Electronic data flash card with fingerprint verification capability

An electronic data flash card with fingerprint verification capability adapted to be accessed by a host computer that is capable of establishing a communication link, said electronic data flash card comprising:

• a card body;
• a flash memory device mounted on the card body for storing a data file, reference fingerprint data associated with a person authorized to access the data file, and a reference password;
• a fingerprint sensor mounted on the card body and adapted to scan a fingerprint of a user of said electronic data flash card and to generate fingerprint scan data in accordance with the scanned fingerprint;
• an input/output interface circuit mounted on card body for establishing communication with the host computer, wherein the input/output interface circuit includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface circuit including means for transmitting said data file using a Bulk Only Transport (BOT) protocol;
• and
• a processing unit mounted on the card body and electrically connected to said flash memory device, said fingerprint sensor, and said input/output interface circuit, wherein the processing unit comprises:
• (a) a flash memory controller including means for determining whether the flash memory device is supported by the processing unit in accordance with a flash detection algorithm code,
• (b) means for comparing the input password with the reference password, and for initiating authorized operation of said electronic data flash card upon verifying that the input password corresponds with the stored reference password,
• (c) means for comparing the input fingerprint data with the stored reference fingerprint data, and for initiating authorized operation of said electronic data flash card upon verifying that the input fingerprint data corresponds with the stored reference fingerprint data, and
• (d) means for operating in one of:
• a programming mode in which said processing unit activates said input/output interface circuit to receive the data file and the reference fingerprint data from the host computer, and to store the data file and the reference fingerprint data in said flash memory device in response to standard USB BOT write commands issued from the host computer to the flash memory controller;
• a data retrieving mode in which said processing unit receives standard USB BOT read commands issued from host computer to the flash memory controller, and activates said input/output interface circuit to transmit the data file to the host computer;
• and
• a data resetting mode in which the data file and the reference fingerprint data are erased from one or more memory blocks of the flash memory device, wherein said data resetting mode is initiated and performed automatically by said flash memory controller after receiving said standard USB BOT write command, and
• wherein the processing unit further comprises means for reading the flash detection algorithm code from said flash memory device mounted on the card body.