Biometric Identity Verification System and Method

• US 20080223925A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IVI Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: IVI Smart Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Saito, Tamio, Soliven, Marcello
• Granted Patent: US 8,899,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A card authenticates a cardholder. The 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 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 card, and a terminal module is used for wirelessly transmitting power to and receiving signals from the electronic passport.

Claims

1. A wireless power authentication card associated with an owner comprising:

a power antenna adapted to wirelessly receive power from an external powering device;

a biometric sensor;

an authentication processor coupled to the biometric sensor and configured to authenticate the sensed biometric information, the authentication processor capable of being powered by the power antenna in a wireless mode;

a security transaction processor configured to store information associated with the owner and coupled to the authentication processor;

an external contact device coupled to the authentication processor, the external contact device adapted to power the authentication processor in a wired mode; and

a signal antenna coupled to the security transaction processor, wherein the security transaction processor provides the information associated with the owner wirelessly via the signal antenna when the card operates in a wireless mode,

wherein the security transaction processor is only accessed by the authentication processor as a result of a successful authentication of the sensed biometric information.

2. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1 wherein the authentication processor is configured to send an authentication signal to the security transaction processor after a successful authentication, wherein the authentication signal is usable by the security transaction processor a predetermined number of times, a predetermined amount of time, or only once.

5. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1 wherein the authentication processor terminates power to the security processor after receiving an acknowledgment signal from the security processor, wherein the security processor sends information using the signal antenna.

7. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1 further comprising an internal clock circuit, wherein the internal clock circuit is activated when the power antenna wirelessly receives power, the internal clock circuit configured to match a clock signal to a corresponding clock signal in the wirelessly received power.

32. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1, wherein the card is used with a terminal module including a module antenna adapted to receive signals from the signal antenna, and wherein the signal antenna is placed on a proximity position on a loop or trace of the module antenna.

33. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1, wherein the power circuit further comprises:

a rectifier coupled to the power antenna, wherein the rectifier comprises a Schottky diode; and

a regulator coupled to the rectifier.

35. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1, wherein the power antenna has a turn number less than 5, wherein the power antenna is formed as an etched or printed pattern on the substrate, and wherein the biometric sensor comprises a thinned silicon substrate having a thickness less than 200 microns.

38. The wireless power authentication card of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor captures an 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.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8. A wireless power authentication system comprising:

a) a card reader;

b) a card associated with an owner, the card further comprising;

1) a power antenna adapted to wirelessly receive power from the card reader;

2) a biometric sensor;

3) an authentication processor coupled to the biometric sensor and configured to authenticate the sensed biometric information, the authentication processor capable of being powered by the power antenna in a wireless mode;

4) a security transaction processor configured to store information associated with the owner and coupled to the authentication processor;

5) an external contact device coupled to the authentication processor, the external contact device adapted to power the authentication processor in a wired mode; and

6) a signal antenna coupled to the security transaction processor, wherein the security transaction processor provides the information associated with the owner wirelessly to the card reader via the signal antenna when the card operates in a wireless mode,

wherein the security transaction processor is only accessed by the authentication processor as a result of a successful authentication of the sensed biometric information.

9. (canceled)

10. A method of authenticating a card associated with an owner, the system comprising:

wirelessly receiving power from an external powering device;

sensing biometric data of the owner;

authenticating sensed biometric authentication of the owner in a wireless mode using a first processor;

wirelessly transmitting information associated with the owner stored in a second processor when in the wireless mode

wherein the second processor is coupled to the first processor and is only accessed as a result of a successful authentication of the sensed biometric information by the authentication processor.

11. A wireless power authentication card, comprising:

a power antenna;

a power circuit coupled to the power antenna;

a first CPU for biometric authentication;

a second CPU for security transaction, the second CPU including a wireless interface, the wireless interface being activated only if the second CPU receives no power from the power circuit and no signal from the first CPU;

an ISO contact interface coupled to the first CPU, the ISO contact providing an external communication to the card;

a signal antenna coupled to the second CPU, the signal antenna providing a wireless communication channel to the card; and

a fingerprint sensor coupled to the first CPU,

wherein the second CPU is only accessed by the first CPU as a result of a successful biometric authentication by the first CPU.

12-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A wireless power authentication card associated with an owner comprising:

a substrate having top surface and a bottom surface;

a plurality of biometric sensors adapted to capture at least a portion of a body part of an individual, the biometric sensor located between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein at least one of the biometric sensors is oriented at an angle with respect to another biometric sensor; and

a processor coupled to the biometric sensors, wherein the processor combines captured data of the body part from one or more of the biometric sensors to produce a biometric scan capable of being analyzed with a corresponding stored biometric scan of the body part for authentication of the individual.

15-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A wireless power circuit for an authentication card comprising:

a power circuit adapted to power in a wireless mode and a wired mode;

a biometric sensor coupled to the power circuit;

a processor coupled to the biometric sensor and the power circuit, the processor to authenticate the biometric information captured by the biometric sensor;

an internal clock circuit adapted to generate an internal clock signal to the biometric sensor and the processor when the power circuit operates in a wireless mode; and

a clock control circuit for switching between an external clock signal in the wired mode and the internal clock signal in the wireless mode.

18. A wireless power authentication card associated with an owner comprising:

a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the substrate having two opposing length sides and two opposing width sides;

a conductive power antenna disposed in the substrate between the top and bottom surfaces and adapted to wirelessly receive current, the power antenna having a first conductive member substantially parallel to the length sides and a second conductive member substantially parallel to the width sides, the power antenna having a connecting conductive member coupled to the first and second conductive members, wherein the connecting member is oriented at an angle with respect to the first and second conductive members.

19-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An electronic passport system comprising;

a) an authentication card further comprising;

1) a wireless power circuit;

2) a power antennal coupled to the wireless power circuit;

3) a biometric sensor;

4) a CPU including an authentication circuit coupled to the biometric sensor; and

5) an ISO interface; and

b) a passport booklet capable of receiving the authentication card further comprising;

1) a slot configured to receive the authentication card;

2) an ISO connector adapted to contact with the ISO interface of the smartcard; and

3) a matching circuit capable of communicate with the CPU of the smart card an authenticate if ID information of the inserted smartcard matches ID information of the passport booklet.

22. A card comprising:

a substrate;

a power antenna disposed in the substrate;

a signal antenna disposed in the substrate;

a plurality of processors disposed in the substrate;

a biometric sensor disposed in the substrate;

a contact interface disposed at least partially in the substrate;

wherein the substrate includes a mesh pattern configured to allow expansion of the substrate with expansion of at least one of the power antenna, signal antenna, processor, biometric sensor and contact interface.

23. A card configured to verify an identity of the card owner comprising:

a sensor module adapted to detect biometric information from a body part of the individual;

a first processor unit coupled to the sensor module, the processor unit adapted to authenticate the owner in response to the detected biometric information; and

a second processor unit adapted to store information associated with the owner, wherein the second processor is only accessed by the first processor unit as a result of successful authentication by the first processor;

a contact interface coupled to the first processor unit;

a battery coupled to the contact interface, the battery adapted to be selectively rechargeable;

an signal amplification circuit coupled to the battery, wherein the amplification circuit is configured to transmit information from the second processor over a desired distance.

39. The card of claim 23, the sensor module further comprises:

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

40. The card of claim 39, wherein the 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.

41. The card of claim 23, wherein the sensor module further comprises:

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

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

43. The card of claim 41, wherein the control interface'"'"'s connections to the external control signal is disabled after an initial configuration of the processor unit.

44. The card of claim 43, wherein the control interface'"'"'s connections to the external control signal is permanently disabled by a physical disconnection after the initial configuration.

45. The card of claim 43, wherein the initial configuration includes writing the biometric information of the specific individual to the memory.

47. The card of claim 23, wherein the processor unit further comprises:

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

48. The card of claim 47, wherein the processor unit further comprises:

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

49. The card of claim 48, wherein the interface circuit includes:

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

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

50. The card of claim 23, further comprising:

a clock antenna adapted to receive the power signal; and

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

51. The card of claim 23, wherein the card is adapted to be embedded in a paper passport or to be selectively coupeable to a paper passport.

53. The card of claim 23, further comprising:

a display provided on the substrate, the display coupled to the processor unit, the display adapted to display data if the person is authenticated.

54. The card of claim 53, wherein the display is further adapted to display a signature of the specific individual if the person is authenticated.

55. The card of claim 53, wherein the biometric sensor and the display are integrated, wherein the display is configured to display the data and accept the user'"'"'s biometric input.

24. A system to verify an identity of a card owner comprising:

a) a card comprising;

1) a sensor module adapted to detect biometric information from a body part of the individual;

2) a first processor unit coupled to the sensor module, the processor unit adapted to authenticate the owner in response to the detected biometric information; and

3) a second processor unit adapted to store information associated with the owner, wherein the second processor is only accessed by the first processor unit as a result of successful authentication by the first processor;

4) a first contact interface coupled to the first processor unit; and

b) a card holder adapted to selectively couple the card thereto;

the card holder further comprising;

1) a second contact interface adapted to come into contact with the first contact interface

2) a battery coupled to the second contact interface;

3) a signal amplification circuit coupled to the battery, wherein the amplification circuit is configured to transmit information from the second processor over a desired distance.

25-31. -31. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

36-37. -37. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

52. (canceled)