Smart card with integrated fingerprint reader
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorPaul J. Baratelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The improved smart card of the present invention preferably comprises a CPU, memory, and a fingerprint reader including a sensing surface. Preferably, the sensing surface is located along a surface of the smart card so that a user's thumb is naturally positioned over the sensing surface when the card is inserted into a write/read unit or other suitable card reader. When an individual inserts the smart card into a write/read unit, the smart card creates an electrical representation of the individual's fingerprint and compares the acquired representation to a stored fingerprint representation in the card's memory. If the acquired representation matches the stored representation, the card is enabled, and the user is given access to information and/or services that require cooperation of the smart card.
Claims14
A smart card comprising:
- a smart card housing having at least one surface,
- a sensing surface positioned in substantially the same plane as the surface of the housing;
- a fingerprint processor for generating a representation of a fingerprint of a finger located on the sensing surface;
- a memory containing a stored representation of a fingerprint;
- a comparator located within the smart card housing for comparing the generated representation to the stored representation and adapted to output an indication of a result of the comparison between the generated representation and the stored representation;
- a sensor for determining whether a finger placed on the sensing surface is attached to a living person;
- wherein:
- the indication is used to enable the smart card;
- and
- an image of the authorized individual is stored in the memory, and wherein access to the image is granted only if the card is enabled.
A smart card comprising:
- a smart card housing having at least one surface;
- a sensing surface positioned in substantially the same plane as the surface of the housing;
- a fingerprint processor for generating a representation of a fingerprint of a finger located on the sensing surface;
- a memory containing a stored representation of a fingerprint;
- a comparator located within the smart card housing for comparing the generated representation to the stored representation and adapted to output a first indication of the result of the comparison between the generated representation and the stored representation;
- wherein:
- the memory contains at least a second stored fingerprint representation;
- the comparator is adapted to compare the generated representation to the second stored representation and to output a second indication of the result of the comparison between the generated representation and the second stored representation;
- and
- the first indication is used to enable a first set of resources that require the smart card and the second indication is used to enable a second set of resources that require the smart card.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.