Low-cost planar PTF sensors for the identity verification of smartcard holders

The properties of mechanical flexibility, low-cost and planar geometry make polymer thick film (PTF) sensors attractive for embedded smartcard biometrics. In this paper, PTF piezoelectric and piezoresistive pressure sensors are investigated for their potential to capture spatial human characteristics. However, it was found that the extent to which a smartcard flexes, and the planar sensitivity of both sensor types render this concept infeasible. Nevertheless, PTF sensors have a demonstrable potential to capture other aspects of human-smartcard interaction, and a novel approach to identity verification is discussed.