AUTHENTICATION DEVICE AND AUTHENTICATION METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose an authentication device and an authentication method capable of preventing that fingerprint information on each individual is specified from registered information.SOLUTION: A fingerprint image 20 is sectioned into a plurality of areas ER, and a plurality of pieces of fingerprint identification information by area are generated, which shows angles to be formed by a ridge 21 with feature parts of fingerprints in the fingerprint image 20 and a reference line y for every area ER, respectively. A common template 30 at an angle level where an endpoint angle θ1 and a branching point angle θ2 of the pieces of fingerprint identification information by area are included is selected for every piece of fingerprint identification information by area from among a plurality of common templates represented for every area ER by unit of a predetermined angle range, and a registered ID pattern X by converting each piece of fingerprint identification information by area into corresponding common templates 30 is generated. Thus, collation processing is performed while altering the fingerprint identification information by area which shows features of the fingerprints of the user, it also becomes difficult to presume the fingerprint identification information by area from the registered ID pattern X, and specification of the fingerprint information on each individual is prevented.