Abstract: A method and an apparatus are proposed for performing a comparison of patterns of invariable form, especially fingerprint pattern. By the application of a finger on a prism within a beam of light, a latent picture of fingerprint lines is obtained which is optically compared with a copy of the same fingerprint stored in memory or located on a card. After conversion into an electrical variable, an identification pulse results which is subjected to at least one test criterion and compared with a threshold value. Preferably the testing of a master symbol located on the inserted card is effected at the same time, comparing this with a copy of the same stored in memory within the appliance. If the test criteria show an agreement of the fingerprint with the fingerprint copy and/or of the master symbol with the copy of the master symbol then a positive assessment is effected, and access to a building, for instance, is furnished.

Abstract: An opto-electronic apparatus for reading out preferably coded information contained on a data carrier with high reliability and free of disturbances even when the insertion speed of the information carrier into an associated opening of the reading apparatus depends only on the arbitrary actuation by the operating person, including retrograde motions or stoppage of the information carrier. The apparatus is especially adapted to the read-out of information coded in a card as a pattern of alternating transparent and opaque areas which are subjected to infrared radiation whose passage or non-passage is detected by suitable detectors. The process of reading out the information contained in the data carrier is timed or clocked by a clock cycle generated from a clock trackcontained in the data carrier itself.