Smart card system with ergonomic fingerprint sensor and method of using
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a card having an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces comprising;
a secure memory containing sensitive information,a working memory, anda processor,wherein the card is dimensioned to be compatible with a size standard for identification cards;
a fingerprint image sensor in the card configured to image a fingerprint through an imaging surface selected from one of the upper surface, the lower surface and the side surfaces of the surfaces of the card, the fingerprint image sensor comprising a linear capacitive sensor junction gap array comprising a plurality of excitation electrodes separated across a respective sensor junction gap from a sensing electrode, the electrodes formed on a substrate, and an integrated circuit in the card and configured to create a plurality of one dimensional images of a portion of a finger immediately over the junction gap when the finger is swiped over the junction gap array;
wherein the fingerprint image sensor is in communication with the working memory to store the plurality of one dimensional images of a portion of the finger,and further wherein the processor is adapted to assemble the plurality of one dimensional images of a fingerprint into a fingerprint image;
a fingerprint recognition memory containing at least one authorized fingerprint image,wherein the processor is configured to compare the assembled fingerprint image with the stored authorized fingerprint image, andat least one guide in the imaging area on the one of the upper surface, the lower surface and the side surfaces of the surfaces of the card configured to tactilely guide a user in swiping a finger across the imaging area of the fingerprint image sensor.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A unitized smart card device with a partial fingerprint sensor, ergonomic guides and a processor is disclosed. The smart card contains secure memory, battery, and a processor to run the fingerprint sensor. The ergonomic guides help insure that the users finger properly swipes the fingerprint sensor. The smart card be used on a backwards compatible “dumb credit card” basis, or it may dock with an external smart card docking station. This docking station may act to facilitate communication between the smart card'"'"'s fingerprint sensor and its onboard secure memory; and external computerized devices. The docking station itself may be configured with slots or other openings to allow users to access the smart card'"'"'s fingerprint sensor while the smart card is docked with the docking station. The docking station itself may contain ergonomic guides to help ensure that the smart card'"'"'s fingerprint sensor is used (swiped) in a correct manner.
442 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a card having an upper surface, a lower surface and side surfaces comprising; a secure memory containing sensitive information, a working memory, and a processor, wherein the card is dimensioned to be compatible with a size standard for identification cards; a fingerprint image sensor in the card configured to image a fingerprint through an imaging surface selected from one of the upper surface, the lower surface and the side surfaces of the surfaces of the card, the fingerprint image sensor comprising a linear capacitive sensor junction gap array comprising a plurality of excitation electrodes separated across a respective sensor junction gap from a sensing electrode, the electrodes formed on a substrate, and an integrated circuit in the card and configured to create a plurality of one dimensional images of a portion of a finger immediately over the junction gap when the finger is swiped over the junction gap array; wherein the fingerprint image sensor is in communication with the working memory to store the plurality of one dimensional images of a portion of the finger, and further wherein the processor is adapted to assemble the plurality of one dimensional images of a fingerprint into a fingerprint image; a fingerprint recognition memory containing at least one authorized fingerprint image, wherein the processor is configured to compare the assembled fingerprint image with the stored authorized fingerprint image, and at least one guide in the imaging area on the one of the upper surface, the lower surface and the side surfaces of the surfaces of the card configured to tactilely guide a user in swiping a finger across the imaging area of the fingerprint image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic device comprising:
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a smart card casing having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces comprising a magnetic strip configured to be read by a standard magnetic strip reader; a fingerprint image sensor configured to image a fingerprint, the fingerprint image sensor comprising a linear capacitive sensor junction gap array comprising a plurality of excitation electrodes separated across a respective sensor junction gap from a sensing electrode, the electrodes formed on a substrate, and an integrated circuit in the card and configured to create a plurality of one dimensional images of a portion of a finger immediately over the junction gap array when the finger is swiped over the junction gap array; a working memory to store the plurality of one dimensional images of a fingerprint; a processor configured to process the plurality of one dimensional images of the fingerprint into a processed fingerprint image; a fingerprint recognition memory configured to store at least one authorized fingerprint image; a battery; and a secure memory configured to store sensitive information, wherein if the processed fingerprint image matches the stored authorized fingerprint, the device is configured to at least one of;
(a) modify at least some of the bits encoded on the magnetic strip to make the sensitive information available to external devices for at least one of reading and writing and (b) display an additional verification number on one of the surfaces of the card. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus configured with an onboard fingerprint image sensor, comprising:
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a casing having an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces comprising a magnetic strip configured to be read by a standard magnetic strip reader; a fingerprint image sensor configured to read a portion of a fingerprint from one of the surfaces of the casing, the fingerprint image sensor comprising a linear capacitive sensor junction gap array comprising a plurality of excitation electrodes separated across a respective sensor junction gap from a sensing electrode, the electrodes formed on a substrate, and an integrated circuit in the card and configured to create a plurality of one dimensional images of a portion of a finger immediately over the junction gap array when the finger is swiped over the junction gap array; a fingerprint image memory configured to store a sensed fingerprint image; a processor configured to process portions of a fingerprint into a fingerprint mosaic; a fingerprint recognition memory configured to contain at least one authorized fingerprint image; and a working memory configured to store sensitive information, wherein if the sensed fingerprint image matches the authorized fingerprint image, the apparatus configured to at least one of modify at least some of the bits encoded on the magnetic strip to make the sensitive information available to external devices and display an additional verification number on one of the surfaces of the card.
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Specification