JP2001067433A - Reader and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reader and an information recording medium which is improved in read precision and also in the specifying precision of the information recording medium. SOLUTION: The reader is provided with a means (magnetic stripe read part 17, IC chip read part 13, and embossment read part 15) which reads at least one of magnetic information, information recorded in an IC chip, and information by embossment and a means (4th information read part 19) which reads 4th information other than the magnetic information, information recorded in the IC chip, and information by an embossment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reading device and an information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, information recording media such as various credit cards are provided with at least one of magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and embossed information.

[0003] A reading apparatus for reading such information and specifying an information recording medium has been provided.

[0004]

However, magnetic information is easily broken by external magnetism, information recorded on an IC chip is easily broken by static electricity, and information by embossing is easily broken by wear and impact.

[0005] Therefore, when reading the information recording medium by the reading device, a reading failure occurs in any information, and the information recording medium cannot be specified in some cases. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reading device and an information recording medium in which reading accuracy is improved and information storage medium identification accuracy is improved.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for reading magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and fourth information other than embossed information. It is a reading device characterized by the following.

[0007] The provision of the means for reading the fourth information other than the magnetic information, the information recorded on the IC chip, and the information by embossing improves the reading accuracy and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium.

[0010] The invention according to claim 2 is a magnetic recording medium, comprising: magnetic information; information recorded on an IC chip;
Means for reading at least one piece of information, magnetic information, IC
A reading device comprising means for reading information recorded on a chip and fourth information other than information obtained by embossing.

Means for reading at least one of magnetic information, information recorded on the IC chip, and information by embossing; and a fourth means other than magnetic information, information recorded on the IC chip, and information by embossing. By having a means for reading information, that is, by reading two or more pieces of information, reading accuracy is improved, and identification accuracy of the information recording medium is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for reading at least one of magnetic information and IC information, means for reading information by embossing, magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing. Other than the fourth
A reading device having means for reading the information.

A means for reading at least one of magnetic information and IC information; a means for reading information by embossing; and a means for reading magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and fourth information other than information by embossing. By having the means, that is, by reading two or more pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the identification accuracy of the information recording medium is improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the fourth information is optically readable information. As the optically readable information, as in the invention according to the fifth aspect, there is provided an optical mark in which one of the reflectance and the transmittance with respect to the illumination light has a specified value, and as in the invention according to the sixth aspect. In the optically readable information, any one of the reflectance and the transmittance for the illumination light is different from that of the illumination light in the other wavelength range when the illumination light in the specific wavelength range is different from the illumination light in the other wavelength range. There is.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the fourth information according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the fourth information is one of reflected light and transmitted light with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. The reader is characterized in that the information is information using the fact that the polarization direction involves a specific rotation.

This information includes rotation information of the polarization direction due to the magneto-optical effect on the irradiation light as in the invention according to claim 8 and the irradiation light passes through the birefringent material as in the invention according to claim 9 There is information on rotation of the polarization direction due to this.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
The fourth information of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein one of the reflectance and the transmittance is a mark having a prescribed value with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. Reading device.

The information includes a mark provided with a polarizing filter that transmits only a specific polarized light component at a predetermined angle with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light, as in the eleventh aspect of the present invention.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention provides the first to third aspects.
The reading information according to any one of the above (1) to (3), wherein the fourth information is an optical mark made of a substance which emits light by irradiation light.

The thirteenth aspect of the present invention relates to the first to third aspects.
The fourth information of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading apparatus comprising: means for reading information recorded on an IC chip; and means for reading information by embossing. By providing the means for reading two pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading apparatus comprising means for reading magnetic information, means for reading information recorded on an IC chip, and means for reading information by embossing.

By providing means for reading three pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved. According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fourth aspect other than magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing.
An information recording medium characterized by having the following information.

By having means for reading the fourth information other than the magnetic information, the information recorded on the IC chip, and the information by embossing, the reading accuracy is improved and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, at least one of magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing, magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing An information recording medium characterized by having fourth information other than the above.

At least one of the magnetic information, the information recorded on the IC chip, and the information by embossing, and the magnetic information, the information recorded on the IC chip, and the fourth information other than the information by embossing, By having
That is, by having two pieces of information, reading accuracy is improved, and identification accuracy of the information recording medium is improved.

[0025] The invention according to claim 18 is a fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein at least one of magnetic information and IC information, information by embossing, magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information other than information by embossing. An information recording medium characterized by having the following information.

At least one of magnetic information and IC information, embossed information, magnetic information, and IC information
By having the information recorded on the chip and the fourth information other than the information by embossing, that is, having two pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording medium according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects, wherein the fourth information is optically readable information. .

As the optically readable information, as in the invention described in claim 20, an optical mark in which one of the reflectance and the transmittance for illumination light has a specified value, and the information described in claim 21, As in the invention, the optically readable information is such that when one of the reflectance and the transmittance with respect to the illumination light is irradiation light in a specific wavelength range, compared to irradiation light in other wavelength ranges. There are different optical marks.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the fourth information according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects is characterized in that the fourth information is one of reflected light and transmitted light with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. An information recording medium characterized in that the information is information using the fact that the polarization direction involves a specific rotation.

The information includes rotation information of the polarization direction due to the magneto-optical effect on the irradiation light as in the invention of claim 23, and the irradiation light passes through the birefringent material as in the invention of claim 24. There is information on rotation of the polarization direction due to this.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the fourth information according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects is characterized in that the fourth information is any one of a reflectance and a transmittance with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. Is a mark having a specified value.

As the information, there is provided a mark provided with a polarizing filter for transmitting only a specific polarized light component at a predetermined angle with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light.

The invention according to claim 27 is characterized in that the fourth information according to any one of claims 16 to 18 is an optical mark composed of a substance which emits light by irradiation light. An information recording medium.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the fourth information according to any one of the sixteenth to eighteenth aspects is characterized in that one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction. An information recording medium characterized by being an optical mark to be formed.

The fourth information according to the present invention includes, for example, minute yellow points and pattern information which are difficult to determine visually. Furthermore, the fourth
Is information using a difference in light absorption of a dye due to a difference in chemical structure. For example, there is a specific coupler. In other words, a coupler having a peak of one peak even with a similar color,
A coupler having two peaks is used.

In the present invention, the "information recording medium" refers to various cards such as a credit card. “Emboss” refers to an embossed mark formed by embossing.

The term "read" does not necessarily mean that it is necessary to be able to recognize or discriminate what the information is, but refers to detecting at least some information obtained from the information.

"Information" includes not only information in accordance with the original purpose of the information but also a part of all information obtained from the information, including, for example, shape and color.
It also includes new information obtained from at least a part of the information.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Overall Configuration of Information Recording Medium and Reading Apparatus) A description will be given with reference to FIG. 1 illustrating the reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 illustrating the information recording medium of FIG.

Information recording medium 1 used in this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 2A, information recorded on the IC chip 3 (hereinafter, referred to as IC information) and a convex emboss 5
(Hereinafter, referred to as emboss information).

The information recorded on the magnetic stripe 7 (hereinafter referred to as magnetic information) is provided on the back surface of the information recording medium 1. Then, on one of the front surface and the back surface of the information recording medium 1 (the front surface in the present embodiment), fourth information 9 other than IC information, emboss information, and magnetic information is provided.

On the other hand, the device for reading the information recording medium 1 reads the IC information of the IC chip 3 as shown in FIG.
An IC chip reading unit 13, an emboss reading unit 15 for optically reading the emboss information of the emboss 5, a magnetic stripe reading unit 17 for reading the magnetic information of the magnetic stripe 7,
A fourth information reading unit 19 that reads fourth information is provided.

The information recording medium 1 is conveyed by a pair of rollers 11 in the direction of arrow I. As an example of the emboss reading unit 15, as shown in FIG.
A semiconductor laser diode (hereinafter referred to as an LD) 21 and a collimator lens 22 for collimating laser light emitted from the LD
And a collimator lens 22 that collects the light collimated in one direction and irradiates the information recording medium 1 with linear light, and a cylindrical lens 23 that collects light reflected on the surface of the information recording medium 1. Some include a light-collecting lens 24 and an array of PSDs (semiconductor position detecting elements) 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light receiving surface 25a of the PSD 25 is divided into a plurality of light beams in a linear direction. As shown in FIG. 4, of the linear light applied to the information recording medium 1, light reflected by a portion other than the emboss 5 is a PSD 25.
The light reflected by the emboss 5 at A 'of the
It reaches B ', and the light receiving position is different.

Therefore, the output from the PSD 25 differs between the light reflected by the emboss 5 and the light reflected by a part other than the emboss 5, and whether the light is the emboss 5 or not, that is, the light on the surface of the information recording medium 1 Two-dimensional displacement data in the height direction by the emboss 5 is obtained.

The output of the PSD 25 is amplified by the amplifier 26, binarized by the binarizing means 27, and the character discriminating means 28 compares and references the binarized data with the data of the character pattern table 29, The character based on the emboss 5 is determined.

According to the above configuration, the IC chip reading unit 13
IC information recorded on the IC chip 3, magnetic information recorded on the magnetic stripe 17 by the magnetic stripe reading unit 17,
By reading the emboss information by the emboss reading unit 15 and the fourth information by the fourth information reading unit 19, the reading accuracy is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Even with the fourth information reading section 19 alone, the reading accuracy is improved, and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

Further, if at least one of the fourth information reading section 19, the IC chip reading section 13, the magnetic stripe reading section 17, and the emboss reading section 15 is used, a plurality of pieces of information are read, and the reading accuracy is improved. And the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

For example, the fourth information reading unit 19 and the emboss reading unit 15 may be used.
The magnetic stripe reading unit 17 may be used. In this case, since the emboss information is formed by engraving, it is difficult to change the information once formed and the possibility of erroneous reading is small.
By using No. 5, the reading accuracy is improved, and the identification accuracy of the information recording medium is improved.

Further, at least one of the IC chip reading unit 13 and the magnetic stripe reading unit 17, the emboss reading unit 15, and the fourth information reading unit 19 may be used. I c
By reading the information recorded on the chip and the information recorded on the magnetic stripe, the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium 1 is further improved.

Further, it is possible to improve the reading accuracy only with the IC chip reading unit 13, the magnetic stripe reading unit 17, and the emboss reading unit 15. Further, the IC chip reading unit 13, the emboss reading The reading accuracy can be improved only with the unit 15.

Next, the fourth information and the fourth information reading section will be described. (1) When the fourth information is optically readable information First Embodiment As the fourth information 4, as shown in FIG. And a pattern 31 having a different reflectance. For example, the ground pattern of the information recording medium 1 is white and a black pattern 31 is provided.

As a fourth information reading section 14, FIG.
A reading optical system as shown in (b) is provided. 33 is illumination for irradiating visible light, 35 is a condenser lens for condensing light emitted from the illumination 33, 37 is a condenser lens for condensing light reflected by the information recording medium 1, and 39 is condensed light (Hereinafter referred to as PD).

When the intensity of light reflected on the ground of the information recording medium 1 and the intensity of light reflected on the pattern 31 are different, light intensity change data corresponding to the pattern 31 is obtained. The output of the PD 39 is amplified by the amplifier 41, binarized by the binarization unit 43, and the pattern discrimination unit 45 compares the binarized data with the data of the pattern table 47.
By referring to the pattern, the pattern 31 is determined.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made with reference to the pattern 31 having a different reflectance from the ground reflectance of the information recording medium 1. However, an information recording medium capable of reading transmitted light and a reading optical system are used. In this case, a pattern having a similar configuration can be discriminated even with a pattern having a different transmittance from the ground of the information recording medium 1. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the description has been made with the pattern 31 having a different reflectance or transmittance different from the reflectance or transmittance of the ground of the information recording medium 1 with visible light. FIG.
As shown in the above, in the wavelength region of visible light (hereinafter, referred to as visible region), the reflectance or transmittance is extremely low, and the pattern 31 may be formed of a material having extremely high reflectance or transmittance in infrared light. .

In this case, the pattern 31 can be determined by using infrared light as illumination. Note that the pattern may be formed of a material having a low infrared transmittance, and the ground may have a higher infrared light transmittance than the pattern.

According to the above configuration, the pattern 3 is visually observed.
There is an advantage in that the presence of No. 1 cannot be recognized, and that the printed contents and the like written under the pattern 31 can be viewed. In the above-described configuration, the measurement is performed using the difference in the transmittance of the infrared light. However, the measurement may be performed using the difference in the transmittance of the ultraviolet light.

Further, in this embodiment, the pattern 31 is provided, but the reflectance or transmittance is extremely low in the visible region over the entire predetermined region of the information recording medium 1, and the reflectance or transmittance in infrared light is low. Very high materials may be coated. Third Embodiment As shown in FIG. 7A, a phase change film 51 on which the fourth information is recorded and a protective layer 53 are provided on the information recording medium 1 as the fourth information.

The laser light emitted from the LD 55 passes through the half mirror 57 and is condensed by the condensing lens 59 to irradiate a spot-shaped beam on the phase change film 51 on the information recording medium 1.

The light reflected by the phase change film 51 is condensed by the condenser lens 59, reflected by the half mirror 57, and enters the PD 61. The output of the PD 61 is amplified by the amplifier 63 and binarized by the binarizing means 65.

As a method of recording information on the phase change film 51, as shown in FIG. 7B, recording marks 69 of different lengths having different reflectivities are provided on a plurality of linear tracks 67.
As in an optical disc device, a spot SP of a laser beam is relatively moved along a track 67 to obtain reflectance information, or a pattern 71 having a different reflectance is formed as shown in FIG. There is a method of relatively moving the spot SP so as to cross the pattern 71 and acquiring information on the reflectance.

Although the above embodiment uses the phase change film 51 which utilizes the fact that the reflectance is different between the crystal and the amorphous, the reflection is performed by giving visible light / heat and ultraviolet light. Organic dye films having different ratios may be used.

When the phase change film 51 and the organic dye film are used, information can be recorded in addition to reproduction. (2) When the fourth information is information using the fact that any one of the reflected light and the transmitted light has a specific rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light, generally, light of a certain polarization state E1 However, when the light is reflected on the surface of a material such as glass, metal, or plastic, E1 changes to another polarization state E2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a linearly polarized light E1 having an azimuth α1 with respect to an incident surface (xy plane) emitted from the LD 101.
When light is incident on a certain material surface 103 at an incident angle θi and reflection occurs, polarized light undergoes retardation and becomes elliptically polarized light E2.

The azimuth of the major axis of the ellipse of E2 is α2, and if the analyzer 105 is applied to this azimuth (α3 = α2), the light amount corresponding to the PD 107 as the light receiving element becomes maximum, and the light amount decreases at other angles.

For the same E1, θi, the value of α2 differs depending on the material constant of the reflecting material. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the substance causing the reflection, the analyzer 10 provided at the angle α3
5 can be set to a predetermined value with respect to a certain light emission amount of the LD 101.

In this manner, the fourth information is recorded on the information recording medium 1.
And it can be read.
This phenomenon is not limited to the reflected light, and the same information can be given to the information recording medium for the transmitted light by using a substance that transmits the wavelength of the illumination light source such as glass and plastic. Can be read. First Embodiment As the fourth information, as shown in FIG.
An MO (magneto-optical) film 111 is formed thereon, and a protective film 113 is formed on the MO film 111.

The laser beam emitted from the LD 115 passes through the half mirror 117, is condensed by the objective lens 119, and irradiates a spot beam on the MO film on the information recording medium 1. The light reflected by the MO film 111 is condensed by the objective lens 119, reflected by the half mirror 117, separated into a P component and an S component by the polarization beam splitter 121, and the separated light is
The light enters PD1123 and PD2125.

The output of PD1123 and the output of PD2125 are
The signal is input to the difference means 127 and becomes a reproduced signal. If necessary, information can be recorded in addition to reproduction. Second Embodiment As the fourth information, as shown in FIG. 10, a reflective surface 131 is provided on the information recording medium 1, and a transparent layer of a resin which is transparent and hardly generates a phase difference is provided on the reflective surface 131. 133, a phase plate having substantially the same transmittance as the transparent layer 133 at a predetermined location
(1/4 wavelength plate) 135 is formed.

Laser light (linearly polarized light) emitted from LD 141
Is transmitted through the half mirror 143, transmitted through the transparent layer 133 or the phase plate 135 on the information recording medium 1,
Reflects at 1.

The light reflected by the reflection surface 131 is reflected by the half mirror 143, is separated by the polarization beam splitter 145, and the separated light is incident on the PD 147 and becomes a reproduction signal. When the optical axis of the phase plate 135 is inclined by 45 ° with respect to the polarization direction of the laser light of the LD 141, the light transmitted through the transparent layer 133 and reflected on the reflection surface 131 and the light transmitted through the phase plate 135 and reflected on the reflection surface 131 The direction of polarization is shifted by 90 ° from the polarized light.

Therefore, by providing the polarization beam splitter 145, a difference can be given to the amount of light reaching the PD 147. (3) The fourth information is the reflectance,
In the case where any of the transmittances is a mark having a prescribed value First Embodiment As shown in FIG. 11, a polarizing coat 151 is provided on the information recording medium 1 as an optical mark.

The characteristics of the polarizing coat 151 are P-polarized light reflectance = Rp and S-polarized light reflectance = Rs. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the polarization direction of the light emitted from the LD 153 is configured to form an angle θ with respect to the incident surface (the surface formed by the light rays traveling from the LD to the PD).

The laser light emitted from the LD 153 is reflected by the polarization coat 151 on the information recording medium 1. Polarized coat 1
The reflected light of 51 is split by a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) 155, and the split light enters PD1157 and PD2159.

Here, the P-polarized light transmittance of PBS 155 is set to 100%,
Assuming that the S-polarized light reflectance is 100% and the light amount of the LD 153 is I0, the light reception amount of PD1 is I0 (cosθ) Rp, and the light reception amount of PD2 is I0 (sin
θ) Rs.

By appropriately selecting Rp and Rs, the ratio of the amount of light received between PD1 and PD2 can be made an appropriate value, and a specific polarization coat can be formed on the information recording medium. Second Embodiment As shown in FIG. 13A, a polarizing filter 161 is provided on an information recording medium 1 as an optical mark.

The laser light emitted from the LD 163 passes through the half mirror 165 and is reflected on the polarization filter 161 on the information recording medium 1 and on the information recording medium 1. The reflected light is reflected by the half mirror 165 and enters the PD 167.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the polarization filter 1
Assuming that the angle between the direction of the polarized light transmission surface and the direction of polarization of the incident light is denoted by θ, IR = I0 (cos θ) AR, where A is the maximum transmittance of the polarizing filter 161 and R is the information By appropriately selecting θ according to the reflectance of the recording medium 1, the PD 16
7 can be led. (4) When the fourth information is an optical mark composed of a substance that emits light by irradiation light For example, a fluorescent substance that emits light by infrared rays is applied to the surface of the information recording medium 1 to obtain fourth information.

When irradiated with infrared rays, the portion coated with the fluorescent substance emits light. By detecting this light emitting portion, the fourth information can be read. (5) When the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction, as an optical mark, as shown in FIG. A diffraction grating (may be a hologram or the like) 17 on 1
1 is provided.

The laser light emitted from the LD 173 is condensed by the condenser lens 175 and is focused on the diffraction grating 17 on the information recording medium 1.
1 is irradiated with a spot beam. The light is reflected by the diffraction grating (optical mark) 171 in a specific direction, and the reflected light is condensed by the condenser lens 177 and enters the light receiving element 179.

FIG. 14B shows an example of the light receiving element 179.
An undivided PD 181 as shown in FIG.
That is, information is read based on whether or not the reflected light is directed to the PD 181.

The split photodiode 1 shown in FIG.
83, a PSD 185 in FIG. 14 (d), and a CCD 187 in FIG. 14 (e), when using a light receiving element capable of detecting the detected position of the reflected light, as shown in FIG. , A large amount of information can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG.
1 is designed so that light beams (I1 to In) are reflected in n directions, and a split PD 191 as shown in FIG. 17 is used as the light receiving element 179 for detecting the positions of these n reflected light beams. (1) n pieces of position information can be given to one illumination area and can be read.

If the direction θ of each of the n reflected light beams can be set to various angles within a certain range, a large amount of multivalued information can be provided in a minute area. As the light receiving element, in addition to the divided PD 191, a two-dimensional CCD or a divided PSD
It may be.

Further, by making the reflected light of the diffraction grating 171 a reflected light having a continuous intensity distribution,
A two-dimensional (m × n) PD 201 or two-dimensional CCD as shown in FIG.
May be received.

The output from each cell of the two-dimensional PD 201 is AD-converted, and these arrays can be used as fourth information.
In the present embodiment, the description has been made with respect to reflected light, but the same applies to transmitted light.

[0088]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, reading is achieved by providing means for reading magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and fourth information other than information by embossing. The accuracy is improved, and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, magnetic information,
Means for reading at least one of information recorded on the IC chip and information by embossing; and means for reading magnetic information, information recorded on the IC chip, and fourth information other than information by embossing. By having it, that is, by reading two or more pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the identification accuracy of the information recording medium is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, magnetic information,
Means for reading at least one of IC information, means for reading information by embossing, magnetic information,
By having means for reading the information recorded on the IC chip and the fourth information other than the information by embossing, that is, by reading two or more pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the specific accuracy of the information recording medium is improved. Is improved.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, the provision of the means for reading two pieces of information improves the reading accuracy and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium. According to the fifteenth aspect, by providing the means for reading three pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the reading accuracy is improved by providing means for reading the magnetic information, the information recorded on the IC chip, and the fourth information other than the information by embossing, so that the reading accuracy is improved. The accuracy of specifying the medium is improved.

According to the seventeenth aspect, at least one of magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing, magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and embossing information , That is, having two pieces of information, the reading accuracy is improved, and the identification accuracy of the information recording medium is improved.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, at least one of magnetic information and IC information, embossed information, magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information other than embossed information. By having the fourth information, that is, having two pieces of information,
The reading accuracy is improved, and the accuracy of specifying the information recording medium is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the entirety of a reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the information recording medium of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an emboss reading unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an emboss reading unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment in the case where fourth information is optically readable information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment in which the fourth information is optically readable information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment in which the fourth information is optically readable information.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the fourth information is information using the fact that any one of the reflected light and the transmitted light has a specific rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light.

FIG. 9 is a first embodiment in the case where the fourth information is information using the fact that any one of the reflected light and the transmitted light has a specific rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. It is a figure explaining an example.

FIG. 10 is a second embodiment in the case where the fourth information is information using the fact that one of the reflected light and the transmitted light has a specific rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. It is a figure explaining an example.

FIG. 11 illustrates a first embodiment in which the fourth information is a mark in which either the reflectance or the transmittance has a prescribed value with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating light emitted from the LD of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a second embodiment in which the fourth information is a mark in which one of reflectance and transmittance has a prescribed value with respect to the polarization direction of incident light. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating another example of the embodiment in which the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of the embodiment in which the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating another example of the embodiment in which the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating another example of the embodiment in which the fourth information is an optical mark in which one of reflected light and transmitted light of irradiation light is guided in a predetermined direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 IC chip reading section 15 Emboss reading section 17 Magnetic stripe reading section 19 Fourth information reading section

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip,
A reading device for reading fourth information other than the embossed information. 2. magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip,
And a means for reading at least one of the information by embossing, and means for reading magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and fourth information other than information by embossing. Means for reading at least one of magnetic information and IC information; means for reading information by embossing; and magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and fourth information other than information by embossing. A reading device comprising: means for reading an image. 4. The reading device according to claim 1, wherein the fourth information is optically readable information. 5. The reading device according to claim 4, wherein the optically readable information is an optical mark whose reflectance or transmittance with respect to illumination light is a specified value. 6. The optically readable information is such that when one of the reflectance and the transmittance with respect to the illumination light is irradiation light in a specific wavelength range, the information is compared with irradiation light in other wavelength ranges. The reading device according to claim 4, wherein the reading device is a different optical mark. 7. The information according to claim 4, wherein the fourth information is information using the fact that any one of the reflected light and the transmitted light has a specific rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. The reading device according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The reading device according to claim 7, wherein the information is rotation information of a polarization direction due to a magneto-optical effect on irradiation light. 9. The reader according to claim 7, wherein the information is rotation information of a polarization direction due to irradiation light passing through a birefringent substance. 10. The mark according to claim 4, wherein the fourth information is a mark in which one of reflectance and transmittance has a prescribed value with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. 1
4. The reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 11. The information according to claim 10, wherein the information is a mark provided with a polarization filter that transmits only a specific polarization component so as to be at a predetermined angle with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. Reader. 12. The reading device according to claim 1, wherein the fourth information is an optical mark made of a substance that emits light by irradiation light. 13. The fourth information includes reflected light of irradiation light,
4. The reading device according to claim 1, wherein any one of the transmitted lights is an optical mark guided in a predetermined direction. 14. A reading apparatus comprising: means for reading information recorded on an IC chip; and means for reading information by embossing. 15. A reading apparatus comprising: means for reading magnetic information; means for reading information recorded on an IC chip; and means for reading information by embossing. 16. An information recording medium having fourth information other than magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing. 17. At least one of magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and information by embossing, and fourth information other than magnetic information, information recorded on the IC chip, and information by embossing An information recording medium comprising: 18. It has at least one of magnetic information and IC information, embossed information, magnetic information, information recorded on an IC chip, and fourth information other than embossed information. An information recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the fourth information is optically readable information.
An information recording medium according to any one of the above. 20. The optically readable information,
20. An optical mark having one of a reflectance and a transmittance with respect to illumination light having a specified value.
Information recording medium as described. 21. The optically readable information is such that when one of the reflectance and the transmittance with respect to illumination light is irradiation light in a specific wavelength range, the information is compared with irradiation light in other wavelength ranges. The information recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the information recording medium is a different optical mark. 22. The fourth information is information using that the polarization direction of reflected light or transmitted light is accompanied by a specific rotation with respect to the polarization direction of incident light. An information recording medium according to any one of claims 16 to 18. 23. The information recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the information is rotation information of a polarization direction due to a magneto-optical effect on irradiation light. 24. The information recording medium according to claim 22, wherein the information is rotation information of a polarization direction due to the irradiation light passing through a birefringent substance. 25. The mark according to claim 24, wherein the fourth information is a mark in which one of reflectance and transmittance has a prescribed value with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. 1
19. The information recording medium according to any one of 6 to 18. 26. The mark according to claim 25, wherein the information is a mark provided with a polarizing filter that transmits only a specific polarized light component at a predetermined angle with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. Information recording medium. 27. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the fourth information is an optical mark made of a substance that emits light by irradiation light. 28. The fourth information is: reflected light of irradiation light;
19. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein any one of the transmitted lights is an optical mark guided in a predetermined direction.