JP2006011846A - Two-dimensional code and two-dimensional code-related information verification system and information verification method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a two-dimensional code and two-dimensional code-related information verification system and information verification method by which personal verification is available and compliance with forgery prevention is applied in an article, including an identification, a credit card and the like. <P>SOLUTION: A two-dimensional code 1 where unit cells of dark and bright patterns are arranged in a matrix. The unit cells configuring the two-dimensional code 1 comprises dots vertically horizontally arranged in nXm (where, n, m = natural numbers). Dot-stretched-linear patterns are formed on the unit cells 3 of the dark pattern. The linear patterns are provided with first linear patterns 61 and second linear patterns 62 arranged without superimposing on the first linear patterns 61. The assembly of the second linear patterns 62 forms a character or a diagram 63. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a two-dimensional code, an information verification system using the two-dimensional code, and an information verification method. In particular, in addition to general information stored in a two-dimensional code, watermark information for determining the authenticity of the two-dimensional code. The present invention relates to a two-dimensional code in which is embedded, an information verification system using the two-dimensional code, and an information verification method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when shopping at a store or using a facility, a membership card is presented to provide a service point, or permission to use the facility is obtained. Conventionally, a card has been used without performing identity verification.
For this reason, even if a third party has picked up and used it illegally, there is a problem that it cannot be identified whether it is the person himself or not, and the use is allowed as it is.

When purchasing a product using a credit card, it is necessary to authenticate that the presented credit card belongs to the person, so it is common practice to indicate a self-written signature as an authentication method. ing.
However, even if it shows a self-signed signature like this, if a credit card is picked up and used illegally, the handwriting written on the credit card is imitated, or the signature part of the credit card is Once tampered with, it was difficult for merchandise providers to perfectly determine whether they were legitimate signatures.
For this reason, a method is known in which a person's face photo is incorporated into a card and authentication is performed using the face photo. However, when the face photo portion was altered, it was not possible to cope with it.
Alternatively, a system has been proposed in which a personal authentication code is registered in a credit card and the user is inquired about the authentication code when the card is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-99855 A (3rd page, FIG. 1)

However, since the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is a configuration in which the user verbally answers the authentication code, there is a possibility that the authentication code is known to the third party when the third party is nearby.
Also, if a card was picked up and analyzed and an authentication code was determined, unauthorized use of the card could not be prevented. ,

An object of the present invention is to provide a two-dimensional code, an information verification system using the two-dimensional code, and an information verification method capable of verifying the identity of an article such as an identification card or a credit card and preventing counterfeiting. It is to provide.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-dimensional code, an information verification system based on the two-dimensional code, and an information verification method that can determine whether or not an article such as a bag, clothing, or electrical product is genuine. There is.

  According to the two-dimensional code of the present invention, the subject is a two-dimensional code in which dark and light unit cells are arranged in a matrix, and the unit cells constituting the two-dimensional code are: It is composed of dots arranged vertically and horizontally in n × m (where n and m are natural numbers), and a line pattern in which the dots are connected is formed in the dark unit cell. And a second line pattern arranged without overlapping the first line pattern, and a character or a figure is formed by the set of the second line patterns.

Thus, in the two-dimensional code of the present invention, the first line pattern and the second line pattern are provided in the dark unit cell among the cells arranged in a matrix, and the second line Characters or figures are formed by a set of patterns.
The two-dimensional code of the present invention is formed as a general two-dimensional code having dark cells and light cells in appearance.
However, in practice, a first line pattern and a second line pattern are provided in a part of the dark cell, and a character or a figure is formed by a set of the second line patterns.
Therefore, in addition to the information stored as the two-dimensional code information, other information such as characters and figures can be added and embedded in the two-dimensional code.

  According to an information verification system using a two-dimensional code according to claim 2 of the present invention, the above-described problem includes the two-dimensional code forming apparatus and the two-dimensional code verifying apparatus, and the two-dimensional code forming apparatus includes: A marking pattern generating means for generating a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code having a plurality of line patterns in a part of a unit cell, and a marking means for forming a two-dimensional code on an article based on the marking pattern, The two-dimensional code verification device is acquired from the article, an acquisition unit that acquires a marking pattern of the two-dimensional code from the article, a storage unit that stores a striped pattern that matches one of the line patterns, This is solved by providing display means for displaying the striped pattern superimposed on the marking pattern.

As described above, the information verification system using the two-dimensional code according to the present invention is provided with the forming device for attaching the two-dimensional code to the article and the two-dimensional code after a predetermined period has passed since the two-dimensional code was attached. And a verification device for determining the authenticity of the article.
The two-dimensional code forming apparatus of the present invention is configured to provide a plurality of line patterns formed by connecting dots in a part of a unit cell of a two-dimensional code.
Using this line pattern, the authenticity of the two-dimensional code is determined, and as a result, the authenticity of the article attached with the two-dimensional code is determined.
That is, at the stage of determining authenticity, the two-dimensional code verification device performs a process of displaying a striped pattern superimposed on the two-dimensional code taken from the article.
At this time, if a plurality of line patterns are attached to the unit cell of the two-dimensional code, a specific line pattern among the line patterns in the unit cell is visualized by overlapping the striped pattern.
By visualizing a specific line pattern, it is determined that the two-dimensional code attached to the article is a normal one attached by the two-dimensional code forming apparatus of the present system.

  The unit cell with the line pattern is composed of dots arranged vertically and horizontally in n × m (where n and m are natural numbers). Thus, since the lines are formed by connecting dots, the thickness does not vary and a highly accurate line pattern is formed.

  In order to perform verification more reliably, the two-dimensional code verification device includes information acquisition means for acquiring the marking pattern from the two-dimensional code formation device, and is acquired from the two-dimensional code formation device. It is preferable to have a configuration including a display mode in which the striped pattern is superimposed on the marking pattern and a comparison unit that compares the display mode in which the striped pattern is superimposed on the marking pattern acquired from the article. is there.

An information verification method using a two-dimensional code according to claim 5 of the present invention includes a step of obtaining a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code applied to an article, and a stripe comprising a plurality of line patterns in the marking pattern obtained from the article. And a step of verifying a display mode of the marking pattern in a state where the striped pattern is overlaid.
In the step of superimposing the striped pattern, the striped pattern is superimposed on the unit cell of the two-dimensional code.

According to the present invention, information for determining authenticity in an invisible state is incorporated in a two-dimensional code formed on an article such as a card, and forgery can be prevented.
The information for determining authenticity is formed from a plurality of line patterns.
Since this line pattern is formed of dots arranged vertically and horizontally in n × m (where n and m are natural numbers), high accuracy is ensured, and therefore it cannot be easily counterfeited. It is possible to make a false determination more accurately.
Since the two-dimensional code of the present invention is directly formed on the article by laser marking, the authenticity of the article can be simultaneously determined by determining the authenticity of the two-dimensional code.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The members, arrangements, and the like described below are not intended to limit the present invention and can be variously modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

  1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of the laser marking device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a two-dimensional code verification device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a unit cell, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state at the time of verification of the two-dimensional code, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of embedding information, and FIG. 8 is a storage unit of the laser marking device and the two-dimensional code verification device FIG. 9 to FIG. 14 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing from laser marking to two-dimensional code verification.

The two-dimensional code according to the present embodiment is formed by arranging light and dark unit cells in a matrix. The two-dimensional code is formed by a dot marking method.
The dot marking method refers to a method of forming a two-dimensional code by arranging a plurality of dots for each cell constituting the two-dimensional code when a two-dimensional code is formed on an object to be marked.
In this example, dot marking is performed using a laser marker. That is, marking is performed by forming a plurality of dots, which are substantially circular marking marks in plan view, on the surface of the object to be marked.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory diagrams showing each device constituting the information verification system S according to the present embodiment.
The information verification system S includes a laser marking device S1 as a two-dimensional code forming device and a two-dimensional code verification device S2 that determines the authenticity of the two-dimensional code 1.

The laser marking device S1 is preferably used for marking a workpiece (marked object) W with a marking pattern such as a two-dimensional code, a character, a figure, a symbol, and an image. It comprises a laser marker B as marking means.
The control device A controls fetching of data to be marked, conversion of the fetched data into a marking pattern, output of the marking pattern, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device A is an input / output interface for inputting data, a display unit 11 such as a CRT or LCD, an output unit 12 such as a printer, and a communication line I. It comprises a certain input / output unit 13, a storage unit 16 for storing various data, and a CPU 14 as a control unit for controlling them. The control device A in the present embodiment can be configured with a personal computer.

The control device A can fetch the marking data from the input unit 10 or the input / output unit 13, and the fetched data is stored in the storage unit 16.
In this example, general information such as name and address and embedding information for determining the authenticity of the two-dimensional code are acquired as marking data.
The marking data is electronic data such as text data and image data. The input unit 10 can be composed of a mouse, keyboard, scanner, tablet, CCD camera, digital camera, and the like.

  The storage unit 16 includes a main storage unit that stores a control program and the like for performing overall control, and a RAM that is used as a work area for temporarily storing data. The storage unit 16 stores conversion data 17 for converting the captured data into a marking pattern. Further, a data memory 18 for storing the captured data and the converted marking pattern is provided.

  The data memory 18 stores general information and embedded information input as marking data. The data memory 18 stores a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code generated based on the general information and the embedded information.

  Furthermore, parameter information is stored in the storage unit 16. The parameter information sets conditions for performing laser marking. These conditions include laser frequency, output, number of prints, beam diameter, irradiation time, and the like. These conditions are set when laser marking is performed, and are read by the CPU 14.

The control device A generates a marking pattern and outputs the marking pattern to the laser marker B. The laser marker B performs laser marking on the object to be marked W based on the marking pattern received from the control device A.
From the control device A to the laser marker B, not only data representing the marking pattern, but also a control signal related to conditions for performing laser marking is sent.
The marking pattern data is transmitted from the input / output unit 13 of the control device A to the two-dimensional code verification device S2 described below.

The control device A and the laser marker B may be directly connected by a cable, or may be connected via an information communication network such as a wireless LAN or the Internet.
If LAN connection or Internet connection is made, the laser marker B can be controlled from a remote place.
For example, a configuration in which the control device A is installed at a reception or the like and the laser marker B is installed in an office processing room is possible. Alternatively, a configuration in which the control device A is installed in the head office and the laser marker B is installed in factories in various places is possible.

The laser marker B is conventionally known and includes, for example, a YAG laser, a CO ₂ laser, a YVO ₄ laser, a UV laser, and a green laser.
In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the control device A and the laser marker B are installed on a one-to-one basis is shown, but a plurality of laser markers B are connected to the control device A, and depending on the material to be marked, The laser marker B that emits an appropriate laser beam may be selected.

As an example of the laser marker B, the configuration of a YAG laser device used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.
In the laser marker B, the laser beam output from the YAG laser oscillator 50 is changed in optical path by the leveling mirror 56, narrowed by the aperture 55, and then expanded by the Galileo expander 57.
Further, after the beam diameter is adjusted by the aperture 58, the beam is attenuated by the attenuator 46, the optical path is changed and adjusted by the galvanometer mirror 47, condensed by the fθ lens 59, and irradiated to the object to be marked W.

The YAG laser oscillator 50 is provided with an ultrasonic Q switch element 43 for obtaining pulsed laser light having an extremely high peak output (peak value). The laser marker B of this example is configured such that one dot 4 is marked with a predetermined number of Q switch pulses.
The YAG laser oscillator 50 further includes a full-surface reflecting mirror 51, an internal aperture 52, a lamp house 53, an internal shutter 44, and an output mirror 54. An external shutter 45 is provided on the output side of the YAG laser oscillator 50. Yes.
The controller 42 controls the Q switch element 43, the internal shutter 44, the external shutter 45, the attenuator 46, and the galvanometer mirror 47 based on the data and control signal transmitted from the control device A.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the two-dimensional code verification device S2. The two-dimensional code verification device S2 determines whether the two-dimensional code 1 attached to the article is true or false.
The two-dimensional code verification device S2 includes a main body C and an image capture unit D.
The main body C includes an input unit 30 for inputting operation signals and electronic data, a display unit 31 for displaying image data of a two-dimensional code, data obtained by decoding the two-dimensional code, image data and decoding This is an input / output interface between the output unit 32 for printing data or outputting to an electronic medium, a storage unit 36, a CPU 34 as a control unit, and a communication line I. Information from the laser marking device S1 An input / output unit 39 that is an acquisition unit is provided.

The image capturing unit D captures image data of a two-dimensional code based on an operation signal from the main body unit C. The image capturing unit D captures the two-dimensional code as a digital image and outputs it to the main body unit C.
The image capturing unit D includes a CCD camera 41, a lens barrel 42, and an objective lens 43. The image capturing unit D is configured to capture an enlarged image of the two-dimensional code. As the image capturing unit D, a known digital microscope can be used.

The storage unit 36 includes a main storage unit and a RAM used as a work area or the like. A control program is stored in the main storage unit. A data memory 38 is provided in the main storage unit.
The data memory 38 stores the image data captured from the image capturing unit D.
The data memory 38 stores two-dimensional code marking pattern data. This marking pattern data is transmitted from the control device A of the laser marking device S1, and indicates a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code attached to a predetermined article.
Further, the data memory 38 stores striped pattern data. The striped pattern is used when verifying the authenticity of the two-dimensional code, and will be described in detail later.

Next, the two-dimensional code of this embodiment will be described.
In the two-dimensional code 1 of this example, as shown in FIG. 4, light-colored cells 2 and dark-colored cells 3 are arranged in a matrix, and the surface is a two-dimensional code of a general form. Therefore, it can be read by a normal two-dimensional code reader. By reading this two-dimensional code 1 with a normal two-dimensional code reader, it is possible to obtain general information such as the profile information of the cardholder, the date of manufacture of the product, and the lot number.

The two-dimensional code 1 of this example is configured such that embedding information is stored in at least one of the dark cells 3. The authenticity of the two-dimensional code 1 is determined using the dark cell 3 in which the embedded information is stored.
As shown in FIG. 4, the dark cell 3 in which the embedded information is stored has a first line pattern 61 composed of parallel lines in the cell, a parallel to the first line pattern 61, and A second line pattern 62 located on a line different from the first line pattern 61 is provided. A character or figure 63 is formed by the second line pattern 62. This character or figure 63 corresponds to the embedded information. In the example of FIG. 4, a cross-shaped figure is drawn.

As shown in FIG. 5, each line pattern 61, 62 is formed by connecting dots 4 continuously or intermittently.
4 and 5, the first line pattern 61 is formed in the background region 64 of the dark cell 3. A second line pattern 62 is provided in the cross-shaped figure 63 located substantially at the center of the dark cell 3.
As shown in the figure, the cross pattern figure 63 is formed so that the line pattern is shifted from the background area 64 by a predetermined width.
As described above, when the line pattern is shifted between the background region 64 and the graphic 63, the graphic 63 is raised and visualized when the striped pattern 65 described below is arranged in an overlapping manner. Is possible.

The embedding information embedded in the unit cell is visualized using a striped pattern 65 shown in FIG.
When verifying the authenticity of the two-dimensional code, the authenticity is determined based on whether or not the embedded information has been visualized. In addition, when the embedded information is visualized, the visualized characters and figures are confirmed, and the authenticity is determined.

These confirmations may be performed automatically by the two-dimensional code verification device S2, or may be performed visually by a person.
When the confirmation is performed by the two-dimensional code verification device S2, the figure or characters visualized when the striped pattern 65 is superimposed on the marking pattern acquired from the laser marking device S1 and the marking pattern acquired from the article are striped. The figure or character visualized when the pattern 65 is overlaid is compared.
For comparison of figures or characters, for example, an exclusive OR is calculated for a pair of corresponding pixel data of both images. Then, based on the calculation result, a mismatch amount between both images is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the obtained mismatch amount is within a preset allowable mismatch amount.
If the obtained mismatch amount is within the allowable mismatch amount, it is determined that both images match. If the obtained mismatch amount is other than the allowable mismatch amount, both images are determined to be different.

  The striped pattern 65 is formed of a striped pattern, and this striped pattern is formed in accordance with the smaller one of the line pitches of the first line pattern 61 or the second line pattern 62. The information of the striped pattern 65 is stored in the storage unit 36 of the two-dimensional code verification device S2, and an image is displayed on the display unit 31 of the two-dimensional code verification device S2 when verifying the authenticity of the two-dimensional code. It can be displayed as.

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the striped pattern 65 superimposed on the dark cell 3 having embedded information.
When a striped pattern having a striped pattern with the same pitch as the first line pattern 61 is used, the striped pattern 65 is overlapped so that the striped pattern 65 matches the first line pattern 61. .
Then, as shown in the figure, only the portion of the graphic 63 is highlighted and it is possible to confirm the embedding pattern.
When a striped pattern 65 having a striped pattern with the same pitch as the second line pattern 62 is used, the striped pattern 65 is overlapped so that the striped pattern 65 matches the second line pattern 62. Match.
If it does so, only a pattern part will appear white and it will become possible to confirm an embedding pattern. When the first line pattern 61 and the second line pattern 62 have the same pitch, the striped pattern 65 may be overlapped with one of the line patterns.

Of course, the embedding information is not limited to the cross shape as shown in FIG. 4 but may be a figure of another shape. For example, numbers as shown in FIG. 7A and characters as shown in FIG. 7B may be used.
As described above, the embedded information can have any shape without being limited in shape.

As described above, in the dark cell 3, the linear pattern is shifted between the background region 64 and the portion of the graphic 63. The method for shifting the linear pattern is as follows.
In the two-dimensional code of this example, as described above, by the laser beam from the laser marker B, the substantially circular dots 4 in a plan view are arranged in the cell in the form of n × m (n and m are natural numbers) vertically and horizontally. It is formed by.
As for the unit cell in which the embedding information is incorporated, as shown in FIG. 5, the cell is further divided into a plurality of smaller areas, and the dot 4 attached to the background area 64 and the dot 4 attached to the part of the figure 63. And the positions are shifted.

That is, in the background region 64, as shown in FIG. 5, the dots 4 are arranged in a 6 × 4 manner in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the first line pattern 61 is formed.
In the area constituting the part of the figure 63, the dots 4 are arranged in 6 × 5 vertically and horizontally, and the dots 4 are arranged at positions shifted from the first line pattern 61 of the background area 64. In the area constituting the part of the figure 63, the second line pattern 62 is formed by the continuous dots 4.
In order to simplify the adjustment, the line pitch of the first line pattern 61 and the line pitch of the second line pattern 62 may be made the same.

  Since the diameter of the dots 4 is about several tens of μm to several hundreds of μm, even if the positions of the dots 4 are shifted in the background area and the graphic part, it is impossible to visually confirm the difference. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to incorporate the embedded information into the two-dimensional code 1 in an invisible state.

  In this example, since the two-dimensional code 1 is formed by a dot marking method using a laser beam, the dimensional accuracy of each dot 4 is high, and the dot 4 can be reliably marked at a predetermined position.

  In the information verification system S of this example, when a two-dimensional code is attached to a card or a label, embedding information is stored in a unit cell so that a unique two-dimensional code is attached to the card or label.

The general information stored in the two-dimensional code and the embedded information stored in the unit cell are stored in the storage unit 16 of the laser marking device S1 and the two-dimensional code verification device S2 for each article to which the two-dimensional code is attached. It is stored in the storage unit 36.
FIG. 8 shows information related to the two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 16 and the storage unit 36. As illustrated, these pieces of information are stored for each article to which a two-dimensional code is attached. For example, in the case of a bank card, one card is specified by the bank name, branch name, account number, and holder, and correspondingly, the general information stored in the two-dimensional code and the contents of the embedded information Is recorded.

Next, a method for marking the object to be marked W with the two-dimensional code 1 having information set and input by the user using the laser marking device S1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 shows a processing flow of the laser marking method.
First, in the information acquisition process, the laser marker B acquires general information and embedded information as data to be marked on the object to be marked W (step S10).
The acquired data is stored in the data memory 18.

In this information acquisition process, as shown in FIG. 10, a general information acquisition process (step S11) and an embedded information acquisition process (step S12) are performed.
As general information, if it is a bank cash card, information such as the cardholder's name, address, and account number is acquired. In the case of a product label, information such as a manufacturing date and a lot number is acquired.
As the embedding information, information relating to the shape of the embedding information and information relating to the storage position of the embedding information are acquired.
Each piece of information is stored separately in the data memory 18.

In the two-dimensional code conversion process (step S20), the general information acquired in step S10 is converted into a two-dimensional code composed of unit cells.
In the two-dimensional code conversion step, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the general information stored in the data memory 18 is converted into a normal two-dimensional code by a normal two-dimensional encoding process (step S21).
Any two-dimensional code format may be used as long as it is composed of a light and dark pattern matrix. This two-dimensional encoding is performed by a known method based on the conversion data 17 stored in the storage unit 16.

Next, the embedded information is encoded.
In this process, first, based on the obtained embedding information, a unit cell in which embedding information is stored and an arrangement of dots 4 in the unit cell are determined (step S22).
In step S23, a process of incorporating the marking pattern in the unit cell determined in step S22 into the marking pattern of the two-dimensional code generated in step S21 is performed.
In step S24, the generated marking pattern is output from the control device A to the laser marker B. The laser marker B performs dot marking on the object to be marked W.
Furthermore, in step S25, the marking pattern of the two-dimensional code generated in step S23 is transmitted to the two-dimensional code verification device S2 and stored in the storage unit 36 of the two-dimensional code verification device S2.

Next, referring to FIG. 12, the general information reading process stored in the two-dimensional code will be described.
First, a two-dimensional code is read by a code reader (step S41). At this time, all cells are recognized and read as cells constituting a two-dimensional code without distinguishing between cells in which embedded information is embedded and cells that are not.
Next, decryption processing is performed in the control unit of the code reader (step S42). This decoding process is performed by a known decoding method.
In other words, the storage unit of the code reader stores decoded data in which information for decoding the two-dimensional code is recorded, and the two-dimensional code 1 is compared by comparing the decoded data with the two-dimensional code 1. The information recorded in code 1 can be converted into a character format.

  After converting the general information recorded in the two-dimensional code 1 to the character format in this way, the information converted to the character format is displayed on the display unit of the code reader (step S43). It is also possible to output the information from the output unit of the code reader and display the information on an external display unit.

Next, verification processing of the two-dimensional code 1 by the two-dimensional code verification device S2 will be shown based on FIGS.
This process is performed in order to confirm whether the two-dimensional code attached to the article is authentic, that is, whether the article is authentic.
In the case of cards such as cash cards, this processing is performed at a bank counter, various facility counters, company entrances, and the like. Moreover, if it is a product label, such as a bag, clothes, and an electric product, it is performed in various stores, wholesale stores, etc.

First, in the two-dimensional code fetching process (step S100), embedding information is fetched.
In this processing, the dark cell 3 in which the embedded information is stored is enlarged and imaged from the two-dimensional code attached to the article, and the enlarged image information is output to the main body C. The dark cell 3 in which the embedded information is stored is recorded in the storage unit 36 as shown in FIG. 8, and can be determined by referring to this information.

Next, trimming processing (step S110) is performed to determine the image area of the captured image data.
First, an image including a unit cell is captured with a margin portion around it. In the captured image, an image area determination line is created along the peripheral edge of the cell, and the image is rotated and adjusted clockwise or counterclockwise along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Finally, trimming is performed along the image area determination line, and an image of only the specified cell is cut out.

Next, a two-dimensional code verification process (step S120) is performed. The flow of this process is shown in FIG.
First, a striped pattern is read from the storage unit 36 of the two-dimensional code verification device S2 (step S121). The striped pattern is displayed on the display unit 31 of the two-dimensional code verification device S2 (step S122).
Then, a process of superimposing the image of the specific cell read from the card or label and cut out and the image of the striped pattern is performed (step S123).

Next, it is determined whether or not the embedded information has emerged (step S124). In this process, for example, if the card or label is a fake, the two-dimensional code is also forged by copying, so the cell state when superimposed is black and the embedded information does not appear. Become. As a result, it is determined that the card or label is counterfeit.
If it is determined that the embedding information has not emerged (step S124; No), it is determined that the two-dimensional code 1 is a fake (step S125), and the process ends.

If it is determined that the embedding information has emerged (step S124; Yes), it is verified whether the emerged characters and graphics are the same as the characters and graphics stored in the two-dimensional code verification device S2. (Step S126). Here, the determination is made with reference to the marking pattern information in the storage unit 36.
If it is determined that the embedded information is the same as that registered in advance (step S126; Yes), it is determined that the two-dimensional code is authentic (step S127), and the process is terminated.
When it is determined that the embedded information is not the same as that registered in advance (step S126; No), it is determined that the two-dimensional code is a fake (step S125), and the process ends.

The flow of specific work of the information verification system S of this example is shown.
When a cash card is issued, general user information and embedded information are set, these are converted into a two-dimensional code, and laser marking is performed on the card surface.
When the user uses the card, the card is presented at the bank window.
At the reception, the two-dimensional code attached to the card 2 presented by the user is read by a code reader at the reception. Further, verification is performed by the two-dimensional code verification device S2.

General information read by the code reader is displayed on a monitor at the reception.
The window confirms whether the card has been used fairly by the person by checking the information displayed on the monitor.
Further, the two-dimensional code attached to the card is verified by the two-dimensional code verification device S2.

In the two-dimensional code verification device S2, processing for superimposing a pre-recorded marking pattern and image data acquired from the card is performed. When the patterns match, it is determined that the card is authentic.
In this way, it becomes possible to double check whether the card is authentic from the general information registered in the two-dimensional code and the state of the dots in the cells constituting the two-dimensional code, Higher reliability can be ensured for cards and labels.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the laser marking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a control apparatus among the laser marking apparatuses which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the two-dimensional code verification apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the unit cell of the two-dimensional code which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state at the time of verification of a two-dimensional code. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of embedding information. It is explanatory drawing which shows the information regarding the two-dimensional code memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of a laser marking apparatus and a two-dimensional code verification apparatus. It is a flowchart of the laser marking process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the information acquisition process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the two-dimensional code conversion process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the reading process of the two-dimensional code which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the acquisition process of the two-dimensional code which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the verification process of the two-dimensional code which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Two-dimensional code 2 Light color cell 3 Dark color cell 3 'Color change cell 4 dot 10, 30 Input unit 11, 31 Display unit 12, 32 Output unit 13, 39 Input / output unit 14, 34 CPU
16, 36 Storage unit 17 Conversion data 18, 38 Data memory 42 Controller 43 Q switch element 44 Internal shutter 45 External shutter 46 Attenuator 47 Galvano mirror 50 YAG laser oscillator 51 Full reflector 52 Internal aperture 53 Lamphouse 54 Output mirror 55 Aperture 59 fθ lens A control device B laser marker C main body D image capturing unit I communication line S1 laser marking device S2 two-dimensional code verification device W object to be marked

Claims (6)

A two-dimensional code in which dark and light unit cells are arranged in a matrix,
The unit cells constituting the two-dimensional code are composed of dots arranged vertically and horizontally in n × m (where n and m are natural numbers),
The dark unit cell is formed with a line pattern connecting the dots,
The line pattern is a first line pattern;
A second line pattern arranged without overlapping the first line pattern, and
A two-dimensional code, wherein a character or a figure is formed by the set of the second line patterns. An information verification system using a two-dimensional code,
A two-dimensional code forming device and a two-dimensional code verification device;
The two-dimensional code forming apparatus comprises:
Marking pattern generating means for generating a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code having a plurality of line patterns in a part of a unit cell;
Marking means for forming a two-dimensional code on the article based on the marking pattern,
The two-dimensional code verification device comprises:
Obtaining means for obtaining a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code from the article;
Storage means for storing a striped pattern matching one of the line patterns;
An information verification system using a two-dimensional code, comprising: display means for displaying the striped pattern superimposed on the marking pattern acquired from the article.   3. The information verification system using a two-dimensional code according to claim 2, wherein the unit cell to which the line pattern is attached is composed of dots arranged vertically and horizontally in n × m (where n and m are natural numbers). The two-dimensional code verification device comprises information acquisition means for acquiring the marking pattern from the two-dimensional code forming device,
Comparison means for comparing the display mode in which the striped pattern is superimposed on the marking pattern acquired from the two-dimensional code forming device and the display mode in which the striped pattern is superimposed on the marking pattern acquired from the article. An information verification system using a two-dimensional code according to claim 2. An information verification method using a two-dimensional code,
Obtaining a marking pattern of a two-dimensional code attached to the article;
Overlaying a striped pattern consisting of a plurality of line patterns on the marking pattern obtained from the article;
And a step of verifying a display mode of the marking pattern in a state where the striped pattern is overlaid, and an information verification method using a two-dimensional code.   6. The information verification method using a two-dimensional code according to claim 5, wherein, in the step of superimposing the striped pattern, the striped pattern is superimposed on a unit cell of the two-dimensional code.

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