# US 2008/0185436 A1 · Mems-based security system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185436 A1 - Document ID: US20080185436A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/306,650 - Filed: 2006-01-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-05 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Kerry D. Laviolette - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185436A1 ## CPC - G06K 19/06: characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code - G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention is directed to a portable identification object (e.g., ID card), an object recognition system (e.g., card reader system), and a method of identity verification or authentication utilizing the portable identification object and the object recognition system. Illustratively, the ID Card incorporates an optical MEMS that, in a passive aspect, exhibits amplitude modulation, wavelength selectivity and/or optical phase modulation with respect to an input signal provided by the card reader system; and, in an active aspect, exhibits amplitude modulation, wavelength selectivity and/or optical phase modulation with respect to an input signal provided by the card reader system based on specific stimulation of the MEMS. MEMS stimulation may be activated by the card reader system in response to a selective user input (e.g., PIN) and algorithmic processing provided by the card reader system. Resultant signals produced by the MEMS ID card and read by the card reader are compared to results stored in a database. An identity or authentication determination can then be made based on the validity of the comparison. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable identification object intended for cooperative engagement with an object reader, comprising: a base member; and an optical MEMS disposed in the base member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable identification object of claim 1, wherein the optical MEMS is at least one of a passive MEMS, an active MEMS and a combination passive/active MEMS. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The portable identification object of claim 2, wherein the passive MEMS includes a plurality of passive components that can at least one of amplitude-modulate, wavelength- or frequency-modulate, and phase-modulate a signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The portable identification object of claim 3, wherein the plurality of passive components are one of optically reflective structures and optically diffractive structures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The portable identification object of claim 2, wherein the active MEMS includes a plurality of active components that can at least one of amplitude-modulate, wavelength- or frequency-modulate, and phase-modulate a signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable identification object of claim 5, wherein the plurality of active components are one of optically reflective structures and optically diffractive structures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable identification object of claim 1, wherein the base member has a form factor substantially similar to that of a credit/debit card. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable identification object of claim 1, wherein the base member has a form factor substantially similar to that of a key card. ### Claim 9 An object reader system intended for cooperative engagement with a MEMS-based portable identification object, comprising: a power supply; an object reader interface including an input signal source, a MEMS stimulation source and a resultant signal receiver; a user interface; and a computing platform operationally interfaced to the power supply, the object reader interface and the user interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, wherein the input signal source is at least one of an optical source and an electrical source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The object reader system of claim 10, wherein the optical source is at least one of a white light source and a wavelength specific source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, wherein the resultant signal receiver comprises at least one of a direct detection receiver and a coherent detection receiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, wherein the MEMS stimulation source comprises one of an electrostatic source, an electromagnetic source, an electrostrictive source and a resistive heating source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, wherein the object reader interface further comprises at least one of a MEMS stimulation source modulator and a signal digitizer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The object reader system of claim 14, wherein the MEMS stimulation source modulator is selectively variable, further wherein a selected modulation format is operationally associated with one of a plurality of security algorithms stored in a database of the object reader. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a user display medium, a user data-input component and a restricted access controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, wherein the computing platform is further operationally interfaced to at least one of an intra-network and an inter-network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The object reader system of claim 9, further comprising a MEMS-based portable identification object that is readable by the object reader interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The object reader system of claim 18, wherein the MEMS-based portable identification object includes a base member and an optical MEMS disposed in the base member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The object reader system of claim 19, wherein the optical MEMS is at least one of a passive MEMS, an active MEMS and a combination passive/active MEMS. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The object reader system of claim 20, wherein the passive MEMS includes a plurality of passive MEMS device components that can at least one of amplitude-modulate, wavelength- or frequency-modulate and phase modulate an input signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The object reader system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of passive components are one of optically reflective structures and optically diffractive structures. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The object reader system of claim 20, wherein the active MEMS includes a plurality of active components that can at least one of amplitude-modulate, wavelength- or frequency-modulate and phase-modulate an input signal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The object reader system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of active components are one of optically reflective structures and optically diffractive structures. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The object reader system of claim 19, wherein the base member has a form factor substantially similar to that of a credit/debit card. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The object reader system of claim 19, wherein the base member has a form factor substantially similar to that of a key card. ### Claim 27 A method of identity verification or authentication, comprising: providing a portable identification object that includes a base member and an at least one of a passive optical MEMS and an active optical MEMS disposed in the base member; providing a portable identification object reader having an input signal source; generating at least one of a resultant amplitude-modulated, a wavelength- or frequency-modulated and a phase-modulated signal from the MEMS; comparing the resultant modulated signal to a reference indicia; and determining whether the comparison is sufficient to authenticate identity. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, comprising providing a reflective optical MEMS disposed in the base member. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, comprising providing a diffractive optical MEMS disposed in the base member. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the step of generating a resultant signal further comprises providing a MEMS stimulation source, and inputting a suitable user PIN via a user interface to activate the MEMS stimulation source. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, further comprising executing a signal processing algorithm in response to inputting the suitable user PIN. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, further comprising modulating the MEMS stimulation source with a selected modulation format that is associated with one of a plurality of signal processing algorithms. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the step of determining whether the comparison is sufficient to authenticate identity comprises making an initial verification using the passive optical MEMS and making a full verification using the active optical MEMS.