JP3281128B2 - Identifiable documents - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an identifiable document used for a credit card, a prepaid card, etc., which can confirm the authenticity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, forgery or falsification of various documents such as credit cards, prepaid cards, bonds, licenses and the like has become a problem, and means for identifying the authenticity of documents has been socially demanded.

As a method for identifying the authenticity of a document, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-501250 proposes an authenticity identification method using microwave means. The identification method disclosed in the above publication is to mix conductive particles such as conductive fiber into a non-conductive material such as paper, plastic, etc., to obtain a physical property that makes a unique change different from document to document with respect to microwave. This is a method of assigning and identifying.

[0004]

However, in the identification method using the above-mentioned microwave means, the method for producing the conductive fiber mixed sheet is complicated, and the conductive fibers have poor dispersibility and are easily aggregated. It is difficult to provide physical properties that have different inherent changes. Further, since the conductive fiber mixed sheet has low strength and is difficult to be thinned, the thickness of the document increases, which is not practical.

In addition, it is difficult to completely seal microwaves with microwave means, and there is a problem of radio interference caused by leaked microwaves. In addition, microwave irradiation and detection devices are generally large and expensive.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an identifiable document that does not suffer from the disadvantages of the microwave means. Another object of the present invention is to provide an identifiable document which is easy to manufacture and has no false judgment.

[0007]

A first aspect of the present invention is an identifiable document including at least a substrate and an identification pattern provided on the substrate, wherein the identification pattern is different for each document. Having a shape, the identification pattern has an absorption characteristic different from that of the substrate for incident light, and further, when the incident light passes through a document, is absorbed by the identification pattern,
The document is an identifiable document characterized by detecting a difference between the absorbed incident light and the incident light that has passed without being absorbed to identify the document. Further, a second aspect of the present invention is an identifiable document including at least a base, a reflective layer provided over the entire base, and an identification pattern provided on the reflection layer, wherein the identification pattern is Having a unique shape different for each document, the identification pattern has a different absorption characteristic with respect to the incident light than the substrate, furthermore, the incident light is irradiated on the identifiable document through the identification pattern, While being reflected by the reflection layer and returning, the incident light is absorbed by the identification pattern, and the absorbed light and the light returned without being absorbed are detected to identify a document. It is an identifiable document. Further, a third aspect of the present invention is that, in the above second aspect, the identification pattern absorbs light having a wavelength other than visible light, and furthermore, the identification pattern is visible in an upper layer or both an upper layer and a lower layer of the identification pattern. An identifiable document having a concealing layer that absorbs light and transmits light having a wavelength other than the visible light. A fourth aspect of the present invention is the document according to the third aspect, wherein the identification pattern and the concealing layer have the same color.

[0008] The identifiable documents are various documents such as passports, credit cards, bonds, licenses and the like. Figure 1,
2 and 3 show an example of a configuration diagram of an identifiable document used in the present invention. 1 shows a document having an identification pattern formed on a substrate, FIG. 2 shows a document having an identification pattern formed on a reflection layer, and FIG. 3 shows upper and lower layers of the identification pattern formed on the reflection layer. A document having a concealing layer on each side is shown. FIG. 4 shows an example of an identification pattern formed on each of the documents.

The document shown in FIG.
0 and a protective layer 70 are formed. The substrate 10 is usually made of paper, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or the like. The identification patterns 50 are formed, for example, by applying black ink mixed with carbon black or the like to form individually different identification patterns as shown in FIG.

Specifically, for example, a method of applying a pigment or the like to a uniform film thickness and then rubbing the surface of the applied layer with a brush,
A method of printing by using a mesh sheet having a random shape as a masking material, or a method of printing different designs adjacently by using a plurality of plate cylinders can be used.

The material of the protective layer 70 is not limited as long as it has a function of protecting the identification pattern 50 and has a property of not absorbing incident light. For example, an ultraviolet curable resin or the like can be used.

A method for identifying the identification pattern formed on the document shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Protective layer 7 in place on document
0 Incident light, for example, infrared rays, is incident from above. Infrared rays that pass through the document and are detected from below are classified into light that has passed through the identification pattern 50 and light that has not passed through. The former light intensity is lower than the latter light intensity because it passes through the identification pattern 50. The intensity difference between the two types of light is detected as an analog signal depending on the document position in accordance with the scanning direction of the incident light.

The incident light has a spot diameter, for example, a diameter of 1 to 10
Since the light is irradiated with a light beam of mm, the intensity difference of the transmitted light is obtained as the average value of the spot area. Since the identification pattern 50 is unique for each document, the difference in transmitted light intensity differs for each document, and the obtained analog signal also differs for each document.

The determination of the authenticity of a document is performed by storing in advance an analog signal unique to each document, and comparing the stored signal with an analog signal read from the document. What is important in the determination is that the sensitivity, that is, a clear intensity difference corresponding to the identification pattern 50 is obtained, and that erroneous determination hardly occurs even when the scanning line is slightly shifted. According to this, such a document can be easily obtained.

The document shown in FIG. 2 has a substrate 10, a recording layer 20,
Reflective layer 30, anchor layer 40, identification pattern 50, hiding layer 6
0, a protective layer 70 is sequentially formed. The recording layer 20 formed on the base 10 is made of a material capable of recording information read from the identification pattern as described later, for example, a magnetic material.

The reflective layer 30 has a high reflection intensity, and is formed of a layer of Al, Sn, Ni, Ag, Cu, Pb, Au, or the like by vacuum deposition, sputtering, low-temperature plasma, or the like. In order to improve the adhesion between the reflection layer 30 and the identification pattern 50, an anchor layer 40 is provided between the reflection layer 30 and the identification pattern 50. As the anchor layer, for example, polyester resin, polyester polyurethane resin, alcohol-soluble nylon, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer and the like are used.

In this embodiment, by providing the colored concealing layer 60, the identification pattern 50 is covered and hidden so as to prevent imitation of the identification pattern 50. However, the concealing layer 6
When 0 is used, visible light having a wavelength absorbed by the concealing layer 60 cannot be used as incident light. The material used for the hiding layer 60 is not particularly limited as long as it has a hiding effect. For example, a mixture of a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer with a black dye and a near infrared absorbing dye can be used.

The surface of the concealing layer 60 may be roughened by embossing or the like to scatter visible light. The protective layer 70 may be colored by adding a dye without newly providing the concealing layer 60. The identification pattern 50 can be obtained by using the same method as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

A method for identifying the identification pattern formed on the base of the document shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The incident light, for example, infrared light, incident from the protective layer 70, passes through the concealing layer 60, is absorbed by the identification pattern 50, and passes through the anchor layer 40 and is reflected by the reflective layer 30 in a state where the intensity is reduced. . The reflected light is again absorbed by the identification pattern 50, the intensity is further reduced, and is detected from the protective layer 70 side. On the other hand, infrared rays that do not pass through the identification pattern 50 pass through each layer, are reflected by the reflective layer 30, and are detected from the protective layer 70 side.

The difference in intensity between the two types of reflected light is detected as an analog signal depending on the position of the document in accordance with the scanning direction of the incident light. Since the incident light is irradiated with a light beam having a spot diameter of, for example, 1 to 10 mm, the intensity difference of the reflected light is obtained as an average value of the spot area. Since the identification pattern 50 is unique to each document, the difference in reflected light intensity differs for each document, and the obtained analog signal also differs for each document.

In the case of a document provided with a recording layer 20 of a magnetic material or the like, an authenticity determination method described below can be used. A digital signal obtained by converting an analog signal obtained from the intensity difference of the reflected light according to a certain secret rule is recorded on the recording layer 20. The digital signal is read by a magnetic head by converting a response signal for each sub-area when the recording area is divided into a number of sub-areas into a binary value at a slice level, or converting it into several hierarchical values. Recorded as a stripe or the like. As a recording method, there is an optical method such as a barcode and a printed character.

The authenticity of a document is determined by comparing a digital signal obtained by converting an analog signal obtained from reflected light with a digital signal recorded on the recording layer 20 to determine the identity or similarity between the two. It can be carried out. That is, since the document of this embodiment has the recording layer 20, it is not necessary to separately store the signal of the identification pattern 50, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the document shown in FIG. 3, a concealing layer 60 is provided on the upper side of the identification pattern 50 formed on the reflective layer 30, and a concealing layer 61 is provided on the lower side. By providing the concealing layer 61, even if the concealing layer 60 is repeatedly used and worn, the visible light reflected by the reflective layer 30 is reflected by the concealing layer 61.
Is absorbed, so that the effect of the hiding layer is continued. For this reason,
The identification pattern 50 is not visible from the surface.
Can be further prevented.

If the identification pattern 50 and the concealing layer 61 have the same color, even if the upper concealing layer 60 is peeled off, it is difficult to distinguish the identification pattern 50 from the lower concealing layer 61, thereby preventing the identification pattern 50 from being imitated. it can. At this time, it is more preferable that the concealing layer 60, the identification pattern 50, and the concealing layer 61 have the same color.

[0025]

The document of the present invention can be easily formed into a thin film because the identification pattern is formed by coating, and the manufacturing apparatus can be simplified. In addition, it is possible to easily create an identification pattern having a unique shape different for each document. By providing the concealing layer, imitation of the identification pattern can be further prevented without the identification pattern being seen from the surface.

[0026]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 A black infrared absorbing ink obtained by mixing carbon black with a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of 188 μm was applied by gravure printing using a random-shaped net-like sheet as a masking material. The identification pattern shown in FIG. 4 was formed. Further, as a protective layer, a UV-curable resin UNIDIC17-
824-9 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.)
m. The identification pattern of the resulting document was visible from the surface.

A predetermined position of the document is set to a spot diameter of 5 mm,
Infrared light having a wavelength of 950 nm was scanned. FIG. 5 shows the obtained analog signal of the reflected light.

(Example 2) A 50 nm Al vapor-deposited layer was provided on a magnetic layer applied to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of 188 µm. 1μm thick using polyester polyurethane resin on Al deposition layer
Was provided. After an infrared absorbing ink containing a black pigment was applied to the anchor layer, the surface of the ink layer was rubbed with a brush to form a hairline-shaped identification pattern.

Further, SIRBlack is used as a black dye.
675M (manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), a dispersion medium in which SIR128 (manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) is dispersed in a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer as a near-infrared absorbing dye is applied as a hiding layer to a thickness of 5 μm. did. UV-curable resin Celcol UNIDIC17-8 as a protective layer on the concealing layer
24-9 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) with a thickness of 2
μm. The identification pattern of the obtained document was not seen from the surface because the dye absorbing visible light was dispersed in the concealing layer.

A predetermined position of the document is set at a spot diameter of 5 mm,
Infrared light having a wavelength of 950 nm was scanned. FIG. 6 shows the obtained analog signal of the reflected light.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE Two PET films (thickness: 75 mm) were mixed with an adhesive containing 0.2% by weight of stainless steel fiber (average diameter: 8 μm × average length: 5 mm).
μm) was attached to form a document.

A predetermined position of the manufactured document was scanned with a microwave beam, and the intensity of the transmitted microwave beam was measured. Microwave frequency 24.15 GHz, waveguide 10 mm
× 4 mm. The intensity of the obtained transmission micro is shown in FIG.
Shown in

In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the obtained signal has many peaks appearing randomly and clearly. Although the distribution of each peak is random, there are few sharp changes and deviations.

On the other hand, in the conventional document, as shown in FIG. 7, the obtained signal has a small number of peaks, and the distribution of the peaks is largely biased. This means that there is a portion where the conductive material is aggregated and a portion where the conductive material hardly exists.

When the document of the present invention was operated at a position shifted by 1 to 2.5 mm from the reference scanning line, an approximate response was obtained in the document of the present invention. However, the response was greatly different from that in the case of scanning the reference operation line in the conventional document.

Example 3 A 50 nm Al vapor-deposited layer was provided on a magnetic layer coated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of 188 μm. 1μm thick using polyester polyurethane resin on Al deposition layer
Was provided. A black paint obtained by dissolving 15 parts by weight of polymethyl methacrylate and 2.3 parts by weight of a black leuco dye in 100 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran was applied as a hiding layer to a thickness of 1 μm.

Then, a urethane-based paint having infrared absorption properties to which carbon black was added was applied by gravure printing using a mesh sheet having a random shape as a masking material to form an identification pattern. Further, the mixed black paint was applied as a hiding layer to a thickness of 5 μm. UV-curable resin UNIDIC17-824 as protective layer
-9 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) with a thickness of 1 μm
Was applied.

The identification pattern of the obtained document was not seen from the surface because the dye absorbing visible light was dispersed in the concealing layer. Further, even when the upper concealment layer was peeled off, the identification pattern could not be found because the black identification pattern was sandwiched between the black concealment layers.

[0040]

Since the identification pattern of the present invention is formed by coating, there is no need to disperse conductive fibers and the like, and the manufacturing process is simple. In addition, the obtained signal is random but has little abrupt change and bias, so that there is no erroneous determination of true / false.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an identifiable document used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an identifiable document used in the present invention, which is different from FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an identifiable document used in the present invention, which is different from FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an identification pattern used in the document of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an output signal obtained by scanning a document of the present invention with light.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an output signal obtained by scanning a document of the present invention with light different from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an output signal obtained by scanning a document with a microwave used in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Substrate 20 Recording layer 30 Reflection layer 40 Anchor layer 50 Identification pattern 60 Hiding layer 61 Hiding layer 70 Protective layer

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI G06K 19/10 G06K 19/00 R (56) References JP-A-64-87395 (JP, A) International Publication 91/19614 (WO , A1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B42D 5/00-15/10 B41M 3/14 G06K 17/00-19/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] Claims 1. An identifiable document including at least a base and an identification pattern provided on the base, wherein the identification pattern has a unique shape different for each document, and the identification pattern is Has an absorption characteristic different from that of the substrate with respect to the incident light, and furthermore, when the incident light passes through the document, is absorbed by the identification pattern, and the absorbed incident light and the incident light that pass without being absorbed. An identifiable document characterized by identifying a document by detecting a difference from light. 2. An identifiable document including at least a substrate, a reflective layer provided over the substrate, and an identification pattern provided on the reflection layer, wherein the identification pattern is provided for each document. Having a different unique shape, the identification pattern has different absorption characteristics to the substrate for incident light,
Further, while the incident light is applied to the identifiable document through the identification pattern, and is reflected and returned by the reflective layer, the incident light is absorbed by the identification pattern, and the absorbed light and the unabsorbed light are not absorbed. An identifiable document, wherein the document is identified by detecting light returned to the document. 3. The identifiable document according to claim 2, wherein the identification pattern absorbs light having a wavelength other than visible light, and further includes an upper layer or an upper layer and a lower layer of the identification pattern. An identifiable document having a concealing layer that absorbs visible light and transmits light of a wavelength other than the visible light on both sides. 4. The document according to claim 3, wherein the identification pattern and the concealment layer have the same color.