Abstract: Apparatus for verifying an identification card; the card having an imaged of an object or other entity to be identified on a first portion, and a coded representation of an encrypted signal comprising a representation of the image on a second portion. The apparatus includes a controller, a scanner for reading the coded representation, a decoder for decoding that representation, a decrypter for decrypting the decoded signal and a display for displaying the representation of the information. In one embodiment the information includes an image of the object or other entity to be recognized and the card may be verified by comparing the displayed representation with the image printed on the card while the card is held in a card holding station adjacent to the display so that the image is visible to an operator. The apparatus also includes a replaceable memory, printer, or communications link for recording at least a portion of this text message.

Abstract: A biometric is a substantially stable physical or behavioral characteristics of a person which can be automatically measured and characterized for comparison. In accordance with the subject invention an identification card includes an encrypted representation of the biometric characteristic, which may be a finger print or a description of the manner in which the person signs his or her name, including the order and velocity in which strokes comprising a signature are written. The identification card is validated, and the person identified by an apparatus including a scanner which simultaneously scans two fields. The card is position in the first field and the biometric (e.g. a thumbprint) is simultaneously positioned in the second field and both are scanned at once, to produce a composite signal including both the code of representation and the scanned biometric. A microprocessor separates the composite signal, decodes the coded representation, and compares it to the stand biometric to validate the card.

Abstract: A frequency-swept electromagnetic field is generated in an interrogation zone and signals received from the interrogation zone are processed to detect the presence of a marker with a resonant tank circuit in the zone. Detection is achieved by the use of averaging techniques of a plurality of sweeps wherein peaks above a defined level are stored in a persistence table. A symmetry test is made on the peaks and if the peaks are persistence and symmetrical the presence of a marker is indicated since background noise will not exhibit persistence and symmetry.