Smart identification document

1. A smart electronic personal identification document, comprising:

(a) a smart identification module including a contactless chip module and an antenna, said smart identification module being operative to store and exchange personal identification information contactlessly with an external reader; and

(b) an anti-skimming element for disposing adjacent to said smart identification module, said anti-skimming element being configured for preventing unauthorized theft of said information, wherein said anti-skimming element includes a switching arrangement electrically connected to said smart identification module, said switching arrangement being configured for selectively enabling and disabling transmission of said information by said smart identification module, said switching arrangement including a light sensor configured such that, when said light sensor is exposed to light above a threshold light level, said switching arrangement enables transmission of said information by said smart identification module.

2. The document of claim 1 , wherein said chip module has a power supply voltage input pin and an output enable pin, said light sensor being electrically connected to said power supply voltage input pin and said output enable pin so that light incident on said light sensor selectively enables and disables the output of said chip module.

3. A smart inlay comprising:

a. a core substrate operative to store and exchange information contactlessly with an external reader, said core substrate further conditioned to bind to a smart electronic personal identification document surface;

b. at least one physical security component coupled to said core substrate and operative to render the smart inlay tamper-proof, wherein said at least one physical security component is selected from the group consisting of at least one tear line and at least one thermo-set patterned adhesive; and

c. a logical security component incorporated in said core substrate and operative to render the smart inlay forgery-proof.

4. The smart inlay of claim 3 , wherein said at least one thermo-set patterned adhesive includes two thermo-set patterned adhesives forming a composite adhesive structure.

5. A smart electronic personal identification document comprising:

a. a booklet; and

b. a smart inlay incorporated in said booklet, said smart inlay further including:

i. a core substrate operative to store and exchange information contactlessly with an external reader, said core substrate further conditioned to bind to a passport surface,

ii. at least one physical security component coupled to said core substrate and operative to render the smart inlay tamper-proof, wherein said at least one physical security component is selected from the group consisting of at least one tear line and at least one thermo-set patterned adhesive and

iii. a logical security component incorporated in said core substrate and operative to render the smart inlay forgery-proof,

whereby said smart inlay provides tamper-proof and forgery-proof properties to the document.

6. The smart electronic personal identification document of claim 5 , wherein said at least one thermo-set patterned adhesive includes two thermo-set patterned adhesives forming a composite adhesive structure.

7. A method for tamper-proofing and forgery-proofing a smart electronic personal identification document comprising the steps of:

a. providing a smart inlay operative to uniquely identify an authorized bearer of the document, said smart inlay adaptively fitting into the document, said smart inlay including:

i. a core substrate operative to store and exchange information contactlessly with an external reader, said core substrate further conditioned to bind to a document surface,

ii. at least one physical security component coupled to said core substrate and operative to render said smart inlay tamper-proof, and

iii. a logical security component incorporated in said core substrate and operative to render said smart inlay forgery-proof; and

b. attaching said smart inlay to said document.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said providing at least one thermo-set patterned adhesive includes providing two thermo-set patterned adhesives forming a composite adhesive structure positioned to hold both the chip and the antenna.