Electronic micro identification circuit that is inherently bonded to someone or something

• US 5,764,888 A
• Filed: 07/19/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fekete, Nicholas, Bolan, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canney, Vincent P.
• Application Number:
  US08/684,520
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01, 364/186
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/25 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1083 Counting of PIN attempts

Abstract

This invention relates to a small portable microprocessor based circuit (electronic module) that contains information about the user of the circuit that is known or inherently known by the user. The circuit is small enough to fit inside a thickened U.S. nickel and enables a user to perform secure transactions such as money transfers, information transfers, access control, etc. The electronic module is designed to be extremely secure both physically and electronically. Furthermore, the electronic module is useless to a person other than the designated user.

Claims

1. A secure microprocessor based portable data carrier, comprising:

means for storing information inherently related to a designated user;

means for protecting said information so that an unauthorized use of said data carrier will render said data carrier unusable.

2. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises SRAM memory.

3. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein said data carrier can be incorporated into an articulatable accessory.

4. The data carrier of claim 3, wherein said articulatable accessory is at least one of a can, a ring, a bracelet, a key chain, a detachable pin, a badge, a broach, a cufflink, a necklace, a wallet, a purse, and a writing instrument.

5. A method of identification comprising:

touching a microprocessor based data carrier to host system;

communicating over a single contact encrypted information;

providing data inherently associated to a user to said host system; and

approving an identification of said user if said data provided in said providing step matches a data stored in said microprocessor based data carrier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said microprocessor based data carrier is small enough to be incorporated into a cufflink size accessory.

7. A microcircuit comprising:

a microprocessor core;

a memory circuit;

a one wire UART having a one wire interface;

a math coprocessor adapted to provide data encryption and decryption capabilities to said microcircuit; and

a data bus connecting said microprocessor core, said memory circuit, said one wire UART and said math coprocessor so that data can be transferred;

said microcircuit being small enough to be incorporated into an articulatable accessory, said microcircuit adapted to contain data inherently associated with a predetermined user, and said microcircuit being capable of rendering itself unusable if tampered with in an unauthorized fashion.

8. An electronic micro identification circuit that is inherently bonded to a person, comprising:

means for storing information inherently bonded to a predetermined person;

means for protecting said information;

means for communicating with a host in order to receive a user inputted information and to compare said user inputted information with said stored information.

9. The electronic micro identification circuit of claim 8, wherein said electronic micro identification circuit is incorporated into an articulatable accessory.