JP4500627B2 - Conductor surface shape recognition apparatus and conductor surface shape recognition method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a surface shape recognition device for a conductor used in an authentication system for performing authentication by holding read information on a medium and verifying the read information against specific information stored in advance, and read information held on the medium in advance. The present invention relates to a method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor in an authentication system that performs authentication by collating with stored unique information.
In addition, in this invention, a conductor is used by the concept also including semiconductors other than an insulator.

A typical authentication system that uses this type of conductor surface shape recognition device and surface shape recognition method is an authentication system based on fingerprints (the surface shape of a finger, which is a conductor). There are one using a pressure sensor, one using a thermal sensor, one using a change in capacitance, one using laser light reflection, and the like.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a recognition device using a pressure-sensitive fingerprint sensor, and Patent Document 2 discloses a recognition device and a recognition method for pressing a fingerprint onto paper and fixing toner onto sebum adhering to the paper from the finger. Are listed.
JP 2004-138416 A JP-A 61-288837

By the way, in the above-mentioned patent document 1 and other types of recognition devices, the shape of a fingerprint is detected by pressing a finger on the reading surface of a sensor attached to the main body of the device. Will be touched by many users.
In such a case, there is a concern that scratches and dirt are likely to occur on the reading surface and the recognition accuracy is reduced.
Also, some people may feel uncomfortable with touching the surface that an unspecified user touches.

Moreover, in the recognition apparatus and the recognition method described in Patent Document 2, in order to fix the toner to the sebum adhering to the paper, the finger must appropriately contain sebum, which is stable due to individual differences. It was difficult to recognize fingerprints.
Furthermore, since fingerprints fixed on the paper can be seen by other people outside the main body of the apparatus, there have been security problems such as forgery and theft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a conductor surface shape recognition device in which recognition accuracy is reduced due to scratches and dirt, and variation in recognition accuracy due to differences in the surface shape of a conductor to be recognized is small. And it aims at providing the surface shape recognition method of a conductor.
The present invention also provides a conductor surface shape recognition device and a conductor surface shape recognition method that can prevent a user from feeling uncomfortable and that the surface shape cannot be seen by others outside the apparatus body. It is intended.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve such an object, the surface shape recognition device for a conductor according to claim 1 holds read information on a medium and compares the read information with unique information stored in advance. An apparatus for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor used in an authentication system for performing authentication, a conveying means for conveying the medium inside the apparatus, a charging means for charging the medium inside the apparatus, and the conductor Toner image forming means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the medium held as read information corresponding to the surface shape of the image with toner in the apparatus to form a toner image; It has an information creation means for creating the shape information of the toner image, and an output means for outputting the shape information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the surface shape of the conductor is stably formed and held as read information on the charged medium. The electrostatic latent image itself is not identified with the naked eye and is visualized only after a toner image is formed inside the apparatus.
The surface shape of the conductor is not read directly by the information creating means for creating shape information, but is temporarily held as read information via the medium.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the surface shape recognition device for a conductor having a cleaning means for removing the toner image inside the device.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the toner image formed on the medium is removed, and the surface shape is not visually recognized outside the apparatus main body.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surface shape recognition device for a conductor, comprising: a charge eliminating unit for removing the charge on the medium inside the device.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the residual charge on the medium is completely removed, the medium is suitable for reuse.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the conductive surface shape recognition device, wherein the toner image forming unit also serves as the cleaning unit.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is no need to provide a cleaning means, and a space for the cleaning means is not required.

  6. A method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor according to claim 5, wherein the method is a method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor in an authentication system that performs authentication by comparing read information held on a medium with unique information stored in advance. A charging process for charging a medium having a layer; a latent image forming process for forming an electrostatic latent image in accordance with a surface shape of the conductor by bringing the conductor into contact with the dielectric layer; A toner image forming step for forming a toner image by developing an image on the surface of the dielectric layer with toner, and a reading step for extracting the shape of the toner image.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the surface shape of the conductor is formed on the charged medium, and the surface shape is recognized stably by developing and extracting the latent image. Done. The electrostatic latent image itself is not identified with the naked eye, and is visualized only after the toner image is formed.
Further, the surface shape of the conductor is not directly read in the reading process, but is once held as read information via the medium.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor, comprising a post charge removing step for removing charge on a medium and a post cleaning step for removing the toner image after the reading step.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the residual charge on the medium and the formed toner image are completely removed, the surface shape is not visually recognized, and the medium is suitable for reuse.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor, including a pre-cleaning step of cleaning the medium in advance prior to the charging step.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the electrostatic latent image is stably formed by precleaning the medium.

  The method for recognizing the surface shape of a conductor according to claim 8 is characterized in that it has a pre-charge eliminating step for discharging the medium in advance between the pre-cleaning step and the charging step.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since the charge remaining on the medium surface is completely removed, a more stable electrostatic latent image can be formed.

According to the conductor surface shape recognition apparatus according to the present invention, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the surface shape of the conductor is formed on the charged medium. Variations in recognition accuracy due to differences in body surface shape can be reduced.
Further, the surface shape of the conductor is once held as read information through the medium, and it is not necessary for an unspecified user to touch the medium. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the medium owner from feeling uncomfortable.
In addition, the electrostatic latent image itself is not identified with the naked eye, and is visualized only after the toner image is formed inside the device. Therefore, when the surface shape of the conductor is held as read information, the surface shape is outside the device body. Can not be seen by others.
In addition, by appropriately providing cleaning means and static elimination means and removing the toner image formed after the surface shape of the conductor is recognized, the medium can be used again, and a conductor such as a fingerprint outside the apparatus main body. The surface shape of the camera will not be seen by others, and there is no need to worry about security.
Further, since the toner image forming unit also serves as the cleaning unit, it is not necessary to provide the cleaning unit. Therefore, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.

According to the method for recognizing the surface shape of a conductor according to the present invention, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the surface shape of the conductor is formed on a charged medium. Variations in recognition accuracy due to differences in body surface shape can be reduced.
Further, the surface shape of the conductor is not directly read in the reading process, but is once held as read information via the medium.
Therefore, since it is not necessary for an unspecified user to touch the medium, it is possible to prevent the medium owner from feeling uncomfortable.
In addition, the electrostatic latent image itself is not identified with the naked eye, and is visualized only after the toner image is formed by the toner image forming process. Therefore, when the surface shape of the conductor is held as read information, the surface shape is determined by another person. It will not be seen from.
In addition, post cleaning means and post charge eliminating means are provided as appropriate, and by removing the toner image formed after the surface shape of the conductor is recognized, the medium can be used again, and the surface shape of the conductor can be changed. Since it is possible to more reliably prevent others from seeing, there is no need to worry about security.
Furthermore, a stable electrostatic latent image can be formed by appropriately providing pre-cleaning means and pre-charge eliminating means.

  1 to 6 show a first embodiment of a surface shape recognition device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the surface shape recognition device, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are surface shape recognition devices. The schematic configuration of each part is shown.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a surface shape recognition device. This device 1 has a case 3 in which a slot 2 serving both as an insertion port and a discharge port is formed. Each unit includes a charge removing unit 5, a charging unit 6, a toner image forming unit 7, a shape information creating unit 8, and a control unit 9. A predetermined voltage is appropriately applied to each means as required by a power source (not shown).
Further, a conveying unit 21 is provided so that the medium 10 described later can pass through the cleaning unit 4, the charge eliminating unit 5, the charging unit 6, the toner image forming unit 7, and the shape information creating unit 8.

The cleaning unit 4, the charge eliminating unit 5, the charging unit 6, the toner image forming unit 7, the shape information creating unit 8, and the conveying unit 21 are connected to the control unit 9 through lines 22 to 27, respectively. The operations of the cleaning unit 4, the charge eliminating unit 5, the charging unit 6, the toner image forming unit 7, the shape information creating unit 8, and the conveying unit 21 are controlled.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a central processing unit provided in a host computer (not shown). The central processing unit 28 is connected to the shape information creating means 8 via a line 29 and to the control means 9 via a line 30.
In this embodiment, the central processing unit 28 stores user fingerprint information as unique information.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the cleaning unit 4 in the present embodiment. The cleaning unit 4 includes a fur brush roller 41 slidably in contact with the surface of the medium 10 (not shown) conveyed on the conveyance unit 21. A bias roller (collection roller) 42 that is in contact with the fur brush roller 41 and a cleaning blade 43 that is in contact with the outer periphery of the bias roller 42 and made of urethane rubber or the like are provided.
As indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 4 is configured to contact the medium 10 only during cleaning and to move up and down away from the medium 10 when cleaning is not performed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the static elimination means 5 in the present embodiment, in which the tip end portion 44a of the static elimination brush 44 is provided at a position of 1 mm to 4 mm from the surface of the medium 10 (not shown). It is composed.
In this embodiment, only AC static elimination is performed. However, optical static elimination for irradiating the medium surface with light may be used instead of AC static elimination or in combination with AC static elimination.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the charging means 6 in the present embodiment, and includes a wire-like corona discharge electrode 45, a U-shaped side plate 46 as a shield member, and a control grid 47 attached to the side plate 46. Thus, a scorotron charging device is constituted. Here, the grid surface 47a of the control grid 47 is arranged so as to be located at a position of 1 mm to 4 mm from the surface of the medium 10 (not shown).
In this embodiment, the scorotron charging device is used, but a charging roller may be used instead.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the toner image forming unit 7 in the present embodiment. The toner image forming unit 7 includes a developing roller 48, a developing blade 50 that thins the toner 49 on the developing roller 48, and a developing roller. 1 is a contact one-component developing device including a toner supply roller 51 for supplying toner 49 to 48. The toner 49 is a negatively charged non-magnetic one-component toner.
In this embodiment, a contact one-component developing device is used, but a non-contact one-component developing method, a two-component non-contact developing method, a two-component contact developing method, or the like may be used instead.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the shape information creating unit 8 in the present embodiment. The shape information creating unit 8 includes a reading lens 61 and a CCD sensor 62.
As the reading lens 61, a 2f system, a 4f system, or the like can be used.
Further, as the CCD sensor 62, for example, in the case where the object of surface shape recognition is a fingerprint that can be expressed in a size of about 1 inch square (25.4 mm × 25.4 mm), the CCD sensor 62 has about 512 × 512 pixels (about 500 DPI). However, it is needless to say that the number of pixels may be further increased.

  Next, based on FIG. 7, the structure of the card | curd (medium) 10 used for the recognition apparatus of this embodiment is demonstrated. This card 10 is used in the above-described surface shape recognition device, and holds information read about a fingerprint, and is used for an authentication system that collates the read information with unique information related to a cardholder's fingerprint registered in advance. It is.

The size of the card 10 itself is arbitrary, but if the width is 54 mm, the length is 86 mm, and the thickness is 0.75 mm, which is the same size as a bank cash card or a credit card of a credit sales company, versatility is high. .
The card 10 has a base 63 and an electrostatic latent image forming part 64 formed on the base 63. The size of the electrostatic latent image forming part 64 is the surface shape as described above. When the recognition target is, for example, a fingerprint, it is about 1 inch square (25.4 mm × 25.4 mm).

  As the material of the substrate 63, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is preferable from the viewpoint of hardness, strength, and rigidity, but polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate, or the like may also be used.

The electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 has a structure in which a conductive layer 65, a dielectric layer 66, and an overcoat layer 67 are applied on a base material 63. As a method for applying the conductive layer 65, the dielectric layer 66, and the overcoat layer 67, a coating solution is prepared by dispersing or dissolving a predetermined additive material and a binder resin in a solvent. The method of applying on top is common.
Other coating methods include dip coating, curtain flow, bar coating, roll coating, ring coating, spin coating, spray coating, vacuum deposition, etc., depending on the shape of the base and the state of the coating liquid. You can choose.

As the conductive layer 65, a vapor deposition layer of a conductive metal such as gold or aluminum can be used, and a resin containing a metal and its oxide, nitride, salt, alloy, or a conductive material such as carbon. It is good as a layer.
As resins in this case, polyester, polyurethane, polyarylate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, polyimide, polyamideimide, polysulfone, polyallyl ether, polyacetal, phenol resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, Examples include urea resins, allyl resins, alkyd resins, and butyral resins.

  As the dielectric layer 66, polycarbonate resin, styrene resin, acrylic resin, styrene-acrylic resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate resin, polypropylene resin, vinyl chloride resin, chlorinated polyether resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate resin, polyester resin, furan Resin, nitrile resin, alkyd resin, polyacetal resin, polymethylpentene resin, polyamide resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, polyarylate resin, diarylate resin, polysulfone resin, polyethersulfone resin, polyallylsulfone resin, silicone resin, ketone Resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyether resin, phenol resin, ethylene / vinyl acetate / copolymer (EVA) resin, acrylonitrile / styrene (ABS) resin, epoxy arylate resin, etc. Various resin materials.

The overcoat layer 67 is not necessarily required, but is formed by applying a solution containing fluororesin particles and a binder resin.
Specific examples of the fluororesin particles include polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoro Fluorine resin particles such as ethylene-ethylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, and the like can be mentioned. These fluororesin particles may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The binder resin for dispersing the fluororesin particles includes polyester resin, polyurethane resin, polyarylate resin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin, polybutadiene resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide resin, polypropylene resin, polyimide resin, phenol resin, acrylic resin, silicone Examples thereof include resins, epoxy resins, urea resins, allyl resins, alkyd resins, polyamide-imide resins, nylon resins, polysulfone resins, polyallyl ether resins, polyacetal resins, butyral resins.

  Next, how the surface shape recognition method in the first embodiment is performed by the above-described surface shape recognition device 1 and the card 10 will be described based on the flow of FIG. Here, in FIG. 8, the center dotted line portion is a boundary, the left side shows steps executed outside the apparatus 1, and the right side shows steps executed inside the apparatus 1.

  In step S 1, the card (medium) 10 is inserted from the slot 2 and placed on the transport means 21.

The card 10 is transported to a position facing the cleaning unit 4 by the transport unit 21, and pre-cleaning in step S <b> 2 is performed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 of the card 10.
At this time, in the cleaning unit 4, a bias voltage is applied to each of the fur brush roller 41 and the bias roller 42 by separate external power sources (not shown), and the positive terminal is applied to the fur brush roller 41 and the bias roller 42, respectively. Connected and the negative terminal is grounded.
The voltage applied to the fur brush roller 41 by the external power source is a voltage of plus 300 V to plus 400 V having a polarity opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 which is normally charged to minus.
On the other hand, the bias voltage applied to the bias roller 42 by another external power source (not shown) is higher than the voltage applied to the fur brush roller 41 and is set to plus 500 to plus 600V.
Due to the difference in the polarity of the voltage and the magnitude relationship, dirt having a negative polarity in the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 is collected on the bias roller 42 and removed by the cleaning blade 43.

Next, the card 10 is transported to a position facing the static elimination means 5 by the transport means 21, and the card 10 is subjected to pre-static elimination in step S3.
In the static elimination means 5, an external power source (not shown) is connected and an AC voltage of about ± 100 V to ± 1000 V is applied, whereby static elimination on the surface of the card 10 is performed.

Next, the card 10 is conveyed to a position facing the charging means 6 by the conveying means 21, and the card 10 is charged in step S4.
In the charging means 6, a voltage is applied to the corona discharge electrode 45 from an external high voltage power source (not shown), and the card 10 is charged by the control grid 47 held at a predetermined potential.
Specifically, a voltage of minus 5000 V to minus 6000 V is applied to the corona discharge electrode 45 from an external high voltage power source, and the control grid 47 is held at minus 700 V, so the surface of the card 10 is about minus. It will be charged to 700V.
In this embodiment, the card 10 is negatively charged by applying a negative voltage to the corona discharge electrode 45 and the control grid 47. However, the polarity of the voltage applied to the corona discharge electrode 45 and the control grid 47 is negative. Can be either positive or negative.
In general, it is said that ozone emission decreases when a positive voltage is applied. When the polarity of the voltage applied to the corona discharge electrode 45 and the control grid 47 is positive, the card 10 is also positively charged.

After charging in step S4, the card 10 is once discharged from the slot 2 to the outside (step S5).
At this time, the cleaning means 4 has been moved to a position away from the card 10 as described above, and the charge removal means 5 is turned off by the control means 9.
Further, it is not necessary to discharge the entire card 10, and it is sufficient if the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 is exposed to the outside.

In step S6, when the user presses the fingerprint on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the fingerprint (surface shape of the conductor) is formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64. It is formed.
That is, the fingerprint is a pattern in which the sweat glands of the skin protrude and has a continuous protrusion-like surface shape. Therefore, when the user touches the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 so that the finger is pressed, this fingerprint is finely viewed. The protruding portion is in contact with the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64.
Since the finger is a conductor, the charge on the surface of the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 charged to about minus 700 V by the charging means flows to the ground only through the contact portion with the finger. As a result, in the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64, the electric charge of only the contact portion is lost, and a fingerprint-like electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. By the way, according to the experiment result of the applicant of the present application, the potential at the place where the protruding portion of the finger is in contact has decreased from minus 100 V to 0 V with respect to about minus 700 V at the beginning.
In this step, when the user presses the fingerprint, guidance such as voice or character display for prompting the user to press the fingerprint is performed as necessary.

Thereafter, the card 10 is again inserted into the apparatus 1 from the slot 2 (step S7), and is conveyed to a position facing the toner image forming means 7 by the conveying means 21, and the toner image of step S8 is conveyed to the card 10. Formation takes place.
At this time, the cleaning means 4 has been moved to a position away from the card 10 as described above, and the static elimination means 5 and the charging means 6 are turned off by the control means 9, and the card 10 inserted again is Each step of cleaning, charge removal, and charging is skipped and the toner image forming unit 7 is reached.

In the toner image forming unit 7, an external power source (not shown) is connected to the developing roller 48, and the developing roller 48 is rotated in the same direction as the traveling direction of the card 10.
The toner supply roller 51 is rotated in contact with the developing roller 48, and the rotation direction may be the same as or opposite to the developing roller 48. The toner is a negatively charged non-magnetic one-component toner having a particle size of about 6 μm to 10 μm.
The developing roller 48 is in contact with the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 of the card 10. The electrostatic latent image of the fingerprint formed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 is developed and visualized by forming a toner image.
Specifically, the developing roller 48 is connected to an external high voltage power source (not shown), and a voltage of about minus 300 V is applied. Further, the toner supply roller 51 is connected to an external high voltage power source (not shown), and a voltage of about minus 450 V is applied. The toner 49 is stored in the frame of the toner image forming unit 7 and is mechanically attached to the developing roller 48 by the rotation of the toner supply roller 51.
Further, since the voltage applied to the toner supply roller 51 has a larger absolute value on the minus side than the voltage applied to the developing roller 48, the toner 49 is attracted to the developing roller 48. The adsorbed toner 49 is thinned by a thin plate-like developing blade 50 attached to the developing roller 48 in pressure contact.

Here, when the card 10 comes into contact with the developing roller 48, the potential of the portion where the protruding portion of the finger contacts in the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 is from minus 100V to 0V as described above. The toner 49 adhering to the toner moves to the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 side and is developed.
On the other hand, in the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64, the potential of the portion where the protruding portion of the finger is not in contact remains at about minus 700 V. Therefore, even if the card 10 contacts the developing roller 48, the developing roller 48 Since the toner 49 adhering to the toner does not move to the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 side, development is not performed.
As described above, a toner image corresponding to the fingerprint (surface shape) is formed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 of the card 10.

Next, the card 10 is conveyed to a position facing the shape information creating means 8 by the conveying means 21, and the shape information creation in step S9 is performed on the card 10.
In the shape information creating means 8, the toner image is read by the CCD sensor 62 and converted into an electric signal corresponding to the shape of the user's fingerprint.

The electrical signal corresponding to the shape of the user's fingerprint is output to the central processing unit 28 through a line 29 by an output means (not shown) (step S10), and the user's fingerprint registered in advance in the central processing unit 28 is unique. Matched with information.
Whether or not the user is the true owner of the card 10 is determined based on the match / mismatch of the verification results.

On the other hand, after the output of the electrical signal in step S10 is completed, the card 10 is returned to the position facing the cleaning unit 4 by the transport unit 21, and the post in step S11 is performed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 of the card 10. Cleaning is performed.
The contents of this post-cleaning are substantially the same as the pre-cleaning (step S2) described above, but at this time, the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 has a negative polarity and remains in the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64. The toner also has a negative polarity.
Accordingly, as described above, the polarity difference between the surface potential of the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 and the surface potential of the fur brush roller 41, the bias voltage applied to the fur brush roller 41, and the bias roller 42 are applied. Due to the magnitude of the bias voltage, the negative polarity toner 49 remaining in the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 is collected by the bias roller 42 and removed by the cleaning blade 43.

  Next, the card 10 is returned to the position facing the static elimination means 5 by the transport means 21, and post-static elimination in step 12 is performed on the card 10. The details of the post-static elimination are the same as the pre-static elimination (step S3) described above, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Then, the card 10 is discharged from the slot 2 to the outside (step S13), returned to the user, and used repeatedly.

An example of a fingerprint detected by the surface shape recognition apparatus and the surface shape recognition method of the first embodiment is shown in FIG.
The image shown in FIG. 9 is based on the first embodiment. After the card 10 is pre-cleaned, pre-charged and charged, and the fingerprint is actually pressed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 of the card 10, the toner image In this image, the toner 49 is attached to the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 by the forming unit 7, and the formed toner image is peeled off with a tape and pasted on a white paper, and is taken with a digital camera.
It can be seen that the shape of the fingerprint is detected very clearly.

According to the surface shape recognition apparatus of the first embodiment, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a fingerprint is formed on a charged card, so that the recognition accuracy is reduced due to scratches and dirt on the medium, and the fingerprint recognition accuracy varies. Can be reduced.
The fingerprint is once held as read information via the card, and it is not necessary for an unspecified user to touch the card, so that the cardholder can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.
In addition, the electrostatic latent image of the fingerprint itself is not identified with the naked eye and is visualized only after the toner image is formed inside the device. Therefore, when the fingerprint is pressed on the electrostatic latent image forming part of the card, The fingerprint is not seen by others.
After the fingerprint is recognized, post-static elimination and post-cleaning are performed, and the toner image formed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit is completely removed inside the device and then discharged outside the device. Can be used.
Also, since fingerprints are not seen by other people outside the main body, there is no need to worry about security.
Further, by performing pre-cleaning and pre-static elimination, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the fingerprint is formed more stably.

Further, according to the conductor surface shape recognition method in the first embodiment, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the fingerprint is formed on the charged card, so that the recognition accuracy is reduced due to scratches or dirt on the medium, fingerprint recognition. The variation in accuracy can be reduced.
Also, the fingerprint is once held as read information via the card, and an unspecified user never touches the card, so that the cardholder can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable.
In addition, the electrostatic latent image of the fingerprint itself is not identified with the naked eye, and is visible only after the toner image is formed in the toner image forming process, so that it can be seen by others when holding the fingerprint as read information. There is no.
In addition, after the fingerprint is recognized, post charge removal and post cleaning are performed, and the toner image formed on the electrostatic latent image forming portion is completely removed, so that the card can be used again.
Also, since fingerprints are not seen by other people outside the main body, there is no need to worry about security.
Further, by performing pre-cleaning and pre-static elimination, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the fingerprint is formed more stably.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to portions common to the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the surface shape recognition apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is provided with a charging unit 6, a toner image forming unit 7, a shape information creating unit 8, and a control unit 9 inside the case 3. In comparison with the first embodiment, the dedicated cleaning unit 4 and the neutralization unit 5 are not provided. However, as will be described later, the toner image forming unit 7 also serves as a cleaning unit. .
By omitting the static eliminating means 5, there is a slight residual charge on the card surface, and the formed toner image may be slightly blurred, but this is not a problem at all in practice. It has been confirmed by the present inventor.

  The flow of the surface shape recognition method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. After the card 10 is first inserted (step S1), the charging means 6 performs precharging in step S2A on the card 10. Done. The contents of the charging here are the same as in step S4 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Thereafter, the card 10 is conveyed to a position facing the toner image forming unit 7 by the conveying unit 21, and minute dust and oil on the card 10 are collected by the developing roller 48, and pre-cleaning in step S3A is performed.
As described above, at this time, the card 10 is charged to about minus 700 V, and the bias voltage applied to the developing roller 48 is set to minus 300 V. Therefore, the toner 49 adhering to the developing roller 48 becomes the developing roller. Particles such as dust and dust that are negatively charged on the card 10 while being held on the card 10 are also attracted to the developing roller 48 side. Here, if the voltage applied to the developing roller 48 is set to 0 V or a positive voltage (for example, 300 V), it is possible to more strongly adsorb particles such as dust and dust on the card 10.
As described above, the pre-cleaning in step S3A can be performed by the toner image forming unit 7.

  Thereafter, the card 10 is returned to the position opposite to the charging means 6 again by the transport means 21, and the card 10 is charged (step S4), discharged to the outside of the card (step S5), and the fingerprint is pressed (step S6). The steps of reinserting the card into the apparatus (step S7), toner image formation (step S8), shape information creation (step S9), and shape information output (step S10) are performed. Since these contents are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

When step S10 is completed, the card 10 is returned again to the position facing the charging unit 6 by the transport unit 21, and post-charging in step S11A is performed on the card 10.
Further, the card 10 is sent to a position facing the toner image forming means 7 by the conveying means 21, and post cleaning in step S12A is performed. The contents of the post-charging (S11A) and the post-cleaning (S12A) are the same as those of the pre-charging (S2A) and the pre-cleaning (S3A), respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Then, the card 10 is discharged from the slot 2 to the outside (step S13), returned to the user, and used repeatedly. At this time, although the card 10 is negatively charged, the charge amount of the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 which is a charged portion is small and the voltage is low, so that the user does not feel uncomfortable.

  According to the second embodiment, since the toner image forming unit is also used as the cleaning unit and the neutralizing unit is omitted, the entire apparatus can be downsized.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the unique information of the user's fingerprint is registered in advance in the central processing unit 28, and that the unique information is compared with the read information formed on the card. However, it goes without saying that the recognition apparatus and the recognition method according to the present application can also be used when the unique information is initially registered in the central processing unit 28.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the above-described embodiment, fingerprint recognition has been described. However, the present invention can be applied not only to fingerprints but also to various sebum patterns such as palm prints and foot prints.
The object of recognition is not limited to sebum, and any conductor can be recognized.

  Specifically, FIG. 12 shows a conductive writing tool 68, and an electrostatic latent image of a signature is formed on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 using the writing tool 68 and is registered in the central processing unit 28 in advance. It is possible to recognize the identity of the signature by comparing it with the unique information of the user's signature.

  Similarly, FIG. 13 shows a conductive seal 69. This seal 69 is stamped on the electrostatic latent image forming unit 64 to form a stamped electrostatic latent image, and a user registered in the central processing unit 28 in advance. It is also possible to contrast with the unique information of the seal.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the unique information is stored in the central processing unit 28 provided in the host computer, but it is also possible to store the unique information by embedding a microchip in the card 10 itself. According to the configuration, it is not necessary to perform communication between the recognition apparatus 1 and the host computer one by one.

It is a block diagram of the surface shape recognition apparatus by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the cleaning means of the recognition device. It is a schematic block diagram of the static elimination means of the recognition apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of the charging means of the recognition device. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner image forming unit of the recognition device. It is a schematic block diagram of the shape information preparation means of the recognition apparatus. It is a figure explaining the structure of the card | curd used with the recognition apparatus. It is a flowchart of the surface shape recognition method by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the fingerprint detected by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the surface shape recognition apparatus by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the surface shape recognition method by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conductor used in the case of implementation of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the conductor used in the case of implementation of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Surface shape recognition apparatus 4 Cleaning means 5 Static elimination means 6 Charging means 7 Toner image formation means 8 Shape information creation means 9 Control means 10 Card (medium)

Claims (8)

A surface shape recognition device for a conductor used in an authentication system for holding read information in a medium and performing authentication by comparing the read information with previously stored unique information,
Conveying means for conveying the medium inside the apparatus;
Charging means for charging the medium inside the apparatus;
Toner image forming means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the medium held as read information corresponding to the surface shape of the conductor with toner inside the apparatus to form a toner image;
Information creating means for creating shape information of the toner image inside the apparatus;
Output means for outputting the shape information;
An apparatus for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor.   2. The conductor surface shape recognition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning unit that removes the toner image inside the apparatus.   3. The surface shape recognition apparatus for a conductor according to claim 1, further comprising a charge eliminating unit that removes the charge on the medium inside the apparatus.   4. The conductor surface shape recognition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the toner image forming unit also serves as the cleaning unit. A method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor in an authentication system that performs authentication by comparing read information held in a medium with unique information stored in advance,
A charging step of charging a medium having a dielectric layer;
An electrostatic latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image according to a surface shape of the conductor by bringing the conductor into contact with the dielectric layer;
A toner image forming step of forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the dielectric layer with toner;
A reading step of extracting the shape of the toner image;
A method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor, comprising:   6. The method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor according to claim 5, further comprising a post charge removing step for removing charge on the medium and a post cleaning step for removing the toner image after the reading step.   7. The conductor surface shape recognition method according to claim 5, further comprising a pre-cleaning step of cleaning the medium in advance prior to the charging step. The method for recognizing a surface shape of a conductor according to claim 5, further comprising a pre-charge eliminating step for previously neutralizing the medium between the pre-cleaning step and the charging step.

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