Wireframe preview

Best viewed on a desktop.

These pages are wireframes for review, not the production site. The responsive treatment is part of the build phase that follows. Open this page on a screen at least 1200 px wide to see the layout as intended.

Watson

Small, light, and FBI-certified.

FAP 45 (Two-print Mobile) FBI Appendix F-Certified iBeta PAD Level 1

Watson is the FAP 45, FBI Appendix F-certified two-finger fingerprint scanner that put IB on the map. Compact and ergonomic at under 180 grams, it captures certified two-finger flats and single-finger rolls for desktop enrollment, mobile booking, and front-line field identification. Ships with USB-C, Micro-B, or USB-A cables.

Why Watson

Faster

  • Rapid dry finger capture
  • No need to clean latent prints in high-volume situations
  • Easy integration via single SDK for all Integrated Biometrics FBI-certified products

Better

  • Unaffected by extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or bright artificial lights
  • Ergonomic hand-held form factor under 180 grams
  • Rejects common spoofing attacks; iBeta PAD Level 1 confirmed
  • Emits no bright lights during scans
  • Meets or exceeds US military durability specifications

Smarter

  • One SDK for all IB scanners, compatible with IB software offerings
  • Responsive support team that answers in hours, not weeks
  • Twenty years of FBI certifications and live field deployments
  • Extremely low power consumption with no consumables to replace

Patented LES Technology

Integrated Biometrics' scanners use our patented light-emitting sensor (LES) technology to deliver fixed and mobile FBI certified fingerprint imaging in an exceptionally durable, lightweight scanner.

LES-based biometric solutions provide picture-perfect image quality in both direct and indirect sunlight and are resistant to finger contaminants such as grease, oil, water, dust, and chemicals.

Where Watson Shows Up

Border & Homeland Security

Watson is the IB scanner most associated with front-line field identification at the border. US Customs and Border Protection has used Watson for fingerprint-based ID work at ports of entry and field operations, alongside other Appendix F-certified scanners in the IB line.

Law Enforcement

Booking, patrol-vehicle ID, and field investigation. Watson is deployed across state, county, and local law-enforcement programs in the US, including a multi-agency rollout in Utah through MOSA Technology Solutions where it has been used in roadside identification by Summit County deputies.

Banking & Financial Identity

Pension fraud prevention, retiree identity enrollment, and customer authentication. Watson has been used by Mexican financial institutions to confirm retiree identities at scale and by partner banks running biometric inclusion programs for customers with disabilities.

Healthcare & Public Sector

Hospital patient identification, government service delivery, and other verification programs where a small, ruggedized two-finger scanner makes more sense than a desktop ten-print unit. Partners in Latvia and other European markets have tested Watson against traditional optical scanners and reported faster captures with better image quality.

Specifications

OS Support & System Requirements

Windows
Desktop Editions 10, 11
Linux
Kernel 4.0 or newer. Ubuntu 18.04 LTS or newer. Debian 10, 11, or newer.
Android
10, 11, 12 or newer
CPU
x86 / x64 2.0 GHz or higher; ARM 1.0 GHz or higher
Memory
512 MB or higher

Images & Capture

Sensor Type
LES (Light Emitting Sensor)
Camera
CMOS
Resolution
500 ppi
Grayscale
256 grayscale dynamic range
Image Size
800 x 750 pixels
Image Formats
RAW, JPEG2000, BMP, PNG, WSQ (FBI-approved)
FBI Certifications
FBI Appendix F, Mobile ID IQS FAP 45, PIV, GSA FIPS 201
Speed
Minimum > 10 fps on ARM Cortex-A9 or equivalent; 17 fps on Intel 2.8 GHz or equivalent
API Interface
Single-finger and two-finger direct capture, single-finger rolls, multi-device / multi-thread support
Quality Scoring
NFIQ v1 supported on all OSes; NFIQ2 for Windows
Encryption
256-bit AES keys and RSA algorithms

Weight & Dimensions

Product Weight
< 180 g / 0.40 lbs (not including cable)
Platen Size
40.64 x 38.1 mm / 1.6 x 1.5 in
Sensing Area
40.64 x 38.1 mm / 1.6 x 1.5 in
Assembly
60.3 x 62.3 x 33.04 mm / 2.37 x 2.45 x 1.30 in

Power & Connectors

Interface
USB 2.0
Power Source
USB Host
USB Voltage
4.4 V to 5.25 V
Cables
Ships with USB-C, Micro-B, or USB-A cable options. IB cables are recommended; third-party USB 2.0 OTG-compliant cables may be used.

Conformance & Certifications

USB
USB-IF compatibility
FCC / CE / UKCA
FCC Part 15 (per ANSI C63.4:2014) Class B; CE Emissions EN 55032:2015 / A1:2020 Class B; EN 55035:2017 / A11:2020
ESD
In compliance with IEC 62368-1
Equipment Safety
IEC 62368-1
Hazardous Material
RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU with amendment 2015/863
Vibration Test
IEC 60068-2-64

Temperature & Humidity

Operating
-10°C to +55°C / 14°F to 131°F
Humidity
20 to 95% RH < 40°C / 104°F (non-condensing)
Storage
-40°C to +80°C / -40°F to 176°F

Surface & Durability

Ingress Protection
IP65 (sealed bezel to scanning surface)
Surface Durability
MIL-C-675c 4.5010, MIL-STD-810F
MTBF
33 years, based on 200 full two-finger enrollments per day

Compliance & Standards

  • 500 PPI fingerprint capture supporting rolls and flats
  • ISO 9001:2015
  • iBeta ISO 30107-3 Compliant (PAD Level 1)
  • MOSIP Compliant
  • Meets TAA compliance for US customers
  • ISO 19794-2:2005/2011, ISO 19794-4:2005/2011
  • ANSI INCITS 378-2004, ANSI INCITS 381-2004

Warranty

Standard
12 months from date of delivery
Extended
Additional-year warranties available. Inquire with your IB representative.

Downloads

Watson Datasheet

Small, light, fast single-finger scanner for high-volume verification. Built to disappear into the host device.

Watson Specifications

Watson technical specifications and certifications. Covers Watson and Watson Mini.

Watson Mini Certifications

Consolidated certifications package for Watson Mini: FCC, CE, and related regulatory conformance.

Watson Mini Hardware Manual

Hardware reference manual for Watson Mini: ports, indicators, mechanical envelope, and field installation guidance.

Watson User Manual

Operator-facing manual for Watson: setup, daily use, and routine troubleshooting.

Watson Mini PAD Level 1 Confirmation Letter

ISO 30107-3 Presentation Attack Detection Level 1 confirmation letter for Watson Mini.

Tell Us What You're Working On

Real people, real answers, usually within a business day. Tell us what you need and we'll point you to the right person.