Patent ID: 6360953
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G06K,G07C

Abstract:
A smart card for use in secure user authentication systems, said card comprising:a card body having front and back surfaces; a print sensor carried by said card and having a first portion located on one of said front and back surfaces of said card for providing real-time signals representative of a fingerprint of a user pressed against said first portion of said sensor, and a second portion located on the other one of said front and back surfaces of said card for providing real-time signals representative of a thumbprint of said user pressed against said second portion of said sensor, said first and said second portions being located on said front and said back surfaces of said card in such relative positions whereby said fingerprint and said thumbprint are self-aligned with said first and said second portions when said user grasps said card; means for enabling said print sensor to provide said signals when said card is grasped by said user and the finger and thumb of said user is placed in contact with said first and second portions of said sensor without the aid of an external support; and authentication means within the card for generating electric authentication signals from said print sensor signals, whereby said real-time signals and said authentication signals can be generated while said card is moving and without any need to support said card with an external support.