, or grimy fingers due to their job responsibilities, we always recommend cleaning your hands before using either of our fingerprint readers.\u00a0 Remember that dirty residue, oils or other materials on the surface of a fingerprint reader can obscure the image causing performance degradation in terms of false acceptance<\/a><\/strong> and false reject<\/a><\/strong> rates.<\/p>\n

CLEANING THE M2-EASYSCAN FINGERPRINT READER:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dampen a lint-free cloth or cotton swab with alcohol or acetone. Gently rub the cloth across the sensor<\/p>\n

surface in a left and right direction. \u00a0Move slowly down the sensor to cover the entire surface area. Repeat this process 2-3 times. Visually observe that no residual solution remains on the sensor.<\/p>\n

Caution: Abrasive materials are not recommended for cleaning the M2-EasyScan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

CLEANING THE M2-S FINGERPRINT READER:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The scanning surface of the M2SYS fingerprint scanner is coated with a thin film of silicone. \u00a0This silicone\u00a0layer helps the reader capture more ridge detail from rough, dirty, and other potentially difficult prints. The silicone layer is not removable or replaceable<\/strong>, so please make sure to treat it with care.<\/p>\n

As far as cleaning, it is NOT <\/strong>recommended that you regularly use industrial cleaning solvents (especially\u00a0those that are alcohol-based) on the scanning surface. \u00a0The repeated use of such products will definitely\u00a0lead to the silicone layer on the scanning surface becoming damaged. \u00a0Such damage will result in\u00a0decreased capture sensitivity, and will negatively impact the scanner\u2019s performance.\u00a0 A piece of scotch tape, placed sticky side down and then peeled off, should be sufficient to remove any dust or latent oil or dirt buildup caused by normal use. \u00a0The frequency of use for the tape will vary depending on the amount of traffic a scanner experiences. \u00a0Typically, once a week should be reasonable.<\/p>\n

If something unusual does happen, like something sticky gets spilled on the scanner surface, a small\u00a0amount of mild ammonia-based cleaner (e.g. Windex) can be sprayed onto a cloth (not paper) and blotted or gently wiped on the problem area. \u00a0Blot the area dry and use scotch tape to remove any leftover particulate. \u00a0You should not use paper-based products (e.g. paper towels) to clean the surface as they will leave small paper particles stuck to the silicone. \u00a0You should not spray any cleaners directly on the scanning surface. You should never use an alcohol-based cleaner on the scanning surface. \u00a0This\u00a0procedure is only to be used in the rare case that something out of the ordinary gets onto the scanning\u00a0surface – scotch tape alone will be sufficient for normal maintenance of the scanning surface.<\/p>\n

It is possible that with heavy use the silicone layer on the scanning surface may become slightly cloudy\u00a0over time. \u00a0Use of a mild ammonia-based, as described above, may help to remove this cloudiness.<\/p>\n

Vascular Biometric Readers \u2013 Finger Vein and Palm Vein<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Luckily, the dawn of vascular biometric readers meant that end users no longer had to make contact with the sensor that captures the image of the finger or palm vein for recognition.\u00a0 It did not mean that these readers would not be susceptible to becoming dirty but cleaning frequency dropped significantly and the contactless sensor meant a longer life for the hardware.\u00a0 Here is the breakdown of how to clean each M2SYS vascular reader:<\/p>\n

M2-FV (Finger Vein) Scanner Maintenance:<\/strong><\/p>\n