Holographic credit card with automatical authentication and verification

• US 5,095,194 A
• Filed: 10/12/1989
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruce A. Pastorius
• Original Assignee: Joseph Barbanell
• Inventors: Barbanell, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/420,816
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/457, 382/2, 382/4, 382/31, 350/3.6, 350/3.68, 356/71
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0011 for security or authentication holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/54 For individualisation of product
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/88 Image or video recognition using optical means, e.g. reference filters, holographic masks, frequency domain filters or spatial domain filters
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/904 Credit card

Abstract

A holographic credit card that uses a matched optical filter to store in form of a hologram a unique identification such as a fingerprint of the authorized user, a source of coherent light that provides the illumination, and the input element in the approval device for providing the angle-invariance, possessing the form of the transparent window, against which the user places and rotates the same fingerprint, and the registering device for registering the correlation optical signal between the stored fingerprint and presented fingerprint to generate a signal to activate the device when, and only if, a positive correlation exists between the presented and the registered fingerprints. A two-stage holographic credit card using the "generalized matched optical filter", wherein the additional information for authorization is stored in the reference beam during the preparation of the said filter, the angular invariance is provided by the said means and the means of second-stage approvement, utilizing the existing banks communication lines, are also provided. A three-stage holographic credit card, using the "generalized matched optical filter", wherein the additional information for verification is stored in the reference beam during the preparation of the said filter, the angular invariance is provided by the said means, the means for bank'"'"'s computer approving procedures, including the automatic feedback are provided, and the means of additional second-stage optical comparison are also supplied.

Claims

1. A banking system, utilizing the existing communication channels and the holographic angular-invariant credit card with self-authoriztion and authentication, wherein at a command signals is produced when authorized user presents unique identification to the approval device, the latter comprising:

an input element for angular invariancy in the form of a transparent window against which the user presents the unique identification and rotates it for angular alignment with the said identification previously stored in form of hologram,

a matched optical filter in the credit card upon which the unique identification of said authorized user is stored in a Fourier holographically encoded form, or in the form of Fourier-hologram;

means for illuminating said unique identification with coherent beam at said transparent window;

means for projecting upon said optical matched filter the reflected beam of said coherent light having been encoded by said unique identification at the window; and

means for focussing and registering the correlation signal being formed in the process of comparing the stored indentification with the presented identification during rotation, and for generating the command signal only when the correlation signal is unambiguously present;

a communication line to the bank computer,

means for pre-storing of the identification in the said matched optical filter, the latter being produced in the form of a generalized hologram,

means of comparing the sheltering information, being prestored in the said "generalized" hologram in the computer,

means of providing the command feed-back signal from the computer.

2. The banking system of claim 1 further having a second stage of authentication, comprising

a second transparent window upon which the aurthorized user presents a second identification,

a lid rotatng in the plane, perpendicular to the axis of the correlation beam propagation, fixed to the said window and possessing a triangular cross-section with a mirrored outer layer, the angle of the said cross-section being related to the said second window position,

means for pre-storing of the second identification in the said matched optical filter, the latter being produced in the form of a generalized hologram,

means for focussing and registering the correlation in the said matched optical filter, the latter being produced in the form of a generalized hologram,

means for focussing and registering the correlation optical signals of the said presented second identification with the said stored second identification and for forming the command signal .

3. The banking system of claim 2 further having a second stage of authentication, wherein the second input element is realized in the form of computer display.

4. The banking system of claim 2 wherein specifically aligned grooves, corresponding to the said matched optical filter'"'"'s in-plane orientation, are placed on the second transparent window.

5. The banking system of claim 2 wherein specifically aligned digit grid, corresponding to the said matched optical filter'"'"'s in-plane orientation, is placed on the second transparent window.

6. The banking system of claim 2 further having a third level of authentication, wherein the connection for the feedback signal from the computer to the lid and command device are provided.

7. A banking system or claim 1 further comprising:

information formed in the said credit card a unique identification in the form of a Fourier hologram of the person authorized to activate the said approval device;

means for illuminating the presented unique identification with coherent light, which is then reflected onto the Fourier hologram,

means for continuously in time comparing said angular randomly oriented presented identification with said hologram, and generating a command signal when the correlation signal sis present between the presented identification and its said matched optical filter,

means for storing the second identification, being supplied by the computer memory in the reference beam of the said matched optical filter, thus forming the generalized matched optical filter

means for illuminating the second transparent window with the first correlation optical signal, that possess the reconstructed said pre-introduced second identification, only in the case that the first-step authentication is present,

means for introducing the second identification on the second transparent window,

means for closing the rotating mirrored lid,

generating the command signal when the correlation signal of the second authentication is present.

8. The system of claim 7 for activating a two-stage holographic credit card approval device after the optical correlation signal verifying the first authentication step is being formed, further comprising the step of introducing the second identification to the inner input element in the form of said display by the use of standard display keyboard.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

means for introducing the holographic credit card into the input slot of said approval device and fingerprint to the first input element of the said device,

means for optically forming the correlation first-step signal, directing said signal to the computer memory,

means for comparing the said signal by computer mens with the stored one and forming the decision,

means for introducing the second identification to the said second input element,

means for locking the said element,

means for introducing the card and the fingerprint,

means for repeating the first two stages and realizing optically the third state,

means for producing the resulting command signal,

means for unlocking the lid, returning the card and concluding the transaction.