Authorization control device including a wristwatch having a biometric sensor

• US 6,799,726 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: SKIDATA AG (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Stockhammer, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/181,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20020190125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/439, 235/492, 705/13, 705/18, 705/44, 382/115, 382/116, 382/117, 382/118, 382/124, 340/5.1, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.65, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/5.84, 713/202, 713/182, 368/10, 42/701.1, 600/344
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A data carrier intended to be worn by an individual for regulating the authorization of the individual into an access controlled location. The data carrier includes a sensor for monitoring a biometric feature of the individual. Internal to the data carrier is a chip in which previously read biometric data are stored. If the data read by the sensor are identical to the stored data, a read out device integral with the data carrier will broadcast a release signal.

Claims

1. An authorization system, said system comprising:

a wristwatch for indicating time;

a reader separate from said wristwatch and configured to emit and receive electromagnetic waves;

said wristwatch including;

a case dimensioned to be worn on a wrist of an individual for holding a time keeping assembly;

a strap for holding said case to the wrist; and

an antenna disposed in said case for receiving the electromagnetic waves emitted by said reader;

a sensor mounted to said case and directed towards the wrist, said sensor configured to only detect biometric identification features of the wrist or hand of the individual when the electromagnetic waves received over said antenna indicate said wristwatch is within a select distance of the reader;

means connected to said case and said reader for performing contactless communication of data from said sensor to said reader, the data being based on the biometric identification features detected by said sensor; and

a memory and a means for comparing biometric identification features disposed in said case or connected to said reader, said memory storing biometric identification features to be identified and said means for comparing configured to compare the biometric identification features detected by said sensor to the stored biometric identification feature data and to produce an output as a function of the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said memory and said means for comparing biometric identification features are contained in said case.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said memory and said means for comparing biometric identification features are connected to said reader.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to detect a pattern of subcutaneous blood vessels.

6. A wristwatch for indicating time and providing biometric identification data about an individual, said wristwatch including:

a case dimensioned to be worn on the wrist of an individual for holding a timekeeping assembly;

a strap attached to said case for holding the case to the wrist;

an antenna disposed in said case for receiving electromagnetic waves emitted by a reader;

a sensor mounted to said case and directed towards the wrist, said sensor configured to only detect biometric identification features of the wrist or hand of the individual when electromagnetic waves received over said antenna indicate said wristwatch is within a select distance of a reader; and

a transmitter mounted in said case to transmit data regarding the biometric identification features detected by said sensor to a reader.

7. The wristwatch of claim 6, wherein:

a memory is disposed in said case, said memory storing data representative of the biometric identification features of an authorized individual; and

a means for comparing is disposed in said case, said means for comparing connected to said sensor for receiving the detected biometric identification features and the stored biometric identification feature data and configured to compare the detected biometric identification features to the stored biometric identification feature data and, based on the comparison, generate an output signal.

8. The wristwatch of claim 6, wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor.

9. The wristwatch of claim 6, wherein said sensor is configured to detect a pattern of subcutaneous blood vessels.

10. The wristwatch of claim 6, wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor configured to detect a pattern of subcutaneous blood vessels.

11. The wristwatch of claim 6, wherein said transmitter includes an optocoupler.