CZ370199A3 - System for identification and authentication of accessories, auxiliary substances and/or working substances for technical instruments and recognition and decoding method of information stored on optically readable data carrier of the system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system for identifying and authenticating accessories, excipients (14) and / or operational materials for technical devices (10) are accessories or auxiliary or operating agents (14) or containers (16) are provided the data carrier (18), which is human-encapsulated and for human observers differentiated information. Technical the device (10) is provided with a reading evaluation device / 20 / for this information. Reading and Evaluation Equipment / 20 / contains a comparison device (43) for the read comparison stored information information and activation circuit / 46 / pro at least one functional element / 48 / technical device / 10 / that is, when the read information is matched with the stored one information is sent from the activation circuit (46) to the authentication or the activation signal to the function element (48), which will allow operation of a technical apparatus (10) and cursed in the absence of a match read information with stored technical traffic information the device / 10 / locks and stops the warning signal.

Description

System for identification and authentication of accessories, auxiliaries and / or operating substances for technical apparatus and method for recognizing and decoding information stored on an optically readable data carrier of the system

Technical field

The invention relates to a system for the identification and authentication of accessories, auxiliaries and / or consumables for technical apparatus. The invention further relates to a method for recognizing and decoding information stored on an optically readable data carrier of the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often the case that accessories and / or auxiliary or operating substances for technical devices are manufactured and marketed by other suppliers in addition to the manufacturer of the technical device. Such products from other suppliers often do not meet the high quality and safety requirements of the manufacturer of the technical device, but can be used with this technical device without major technical problems. It is generally difficult for the manufacturer of a technical apparatus to ensure the reliability and safety of the technical apparatus when using such accessories or auxiliary or operating materials from another supplier, since the decision to use such products from other suppliers is generally in the hands of the user of the technical apparatus.

It is not only in the interest of the manufacturer of the technical apparatus but also in the interest of the users of such technical apparatus that it is reliably ensured that the technical apparatus is only

- 2 • to the manufacturer of the technical device by authorized accessories, or operated with such authorized auxiliaries or operating substances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to find such marking of accessories and auxiliary or operating materials or their storage containers, as well as such an identification system which allows unambiguous identification of the manufacturer's approval of the technical apparatus and thus prevents unauthorized accessories or unauthorized auxiliary or operating substances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved and the deficiencies of known solutions to this problem are largely eliminated by a system for identifying and authenticating accessories, auxiliaries and / or consumables for technical devices, wherein the accessories or auxiliaries or consumables or their containers are provided with a data carrier for wherein the technical apparatus is provided with a reading and evaluating device for such information, and wherein the reading and evaluating device comprises a comparator for comparing the read information with the stored information and an activation circuit for at least one functional element of the technical device. device in such a way that if the read information matches the stored information, an activation or activation signal is sent from the activation circuit to a functional element, which operation of the technical device and which in the absence of conformity of the read information with the stored information operation of the technical device ·· ·· ► ► Φ ι »· ► · φφ

- 3 φφ φ φ locks.

The fact that the accessories, or auxiliary or operating substances, or their storage containers, are provided with information which is readable by the human eye and distinguishable to the human observer, and the technical apparatus is provided with a reading and evaluating device for this information. preferably also optically examined whether the information on the data carrier coincides with the information stored in the technical apparatus, so that the operation of the technical apparatus is allowed only on condition of said conformity. This authentication function of the system according to the invention is further complemented by the recognition of information to the human eye and thus directly to the human observer, utilizing the high resolution ability of the human eye to accelerate this recognition. The user can thus advance their own eyes to find out whether ^- these are accessories or auxiliary or operating substances authorized by the manufacturer.

It is particularly advantageous if the information readable by the human eye and distinguishable by the human observer is formed by a mark. If the use of a technical device with accessories and / or auxiliaries, if any, is permitted only if the data carrier bears a human-readable mark, generally registered and protected by the manufacturer, the manufacturer of the device may prevent the distribution of unauthorized accessories or unauthorized auxiliary or operating materials for a technical device directly by that trade mark, since an unauthorized other manufacturer would have to commit the unauthorized use of the trade mark in order to ensure the functionality of the technical device. An otherwise protected graphic element or a letter element may also be used in place of the mark.

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If the data carrier comprises a first area in which only machine-readable information is stored and a second area in which human-readable and human-readable information is stored, further data can be stored on the data carrier in addition to the human-readable information, which can also be read and evaluated by the reading and evaluating device of the technical apparatus, this data containing, for example, the technical data of the product, i.e. the accessories or the corresponding auxiliary or operating substances. In this case, the first region may contain variable product information, while the second region contains static manufacturer information that is identical for all products of that manufacturer.

Preferably, at least one reference marking is provided on the data carrier for orienting the reading and evaluating device. This ensures reliable reading of the data on the data carrier even if the data carrier is guided in different positions around the reading and evaluating device.

Further, the information stored on the first area of the data carrier is preferably formed by a machine-readable code, and the information stored on the second area of the data carrier is formed by a mark.

In a further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the first region of the data carrier comprises a plurality of lines of binary pixel code which contains only machine-readable information, and the second region of the data carrier comprises a plurality of lines of pixel code which together form a human-readable and human readable information.

Due to the line binary pixel code in the first region, a coding option is obtained which allows a very high density

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The representation of human-readable and human-readable information as line pixel code facilitates the evaluation of information on the data carrier, which in this case can be performed in the first and second regions of the data carrier by one and the same reading and evaluating device.

Preferably, a machine-readable boundary marking is formed between the first data carrier region and the second data carrier region, which preferably comprises at least one blank line. In this way, a clear delimitation of the first and second regions is provided both for the human eye and for the reading and evaluating device.

In addition, it is preferred that the reference marking comprises a frame that surrounds at least one of the two regions of the data carrier.

To facilitate reading, the binary pixel code of the row always includes a series of adjacent binary representation of the binary representation of the information.

To increase the reliability of the reading, binary bit marks are additionally provided for binary representation of the information.

a control number in each row

A method of recognizing and decoding information on an optically readable data carrier of the system as described above, wherein the information is readable by the human eye and distinguishable by a human observer, comprises the steps of: scanning optical information that is stored on the data carrier; , comparison deducted * ·

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And generating subtracted information from the second stored pattern. 99 with the stored pattern information of the authentication signal if the data carrier area information is found to match the information.

An alternative method of recognizing and decoding information on an optically readable data carrier of the system as described above, wherein at least a portion of the information is readable by the human eye and distinguishable by a human observer, comprises the steps of: scanning optical information stored on the data carrier; a second area of the data carrier, deinterleaving and decoding the binary information contained in the first area, decomposing the optical information present in the second area of the data carrier, comparing the information read from the second area with the stored information pattern, and generating an authentication signal if the information read from the second area of the data carrier is found match the stored pattern information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting drawings, which are described in

1 shows a schematic view of the construction of the system according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a data carrier of the system according to the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a technical apparatus 10 comprising a receptacle 12 for a storage container 16 containing an excipient 14. In the case of this technical apparatus 10, the

For example, an analyzer for the automatic analysis of chemical or biological samples, the adjuvant 14 may be the reagent used in the technical apparatus 10 to analyze a specific sample (not shown).

The storage container 16 is provided in its upper part with a data carrier 18, which will be described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 2 at the top. The reader / evaluator 20 is provided on the technical apparatus 10, containing for example a video camera or still camera. 22 is directed to the data carrier 18.

In Fig. 2, the data carrier 18 is shown to a greatly enlarged scale. The data carrier 18 consists of a first area 24 in which the machine-readable information is stored and a second area 26 in which the human-readable and observable information is stored. In the example of FIG. 2, this is a series of letters SCIL. A blank line is formed between the first region 24 and the second region 26, which represents a boundary marking 28 in which no binary information is stored. The first region 24 and the second region 26, as well as the boundary marking 28, are surrounded by a frame representing the reference marking 30.

The first region 24 comprises a plurality of rows 32, 32 ', 32' 'of the binary pixel code, which on row 32, 32', 32 '' contains a plurality of columns 34, 34 ', 34' ', each combination of rows 32, 32', 32 '' and columns 34, 34 ', 34' 'represent a pixel which, as a white or black pixel, contains binary optical information. At the right end of rows 32, 32 ', 32' 'are arranged three columns 36, 36', 36 '', which, in conjunction with rows 32, 32 ', 32' ', contain the binary code of the verification number of the corresponding row 32, 32', 32 ''.

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In the present example, the white bit field 38 represents the binary value 0, while the black bit field 40 represents the binary value Ί.

In the second region 26 of the data carrier 18 SCIL letters are formed from the respective row binary markings, the whole of the lines 32, 32 ', 32' 'in the second region 26 being a human-readable and recognizable combination of SCIL letters. Instead of letters, a graphic symbol, for example a logo, can be equally well represented in the second region 26.

If, during operation, the data carrier 18 is scanned by the camera of the reading and evaluating device 20, the area of the data carrier 18 which carries the information is first identified on the basis of the reference mark 30. Then, the camera-scanned image is analyzed by lines 32, 32 ', 32' 'to determine whether at the respective pixel point, i.e. the intersection of lines 32, 32', 32 '' and columns 34, 34 ',

34 '' finds a light or dark or color bit pattern, and different color bit patterns may be used to increase the density of information. The line coding in the first area 24 of the data carrier 18 is then decoded using a predetermined coding algorithm, and based on the boundary marking 28 the second area 26 of the data carrier 18 is identified. The image of the second area 26 is compared to the image stored in the technical apparatus 10. If the stored image matches the scanned image on the data carrier 18, an authentication signal is generated in the technical apparatus 10, which in the present example allows the use of the auxiliary 14 to perform the analysis and thereby enables this analysis. If, in the absence of a match, an authentication signal is not generated, an error message is sent to the technical apparatus 10 and its operation with the excipient 14 is blocked.

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Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the principle of construction of the identification and authentication system of the present invention. The optical signal, which is captured from the data carrier 18 by the lens 22 of the camera 21, is converted into an electronic video signal in the camera 21 in the usual manner. This electronic video signal is for example broken into lines in the scanning apparatus 41 and decoded in the downstream decoding apparatus 42 according to a predetermined decoding algorithm. The information thus obtained is fed to a comparison device 43 in which the information read from the data carrier 18 is compared with the information stored in the memory device 44.

If the read information matches the stored information, an activation signal is sent from the comparison device 43 to the activation circuit 46, which subsequently unlocks the functional elements 48 of the technical apparatus 10, so that the technical apparatus 10 is ready for operation.

If comparing the read information to the stored information does not result in a match in the comparison device 43, a blocking signal is sent from the comparison device 43 to the activation circuit 46, so that the activation circuit 46 then disables the functional elements 48 of the technical apparatus 10, 10 is blocked and an optical and / or acoustic signal is triggered to alert the operator of the operation of the technical device 10.

The functional elements 48 may be, for example, a power supply or control or control of the technical apparatus 10 in whole or in part.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiment which:

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999 999 ·

99 serve only as a general explanation of the basic idea of the invention. Other embodiments of the identification and authentication system of the present invention than described herein are within the scope of protection of the invention. In particular, the identification and authentication system may comprise features that are a combination of the features of the claims.

For example, a mirror photographic camera or a video camera may be provided with a reading and evaluating device according to the invention, and the interchangeable lenses of such a camera could be provided with a data carrier according to the invention so that only original lenses from the camera manufacturer can be used on this camera.

The reference numerals in the claims, the description and the drawings serve only to facilitate understanding of the invention and do not limit the scope of its protection in any way.

Claims (9)

PATENT CLAIMS System for identification and authentication of accessories, auxiliaries (14) and / or consumables for technical devices (10), the accessories or auxiliaries (14) or their storage containers (16) having a data carrier (18) on which the human-readable and human-readable information is stored, the technical apparatus (10) being provided with a reading and evaluating device (20) for this information and wherein the reading and evaluating device (20) comprises a comparator (43) for comparing the read information the activation circuit (46) for at least (48) the stored information technical apparatus (10) and one functional element configured such that upon matching the read information with the stored information an authentication or activation signal is sent from the activation circuit (46) to the functional element (48), which then allows the operation of technical and in the absence of a match of the information read with the stored information, the operation of the technical device (10) is blocked. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the information readable by the human eye and distinguishable by the human observer is formed by a mark. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data carrier (18) comprises a first area (24) in which only machine-readable information is stored, and 9 « 9 • • 4 • 4 • 99 ·· • • - 12 «9 9 9 • · · 9 9. 99 that the data carrier (18) comprises a second region which is stored by the human eye and readable by the human eye. (26) in human System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one reference marking (30) is provided on the data carrier (18) for orienting the reading and evaluating device (20). System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information stored in the first area (24) of the data carrier (18) is formed by a machine-readable code, and that the information stored in the second area (26) of the data carrier (18) is formed. mark mark. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first region (24) of the data carrier (18) comprises a plurality of rows (32, 32 ', 32' ') of binary pixel code that contains only machine-readable information, and (26) The data carrier (18) comprises a plurality of lines of pixel code that together constitute human readable and human readable information. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is between the first region (24) of the data carrier (18) and the second region (26) of the data carrier (18). a machine-readable border marking (28) is formed, which is preferably formed by at least one empty line. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reference marking (30) comprises a frame which surrounds at least one of the two regions (24, 26) of the data carrier (18). System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the binary pixel line code (32, 32 ', 32' ') always contains a row adjacent to each other. found bitwise representation of information. tags (34, 34 ’, 34’) binary 10. The system of claim 9, marked u e by that in each row (32, 32 ’, 32’) are additionally created binary bit tags (36, 36, 36, 36) for the binary representation control number. A method for recognizing and decoding information on an optically readable data carrier (18) of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the information is readable by the human eye and distinguishable by a human observer, comprising the following steps: sensing the optical information that is stored on the data carrier (18); decomposing the optical information present on the data carrier (18); comparing the read information with the stored information pattern and generating an authentication signal if the information read from the second area (26) of the data carrier (18) is found to match the stored information pattern. A method for recognizing and decoding information on an optically readable data carrier (18) of a system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least a portion of the information is readable by the human eye and distinguishable by a human observer, comprising the following steps: sensing the optical information that is stored on the data carrier (18); identifying a first region (24) and a second region (26) of the data carrier (18); decomposing and decoding the binary information contained in the first region (24); decomposing the optical information present in the second region (26) of the data carrier (18); comparing the information read from the second area (26) with the stored information pattern and generating an authentication signal if the information read from the second area (26) of the data carrier (18) is found to match the stored information pattern.