Identity card, information carrier and housing designed for its application

Abstract

An identity card comprises an easy-to-use, more specifically card-shaped, information carrier provided with an electronically readable memory capable of digitally storing personal user data, including data concerning the user's physical features. The information carrier is installed in and can be removed from an input unit of a housing of comfortable dimensions. The housing has been provided with reading equipment which is capable of reading the personal data stored in the memory of the information carrier. Moreover, the housing has been provided with a screen for representing the data read.

Description

[0001] Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,506. The reissue applications are application Ser. No. 10 / 841,424 (the present application) and Ser. No. 13 / 220,521, which is a continuation reissue application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention concerns an identity card comprising an easy-to-use, more specifically a card-shaped, information carrier provided with an electronically readable memory which is capable of digitally storing personal user data including the user's physical characteristics.

[0003] At present, an identity card is usually a document issued by the government, such as a passport or a driving licence, or a proof of identity which is applied within a specific business environment or for a particular professional group. In all these cases, the identity card comprises a representation in the form of a passport photograph of a user in combination with the printed personal data of the user,

[0004] How...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0022]The drawing as a matter of fact is purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Particularly, for clarity's sake, some dimensions have been represented in a strongly exaggerated manner. Corresponding parts have been indicated in the figure with the same reference number as much as possible.

[0023]The identity card of FIG. 1 comprises a card-shaped, synthetic housing 100 with an input unit 101 for entering an information carrier 107 which, in this case, is also card-shaped just as the housing. The interior of the input unit 101 of the housing has been equipped with electric contacts which are able to cooperate with similarly applied contact surfaces 109 of an integral circuit 108 which has been connected to or installed in the information carrier 107. In addition, the housing comprises an electric feeding which, among others, takes care of the necessary electricity supply to the card by means of some of the above-mentioned contacts. Moreover, the housing 100 contains an installation...

[0001] Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,506. The reissue applications are application Ser. No. 10 / 841,424 (the present application) and Ser. No. 13 / 220,521, which is a continuation reissue application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention concerns an identity card comprising an easy-to-use, more specifically a card-shaped, information carrier provided with an electronically readable memory which is capable of digitally storing personal user data including the user's physical characteristics.

[0003] At present, an identity card is usually a document issued by the government, such as a passport or a driving licence, or a proof of identity which is applied within a specific business environment or for a particular professional group. In all these cases, the identity card comprises a representation in the form of a passport photograph of a user in combination with the printed personal data of the user,

[0004] How...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0022]The drawing as a matter of fact is purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Particularly, for clarity's sake, some dimensions have been represented in a strongly exaggerated manner. Corresponding parts have been indicated in the figure with the same reference number as much as possible.

[0023]The identity card of FIG. 1 comprises a card-shaped, synthetic housing 100 with an input unit 101 for entering an information carrier 107 which, in this case, is also card-shaped just as the housing. The interior of the input unit 101 of the housing has been equipped with electric contacts which are able to cooperate with similarly applied contact surfaces 109 of an integral circuit 108 which has been connected to or installed in the information carrier 107. In addition, the housing comprises an electric feeding which, among others, takes care of the necessary electricity supply to the card by means of some of the above-mentioned contacts. Moreover, the housing 100 contains an installation...

Images