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 method for authorizing use of a biometric card, comprising:
sensing a fingerprint of a card user;
authenticating the sensed fingerprint information;
generating a first photocurrent signal based on reflective scattering of a first laser light generated by a red laser,
generating a second photocurrent signal based on reflective scattering of a second laser light emitted by an infrared laser,
converting the first photocurrent signal to a first waveform and converting the second photocurrent signal to a second waveform;
estimating an SpO2 level of the card user based on the ratio of the first waveform and the second waveform;
determine whether the estimate is at least 90 percent;
evaluating whether the sensed fingerprint is from live human skin based on the determination; and
authorizing the use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the evaluation.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the red laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrared (IR) laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sensor is used to estimate the SpO 2 level of the card user, and the sensor comprises a multi-sided configuration.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sensor is used to estimate the SpO 2 a level of the card user, and the sensor comprises a transparent configuration.
6. The method 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 method 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 method 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, the processing component further configured to determine whether the estimate is at least 90 percent; and
an authorizing component configured to authorize use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the determination.
10. The card of claim 9 , wherein the red laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
11. The card of claim 9 , wherein the infrared (IR) laser is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser.
12. The card of claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a multi-sided configuration.
13. The card of claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises a transparent configuration.
14. The card 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 card 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 card of claim 9 , wherein the photodetector structure comprises an intrinsic semiconductor region, a p-type region, and an n-type region.
17. 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 determine whether the estimate is at least 90%; and
an authorizing component configured to authorize use of the card based on the fingerprint authentication and the determination.