Authorizing the use of a biometric card
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for authorizing the use of a biometric transaction card. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a biometric card having a biometric sensor to determine whether the biometric information (fingerprint) is from human skin. In a typical embodiment, the cardholder approaches a magnetic reader with the card. The user places his/her finger on the SpO 2 sensor of the card. The sensor estimates the SpO 2 level. Card authorization is based, in part, on the estimated SpO 2 level.
1. A biometric card having a biometric sensor used for authorizing the use of the card, comprising:
a biometric fingerprint imager, comprising:
a fingerprint sensor configured to sense a fingerprint of the card user;
an authenticator configured to authenticate the sensed fingerprint information;
a biometric sensor, comprising:
a red laser configured to emit a first laser light;
an infrared (IR) laser configured to emit a second laser light;
at least one photodetector configured to generate a first photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the first laser light and generate a second photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the second laser light;
an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first photocurrent signal to a first waveform and convert the second photocurrent signal to a second waveform;
a processing component configured to estimate a SpO 2 level based on the ratio of the first and second waveforms; and
an authorizing component configured to authorize use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the SpO 2 level estimate.
2. The card of claim 1 , wherein the red laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
3. The card of claim 1 , wherein the infrared (IR) laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
4. The card of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a multi-sided configuration.
5. The card of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a transparent configuration.
6. The card of claim 1 , wherein the red laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.
7. The card of claim 1 , wherein the infrared (IR) laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.
8. The card of claim 1 , wherein the photodetector structure comprises an intrinsic semiconductor region, a p-type region, and an n-type region.
9. A method for providing a biometric card having a biometric sensor used for authorizing the use of the card, comprising:
providing a biometric fingerprint imager, comprising:
a fingerprint sensor configured to sense a fingerprint of the card user;
an authenticator configured to authenticate the sensed fingerprint information;
providing a biometric sensor, comprising:
a red laser configured to emit a first laser light;
an infrared (IR) laser configured to emit a second laser light;
at least one photodetector configured to generate a first photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the first laser light and generate a second photocurrent signal based on the reflective scattering of the second laser light;
an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first photocurrent signal to a first waveform and convert the second photocurrent signal to a second waveform;
a processing component configured to estimate a SpO 2 level based on the ratio of the first and second waveforms, and from the SpO 2 level, determine whether the fingerprint is sensed from live human skin; and
an authorizing component configured to authorize use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the live human skin determination.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the red laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the infrared (IR) laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a multi-sided configuration.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a transparent configuration.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the red laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the infrared (IR) laser structure comprises n-Substrate, n-type Bragg reflector, p-type Bragg reflector, and quantum well layers.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the photodetector structure comprises an intrinsic semiconductor region, a p-type region, and an n-type region.
17. A method for authorizing the use of a biometric card, comprising:
sensing a fingerprint of the card user;
authenticating the sensed fingerprint information;
estimating the SpO 2 level of the card user; and
authorizing the use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the SpO 2 level estimate,
wherein a sensor is used to estimate the SpO 2 level of the card user,
wherein the sensor calculates the SpO 2 level estimate by emitting a light from a red laser, emitting a light from an infrared (IR) light, and estimating the SpO 2 level the based on the red and infrared light absorption characteristics of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.