Retinal scan device with removable eyepiece and onboard data storage

• US 7,832,867 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mathewson, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/428,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,599 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 351/206, 351/211, 351/218, 600/318, 600/162
• US Class Current: 351/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris

Abstract

A method and architecture are provided for obtaining and authenticating a retinal scan using a host device, such as a laptop or hand-held computer, in a manner that is ergonomically sound and is easy to use. A PCMCIA card is used to obtain and authenticate retinal scans. The PCMCIA card includes a removable retinal-scanning eyepiece and an on-board software component for verifying retinal scans. A wired or wireless (e.g., infrared link, Bluetooth, etc.) connection is provided for delivering the retinal scan data from the retinal-scanning eyepiece to the PCMCIA card. The authentication is performed securely on the PCMCIA card and the scan is not retained in the laptop memory.

Claims

1. A portable retinal-scanning authentication device, comprising:

a computing device having a housing having a connector at one end thereof configured to be inserted in a host device to provide communication with said host device; and

processing and storage components mounted in said housing and connected to said connector; and

a sensor element to detect retinal-scan data, coupled to said processing and storage components;

wherein said sensor element includes a detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece housing a retinal sensor, said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece being detachable from a mounting element of said sensor element when in use, said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece including a coupling element for coupling said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece for transferring data to said processing and storage components.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said coupling element comprises an infrared transmitter in said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece and an infrared receiver in said mounting element, said infrared receiver being coupled to said processing and storage components.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said processing and storage components;

process and store all data transmitted from said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece;

analyze said transmitted data and grant access to operational capabilities of said host device if said analyzed data can be authenticated; and

deny access to operational capabilities of said host device if said analyzed data cannot be authenticated.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said processing and storage components are not permitted to transfer said transmitted data to said host device.

5. A method of providing portable retinal-scanning authentication, comprising:

configuring a computing device to have a housing having a connector at one end thereof such that said connector can be inserted in a host device to provide communication with said host device;

processing and storage components mounted in said housing and connected to said connector; and

providing a sensor element configured to detect retinal-scan data, coupled to said processing and storage components;

wherein said sensor element includes a detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece housing a retinal sensor, said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece being detachable from a mounting element of said sensor element when in use, said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece including a coupling element for coupling said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece for transferring data to said processing and storage components.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said coupling element comprises an infrared transmitter in said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece and an infrared receiver in said mounting element, said infrared receiver being coupled to said processing and storage components.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using said processing and storage components to:

process and store all data transmitted from said detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece;

analyze said transmitted data and grant access to operational capabilities of said host device if said analyzed data can be authenticated; and

deny access to operational capabilities of said host device if said analyzed data cannot be authenticated.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for providing retinal-scanning authentication, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of a computing system causes the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

processing and storing on one or more storage components all data transmitted from a detachable retinal-scanning eyepiece;

analyzing said transmitted data and granting access to operational capabilities of a host device to which the computing device is connected if said analyzed data can be authenticated; and

denying access to operational capabilities of said host device if said analyzed data cannot be authenticated.