Abstract: A fingerprint biometric lock is provided which includes a locking mechanism that restricts the movement of an object that is to be unlocked, a movement restriction electronic circuit that restricts the unlocking of the object by the locking mechanism, a fingerprint sensor that detects a fingerprint pattern, a memory device that stores an enrolled fingerprint code data, a verifying unit that determines whether an offered fingerprint code, created from the fingerprint pattern sensed by the sensor, matches with any of the enrolled fingerprint codes stored in the memory device, a motor control unit that unlocks the locking mechanism through the movement restricting electronic circuit, when the offered and enrolled fingerprint codes match, and, a finger presence detector for powering a direct current to the sensor and the motor control unit.

Abstract: A high security portable storage unit having a digital biometric device as its sole means of gaining access is provided which includes a box having two sides, a front, a back, a top and a bottom walls, at least one of the walls having a hinged access panel to an interior of the box; a fingerprint reading device; an electronic locking mechanism connected to an inner surface of one of the walls including at least one rod slidably connected to the hinged panel, an electronically controlled mechanism for positioning the rod in a retracted or extended position relative to the hinged panel, whereby access to the interior of the box is denied when the rod is in the extended position and access is allowed when in the rod is in the retracted position; and a digital processing board for converting a fingerprint image to a digital image data, extracting minutia data from the image data, comparing the minutia data to that of an authorized user, verifying the compared data, and actuating the electronic locking mechanism.