JP2748655B2 - Embossed image reader - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an emboss image reading device that reads an emboss image formed on a recording medium such as a card.

(B) Conventional Technology Conventionally, in a transaction such as an ATM or a CD, an imprint apparatus that prints an emboss formed on a card used for the transaction on a processing slip at the time of transaction processing is used.

As a conventional imprinting device, a copy-type slip is superimposed on a card, and a roller or the like presses the copy slip against the card at a certain pressure to copy an embossed image to the slip. There is a method in which an image is captured as an image and printed out to an image imprinter.

In the former method, ink may adhere to the emboss of the card due to a conveyance failure of the copy slip, and the emboss may be soiled. In the latter method, since the entire apparatus is downsized and the mechanical transport system is simplified, the reliability is improved and the read data can be converted into electronic information.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional optical reading system, since the card is simply imaged from the front and converted into a signal,
The emboss of the same color as the ground color of the card did not appear as an image signal, and therefore, it could not be printed out on a slip or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem by reading a recording medium such as a card on which an embossed image is formed from a diagonal direction of the recording medium by using specular reflection light, and to deform the recording medium or read an embossed image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable embossed image reading device which is hardly affected by fluctuations of a recording medium.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to an illumination optical system that irradiates a recording medium with illumination light at a constant incident angle from an oblique direction, and a line sensor that captures an image that is specularly reflected from the recording medium. A device for reading an embossed image formed on a recording medium according to the level of an output signal of the line sensor, wherein the illumination optical system has a parallel width having a certain width in each of a width direction and a longitudinal direction of the recording medium. Light is emitted, and the line sensor captures an image of a central narrow area in the illumination light irradiation area.

(E) Operation In the embossed image reading apparatus of the present invention, the illumination optical system irradiates the recording medium with illumination light at a constant incident angle from an oblique direction, and the line sensor specularly reflects from the recording medium at substantially the same angle as the incident angle. An image to be captured is taken. FIG. 3 shows an example of the reflection of light on the recording medium and the output signal level of the line sensor at this time. As shown in FIG. 3, the line sensor is arranged to receive a regular reflection image on the surface of the recording medium. However, since the illumination light is irregularly reflected at the shoulder of the emboss, the light reflected at the shoulder of the emboss is almost a line. Does not enter the sensor. Therefore, the output level of the line sensor corresponding to the shoulder portion of the emboss is low. In this way, the area where specular reflection is performed and the area where specular reflection is not performed can be detected based on the output signal level of the line sensor, and can be read as an embossed image.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the recording medium in the embossed image reading apparatus of the present invention and the illumination light and the specularly reflected light. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1a or 1b denotes a recording medium such as a card on which an emboss is formed. The recording medium is irradiated with illumination light composed of parallel light having a width H, and a line sensor captures an image specularly reflected from the recording medium. I do. At this time, even if the reflection position on the recording medium surface fluctuates within the range of 1a to 1b, the line sensor receives regular reflection light with at least the width h. Since the line sensor captures an image of an area much smaller than the width H of the illumination light, imaging is possible as long as the width h of light received by the line sensor does not become zero. The conditions are as follows.

h = H / cos θ−2D tan θ> 0 (1) H> 2D sin θ (2) where θ is the incident angle of the illumination light and D is the fluctuation width in the normal direction of the recording medium.

As described above, the illumination light is parallel light having a constant width corresponding to the deformation of the recording medium or the fluctuation during conveyance, and the line sensor captures an image of a narrow area at the center of the recording medium. In addition, the line sensor can reliably capture the regular reflection light on the surface of the recording medium even due to fluctuations during conveyance of the recording medium.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an optical system of an embossed image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a card, 14
Is an LED array for irradiating the card 1 with illumination light at an incident angle θ1, and the LED array 14 has a plurality of light emitting units arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. A glass fiber array 3 guides the light of the LED array 14 near the surface of the card 1 and irradiates the card 1 with parallel illumination light at an incident angle θ1. On the other hand, reference numeral 15 denotes a CCD line sensor, and reference numeral 2 denotes an optical transmitter having a lens function in which optical fibers having a refractive index distribution in a cross-sectional direction are integrated. The optical transmitter 2 is arranged in such a manner that a regular reflection image of a substantially central portion of the illumination light irradiation area on the surface of the card 1 is formed on the light receiving portion of the CCD line sensor 15. That is, θ1 and θ2 in the figure are equal, and the optical axes of the incident and reflected light intersect at the surface of the card 1 at the average position. The card 1 is pinched by a transport roller (not shown) and transported in the left and right directions in the figure. An embossed image can be extracted from the output signal of the CCD line sensor 15 that changes with the conveyance of the card 1.

Next, a block diagram of a card reader / slip issuing machine in an ATM using the embossed image reading device is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, a CPU 10 is one slave CPU in a control unit constituting an ATM, and reads a card, reads an embossed image provided on the card, and issues a slip representing an imprint together with transaction contents. . ROM1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a memory in which a program to be executed by the CPU 10 is written in advance, and RAM 12 is a memory used as various working areas such as temporary storage of card data, temporary storage of processing contents to be printed on a slip, and temporary storage of an embossed image. In addition, various circuits described below are connected to the bus of the CPU 10.

The image imprint control circuit 13 mainly controls the reading of the embossed image provided on the card.
A timing signal is given to each of the array 14, the line sensor 15, the A / D converter 17, the data processing circuit 18, and the like. As described above, the LED array 14 is used as a light source for irradiating the card surface with illumination light. A CCD line sensor is used as the line sensor 15, and performs light reception (accumulation of electric charge) and output of an imaging signal in accordance with a timing signal provided from the image imprint control circuit 13. The amplification circuit 16 amplifies the signal, and converts the A / D converter 17
, Sequentially samples and holds them, and converts them into digital data of one bit or several bits. The data processing circuit 18 temporarily stores the data for one pixel or one line, and outputs a request for reading the temporarily stored data to the CPU 10. When receiving this read request, the CPU 10 reads the data in the data
Store it in the specified area of M12. The motor 20 is a pulse motor for receiving / ejecting and transporting the card. The motor control circuit 19 performs pulse control of the motor, and supplies a timing signal to the image imprint control circuit 13. The printer 22 prints the embossed image on the slip together with the details of the transaction. The interface circuit 21 performs an interface for the print control. The card reader 24 reads the contents recorded on the magnetic stripe of the card being transported, and the interface circuit 23 performs a read control interface.

In the embodiment described above, the embossed image reading device is provided in the card reader / slip issuing machine in the ATM. However, for example, the embossed image reading device of the card in a CAT terminal device or the like, or the card or the The present invention can be similarly applied to a general-purpose image scanner that reads an embossed image provided on another recording medium.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the line sensor reads the specularly reflected light on the recording medium surface from an oblique direction of the recording medium, so that the embossed shape can be extracted regardless of the ground color. In addition, since parallel light having a constant width is radiated in each of the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the recording medium, and a narrow area at the center in the irradiation area is imaged, the deformation of the recording medium and the reading of the emboss image are performed. Even if the storage medium fluctuates, a regular reflection image in the irradiation area of the illumination light can be captured. For this reason, emboss extraction can be performed correctly without being affected by the deformation of the recording medium or the fluctuation during conveyance, and the reliability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of an embossed image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 are views for explaining the operation of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a change in reflected light due to deformation or fluctuation of a recording medium, and FIG. 3 shows a state of reflected light due to embossing. FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit of a card reader / slip issuing machine using an embossed image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... card (storage medium), 2 ... optical transmitter, 3 ... glass fiber array, 14 ... LED array, 15 ... line sensor.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An illumination optical system for irradiating a recording medium with illumination light at a constant incident angle from an oblique direction, and a line sensor for capturing an image regularly reflected from the recording medium, the output of the line sensor An apparatus for reading an embossed image formed on a recording medium according to a signal level, wherein an illumination optical system irradiates parallel light having a certain width in each of a width direction and a longitudinal direction of the recording medium, and a line sensor emits light. An embossed image reading apparatus, which captures an image of a narrow area at the center in a light irradiation area.