Patent ID: 7204425

Claim:
An identification appliance adapted to provide information about a person, the identification appliance comprising: a programmable data storage device to receive and store identification information for positively identifying a person; a structure adapted to be worn by or attached to the person, said structure carrying said data storage device; a fastener disposed in or on the structure, the fastener being adapted to attach the structure to the person; a circuit disposed in or on the structure and electrically coupled to the fastener, a closing of the fastener enables a function of the circuit, and said circuit being adapted to alter, erase, or damage the identification information if the circuit determines that the identification appliance has been tampered with; and a biometric sensor coupled to the circuit and disposed in or on the structure, the biometric sensor being adapted to receive biometric information about the person from a source external to the identification appliance and to communicate the biometric information to the data storage device; wherein the biometric sensor includes a light-emitting device adapted to emit light towards the person and a light-sensing device adapted to measure light reflection off the person to obtain a fingerprint charcteristic.