U.S. patent application number 10/592052 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for credit card and a secured data activation system.
Invention is credited to Per Birger Andersen, Susanne H. Lastein, Torsten Nordentoft, Bjorn Skern.
Application Number | 20070189581 10/592052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34913490 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070189581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nordentoft; Torsten ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
Credit card and a secured data activation system
Abstract
The present invention relates to a credit card comprising a card
body, which comprises fingerprint reading means providing
fingerprint signals representative of at least one fingerprint from
a card user, when at least one finger of said user is pressed
against said fingerprint reading means. Said card body further
comprises data carrier means holding at least card owner
fingerprint data and secured data, and fingerprint authentication
means for activating said secured data. The card body further
comprises an electrical power supply delivering electrical current
to at least said fingerprint reading means. Accordingly there is no
need for an external electrical power supply, and thus the existing
standard card reading systems, such as ID-card readers, money
transfer machines such as ATM's and the like may be used in
conjunction with said credit card. Thus, investments into new
standard reader systems are not necessary in order to improve the
security of the secured data carried by the credit card. A complete
and self-contained automated authentication process is conducted
prior to communication concerning said secured data being
established between said credit card and any of the existing ATM's
on the market today, irrespective of type (automated or manually
operated), manufacturer, version, or geographical position of said
ATM and of credit card use.
Inventors: |
Nordentoft; Torsten;
(Speracedes, FR) ; Skern; Bjorn; (Paris, FR)
; Andersen; Per Birger; (Paris, FR) ; Lastein;
Susanne H.; (Paris, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACOBSON HOLMAN PLLC
400 SEVENTH STREET N.W.
SUITE 600
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Family ID: |
34913490 |
Appl. No.: |
10/592052 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK05/00150 |
371 Date: |
September 8, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
382/115 ;
235/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/40145 20130101;
G07C 9/257 20200101; G06Q 20/3415 20130101; G06Q 20/341 20130101;
G07C 9/26 20200101; G07F 7/1008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/115 ;
235/380 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00; G06K 5/00 20060101 G06K005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 8, 2004 |
EP |
EP 04075705.6 |
Nov 17, 2004 |
EP |
EP 04078148.6 |
Claims
1. A credit card comprising a card body, which comprises
fingerprint reading means providing fingerprint signals
representative of at least one fingerprint from a card user, when
at least one finger of said user is pressed against said
fingerprint reading means; data carrier means holding at least card
owner fingerprint data and secured data; a readout area;
fingerprint authentication means comprising a data processor, which
is able to authenticate said fingerprint signals with said card
owner fingerprint data; and an electrical power supply delivering
electrical power to at least said fingerprint reading means, said
fingerprint authentication means, and said readout area;
characterized in that said card body comprises at least one driver
circuit in communication with at least one transducer coil in said
readout area comprising at least one core winding around at least
one strip of electromagnetically inducible core material, each
strip being individually inducible by said data processor to emit a
magnetic field containing secured data signals corresponding to
said secured data.
2. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said fingerprint
authentication means control activation of said secured data based
on authentication of the fingerprint signals by comparing these
with said card owner fingerprint data, if the comparison is a
match, then said secured data is activated, else said secured data
is not activated.
3. A credit card according to claim 1, where activation of said
secured data is maintained over a determined activation time
period.
4. A credit card according to claim 3, where said activation of
secured data is performed by emission of secured data signals one
or several consecutive times by said at least one transducer
coil.
5. A credit card according to claim 1, further comprising at least
one sweep detection sensor, which is able to cause said data
processor to activate said secured data by emission of said secured
data signals at least once by said at least one transducer coil,
when said credit card is in the vicinity of a credit card
reader.
6. A credit card according to claim 5, wherein two sweep detection
sensors are provided, one at each end section of said at least one
transducer coil in order to provide the data processor with
information as to in which end the secured data signals is to
begin.
7. A credit card according to claim 5, wherein said at least one
sweep detection sensor is able to detect the velocity with which
the credit card is swept by a credit card reader, and based on this
detected velocity the data processor is able to determine the
activation time period.
8. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said driver circuit
further is able to perform advanced amplification such as amplitude
compensation and pulse shaping upon said secured data signals.
9. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said driver circuit
is provided integral with the data processor.
10. A credit card according to claim 1, where said at least one
strip of inducible core material is provided with at least one
distributed air gap.
11. A credit card according to claim 10, where said at least one
air gap is provided with distributions of material having different
electromagnetical inducibility as compared to the material of said
at least one strip of inducible core material.
12. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said at least one
core winding is placed substantially at one end section of said at
least one strip of inducible core material.
13. A credit card according to claim 1, further comprising
activation indicator means for indication of the activation of said
readout area.
14. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said electrical
power supply comprises at least one battery.
15. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said electrical
power supply comprises at least one rechargeable battery.
16. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said electrical
power supply further comprises recharging means for said
rechargeable battery.
17. A credit card according to claim 16, in which said recharging
means for said at least one rechargeable battery comprise a solar
cell arrangement.
18. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said card body
further comprises power supply status indicator means.
19. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said data carrier
means include a first data storage for holding card owner
fingerprint data, and a second data storage for holding secured
data.
20. A credit card according to claim 19, in which said first and/or
second data storage is an EEPROM or FLASH-type memory.
21. A credit card according to claim 19, in which said second data
storage is a smart card chip or a magnetic strip.
22. A credit card according to claim 1, in which said fingerprint
authentication means and said data carrier means are combined in a
single integrated circuit, such as a microcontroller with a
memory.
23. A credit card according to claim 22, in which said single
integrated circuit is able to be put in a first state, in which
said secured data and said card owner fingerprint data is
temporarily available for an activation of said secured data.
24. A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said fingerprint
reading means comprise at least one fingerprint reading system.
25. A credit card according to claim 1, further comprising credit
card service selection means, such as a switch, by which a credit
card owner may select a credit card service by selecting from
different sets of secured data, one for each credit card service
available.
26. A credit card according to claim 25, wherein said credit card
service selection means comprise one fingerprint reading system for
each credit card service available.
27. A credit card according to claim 25, wherein said credit card
service selection means comprise a single fingerprint reading
system for all credit card service available, wherein said card
owner fingerprint data comprises at least one fingerprint or
fingerprint combination corresponding to an activation fingerprint
for each credit card service, and wherein said data processor is
adapted for activation of the readout area during a determined
activation time period, when said activation fingerprint is pressed
against said fingerprint reading system.
28. A credit card according to claim 1, where said fingerprint
reading means by means of said data processor is able to pre-store
card owner fingerprint on said data carrier means in a one-time
operation.
29. A credit card according to claim 1, wherein said card owner
fingerprint data comprises at least one fingerprint or fingerprint
combination corresponding to a deactivation fingerprint, and
wherein said data processor is adapted for deactivation of the
readout area during a determined deactivation period, when said
deactivation fingerprint is pressed against said fingerprint
reading means.
30. A secured data activation system for a data carrier, such as a
credit card according to claim 1, comprising data carrier means
holding at least secured data; an input device for acquiring an
input; a readout area; secured data activation means comprising a
data processor, which based on said input is able to submit said
secured data to said readout area; an electrical power supply
delivering electrical power to at least said input data unit, said
secured data activation means, and said readout area; and at least
one driver circuit in communication with at least one transducer
coil in said readout area comprising at least one core winding
around at least one strip of electromagnetically inducible core
material, each strip being individually inducible by said data
processor to emit a magnetic field containing secured data signals
corresponding to said secured data.
31. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, where
activation of said secured data is maintained over a determined
activation time period.
32. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, where
said activation of secured data is performed by emission of secured
data signals one or several consecutive times by said at least one
transducer coil.
33. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, further
comprising at least one sweep detection sensor, which is able to
cause said data processor to activate said readout area by emission
of said secured data signals one or several consecutive times by
said at least one transducer coil, when said credit card is in the
vicinity of a credit card reader.
34. A secured data activation system according to claim 33, wherein
two sweep detection sensors are provided, one at each end section
of said at least one transducer coil in order to provide the data
processor with information in which end the secured data signals is
to start.
35. A secured data activation system according to claim 33, wherein
said at least one sweep detection sensor is able to detect the
velocity with which the credit card is swept by a credit card
reader, and based on this detected velocity the data processor is
able to determine the activation time period.
36. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, in
which said driver circuit further is able to perform advanced
amplification such as amplitude compensation and pulse shaping upon
said secured data signals.
37. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, in
which said driver circuit is provided integral with the data
processor.
38. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, where
said input device is a credit card user verification device.
39. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, said at
least one strip of inducible core material is provided with one or
more distributed air gaps.
40. A secured data activation system according to claim 39, said
where said one or more air gaps are provided with distributions of
material having different electromagnetical inducibility as
compared to the material of said at least one strip.
41. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, in
which said at least one core winding is placed substantially at one
end section of said at least one strip of inducible core
material.
42. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, further
comprising activation indicator means for indication of the
activation of said readout area.
43. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, in
which said electrical power supply comprises at least one
battery.
44. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, in
which said electrical power supply comprises at least one
rechargeable battery.
45. A secured data activation system according to claim 44, in
which said electrical power supply further comprises recharging
means for said rechargeable battery.
46. A secured data activation system according to claim 45, in
which said recharging means for said at least one rechargeable
battery comprise a solar cell arrangement.
47. A secured data activation system according to claim 30, in
which said card body further comprises power supply status
indicator means.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a credit card comprising a
card body, which comprises fingerprint reading means providing
fingerprint signals representative of at least one fingerprint from
a card user, when at least one finger of said user is pressed
against said fingerprint reading means; data carrier means holding
at least card owner fingerprint data and secured data; a readout
area; fingerprint authentication means comprising a data processor,
which is able to authenticate said fingerprint signals with said
card owner fingerprint data; and an electrical power supply
delivering electrical power to at least said fingerprint reading
means, said fingerprint authentication means, and said readout
area. A credit card of this type is disclosed in international
patent application WO 01/52204.
[0002] Further, the present invention relates to a secured data
activation system for a data carrier, such as a credit card
according to the invention.
[0003] Credit cards in the terms of the present invention comprise
any card provided with data carrier means carrying data to be
secured intended for card owner use only. Credit cards of such type
include smart cards, where said secured data is stored on a chip,
and magnetic strip cards, where the secured data is stored in a
magnetic strip. Such credit cards are presently used for different
applications, such as ID-cards or drivers licenses for
identification purposes, and credit or money transfer cards for
carrying data for use in money transfers in e.g. automated teller
machines (ATM's) like cash teller machines or payment
installations, in which the credit card holder is required to let
go of the credit card for a certain ATM insertion time, while the
credit card is being read and held, or automated payment systems,
either stationary or portable, e.g. reading devices for Internet
commerce and the like, in which the credit card holder is required
to hold on to said credit card, while performing a sweeping motion
of it past a credit card reader.
[0004] These credit cards, generally called plastic cards, have
gained large popularity in the last decades as a medium by which
purchase money is paid and business transacted without the
necessity of carrying cash or enduring a long term escrow or other
means for transferring title or securing payment of cash. With the
popularity and ready acceptance of credit cards in the business
world, the use thereof by unscrupulous persons to make unauthorized
transaction has become a serious problem costing the consumers
millions of dollars annually. As the demand for such credit cards
has risen amongst card thieves, counterfeiters and other illegal
uses, the demand for improperly obtained cards market has
skyrocketed thus creating an extremely high incentive for these
individuals to succumb to temptation.
[0005] Since ID-cards may carry sensitive data concerning an
individual credit card owner, these cards have also developed into
carrying data to be secured from individuals having intent to
misuse said data.
[0006] Such credit cards with sensitive data requiring personal
identification are relatively easy to copy or misuse, especially
magnetic strip credit cards have proven easy to copy. There have
been many efforts in the past to deal with the problem of further
securing said credit cards, including coding thereof for check at
the point of purchase to determine if the credit card may be a
stolen or copied credit card.
[0007] One way of securing said data has concentrated on assigning
credit cards with individual multi-digit ID code numbers, e.g.
Personal Identification Numbers or PIN's, which the credit card
user must keep secret and use at ID-code number checking ATM's. A
credit card user carrying several credit cards from different
credit card providers will in such cases have to remember and learn
by heart several ID-code numbers, which is often difficult,
especially if the user is carrying many such credit cards. As a
consequence and contrary to credit card provider advice, some users
note their ID-code numbers in the vicinity of their credit cards,
often being carried in pockets or in the wallet carrying the credit
cards.
[0008] If a credit card thief has gained access to both a credit
card and the corresponding ID-code number, e.g. by stealing a
wallet containing such effects, these provide easy access to cash
in ATM's or commodities in ware houses and shops, often even before
the owner of the credit card have time to cancel his or hers credit
cards, or they may provide the thief access to personal information
and services not intended for him/her.
[0009] In another effort, EP 1 326 196 A1 discloses a smart card
for use in conjunction with a security portal, such as a transit
portal or parking facility for performing authentication check for
authorized passage. Fingerprint pattern sensors on the card
generate print pattern signals, which are checked against authentic
versions stored in a memory in the card, using a processor located
on the card, and the result of this is communicated with the
associated external security portal.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,285 discloses a smart card with an
integrated fingerprint reader, a CPU, and a memory in order to
perform verification of the card user and based on this
verification to grant access to secured data on said card.
[0011] A drawback is such credit cards requires an external system,
an ATM or the like, which is specially adapted to communicate with
such a credit card in order to activate it in the ATM. Moreover,
such biometric credit cards with secured data stored on a magnetic
strip are not suitable for automatic payment systems requiring fast
transfer of the credit card through a card reader, e.g. portable
devices, because there is not enough time for an authentication of
the credit card during communication with the card reader.
[0012] It is therefore one object of the present invention to
provide a fingerprint authenticating credit card, which improves
the security of the secured data being carried by the said card by
performing an of any external system independent fingerprint
authentication and which credit card does not require any changes
in the existing card reading devices, such as ATM's and the like,
and as such may be used directly with these.
[0013] In international patent application WO 01/52204 is described
a credit card comprising a communication unit for communicating
with an external unit and being activatable by a fingerprint reader
and a processor. In one embodiment, the processor can be instructed
to generate the appropriate magnetic signal information to a
magnetic strip, so that the card can be read after activation, but
no information is disclosed concerning how to generate such
appropriate magnetic signal information to the magnetic strip,
which renders it difficult to provide a homogenous magnetic field
for an effective communication of secured data to a credit card
reader.
[0014] Accordingly, it is therefore another object of the present
invention to provide a credit card which improves the security of
said secured data by improving the data communication between said
credit card and a credit card reader.
[0015] These objects are achieved in a first aspect of the
invention by a credit card of the initially mentioned kind, wherein
said card body comprises at least one driver circuit in
communication with at least one transducer coil in said readout
area comprising at least one core winding around at least one strip
of electromagnetically inducible core material, each strip being
individually inducible by said data processor to emit a magnetic
field containing secured data signals corresponding to said secured
data.
[0016] Accordingly, a time controllable, reliable and thus
effective data communication is achieved by electromagnetic
emission of secured data signals by said credit card, where the
data processor causes the emission of said secured data signals
from said at least one transducer coil. Thus, the secured data is
only available for a credit card reader after authentication by
said fingerprint authentication means and during emission of said
secured data signals, resulting in a substantial improvement of the
security of said secured data. By providing a credit card according
to the invention, the manufacture is eased and the credit card is
mass-producible in large numbers. Further, the physical and even
more importantly the electro-magnetic appearance of the transducer
coil is substantially like that of a conventional magnetic strip,
resulting in said credit card can be utilized with presently
available credit card readers for magnetic strip reading. A
suitable selection of core material for the core strips strongly
influences the strength and homogenous distribution of the magnetic
field being produced. This provides for an enhancement of said
magnetic field, resulting in a lower electrical power consumption
of said credit card, when creating said magnetic field, which
prolongs the life time of said credit card. Further, there is no
need for an external electrical power supply, and thus the existing
standard systems, such as ID-card readers and money transfer
readers, may be used in conjunction with said credit card, i.e.
investments in new standard reader systems are not necessary in
order to improve the security of the data carried by the credit
card. A major advantage of said credit card according to the
present invention is accordingly the fact that a complete and
self-contained automated authentication process is performed prior
to communication concerning said secured data being established
between said credit card and any of the existing credit card reader
on the market today, irrespective of type (automated ATM or
manually operated sweep type), manufacturer, version, or
geographical position of said ATM, and of credit card use, i.e.
type of secured data on the card, e.g. bank number, social security
number, etc.
[0017] In one embodiment of said credit card, said fingerprint
authentication means control activation of said secured data based
on authentication of the fingerprint signals by comparing these
with said card owner fingerprint data, if the comparison is a
match, then said secured data is activated; else said secured data
is not activated. One advantage provided by this embodiment
includes a realisation of such a credit card according to the
present invention may be secured without the need for an ID-code
number used in conjunction with ATM's and the like. The
authentication is performed on the card, independently from any
external device and may provide further security to said credit
card according to the present invention. Of course, combining an
authentication on-the-card and an ID-code number check may further
increase the security around the secured data.
[0018] In another embodiment of said credit card, said activation
of said secured data is maintained over a determined activation
time period. One advantage provided by this embodiment includes
that the owner of the credit card is not required to press his/her
fingers against the fingerprint reader during said time period,
where secured data is being communicated between the credit card
and the read device of an external system. This enables the card to
be inserted into e.g. an ATM, which operation requires the credit
card user to let go of the credit card during said communication
time period. Thus, the communication between reader means and
credit card is improved and the security of the secured data is
increased.
[0019] In a further embodiment of said credit card, the activation
of secured data is performed by emission of secured data signals
one or several consecutive times by said at least one transducer
coil. Thus, secured data is available for communication to any read
unit only during said determined activation time period, either as
one magnetic field signal being generated during the extend of said
determined activation time period or for a shorter time period, or
as several consecutive signals spanning the entire determined time
period or segments of it. This further increases the security of
the secured data upon said credit card, and enables the
communication with several types of credit card readers available,
such as sweep or insert-type credit card readers.
[0020] In another embodiment of said credit card, it further
comprises at least one sweep detection sensor, which is able to
cause said data processor to activate said secured data by emission
of said secured data signals at least once by said at least one
transducer coil, when said credit card is in the vicinity of a
credit card reader. Accordingly, secured data signals are only
emitted in the activation time period during which said credit card
is in the vicinity of the credit card reader head, which further
enhances the security of said secured data. The secured data is
activated immediately after the sweep detection sensor has
registered the presence of such a reader head, i.e. the at least
one sweep detection sensor enables the activation of said secured
data by said data processor. In a further embodiment two sweep
detection sensors are provided, one at each end section of said at
least one transducer coil in order to provide the data processor
with information as to in which end the secured data signals is to
begin. In yet another embodiment, said at least one sweep detection
sensor is able to detect the velocity with which the credit card is
swept by a credit card reader, and based on this detected velocity
the data processor is able to determine the activation time
period.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment said driver circuit is able to
perform advanced amplification such as amplitude compensation and
pulse shaping upon said secured data signals. Thus, the power
consumption is reduced, the intensity of the resulting magnetic
field is reduced and the direction of it is sent towards a reader
head, and the secured data signal may be provided is presented to
the reader head, whereby an increased secured data signal
transmittal rate is achieved.
[0022] In another embodiment said driver circuit is provided
integral with the data processor. This reduces assembly line time
and thus production cost and provides for smaller integrated
circuits being used.
[0023] In another embodiment of said credit card, said at least one
strip of inducible core material is provided with at least one
distributed air gap. Thus, the strength of the magnetic field being
provided by a credit card according to the invention is increased,
which further aids the communication between said credit card and a
credit card reader, and decreases the current required, resulting
in a decreased power consumption of said credit card, when inducing
secured data signals to said at least one transducer coil, which
prolongs the life time of the power supply provided on said credit
card.
[0024] In another embodiment of said credit card, said at least one
air gap is provided with distributions of material having different
electromagnetical inducibility as compared to the material of said
at least one strip of inducible core material. Thus, the magnetic
field homogeneity is improved by the appropriate selection of air
gap material, further improving said data communication.
[0025] In another embodiment of said credit card, said at least one
core winding is placed substantially at one end section of said at
least one strip of inducible core material. Destructive influences
from the magnetic field of said core windings in relation to a
reader head of a credit card reader are thus reduced considerably,
while said transducer coils are still maintaining a strong and
homogenous magnetic field when emitting said secured data
signals.
[0026] In another embodiment of said credit card, said credit card
further comprises activation indicator means for indication of the
activation of said readout area. One advantage of this embodiment
being the card user is given the possibility to check, whether said
fingerprint authentication means provided on the credit card
according to the present invention have activated said secured
data, before communication is attempted to be established between
the credit card and a card reader device, e.g. drawn through an
automatic payment device reader. Time is not thus not wasted
attempting to insert a non-activated credit card into an ATM or the
like, resulting in communication failure.
[0027] In yet another embodiment of said credit card, said
electrical power supply comprises at least one battery. Advantages
comprise conventional flat batteries are economical in use, and
simple to implement in a credit card according to the present
invention. Further, using batteries limits the useable life time
period, which for some uses of such a credit card is an advantage
in order to control the life time period of the card or the number
of card uses.
[0028] In still a further embodiment of said credit card, said
electrical power supply comprises at least one rechargeable
battery. One advantage includes said credit card according to the
present invention being useable for an extended period of time.
[0029] In yet another further embodiment of said credit card, said
electrical power supply further comprises recharging means for said
rechargeable battery. One advantage being a credit card according
to said embodiment is entirely power self-sufficient and may be
used for an extended life time period.
[0030] In still a further embodiment of said credit card, said
recharging means for said at least one rechargeable battery
comprise a solar cell arrangement. One advantage being the solar
cells may be provided on a surface of the credit card being
subjected to light before and/or during the communication operation
between the secured data and the external system.
[0031] In a further embodiment of said credit card, said card body
further comprises power supply status indicator means. One
advantage being the information of a failing power supply is
available to the card user on the spot without the use of external
means. Thus, the possibility of a power failure for the credit card
according to the present invention to stop operating is kept to a
minimum.
[0032] In a further embodiment of said credit card, said data
carrier means include a first data storage for holding card owner
fingerprint data, and a second data storage for holding secured
data. In this way, said data is kept separated for added security
and further said data storages may be conventional data storage
means, keeping down production expenses.
[0033] In further embodiments of said credit card, said first
and/or second data storage is an EEPROM or FLASH-type memory, or
said second data storage is a magnetic strip or a smart card chip.
An advantage of this being said first and/or second data storage is
conventional data storage means, which keep down credit card
production expenses and ease the credit card communication with
existing external reading devices in an ATM or the like.
[0034] In a further embodiment of said credit card said fingerprint
authentication means and said data carrier means are combined in a
single integrated circuit, such as a microcontroller with a memory.
Accordingly, the number of components needed for the operation of
such a credit card is kept low, reducing the costs of said credit
card.
[0035] In a further embodiment of said credit card said single
integrated circuit is able to be put in a first state, in which
said secured data and said card owner fingerprint data is
temporarily available for an activation of said secured data.
Accordingly, the security of said secured data is increased
further, because outside said temporary period the data is not
available for reading by any external reading or tapping devices,
which a potential thief may have in his possession.
[0036] In a further embodiment of said credit card, said
fingerprint reading means comprises at least one fingerprint
reading system. Hereby is provided a possibility of selecting a
specific fingerprint reading system for activation of an associated
set of secured data. Also, it is possible by selecting one or a
combination of fingerprints for an activation of a credit card
service provided on said card in the form of a specific secured
data set. In an alternative embodiment the credit card comprises
credit card service selection means, such as a switch, by which a
credit card owner may select a credit card service by selecting
from different sets of secured data, one for each credit card
service available.
[0037] In a further embodiment of said credit card, said credit
card service selection means comprise one fingerprint reading
system for each credit card service available on said credit card.
Accordingly, several credit card services are available for a card
owner to activate in the form of several secured data sets, which
by selection of an appropriate fingerprint or fingerprint
combination activates a given set of secured data for readout in
said readout area. In an alternative embodiment said credit card
service selection means comprise a single fingerprint reading
system for all credit card service available, wherein said card
owner fingerprint data comprises at least one fingerprint or
fingerprint combination corresponding to an activation fingerprint
for each credit card service, and wherein said data processor is
adapted for activation of the readout area during a determined
activation time period, when said activation fingerprint is pressed
against said fingerprint reading system. Thus, the number of
fingerprint reading systems is reduced, lowering production
cost
[0038] In yet another embodiment of said credit card said
fingerprint reading means are able to pre-store card owner
fingerprint on said data carrier means in a one-time operation.
Accordingly, personal ID-data, namely the fingerprint data of the
card owner, is only stored one time and only at one location, which
further improves the security of said personal ID-data. This is due
to the fact that there is no need for any other or further
registration in a database or carrier external to the memory
provided on a credit card according to the invention, and thus no
possibility is provided for neither a central registration of such
personal ID-data as fingerprint data nor a potential tapping of
such a central registration.
[0039] In another embodiment of said credit card, said card owner
fingerprint data comprises at least one fingerprint or fingerprint
combination corresponding to a deactivation fingerprint, and said
data processor is adapted for deactivation of the readout area
during a determined deactivation period, when said deactivation
fingerprint is pressed against said fingerprint reading means.
Thus, if coerced by a criminal into using the biometric credit card
for e.g. cash money transfers, a credit card owner is given the
opportunity to render the credit card inoperable for a longer time
period, e.g. hours, days, or months, even permanently in order to
discourage would-be criminals from such coercion. Thus, the
services provided by said secured data has been even more
safeguarded from misuse by such criminals.
[0040] It is farther also an object of the invention to provide a
secured data activation system for a data carrier, such as a credit
card according to the invention, which improves the security of
said secured data by improving the data communication between said
data carrier and a data carrier reader.
[0041] In a second aspect of the invention, the above object are
achieved by a secured data activation system for a data carrier,
such as a credit card according to the invention, comprising data
carrier means holding at least secured data; an input device for
acquiring an input; a readout area; secured data activation means
comprising a data processor, which based on said input is able to
submit said secured data to said readout area; and an electrical
power supply delivering electrical power to at least said input
data unit, said secured data activation means, and said readout
area; said secured data activation system comprising at least one
driver circuit in communication with at least one transducer coil
upon said readout area comprising at least one core winding around
at least one strip of electromagnetically inducible core material,
each strip being individually inducible by said data processor to
emit a magnetic field containing secured data signals corresponding
to said secured data.
[0042] Thus, a data carrier is provided which is able to submit
secured data to a readout area for emission of secured data signals
to a data carrier reader for an improved communication between
these. Such a data carrier is suitable as a substitute for any data
carrier having conventional magnetic strips, and may require a data
input or active input before being activated. Applicable systems,
other than credit cards systems, may be automatic employee
attendance systems, individualized Internet shop cards, ID-badges
etc. Said input is not limited to fingerprint authentication, but
may also be retina, signature, or other authentication, or may even
be a simple push button input, and said input may originate from
any person, not only the person or entity to which said secured
data relates to.
[0043] The credit card according to the present invention will now
be described, by way of example, with reference to the diagrammatic
drawings, in which:
[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram over a credit card according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 2 shows a first credit card comprising a magnetic
strip;
[0046] FIG. 3 shows a second credit card comprising a smart
chip;
[0047] FIG. 4 shows the back side of a credit card according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 5 shows a credit card according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 6 shows a transducer coil of a credit card according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the vicinity
of a credit card reader, and
[0050] FIG. 7A, 7B, 7C are showing curves of magnetic field
amplitude over the extent of a transducer coil without
DA-conversion, a resulting DA-conversion curve, and the resulting
amplitude after addition of the two curves, respectively, as a
function of position on the transducer coil.
[0051] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic block diagram for a credit card
according to the invention. Said credit card comprises a card body
1, an on-the-card electrical power supply 12, fingerprint reading
means 14, fingerprint authentication means 16 comprising a data
processor, and data carrier means 18.
[0052] Said electrical power supply 12 is delivering electrical
current to at least fingerprint reading means 14 and in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 also to fingerprint authentication means
16 using any conventional electrical connection (solid line).
Obviously, certain or all electrical components of said credit card
may be provided with electrical power from said power supply 12.
Said fingerprint reading means 14 provide fingerprint signals 14s
to said fingerprint authentication means 16 in order to enable a
comparison between said fingerprint signals 14a and card owner
fingerprint data 18fd pre-stored in said data carrier means 18 for
activating secured data 18sd likewise pre-stored in said data
carrier means 18.
[0053] Said electrical power supply 12 may advantageously comprise
one or more rechargeable and/or non-rechargeable batteries. The
power supply 12 preferably further comprise electrical connections
to the various electrical components provided on the card body,
and, in the case of rechargeable batteries being provided,
preferably recharging means, e.g. terminals for connection to an
externally provided battery charging system or, advantageously,
solar cells provided on said card body, said recharging means in
electrical communication with said rechargeable battery or
batteries.
[0054] Present non-rechargeable batteries are compact, both in
power and in size, and one or more batteries provide adequate power
for several fingerprint readings and accompanying authentications
for communication operations between a credit card according to the
present invention and a card reader device. In some uses for such a
credit card it may be preferred to limit the battery life time
period in which such card may be active, e.g. limiting the use of a
card to two authentications in a user test trial of such a novel
card.
[0055] Fingerprint reading means 14 may comprise any available
conventional device, preferably a small and flat fingerprint
reading system provided on one or two sides of the card body 1,
which system may comprise some or all of one or more biosensors, a
fingerprint image taker, a fingerprint data storage, a fingerprint
data analyzer, or the like. The fingerprint signals 14s provided to
said fingerprint authentication means 16 may comprise signals
encompassing several data, e.g. analyzed or raw fingerprint image
data, heat sensor data, etc. Said fingerprint reading means 14 is
thus able to provide fingerprint signals 14s based on one or more
fingers being pressed against any biosensor provided on the
card.
[0056] Data carrier means 18 comprise one or more storage devices,
i.e. a first data storage comprising at least one or more memory
units for storing card owner fingerprint data and a second data
storage comprising one or more memory units for storing secured
data. Said data storages may be one and the same unit storing all
data, or two or more units storing each their type of data, or a
combination of these.
[0057] Card owner fingerprint data 18fd is data concerning one or
more fingers of an authorized card owner, said data preferably
being pre-stored on the credit card according to the present
invention. Said pre-storage may be performed in any conventional
way, e.g. by a card owner fingerprint storing operation certified
by the credit card provider. Memory units used for storing card
owner fingerprint data may take the form of RAM, ROM, PROM's,
EEPROMS, smart card chips, magnetic strips or the like.
[0058] An added security is provided by the fact that pre-storing
and thus registration of card owner fingerprints may be performed
only on a limited number of credit cards, preferably only one
credit card. Thus it is possible to avoid having to register
fingerprints outside the credit card in question, and thus the
possibility of an unauthorized person stealing a set of
fingerprints data to match a stolen card is virtually non-existing.
Preferably, said pre-storage of the card owner fingerprints is
performed on the card in a one-time only operation, where the
fingerprint data is obtained by said fingerprint reading means 14
provided on said credit card. Thus, the original fingerprints of
the card owner are only stored one place, i.e. on the credit card
in the first data storage, and not in e.g. a central storage
database. This adds to the security of said fingerprint data, as it
removes the client concern of having their very personal
fingerprints registered centrally. Further, this removes any
possibility of illegally acquiring such centrally stored
fingerprint data by a potential thief. The data processor of said
credit card may be set up as to be able to hinder any further
pre-storage being performed or it may be set up for allowing only
one registration of one or more card owner fingerprints or
fingerprint combinations, either once for each life time of said
credit card, or for each provision or deletion of each credit card
service on said card, which is performed by adding or deleting one
or more sets of secured data in said second storage.
[0059] The term "credit card owner" denotes one or more persons,
all of which have their respective fingerprint data sets pre-stored
in said data carrier means of one credit card according to the
invention. This allows for more than one person is able to activate
the secured data held by said one credit card. The term "credit
card user" denotes the person, who is attempting to activate the
secured data on a credit card according to the invention.
[0060] Secured data 18sd comprises one or more sets of secured
data, each set of secured data containing e.g. personal data or
bank teller information, such as card number, or the like, which
data is used to gain access to personal services either cash,
automatic payment of commodities, or the like. Said secured data
may be in the form of freely accessible readable data or
alternatively encrypted data, or a combination of both, where the
provision of encrypted data provides further security during a data
communication transfer. Memory units used for storing secured data
on the conventional credit cards often take the form of smart card
chips or magnetic strips, but preferably the secured data and the
card owner fingerprint data may be stored on data carrier means,
such as an EEPROM or FLASH-type memory as the first and/or second
data storage. Thus, the credit card according to the invention
creates an effective blocking of the availability of said secured
data, especially for preventing any un-lawful copying of the
magnetic information provided on a conventional magnetic strip,
because the secured data is only released to the readout area in a
form of electromagnetically induced secured data signals from said
one or more transducer coils after a card user authentication
procedure has been performed.
[0061] Said fingerprint authentication means 16 comprise means for
authenticating fingerprint signals 14s provided by said fingerprint
reading means 14, where said authentication preferably comprise a
comparison procedure using card owner data pre-stored in said data
carrier means 18, and a secured data activation procedure for
activating said secured data pre-stored in said data carrier means
18, but may include further or other authentication steps e.g.
comprising user/card provider selection options.
[0062] Said fingerprint authentication means 16 comprises a data
processor capable of performing the authentication procedures. Said
data processor may be dedicated for said authentication or may also
be incorporated in a smart card chip for said secured data.
[0063] Preferably, said fingerprint authentication means and data
carrier means may be provided in combination as a single integrated
circuit on said credit card, e.g. in the form of a microcontroller
chip with an EEPROM or FLASH type memory. In order to further
enhance the security of the data held in said memory, i.e. secured
data and card owner fingerprint data, said single integrated
circuit or even said one or more data storages may be unavailable
for external reading, e.g. by short circuiting the appropriate pins
of the integrated circuit, during the time period, in which said
credit card is not in use. This inhibits any attempt by a potential
thief, which has access to integrated circuit reading means, to
read said data without a preceding fingerprint authentication. Said
short circuiting of said single integrated circuit is then
temporarily opened in order to make the data available for
activation by the above mentioned fingerprint authentication
process. This opening of the short circuiting may be initiated by
performing an operation on the card, e.g. one or more fingers
touching the fingerprint reading means, or by any other suited
means.
[0064] Preferably, said fingerprint authenticated activation of the
secured data may be maintained for a determined activation time
period. Examples showing the applicability of this embodiment
encompass activation of the secured data during the time period in
which one or more fingers are pressed against said fingerprint
reading means, e.g. during a swift passing of the credit card
through a reading device in an automated payment device, or
alternatively during the time period stretching itself from the
moment in which the card owner has released the credit card into a
ATM, and the moment, when the ATM has completed reading of the
secured data provided on the credit card. A major advantage of said
credit card according to the present invention is the fact that a
complete and self-contained automated authentication process is
performed prior to communication being established between said
credit card and any of the existing ATM's on the market today,
irrespective of type (automated or manually operated),
manufacturer, version, or geographical position of said ATM.
[0065] Preferably, said secured data is activated for a precisely
set determined time period, allowing for just enough time for
communication to be established and completed. If said time period
is chosen too long, this may provide a card thief ample time to
perform his/her own transaction, resulting in lower security for
said secured data. If the time period is set too short, there may
not be enough time to complete communication between the credit
card and the ATM or the like. After said time period, the secured
data is not submitted by the data processor, and a new
authentication is to be performed again, when needed. This
procedure is preferably used, when the timing of the secured data
activation start and end is not critical.
[0066] Alternatively, as will be described below, at least one
sweep detection sensor 30 is provided on the credit card to
activate the secured data in one or more data bursts when the sweep
detection sensor registers a sweep being made past a reader head of
a credit card reader.
[0067] In FIG. 2 is shown one surface of a credit card according to
another embodiment of the present invention comprising a card body
1 on one side provided with a magnetic strip as data carrier means
18, and provided with an electrical power supply 12 such as a
rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery.
[0068] Advantageously, a credit card according to the present
invention may also comprise activation indicator means for
indicating the secured data activation status, i.e. whether or not
the secured data provided on such a card is in a state of
activation. In FIG. 3 is shown such an activation indicator means
160 in this embodiment comprising a green or green/red LED, where
green light indicates activation of the secured data pre-stored on
said data carrier means and no green or red light indicates no
activation of said secured data. The advantage of such means is the
card user may assure him or her self of the state of activation
before he or she utilises the credit card according to the present
invention in a reading device in order to avoid futile attempts for
the reading device to communicate with said data carrier means
provided on the card, if no activation has been initiated due to
fingerprint mismatch, low battery power or the like.
[0069] Said activation indication means 160 may advantageously for
power consumption reasons be turned off when the card is not being
used, i.e. only during a short time period after one or more
fingers have been placed onto said fingerprint reading means.
[0070] FIG. 3 further shows a credit card provided with power
supply status indicator means 120, in this embodiment consisting of
an electrically conductive colour changing strip, the changing of
the colour indicating battery power status. This is especially of
use, when rechargeable batteries are provided on the credit card to
indicate for a card user when it is time to charge said batteries,
but may also be used to indicate card wear status for a short life
time use.
[0071] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the credit card
according to the present invention, in which one side of the card
body 1 partly is provided with solar cells 125 for recharging of
rechargeable batteries being provided on said credit card. The
exact type, arrangement, size, number and other characteristics of
said solar cells may vary, but these preferably match the
recharging need of said batteries for at least one authentication
being performed by the card and for the optional associated
indications to the card user. Said recharging means may of course
assume other forms, e.g. recharging terminals being provided on
said credit card for connection to externally provided charging
means, such as corresponding charging terminals on a conventional
battery charger.
[0072] In FIG. 5, a credit card according to the invention is shown
in a preferred embodiment, which comprises a card body 1,
comprising a rechargeable battery 12 supplying electrical current
to fingerprint reading means 14, fingerprint authentication means
16 comprising an EEPROM memory 18 and a data processor such as a
microcontroller, and a readout area 40. Said fingerprint
authentication means 16 is able to compare fingerprint signals
received from said fingerprint reading means 14 with card owner
fingerprint data stored in said memory 18 in order to, during a
determined time interval, submit signals corresponding to secured
data also stored in said memory 18 through a driver circuit 20 also
provided on said card body 1 on to a readout area 40 on said card
body 1 for emission of said secured data signals. No secured data
are emitted from said readout area 40 outside said determined
activation time interval. The driver circuit 20 may preferably
comprise amplifier electronics, such as operational amplifiers and
may preferably be provided integral with the data processor, e.g.
in an ASIC.
[0073] The readout area 40 comprises three transducer coils 42, of
which one is shown in FIG. 6, each comprising a number of core
windings 420 wound around an end section of a strip 422 of
electromagnetically inducible core material. Each transducer coil
42 is individually inducible by said driver circuit 20. The number
of transducer coils may be chosen to three in order to induce
secured data signals corresponding to conventional magnetic strip
information, which lies in magnetic strips in three tracks, but may
as an alternative be provided in numbers ranging from one to more
than three. For most applications, data is only to be generated in
two transducer coils 42, corresponding to the first and second of
said conventional magnetic strips. In conventional magnetic strips,
the data is permanently magnetically presented to a credit card
reader using a so-called F2F-format, or two frequency format, in
which a "0" bit is formed by a magnet part of a predetermined
length in said magnetic strip, and a "1" bit is two longitudinally,
magnetically oppositely directed magnet parts, having a combined
length equal to said length of the "0" bit magnet part. One
conventional magnet track is usually provided with 1210 bits/inch.
Thus, the transducer coils 42 of the credit card and secured data
activation system according the present invention preferably is to
emit and present said secured data signals in such F2F-format to a
credit card reader, which is to read said credit card with a reader
head 50.
[0074] The transducer coil 42 shall produce a homogenous and
relatively strong magnetic field in order for it to be readable by
a credit card reader. The nature of this magnetic field is heavily
influenced by the transducer coil construction, such as choice of
core material and core construction of the cores strips 422, number
and position of the core windings 420 upon the core strips 422.
Variations in the signals to a transducer coil 42 generates a
variable magnetic field along the strip, which is identical to the
magnetic field, which a reader head is influenced by, when a
conventional magnetic strip credit card holding the same secured
data is passed through the same reader.
[0075] The material of the core strip 422 is advantageously an
electromagnetically inducible material, such as metal, preferably
electromagnetic lamination, sheet iron or other sheet metal, either
provided as a single or double foil on one or each side of the card
body, advantageously having a width and a position corresponding to
a conventional magnetic track in order to have a similar magnetic
and physical appearance. The choice of core material of the core
strips strongly influences the strength and distribution of the
magnetic field produced, and allow for an enhancement of the
magnetic field being produced, resulting in the need for lower
current in the core windings, which reduces the power consumption
of said credit card.
[0076] The core strip 422 may preferably be provided with
distributed air gaps (not shown), or contaminations of another less
or more electromagnetically inducible material, such as plastic or
paper, either provided along the extend of the core material or
inside the card body in order for the transducer coil to produce
several small magnetic fields along the core material to provide a
homogenous magnetic field distribution for facilitating improved
readability by a read gap of a credit card reader being used on the
credit card according to the invention. Without such air gaps, the
strongest part of the magnetic field has a tendency to flow from
one end of the core strip to the other end thereof and accordingly
away from a read gap of a magnetic reader head of a credit card
reader.
[0077] The term "core strip" is to be understood as indicating
substantially elongated parts of core material, thus also
comprising several successively positioned relatively small or
large core material sections and/or one integral core material
section, having a relatively small or large thickness of material
layer and having suitably dimensioned widths and heights for
producing a magnetic field of a desired strength, homogeneity and
extent.
[0078] It has been found that providing the core windings 420 of
the transducer coil 42 on an end section of the electromagnetically
inducible core strip 422 is able to provide a homogenous magnetic
field being emitted by the entire readout area 40. Providing said
core windings 420 on one end section of said core strips 422 as
seen if FIGS. 5 and 6 also helps to reduce magnetic interferences
between the core windings 420 provided on said credit card and the
reader head 50 of a credit card reader. Thus, the provision of the
core windings 420 of the respective three transducer coils 42 may
alternatively advantageously be provided consecutively in opposite
end sections. Obviously, the core windings of said transducer coil
may also alternatively be provided evenly distributed along the
core strip extension, or may be distributed in one or more sections
of said core strip or sections thereof. The core windings 420 are
preferably provided around the short side of the core strip 422 and
may be provided in any appropriate number relating to desired
magnetic field strength, current load of the core windings,
magnetic appearance, etc. Obviously, the core windings are of a
material, which is able to induce a magnetic field into said
inducible core strips, e.g. a metal like iron or another suitable
conducting material.
[0079] By the invention it has been realized that such an
"activatable magnetic strip" in the readout area may be useful for
other applications, in which secured data from a magnetic strip
requires an input before being activated, e.g. automatic employee
attendance systems, individualized Internet shop cards, ID-badges
etc. Said input is not limited to fingerprint authentication, but
may also be retina, signature, or other authentication, or may even
be a simple push button input, and may be from any person, not only
the person or entity to which said secured data relates to. A
secured data activation system is therefore also disclosed herein,
shown as an example being such a credit card with fingerprint
authentication.
[0080] In FIG. 5, the credit card shown is further comprising a
sweep detection sensor 30, which is positioned at one of said
transducer coils 42 for the detection of a credit card reader 50,
when the credit card according to the invention is in the vicinity
of such a reader, i.e. when said sensor 30 is adjacent to a pick-up
reader head 50 of a credit card reader. Such a sweep detection
sensor 30 may comprise at least one sensor winding (not shown)
provided around one of said core strips 422. In use, the sweeping
of the credit card through a credit card reader will induce a
current in said at least one sensor winding, because said pick-up
head 50 is magnetic and the card or head is moving, which is sensed
by the sweep detection sensor 30. Other sweep detection sensors,
which may alternatively be used comprise: A) a switch, which is
closed, when a reader head of a credit card reader is in the
vicinity of said sensor, or B) two conductors, which short circuit
when the reader head of a credit card reader is passed by in the
vicinity of said sensor, or any other suitable sweep detection
sensor means. The advantage of a sweep detector sensor being
present is that at least the beginning of the activation time
period and also the duration of said time period can be determined
based on the input from said sensor.
[0081] As an alternative, more than one sweep detection sensor may
be provided, e.g. one at each end section of a transducer coil or
alternatively at each end section of the readout area, as to feed
the data processor with information as to at which end of the
transducer coil the secure data set is to begin based on said
reader head vicinity detection.
[0082] In another embodiment, the sweep detection sensor or sensors
detect the velocity with which it or they pass the pick-up head,
and this information is fed to the data processor, which in turn
determines the onset and duration of the activation time period
necessary to communicate the secured data signals to the credit
card reader. This is especially advantageous when using the credit
card according to the invention in ATM-type machines, because the
duration of the emission of the secured data signals is reduced to
the communication time period only and the read velocity in a
conventional ATM is often preset to a constant or well defined
system preset velocity
[0083] When card owner fingerprints are registered by said
fingerprint reading means 14 the submittal of secured data to said
transducer coils 42 may be enabled for a determined time period.
During said time period, the secured data signals are only emitted
from the readout area, when and if the sweep detection sensor 30
detects such a vicinity to a credit card reader head 50,
immediately after which preferably only one emission of the secured
data signals is provided by said readout area 40. This is useful
when sweeping said credit card through a credit card reader with a
relatively quick movement of said credit card. Alternatively,
several emissions may be performed during said time period. This
may be useful when said credit card is left inside said credit card
reader for a longer lasting communication period.
[0084] In FIG. 6 is shown a conventional credit card reader head 50
reading one transducer coil 42 from a credit card according to the
present invention (not shown). The credit card reader decodes the
data being emitted by a credit card, upon which the coil is
situated, preferably according to certain standards of presenting
credit card data known to the skilled person, such as the ISO 7811
standard. In said standard, a protocol is used comprising a start
sentinel, 76 alphanumeric characters comprising an initial format
code and field separators between data parts, an end sentinel, and
a longitudinal redundancy check character. The coils of the credit
card may preferably generate secured data as described above in
order to comply with such given standards.
[0085] In a preferred embodiment, the driver circuit 20 is able to
perform advanced amplification comprising amplitude compensation,
which may be performed with DA-conversion technology or even an
analogue timing determined circuit, and pulse shaping, which may be
performed by DA-conversion or analogue filtering of the secured
data to or secured data signals over said transducer coil by either
active or passive filtering. These technologies are well known to a
person skilled in the art
[0086] Pulse shaping (fast compensation) is the activity of
adjusting the pulse shape of the secured data signals transmitted
to the reader head in such a way, that an improved transmittal
characteristic is achieved, allowing an increased secured data
signal transmittal rate.
[0087] In FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C is illustrated an example of
amplitude compensation of the field being distributed by the
transducer coil 42. The amplitude compensation (slow compensation)
is regulating the magnetic field intensity, which is a function of
the current through the core windings of the transducer coil in
order to keep the magnetic field amplitude-stable along the extend
of the transducer coil 42 and a portion beyond the edge of this.
FIG. 7A shows a amplitude characteristic over the extent of a core
strip without amplitude compensation, in which it is seen, that the
magnetic field intensity B, which is a function of the core winding
current I, is not constant along the extent of a transducer coil
42, especially not at the end portions, where the amplitude tend to
increase. The disadvantage of this is the fact that a large amount
of the electrical power is used outside the read area, reducing the
effectiveness of the signal transfer. Further, this effect provides
for secured data signals of a relatively high intensity extending
away from said credit card, even beyond the ATM and/or the credit
card holder, thus adding a risk that a malicious person having
intentions of copying the secured data signals may be able to "tap"
the secured data signals during emission thereof. In FIG. 7B is
shown an example of an amplitude compensation signal provided by
DA-conversion in the driver circuit, which by a further
DA-conversion is added to the amplitude characteristic of FIG. 7A.
In FIG. 7C is shown the resulting magnetic field amplitude
compensated by DA-conversion, in which a substantially constant
amplitude is seen to be the result over the extent of the
transducer coil 42. Two advantages of this is the result. Firstly,
the amplitude of the secured data signals may be kept to a constant
minimum for the reader head to be able to read the secured data
signals, reducing the risk of copying by malicious persons, also
because the magnetic field thus may be compensated for a direction
towards the reader head. Secondly, the resulting power consumption
through the core windings is reduced significantly, which in turn
extends the life time of the electrical power supply provided on
the card body. Preferably, the intensity of the magnetic field
during emission of the secured data signals corresponds to the
intensity presently available from conventional magnetic
strips.
[0088] In use, an owner of a credit card according to the present
invention takes hold of said credit card, presses one or more
fingers against said fingerprint reading means, and fingerprint
authentication means provided on the credit card activate secured
data provided on said credit card only if the fingerprint
authentication performed on the card matches against card owner
fingerprint data also provided on the credit card. If a fingerprint
match is established, secured data pre-stored on the card is
activated by said fingerprint authentication means and said secured
data may be read from any reading device of an ATM or the like.
[0089] An advantageous function being provided by said credit card
according to the invention is the provision of the storage in said
data carrier means 18 of at least one fingerprint or fingerprint
combination corresponding to deactivation fingerprints of said card
owner. If a criminal is trying to coerce a card owner into
activating the secured data in order to e.g. provide cash money for
said criminal, such attempt may be neutralized or even avoided.
This is due to the fact that the criminal is not aware of which
fingerprint or fingerprints can activate or deactivate the secured
data. Accordingly, the card owner is availed the opportunity to
select an authentication finger or combination of fingers, which on
said credit card are stored as deactivation fingerprints, and thus
deactivate the secured data for a appropriately long deactivation
time period, which may be selected to be hours, days, or longer,
even permanently. The deactivation fingerprint is authenticated by
the data processor, which based on the positive authentication with
a stored deactivation fingerprint renders said secured data
inaccessible for a pre-selected deactivation time period, which may
be stored in said data carrier means 18 or programmed into said
fingerprint authentication means 16 comprising a data
processor.
[0090] The data processor or microcontroller is able to be
programmed for a registration of which specific fingerprints from
different fingers or combinations of fingerprints are to be used
for long term credit card deactivation or for activation of the
respective secured data sets for each credit card function
available on one credit card according to the invention.
Preferably, said data processor or microcontroller is set up in
such a way that such programming is only to be performed once, e.g.
once for the life time of said credit card or once for each
addition or removal of different credit card functionality, i.e.
credit card service being provided by said credit card.
[0091] The authentication procedure being done on the card and
independently of any reading device or other external apparatus is
possible only because the power supply for this procedure is
provided on the credit card itself. An independent, on-the-card,
and substantially self contained power supply is provided with a
credit card according to the present invention.
[0092] The exact configuration on the credit card of the different
components provided on said card is not important and is only shown
in the figures as way of example. One may prefer an integration of
all components, ultimately into one fingerprint reading,
authenticating, data carrying, power supplying device, such as an
integrated circuit provided on said card, said integration being
advantageous for cost and miniaturization reasons.
[0093] By the invention it is realised that a multi-function card
is enabled by providing the credit card with credit card services
selection means for a card owner to select different credit card
services in the form of different sets of secured data, e.g. a
social security number, a bank ID-number, and a credit provider
ID-number. This may be done either by providing a conventional
switch on said credit card for selecting between these or by
providing at least one fingerprint reading system. A card owner may
select one system amongst a plurality of fingerprint reading
systems by pressing one or more fingers against said selected
system. The selection thus activates an associated set of secured
data, which optionally may be provided from the same provider, or
different card providers. As an example, selection of a first
fingerprint reading system may e.g. activate a first set of secured
data concerning bank ID-number; selection of a second fingerprint
reading system may activate a second set of secured data concerning
social security number. Alternatively, said credit card service
selection means comprise a single fingerprint reading system for
all credit card service available, wherein said card owner
fingerprint data comprises at least one fingerprint or fingerprint
combination corresponding to an activation fingerprint for each
credit card service, and wherein said data processor is adapted for
activation of the readout area during a determined activation time
period, when said activation fingerprint is pressed against said
fingerprint reading system. The advantage of such credit card
service selection means comprises as noted above optionally
dispensing with a dedicated ID code number for each secured data
set to be activated, which mitigates the need for a card user to
remember several ID code numbers, one for each card in
possession.
* * * * *