Seiko Epson has developed a paper-thin fingerprint sensor measuring 0.2 millimeter in thickness, which may help bring an extra level of security to a range of items in the future. When touched, the sensor reads fingerprint patterns based on the faint electric current emanating from the user's fingertip.
The fingerprint sensor's ultrathin profile means it can easily be incorporated into a variety of commonly used items. Among the applications that Seiko Epson is targeting are self-authenticating credit cards, in which a tiny on-card processor is used to compare the captured fingerprint data with the user's fingerprint data stored in an embedded memory. A non-matching fingerprint would render the card unusable, preventing abuse in the case of loss or theft.
The company aims to commercialize the sensor by 2010.
[Source: Nikkei Net]
Martijn
Nice, now people will cut off your fingers to get acces to your creditcard. And wallet isn't that simple too, if you lost it, nobody is able to open it and see who to return it to! Other than those applications, it's a great tool at a great size! Hi-tec diaries are optional..
[]colonel c
Watch your fingers! I thought the same thing about thieves stealing fingertips along with credit cards. But the card uses the "faint electric current emanating from the fingertip" to get a reading, meaning a dead finger wouldn't do the trick (unless it was a fresh one, maybe?). I think I'd be more worried about someone stealing my fingerprint data stored in the card... It will be cool, though, to have objects that know when and by whom they are being touched...
[]Martijn
Yeah but in emergencies your wallet must be accesable by others.. for example in an accident or when it's lost.
I'd rather have someone taking my credit card and trying some codes at home then someone taking my cradit card AND me, forsing me to put my finger on it.
And what happends when you burned/cut-off your fingertop or whatever.. accidents like that happen very often too!
[]J. R. Hannum
The article said it uses the electrical current eminating from your finger tips. If the fingers or hand or arm are cut off the bio-electric current that this thing reads stops as well. The finger must be alive, i.e. attached for it to work.
[]Martijn
@J. R. Hannum
Read 2th and 3th comment.
[]akram
I want to do a project and I need a fingerprint Ic that get some information and send it to an avr and avr control s.th for exampl open a door if you have this Ic pleas giude me.
[]apex
how much???
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