JP2004025467A - Printed matter having printed fine mark and character group, arrangement method and apparatus of fine marks and characters, and discrimination method and apparatus of genuineness of printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide printed matter having a fine mark and character group excellent in the prevention of duplication and forgery printed thereon, a method for arranging fine marks and characters on the printed matter, an apparatus therefor, a method for discriminating genuineness of the printed matter having the fine mark and character group printed thereon and an apparatus therefor. <P>SOLUTION: Character information of "Japan" acquired by the langauge recognition due to the naked eye and a figure information 23 recognized on the basis of image information 22, which is obtained by removing characters having one mathematical structure contained in a fine mark and character group 21 and leaving characters having another mathematical structure, are superposed on the fine mark and character group 21 printed on the printed matter. Since not only the character information but also the figure information due to the difference of the mathematical structure are contained in the fine mark and character group, forgery and alteration become diffult. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printed matter on which a group of minute symbol characters are printed, a method and an apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on a printed matter, a method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a minute symbol character group is printed, and an apparatus therefor. , Stock certificates, bonds, passports, various certificates, and other important documents (hereinafter referred to as "printed materials").
[0002]
[Prior art]
In printed matter such as banknotes, stock certificates, bonds and other securities, various certificates, and important documents, countermeasures for counterfeiting and alteration are extremely important elements. Therefore, the printed surface of the printed matter forms a pattern with extremely fine images.
[0003]
As a countermeasure for preventing forgery or falsification of printed matter, a method that has been used for a long time is to apply a set pattern of minute characters having a character angle of, for example, 1 mm or less to the printed matter.
[0004]
Such countermeasures against forgery and alteration in minute characters make it difficult to produce the same pattern in a forgery by making the pattern finer and more complicated, and furthermore, it is extracted by a photoengraving apparatus or reproduced in a copying machine. By using difficult colors, the effect as a countermeasure against forgery is enhanced.
[0005]
Further, by arranging a small character group composed of a plurality of small characters on the printing surface, it is possible to form a tint block pattern effective for preventing forgery and falsification, and at the same time, it is possible to provide text information necessary for a product.
[0006]
Further, in the market distribution process, ordinary people can easily identify whether the text and shape of the small character group are genuine by observation using a magnifying glass or the like. For this reason, the minute character group is widely used in the field of printed matter, and is also an important pattern as a design that gives a sense of luxury. Therefore, in printed matter such as securities such as banknotes, stock certificates, and bonds, various certificates, and important documents, the minute character group is indispensable in design.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, forgery or falsification of printed matter has conventionally been performed using a copy machine or the like. However, in recent years, with the rapid progress and widespread use of computer image processing technology, forgery and falsification using image processing technology have been performed in the field of printed matter, and the methods are becoming more sophisticated and diversified. is there.
[0008]
As a result, not only imitation and duplication by a copying machine or the like, but also the creation and imitation of the plate itself by visual observation or the like have been performed. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a printed material that is excellent in preventing duplication or forgery of a plate created and imitated.
[0009]
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is excellent in preventing duplication or forgery of creating and imitating the plate itself, printed matter printed with a group of minute symbol characters, a method and apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters in a printed matter, It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a group of minute symbol characters is printed, and an apparatus therefor.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printed matter of the present invention is a printed matter on which a group of small symbol characters including a plurality of small symbol characters is printed, wherein the small symbol characters include a small symbol character having a first mathematical structure and a second mathematical symbol. And a small symbol character having a strategic structure.
[0011]
The minute symbol character group has character information of the minute symbol character itself, and minute symbol characters having the first mathematical structure or the second mathematical structure included in the minute symbol character group. It is desirable to have graphic information obtained by extracting minute symbol characters.
[0012]
The character information is visible information at a stage before extracting the minute symbol character having the first mathematical structure or the minute symbol character having the second mathematical structure, and the graphic information is the first symbol information. The micro-symbol character having the mathematical structure of or the micro-symbol character having the second mathematical structure may be invisible information at a stage before extraction.
[0013]
It is desirable that the small symbol character having the first mathematical structure and the small symbol character having the second mathematical structure have the same typeface.
[0014]
The minute symbol character may have a character angle of 0.4 mm or more and 1 mm or less.
[0015]
The method of arranging micro-symbol characters in a printed matter according to the present invention includes the steps of: inputting at least one micro-symbol character; and analyzing the mathematical structure of the input micro-symbol character. Wherein the image processing unit deforms the small symbol character to generate a small symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures, the input unit inputs a figure, and the image processing unit comprises: In the area occupied by the input figure, the small symbol character having one mathematical structure is arranged in the background image area, and the small symbol character having the other mathematical structure is arranged in the graphic image area. And a step.
[0016]
Alternatively, in the method of arranging micro-symbol characters in a printed matter according to the present invention, the storage unit stores micro-symbol characters having at least two types of mathematical structures, and the input unit inputs at least one micro-symbol character. And a computing unit determines whether or not the input minute symbol character is stored in the storage unit, and if the input, reads the minute symbol character from the storage unit. When the obtained minute symbol character is not stored in the storage unit, the analyzing unit analyzes the mathematical structure of the input minute symbol character, and the image processing unit analyzes the mathematical structure. Deforming the small symbol character to generate a small symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures; inputting a graphic by the input unit; Is a small symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures read from the storage unit or generated by the image processing unit, in a region of a background image in an area occupied by the input figure. Arranging the minute symbol character having one mathematical structure and arranging the minute symbol character having the other mathematical structure in the area of the graphic image.
[0017]
Here, it is desirable that the step of transforming the small symbol character is performed within a range that does not affect the font of the small symbol character.
[0018]
An apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on a printed matter according to the present invention includes an input unit for inputting at least one minute symbol character and a figure; an analyzing unit for analyzing a mathematical structure of the inputted minute symbol character; The symbol characters are transformed to generate minute symbol characters having at least two types of mathematical structures, and among the regions occupied by the input figures, the minute symbol characters having one mathematical structure are located in the background image region. An image processing unit for arranging the minute symbol character having the other mathematical structure in the area of the graphic image.
[0019]
Alternatively, the apparatus for arranging micro-symbols in a printed matter according to the present invention inputs a storage unit for receiving and storing micro-symbols having at least two types of mathematical structures, and inputs at least one micro-symbol and graphic. An input unit, an arithmetic unit that determines whether the input minute symbol character is stored in the storage unit, and reads the minute symbol character from the storage unit when the input is stored; An analyzing unit for analyzing a mathematical structure of the input minute symbol character when the minute symbol character is not stored in the storage unit; A small symbol character having a mathematical structure of various types is generated, and a small amount of a character read or generated from the storage unit is stored in a background image region in a region occupied by the input figure. An image in which, among the micro-symbol characters having two types of mathematical structures, the micro-symbol characters having one mathematical structure are arranged, and the micro-symbol characters having the other mathematical structure are arranged in a graphic image area. And a processing unit.
[0020]
According to the method of the present invention for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a small symbol character group including a plurality of small symbol characters is printed, a reading unit scans the printed material to obtain image information of the small symbol character group. Analyzing the mathematical structure of each of the small symbol characters included in the image information by the analysis unit; and performing at least one of the at least two types of mathematical structures included in the authentic print by the image processing unit. Deleting the micro-symbol character having the mathematical structure of, and leaving the micro-symbol character having the other mathematical structure; and the image processing unit represents the micro-symbol character having the other mathematical structure. Extracting the extracted graphic information, and comparing the extracted graphic information with the graphic information included in the genuine printed matter by the determining unit to determine whether the printed matter is genuine. Characterized in that it comprises a step of.
[0021]
Here, the step of extracting the graphic information by the image processing unit includes a step of performing a closing process on the minute symbol character having the other mathematical structure, and a step of extracting the graphic information existing after the closing process. It is desirable to include
[0022]
An apparatus for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a small symbol character group including a plurality of small symbol characters of the present invention is printed, wherein the reading unit scans the printed material and acquires image information of the small symbol character group, An analysis unit that analyzes the mathematical structure of each of the micro-symbol characters using image information; and at least two types of mathematical structures included in the genuine print, the micro-symbol characters having one mathematical structure. Deleting, leaving the micro-symbol character having the other mathematical structure, an image processing unit for extracting graphic information represented by the micro-symbol character having the other mathematical structure, and the extracted graphic information, A determining unit that compares the printed matter with authentic graphic information and determines whether the printed matter is authentic.
[0023]
The image processing unit may perform a closing process on the minute symbol character having the other mathematical structure, and extract graphic information existing after the closing process.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, the minute symbol characters used in the present invention will be described.
(1) Small symbol character group evaluation method
[0025]
Generally, people recognize two types of character strings. One is language recognition, which is to take a character string (text) as a phrase. The other is graphic recognition, which captures characters as images, such as character color and shape. A person evaluates a character string synergistically based on these two types of recognition, and determines the nature of the character string. Recognition of a group of small symbol characters including a plurality of small symbol characters is no exception, and the above-described language recognition and graphic recognition operate simultaneously.
[0026]
However, since the minute symbol character group is a set pattern of minute symbols and / or characters (hereinafter, referred to as symbols / characters) having a character angle of, for example, 1 mm or less, the minute symbol character group can be easily viewed with the naked eye. It cannot be discriminated, and it will be recognized by adding a further evaluation method unconsciously.
[0027]
The further evaluation method is "evaluation method (appraisal) in which the information discrimination ability of" people "intervenes." There is a micro-evaluation to see and evaluate.
[0028]
(1-1) Macro evaluation of small symbol characters
[0029]
When evaluating a group of small symbol characters macroscopically by looking at the entire print surface, language recognition involves reading words and phrases of a character string. On the other hand, in the graphic recognition, the arrangement, shading, color, and the like of the small symbol character group are evaluated.
[0030]
Therefore, in the macro evaluation, there is an advantage that the quality of a printed matter such as a sentence error, density unevenness, blur, and stain can be easily evaluated. However, on the other hand, since there is a limit to the resolution that can be seen with the naked eye, it is not possible to identify the shape of each symbol / character in the small symbol character group.
[0031]
(1-2) Micro-evaluation of small symbol character group
[0032]
In the case of microscopic evaluation of a group of minute symbol characters by enlarging the printed surface, language recognition involves reading words or phrases of a character string or one character. On the other hand, in graphic recognition, the typeface, shape, etc. of a character are evaluated.
[0033]
Therefore, in the micro evaluation, it is possible to evaluate the detailed state of the character such as roundness, serif, blur, and rattling of the character. On the other hand, the small symbol character group cannot be recognized as a character string, and the entire arrangement and balance cannot be identified.
(2) Deformation of symbols / characters related to each evaluation method
[0034]
In the macro evaluation of the small symbol character group, it is not possible to determine even the shape of each symbol / character in the small symbol character group. In other words, even if a symbol / character that has been intentionally deformed is partially added to a group of minute symbol characters, it is intentionally deformed unless a text error, density unevenness, blurring, or dirt is confirmed in the macro evaluation. You will hardly notice the presence of symbols / characters.
[0035]
Using this principle, the use of information consisting of language recognition, such as words and sentences of character strings in a small symbol character group, and intentionally deformed symbols / characters that can be identified only by microscopic evaluation Thus, new information can be added.
(3) Modifications of symbols / characters
[0036]
For example, as a content related to macro evaluation in the small symbol character group, the wording in the small symbol character group used in printed matter of securities such as banknotes and stock certificates is fixed information. Here, the fixed information is a word or a sentence of a fixed character string. Therefore, information different from the fixed information can be given to some characters of the minute symbol character group by applying some deformation that can be identified only by micro evaluation.
[0037]
As a specific modification, different information can be hidden in fixed information by providing serifs (projections of characters) for some of the characters in the small symbol character group. In other words, by providing serifs to characters, information that cannot be identified by macro evaluation but can be identified by micro evaluation is given.
(4) Third evaluation method
[0038]
As described above, the macro evaluation and the micro evaluation are “an evaluation method in which the information discrimination ability of“ person ”is interposed”. Therefore, according to these evaluation methods, information given by deformation of some characters in the minute symbol character group is based on a binary criterion such as “YES” or “NO”, or “ON” or “OFF”. This is the identification of information based on the information.
[0039]
On the other hand, in the present invention, in order to add new information to the small symbol character group, a third evaluation method is introduced to identify the small symbol character group.
[0040]
Here, the third evaluation method refers to a method in which a group classified based on a characteristic (hereinafter referred to as a mathematical structure (topology)) of a small symbol character group as a graphic using a binary determination criterion, except for visual observation. The information provided is identified by extracting the information by means (such as machine reading).
(5) Classification based on mathematical structure of symbols / characters
[0041]
In the micro evaluation described above, one character in a group of small symbol characters is compared with a character stored in a human memory, and evaluation is performed by finding a difference between the characters. For example, in the same two characters in the group of small symbol characters, if one character is provided with a serif and the other character is not, the difference between the character with the serif and the character without the character in the micro evaluation is Can be easily identified.
[0042]
However, the evaluation based on the mathematical structure can treat these two characters as being the same. This is because, although there are differences in the words, they may be the same in the nature of certain mathematical structures.
[0043]
For example, in alphabetic characters, "A, B, D, O, P, Q, R" belong to the same group even if the characters are different, and "C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z "belong to the same group. Further, the kanji characters "one" and "ten" belong to the same group, and "eye" and "day" belong to different groups.
[0044]
This is due to the fact that attention is paid to the presence or absence and the number of holes (open portions surrounded by lines) in the figure, and such a mathematical structure is used as an identification material. In the case of the former alphabet, it is identified whether there is a hole in the figure (a closed figure) or not (an open figure). In the case of the latter kanji, it is identified by the number of holes. Since such an identification method does not use a general concept of character recognition, it enables a small symbol character group to be identified by a third evaluation method.
(6) Specific example 1 in which characters are classified by mathematical structure
[0045]
In an example in which alphabetic characters are classified based on a mathematical structure, “A, B, D, O, P, Q, R” is a first group, and “C, E, F, G, H, I, J” , K, L, M, N, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z "as the second group.
[0046]
The characters of the first group have one or more holes in the graphic and can be regarded as a closed graphic. The characters in the second group have no holes in the figure and are considered as open figures.
[0047]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a small symbol character group in which characters belonging to the first group and characters belonging to the second group are arranged. This small symbol character group is a gray scale image obtained by optically scanning and capturing a small symbol character group having a character angle of 800 μm, and has a scanning resolution of 1200 dpi.
[0048]
Although they are seemingly meaningless small symbol characters, they are arranged based on the classification based on the mathematical structure, and are arranged to clearly have a predetermined meaning. Each character included in this small symbol character group is used as a cell in machine reading.
[0049]
First, as shown in FIG. 3, a binary image is formed by a method such as a discriminant analysis method. In the obtained image, when characters belonging to the first group having one or more holes are deleted as shown in FIG. 4, only characters belonging to the second group having no holes remain. The remaining characters are arranged in the form of a barcode because they have been assigned in advance by grouping. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, by performing a closing process for 10 pixels, hidden information in the form of a bar code appears. Here, the closing process is a process of filling adjacent symbols / characters so as to connect them.
(7) Variation of classification based on mathematical structure of characters
[0050]
In the above-described classification example, the characters are classified based only on the mathematical structure, so that the arranged character group does not make sense of the linguistic information. Therefore, a classification method that also makes sense as linguistic information will be described below.
[0051]
Even the same character can be classified so as to belong to a different group by intentionally using a mathematical structure depending on the manner of deformation. For example, in a character belonging to the first group of the closed figure, a part of the closed part can be made to belong to the second group of the open figure by opening a part of the closed part.
[0052]
For example, taking the kanji “Japan” having the basic typeface shown in FIG. 6 as an example, the characters “day” and “hon” shown in FIG. 6 belong to the same group even if they are different kanji. Things.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 7, when the connecting portion (open (11)) of the central horizontal line in the “day” is opened, the first figure (closed figure) having one hole 1 (11) is opened. Will belong to the group. Also, part of the central vertical line (open (12)) in the “book” is opened, and the lower horizontal line is connected to the left and right diagonal lines (closed (12), closed (13)). As a result, it belongs to the first group of figures (closed figures) having one hole 1 (12).
[0054]
However, as shown in FIG. 8, when the connection (open (21)) of the central horizontal line in the "day" is opened and the connection (open (22)) of the lower horizontal line is opened. , Belong to the second group of graphics (open graphics) having no holes. For the “book”, the same figure as the basic typeface shown in the figure is used, so that the space between the lower horizontal line and the left and right diagonal lines (open (23), closed (24)) is opened, It belongs to the second group of graphics (open graphics) that do not have any. In this way, by applying a modification of opening or connecting a part of the characters, it is possible to classify even the characters that are linguistically the same into different groups by changing the mathematical structure.
[0055]
Furthermore, depending on the manner of deformation applied to the same character, the characters can be classified into three groups depending on whether the number of holes is 0, 1, or 2. Even if the typefaces are different, they can be classified into the same group by deforming them so that the mathematical structure is the same.
[0056]
For example, even for the same character "Japan", the number of holes is 0 as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b) and a group of complete open figures, and FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b) It can be classified into a group of closed figures having one hole as shown, or a group of closed figures having two holes as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b).
[0057]
In the characters shown in FIG. 9A, the connecting portion (open (21)) of the central horizontal line in the "day" is opened, and the connecting portion of the lower horizontal line (open (22)) is also opened. And there are no holes. Further, by opening the connecting portion (open (23), open (24)) between the lower horizontal line and the left and right diagonal lines in the "book", a completely open figure having no holes is obtained.
[0058]
In the characters shown in FIG. 9 (b), the upper horizontal line connection (open (31)) in the "day" is opened, and the lower horizontal line connection (open (32)) is open. And there are no holes. The lower horizontal line and the left and right diagonal lines in the “book” are connected at connecting portions (closed (31), closed (32)). However, since the connecting portions (open (33) and open (34)) between the upper horizontal line and the left and right oblique lines are open, the figure becomes a fully open figure having no holes.
[0059]
Thus, the characters shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B belong to the same group because they have different fonts but the same mathematical structure.
[0060]
In the characters shown in FIG. 10A, the connecting portion (open (41)) of the central horizontal line in the “day” is open, and the connecting portion of the lower horizontal line (closed (41)) is open. By being closed, one hole 1 (41) exists. The central part (open (42)) of the central vertical line in the “book” is open, and the connecting part (closed (42), closed (43)) between the lower horizontal line and the left and right diagonal lines is closed As a result, there is one hole.
[0061]
In the characters shown in FIG. 10B, the left and right connecting portions (open (51) and open (52)) of the central horizontal line in the "day" are opened, and the connecting portion of the lower horizontal line ( Close (51) is closed and there is one hole. The lower horizontal line and the left diagonal line in the “book” are opened at the connection part (open (53)), and the lower horizontal line and the right diagonal line are closed at the connection part (closed (52)). There is one hole. As a result, the characters shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B respectively have different mathematical types but the same mathematical structure, and belong to the same group.
[0062]
In the characters shown in FIG. 11, the left and right connecting portions (closed (61) and closed (62)) of the central horizontal line in the "day" are connected, and the connecting portion (closed (63) of the lower horizontal line is connected. )) Is also closed, and there are two holes 1 (61) and 2 (62). The central vertical line, upper horizontal line, and left and right diagonal lines in the “book” are connected at a connecting portion (closed (64)), and the lower horizontal line and the left diagonal line are connected at the connecting portion (closed (closed (64)). 65)), and the lower horizontal line and the right diagonal line are closed at the connecting portion (closed (66)), so that two holes 1 (63) and 2 (64) exist.
(8) Specific example 2 in which characters are classified by mathematical structure
[0063]
FIG. 12 shows an example in which the characters belonging to the first group and the characters belonging to the second group are arranged by modifying the kanji character "Japan" by the above-described method. Here, the image shown in FIG. 12 is a grayscale image obtained by optically scanning a group of minute symbol characters having a character angle of 800 μm, and has a scanning resolution of 1200 dpi.
[0064]
At first glance, it is a group of micro-symbol characters with a linguistic meaning that represents the country name "Japan", but potentially contains information completely different from the linguistic meaning in the classification based on the mathematical structure. Have an arrangement. Here, each minute symbol character is used as a cell when machine reading is performed.
[0065]
First, as shown in FIG. 13, a binary image is formed using, for example, a discriminant analysis method. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14, when the first group including the graphic having one or more holes is deleted, only the second group remains. The grouping is performed in advance so that a barcode-shaped figure can be obtained by extracting only the second group. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, when closing is performed with, for example, 10 pixels, hidden information composed of a bar-code-shaped figure that has been applied is extracted.
(9) Example 3 of classification based on mathematical structure of characters
[0066]
FIG. 16 further shows an example in which the kanji of "Japan" is transformed by the above-described method and classified into a first group and a second group. The image shown in FIG. 16 is a grayscale image obtained by optically scanning a group of minute symbol characters having a character angle of 800 μm, similarly to the image shown in FIG. 14, and the scanning resolution is 1200 dpi. is there.
[0067]
In this case, too, at first glance, it is a group of micro-symbol characters with a linguistic meaning representing the country name of "Japan". However, when the mathematical structure is classified, other information completely different from the linguistic meaning may be hidden. The arrangement is included.
[0068]
As shown in FIG. 17, for example, a binary image is formed using a method such as a discriminant analysis method, and as shown in FIG. Only remain. When only the second group is taken out, a two-dimensional code-like shape that has been applied in advance is drawn. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, by performing closing of 10 pixels, the two-dimensional code can be extracted.
[0069]
The two-dimensional code is a known data code called a QR (Quick Response) code model 1. Therefore, various data such as numbers, alphabets, symbols, kanji, kana, and control codes can be stored. Here, in the two-dimensional code shown in FIG. 19, information indicating an organization name of “Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance” is stored. Although the QR code is used in the above example, the present invention is not limited to this, and any data code can be used. Therefore, various information can be stored in the small symbol character group.
[0070]
An embodiment of the present invention for classifying small symbol characters based on a mathematical structure as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0071]
In the following embodiments, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a gift certificate as an example of a printed matter, but the present invention can be widely applied to other printed matters.
(10) Printed matter according to the present embodiment
[0072]
FIG. 20 shows an example of a configuration when the present invention is applied to a gift certificate as a printed matter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This gift certificate has basic characters 1 and 5 that visually display necessary information on securities on its surface, design characters 2, minute symbol characters 3, OCR characters 4 that can be read by OCR, MICR characters 6, and colorless fluorescent characters. Letters such as 7 are printed. Further, the design character 2, the small symbol character 3, and the basic character 5 are configured as a symbol / character group including a plurality of characters / symbols.
[0073]
As for the small symbol characters 3, the characters "Japan" are regularly and repeatedly arranged in units of a predetermined number, for example, 65 columns × 8 rows, a total of 520 characters.
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 1, the small symbol character 3 is a character by language recognition of "Japan" which is recognized by a microscopic evaluation with the naked eye for the small symbol character group 21 in which the small symbol character 3 is arranged. The information and the graphic information 23 recognized by the third evaluation based on the image information 22 obtained by removing one of the characters from the different mathematical structures are superimposed. Then, a data code of “Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance” is obtained from the graphic information 23.
[0075]
Here, the information “Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance” indicated by the graphic information 23 is based on a data code called a QR code model 1.
[0076]
As described above, the printed material according to the present embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 21, an area 101 in which a small symbol character group including a plurality of small symbol characters is arranged on the surface of the printed material 100. Has a small symbol character group having at least two types of mathematical structures. In the region 101, a small symbol character group having one mathematical structure is arranged in a region 102, and a small symbol character group having the other mathematical structure is arranged in a region 103.
[0077]
In such a printed material according to the present embodiment, the small symbol character group is arranged so that graphic information that cannot be visually recognized at a stage before performing the extraction process based on the mathematical structure is potentially present. It is not easy to focus on the mathematical structure of each minute symbol character and to recognize the difference between the mathematical structures. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for a third party to create and imitate the plate itself in such printed matter, and a high copy-prevention or counterfeit-prevention effect can be obtained.
(11) Method and apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter according to the present embodiment
[0078]
A method and an apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on a printed matter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 22, the present apparatus includes a calculation unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication interface (IF) 13, an input unit 14, a printing unit 15, and a display unit 16.
[0079]
The calculation unit 11 performs all calculations necessary for processing, has an analysis unit 11a and an image processing unit 11b, and is connected to the storage unit 12, the communication IF 13, the input unit 14, the printing unit 15, and the display unit 16. ing.
[0080]
The analysis unit 11a analyzes a mathematical structure of a symbol / character.
[0081]
The image processing unit 11b performs processing for arranging symbols / characters.
[0082]
The storage unit 12 stores, as a database, various data necessary for the operation of the operation unit 11 and the results of the operation, as well as each symbol / character whose mathematical structure has been analyzed in advance. In this database, those having at least two types of mathematical structures are registered for each symbol / character.
[0083]
The communication IF 13 connects a computer terminal (not shown) to the arithmetic unit 11 and transfers information between the computer terminal and the arithmetic unit 11 as needed.
[0084]
The input unit 14 includes, for example, an operation panel and the like, and receives input from an operator and provides operation contents to the calculation unit 11.
[0085]
The printing unit 15 prints the one on which the minute symbol characters are arranged and outputs a printed matter.
[0086]
The display unit 16 has, for example, at least one of a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a printer, and the like, and displays necessary information for an operator.
[0087]
A procedure of a method of arranging minute symbol characters using the apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
[0088]
As shown in step S10, the operator inputs at least one symbol / character to be arranged via the input unit 14.
[0089]
In step S12, the operation unit 11 accesses and checks whether the input symbol / character is stored in the database in the storage unit 12. If the symbol / character has been stored in the database, the mathematical structure of the symbol / character has already been analyzed, and the process proceeds to step S16. If the input symbol / character is not stored in the database, the process proceeds to step S14.
[0090]
In step S16, symbols / characters having two types of mathematical structures registered in advance are called.
[0091]
If the input symbol / character is not registered in the database, the analyzing unit 11a analyzes the mathematical structure of the symbol / character in step S14.
[0092]
In step S18, the analyzed symbol / character is transformed so as to have at least two types of mathematical structures. In this case, the forgery prevention effect can be further improved by deforming within a range where the font of the symbol / character does not change. However, variations may be made to change the typeface to produce symbols / characters with different mathematical structures.
[0093]
In step S <b> 20, the operator inputs a graphic corresponding to the area where the minute symbols / characters are to be arranged via the input unit 14.
[0094]
In step S22, the image processing unit 11b draws the input graphic on a screen including a plurality of squares.
[0095]
In step S24, the image processing unit 11b performs a process of filling at least two types of symbols / characters having different mathematical structures, which are searched in step S16 or generated in step S18, in the area where the graphic is drawn. Do. Here, the graphic area includes a graphic image area and a background image area. A symbol / character having one mathematical structure is arranged in the area of the graphic image, and a symbol / character having the other mathematical structure is arranged in the area of the background image. In this way, the small symbol character group is arranged.
[0096]
Although not shown, the surface of the printed matter after the arrangement is displayed on the display unit 16 as necessary, or the printout is performed by the print unit 15 as necessary.
[0097]
According to the present embodiment, by arranging the small symbol characters having at least two types of mathematical structures, it is possible to easily create a printed matter that potentially has desired graphic information in the small symbol character group.
(12) A method and an apparatus for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a group of minute symbol characters are printed according to the present embodiment
[0098]
A description will be given of a method of determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a group of small symbol characters is printed and an apparatus used for authenticity determination according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0099]
First, FIG. 24 shows the configuration of the authenticity determination device. This device includes an arithmetic unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication IF 13, an input unit 14, a transport unit 17, a display unit 16, and a reading unit 18.
[0100]
The arithmetic unit 21 is connected to a computer terminal (not shown) via the communication IF 13, and transmits and receives information as needed. The calculation unit 21 includes an analysis unit 21a, an image processing unit 21b, and a determination unit 21c, and is connected to the communication IF 13, the storage unit 22, the input unit 14, the transport unit 17, the display unit 16, and the reading unit 18, respectively. .
[0101]
The storage unit 22 stores data necessary for reading processing, processing results, and the like.
[0102]
The transport unit 17 is provided with a printed matter (not shown) that needs to be authenticated, transports the printed matter, and supplies it to the reading unit 18.
[0103]
The reading unit 18 includes, for example, a scanner or the like. The paper surface of the printed material transported by the transport unit 17 is scanned using a scanner to acquire image information.
[0104]
The analysis unit 21a analyzes the mathematical structure of the symbols / characters embedded in each cell included in the acquired image information. As described above, the number of portions corresponding to the holes closed by a plurality of lines constituting each symbol / character is counted, and a group is determined based on which of the numbers is 0, 1, 2,. Divide.
[0105]
The image processing unit 21b deletes, from the plurality of groups, symbols / characters belonging to at least one group assigned to the background image in the genuine printed matter. Then, a closing process is performed on the symbols / characters belonging to the remaining groups.
[0106]
The determination unit 21c compares the graphic information drawn by the small symbol character group present in the authentic printed matter with the graphic information of the printed matter to be determined, and determines the authenticity.
[0107]
The same elements as those of the apparatus shown in FIG. 22 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0108]
A procedure for determining the authenticity of a printed matter using the apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
[0109]
In step S40, the reading unit 18 scans a group of minute symbol characters printed on the paper surface of the conveyed printed matter to acquire image information.
[0110]
In step S42, the analyzing unit 21a analyzes the mathematical structure of each symbol / character included in the acquired image information.
[0111]
The analysis of this mathematical structure is specifically performed as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, it is assumed that there are squares 200 and 300 each having 200 × 200 pixels. The number of holes formed by continuously surrounding black-painted pixels in each of the 200 × 200 pixels present in the cell 200 is one. In each pixel existing in the cell 300, the number of holes continuously surrounded by black-painted pixels is two. In this way, the mathematical structure can be analyzed by counting the number of holes that are continuously surrounded by pixels (or outlined) for each cell.
[0112]
In step S44, for example, when there are symbols / characters having two types of mathematical structures, the image processing unit 21b deletes the symbols / characters having one mathematical structure.
[0113]
In step S46, the image processing unit 21b performs a closing process on the other symbol / character having the mathematical structure.
[0114]
In step S48, the image processing unit 21b extracts graphic information from the image information that has been subjected to the closing processing.
[0115]
In step S50, the determination unit 21c determines whether the extracted graphic information is the same as the authentic graphic information.
[0116]
If they are the same, the process proceeds to step S52 to determine that the printed matter is a genuine one. If they are not the same, the process proceeds to step S54 to determine that the printed matter is a fake.
[0117]
According to the present embodiment as described above, by reading graphic information based on the analysis of the mathematical structure of the minute symbol characters printed on the printed matter, it is possible to easily distinguish a genuine printed matter from a forged one.
[0118]
The embodiment described above is an example, and does not limit the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the small characters “Japan” are arranged, but the present invention can be similarly applied to various symbols such as “O, Δ, ×, ☆, ◎, Δ”. it can.
[0119]
In the small symbol character 3 shown in FIG. 1, the character "Japan" is arranged as a character string in which a predetermined number of characters are repeatedly arranged regularly. By arranging in this way, characters with different mathematical structures are arranged adjacent to each other, so that the specification of the mathematical structure is complicated, and it is more difficult to create a forgery or copy plate. Can be. However, the present invention is not limited to such repeated arrangement of characters, and the arrangement can be freely set as long as symbols / characters having different mathematical structures are arranged.
[0120]
In addition, the size of these minute symbol characters may be a size that is difficult to read as a character with the naked eye, or a size that is extremely small and difficult to read with the naked eye. Specifically, for example, a character having a character angle smaller than about 0.4 mm is almost unreadable to the naked eye, and a character larger than 1 mm is substantially readable to the naked eye. For this reason, a symbol / character of 1 mm or less and 0.4 mm or more has a size that is hard to be read as a symbol / character by the naked eye.
[0121]
By making the size of the small symbol character such that it is difficult to read as a character with the naked eye, or a size that is extremely difficult to read, it is recognized by forgers and the like that the small symbol character is printed. Since it is difficult to perform counterfeiting, the forgery prevention effect can be enhanced. However, the present invention is not limited to such a size, and a small or larger small symbol character may be used.
[0122]
Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the small characters 3 of "Japan" are linearly arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. However, the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement, and may be arranged in a curved line.
[0123]
There is no limitation on the font of the small symbol characters, and a unique font that is not generally used may be used in addition to the commonly used Mincho, Gothic, line, and square fonts.
[0124]
The use of a small symbol character in a unique typeface is preferable in that forgery and duplication can be made even more difficult, and a high forgery prevention effect can be obtained. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as at least two different micro-symbols with mathematical structures are arranged, and it is not necessary to use a unique font.
[0125]
Regarding the typeface, the mathematical structure is the same, but by arranging the minute symbol characters with different typefaces, it is difficult for forgers not only to recognize the mathematical structure but also to notice different points in the typeface. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, all the typefaces may be the same.
[0126]
When a plurality of fonts are used, by arranging small symbol characters of different fonts at random, it is possible to make the task of specifying the font more difficult. Therefore, it is possible to further make it difficult to create the plate itself in duplication or forgery, so that a high forgery prevention effect can be obtained. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and small symbol characters composed of a plurality of fonts may be arranged so as to have a predetermined regularity.
[0127]
The graphic information that is potentially present in the small symbol character group may be, for example, a symbol such as a logo of an issuing company, other than information necessary for printed matter, and may be appropriately selected. The latent graphic information may be a character, a number, or a figure or picture other than a character or a number.
[0128]
【The invention's effect】
The printed matter on which the small symbol character group of the present invention is printed has small symbol characters having at least two types of mathematical structures, and it is difficult for a third party to recognize the difference between these mathematical structures. Therefore, duplication or counterfeiting for creating the plate itself can be effectively prevented.
[0129]
Further, according to the method and the apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter of the present invention, such minute symbol characters can be easily arranged.
[0130]
Further, according to the method and the apparatus for discriminating the authenticity of a printed matter on which a small symbol character group is printed according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and reliably discriminate a genuine printed matter according to the present invention from a duplicated or forged printed matter. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration example when the present invention is applied to a gift certificate as a printed matter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a grayscale image captured by scanning a group of minute symbol characters in which characters having different mathematical structures are arranged.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by performing a binary image forming process on the image shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by removing a character having one mathematical structure from the image shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by performing a closing process on the image shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a kanji character “Japan” having a basic typeface.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the kanji shown in FIG. 6 is modified so as to have a different mathematical structure.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the kanji shown in FIG. 6 is modified so as to have a further different mathematical structure.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the kanji shown in FIG. 6 is modified so as to obtain a mathematical structure with zero holes.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the kanji shown in FIG. 6 is modified so as to obtain a mathematical structure having one hole.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the kanji shown in FIG. 6 is modified so as to obtain a mathematical structure having two holes.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a grayscale image obtained by scanning a small symbol character group in which characters having two types of mathematical structures are arranged.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by performing a binary image forming process on the image shown in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by removing a character having one mathematical structure from the image shown in FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an image including graphic information obtained by performing a closing process on the image shown in FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a grayscale image captured by scanning a small symbol character group in which characters having two types of mathematical structures are arranged.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by performing a binary image forming process on the image shown in FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by removing a character having one mathematical structure from the image shown in FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an image including graphic information obtained by performing a closing process on the image shown in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing that character information and graphic information are superimposed on a printed matter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a printed matter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a method of arranging small symbol characters on a printed material according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a small symbol character group is printed according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a small symbol character group is printed according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing the contents of processing when analyzing a mathematical structure in the authenticity discrimination method.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 5 basic characters
2 Design letters
3 small characters
4 OCR characters
6 MICR characters
7 colorless fluorescent characters
11 Operation part
11a Analysis unit
11b Image processing unit
12 Storage unit
13 Communication IF
14 Input section
15 Printing section
16 Display
17 Transport unit
18 Reading unit
21 Operation part
21a Analysis unit
21b Image processing unit
21c Judgment unit
22 Memory
100 printed matter
101 (area where small symbol character group is arranged)
102 area (in which the small symbol character group having the first mathematical structure is arranged)
103 area (in which the small symbol character group having the second mathematical structure is arranged)

Claims (14)

A printed matter on which a group of small symbol characters including a plurality of small symbol characters is printed,
A printed matter on which a group of small symbol characters is printed, wherein the small symbol characters include a small symbol character having a first mathematical structure and a small symbol character having a second mathematical structure. The small symbol character group includes:
Character information of the minute symbol character itself;
A small symbol character having the first mathematical structure or a graphic information obtained by extracting a small symbol character having the second mathematical structure included in the small symbol character group. A printed matter on which the small symbol character group according to claim 1 is printed. The character information is visible information at a stage before extracting the minute symbol character having the first mathematical structure or the minute symbol character having the second mathematical structure,
The said graphic information is invisible information at the stage before extracting the small symbol character which has the said 1st mathematical structure, or the small symbol character which has the said 2nd mathematical structure, The said 1st or 2nd, Printed matter on which the small symbol character group described in 2 is printed. 4. The micro-symbol character having the first mathematical structure and the micro-symbol character having the second mathematical structure have the same typeface. Printed matter on which small symbol characters are printed. 5. The printed matter according to claim 1, wherein the size of the small symbol character is 0.4 mm or more and 1 mm or less. A method of arranging small symbol characters on printed matter,
An input unit for inputting at least one small symbol character;
An analyzing unit for analyzing a mathematical structure of the input minute symbol character;
An image processing unit for deforming the small symbol character to generate a small symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures;
The input unit inputs a figure,
The image processing unit arranges the small symbol character having one mathematical structure in a background image area among the areas occupied by the input figure, and has the other mathematical structure in a figure image area. Placing a small symbol character;
A method for arranging minute symbol characters on a printed matter, comprising: A method of arranging small symbol characters on printed matter,
A storage unit storing micro-symbol characters having at least two types of mathematical structures;
An input unit for inputting at least one small symbol character;
An arithmetic unit that determines whether or not the input minute symbol character is stored in the storage unit, and when the small symbol character is stored, reads the minute symbol character from the storage unit;
When the input minute symbol character is not stored in the storage unit, the analyzing unit analyzes a mathematical structure of the input minute symbol character;
An image processing unit that deforms the minute symbol character whose mathematical structure has been analyzed to generate a minute symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures;
The input unit inputs a figure,
The image processing unit has at least two kinds of mathematical structures read from the storage unit or generated by the image processing unit in a region of a background image among regions occupied by the input figure. Among the small symbol characters, arranging the small symbol character having one mathematical structure, and arranging the small symbol character having the other mathematical structure in the area of the graphic image,
A method for arranging minute symbol characters on a printed matter, comprising: 8. The method of arranging a plurality of small symbol characters on a printed matter according to claim 6, wherein the step of transforming the small symbol characters is performed within a range that does not affect the font of the small symbol characters. An apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter,
An input unit for inputting at least one minute symbol character and a figure;
An analysis unit for analyzing a mathematical structure of the input minute symbol character,
The micro-symbol character is generated by transforming the micro-symbol character to generate a micro-symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures, and the micro-symbol having one mathematical structure in an area of a background image in an area occupied by the input figure. An image processing unit for arranging characters and arranging the minute symbol characters having the other mathematical structure in the area of the graphic image;
An apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter, comprising: An apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter,
A storage unit for receiving given and storing minute symbol characters having at least two kinds of mathematical structures;
An input unit for inputting at least one minute symbol character and a figure;
A computing unit that determines whether or not the input small symbol character is stored in the storage unit, and reads the small symbol character from the storage unit when the small symbol character is stored;
An analysis unit that analyzes a mathematical structure of the input minute symbol character when the input minute symbol character is not stored in the storage unit;
The micro-symbol character whose mathematical structure has been analyzed is transformed to generate a micro-symbol character having at least two types of mathematical structures, and the storage area is stored in a background image area among the areas occupied by the input figures. Of the micro-symbol characters having at least two types of mathematical structures read out or generated from the section, the micro-symbol characters having one mathematical structure are arranged, and the other mathematical symbol characters are arranged in the area of the graphic image. An image processing unit for arranging the minute symbol characters having a structure,
An apparatus for arranging minute symbol characters on printed matter, comprising: A method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a group of small symbol characters including a plurality of small symbol characters is printed,
A reading unit that scans the printed matter to obtain image information of the small symbol character group,
Analyzing a mathematical structure of each of the small symbol characters included in the image information,
Deleting, by the image processing unit, the micro-symbol character having one mathematical structure from the at least two types of mathematical structures included in the authentic print, and leaving the micro-symbol character having the other mathematical structure When,
Extracting, by the image processing unit, graphic information represented by minute symbol characters having the other mathematical structure;
A determining unit that compares the extracted graphic information with graphic information included in a genuine printed matter, and determines whether the printed matter is genuine;
A method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter, comprising: The step of extracting the graphic information by the image processing unit,
Performing a closing process on the small symbol character having the other mathematical structure;
Extracting the graphic information present after the closing process;
The method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining whether the printed matter is authentic. An apparatus for determining the authenticity of a printed matter on which a group of small symbol characters including a plurality of small symbol characters is printed,
A reading unit that scans the printed matter and acquires image information of the minute symbol character group,
An analyzing unit that analyzes a mathematical structure of each of the minute symbol characters using the image information;
Of the at least two types of mathematical structures included in the genuine printed matter, the micro-symbol characters having one mathematical structure are deleted, and the micro-symbol characters having the other mathematical structure are left, and the other mathematical structure is removed. An image processing unit for extracting graphic information represented by minute symbol characters having a structure;
A determination unit that compares the extracted graphic information with genuine graphic information and determines whether the printed matter is genuine;
A device for determining the authenticity of a printed matter, comprising: The image processing unit,
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a closing process is performed on the minute symbol character having the other mathematical structure, and graphic information existing after the closing process is extracted.

Images