Data carrier.

(54) Name: Data carrier

82-09-19

81-03-18

Application received as:

S Swedish patent application □ completed international patent application with number □ converted European patent application with number (57) Summary:

A credit card type data card and provided with a traffic release device including a sensing device (2) for picking up paper from a finger flower threatens the user. The information recorded in a rectifier (23) whose state is set 1 depending on the position of the sensing surface (9 ') relative to the pillar lines. An identification bit sequence is calculated from the recorded Information and compares 1 a comparison trace (5) with a previously recorded reference sequence stored on the carrier. At acceptable carbon side between the charge sequences, an acceptance signal is generated, which can activate an Indicating Sorrow (7) or a coupling means which makes the data carrier usable. In addition, a method for determining a reference point (64) in the finger flower pattern and reading the information recorded in the control means is described using one or more reading cues (63) with center 1 or adjacent to the reference point.

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(56) Publications cited:

SE patent application 8008817-2 (B42D 15/02)

GB 1 178 258 (G06K 9/00), 2 020 869 (G06K 19/00)

US 3,383,657 (340-149), 3,419,287 (283-7),

202 120 (40-2.2)

Other publications:

IBM, Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 16, no. 8, January 1974, pages 2684-2685,

Finger print image enhancement system

The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code Letter mom clamp indicates international document code.

8101707-1

The present invention is a data carrier, preferably in the form of a personal card containing information about the holder, card issuing company, account number etc., and intended to be used manually or in a read-out device included in a terminal equipment at the point of use. wherein the data carrier includes means for internally processing the supplied identification information for the holder during a verification process and for generating an acceptance signal as a result of the holder's identity and / or right to use the data carrier being verified.

Data carriers or cards of the above type are known in many different designs for different purposes and are referred to as daily cards in daily speech. The cards are usually dimensioned according to the accepted ISO standard, which means that the card is made of a PYC material with some flexibility and has the approximate dimensions of 0.8 mm x 54 mm x 85 mm.

Manual card data cards may contain said information in a relief print, whereby the information can be transferred to a payment verification by a printing procedure.

Data cards intended for handling in a terminal equipment may comprise a loop of a magnetizable material containing said information, the terminal comprising a reading device for reading the magnetically recorded information and, optionally, a recording device for rewriting new information. Such data cards may alternatively comprise optically readable and writable areas and may also be of the hole card type and contain hole combinations which are mechanically readable in the terminal equipment.

In recent times, computer cards called active cards have begun to appear on the market. These cards contain memory circuits and logic connections built in semiconductor technology, thereby enabling the storage of information and processing of the same internally on the card. For communication with a terminal equipment, such a card is provided with a number of externally accessible electrical connectors or corresponding connectors.

The EU's general problem when using data cards is that a lost or stolen data card can be used unauthorized by another person. The problem can be eliminated by forcing the user to verify their rights before the data card can be used.

In the case of data cards intended for manual handling, the verification can be done by the user proving his identity by presenting another identification document. Normally, however, no identification is required for the use of such a data card. a. for the reason that this delays handling and can lead

8101707-1 for queuing at am .ndn i ngs stal lena. Instead, effective control takes place in ji.noin so-called block lists, which contain the numbers of all blocked accounts, which may have been blocked by the account holder not fulfilling his obligations to the account-holding company or the account holder reporting loss of the card. The checklists, which are regularly renewed, entail considerable additional work at the points of use and it cannot be excluded that, during manual checks, a blocked account number is not noticed. This means that the credit card is used even though this should not be done. In addition, for example, a lost credit card can be abused during the period between the notification and the time when an updated blocking list is available.

In order to improve the work situation at the places of use, so-called electronic barriers have recently been developed in large. A data processing device with memory was used. In memory, information about blocked account numbers that were previously in printed form is stored in the block lists. During the check, the current account number is entered, which is then compared with all stored account numbers. Although such a device represents an improvement in control, it can be concluded that no satisfactory solution to the present problem is available at present.

In the case of data cards intended for handling in a tenninal device, a method of preventing unauthorized use of the card means that the holder can verify his right by entering a personal identification code, a so-called PIN code, via a keypad included in the tenninal device. In the terminal device an evaluation of the PIN code thus entered and other information read from the card and when the evaluation gives positive results, the data card is accepted and the transaction can continue. For the account operator, ie the card issuing company, the handling of the secret codes poses a significant administrative problem. If the card holder is running, it is a practical problem to memorize the secret code, which normally consists of four digits. The latter problem is also exacerbated by the fact that many people currently have a number of different data or account cards of this type and are thus forced to memorize a corresponding number of different secret codes. This can cause such a person, in support of memory, to write down the various codes and keep the note easily accessible together with the credit cards. It will be appreciated that the protection provided by the personal code thereby drastically deteriorates.

In the not-too-distant future, one can expect that the latter type of card will be more generally useful as a means of payment at so-called POS terminals at points of purchase of many different kinds. In this connection, an additional security risk is raised in the above-described system with the evaluation of a PIN code in a terminal device. In the industry you talk about the so-called wardrobe fall.

81017 07-1 f'ui,; .. d '' it is said that a card holder may find a false terminal at a purchase point. The customer thereby does not use any malicious code for his personal code. The person code and associated accounts are registered with the help of an equipment that is located elsewhere, ie in the closet. In the closet there is also equipment to properly forward the transaction. The registered pairs of associated account numbers and personal codes can then be used for future erasure of fake credit cards. If these fake credit cards are used from time to time in a larger geographical area, considerable time can pass in. n the forgery is detected and countermeasures can be instituted. The basic reason for this problem is that the account number information and the personal code information are transferred to an evaluation device on wires that are or can be made physically accessible, whereby the information can be sensed.

US Patent 4,023,012 proposes a solution that eliminates the problem of administering the secret code numbers. This solution means that the cardholder, in the first use style 1 in the case, may choose his secret code himself. This code is stored on the card and then used for verification on subsequent occasions. In the event that a person holds several different credit cards of this kind, it is conceivable that the person in question chooses one and the same secret personal code for all cards to facilitate the memorization of the personal code. Alternatively, the person can select the person codes according to some simple rule, such as example. parts of their telephone number or social security number. In both cases, the security is adversely affected as a disclosure of the secret code is facilitated and opens up for abuse of several different credit cards.

From US Patent 3,399,473, a data card is known which comprises a number of rotatable or slidable switching means. The switches are provided with numerals or letter designations. Genon setting of a secret, secret number or letter combination known to the holder causes the switches to terminate an internal electrical circuit on the data card. When the data card is then used in a terminal device, the thus closed electrical circuit can be used as verification of the holder's authority. Similar technical solutions are found in U.S. Patents 3,504,343, 3,287,839, 3,593,292, 3,713,235, 3,762,081, 3,972,138, and 4,100,689. All of the data cards described in these patents have in common the disadvantage that the holder must memorize some or all of the secret code. In addition, the design of the cards with mechanically adjustable bodies may be regarded as an advanced stage in the technical development.

The object of the invention is to provide a data carrier or a data card which does not exhibit the disadvantages described above and enables the user to be authenticated by means of the means present on the card without the use of secret information which must be memorized.

8101707-1

The object of the invention is achieved by a data carrier of the kind initially indicated which according to the invention is characterized in that said means includes a verification device for carrying out the verification process and comprising a sensing device for sensing a finger flower of the user and extracting corresponding papillary line information. said sensing device being constructed of sensing elements each comprising a sensing surface for contact with said finger flower and a controllable recording means whose recording state at said sensing is set depending on the position of said sensing surface relative to a papillary line, means for reading said recording state, signal processing means for generating an identification bit sequence from the information obtained by reading the recording state's registration state, memory means for permanently storing a previously corresponding reference bit sequence, comparison means for comparing the identification bit sequence with the reference bit sequence, and for accepting the coincidence signal and means for controlling and supplying the verification device during the verification process.

By obtaining the identification information from a small redirect pattern, the problem of memorizing a secret code is eliminated. The finger biomass pattern is unique to each individual and therefore enables good identification security. By verifying the data carrier itself, the risk is eliminated. is represented by the above related closet case and verification can be performed with the least possible inconvenience to the user through the personal data carrier alone. The attainable authentication security enables the use of the data carrier as a pure identification document, for example in border crossings between countries and in access to restricted areas.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the verification device arranged on the data carrier; Figure 2 shows an embodiment, example of a sensing element included in the verification device; Fig. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the sensing surface of Fig. 2; Fig. 3a shows a further modified embodiment of the sensing surface structure; Fig. 4 shows schematically an embodiment of an optical sensing element; Figures 5a, b, c show the core scene of three different finger biome patterns; Fig. 6 shows a stylized finger biome pattern illustrating a method of information retrieval; Fig. 7 illustrates signal waveforms obtained in the information acquisition of Fig. 6.

The block diagram of the verification device shown in Fig. 1 on the data carrier 1 comprises a sensing device 2 with sensing elements, which are

8101707-1 «north in the form of a suggested sensing matrix 9. The size of the sensing matrix is ​​adapted to the finger flower pattern on an inch. The sensing elements are readable by a reading means 3, which is connected to the sensing device by a transmission a. The reading means 3 reads the scanning elements in accordance with a determined reading program and obtains the information in binary form.

Via a transmission b, the binary information is transmitted to a signal processing device 4, in which the information is given a form suitable for identification. Depending on the determined readout program, the information can be modified with respect to the position of the finger and orientation of the matrix during the sensing. Finally, an identification bit sequence is calculated from the information, whose calculation method and bi tantalum give an appropriate characteristic of the finger flower pattern with regard to the identification security.

The identification bit is fed to a comparison means 5 via a transfer c. The comparator 5 is simultaneously supplied with a reference bit sequence from a memory means 6, which may be a PROM memory, in which the reference bit sequence is programmed upon delivery of the data carrier to the holder. The reference bit sequence preferably contains as many bits as the identification bit sequence and is calculated in a similar manner to the identification bit sequence in an equipment which, in addition to the equivalents of units 2,3 and 4, comprises means for programming the memory 6. Methods and means for programming a PROM or ROM memory is generally known technology and for more detailed information refer to the literature in the field.

Block 8 includes means for controlling and supplying other units. For the sake of simplicity, the connections are shown as a single line, which transmits both control signals and supply current. The control signals are generated by a microcomputer programmed to control the reading process in the reading means 3 and the calculation in the signal processing device 4. As will be apparent from the following, the microcomputer can receive individual-specific control information from the memory 6. The power supply is obtained from an accumulator, which can be interchangeable. The power supply is activated by a switch 10, which is always in a standby mode. Switch 10 receives control information from a touch or touch switch. This contact may be provided separately on the data carrier or may constitute one of the scanning elements in the sensing matrix 9. When the fingertip is pressed against the switch, switch 10 switches to the closed position, thereby closing the power supply loop. Switch 10

8101707-1 then remain closed for a certain amount of time needed to carry out the identification process and any subsequent transactions or alternatively be provided with a bistable circuit, such as a flip-flop, which causes the switch to switch from closed position to ruptured position upon re-activation. sensing element. In Fig. 1, it is assumed that said contact contact is constituted by an element in the matrix 9, which is shown by a connection between the switch 10 and the sensing device 2.

When the comparator 5 detects a sufficient degree of coincidence between the reference bit sequence from the memory 6 and the calculated identification bit sequence from the signal processing device 4, an acceptance signal acc is generated, which is applied to the indicating means 7. The indicating means 7 comprises occurs upon receipt of the acc signal. The green light then indicates that the holder of the data carrier has been able to verify his right to use the data carrier.

&gt; Block 7 may alternatively comprise a switching means which, upon receipt of the acc signal, closes a signal path, thereby enabling the exchange of data between the data carrier and a terminal equipment.

The data carrier is provided with some written information, as illustrated in Fig. 1. is marked by the holder's name, and for roughing the finger on the matrix 9 ', a marking 11 shown in the form of a stylized fingertip.

It is pointed out that, in addition to the sensing device 2, the individual blocks are shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 1. The physical structure of the blocks 3-10 is in accordance with known technology for the so-called active card. Blocks 3,4,6 and 8 represent known functions and the circuitry thereof corresponds to prior art for integrated semiconductor circuits. The said blocks can be manufactured in the form of an LSI circuit which is held on one silicon chip or chip. In addition, with regard to the detailed structure of the individual blocks and the wiring of the data carrier according to the invention, reference is made to US patents 4,001,550 and 3,637,994 which describe active cards. The French magazine Inter Electronique, 29 May 1978, describes an active card called electronic check.

The sensing device 2 is made up of sensing elements, which are arranged in the form of a matrix 9 as shown by the sensing surfaces 9 'of the sensing elements included in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the detailed construction of a sensing element. The sensing surface in this case consists of two metal plates, one of which surrounds 22 in connection with a power supply line 25 and an interior 21 which is connected to the supply line 26 via a recording means 23. The wires 25 and 26, respectively, can be connected through the switch 10 to the plus and minus terminals of said accumulator. The inner metal plate 21 is separated from the surrounding plate 22 by a slot. Through the shown design of the plates, the internal control becomes

8101707-1 solves the solution at the sensing number. In a possible dimensioning, the plate 21 may have a diameter of 0.05 mm, the slot width 0.025 mm and the outer plate outer diameter 0.2 mm. This dimensioning means that plate 21 can separate details in the papillary line pattern with a spacing greater than 0.05 mm and that about 16 sensing points per mm are obtained. Because the plate 22 completely surrounds the plate 21, interrogation between adjacent sensing elements is eliminated since a paper line abutting the plate 21 in a first sensing element cannot abut the plate 22 in a second, adjacent sensing element without also abutting the plate 22 in the first sensing element. The contact plates 21 and 22 of the respective sensing elements are prepared by photo-etching from a continuous metal layer.

The recording means 23 includes a CCD clement that is charged at closing of the current path from line 25 to line 26 via a papillary line pattern detail, which closes the current path between contact plates 21 and 22. If no papillary line connects plate 21 to plate 22, said circuit is not closed and consequently does not occur. any recharging of the CCD element. Alternatively, the recording means 23 may comprise a bistable element which, in a stream of some size, passes through the current path to a second stable state.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the sensing elements included in the sensing matrix. In this case, a contact plate 30 common to all sensing elements is used. The plate 30 is accordingly corresponded to an integration of the surrounding contact plates 22 of FIG. 2 into a continuous element. The plate 30 comprises a metal layer in which holes 31 corresponding to the respective sensing surfaces 9 '(Fig. 1) are formed by photo-etching or in another corresponding manner. The common plate 30 is electrically connected to the power supply! the opening 25. At the center of each hole 31 is an inner, dot-shaped plate 32 corresponding to the inner plate 21 of FIG. 2. In the same way as shown in FIG. The dot-shaped plates 32 are conveniently formed simultaneously with the holes 31 during the same photo-etching process. It is emphasized that the diameter of the holes 31 is exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 3a shows a cross-section of a sensing element included in the device according to Fig. 3. The common contact plate 30 consists of a metal layer. The plate 30 is arranged on an electrically insulating layer 33. At the center of the hole 31 is the inner contact plate 32. The plate 32 is connected to its associated recording means 34 with a connection terminal 35 for connection.

8101707-1 to strc '.&gt; Supply wiring 26 (see Fig. 3). As the figure shows, the inner plate 32 is slightly lowered in relation to the plate 30. By the depression of the plate 32, the electrical contact between the plates 30 and 32 are provided only through the paper lines and not areas between these lines.

The information acquisition from the finger biome pattern can be effected by utilizing the heat transfer from the finger to a sensing device comprising thermosensitive elements. The papillary lines can then be distinguished by the heat transfer from a papillary line to a sensing body being greater than the heat transfer from a gap between two papillary lines to the sensing body. Referring to Fig. 3a, the inner contact plate 32 can then be replaced by a thermistor element having temperature dependent resistance. When galvanic contact is created between the plate 30 and the thermistor 32, a current is obtained in the thereby closed current loop between the wires 25 and 26 (see Fig. 2) which is dependent on the temperature of the thermistor. Thus, the magnitude of the current is determined by the position of the thermistor relative to a papillary line. As the recording means 34 comprises a rechargeable CCD element, its amount of charge after the information acquisition interval becomes indicative of the position of the papillary line relative to the thermistor 32. By expressing the measurement value of. For example, if the loading rate through a bit sequence comprising, for example, eight bits, a grayscale is obtained and thereby a greater amount of information that can be used in determining the stretch of the papillary line.

An alternative way to utilize the aforementioned differences in heat transfer is to design each sensing element as a thermoelectric converter. Such a transducer comprises two elements of different types of metal included in an electrical circuit. When the metal elements are given different temperatures, an electromotive force is generated between the elements and an electric current is obtained in the loop. This stream may control said recording means (23, 34). One metal element is arranged adjacent the surface of the sensing device and the other metal element is in contact with and below the former. The temperature rise of the surface connecting metal elements when the finger flower is pressed against the sensing device gives a temperature difference between the metal elements and thereby generates said current.

The sensing elements may also be of an optical type utilizing the fact that reflected light from an illuminated finger flower contains information about the papillary line pattern. This is due to the fact that the amount of reflected light from a certain sensing point varies with the position of the point within the pattern. Thus, the reflected amount of light from a sensing point incident on the center of a papillary line is greater than the reflected light amount from a sensing point incident on the edge region of a papillary line. Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of such an optical sensing element. It is pointed out that Fig. 4 shows the cut-off element on a greatly enlarged scale and has primarily been illustrated to illustrate the principle structure of this. Figure 4 shows a glass fiber 41 whose opening 49 opens at the sensing surface of the sensing device. A finger flower abuts against the sensing surface, which is schematically indicated by line 40. The fiber 41 is in optical contact with an additional radiation fiber 42 with two additional fibers 43 and 44. A light-emitting diode 45 is provided in connection with the input surface of the fiber 43. Through the LED 45, light, which is marked by arrows, is fed into the fiber 43 during the sensing interval. The output surface of the fiber 44 connects to a phototransistor 46 which is included in a control circuit for controlling a switch 47. The switch 47 is connected in series with the recording means 48, corresponding to the recording means 21 and 34 in Figures 2 and 3a, respectively, between the power supply lines 25 and 26. the sensing interval, light is input from the LED 45 into the fiber 43 and via the element 42 to the fiber 41. This light is reflected against the finger biomic pattern at the exit surface 49, which is shown to be genuinely the bidirectional arrows at the exit surface. The reflected light passes through the element to the fiber 44 and is directed via its output surface toward the phototransistor 46. The phototransistor 46 then becomes conductive, thereby activating the control circuit of switch 47 and closing the switch. Current may then pass from line 25 to line 26 through the recording means 48. The phototransistor 46 is biased such that the transistor becomes conductive only when the reflected amount of light exceeds a threshold. The threshold is chosen so that the phototransistor 46 is activated only when the fiber opening 49 falls on a papillary line.

The registration path T1 of the recording means 48 then becomes indicative of the position of the fiber opening 49 relative to a papillary line, whereby information about the propagation of the papillary line across the sensing surface can be extracted.

In a modified embodiment of the device of Figure 4, the LED 45 and the associated phototransistor 46 are arranged in more or less direct connection to the sensing surface. Improved Optical Stering of the reflected light is achieved by insertion of an intermediate optical element.

Alternatively, since the recording element 48 consists of an analog recording element, such as a CCD element, the phototransistor 46 may be arranged to be included in a CCD circuit charging circuit. By determining the conductivity of the phototransistor 46 by the reflected amount of light, the amount of charge in the CCD element is proportional to the mutual position of a papillary line and the fibra groove 49. Thus, even in this type of sensing element, the above-mentioned gray scale information can be obtained.

Optical sensing of finger biomass patterns is described in US patents

201 961, 4,083,035, 3,859,633 and 4,015,240.

8101707-1

When issuing a data carrier according to the invention, the finger flower pattern is picked up on one of the holder's thumb or possibly another finger. From the information recorded, a reference bit sequence unique to the holder is calculated, which is stored in memory 6 (Fig. 1). When the holder is later to identify himself against his data carrier, the finger bio information must again be recorded in the same way in order for a comparison with the reference bit sequence to be made. Performing this essentially involves two problems. First, it must be ensured that the alignment of the finger flower relative to the sensing surface becomes &lt;^!the same as when recording the reference bit sequence or the recorded information must be able to be modified with respect to the divergent orientation of the finger flower. Second, the information recorded in the detection device must be read and processed in accordance with a reproducible process. With regard to the orientation of the finger flower, it can be found that physical orientation of the finger flower on the sensing surface with the necessary precision is difficult to perform. The following describes how a reference point in the finger biome pattern is determined and, with the result thereof, information from the finger biome pattern can be extracted in a reproducible way.

Fig. 5 shows the so-called core zone of some different finger biome patterns. The pattern a constitutes a so-called simple loop pattern, the pattern b a so-called ellipse pattern and the pattern c a so-called composite pattern. The papillary line patterns are built around a midpoint, called the inner terminus. In pattern a, the inner terminus is located at 51. In the patterns b and c, the inner terminus is not as easily ascertainable, which also illustrates the problem of establishing a safe reference point in the core zone. In pattern a, point 51 is an obvious choice and in patterns b and c, points 52 and 53 are preferably selected. The following describes how these points are determined by linear scanning of the patterns, the scan line being directed across the substantially straight portions of the papillary lines closest to the reference point.

Fig. 6 shows a stylized finger loop pattern of the single loop type. A scan line 61 moves incrementally in the direction of the arrow over the finger biomass pattern. In the sensing device, this means that the input sensing elements are read so that information is extracted from the elements which fall on said scanning line. In this way, reading the elements of a matrix is ​​generally known in the art. For an illustrative purpose, the density of sensing elements corresponding to about two elements per line in the papillary line pattern of Fig. 6 is assumed and assuming that the recording means for each sensing element which falls on or adjacent to a papillary line contains a 1-level and the other elements an O-level. , within the scan window 62, the outputs shown in FIG. 7 are obtained along the scan lines 61 when scanning from the left.

8101707-1 ii (ill hi'ijL-r. IH i; i 'ili i;&gt;. Ii &lt;&gt;&gt; ι ·· .ι · »1ι &lt;&gt; - mi, bit sequences .iv 0 &lt;&gt; &lt;h 1 and Ian »1.1 I; · traded in signal!» Iidir'l i »- urianet 4 unler control from the microcomputer in block A. The Papi11 line of the arc gives a characteristic longer sequence of 0 when the scan line falls between two papillary lines, such as, for example, the scan line 1 or 3, which is illustrated by the corresponding signal 1 and 3 respectively in Figure 7. Correspondingly, a characteristic longer sequence of 1 is obtained when a scan line tangents to a papillary line arc, such as, for example, the scan line 2 in Fig. 6, which is illustrated by the corresponding signals 2 in Fig. 7.

The microwave program performs the following operation steps: seek out the long 0 interval in any of the signals 1-9; determine long O intervals with corresponding position in other signals: lk count, the determined O intervals give an average bit position equal to the average value of the whole number sdel;

select as the reference bit the bit in the mean value position in the signal with the highest order number containing long O-interval;

determine the sensing surface of the reference bit containing the sensing element as the reference point in the recorded finger biomix pattern.

If the bit positions in the signals in Fig. 7 are numbered 1-17 from left to right, then for the 0 intervals in signals 1,3,5 and 7 a bit position number is equal to mc-d 163. The number of bits within the intervals is equal to 16. The mean value bit position then becomes 163/16 - 3/16 whose whole number portion is 10. Thus, the encircled point 64 of Fig. 6 is determined as the reference point.

The signals in Fig. 7 are obtained in the order shown by scanning the papillary line pattern of Fig. 6 with stepwise movement of a horizontal scan line from top to bottom and with line sweep from left to right. This means, in the matrix of Fig. 1, a sequential reading of the recording means included in the sensing elements from left to right.

In the patterns of Figures 5b and 5c, the scanning must also be done from top to bottom so that the respective reference points 52 and 53 can be determined safely by the method described above. In still other designs, it may be appropriate to perform horizontal scanning from the bottom up and up or vertical scanning from left to right or vice versa. The scanning method should thus be adapted to the type of finger biomass pattern.

The choice of scanning mode can be made in connection with the acquisition of the reference bit sequence when the data carrier is released. In this case, a suitable reference point is selected in the finger flower pattern and then a suitable scanning mode for phase setting of lierrnmma. baniti &lt;ll &lt;it vHljp '. rllor hiltin's scan for scanning SM-need 8101707-1 detailed control information, which may be completely individual specific but preferably includes a pre-made control program for the current finger flower system.

The decision terms as above in determining the reference point may be designed differently and may be specially tailored to each individual.

Individual-specific information as described above regarding the scan of the detection unit and the decision conditions in the reference point determination are programmed into memory 6 when the data carrier is issued.

After determining the reference point, the finger biome information is read by polar reading of the registration state of the recording means. In this case, sensing elements which fall on one or more reading circles are read with the reference point as the center. The difference between the radii of the reading circles is then equal to the center distance between two adjacent sensing elements in the sensing matrix. Alternatively, one and the same reading circle can be used, but each time its center is moved to a new sensing element adjacent to that determined as a reference point, thereby taking into account any miscalculation of the position of the reference point.

Fig. 6 shows a scanning or reading circle 63. The reading of the sensing element falling on the circle begins at the right intersection point between the scanning line 7 and the circle and takes place clockwise. The scan provides a signal of the same type as the signals in Fig. 7, which may be represented as a sequence of 1 and 0. By scanning along the circle 63, the center of which is at the reproducibly determinable reference point, in principle, one and the same bit sequence is always obtained, with the difference that the first read bit's position in the bit sequence may vary due to aberrant polar alignment of the papillary line pattern relative to the sensing matrix. deviating orientation of the thumb on the sensing device 2 in successive acquisition cases.

The obtained bit sequence is directly useful as an identification bit sequence, but if necessary, for example, the bit number can be reduced according to a determined algorithm in the signal processing means 4.

K

According to the above, several read circles can be used to obtain a corresponding number of different bit sequences. The choice between the alternatives with different radii or different center points for the reading circles is made on the basis of repeated testing of different reading modes when developing the reference bit sequence. The readout method that provides the best verification result is selected and the associated individual-specific control information is programmed into memory 6.

8101707-1

In the case of several read bit sequences, these can either be used individually to form a corresponding number of identification bit sequences, which are then compared individually with the reference bit sequence, or the bit sequences can be aggregated by a predetermined algorithm, the result being used as the identification bit sequence. In this case, too, an individual-specific choice can be made when developing the reference bit sequence. The associated control information is then programmed into memory 6.

According to the above, the sensing elements of the device 2 may comprise analog recording means 23 (see Fig. 2), whose analogue measurement values ​​can be expressed by bit sequences comprising, for example, 8 bits. It will be appreciated that the information processing in the signal processing means 4 becomes more extensive when using such recording means. The larger amount of information enables simultaneous development of a better substantiated identification bit sequence.

Returning to the case illustrated in Fig. 6 with a read circle 63, the above-identified identification bit sequence contains, in principle, the same bit information as the reference bit sequence but optionally offset one or more bit positions. The identification and reference bit sequences are compared in comparator 5. In the event of failure or failure of coincidence, for example lower than 90% of the bits, the identification bit sequence is shifted to a bit position in a circular register and then a new comparison is made. This is repeated until the necessary coincidence is obtained, whereby the acceptance signal acc is generated. The signal acc activates the indicator 7, which verifies the holder's right to use the data carrier.

As shown above, the memory 6 may be programmed with individual-specific control information regarding the following:

horizontal or vertical scan guidelines;

swiping direction along the scan lines; moving direction for scanning the lines; decision conditions in determining the reference point; one or more reading circles;

varying radius or center point at multiple reading circles; calculation of iderrtification bit sequence.

Through such individual-specific choices, the information processing on the data carrier is simplified with the possibility of retained authentication security. The more individual-specific choices, the easier the signal processing on the data carrier. This, in turn, requires correspondingly greater data processing capacity when developing the reference bit sequence. However, this poses no problem.

ί

8101707-1

For the purpose of clarification, the above description has been directed to a data carrier with an indicator means arranged on the carrier, which directly indicates the outcome of the verification process. Such a data carrier provides complete protection against unauthorized use of duly issued genuine data carriers as they can only be activated by the rightful holder. Thus, unauthorized use of lost and stolen cards is prevented. However, it is emphasized that this embodiment does not provide any protection against counterfeit data carriers provided with the corresponding indicating means, since the indicating means can be activated by a switch of any kind without performing any verification procedure as above.

The latter is primarily a problem since the data carrier is intended for manual handling. An improved protection in this case is achieved by supplementing the verification device according to the invention with a difficult forged version of the data carrier or card itself, which can be achieved by providing the card with a photograph of the holder or a graphic pattern of the type used on banknotes.

In the case of data carriers for handling in a terminal equipment, the authenticity of the data carrier and, preferably, also the terminal is checked by allowing the acceptance signal instead to activate a signal path for the exchange of identification information between the data carrier and the terminal. The aforementioned electronic interlocking list may be provided in the form of a simple terminal equipment comprising a read-in device. After generating the acceptance signal and switching said coupling means, the data carrier is inserted into the read-out device. Information stored on the data carrier on the holder's account number, which is preferably protected informationally or physically through the structure of the storage means_s is transferred to the terminal and compared after any signal conversion with blocked account numbers. In the event of non-coincidence, an indicator lamp is sent, which then indicates that the holder is justified and that the data carrier is genuine and that the account in question is not blocked.

Above are some US patents from which it is known to use fingerprints as identification means. Equipment for receiving and processing fingerprint information is described in these patents. These equipment are intended for placement at the points of use, e.g. in a bank room. It should be noted that such equipment, if any, has not been used to the extent that the attainable identification security justifies. An important reason for this is that from user holes1, banks etc., one does not want to introduce an identification method that is so criminally burdened, ie the fact that fingerprints have long been used for the identification of criminals and that very extensive data registers with fingerprints are available. An impeccable holder of a · data carrier is expected to experience one

8101707-1 pijkisk späi r or r »&gt; dispute against. such an identification method. This in ι, 'liridtion imd &lt;ie hygit uisU otli practical concerns that it may mean everything in' nja Pers&gt; nor uses one and the same equipment has then been assessed to be able to adversely affect customer relations.

The data carrier according to the invention may be considered to eliminate the aforementioned concerns by the identification being done internally on a personal data carrier and not in a central equipment, which could be suspected to be connected to a fingerprint register of criminals, and by recording the fingerprint information in connection with the thumb grip. a holder normally uses when handling the data carrier. In this connection, it is pointed out that the position of the matrix 9 in Fig. 1 is only exemplary and can of course be adapted to said thumb grip.

8101707-1