Smart card for passport, electronic passport, and method, system, and apparatus for authenticating person holding smart card or electronic passport

• US 20050240778A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IVI Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: E-Smart Technologies Incorporated (IVI Smart Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Saito, Tamio
• Granted Patent: US 8,918,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A smart card authenticates a cardholder. The smart card includes a substrate, a sensor module, a wireless transceiver module, and a power circuit. The sensor module includes (a) a biometric sensor adapted to detect biometric information from a person'"'"'s body, (b) a processor unit adapted to authenticate the person in response to the detected biometric information and generate an authentication signal representing an authentication result, and (c) a memory adapted to store biometric information of a specific individual associated with the smart card. The wireless transceiver module transmits signals received from the processor unit and receives a wirelessly-transmitted power signal. The power circuit generates at least one supply voltage from the received power signal and provides the supply voltage to the sensor module. An electronic passport is embedded with the smart card, and a terminal module is used for wirelessly transmitting power to and receiving signals from the electronic passport.

Claims

1. A smart card for authenticating a person holding said smart card, said smart card comprising:

a substrate;

a sensor module provided on said substrate, said sensor module including;

a biometric sensor adapted to detect biometric information from the person'"'"'s body;

a processor unit coupled to said biometric sensor, said processor unit adapted to authenticate the person in response to the detected biometric information and generate an authentication signal representing an authentication result; and

a memory coupled to said processor unit, said memory adapted to store biometric information of a specific individual associated with the smart card;

a wireless transceiver module coupled to said processor unit, said wireless transceiver module adapted to transmit signals received from said processor unit and receive a wirelessly-transmitted power signal; and

a power circuit provided on said substrate, said power circuit adapted to generate at least one supply voltage from the received power signal and provide the supply voltage to said sensor module.

2. The smart cared of claim 1, wherein said memory includes:

a random access memory (RAM); and

one-time programmable read only memory (PROM).

3. The smart card of claim 2, wherein the one-time PROM includes:

an erasable and programmable read-only memory (EPROM);

an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM); and

a flash memory,

wherein a rewritable function of the PROM is disabled.

4. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver module includes:

a power antenna coupled to said power circuit, said power antenna adapted to receive the power signal; and

a signal antenna coupled to said processor unit, said signal antenna adapted to transmit signals received from said processor unit.

5. The smart card of claim 4, wherein said signal antenna is substantially smaller than said power antenna.

6. The smart card of claim 4, wherein said mart cared is used with a terminal module including a module antenna adapted to receive signals from said signal antenna, and wherein said signal antenna is placed on a proximity position on a loop or trace of the module antenna.

7. The smart card of claim 4, said power circuit includes:

a rectifier coupled to said power antenna; and

a regulator coupled to said rectifier.

8. The smart card of claim 7, wherein said rectifier includes:

a double voltage rectifier.

9. The smart card of claim 7, wherein said regulator includes one of:

a dropper regulator;

a switching regulator; and

a fly back regulator.

10. The smart card of claim 7, wherein said rectifier includes:

a Shattuck diode.

11. The smart card of claim 4, wherein said wireless transceiver module includes:

a plurality of power antennas,

and wherein said power circuit includes;

a plurality of regulator circuits, each of said regulator circuits coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of power antennas.

12. The smart card of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of power antennas has a turn number less than 5.

13. The smart card of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of power antennas has approximately the same length.

14. The smart card of claim 11, wherein said plurality of power antennas are formed as an etched or printed pattern on a plastic or paper material.

15. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

16. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

17. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving optical waves.

18. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving infrared waves.

19. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor includes:

a fingerprint sensor adapted to detect fingerprint patterns.

20. The smart card of claim 19, wherein said fingerprint sensor is adapted to read the surface profile of a finger.

21. The smart card of claim 20, wherein said fingerprint sensor is adapted to measure the surface profile of finger mechanically, said fingerprint sensor including one of:

a pressure sensing cell array or scanner;

a micro electro mechanical (MEM) array or scanner;

a mechanical stress array or scanner;

a distance measuring cell array or scanner;

an elasticity measuring array or scanner; and

a micro switch array or scanner.

22. The smart card of claim 20, wherein said fingerprint sensor is adapted to measure a temperature profile of a skin of a finger.

23. The smart card of claim 22, said fingerprint sensor includes:

an infrared detector array or scanner.

24. The smart card of claim 20, wherein said fingerprint sensor includes:

a thinned silicon substrate adapted to detect and digitize fingerprint patterns.

25. The smart card of claim 24, wherein said thinned silicon substrate has a thickness less than about 200 micron.

26. The smart card of claim 25, wherein said thinned silicon substrate is backed up with a mechanical stiffener.

27. The smart card of claim 26, wherein said mechanical stiffener includes a hard polymer.

28. The smart card of claim 19, wherein said biometric information to be stored in said memory includes:

fingerprint templates of the specific individual.

29. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said smart card is flexible.

30. The smart card of claim 29, wherein said biometric sensor comprising:

a polymer material as an insulator, a substrate, or the insulator and substrate.

31. The smart card of claim 30, said polymer material includes at least one of:

polyimide;

polyethylene terepthalate (PET);

Polypropylene (PPT);

Polycarbonate;

Butadiene;

Epoxy;

Nylon;

polymers of tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); and

polymers of fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP).

32. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor includes:

a genetic information detector adapted to detect a genetic information of the person.

33. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor includes:

a charge coupled device (CCD) or metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) adapted to capture an image of the person.

34. The smart card of claim 33, wherein the image of the person includes at least one of:

a face of the person;

an ear of the person;

an iris of the person; and

a retina of the person.

35. The smart card of claim 1, said sensor module further includes:

a biosensor adapted to detect that the person holding the smart card is alive.

36. The smart card of claim 35, wherein said biosensor includes at least one of:

an oxygen detector;

a carbon dioxide detector;

a thermometer;

a moisture sensor;

an infrared sensor;

a voice sensor;

a brainwave sensor;

an electrocardiogram sensor;

an electromagnetic filed sensor;

an enzyme sensor; and

a Chi sensor.

37. The smart card of claim 35, wherein said biosensor includes at least one of:

an elasticity sensor adapted to detect elasticity of a member in contact therewith; and

a blood flow sensor adapted to detect a blood flow in a body part in contact therewith.

38. The smart card of claim 35, wherein said biosensor includes:

a bio-response detector adapted to capture a reflex response of the person to a given stimulus.

39. The smart card of claim 38, wherein the reflex response includes:

a change in an iris aperture in response to light intensity illuminated thereon.

40. The smart card of claim 39, wherein said biosensor includes:

an image sensor adapted to capture an image of the iris; and

a light emitter adapted to illuminate an eye of the person.

41. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said sensor module further includes:

an indicator coupled to said processor unit, said indicator adapted to indicate the authentication result.

42. The smart card of claim 41, wherein said indicator includes:

at least one light emitting diode (LED).

43. The smart card of claim 41, wherein said indicator includes:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) adapted to display the authentication result.

44. The smart card of claim 41, wherein said indicator includes:

a sound player adapted to play an audio signal corresponding to the authentication result.

45. The smart card of claim 44, wherein the audio signal has a different frequency depending on the authentication result.

46. The smart card of claim 44, wherein the audio signal has a different voice message depending on the authentication result.

47. The smart card of claim 44, wherein the audio signal has a different melody depending on the authentication result.

48. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said sensor module further includes:

a control interface coupled to said processor unit, said control interface adapted to receive an external control signal and configure said processor unit.

49. The smart card of claim 48, wherein said control interface'"'"'s connections to the external control signal is disabled after an initial configuration of said processor unit.

50. The smart card of claim 49, wherein said control interface'"'"'s connections to the external control signal is permanently disabled by a physical disconnection after the initial configuration.

51. The smart card of claim 49, wherein the initial configuration includes writing the biometric information of the specific individual to said memory.

52. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said processor unit includes:

an encryption circuit adapted to encrypt signals generated by said processor unit.

53. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said processor unit includes:

an authentication circuit adapted to compare the detected biometric information with the biometric information stored in said memory, and generate the authentication signal.

54. The smart cared of claim 53, wherein said authentication circuit includes:

an authentication program stored in an one-time programmable read only memory (PROM) within said memory.

55. The smart card of claim 54, wherein the one-time PROM includes one of:

an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM); and

a flash memory,

wherein a rewritable function of the PROM is disabled.

56. The smart card of claim 53, wherein said authentication circuit includes:

an encryption circuit adapted to encrypt the authentication signal.

57. The smart card of claim 53, wherein said authentication circuit is implemented using one of:

hardware;

software;

firmware; and

a combination of at least two of hardware, software, and firmware.

58. The smart card of claim 53, wherein said memory is further adapted to store personal information of the specific individual.

59. The smart card of claim 58, wherein the personal information includes at least one of:

personal identification information; and

personal information related to a purpose or usage of the smart card.

60. The smart card of claim 58, wherein said processor unit further includes:

a retrieval circuit adapted to retrieve the stored personal information from said memory if the detected biometric information is determined to match the stored biometric information.

61. The smart card of claim 60, wherein said processor unit further generates a personal information signal representing the personal information of the specific individual, the personal information signal being transmitted via the wireless transceiver module.

62. The smart card of claim 53, wherein said processor unit further includes:

an interface circuit coupled to said authentication circuit, said interface circuit adapted to convert a signal received from authentication unit into a signal suitable for wireless transmission.

63. The smart card of claim 62, wherein said interface circuit includes:

a decryption circuit adapted to decrypt an encrypted signal received from said authentication circuit; and

an encryption circuit adapted to encrypt a signal to be wirelessly transmitted.

64. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising:

an oscillation circuit adapted to generate a clock signal for said sensor module.

65. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising:

a clock antenna adapted to receive the power signal; and

a clock circuit coupled to said clock antenna, said clock circuit adapted to generate a clock signal from the received power signal.

66. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor is located near an edge of said smart card.

67. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said smart card is adapted to be embedded in a passport.

68. The smart card of claim 1, wherein said smart card is a card-type electronic passport.

69. The smart card of claim 68, further comprising:

a card surface layer provided on said substrate, said biometric sensor being visibly arranged on said card surface layer, said card surface layer containing desired information related to the passport.

70. The smart card of claim 1, further comprising:

a display provided on said substrate, said display coupled to said processor unit, said display adapted to display a photographic image including the specific individual'"'"'s face if the person is authenticated.

71. The smart card of claim 70, wherein said display is further adapted to display a signature of the specific individual if the person is authenticated.

72. The smart card of claim 70, wherein said display is activated by the authentication signal representing a positive result.

73. The smart card of claim 70, wherein said biometric sensor and said display are integrated.

74. The smart card of claim 73, wherein said biometric sensor is substantially transparent and laid on said display.

113. The passport of claim 10, wherein said memory is further adapted to store personal information of the specific individual.

114. The passport of claim 113, wherein the personal information includes at least one of:

personal identification information; and

personal information related to a purpose or usage of the smart card.

115. The passport of claim 113, wherein said processor unit further includes:

a retrieval circuit adapted to retrieve the stored personal information from said memory if the detected biometric information is determined to match the stored biometric information.

116. The passport of claim 115, wherein said processor unit further generates a personal information signal representing the personal information of the specific individual, the personal information signal being transmitted via the signal antenna.

117. The passport of claim 10, wherein said processor unit further includes:

an interface circuit coupled to said authentication circuit, said interface circuit adapted to convert a signal received from authentication unit into a signal suitable for wireless transmission.

118. The passport of claim 117, wherein said interface circuit includes:

a decryption circuit adapted to decrypt an encrypted signal received from said authentication circuit; and

an encryption circuit adapted to encrypt a signal to be wirelessly transmitted.

75. A passport comprising a smart card therein, said smart card including:

a substrate;

a sensor module provided on said substrate, said sensor module including;

a biometric sensor adapted to detect biometric information from a person'"'"'s body;

a processor unit coupled to said biometric sensor, said processor unit adapted to authenticate the person in response to the detected biometric information and generate an authentication signal representing an authentication result; and

a memory coupled to said processor unit, said memory adapted to store biometric information of a specific individual associated with the smart card;

a wireless transceiver module coupled to said processor unit, said wireless transceiver module adapted to transmit signals received from said processor unit and receive a wirelessly-transmitted power signal; and

a power circuit provided on said substrate, said power circuit adapted to generate at least one supply voltage from the received power signal and provide the supply voltage to said sensor module.

76. The passport of claim 75, wherein said wireless transceiver module includes:

a power antenna coupled to said power circuit, said power antenna adapted to receive the power signal; and

a signal antenna coupled to said processor unit, said signal antenna adapted to transmit signals received from said processor unit.

77. The passport of claim 76, wherein said power circuit includes:

a power circuit coupled to said power antenna, said power circuit adapted to generate at least one supply voltage.

78. The passport of claim 76, wherein said signal antenna is substantially smaller than said power antenna.

79. The passport of claim 76, wherein said wireless transceiver module includes:

a plurality of power antennas,

and wherein said power circuit includes;

a plurality of regulator circuits, each of said regulator circuits coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas.

80. The passport of claim 79, wherein each of said plurality of power antennas has a turn number less than 5.

81. The passport of claim 79, wherein each of said plurality of power antennas has approximately the same length.

82. The passport of claim 79, wherein said plurality of power antennas are formed as an etched or printed pattern on a plastic or paper material.

83. The passport of claim 75, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

84. The passport of claim 75, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves.

85. The passport of claim 75, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving optical waves.

86. The passport of claim 75, wherein said wireless transceiver module is capable of transmitting and receiving infrared waves.

87. The passport of claim 75, wherein said biometric sensor includes:

a fingerprint sensor for detecting fingerprint patterns.

88. The passport of claim 87, wherein said biometric information to be stored in said memory includes:

fingerprint templates of the specific individual.

89. The passport of claim 75, wherein said biometric sensor includes:

a genetic information detector adapted to detect a genetic information of the person.

90. The passport of claim 75, wherein said biometric sensor includes:

a charge coupled device (CCD) or a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) adapted to capture an image of the person.

91. The passport of claim 90, wherein the image of the person includes at least one of:

a face of the person;

an ear of the person;

an iris of the person; and

a retina of the person.

92. The passport of claim 75, said sensor module further includes:

a biosensor adapted to detect that the person holding the smart card is alive.

93. The passport of claim 92, wherein said biosensor includes at least one of:

an oxygen detector;

a carbon dioxide detector;

a thermometer;

a moisture sensor; and

an infrared sensor.

94. The passport of claim 92, wherein said biosensor includes at least one of:

an elasticity sensor adapted to detect elasticity of a member in contact therewith; and

a blood flow sensor adapted to detect a blood flow in a body part in contact therewith.

95. The passport of claim 92, wherein said biosensor includes:

a bio-response detector adapted to capture a reflex response of the person to a given stimulus.

96. The passport of claim 95, wherein the reflex response includes:

a change in an iris aperture in response to light intensity illuminated thereon.

97. The passport of claim 96, wherein said biosensor includes:

an image sensor adapted to capture an image of the iris; and

a light emitter adapted to illuminate an eye of the person.

98. The passport of claim 75, wherein said sensor module further includes:

an indicator coupled to said processor unit, said indicator adapted to indicate the authentication result.

99. The passport of claim 98, wherein said indicator includes:

at least one light emitting diode (LED).

100. The passport of claim 98, wherein said indicator includes:

a liquid crystal display (LCD) adapted to display the authentication result.

101. The passport of claim 98, wherein said indicator includes:

a sound player adapted to play an audio signal corresponding to the authentication result.

102. The passport of claim 101, wherein the audio signal has a different frequency depending on the authentication result.

103. The passport of claim 101, wherein the audio signal has a different voice message depending on the authentication result.

104. The passport of claim 101, wherein the audio signal has a different melody depending on the authentication result.

105. The passport of claim 75, wherein said sensor module further includes:

a control interface coupled to said processor unit, said control interface adapted to receive an external control signal and configure said processor unit.

106. The passport of claim 105, wherein said control interface'"'"'s connections to the external control signal is disabled after an initial configuration of said processor unit.

107. The passport of claim 106, wherein said control interface'"'"'s connections to the external control signal is permanently disabled by a physical disconnection after the initial configuration.

108. The passport of claim 106, wherein the initial configuration includes writing the biometric information of the specific individual to said memory.

109. The passport of claim 75, wherein said processor unit includes:

an encryption circuit adapted to encrypt signals generated by said processor unit.

110. The passport of claim 75, wherein said processor unit includes:

an authentication circuit adapted to compare the detected biometric information with the biometric information stored in said memory, and generate the authentication signal.

111. The passport of claim 110, wherein said authentication circuit includes:

an encryption circuit adapted to encrypt the authentication signal.

112. The passport of claim 110, wherein said authentication circuit is implemented using one of:

hardware;

software; and

a combination of hardware and software.

119. The passport of claim 75, further comprising:

an oscillation circuit adapted to generate a clock signal for said sensor module.

120. The passport of claim 75, further comprising:

a clock antenna adapted to receive the power signal; and

a clock circuit coupled to said clock antenna, said clock circuit adapted to generate a clock signal from the received power signal.

121. The passport of claim 75, wherein said biometric sensor is located near an edge of said smart card.

122. The passport of claim 75, wherein said smart card is embedded in a front or back cover of the passport such that said biometric sensor is visibly arranged on an inner side of the front or back cover.

123. The passport of claim 122, wherein said biometric sensor is placed on the inner side such that said biometric sensor does not interfere with the specific individual'"'"'s photograph and personal data on the inner side.

124. The passport of claim 122, wherein said indicator is also visibly arranged on the inner side of the front or back cover.

125. The passport of claim 124, wherein said biometric sensor and said indicator are placed on the inner side such that said biometric sensor and said indicator do not interfere with the specific individual'"'"'s photograph and personal data on the inner side.

126. The passport of claim 122, wherein said smart card further includes:

a display coupled to said processor unit, said display adapted to display a photographic image including the specific individual'"'"'s face if the person is authenticated, said display being visibly arranged on the inner side of the front or back cover of said passport.

127. The passport of claim 126, wherein said display is further adapted to display a signature of the specific individual if the person is authenticated.

128. The passport of claim 126, wherein said display is activated by the authentication signal representing a positive result.

129. The passport of claim 126, wherein said biometric sensor and said display are integrated.

130. The passport of claim 129, wherein said biometric sensor is substantially transparent and laid on said display.

131. A method for authenticating a person holding a smart card, the smart card including a sensor module provided on a substrate of the smart card, the sensor module including a biometric sensor, a processor unit, and a memory, said method comprising:

receiving a power signal via a wireless transceiver module provided on the substrate;

generating at least one supply voltage from the power signal and supplying the supply voltage to the sensor module;

detecting, by the biometric sensor, biometric information from the person'"'"'s body;

comparing the detected biometric information and biometric information stored in the memory;

generating an authentication signal representing a result of said comparing; and

transmitting the authentication signal via the wireless transceiver module.

132. The method of claim 131, wherein the sensor module further includes an indicator, said method further comprising:

indicating the result of said comparing by the indicator.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein said indicating includes:

indicating the result using at least one light emitting diode (LED).

134. The method of claim 132, wherein said indicating includes:

displaying the result using a liquid crystal display (LCD).

135. The method of claim 132, wherein said indicating includes:

playing a audio signal representing the result.

136. The method of claim 135, wherein the audio signal has a different frequency depending on the result.

137. The method of claim 135, wherein the audio signal has a different voice message depending on the result.

138. The method of claim 135, wherein the audio signal has a different melody depending on the result.

139. The method of claim 131, wherein said detecting includes:

detecting fingerprint patterns of the person.

140. The method of claim 139, wherein said comparing includes:

comparing the fingerprint patterns with fingerprint templates stored in the memory.

141. The method of claim 131, wherein said detecting includes:

capture an image of the person,

wherein the image including at least one of;

a face of the person;

an ear of the person;

an iris of the person; and

a retina of the person.

142. The method of claim 131, further comprising:

detecting, by a biosensor, that the person holding the smart card is alive.

143. The method of claim 142, wherein said detecting includes at least one of:

detecting oxygen;

detecting carbon dioxide;

detecting a temperature;

detecting moisture; and

detecting an infrared radiation.

144. The method of claim 142, wherein said detecting includes at least one of:

detecting elasticity of a member in contact with the biosensor;

detecting a blood flow in a body part in contact with the biosensor;

145. The method of claim 142, wherein said detecting includes:

capturing a reflex response of the person to a given stimulus.

146. The method of claim 145, wherein the reflex response includes:

a change in an iris aperture in response to light intensity illuminated thereon.

147. The method of claim 146, further comprising:

illuminating an eye of the person.

148. The method of claim 131, further comprising:

supplying an external control signal via a control interface so as to configure the sensor module;

supplying, via the control interface, biometric information of a specific individual associated with the smart card, and storing the biometric information in the memory; and

disabling connections to the control interface after said supplying the external control and said storing the biometric information in the memory.

149. The method of claim 148, wherein said disabling includes:

physically disconnecting external access to the control interface.

150. The method of claim 148, further comprising:

storing in the memory personal information of the specific individual.

151. The method of claim 150, wherein said personal information includes at least one of:

personal identification information; and

personal information related to a purpose or usage of the smart card.

152. The method of claim 150, further comprising:

retrieving the stored personal information from the memory if the detected biometric information is determined to match the biometric information template;

generating a personal information signal representing the retrieved personal information; and

transmitting the personal information signal via the wireless transceiver module.

153. The method of claim 131, further comprising:

generating a clock signal for the sensor module using an oscillation circuit provided on the smart card.

154. The method of claim 131, further comprising:

generating a clock signal for the sensor module using the power signal.

155. The method of claim 131, wherein the smart card is embedded in a passport, and the specific individual associate with the smart card is a person to which the passport is issued.

156. The method of claim 131, further comprising:

initializing the sensor module in response to a predetermined level of an increasing supply voltage after the supply voltage was shut down.

157. The method of claim 131, further comprising:

encrypting the authentication signal.

158. The method of claim 157, further comprising:

decrypting the encrypted authentication signal;

converting the decrypted authentication signal into a transmission signal for wireless transmission; and

encrypting the transmission signal.

159. An apparatus for authenticating a person holding a passport, said apparatus comprising:

means for supporting other means thereon, adapted to be embedded in a passport;

means for storing biometric information of a specific individual associated with the passport;

means for detecting biometric information from the person'"'"'s body;

means for authenticating the person in response to the detected biometric information and for generating an authentication signal representing an authentication result;

means for wirelessly transmitting signals received from said means for authenticating;

means for receiving a wirelessly-transmitted power signal; and

means for generating from the received power signal a supply voltage for other means.

160. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein said means for authenticating includes:

means for comparing the detected biometric information with the stored biometric information.

161. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the sensor module further includes:

means for indicating the authentication result.

162. The apparatus of claim 161, wherein said means for indicating includes:

at least one light emitting diode (LED).

163. The apparatus of claim 161, wherein said means for indicating includes:

means for displaying the result using a liquid crystal display (LCD).

164. The apparatus of claim 161, wherein said means for indicating includes:

means for playing an audio signal representing the result.

165. The apparatus of claim 164, wherein the audio signal has a different frequency depending on the result.

166. The apparatus of claim 164, wherein the audio signal has a different voice message depending on the result.

167. The apparatus of claim 164, wherein the audio signal has a different melody depending on the result.

168. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein said means for detecting includes:

means for detecting fingerprint patterns of the person.

169. The apparatus of claim 168, wherein said means for authenticating includes:

means for comparing the fingerprint patterns with fingerprint templates stored in said means for storing.

170. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein said means for detecting includes:

means for capturing an image of the person,

wherein the image including at least one of;

a face of the person;

an ear of the person;

an iris of the person; and

a retina of the person.

171. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for detecting if the person holding the smart card is alive.

172. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein said means for detecting if the person is alive includes at least one of:

means for detecting oxygen;

means for detecting carbon dioxide;

means for detecting a temperature;

means for detecting moisture; and

means for detecting an infrared radiation.

173. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein said means for detecting if the person is alive includes at least one of:

means for detecting elasticity of a member in contact with the biosensor;

means for detecting a blood flow in a body part in contact with the biosensor;

174. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein said means for detecting if the person is alive includes at least one of:

means for capturing a reflex response of the person to a given stimulus.

175. The apparatus of claim 174, wherein the reflex response includes:

a change in an iris aperture in response to light intensity illuminated thereon.

176. The apparatus of claim 175, further comprising:

means for illuminating an eye of the person.

177. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for supplying an external control signal via a control interface so as to configure the sensor module;

means for supplying, via the control interface, biometric information of a specific individual associated with the smart card, and for writing the biometric information in said means for storing; and

means for disabling connections to the control interface after supplying the external control and writing the biometric information.

178. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for storing personal information of the specific individual.

179. The apparatus of claim 178, wherein said personal information includes at least one of:

personal identification information; and

personal information related to a purpose or usage of the smart card.

180. The apparatus of claim 178, further comprising:

means for retrieving the stored personal information if the detected biometric information is determined to match the biometric information template;

means for generating a personal information signal representing the retrieved personal information, the personal information signal being transmitted via said means for wirelessly transmitting.

181. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for generating a clock signal using an oscillation circuit.

182. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for generating a clock signal using the received power signal.

183. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for initializing said means for authenticating in response to a predetermined level of an increasing supply voltage after the supply voltage was shut down.

184. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for encrypting the authentication signal.

185. The apparatus of claim 159, further comprising:

means for decrypting the encrypted authentication signal;

means for converting the decrypted authentication signal into a transmission signal for wireless transmission; and

means for encrypting the transmission signal.

186. A terminal module for authenticating a person holding a smart card, the smart card including a sensor module, a power circuit, and a wireless transceiver module provided on a smart card substrate, said sensor module including a biometric sensor, a processor unit, and a memory, said terminal module comprising:

a support plate adapted to receive the smart card thereon; and

an antenna provided on said support plate, said antenna adapted to transmit a power to the smart card, the power being to be received by the wireless transceiver module of the smart card, and adapted to receive a signal transmitted from the wireless transceiver module of the smart card.

187. The terminal module of claim 186, wherein the wireless transceiver module of the smart card includes a power receiver antenna and a signal transmission antenna, and

wherein said antenna is provided on said support plate such that when the smart card is placed on said support plate the signal transmission antenna substantially aligns on said antenna.

188. The terminal module of claim 186, further comprising:

a decryption circuit adapted to decrypt signals received from the smart card.

189. The terminal module of claim 186, further comprising:

an interface to a computer system.

190. The terminal module of claim 186, wherein said interface is compatible with at least one of:

Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard;

Recommended Standard 232C (RS-232C);

Recommended Standard 433 (RS-433); and

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

191. The terminal module of claim 186, wherein said antenna includes:

a power transmission antenna; and

a signal receiver antenna.

192. The terminal module of claim 186, wherein the smart card is embedded in a passport, and said support plate has a size suitable to receive the passport.

193. A system for authenticating a person holding a passport, said system comprising:

a smart card embedded in the passport, said smart card including;

a substrate;

a sensor module provided on said substrate, said sensor module including;

a biometric sensor adapted to detect biometric information from the person'"'"'s body;

a processor unit coupled to said biometric sensor, said processor unit adapted to authenticate the person in response to the detected biometric information and generate an authentication signal representing an authentication result; and

a memory coupled to said processor unit, said memory adapted to store biometric information of a specific individual associated with the smart card;

a wireless transceiver module coupled to said processor unit, said wireless transceiver module adapted to transmit signals received from said processor unit and receive a wirelessly-transmitted power signal; and

a power circuit provided on said substrate, said power circuit adapted to generate a supply voltage from the received power signal and provide a supply voltage to said sensor module; and

a terminal module, including;

a support plate adapted to receive the smart card thereon; and

an antenna provided on said support plate, said antenna adapted to transmit a power signal to the smart card, and receive a signal transmitted from the wireless transceiver module of the smart card.

194. The system of claim 193, wherein said wireless transceiver includes:

a power antenna coupled to said power circuit; and

a signal antenna couple to said processor unit.

195. The system of claim 194, wherein said signal antenna is placed on a proximity position on a loop or trace of said antenna of said terminal module when the smart card is placed on said terminal module.