JP3014509U - prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [Purpose] When the read head scans, it is accurately positioned at the center of the bit mark, and no read error occurs. [Structure] When scanning a data bit 4 composed of a binary value on the surface 2 of the prepaid card 1, the position of the read head passes through the center line of the data bit at a predetermined position on the card surface 2. A position detecting bit 3 having a shape such that the output reaches a peak immediately before and then decreases is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a prepaid card, and more particularly to a prepaid card in which the center position of a read head with respect to a bit mark on the card can be easily determined at the time of reading.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Recently, as a prepaid card that can prevent data tampering and fraud, instead of the conventional magnetic card, the balance is printed and displayed as a binary mark on the surface of a paper or plastic card as a binary mark. Pre-paid cards that are configured to update the display have been used. In such prepaid cards made of paper, digital data 1 or 0 is a sequence of predetermined bit marks (combinations of marks having a binary reflection value for light of at least a specific wavelength). It is what is printed on the surface of the card. Such a conventional prepaid card is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, the prepaid card 10 is configured such that data formed by a combination of square data bits (black bits 4 and blanks 11) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the prepaid card 10. Further, a position detecting bit 30 is provided at a predetermined position on the card surface, for example, in the prepaid card 10 shown in FIG. 8, at the leftmost end of the card surface. The position detecting bit 30 is formed in a quadrangle, and determines the center position of the read head 5 which also has a quadrangular detection range.

In detecting the position, first, the read head 5 is moved in the short direction of the prepaid card 10. When the read head 5 eventually catches the tip of the position detecting bit 30, the detection output increases. Further, the detection output further increases as the read head 5 is moved in the short direction of the prepaid card 10. However, when the detection output exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the read head 5 moves to the center of the position detecting bit 30. Judge that the position has been reached. When the read head 5 reaches the short-side center position in this way, the read head 5 is moved in the long-side direction of the prepaid card 10 while keeping the short-side position, and the data bit is detected to detect the data. It is something to read.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 When the data is read out as described above, the threshold level has a width in consideration of the error. Since this width exists, the center position of the read head with respect to the bit mark is displaced, which causes a read error.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and drawbacks of the prior art, and its purpose is to accurately position the read head at the center of the bit mark, and thus to prevent a read error from occurring in the bit. Providing prepaid cards with a display.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the prepaid card according to the present invention is a prepaid card in which binary numeric data is displayed on the card surface in a row of data bits, and a bit for position detection corresponds to a data bit at a predetermined position of the card. And the read head of the prepaid card reader scans the card surface unidirectionally for position detection, before the center of the read head passes through the center line of the data bit. The position detection bit is shaped so as to be biased toward the side closer to the read head so that the output of the above will reach a peak and will be reduced by the subsequent scanning operation. The bit display here means a display that can be read by a read head, and is not limited to a display that can be identified by visible light.

[0008]

[Action]

 In the prepaid card according to the present invention, when the card surface is scanned in one direction for position detection, the read head output reaches a peak value before the read head center passes through the data bit center line. Since the position detection bit is used, the peak of the detection output is detected, and then the read head is moved by a small amount to decrease the detection output by a predetermined ratio, the center of the detection head and the center line of the data bit are It can be matched and the read head can be exactly aligned with the centerline of the data bits.

[0009]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the structure of this invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the configuration of an embodiment of a prepaid card according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a prepaid card 1 according to the present invention includes a data surface 4 on a card surface 2 which is a square data bit on either side of "0" or "1", which is each bit of data composed of binary numbers. Then, the other side is displayed by the blank 11 in a row in the longitudinal direction of the card. Further, a position detecting bit 3 is arranged at the left end position of the column consisting of these quadrangular data bits 4 or blanks 11. The position detecting bit 3 is displayed as a home base type hexagon having two notched sides 3A and 3C and one lower side 3B in which two adjacent corners of the square are notched. The center of the position detection bit 3 and the center of each data bit 4 are arranged on the same straight line.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of the position detection bit in FIG. Next, the operation will be described. First, the read head 5 having a square detection area is moved in the short direction (downward in the figure) of the prepaid card. When the detection area of the read head 5 eventually reaches the position 5A in the drawing and the center of the read head 5 reaches the position A, the read head 5 catches the tip of the position detection bit 3 and is shown in FIG. So, the sensor output starts to increase. Further, as the read head 5 is moved in the short direction of the prepaid card, the detection output further increases, the detection area of the read head 5 reaches the position indicated by 5B in FIG. 2, and the sensor output peaks. At the time of this sensor output peak, the center of the read head 5 is at the position B, and it is just before reaching the center position of the position detecting bit 3.

When the read head 5 is further moved by a predetermined amount from the position where the output peak is detected, the sensor output decreases from the peak value and the detection area of the read head 5 is located at the position 5C in the figure. Then, the center of the read head 5 reaches the position C and reaches the center position of the position detecting bit 3 in the short direction. When the read head 5 reaches the center position in the short length direction in this way, the read head 5 is moved in the long direction of the prepaid card while keeping the short position in the short length direction to detect the data bit 4 or the blank 11. , The data can be read. In this way, the center of the read head can be positioned with a small error, and the occurrence of read errors can be prevented.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the position detecting bit 3 is located at the left end of the data bit 4 or the row of the blanks 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be arranged at the center or the right end. it can.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a bit and a read head according to another embodiment of the present invention. The position detecting bit 31 is located above the center line 6 of the data bits 4 and 11 in the figure. That is, only the side approaching the read head 5 for position detection is black, and the other side is blank (color of the background of the card). FIG. 5 shows the output change of the read head sensor in the case of FIG.

6 and 7 are explanatory views and output change diagrams of another embodiment of the present invention, in which the position detection bit 32 is tapered below the center line 6. If the size of the read head sensor is not larger than the bit mark, the mark used as a data bit mark, for example, the same mark as the mark that fills the entire rectangle, is offset to the read head approaching side from the data bit center line. It may be used as a position detection bit mark.

In the above embodiment, the movement of the read head is relative to the movement of the prepaid card, and when the position is detected, the read head is normally stationary and the prepaid card reads. Although it is moved with respect to the head, the read head is described as being moved for convenience of explanation. The display of the bit mark in these examples may be printing with ink that can be identified by visible light, but other display, for example, ink that can be identified by near infrared light may be used.

[0016]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, the prepaid card according to the present invention is the prepaid card according to the present invention. Since the position detection bit is shaped so that the read head output reaches the peak value before passing, the peak of the detected output is detected, and then the read head is moved by a small amount to obtain a predetermined ratio. When the detection output decreases, the center of the detection head can be aligned with the center line of the data bit, and the read head can be accurately aligned with the center line of the data bit. With the prepaid card of the present invention, rather than submitting the peak value in advance or returning the read head after detecting the peak value, the center position is set by the reduction ratio after the peak value has passed, so that the head position is set. The movement of the card (or card) is also smooth.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the configuration of an embodiment of a prepaid card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a position detection bit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in output of the read head sensor in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a bit configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram showing a change in output of the head sensor in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a bit configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing changes in the output of the head sensor in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of bit display of a conventional prepaid card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 prepaid card 2 card surface 3 position detection bit 3A cutout side 3B lower side 3C cutout side 4 data bit 5 read head 11 blank

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G06K 19/00

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A prepaid card in which binary numeric data is displayed in a row of data bits on a card surface, a position detecting bit is provided at a predetermined position of the card corresponding to the data bit, and a prepaid card reader. When the read head scans the card surface in one direction for position detection, the output of the read head reaches a peak before the center of the read head passes the center line of the data bit and is reduced by the subsequent scanning operation. As described above, the prepaid card is characterized in that the shape of the position detecting bit is shifted toward the read head approaching side.