cpu 15 in the classifier unit 18 examples of the fingerprint image input unit 10 are disclosed in laid open publications no 69300 39 79 and no 85600 39 79 of japanese patent applications where itv industrial television is used for a face of a finger laid on a transparent plate another laid open publication no 138174 39 80 of a japanese patent application discloses an example of fingerprint image input unit 10 adapted to be used for a fingerprint picture printed on a sheet now referring to fig2 classified fingerprint patterns are shown in this invention fingerprint patterns are divided into five different groups as indicated in the first row of fig2 by nos 1 5 and in the second row by pattern name g 11 g 12 g 13 g 14 and g 15 where g 11 denotes a whorl g 12 denotes a right loop g 13 denotes a left loop g 14 denotes a tented arch and g 15 denotes a plain arch dotted lines in the second row indicate a column including the core these classifications from no 1 to no 5 are determined in accordance with the ridge line shape denoted by g 21 g 22 g 23 and g 24 in the third row and riddle direction trend denoted by g 32 g 33 g 34 and g 35 in the fourth row in the flow diagram of fig3 program steps from 310 to 318 and program steps 320 321 are executed by the.