JP2001060245A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a card reader which can read information represented by a projection or recessed part by embossing, etc., out of a card which has large difference in the reflection factor of light between the projection or recessed part by embossing, etc., and a plane part or a card which is low in total reflection factor. SOLUTION: In this card reader, the light emitted by an LD (light source) 101 is passed through a cylindrical lens (lienar light generating means) 105 to irradiate the surface of a card 107 with linear light and the reflected light from the surface of the card 107 is guided to a PSD (photodetector) 115 which has its reflected light photodetection part divided at least along the linear light, thereby detecting the displacement distribution of the surface of the card 107 along the height. Here, this card reader is provided with a feedback means 122 which controls at least one of the light intensity of the PSD 115 and the amplification factor of the PSD 115 according to the level of the light signal obtained from the PSD 115 so that the level of the light signal obtained from the PSD 115 is higher than specified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card reader for detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of a convex portion or a concave portion due to embossing or the like applied to a card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an apparatus for detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of a surface of a test object, there is an optical surface displacement detecting apparatus having a structure as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a linear light source for emitting linear light. This linear light source 1 has, as shown in FIG.
It comprises a light source 3 and a cylindrical cover 7 which houses the light source 3 and has a slit 5 as a linear light source generating means formed on an end face.

Returning to FIG. 13, the linear light emitted from the linear light source 1 is applied to a test object 11 via a rotating mirror 9 as scanning means. The reflected light from the test object 11 is incident on a PSD (semiconductor position detecting element) array 13 divided into a plurality of parts in the linear direction of the linear light, and the displacement distribution on the surface of the test object 11 is detected. .

[0005]

When a convex or concave portion formed by embossing a card is read using the optical surface displacement detecting device having the above structure, the flat portion of the card is a color having a high light reflectance. If a convex or concave portion to be detected by embossing or the like is colored with a low light reflectance such as black,
There is a problem that it is difficult to detect a convex portion or a concave portion due to embossing or the like.

In addition, the entire surface of the card is black or a mirror surface,
When the overall reflectance is low, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect a convex portion or a concave portion by embossing or the like. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a card in which the reflectance of light greatly changes between a convex portion or a concave portion due to embossing or the like and a flat portion, or the reflection of the entire card. An object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that can read information on a convex portion or a concave portion of a card having a low rate by embossing or the like.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a light emitted from a light source is irradiated with linear light on a card surface by using a linear light generating means. A card reader in which a light receiving portion guides the reflected light on the card surface to a plurality of light receiving elements divided at least in the linear direction of the linear light, and detects a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface. According to the level of the light signal obtained from the light receiving element, at least the light intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element so that the level of the light signal obtained from the light receiving element is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. A card reader provided with a means for controlling either one.

[0008] According to the level of the optical signal obtained from the light receiving element, at least one of the light intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element so that the level of the optical signal obtained from the light receiving element becomes a predetermined level or more. By providing a means for controlling either one of them, the embossing of a card having a large change in light reflectance between a convex portion or a concave portion formed by embossing and the like and a flat portion, or a card having a low reflectance of the entire card is performed. It is possible to read information by a convex portion or a concave portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the light receiving element according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured such that the light receiving element is divided by m × n (m is an integer of 1 or more in a direction intersecting the linear direction of the linear light, and n is The card reader is an array-shaped PD having an array of PDs (an integer of 2 or more in a direction along a linear direction of linear light).

The light receiving element is divided by m × n (m is an integer of 1 or more in a direction intersecting the linear direction of the linear light, and n is an integer of 2 or more in a direction along the linear direction of the linear light). The cost can be reduced by adopting the array-shaped PD of ()).

In addition, since the position of the array-shaped PD for detecting light is clear, there is no such thing as a variation in the output of each element of the array-shaped PD, and the variation adjustment is unnecessary. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the light receiving element according to the second aspect of the present invention is a two-part array (2 × n division) PD, and a width of light incident on a light receiving surface of each element of the PD; The moving width of the light incident on the light receiving surface of the PD by the convex or concave portion of the card is determined by the PD
Wherein the width of each light receiving surface is substantially equal.

The light receiving element is formed in a two-part array (2 × n division)
And the width of light incident on the light receiving surface of each element of the PD,
By making the movement width of the light incident on the light receiving surface of the PD by the convex or concave portion of the card substantially equal to the width of each light receiving surface of the PD, the output of each element of the divided PD is A and B. In this case, when the calculation of (AB) / (A + B) is performed, it is possible to know where the incident light hits the light receiving element.

That is, position accuracy can be detected with high resolution.
It works in the same way as a PSD, and can reduce costs as compared with the case where a PSD is used. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is irradiated with linear light on the card surface by using a linear light generating means, and the light receiving portion receives at least the linear light reflected on the card surface. A card reader that guides the light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts with respect to the line direction of light, and detects a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein the intensity of the light source, the amplification factor of the light receiving element A card reader characterized in that at least one of them is periodically changed.

By periodically fluctuating at least one of the intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element, the reflectivity of light between the convex or concave portion due to embossing or the like and the flat portion greatly changes. The information can be read by the convex portions or the concave portions of the card being embossed or the like.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is irradiated with linear light on the card surface by using a linear light generating means, and the light receiving portion receives at least a light reflected on the card surface. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of light receiving elements in the linear direction of the linear light and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein a width of each light receiving surface of the light receiving element is provided. Is set to be equal to or less than the width of a convex portion or a concave portion to be detected on the card surface.

By setting the width of each light receiving surface of the light receiving element to be equal to or less than the width of the convex or concave portion to be detected on the card surface, the reflectance of the surface other than the convex or concave portion to be detected on the card surface is reduced. Since the light from the high portion does not overlap with the light from the convex portion or the concave portion to be detected on the surface of the card having a low reflectance, the portion having a low reflectance is not affected by the high reflectance portion of the card. Can be identified.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is irradiated with linear light on the card surface using the linear light generating means, and the light receiving portion receives at least the light reflected on the card surface. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in the linear direction of the linear light and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein the light receiving element is a semiconductor position detecting element. Providing a portion having a different width in a direction intersecting with the linear light of each light receiving surface of the semiconductor position detecting element so that light reflected from a convex portion or a concave portion of the card hits a wide portion. It is a featured card reader.

The light receiving element is a semiconductor position detecting element,
By providing a portion having a different width in a direction intersecting with the linear light of each light receiving surface of the semiconductor position detecting element, and the reflected light from the convex portion or the concave portion of the card hits the wide portion,
It becomes easy to detect even a small change in the position of the received light.

Further, by detecting light reflected from a convex portion or a concave portion having a low reflectivity in a wide portion and detecting light from a portion other than the convex portion or a concave portion having a high reflectivity in a narrow portion. It can correct imbalance of S / N ratio and sensitivity.

The light reflected from the convex portion or the concave portion of the card irradiates the wider side, so that the reflectivity is not affected by the reflected light from the portion other than the convex portion or the concave portion having a high light reflectance. Reflected light from a low part of the image can be detected.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is irradiated with linear light on the card surface by using a linear light generating means, and at least the light receiving portion receives the reflected light on the card surface. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in the linear direction of the linear light and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein the light receiving element is a semiconductor position detecting element. A mask is provided on each light-receiving surface of the semiconductor position detecting element, and the width of both ends in the direction intersecting with the linear light of each light-receiving surface is made different, and the convex or concave portion of the card is made wider. The card reader is characterized in that the reflected light from the light is applied.

The light reflected from the convex portion or the concave portion having a low reflectance in the wide portion is detected, and the light from the portion other than the convex portion or the concave portion having the high reflectivity (for example, the flat portion) is detected in the narrow portion. The detection can correct the imbalance of the SN ratio and the sensitivity.

The light reflected from the convex portion or the concave portion of the card irradiates a wider portion, so that the reflectance is not affected by the reflected light from the portion other than the convex portion or the concave portion having a high light reflectance. Reflected light from a low part of the image can be detected.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source is irradiated with linear light on the card surface by using a linear light generation means, and the light receiving portion receives at least a light reflected on the card surface. A card reader that guides the light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in the linear direction of the linear light and detects a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein the light source has a plurality of different wavelengths. A card reader using a light source.

Different wavelengths of light have different reflectivities. By using a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths from each other, a light source having an appropriate wavelength is appropriately selected with respect to a change in reflectance or the like due to a color of a convex portion or a concave portion due to embossing of the card, and a convex portion due to embossing of the card. Alternatively, information can be read by the concave portion.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, light is transmitted to at least one of the optical path system from the light source to the card and the optical path system from the card to the light receiving element. A card reader provided with an isolator.

By using the optical isolator, the optical path can be shared, the cost can be reduced, and it is more resistant to disturbance light such as indoor lighting and sunlight, and the SN ratio is improved. Claim 1
According to the invention described in Item 0, the light emitted from the light source is irradiated with linear light on the card surface by using a linear light generating means, and a light receiving portion receives at least the linear light reflected on the card surface. To the light receiving element divided into a plurality in the line direction of
A card reader for detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein a light signal is simultaneously extracted from the plurality of divided light receiving elements.

By taking out an optical signal from the light receiving element at the same time, the whole can be controlled at a low frequency. Therefore, when digitizing a signal and judging information by a convex portion or a concave portion such as emboss of a card, a more efficient processing program can be set.

When the size of the light on the surface of the card is equal to or less than the width of the convex portion or the concave portion, a signal having a good SN ratio can be obtained, and the light reflectance with the flat portion is large. This is more desirable because it is possible to read information on the convex portion or concave portion of the changing card by embossing or the like.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) First Embodiment (Corresponding to Claims 1 and 2) The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 which is a configuration diagram for explaining the first embodiment.

In the figure, 101 is a semiconductor laser diode (hereinafter referred to as LD) as a light source, and 103 is an LD 101
A collimator lens 105 that converts the laser light emitted from the collimator into parallel light, and a cylindrical lens 105 that collects the light converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 103 in one direction and irradiates the card 107 with linear light.

The card 107 is transport means 1 comprising a transport belt 109, a driven roller 111, and a driving roller 113.
00, the light is conveyed in a direction intersecting the line direction of the linear light (the direction of arrow I in the figure).

As shown in FIG. 2, on the surface of the card 107, a character (the numeral 10 in this embodiment) is formed by embossed convex portions 107b formed on the flat portion 107a of the card 107. .

The color of the card 107 of this embodiment is white, which has high light reflectance, and the top of the embossed projection 107b is colored black, which has low light reflectance. . Returning to FIG. 1, the reflected light on the surface of the card 107 is
The light is condensed by the condensing lens 111 and reaches the PSD 115 in an array.

The light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115 is
As shown in (1), the light is divided into a plurality (in the present embodiment, divided into five) in the linear direction of the linear light. Returning to FIG.
Element switching means for switching an analog signal from each of the divided light receiving surfaces 115a of the PSD 115;
5 is an amplifier for amplifying the analog signal of No. 5, and 122 is the amplifier 1
This is feedback means for controlling the LD driving means 123 for driving the LD 101 so that the level of the signal amplified by 21 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined level.

Numeral 125 designates a binarizing means for binarizing the amplified analog signal, and 127 designates a character by referring to and comparing the binarized signal with data recorded in a character pattern table 129. This is character determination means.

Reference numeral 131 denotes a card detecting means for detecting whether or not the card 107 has been conveyed by using the photoelectric switch 133 provided on the conveying means 100, and 135 receives a signal from the card detecting means 131, and Is a card transport control means for controlling the driving roller 113.

141 is a reading control means for controlling the LD driving means 123, the element switching means 120, and the character determination means 127, and 143 is a general control means for controlling the character determination means 127, the card transport control means 135, and the reading control means 141. It is.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the card 107 is set on the carrying means 100, the photoelectric switch 133 is activated, and the card detecting means 131 notifies the card carrying control means 135 that the card 107 has been set.

The card conveyance control means 135 receives a signal from the card detection means 131, drives the driving roller 113 of the conveyance means 100, and moves the set card 107 by an arrow.
Transport in the I direction.

When the card transport control means 135 operates, the overall control means 143 drives the LD drive means 123 via the read control means 141 to turn on the LD 101.
As shown in FIG. 3, of the linear light applied to the card 107, the light reflected by the flat portion 107 a of the card 107 is
The light that reaches A ′ on the light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115 and is reflected by the embossed convex portion 107b is reflected by the light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115.
B ′, and the light receiving positions are different.

Therefore, the light reflected by the flat portion 107a is:
With the light reflected by the embossed convex portion 107b, the PSD 11
5 are different from each other, and it can be determined whether it is the flat portion 107a or the embossed convex portion 107b.

In this embodiment, the plane portion 107a
And the example of the embossed convex portion 107b, but the PSD 11 is also used for the flat portion 107a and the embossed concave portion.
5 has different light receiving positions on the light receiving surface 115a,
It can be determined.

By switching each element of the PSD 115 by the element switching means 120, one-dimensional displacement distribution data in the height direction of the surface of the card 107 can be obtained. Also, transport means 1
By transporting the card 107 in the direction of arrow I using 00, two-dimensional displacement distribution data in the height direction of the surface of the card 107 can be obtained.

The output of the PSD 115 is amplified by the amplifier 121 and input to the feedback means 122. The feedback unit 122 controls the level of the optical signal so that the level of the optical signal from the light receiving element is equal to or higher than a predetermined level (for example, so that the level of the optical signal is higher than a predetermined level). And a predetermined level or another reference level.
3, the light amount of the LD 101 is increased, and reading is performed again.

The obtained displacement distribution data in the height direction of the surface of the card 107 is binarized by the binarizing means 125.
The character determination means 127 outputs the binarized data,
Compare with data of character pattern table 129
The character formed by the embossed convex portion 107b on the card 107 is determined with reference to the character.

According to the above configuration, the PSD (light receiving element) 115
PSD 11 according to the level of each optical signal obtained from
5 is provided with the feedback means 122 for controlling the light amount (light intensity) of the LD (light source) 101 so that the level of each optical signal obtained from the step 5 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. It is possible to read the emboss of the card 107 in which the reflectance of light with respect to the card 107a is largely changed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The feedback means 122 of the above embodiment changes the light amount of the LD 101,
1 may be changed, or the light amount of the LD 101 and the gain of the amplifier 121 may be changed.

The feedback means 122 includes a PSD 115
May be detected and stored, and at the time of the next scan, the light amount of the LD 101 may be controlled based on the stored value. (2) Second Embodiment (corresponding to claim 2) This will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the difference between the first embodiment and the present embodiment is that the PSD is replaced by the PD, and a description of the overall configuration will be omitted.

(A) As shown in the figure, m × n division (m is an integer of 1 or more in a direction intersecting the linear direction of the linear light, and n is a direction along the linear direction of the linear light) In this case, an array of PDs 115 'having an integer of 2 or more (in the figure, 2 × 8 divisions) is used.

The PD 115 'is provided so that the light reflected by the flat portion 107a of the card 107 is applied to the row A' and the light reflected by the embossed projection 107b is applied to the row B '. In this case, if no light is incident on either the row A 'or the row B', the feedback means 122 determines that the flat portion 107a and the embossed convex portion 107b of the card 107 have low light reflectance, At least one of the light amount of the LD 101 and the amplification factor of the amplifier 121 is increased.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, the PD 115 ″ may be a 1 × 8 divided array PD. In this case, the feedback means 122 causes the flat portion 107a of the card 107 and the embossed convex portion 107b to emit light. Judge that the reflectance is low,
If the light receiving intensity of the PD 115 ″ does not increase even if at least one of the light amount of the LD 101 and the amplification factor of the amplifier 121 is increased, it is determined that the convex portion 107b is embossed.

(3) Third Embodiment (corresponding to claim 3) A description will be given with reference to FIG. Note that the difference between the second embodiment and the present embodiment is the signal processing of the two-divided PD, and a description of the overall configuration will be omitted.

The PD 115 'of this embodiment is in a two-part array (2 × n division) as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the width (W) of the light incident on the light receiving surface of each element of the PD 115 'and the movement of the light incident on the light receiving surface of the PD 115' by the embossed convex portion 107b of the card 117. The width (T) is substantially equal to the width (D) of each light receiving surface of the PD 115 '.

When the outputs of the elements of the divided PD are A and B, the calculation of (AB) / (A + B) is performed.
You know where you are. That is, it has the same function as the PSD, and can reduce the cost as compared with the case where the PSD is used.

(4) Fourth Embodiment (Corresponding to Claim 4) A description will be given with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Note that the difference between the first embodiment and the present embodiment is the presence or absence of a feedback unit as shown in FIG. 6, so that the description of the overall configuration is omitted.

In this embodiment, the light intensity of the LD 101 is periodically changed at a high frequency as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B according to the transport speed of the card 107. The frequency reflected by the smallest embossed convex portion 107b is PS
It is preferable that the frequency is set such that the change in the light intensity during D115 is at least the minimum number of times equal to the number of steps of the light intensity.

The output of the LD 101 may be continuous as shown in FIG. 6 or digital as shown in FIG. For example, there is a case where the intensity of the detectable light between the black and white of the card 107 differs from the red laser light by about 1:20. At this time, the light intensity of the LD 101 is adjusted in advance, and the ratio is driven in two stages of 1:20. Then, even the embossed convex portion 107b having a low reflectance is irradiated with strong light, and strong reflected light is generated, so that the position of the emboss can be detected.

In a place where the reflectance is high, when strong light comes,
The intensity of the reflected light increases and the output saturates. At this time, the saturated data is cut. Even if it is saturated and cut, the next 1 /
When the light of 20 intensity comes, it can be read without any trouble.

By combining such two pieces of information, the character on the card 107 of the card whose light reflectance between the embossed convex portion 107b and the flat portion 107a greatly changes can be determined.

The number of steps for changing the light intensity of the LD 101 may be more. Further, the amplification factor of the amplifier 121 may be periodically changed at a high frequency according to the transport speed of the card 107, or the light amount of the LD 101 and the amplification factor of the amplifier 121 may be changed.

(5) Fifth Embodiment (corresponding to claim 5) A description will be given with reference to FIG. The difference between the first embodiment and the present embodiment is that the light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115 is different from the first embodiment.
Therefore, description of the overall configuration is omitted.

When the character formed by the embossed protrusion 107b of the card 107 is a character, the embossed protrusion 10b
7b is small, and the area of the flat portion 107a is relatively large. That is, as shown in FIG.
The light LP reflected by a spreads over the entire width of the light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115, but the light LE reflected by the embossed protrusion 107b may be narrower than the width of each light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115.

Further, since the width of the embossed convex portion 107b is narrow, the optical signal intensity of the embossed convex portion on the PSD 115 is also reduced. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
The reflected light LP from the flat portion 107a and the embossed protrusion 10
When the reflected light LE from 7b is on the same light receiving surface 115a, it is difficult to determine.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The width (W) of each light receiving surface 115a is set to be equal to or less than the width of the embossed convex portion 107b of the card 107. At this time, a condenser lens with little aberration (for example, a combination lens or an aspheric lens)
If 111 is used, the effect will be even higher.

With such a configuration, the flat portion 10
The embossed convex portion 107b can be determined without being affected by the reflected light LP from 7a. In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the embossed convex portion 107b, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the embossed concave portion.

(6) Sixth embodiment (corresponding to claim 6) A description will be given with reference to FIG. The difference between the first embodiment and the present embodiment is that the light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115 is different from the first embodiment.
Therefore, description of the overall configuration is omitted.

As shown in the figure, on the light receiving surface of the PSD 115, the portion (LEZ) where the reflected light from the embossed convex portion 107 b of the card 107 colored black hits the top of the head, and the flat surface of the white card 107. The part (LPZ) to which the reflected light from the part 107a falls is almost fixed.

The light intensity reflected from the embossed convex portion 107b is much smaller than the light intensity reflected from the flat portion 107a. On the other hand, the PSD 115 has a resistance value from a portion where light is irradiated to electrodes attached to both ends.
The position is detected by utilizing the fact that the current values are different.

Therefore, the width (W1) of the portion (LEZ) of the light receiving surface 115a where the reflected light from the embossed convex portion 107b hits is the width (W2) of the portion (LPZ) where the light reflected by the flat portion 107a hits.
Wider, more light is taken in, and the resistance value of the element is lowered, so that even a slight change in the position of the light greatly changes the current value,
Make it easier to detect.

Although the linearity of the output of the PSD 115 is lost,
The threshold value can be set with a margin, and the embossed protrusion 10
7b and the difference between the flat portion 107a can be easily detected. or,
By taking in a lot of weak light, it becomes strong against noise.

Further, the embossed protrusions 10 are formed in a wide portion.
7b is detected, and the flat portion 10
By detecting the light from 7a, the imbalance of the SN ratio and the sensitivity can be corrected.

By applying the reflected light from the embossed convex portion 107b to the wider one, the reflected light from the low-reflectance portion is not affected by the reflected light from the flat portion 107a having a high light reflectance. Light can be detected.

Further, the embossed projection 107b having a narrow width is used.
Reflected light from the light receiving surface 115a surely hits the light receiving surface 115a because the width of the light receiving surface 115a is wide. (7) Seventh embodiment (corresponding to claim 7) This will be described with reference to FIG. The difference between the first embodiment and the present embodiment is that the light receiving surface 115 of the PSD 115 is different from the first embodiment.
a, the description of the overall configuration is omitted. In the present embodiment, the mask 20 is provided on each light receiving surface 115a of the PSD 115.
1, the width of both ends of each light receiving surface 115a in the direction intersecting with the linear light is made different, and the width of the card 107 is increased.
The reflected light (LE) from the embossed convex portion 107b is applied.

By adopting such a configuration, without being affected by the strong reflected light (LP) from the flat portion 107a,
The reflected light (LE) from the embossed convex portion 107b can be detected.

Further, the cost is lower than that of the sixth embodiment. (8) Eighth Embodiment (corresponding to claim 8) This will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the first optical system 300
And a second optical system 300 '. The first optical system 300 includes a semiconductor laser diode (hereinafter, referred to as LD) 101 as a light source, a collimator lens 103 that collimates laser light emitted from the LD 101, and a collimator lens 103 that collimates the light. Focus in one direction,
A cylindrical lens 105 for irradiating the card 107 as linear light, a condensing lens 111 for condensing light reflected on the surface of the card 107, a bandpass filter 251 through which light having the same wavelength as the LD 101 passes, and an array PSD
115.

The second optical system 300 ′ comprises an LD 101 ′ having a different wavelength from that of the first optical system 300 and an LD 10 ′.
A collimator lens 103 ′ that converts the laser light emitted from the laser beam 1 ′ into parallel light, and a cylindrical lens that collects light collimated by the collimator lens 103 ′ in one direction and irradiates the card 107 with linear light. 105 'and a condenser lens 11 for condensing light reflected on the surface of the card 107
1 ', a bandpass filter 251' through which light having the same wavelength as that of the LD 101 'passes, and an array of PSDs 115'.

Depending on the color of the embossed protrusion, for example, even if the embossed protrusion 107b has a small reflectance for the laser light from the LD 101 of one wavelength, it does not reflect the laser light from the other LD 101 'having a different wavelength. Can increase the reflectivity. Therefore, two lights having different wavelengths are generated.
By using the plurality of light sources described above, the embossed protrusions 1 of various colors can be used for light from at least one light source.
07b can have a high reflectance. By selecting such a light source or an optical system according to the color of the embossed convex portion 107b, or by using a plurality of light sources or optical systems together, data from the light source or the optical system with high reflectance is selected. Thereby, the reflected light from the embossed convex portion 107b can be detected favorably.

(9) Ninth Embodiment (corresponding to claim 9) This will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same parts as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, two LDs having different wavelengths are used.
101, 101 '. And LD101,10
The light emitted from 1 ′ is converted into an optical isolator (eg, a diffraction grating,
(Prism etc.) 401 are combined on the same optical path.

The reflected light from the card 107 is separated by using an optical isolator (for example, a diffraction grating, a prism, etc.) 403 and made incident on the PSDs 115 and 115 ', respectively. Even in such a configuration, similarly to the eighth embodiment, the reflected light from the embossed convex portion 107b can be detected satisfactorily.

Further, by using the optical isolators 401 and 403, the optical path can be made common, the cost can be reduced, and the optical signal becomes more resistant to disturbance light and the SN ratio improves. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In the above embodiments, the signals from the light receiving elements PD and PSD are extracted in time series, but the signals may be extracted simultaneously.

In this way, the processing of the signal is hindered, and it is not necessary to drive the apparatus at a high frequency at which it is difficult to detect the projections or the depressions. You can spare time.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which information is detected by a convex portion or a concave portion by embossing. However, the present invention is not limited to that by embossing, and the convex portion formed on the card surface is not limited to embossing. It goes without saying that the present invention is included in the present invention as long as it detects a concave portion.

[0086]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the level of the optical signal obtained from the light receiving element becomes higher than the predetermined level in accordance with the level of the optical signal obtained from the light receiving element. By providing a means for controlling at least one of the light intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element, a convex or concave portion such as an emboss,
It is possible to read information on a flat portion or a convex portion or a concave portion due to embossing or the like of a card in which the reflectance of light is largely changed or a card having a low reflectance of the entire card.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the light receiving element is
m × n division (m is the direction intersecting the line direction of the linear light
An integer of 1 or more and n is an integer of 2 or more in the direction along the linear direction of the linear light) can reduce the cost.

Further, since the position of the array-shaped PD for detecting light is clear, there is no such thing as a variation in the output of each element of the array-shaped PD, and the variation adjustment becomes unnecessary. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the light receiving element is formed into a two-part array.
(2 × n divided) PD, the width of light incident on the light receiving surface of each element of the PD, and the movement width of the light incident on the light receiving surface of the PD by the convex or concave portion of the card, By making the width of each light receiving surface of the PD approximately equal, the output of each element of the divided PD can be A,
In the case of B, if the calculation of (AB) / (A + B) is performed, it is possible to know where the incident light hits the light receiving element.

That is, position accuracy can be detected with high resolution.
It works in the same way as a PSD, and can reduce costs as compared with the case where a PSD is used. According to the invention described in claim 4, of the intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element,
By reading at least one of the protrusions or recesses caused by embossing or the like and the reflectivity of light between the flat portion and the flat portion by reading at least one of the protrusions or recesses caused by the embossing or the like of the card, by periodically changing at least one of them. Can be.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the width of each light receiving surface of the light receiving element is set to be equal to or smaller than the width of the convex portion or the concave portion to be detected on the card surface. Light from a high reflectance portion other than a certain convex portion or concave portion does not overlap with light from a convex portion or a concave portion to be detected on the surface of the low reflectance card, and is affected by the high reflectance portion of the card. A portion having a low reflectance can be identified without any need.

According to the invention described in claim 6, the light receiving element is a semiconductor position detecting element, and the light receiving surface of each of the semiconductor position detecting elements is provided with a portion having a different width in a direction intersecting linear light. By applying the light reflected from the convex portion or the concave portion of the card to a wide portion of the card, it becomes easy to detect even a slight change in the position of the received light.

Further, by detecting light reflected from a convex portion or a concave portion having a low reflectance in a wide portion, and detecting light from a portion other than the convex portion or a concave portion having a high reflectivity in a narrow portion. It can correct imbalance of S / N ratio and sensitivity.

By applying the light reflected from the convex or concave portion of the card to the wider side, the reflectance can be increased without being affected by the light reflected from the portion other than the convex or concave portion having a high light reflectance. Reflected light from a low part of the image can be detected.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, light reflected from a convex portion or a concave portion having a low reflectance in a wide portion is detected.
By detecting light from a portion other than a convex portion or a concave portion having a high reflectance in a narrow portion, it is possible to correct the imbalance in the SN ratio and the sensitivity.

By irradiating the light reflected from the convex portion or the concave portion of the card to the wider side, the reflectivity is not affected by the reflected light from the portion other than the convex portion or the concave portion having a high light reflectance. Reflected light from a low part of the image can be detected.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the reflectance is different when the wavelength of the light is different. By using a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths from each other, a light source having an appropriate wavelength is appropriately selected with respect to a change in reflectance or the like due to a color of a convex portion or a concave portion due to embossing of the card, and a convex portion due to embossing of the card. Alternatively, information can be read by the concave portion.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, by using the optical isolator, the optical path can be shared, the cost can be reduced, and it is more resistant to disturbance light such as indoor lighting and sunlight, and the SN ratio is improved. I do.

According to the tenth aspect, by simultaneously taking out the optical signals from the light receiving elements, the whole can be controlled at a low frequency. Therefore, when digitizing a signal and judging information by a convex portion or a concave portion such as emboss of a card, a more efficient processing program can be set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the card surface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an output waveform of an LD in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the linear light source of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 LD (light source) 105 cylindrical lens (linear light generating means) 107 card 107a flat part 107b embossed convex part 115 PSD (light receiving element) 122 feedback means

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Nobuyuki Baba 920 Ninomiya, Misaka-cho, Higashi-Yatsushiro-gun, Yamanashi F-term (reference) 5B029 AA05 BB02 BB04 CC03 CC05 DD01 5B072 CC26 DD02 LL09 LL11 LL15 LL20

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A light emitted from a light source is irradiated with linear light on a card surface by using a linear light generating means, and a light-receiving portion receives reflected light on the card surface at least by the linear light generating means. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in the line direction and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, according to a level of an optical signal obtained from the light receiving element, A card reader provided with means for controlling at least one of the light intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element so that the level of an optical signal obtained from the light receiving element is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving element is divided by m × n (m is an integer of 1 or more in a direction intersecting with a linear direction of the linear light, and n is a direction along the linear direction of the linear light). Array PD of integers of 2 or more)
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein 3. The light receiving element is a PD in a two-part array (2 × n division), wherein the width of light incident on the light receiving surface of each element of the PD and the width of light incident on the light receiving surface of the PD are 3. The card reader according to claim 2, wherein a moving width of the card by the convex or concave portion is substantially equal to a width of each light receiving surface of the PD. 4. A light emitted from a light source is irradiated with linear light on a card surface by using a linear light generating means, and a reflected light on the card surface is received by a light receiving unit at least by the linear light. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in a line direction and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein at least one of the intensity of the light source and the amplification factor of the light receiving element A card reader characterized by periodically changing either one. 5. A linear light generating means for irradiating the light emitted from the light source with linear light on the card surface, and receiving a reflected light on the card surface by a light receiving section of at least the linear light. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in a line direction and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein a width of each light receiving surface of the light receiving element is set on the card surface. A card reader characterized in that the width is not more than the width of a convex portion or a concave portion to be detected. 6. A linear light generating means for irradiating the light emitted from the light source with linear light to the card surface, and receiving light reflected on the card surface by a light-receiving portion of at least the linear light. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in a line direction and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein the light receiving element is a semiconductor position detecting element, and the semiconductor position detecting element is A card reader having different widths in a direction intersecting with the linear light on each light receiving surface of the card, so that light reflected from a convex portion or a concave portion of the card hits the wide portion. . 7. A card surface is irradiated with light emitted from a light source by using a linear light generating means, and a light-receiving portion reflects at least the linear light on the card surface. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in a line direction and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein the light receiving element is a semiconductor position detecting element, and the semiconductor position detecting element is A mask is provided on each light receiving surface of
A card reader, wherein portions having different widths are provided in a direction intersecting with the linear light on each of the light receiving surfaces, and light reflected from a convex portion or a concave portion of the card hits the wide portion. 8. A linear light generating means for irradiating the light emitted from the light source with linear light to the card surface, and receiving light reflected on the card surface by a light-receiving portion of at least the linear light. A card reader for guiding a light receiving element divided into a plurality of parts in a linear direction and detecting a displacement distribution in a height direction of the card surface, wherein a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths are used as the light source. Characterized card reader. 9. An optical isolator is provided in at least one of an optical path system from the light source to the card and an optical path system from the card to the light receiving element. Card reader. 10. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein an optical signal is simultaneously extracted from the plurality of divided light receiving elements.