Compact, simple, 2D raster, image-building fingerprint scanner

A method for verifying an individual's identity comprising the steps of:

• pressing an authentication token against a scanned surface of a compact, simplified, image-building scanner that includes:
• a solid block formed from a material that is transparent to electro-magnetic radiation of a pre-established wavelength, said block including the scanned surface, said block also including a radiation inlet-face for admitting into said block a beam of electro-magnetic radiation having the pre-established wavelength, and said block further including a radiation outlet-face through which exits from said block at least a portion of electro-magnetic radiation admitted into said block through the radiation inlet-face, the radiation inlet-face and the radiation outlet-face of said block being distinct from the scanned surface thereof, said block being shaped so that the beam of electro-magnetic radiation entering through the radiation inlet-face impinges upon the scanned surface of said block before exiting from said block through the radiation outlet-face;
• a radiation source for emitting a beam of electro-magnetic radiation having the pre-established wavelength;
• a micromachined scanner having a mirror for deflecting the beam emitted from said radiation source, the beam of electro-magnetic radiation emitted by said radiation source impinging upon the mirror of said first micromachined scanner and being deflected thereby to form a two dimensional ("2D") raster of the beam, the 2D raster formed by the deflected beam emitted from said first micromachined scanner being directed into said block through the radiation inlet-face thereof, whereby the 2D raster of the beam impinges upon the scanned surface of said block;
• and
• a radiation detector which receives electro-magnetic radiation admitted into said block through the radiation inlet-face thereof, impinges upon the scanned surface of said block, and exits from said block through the radiation outlet-face thereof, said radiation detector being responsive to the received electro-magnetic radiation for producing a time-varying electrical signal that represents an item pressed against the scanned surface of said block;
• operating the scanner to obtain authentication-token by processing the time-varying electrical signal produced by the radiation detector to read the authentication token pressed against the scanned surface;
• touching the scanned surface of the scanner with a finger;
• operating the scanner to scan a fingerprint on the finger pressed against the scanned surface of the scanner to obtain fingerprint data from the time-varying electrical signal produced by the radiation detector;
• and
• comparing the authentication-token information with the fingerprint data to verify the individual's identity.