JP3013374U - Optical prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an optical prepaid card with high recording density. In the optical prepaid card 1 in which a predetermined colored area is formed on a recording surface and the content of the recorded information recorded on the recording surface is discriminated by the reflected light of the light irradiated on this area, the area is One of at least three reflection characteristics having different reflection characteristics with respect to light of one wavelength is provided. This increases the amount of information that can be recorded in the unit information recording area.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an optical prepaid card in which mark-like information such as a Carla code is recorded.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As shown in FIG. 2, the Carla code is an information recording area 1 in which a predetermined area on the surface of a portable optical prepaid card A is formed on a white background or a color close to the white area, and a plurality of units are arranged at equal intervals in the vertical direction. , N, and each of these unit information recording areas 11, 12, 13, ..., N is divided into four 2 × 2 unit areas a, It is divided into b, c, and d, and a white portion having a black mark B having a low light reflectance or a black mark B having no light reflectance is provided in an arbitrary region among the unit regions a, b, c, and d. Data is recorded or identified by a combination of these.

In the reading device for the optical prepaid card in which the Karla code is recorded as described above, after the optical prepaid card is loaded into the reading device, the information recording surface of the optical prepaid card is a reading unit including an image sensor. The optical prepaid card is intermittently fed in the longitudinal direction by the motor. The unit length of the card transportation amount at this time is defined by the detection length of the image sensor.

Here, the information recording area 1 of the conveyed card is scanned in a direction orthogonal to the card feeding direction, and “white” and “black” which are reading results for each detection width of the image sensor are binarized. Process and expand in memory.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the conventional Carla code records only one kind of black mark in one unit area of each unit information recording area 11 to n, and the reading device accordingly responds to one kind of light. Since it is configured to detect whether or not there is a mark, the recording density is limited and the information recording area 2 must be enlarged when recording a large amount of information.

In this case, when the information is recorded with the Carla code for a size-limited card such as a portable prepaid card, the recorded information is also restricted and the versatility of the optical card is also a problem. Will occur.

In order to solve the above problems, it is conceivable to make the mark multicolored and irradiate it with the same light source and identify it by the intermediate value of the reflected light amount from the information recording area 2, but the reliability and reproducibility Poor and unrealistic. In addition, if it is attempted to put it into practical use, it will impose severe conditions on the uniformity of marks and the reading value, which is not realistic.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an optical prepaid card having a substantially increased recording density in a limited area.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical pre-paid card in which a predetermined colored area is formed on a recording surface, and the content of recorded information is discriminated by reflected light of the light irradiated on the area. Is designed to have one of at least three reflection characteristics having different reflection characteristics for light of one wavelength.

[0010]

[Action]

 According to the optical prepaid card of the present invention, the number of types of information recorded in the unit information recording area is increased, and the recording density per unit recording area is substantially improved.

[0011]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 is a view showing an optical card according to the present invention. The same components as those of FIG. 2 showing a conventional example are represented by the same reference numerals.

The first mark B1 is formed, for example, by printing red paint ink on predetermined unit areas a to d. The red mark B1 has a high reflectance for light in the wavelength band near the wavelength of 6500 Å and a low reflectance for light in other wavelength bands, that is, a high absorptance.

The second mark B2 is formed, for example, by printing green paint ink on predetermined unit areas a to d. The green mark B2 has a high reflectance for light in the wavelength band near the wavelength of 5200 angstroms and a low reflectance for light in other wavelength bands, that is, a high absorptance.

The third mark B3 is formed, for example, by printing yellow paint ink, which is a mixture of red and green, on predetermined unit areas a to d. The yellow mark B3 has a low reflectance with respect to, for example, light in the wavelength band near the wavelength of 6500 angstroms and light in the wavelength band of the wavelength near 5200 angstroms, that is, high absorptivity for both lights.

As described above, the optical card A according to the present embodiment uses three colors of red, green and yellow instead of the black color as the mark B like the conventional card, which is a so-called multicolor printing. It is configured as a card having a pattern. With this configuration, ternary information can be given to one unit area instead of binary information.

In the present embodiment, the case where the marks to be recorded (printed) on the optical card A are red, green and yellow has been described as an example, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this. When using two colors or another color, for example "blue" which is one of the three primary colors of light, it is desirable to change the wavelength of the light source in the reading device accordingly.

Further, various modes such as a combination of achromatic colors “white” and “black” and three primary colors of light “red”, “green” and “blue” are possible.

[0018]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, the optical card of the present invention has an advantage that the recording density per unit information recording area can be improved as compared with the conventional optical prepaid card.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an optical prepaid card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional optical prepaid card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A optical prepaid card 1 information recording area 11 to n unit information recording area a, b, c, d unit area B1 first mark B2 second mark B3 third mark

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 1, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An optical prepaid card having a recording surface on which a predetermined colored area is formed, and the content of the recorded information recorded on the recording surface is determined by the reflected light of the light irradiated on this area. An optical prepaid card characterized in that the region has one of at least three reflection characteristics having different reflection characteristics for light of one wavelength.