Patent ID: 11997199

Abstract:
A biometric device comprising: biometric sensing circuitry; cryptographic circuitry; a device key area in the biometric device for storing a cryptographic device key unique to the biometric device; and a test key area in the biometric device, for storing a cryptographic test key. The biometric device is controllable between: a test state in which the test key area is connected to the cryptographic circuitry to provide the test key to the cryptographic circuitry, and the cryptographic circuitry is prevented from performing cryptographic operations on data provided by the biometric sensing circuitry; and a functional state in which the device key area is connected to the cryptographic circuitry to provide the device key to the cryptographic circuitry, and the cryptographic circuitry is connected to the biometric sensing circuitry to receive and perform cryptographic operations on data from the biometric sensing circuitry using the device key.