Authorizing the use of a biometric card

• US 8,408,471 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moon J. Kim
• Original Assignee: Moon J. Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Moon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/114,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20120298757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 235/380
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07701 the record carrier comprising an interface suitable for human interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/409 Device specific authentication in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1394 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0264 for monitoring the laser-output
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/183 having only vertical cavities, e.g. vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers [VCSEL]
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/187 using Bragg reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/34 comprising quantum well or superlattice structures, e.g. single quantum well [SQW] lasers, multiple quantum well [MQW] lasers or graded index separate confinement heterostructure [GRINSCH] lasers H01S5/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for authorizing the use of a biometric transaction card. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a biometric card having a biometric sensor to determine whether the biometric information (fingerprint) is from human skin. In a typical embodiment, the cardholder approaches a magnetic reader with the card. The user places his/her finger on the SpO₂ sensor of the card. The sensor estimates the SpO₂ level. Card authorization is based, in part, on the estimated SpO₂ level.

Claims

1. A biometric card having a biometric sensor used for authorizing the use of the card, comprising:

a biometric fingerprint imager, comprising;

a fingerprint sensor configured to sense a fingerprint of the card user;

an authenticator configured to authenticate the sensed fingerprint information;

a biometric sensor, comprising;

a red laser configured to emit a first laser light;

an infrared (IR) laser configured to emit a second laser light;

at least one photodetector configured to generate a first photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the first laser light and generate a second photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the second laser light;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first photocurrent signal to a first waveform and convert the second photocurrent signal to a second waveform;

a processing component configured to estimate a SpO₂ level based on the ratio of the first and second waveforms; and

an authorizing component configured to authorize use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the SpO₂ level estimate.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the red laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein the infrared (IR) laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a multi-sided configuration.

5. The card of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a transparent configuration.

6. The card of claim 1, wherein the red laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.

7. The card of claim 1, wherein the infrared (IR) laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.

8. The card of claim 1, wherein the photodetector structure comprises an intrinsic semiconductor region, a p-type region, and an n-type region.

9. A method for providing a biometric card having a biometric sensor used for authorizing the use of the card, comprising:

providing a biometric fingerprint imager, comprising;

a fingerprint sensor configured to sense a fingerprint of the card user;

an authenticator configured to authenticate the sensed fingerprint information;

providing a biometric sensor, comprising;

a red laser configured to emit a first laser light;

an infrared (IR) laser configured to emit a second laser light;

at least one photodetector configured to generate a first photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the first laser light and generate a second photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the second laser light;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first photocurrent signal to a first waveform and convert the second photocurrent signal to a second waveform;

a processing component configured to estimate a SpO₂ level based on the ratio of the first and second waveforms, and from the SpO₂ level, determine whether the fingerprint is sensed from live human skin; and

an authorizing component configured to authorize use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the live human skin determination.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the red laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the infrared (IR) laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a multi-sided configuration.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a transparent configuration.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the red laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the infrared (IR) laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the photodetector structure comprises an intrinsic semiconductor region, a p-type region, and an n-type region.

17. A method for authorizing the use of a biometric card, comprising:

sensing a fingerprint of the card user;

authenticating the sensed fingerprint information;

estimating the SpO₂ level of the card user; and

authorizing the use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the SpO₂ level estimate,

wherein a sensor is used to estimate the SpO₂ level of the card user,

wherein the sensor calculates the SpO₂ level estimate by emitting a light from a red laser, emitting a light from an infrared (IR) light, and estimating the SpO₂ level the based on the red and infrared light absorption characteristics of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.