JP2002007981A - Information recording medium and information reproducing device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recording medium for recording various information and an information reproducing device for reproducing the recorded information on the information recording medium. SOLUTION: A number of transmitting holes corresponding to predetermined recorded information are selectively formed on a flat plate made of a lightproof material. Light transmittance at each transmitting hole is detected and the formed position of each transmitting hole is read, and the recorded information is reproduced from the formed position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording medium for recording various types of information and an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a typical information recording medium and information reproducing apparatus using light, a compact disc (CD) is known.
k), MD (mimi disk), DVD (degita)
A disk-shaped information recording medium such as a versatile disk is rotated by a drive system, and an optical pickup in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are integrated is used, and reflected light is read by a line sensor like a bar code reader. There is something.

However, since any of these uses reflected light, it is difficult to use a two-dimensional (plane) element for both the light emitting element and the light receiving element. Therefore, the information recording medium and the light emitting / receiving element are driven. As a result, information recorded on a flat surface is reproduced, and a driving mechanism and a battery are required, which hinders miniaturization and power saving of the reproducing apparatus.

In order to solve these problems, attempts have been made to solve these problems by using radio waves as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-110506. The outline will be described below.

[0005] First, as an information recording medium, a large number of through holes corresponding to predetermined recording information are selectively formed on a flat plate made of a radio wave absorbing material. , The corresponding recorded information is obtained.

In order to reproduce the information recorded on the information recording medium, first, the information recording medium is positioned and held at a predetermined reading position by a positioning unit.
Radio waves are emitted to the information recording medium by sequentially switching high-frequency oscillators from the transmitting-side antenna units arranged as a plurality of rod-shaped groups on one surface of the positioned information recording medium.

Next, on the other surface of the information recording medium, the signals are sent through the respective through holes by the receiving antenna units arranged as a plurality of rod-like groups arranged orthogonally to the transmitting antenna unit. Received radio waves.

In this way, by detecting the radio wave transmitted from the transmitting-side antenna unit through the through-hole of the information recording medium at the receiving-side antenna unit, the formation position of the through-hole in the information recording medium is detected. From this position, the recorded information recorded on the information recording medium is reproduced.

[0009]

However, the information recording medium and the information reproducing apparatus using the above-mentioned radio waves can use a two-dimensional element as a transmitting element and a receiving element for detection, and can be downsized. There is a possibility of power saving, and it can also improve the wear of the information recording medium due to contact,
There is a problem that many components to be developed in the future, such as a high-frequency switch for switching and supplying a high-frequency to the transmitting-side antenna unit and an antenna to be used, must be used.

[0010]

According to the present invention, as a configuration of an information recording medium for solving the above-mentioned problems, a large number of through holes corresponding to predetermined recording information are formed on a flat plate formed of a light-shielding material. It is formed so that the presence or absence of light transmission in each through hole is detected, the formation position of each through hole is read, and the recorded information is reproduced from the formation position. is there.

According to the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problems, wherein a large number of through-holes corresponding to predetermined recording information are selectively formed in a flat plate formed of a light-shielding material. A light-emitting element disposed on the surface of the information recording medium, and a light-receiving element that receives light through a microlens whose periphery is surrounded by a light-shielding band that shields adjacent light. The recorded information is reproduced by selectively irradiating the light receiving element with the light and detecting the presence or absence of light transmission in each of the through holes.

According to the present invention, as shown in the above configuration of the information recording medium, the structure is simple because only a through hole through which light corresponding to the recorded information passes is formed on a flat plate made of a light-shielding material. Thus, mass production becomes possible, and an information recording medium which is inexpensive and easy to handle can be provided.

Further, as shown in the configuration of the information reproducing apparatus, it is possible to reproduce information in a non-contact manner, and to reproduce recorded information without performing a mechanical relative movement. An information reproducing apparatus having excellent durability can be provided.

Further, techniques used in this information reproducing apparatus include a liquid crystal display device and a CCD (Charge Couple).
d Device) This is a technique that has already been put to practical use in an image sensor, and an apparatus can be provided at low cost.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of an information recording medium according to the present invention and an information reproducing apparatus using the same will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are configuration diagrams schematically showing one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording information medium 10
A large number of through holes 110 (100a to 100n) (n is an integer) corresponding to predetermined digital recording information RI are selectively formed on a card-shaped flat plate 100, and the recording positions of these through holes 110 are formed. , The recorded information RI is read by the information reproducing device 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information reproducing apparatus 20
A planar light emitting element 300 disposed on the flat plate 100 and a light receiving element 410a disposed below the flat plate 100 and shown in FIG.
, A large area sensor 400 having a micro lens 410b and a light-shielding band 410c, and a flat plate 1 as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a positioning unit 200 for positioning 00 at a predetermined reading position.

Then, from the flat light emitting element 300 to the flat plate 10
The light uniformly irradiated toward 0 passes through the through hole 110 which is the information recording position and is detected by the corresponding light receiving element 410a. Therefore, the position of the through hole 110 is determined, and the recorded information RI is reproduced. You.

Next, the configuration of the recording information medium 10 will be described in detail. The flat plate 100, which is a component of the information recording medium 10, has a rectangular shape, and is made of a material made of a synthetic resin material such as plastics mixed with a coloring agent such as carbon to have a light shielding property. And has a uniform light shielding property as a whole.

On the flat plate 100, a large number of through holes 110a to 110n are formed at positions corresponding to the record information RI.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, for example, no through hole is formed on the light receiving element 410a adjacent to the through hole 110a, and a through hole 110b is formed on the adjacent light receiving element 410a.

The three through holes 110b, 110c, 1
10d is formed continuously on the adjacent light receiving element 410a, and the through hole 110 is not formed on the light receiving element 410a next to the through hole 110d.
A position is selected by, for example, forming a through hole 110e on 10a, and information is recorded.

The above description also shows a part of the through-hole 110 on the PQ cross section of the flat plate 100 shown in FIG.
A large number of first parallel line groups 112 parallel to the axis and a large number of virtual lines 111 parallel to the Y-axis are formed at intersections, and recorded as data such as music software or game software as a whole.

Further, as shown in FIG.
For example, the guide holes 10 are formed at four corners of the flat plate 100 so as to be accurately attached to and detached from the positioning unit 200, which will be described in detail later.
0A to 100D (only 100A is shown in FIG. 3).

Further, these through holes 110 and guide holes 1
After the recording information medium 10 is mounted, a position through hole for performing a position search by a servo mechanism, which will be described later, is provided at two corner portions, that is, a corner portion between the recording information medium 10A and the guide hole 100C. Is formed.

For example, at the corner between the through hole 110 and the guide hole 100A, as shown in FIG. 3, three of the through holes 120a to 120c and the second parallel line are positioned in the direction of the first parallel line group 112. Position through holes 120c to 120f in the direction of group 111
4 total 6 (120a is common) position through holes 120a
To 120f are formed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the same guide hole 100A is also provided at the corner between the guide hole 100C and the through hole 110, which are located symmetrically with respect to the center of the flat plate 100, as shown in FIG. Through holes 120g to 120l are formed.

These six position through holes 120a-120
By properly detecting l by a servo mechanism described later, it is confirmed that the information recording medium 10 is accurately positioned, and the reproducing operation of the recorded information RI is performed.

When used in an environment where the information reading position on the information recording medium 10 may be relatively shifted due to vibration or the like, the positions of the position through holes 120a to 120l are detected as necessary. While controlling the servo drive mechanism, the information recording medium 10 is held at an accurate position.

The recording information medium 10 on which such position information is recorded can be formed, for example, by forming a large number of through holes 110 in a flat plate 100 by pressing or the like.
The through hole 110 can be easily formed with a size of about 0 μm.

Further, the through-hole 1 thus formed is
Since the hole 10 is formed as a small hole, in order to prevent the through hole 110 from being clogged by dust or the like, a transparent sheet is applied to the front or back surface of the flat plate 100 after the formation of the through hole 110, or a transparent resin is used. The protection of the recorded information is ensured by filling the hole 110 or the like.

Next, the configuration of the information reproducing apparatus 20 will be described in detail. A flat light emitting element 300 is provided on the upper surface of the flat plate 100, which is a component of the recording information medium 10, and the flat light emitting element 300 may be, for example, a flat panel used for a backlight of a liquid crystal display. Large LED (liquid crystal display)
y) and the like, and irradiates the flat plate 100 with light.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flat plate 100 has a frame 21 which forms a rectangular frame of the positioning unit 200.
0, and guide holes 100A to 100A formed in the flat plate 100 at the corners of the frame 210.
Guide pins 220A to 220D are in contact with each other so as to correspond to 0D.

The frame 210 and the flat plate 100 are positioned by passing the guide holes 100A to 100D of the flat plate 100 through the guide pins 220A to 220D, and the frame 210 is moved to a predetermined reading position by a servo drive mechanism (not shown). Is positioned.

The servo drive mechanism is constituted by, for example, a stepping motor and a ball screw mechanism. The servo drive mechanism conveys the frame 210 to a reading position, and positions and holds the frame 210 at the position.

The flat plate 100 is detachable from the frame 210, and the flat plate 100 can be appropriately replaced at a position where the frame 210 is retracted from the reading position by the servo mechanism.

If the mounting direction of the flat plate 100 is incorrect, erroneous recorded information will be obtained. To prevent this erroneous mounting, for example, a mark indicating the mounting direction is provided on the flat plate 100 or the guide pins 220A to 220D are connected to each other. If the positions of the guide holes 100A to 100D are asymmetrical and the mounting direction is wrong, the guide pins 220A to 220D and the guide holes 1
00A to 100D do not match, thereby preventing erroneous mounting.

As described above, the flat plate 100, which is a component of the information recording medium 10, is mounted on the positioning unit 200, disposed below the flat light emitting element 300, and moved in the horizontal direction by the servo mechanism. Will be retained.

The information recording medium 1 mounted as described above
As shown in FIG.
An area sensor 400 that receives light transmitted through the light source 10 is provided.

The area sensor 400 includes a light receiving element 410a such as a photodiode for receiving light transmitted through the through hole 110, a microlens 410b for efficiently condensing the transmitted light, and another adjacent lens. Through hole 110
And a light-shielding band 410c for shielding light leaked from the light source.

The light receiving element 410a is arranged at the bottom of the micro lens 410b.
0b and the light receiving element 410a are arranged, for example, corresponding to all of the positions below the through holes 110 to be formed in a matrix, and the microlenses 410b are formed by a light-shielding band 410c that shields adjacent light. The surroundings are enclosed.

The area sensor 400 is, for example, a CCD (Charge Couple) formed on a single crystal semiconductor.
ed Device) structure or MOS (metal-
An area sensor having an oxide-semiconductor (LCD) structure or an LCD (liquid crystal)
al display) on a polycrystalline semiconductor used in an FET (field effect transi).
It can be configured using a semiconductor technology such as a two-dimensional array of photodiodes formed using the technology that forms the stoler.

In the configuration of the area sensor 400 as described above, by selecting one light receiving element 410a,
A position on the flat plate 100 can be specified as one address.

Then, it is determined whether or not the light emitted from the plane light emitting element 300 is detected by the light receiving element 410a of the area sensor 400 at this position, and it is read whether the data at the address is "1" or "0". By writing the read result as data at the address of a memory circuit (not shown), the read result can be used as a record information RI of a game by a computer or the like.

By performing this operation for all the light receiving elements 410a on the area sensor 400, it is possible to read the record information RI recorded on the information recording medium 10 and electrically write it to the memory circuit. Thereby, for example, information recorded on the information recording medium 10 as the recorded information RI of a game or the like can be reproduced.

The information reproducing apparatus 20 constructed as described above
First, first, predetermined recording information RI is stored in the through hole 11 of the flat plate 100.
The information recording medium 10 recorded at the position of 0 is set at the retracted position on the frame 210 of the positioning unit 200, moved to the reading position by the servo drive mechanism, and held as it is.

Next, the flat light emitting element 300 and the area sensor 400 are operated, and light is emitted from the flat light emitting element 300 to the flat plate 100 as a component of the information recording medium 10 to utilize the position through holes 120a to 120l. Accurate positioning by servo mechanism.

After that, the irradiated light reaches the other surface at the portion where the through hole 110 is formed, but is blocked by the light shielding material at the portion where the through hole 110 is not formed, and Does not reach the surface.

For this reason, the light receiving element 410a of the area sensor 400 receives light on the other surface of the information recording medium 10, whereby the position of the through hole 110 formed in the flat plate 100 can be detected. The record information RI can be detected based on the result.

Thereafter, the light detected by the light receiving element 410a is converted into, for example, an electric charge.
The recording information RI recorded on the information recording medium 10 is written to the memory circuit by performing the operation for all the formation positions of the information recording medium 10 and writing “1” or “0”, which is the presence or absence of light, as data to the memory circuit using the formation position as an address. To play.

[0050]

As described above, according to the information recording medium of the present invention, only a through hole through which light corresponding to recorded information passes is formed on a flat plate made of a light-shielding material. Therefore, mass production is possible, and therefore, an inexpensive and easy-to-handle information recording medium can be provided.

Further, according to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reproduce information in a non-contact manner, and to reproduce information without performing a mechanical relative movement. It is possible to provide an information reproducing apparatus which is excellent in quality.

Further, since the technology used in this information reproducing apparatus uses a technique already put to practical use in a liquid crystal display device or a CCD image pickup device, there is an advantage that the device can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of a system using an information recording medium and an information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view schematically showing the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view schematically illustrating an information recording medium of the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a positioning unit for positioning the information recording medium shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10; information recording medium, 20; information reproducing apparatus, 100; flat plate, 100A to 100D; guide hole, 110;
10a to 110e; through hole, 111; second parallel line group, 11
2; first parallel line group, 120a to 120l; position through hole, 2
00; positioning unit, 210; frame, 220A
To 220D; guide pin, 300; flat light emitting element, 40
0; area sensor, 410a; light receiving element, 410b; microlens, 410c; light-shielding band, RI;

Claims (10)

[Claims] A plurality of through-holes corresponding to predetermined recording information are selectively formed in a flat plate formed of a light-shielding material, and the presence or absence of light transmission in each of the through-holes is detected to detect each of the through-holes. An information recording medium, wherein a position where a hole is formed is read, and the recorded information is reproduced from the position where the hole is formed. 2. The through hole is selectively formed at an intersection of each line of a first parallel line group on a surface of the flat plate and a second parallel line group orthogonal to the first parallel line group. The information recording medium according to claim 1. 3. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the light is transmitted to the through hole through a transmissive substance. 4. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding material is obtained by mixing a colorant into a carrier made of plastics. 5. A flat light-emitting device, wherein a plurality of through-holes corresponding to predetermined recording information are selectively formed in a flat plate formed of a light-shielding material, and the plurality of through-holes are disposed on a surface of the information recording medium. A light-receiving element that receives light through a microlens whose periphery is surrounded by a light-shielding band that shields light, wherein light from the planar light-emitting element is selectively radiated to the light-receiving element to emit light in each of the through holes. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded information by detecting the presence or absence of transmission of the information. 6. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information recording medium is held by a positioning unit that positions the recording information at a predetermined reading position. 7. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the positioning unit exchangeably holds the information recording medium. 8. The information according to claim 6, wherein the positioning unit has a guide pin formed at a predetermined position on the frame, and the positioning unit is positioned by passing the guide pin through a guide hole formed at a predetermined position on the recording medium. Playback device. 9. The micro lens, the light receiving element, and the light-shielding band are formed as an area sensor.
An information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 10. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said area sensor is formed on a single crystal or polycrystalline semiconductor.