JP4935019B2 - Article registration apparatus, article registration program, and authentication system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an article registration apparatus, an article registration program, and an authenticity determination system for determining the authenticity of an article based on optically readable features having randomness distributed along the surface of the article .

  In recent years, counterfeiting of various items such as securities, banknotes, credit cards, prepaid cards and other various cards, various rights documents, important documents such as confidential documents, etc. has become a problem. Various technologies have been proposed.

For example, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a prepaid card is manufactured using a resin mixed with magnetic fibers, and identification data indicating a magnetic arrangement state in a predetermined reference area of the card, and a predetermined amount based on the identification data. The signature data generated based on the signature generation rule is stored in advance in the magnetic stripe attached to the card, and when the authenticity of the card is determined, the identification data and signature data stored in the magnetic stripe of the card are stored. Reads the reference data indicating the magnetic arrangement state in the reference area of the card, and checks whether the identification data is falsified based on the read signature data. If the falsification data is not falsified, the reference data and the identification data Is disclosed that determines whether a prepaid card is genuine by checking whether or not .
JP-A-9-245139 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-212454

  However, since the technique of patent document 1 and patent document 2 arrange | positions a magnetic body fiber in a reference | standard area | region, since the target article | item must be manufactured with the exclusive resin and the paper which mix | blended the magnetic body fiber, It becomes cost rise.

  Therefore, reference data indicating random characteristics distributed along the surface of the real article is stored in advance, and is distributed along the surface of the article to be determined when determining authenticity. A technique for determining the authenticity of an article to be determined by reading the characteristics, obtaining collation data, and collating the reference data with the collation data is also conceivable.

  As a result, it is not necessary to manufacture the article with a dedicated resin or paper, and the article can be manufactured with a general-purpose resin or paper, thereby preventing an increase in cost.

  However, in this technique, since the feature distributed along the surface of the article to be judged is read and the authenticity is judged, if the feature has changed, the genuine article is erroneously judged as a fake. A new problem arises that it may occur.

  That is, for example, if the feature is unevenness on the surface of the article, the surface of the article is worn by rubbing with other objects, and if the unevenness of the surface changes due to wear, It may be misjudged.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an article registration apparatus, an article registration program, and an authenticity judgment system capable of suppressing the occurrence of an erroneous judgment when judging the authenticity of an article. And

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention, there an article registration device for registering an article optically readable feature with random properties are distributed along the surface as a genuine article Te, identification information generating means for generating identification information for identifying said article to be registered, a protective member for protecting the surface of the pre-Symbol articles have a light transmitting property, affixed to cover a predetermined region of the surface of the article And the identification information that is optically readable at a position adjacent to the predetermined area when the protection means is attached to the surface of the article by the protection means on the protection member attached by the protection means. a printing unit for printing the identification information image based, is irradiated to the surface of the article, it has been transmitted through the protective member through the reflected light or the predetermined region is reflected at the predetermined region of the surface of the article Obtaining means for obtaining characteristic information indicating a distribution before Symbol characteristics of the predetermined area by receiving excessive light, the characteristic information acquired by the acquisition unit, obtained from an article that is a determination target of authenticity the Registration means for storing and registering in the storage means in association with the identification information, as reference information for determining the authenticity of the article as the determination target based on a correlation value indicating similarity with feature information ; I have.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the protective member having optical transparency and pasted to the surface of the article to protect the surface of the article, reflected in a predetermined region of the surface of the article passes through the protection means the reflected light or a predetermined area by receiving the transmitted transmission light acquired characteristic information indicating characteristics of a surface of the predetermined area, to register and memorize in the memory means as a reference information indicating that the article of authentic . At this time, identification information is printed on the protective member at a position corresponding to the predetermined area. The memory means includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a flash EEPROM (Flash EEPROM), a flexible disk, Portable media such as smart media (SmartMedia (registered trademark)), microdrive (registered trademark), CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), CD-RW (Compact Disc-ReWritable), magneto-optical disk, hard disk, etc. Or an external storage device provided in a server computer connected to a network.

Articles registered in this way, based on the feature information and the identification information light is acquired by irradiation, with the correlation value indicating the similarity between the reference information stored in the feature information storage means Authentication can be determined based on the correlation value.

According to the invention thus according to claim 1, the surface of the article to be registered by a protective member having optical transparency because it protects, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous determination at the time of authentication judgment of the article .

Such identification information image, it is preferable that the bar code or two-dimensional code.

Also, printing means, ink jet method, or xerographic may be used, may be performed to print on demand with respect to the protective member.

The present invention also provides a computer provided in an article registration apparatus for registering an article having random optically readable characteristics distributed along the surface as an authentic article, to identify the article to be registered. An identification information generating means for generating identification information, a protective means having light transparency and protecting the surface of the article so as to cover a predetermined region of the surface of the article, and affixed by the protection means Printing means for printing an identification information image based on the identification information that is optically readable at a position adjacent to the predetermined area when the protection member is attached to the surface of the article by the protection means on the protection member And receiving the reflected light that is irradiated on the surface of the article, passes through the protection member, and is reflected by the predetermined area on the surface of the article, or transmitted through the predetermined area. Obtaining means for obtaining characteristic information indicating a distribution of the feature of the predetermined region, the characteristic information acquired by the acquisition unit, the similarity between the feature information obtained from the article, which is a determination target of the authenticity Also as an article registration program that functions as a registration means for storing and registering in the storage means in association with the identification information as reference information when judging the authenticity of the article to be judged based on the correlation value shown Good.

In the present invention as described above, the feature may be unevenness on the surface.

Further, in the present invention, the pre-Symbol feature may be a dot pattern formed on the surface.

The protective member of the present invention may be formed of a synthetic film made of a polymer, and may be attached to an article with a transparent adhesive on one surface.

Further, in the present invention, the port Rimmer, polyester or polypropylene or polystyrene or may be a polyvinyl chloride or polyimide,,,,.

On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is for authenticating the authenticity of the article based on the optically readable characteristic having randomness distributed along the surface of the article. a determination system, identification information generating means for generating identification information for identifying said article to be registered as authentic, a protective member for protecting the surface of the article have a light transmitting property, the surface of the article to be authentic A protective means for covering the predetermined area, and an optical position on the protective member applied by the protective means at a position adjacent to the predetermined area when the protective means is applied to the surface of the article. and printing means for printing identifying information Hoga image based on possible the identification information read, is irradiated to the surface of the article, reflected passes through the protective member at the predetermined region of the surface of the article The reflected light or by receiving light transmitted through said predetermined area obtaining means for obtaining characteristic information indicating a distribution of the feature of the predetermined region, the characteristic information acquired by the acquisition unit, the authenticity Based on the correlation value indicating the similarity to the feature information obtained from the article that is the determination target, it is used as reference information for determining the authenticity of the article that is the determination target, and is associated with the identification information in the storage unit . Registration means for storing and registering, light irradiating means for irradiating light to an area covered by the protective member on the surface of the article to be judged as authentic, and being irradiated by the light irradiating means and transmitted through the protective member the-size of the determination target is reflected by the surface of the article has a reflected light or the surface receiving the light transmitted through, adjacent to the position of the identification information and the identification image information based on the identification information image by Gets said reading reads the characteristic information means a predetermined area of the article to be measured, the reference information corresponding to the identification information read by said reading means from said memory means, read by the reading means and the corresponding reference information Determination means for obtaining a correlation value indicating similarity to the feature information and determining the authenticity of the article to be determined based on the correlation value.

Therefore, since the invention according to claim 3 has a protective member having optical transparency attached to the article to be registered, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous determination when determining the authenticity of the article.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as in the fourth aspect of the present invention , the reading means has a collation area larger than the predetermined area including the predetermined area with respect to the article to be determined as the authenticity. in by receiving the transmitted light transmitted through the reflector is reflected light or the verification regions acquires the feature information of the verification area, the determination means extracts from the verification area of the predetermined area and the same shape and the same area set the target region, while moving the extraction target area in the verification region, repeated Rukoto obtains a correlation value indicating the similarity between the feature information of the reference information and the extraction target region, it was determined If the maximum value of the correlation value exceeds a preset threshold, it determines the target object of the authenticity and true.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous determination when authenticity determination of the object products.

As described above, according to the present invention, since an article for determining authenticity is registered in a state where the surface of the article is protected by a light-transmitting protective means, an erroneous determination at the time of determining the authenticity of the article is caused. It has an excellent effect that it can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to an authenticity determination system including a reference information registration device and an authenticity determination device will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an authenticity determination system 10 according to the present embodiment.

The authenticity determination system 10 affixes a protective sheet 14 (see FIG. 2) serving as a protective member so as to cover a predetermined area on the surface of the article, and the randomness inherent to each article distributed along the surface of the article. A reference information registration device 20 that reads an optically readable feature having information and stores feature information indicating the feature as reference information, and an authenticity determination device 70 that determines the authenticity of an article to be determined. 11 and can communicate with each other.

  FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the protective sheet 14 according to the present embodiment.

  The protective sheet 14 is composed of a sheet-like synthetic film made of a light-transmitting plastic (polymer). The protective sheet 14 is coated with an adhesive on one surface and can be attached to an article.

  Further, when the protective sheet 14 is attached to an article, a two-dimensional code 16 (in this embodiment, a QR code (Quick Response code) (registered trademark)) is printed by the reference information registration device 20. ing. Further, the protective sheet 14 is provided with a feature reading region 18 as a region for reading a feature having randomness distributed along the surface of the article when the protective sheet 14 is attached to the article.

  3A to 3C show an example in which the protection sheet 14 is pasted on the securities 12A, the card 12B, and the paper document 12C as the article 12. FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the reference information registration apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.

  The reference information registration device 20 includes a pair of transport rollers 22 for transporting an article 12 inserted through an insertion port (not shown), a bobbin 24 around which a sheet-like protective sheet 14 is wound, and an ink jet system for the protective sheet 14. A printing device 26 that prints the two-dimensional code 16 by ejecting ink droplets, a sheet fixing device 28 that attaches the protective sheet 14 printed with the two-dimensional code 16 to the conveyed article 12, and the article 12 A line light source 30 that irradiates the surface of the light in a line shape, an imaging lens 32 that forms an image of reflected light on the surface of the article 12 of the light irradiated by the line light source 30 at a predetermined imaging position, and imaging The imaging position of the lens 32 is also arranged, and the CCD line sensor 34 for converting the density of the surface state of the article 12 indicated by the image formed into an electrical signal, and the article 12 are not shown. A discharge roller 36 of the pair of conveying to the discharge port, and a.

  Note that the reference information registration device 20 according to the present embodiment reads, as a feature of the surface of the article 12, a random pattern generated by surface irregularities when the light is irradiated by the line sensor 34. The reference information registration apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment is configured to read the reflected light on the surface of the article 12 by the CCD line sensor 34, but the CCD line sensor 34 and the imaging lens 32 are attached to the article 12. It is good also as a structure which is provided in the opposite side to the line light source 30, and the transmitted light which permeate | transmitted the articles | goods 12 is read.

  Here, for example, when the article 12 is a non-woven fabric, the non-woven fabric is formed by intricately intertwining fibers, and there is no pattern in which the fibers are the same. That is, a random pattern due to fibers can be observed from the nonwoven fabric.

  Further, when the article 12 is paper, the paper is also made by intricately intertwining plant fibers, and a random pattern can be observed from paper as well as the nonwoven fabric. Even if the paper is the same type and the same lot, the pattern is different for each paper.

  When the article 12 is a card, the card is also made of a resin, and a random pattern such as a minute crack or a material fine particle can be observed on the surface.

  Thus, various articles 12 can observe a random pattern. This random pattern is not intentionally created, but is randomized in the formation of the article itself, in the manufacturing process, or after production, and it is unlikely that there are multiple articles with the same pattern. . Also, it seems difficult to deliberately create the same thing. That is, even if the article is manufactured and distributed through the same process, the random pattern is microscopically different for each article. In particular, the random pattern as described above is a microscopic level (several tens of microns) fine pattern, and it is not easy to forge it.

  The reference information registration apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment reads a random pattern due to surface irregularities by the CCD line sensor 34 while conveying the inserted article 12, and outputs the random pattern from the CCD line sensor 34 by the control unit 40 described later. Feature information indicating features unique to the article is generated from the image and stored as reference information.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control unit 40 of the reference information registration device 20.

  The control unit 40 of the reference information registration device 20 includes an operation input unit 41, an ID information input unit 42, a two-dimensional code generation unit 44, an ID information print control unit 46, a protective sheet sticking control unit 48, and an image reading And a control unit 50.

  The operation input unit 41 is configured as a keyboard or the like, and ID information assigned to each article 12 is input by an operation by the user.

  The ID information input unit 42 checks whether or not the ID information input from the operation input unit 41 is already registered in a database stored in the storage device 60 described later, and based on the ID information when not registered. Image information indicating the two-dimensional code 16 is generated. In the present embodiment, the two-dimensional code generation unit 44 generates image information indicating the two-dimensional code 16 based on the ID information input from the operation input unit 41. For example, the two-dimensional code generation unit The ID information may be generated individually so as not to overlap in 44, and image information indicating the two-dimensional code 16 may be generated based on the ID information.

  The ID information printing control unit 46 controls the operation of the printing device 26 described above, and controls the operation of the printing device 26 based on the image information input from the two-dimensional code generation unit 44 to thereby protect the article of the protective sheet 14. The two-dimensional code 16 is printed on the surface to be attached to 12.

  The protective sheet sticking control unit 48 controls the operation of the sheet fixing device 28 described above, and controls sticking of the protective sheet 14 to the article 12.

  The image reading control unit 50 controls the operations of the line light source 30 and the CCD line sensor 34 described above. The reflected light of the light emitted from the line light source 30 is read by the CCD line sensor 34 and the protective sheet 14 of the article 12 is Image information of the pasted area is acquired.

  On the other hand, the control unit 40 according to the present embodiment further includes a code position specifying unit 52, a code decoding unit 54, a feature image cutout unit 56, a feature information conversion unit 58, and a storage device 60. Yes.

  The code position specifying unit 52 specifies the range of the feature reading region 18 based on the positional relationship between the range of the two-dimensional code 16 and the range of the two-dimensional code 16 from the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image reading control unit 50. To do. The present embodiment is characterized by a predetermined range on the left side in the front state in which the three cut-out symbols 16A (see FIG. 2) of the QR code (registered trademark), which is the two-dimensional code 16, are the upper left, the upper left, and the lower left. A reading area 18 is defined.

  The code decoding unit 54 reads the image within the range of the two-dimensional code 16 specified by the code position specifying unit 52 from the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image reading control unit 50, and acquires the image of the two-dimensional code 16 Then, the image of the two-dimensional code 16 is decoded by a signal processing circuit to obtain ID information. Note that the code decoding unit 54 may further encrypt the decoded ID information with a secret key.

  The feature image cutout unit 56 reads an image in the range of the feature reading region 18 specified by the code position specifying unit 52 from the image indicated by the image information acquired by the image reading control unit 50, and The change in the surface irregularities due to the randomness of the entanglement of the fibrous material forming the article 12 is cut out.

  The feature information conversion unit 58 includes a signal processing circuit that converts the signal output from the feature image cutout unit 56 into digital data and outputs the digital data, and converts the image in the feature reading area 18 to a predetermined resolution (for example, 400 dpi). In addition, it is converted into feature information of a predetermined gradation (for example, 8-bit gray scale). The feature information conversion unit 58 outputs the converted feature information to the storage device 60 as reference information. The feature information conversion unit 58 may further encrypt the converted data with a secret key.

  The storage device 60 is configured as a device capable of storing and holding data, such as an HDD (hard disk drive), and the ID information decoded by the code decoding unit 54 and the feature information conversion unit 58 are used. A database that associates the converted reference information is stored. In this embodiment, the ID information registered in the database is obtained by decoding the two-dimensional code 16, but the input ID information input by the user may be used directly (dotted line in FIG. 5). Arrow).

  Next, FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the authenticity determination device 70 according to the present embodiment. The authenticity determination device 70 according to the present embodiment is configured to be read while the user visually confirms the positions of the two-dimensional code 16 and the feature reading area 18. 6A is a schematic side view of the configuration of the image reading unit 72 that reads the two-dimensional code 16 of the authenticity determination device 70, and FIG. 6B is a schematic configuration diagram of the upper surface of the image reading unit 72.

  In the image reading unit 72, a reflection mirror 74 is disposed above the reading target position at a predetermined angle. The reflection mirror 74 is translucent, and an image showing the surface state of the article 12 indicated by the reflected light irradiated from the light source 75 and reflected by the surface of the article 12 is passed through the condenser lens 76 to the CCD area. The sensor 78 is inputted and the user can see through the magnifying lens 80. An input frame 82 that can be viewed by the user is formed on the reflection mirror 74 by printing or the like. In the image reading unit 72 according to the present embodiment, when the entire two-dimensional code 16 is placed at the right end of the input frame 82, a feature information matching region (for example, the feature reading region 18 including the feature reading region 18) The input frame 82 is formed so that the whole of about 4 mm × about 4 mm enters the left end.

  In the authenticity determination device 70, the surface state of the article 12 in the area including the two-dimensional code 16 and the feature reading area 18 printed on the protective sheet 14 is read, and authenticity is determined by the control unit described later. Although the authenticity determination device 70 according to the present embodiment is configured to read the reflected light on the surface of the article 12 by the CCD area sensor 78, the CCD area sensor 78, the reflection mirror 74, and the magnifying lens 80 are included in the article 12. On the other hand, it is good also as a structure which is provided in the other side of the light source 75 and the transmitted light which permeate | transmitted the articles | goods 12 is read.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control unit 90 of the authenticity determination device 70.

  The control unit 90 of the authenticity determination device 70 includes an image reading control unit 92, a code cutting unit 94, a code code decoding unit 96, a storage device 98, a reference information decoding unit 100, a first storage unit 102, It has.

  The image reading control unit 92 controls the operations of the light source 75 and the CCD area sensor 78 described above, and includes an area including the two-dimensional code 16 and the feature reading area 18 printed on the protective sheet 14 by the CCD area sensor 78. Get the image.

  The code cutout unit 94 specifies the range of the two-dimensional code 16 from the image acquired by the image reading control unit 92.

  The code decoding unit 96 cuts out an image in the range of the two-dimensional code 16 specified by the code cutting unit 94 from the image acquired by the image reading control unit 92 (an image of the two-dimensional code 16), and decodes it by a signal processing circuit. ID information is acquired.

  Database information stored in the storage device 60 of the reference information registration device 20 is transmitted to the storage device 98 via the network 11, and a database having the same content is duplicated and stored.

  The reference information decoding unit 100 searches the database stored in the storage device 98 for reference information associated with the ID information obtained by the code decoding unit 96, and is used for encryption by the feature information conversion unit 58 described above. Decrypt with the public key that is paired with the private key.

  The first storage unit 102 temporarily stores the decoded reference information.

  On the other hand, the control unit 90 further includes a feature image cutout unit 104, a feature information conversion unit 106, a second storage unit 108, an image collation unit 110, and a determination unit 112.

  The feature image cutout unit 104 converts the range of the feature reading region 18 based on the range of the two-dimensional code 16 specified by the code cutout unit 94, and the feature reading region 18 from the image acquired by the image reading control unit 92. And an image of a collation area wider than that area (for example, an area of about 4 mm × about 4 mm at 64 × 64 dots in the case of 400 dpi) is cut out.

  The feature information conversion unit 106 includes a signal processing circuit that converts a signal indicating an image output from the feature image cutout unit 104 into digital data and outputs the digital data, and the image cut out by the feature image cutout unit 104 is predetermined. To feature information of a predetermined gradation (for example, 8-bit gray scale).

  The second storage unit 108 temporarily stores the converted feature information.

  The image collating unit 110 compares and collates the image indicated by the feature information stored in the second storage unit 108 with the image indicated by the reference information stored in the first storage unit 102 to indicate a correlation. Calculate the value.

  The determination unit 112 determines whether or not the image indicated by the reference information is included in the image indicated by the feature information depending on whether or not the correlation value calculated by the image matching unit 110 satisfies a predetermined condition. judge.

  Next, the operation of the authenticity determination system 10 will be described.

  Initially, the flow of operation | movement at the time of registering the reference | standard information of the articles | goods 12 of the reference | standard information registration apparatus 20 is demonstrated.

  The user uses, for example, the article 12 to be registered as the reference information such as the securities 12A, the card 12B, and the paper document 12C as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. The ID information is input from the operation input unit 41 while being inserted into an insertion port (not shown).

  When the article 12 is inserted into an insertion port (not shown), the reference information registration device 20 sends the article 12 to the inside along an automatic feeding device (not shown) and a guide (not shown). In addition to conveying from the left side to the right side of FIG. 4 at a constant speed, the following reference information registration process is executed.

  FIG. 8 shows the flow of the reference information registration process. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reference information registration process executed by the reference information registration device 20.

  In step 200 of the figure, it is determined whether or not the ID information is input from the operation input unit 41. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 202. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 200 again and the ID is determined. Waiting for input of information.

In step 202, already determined whether the registered in the database ID information entered is stored in the storage peripherals 60, if a positive judgment, the registered error is displayed on the display panel (not shown) If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 204.

  In step 204, image information indicating the two-dimensional code 16 is generated from the ID information input from the ID information input unit 42.

  In the next step 206, the protective sheet 14 wound around the bobbin 308 is conveyed in the direction of the surface of the article 12 in accordance with the conveyance of the article 12, and when passing through a position facing the printing device 26, the above-described step 204 is performed. Based on the generated image information, ink liquid is discharged from the printing device 26 to print the two-dimensional code 16 on the adhesive surface of the protective sheet 14.

  In the next step 208, the protective sheet 14 on which the two-dimensional code 16 is printed is conveyed to the sheet fixing device 28 so as to be synchronized with the conveyance of the article 12, and is pasted on the article 12 to be registered by the sheet fixing apparatus 28.

  In the next step 210, when the article 12 to be registered is conveyed and reaches a position facing the line light source 30, the line light source 30 irradiates light onto the surface of the article 12, and the CCD line sensor 34 causes the protective sheet 14 to be applied. The reflected light that is transmitted and reflected by the surface of the article 12 is read, and image information indicating the surface of the article 12 including the range of the two-dimensional code 16 and the range of the feature reading area 18 protected by the protective sheet 14 is acquired.

  In the next step 212, the range of the two-dimensional code 16 is specified from the image indicated by the image information acquired in step 210 described above.

  In the next step 214, an image in the range of the specified two-dimensional code 16 is cut out, and the cut-out two-dimensional code 16 image is decoded to obtain ID information.

  In the next step 216, an image of the range of the feature reading area 18 of the article 12 to be registered is cut out from the positional relationship with the specified range of the two-dimensional code 16 and converted into feature information. That is, for example, in the case of 400 dpi as the range of the feature reading area 18 from the image indicated by the image information, an image in a range of about 2 mm × about 2 mm is cut out at 32 × 32 dots, and the cut out image is set to a predetermined resolution (400 dpi) The feature information is converted into gradation (8-bit gray scale) feature information, and the feature information is encrypted with a secret key. In this embodiment, since the reading resolution is 400 dpi, the reading gradation is 8-bit gray scale, and the area to be read is 32 × 32 dots, the data size of the feature information is 1024 bytes, and each pixel (dot) ) Gradation value (brightness value) is an integer value in the range of 0-255.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of an image obtained by visualizing feature information (contrast correction so that visual observation is easy).

  In the next step 218, the encrypted feature information is stored as reference information in the database in association with the ID information acquired in the next step 214 described above, and this reference information registration process is completed.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the data structure of the database stored in the storage device 60.

  As shown in the figure, in addition to the ID information and reference information, information such as classification data of the article 12, scan date, serial number of the reference information registration device 20 is added to the database according to the present embodiment. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, the database information stored in the storage device 60 is transmitted to the storage device 98 of the authenticity determination device 70 via the network 11, and the same content database is stored in the storage device 98 of the authentication determination device 70. Duplicated and stored.

  If the reference information registration device 20 and the authentication device 70 are not connected via the network 11, a flexible disk, smart media (registered trademark), xD picture card (registered trademark), compact flash (registered trademark), Database information is recorded on a portable storage medium such as an ATA (AT Attachment) card, Microdrive (registered trademark), removable HDD, CD-R, CD-RW, magneto-optical disk, etc., and authentication is performed via the medium. The database may be stored in the storage device 98 of the device 70.

  Further, the database stored in the storage device 60 by the reference information registration device 20 is transferred to the server computer for storing characteristic information connected via the network 11 and stored in the storage device of the server computer. The server computer may transfer data to the authenticity determination device 70 and store the database in the storage device 98.

  Next, an operation flow when the authenticity determination device 70 determines the authenticity of the article 12 will be described.

  The authenticity determination device 70 is installed in an organization that confirms the authenticity of the article 12 such as securities, cards, paper documents such as stores, government offices, and offices.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the user adjusts the position of the article so that the entire two-dimensional code 16 enters the right end of the input frame while visually checking the protective sheet 14.

  For example, when the user presses an instruction button for instructing the start of the authenticity determination process provided in the authenticity determination apparatus 70, the authenticity determination apparatus 70 performs the following authenticity determination process.

  FIG. 11 shows the flow of authentication determination processing. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the authenticity determination process executed by the authenticity determination device 70.

  In step 250 of the figure, the light source 75 is turned on. The light emitted from the light source 75 is reflected by the surface of the two-dimensional code 16 and the article 12 printed through the protective sheet 14, and the reflected light reflected by the reflection mirror 74 passes through the condenser lens 76 to the CCD area. Input to sensor 78.

  In the next step 252, the input reflected light is read by the CCD area sensor 78, and image information indicating the surface of the article 12 including the two-dimensional code 16 protected by the protective sheet 14 and the feature reading area 18 is acquired.

  In the next step 254, the range of the two-dimensional code 16 is specified from the image indicated by the acquired image information, and the image of the specified range of the two-dimensional code 16 is cut out and decoded by the signal processing circuit to acquire ID information. .

  In the next step 256, the position of the feature reading area 18 is converted from the positional relationship with the position of the range of the two-dimensional code 16 specified in step 254 described above, and the feature reading area 18 is converted from the image indicated by the acquired image information. An image of a collation area that is wider than that area is cut out, the cut out image is converted to a predetermined resolution (400 dpi) and a predetermined gradation (8-bit gray scale), and the converted feature information is stored in the second memory. Store in the unit 108.

  In this embodiment, since the reading resolution is 400 dpi, the reading gradation is 8-bit gray scale, and the collation area is 64 × 64 dots (about 4 mm × about 4 mm), the size of the feature information is 2048 bytes. The tone value (brightness value) of the pixel (dot) is an integer value in the range of 0-255.

  In the next step 258, it is determined whether or not the reference information corresponding to the ID information in step 254 described above is stored in the database stored in the storage device 98. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 260. If the determination is negative, an ID information registration error is displayed on a display device (not shown) provided with the authenticity determination device 70, and the authenticity determination process is terminated.

  In step 260, the reference information associated with the ID information acquired in step 254 described above is read from the database stored in the storage device 98, decrypted with the public key, and stored in the first storage unit 102.

  In the next step 262, an image (first feature of about 2 mm × about 2 mm at 32 × 32 dots in the case of 400 dpi) indicated by the decoded reference information stored in the first storage unit 102, and the second storage Compared with an image (second feature of about 4 mm × about 4 mm at 64 × 64 dots in the case of 400 dpi) of the feature information stored in the unit 108, the first feature is included in the second feature region. It is checked whether or not is included. For the collation, a correlation value indicating the similarity, which is a technique proposed by the present inventors in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-85212, is obtained, and the maximum value of the correlation value and the normalized score of the correlation maximum value are determined. The technique to be used is used.

  That is, the calculation of the correlation value is repeated in a region where both images overlap while moving the image indicated by the reference information within the image region indicated by the feature information.

Then, a normalized score of the maximum value of the correlation value obtained by dividing the value obtained by subtracting the average value of the correlation value from the maximum value of the calculated correlation value by the standard deviation of the correlation value is obtained, and the maximum value of the correlation value is obtained. The authenticity of the article 12 to be determined is determined based on whether the normalized score of the maximum correlation value is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value in the next step 264. As a result, it is determined whether or not it is determined to be genuine. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 268. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 266.

  In step 266, since it is determined that they are not the same based on the collation determination result, an error indicating that the authenticity cannot be authenticated is displayed on a display device (not shown), and the authenticity determination process is terminated.

  On the other hand, in step 268, it is determined from the collation determination result that the registered reference information and feature information are the same feature information (random change in surface irregularities of the target object), so that the authenticity of the target object is guaranteed. The fact that it has been authenticated is displayed on the display, and the authenticity determination process is terminated.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the protective means (here, the protective sheet 14) having light permeability is attached to the surface of the article to protect the surface of the article, and the first light irradiation The means (here, the line light source 30) irradiates the authentic article with light, the first acquisition means (here, the CCD line sensor 34) irradiates with the first light irradiation means, and passes through the protection means. Receiving reflected light reflected by a predetermined region (here, the feature reading region 18) on the surface of the article or transmitted light transmitted through the predetermined region to obtain feature information indicating the surface characteristics of the predetermined region; The feature information acquired by the 1 acquisition means is stored as reference information in the storage means (here, the storage device 60), and the surface of the article to be determined as authenticity by the second light irradiation means (here, the light source 75). Irradiate light to the second The acquisition means (here, the CCD area sensor 78) is irradiated by the second light irradiation means, passes through the protection means, and is reflected by the predetermined area on the surface of the article to be determined or transmitted through the predetermined area. The transmitted transmitted light is received to acquire feature information indicating the surface characteristics of the predetermined area, and the determination unit (here, the determination unit 112) stores the feature information acquired by the second acquisition unit and the storage unit. Since the correlation value indicating the similarity to the stored reference information is obtained and the authenticity is determined based on the correlation value, the authenticity of the article can be accurately determined. In addition, since the surface is protected by attaching protective means to the surface of the article, it is possible to suppress changes over time in the surface of the article to be judged, thus suppressing the occurrence of misjudgment when judging the authenticity of the article. can do.

  In the present embodiment, the authenticity determination system 10 including the reference information registration device 20 and the authenticity determination device 70 has been described. However, the reference information registration device 20 may perform the authenticity determination. The reference information may be registered in the authenticity determination device 70.

  For example, when the reference information registration device 20 is used as an authenticity determination device, when the article 12 to be inspected is inserted from the insertion port, the article is conveyed from the left side to the right side in FIG. The CCD line sensor 34 obtains image information of the range of the two-dimensional code 16 and the range of the feature reading area 18, and stores reference information corresponding to ID information obtained by decoding the two-dimensional code 16. What is necessary is just to read from the database memorize | stored in the apparatus 98, and to compare with the image information of the range of the characteristic reading area 18. In this case, the line light source 30 serves as a light irradiation means, and the CCD line sensor 34 serves as an acquisition means.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, an image (here, two-dimensional code 16) indicating identification information (here, ID information) for identifying the article is printed on the surface of the protection means or the article. Printing means (here, the printing device 26), storage means further stores the identification information indicated by the image printed by the printing means in association with the reference information, and the acquisition means is an authenticity determination target The image information indicating the image is further acquired together with the feature information of the article, and the determination unit reads out the reference information associated with the identification information indicated by the image indicated by the image information acquired by the acquisition unit from the storage unit Since the authenticity is determined by obtaining a correlation value indicating the similarity between the read reference information and the feature information acquired by the acquisition means, the reference information corresponding to the identification code Only for may determine authenticity, the processing efficiency of the determination process can be improved.

  According to the present embodiment, since the image is a bar code or a two-dimensional code, a large amount of identification information can be held.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the acquisition means (in this case, the CCD area sensor 78) is a reflection reflected by the collation area larger than the predetermined area including the predetermined area with respect to the article to be determined as authentic. It is assumed that light or transmitted light that has passed through the collation area is received and characteristic information indicating the characteristics of the surface of the collation area is acquired, and the determination means is an authenticity determination target by the light irradiation means (here, the light source 75). The feature information of the extraction target region is moved while moving the extraction target region having the same shape and the same area as the predetermined region from the feature information indicating the feature of the surface of the collation region acquired by the acquisition unit when the article is irradiated with light Is extracted, and the correlation value indicating the similarity between the extracted feature information and the reference information is repeated, and authenticity is determined based on the maximum value of the calculated correlation value. It is possible to perform verification, even when there is angular misalignment in location and read image.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the article 12 is irradiated with light and the surface state of the article 12 is read by the CCD line sensor 34 after the protective sheet 14 has been attached has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the transparency of the protective sheet 14 is high and the influence (change) of the protective sheet 14 on the characteristic information is small, the article 12 is irradiated with light before the protective sheet 14 is attached. The surface state of the article 12 may be read by the CCD line sensor 34.

  In addition, when the influence on the characteristic information by the protective sheet 14 is obtained in advance, the surface state of the genuine article 12 to which the protective sheet 14 is not attached may be read to correct the characteristic information. In this case, when the protective sheet 14 becomes dirty or scratched, only the protective sheet 14 needs to be replaced with a new one, and there is no need to register reference information again. It becomes easy.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a QR code (registered trademark) is used as the two-dimensional code 16 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a PF 417 (two-dimensional code) Other two-dimensional codes such as PDF417) (registered trademark), data matrix (DataMatrix) (registered trademark), Maxi CoDe (registered trademark), and Veri CoDe may be used. A bar code or the like may be used. Also in this case, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where an ink jet type is used as the printing apparatus 26 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a xerographic type may be used. When the ink jet method and the xerographic method are used, printing can be performed on demand, so that the protective sheet 14 can be prevented from being wasted. Alternatively, the two-dimensional code 16 may be preliminarily printed on the protective sheet 14 by another printing apparatus using an inkjet method, a xerographic method, and a relief printing method, and the protective sheet 14 may be attached to the article 12. . In this case, since the printing device 26 is not necessary for the reference information registration device, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the device can be downsized.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the feature information of the article 12 is a surface irregularity that can be regarded as random has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, on the surface of the article 12. The dots may be formed as minute ink dots that can be regarded as random, or may be a pattern printed by screen printing, for example. Also in this case, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, as the authenticity determination device 70, it is assumed that the digital multifunction peripheral as shown in FIG. 12 or a combination of a flatbed scanner and a PC as shown in FIG. Also good.

  Further, as described above, when the two-dimensional code 16 is printed in advance on the protective sheet 14 and the protective sheet 14 is pasted on the article 12, the reference information registration device 20 is as shown in FIG. A digital multifunction peripheral or a combination of a flatbed scanner as shown in FIG. 13 and a PC may be used.

  In addition, the configuration of the authentication system described in the present embodiment (see FIG. 1), the configuration of the reference information registration device and the authentication device (see FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7) are examples. Needless to say, modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the authenticity determination system which concerns on embodiment. It is a front view which shows the detailed structure of the protection sheet which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the articles | goods which affixed the protection sheet which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the reference | standard information registration apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part of the reference | standard information registration apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the authenticity determination apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part of the authenticity determination apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the reference | standard information registration process which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the image which visualized the feature information which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the data structure of the database memorize | stored in the memory | storage device which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the authentication determination process which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of another structure of an authenticity determination apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of another structure of an authenticity determination apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Authenticity determination system 14 Protection sheet 16 Two-dimensional code 20 Reference | standard information registration apparatus 26 Printing apparatus 30 Line light source 34 CCD line sensor 60 Memory | storage device 70 Authenticity determination apparatus 75 Light source 78 CCD area sensor 112 Determination part

Claims (4)

An article registration device optically readable feature with random properties to register the articles are distributed along the surface as a genuine article,
Identification information generating means for generating identification information for identifying the article to be registered;
A protective member for protecting the surface of the pre-Symbol articles have a light transmission property, and protection means for affixing to cover a predetermined region of the surface of the article,
An identification information image based on the identification information that is optically readable at a position adjacent to the predetermined area when the protective member is attached to the surface of the article by the protective means on the protective member attached by the protective means. Printing means for printing,
The irradiated on the surface of the article, prior to SL characteristics of the predetermined area by receiving the light transmitted through the reflected light or the predetermined region is reflected in the predetermined region of the surface of the article passes through the protective member Acquisition means for acquiring feature information indicating the distribution of
Has been the characteristic information acquired by the acquisition unit, when determining the authenticity of the determination target article based on a correlation value indicating the similarity between the feature information obtained from the determination target article authenticity Registration means for storing and registering in the storage means in association with the identification information;
An article registration apparatus comprising: A computer provided in an article registration apparatus for registering an article in which optically readable characteristics having randomness are distributed along a surface as an authentic article;
Identification information generating means for generating identification information for identifying the article to be registered;
Protecting means for attaching a protective member that has light permeability and protects the surface of the article so as to cover a predetermined region of the surface of the article;
An identification information image based on the identification information that is optically readable at a position adjacent to the predetermined area when the protective member is attached to the surface of the article by the protective means on the protective member attached by the protective means. Printing means for printing,
The reflected light that is irradiated on the surface of the article, passes through the protection member, and is reflected by the predetermined area on the surface of the article, or transmitted light that passes through the predetermined area is received and the characteristics of the predetermined area are received. An acquisition means for acquiring feature information indicating a distribution;
When determining the authenticity of the article as the determination target based on the correlation value indicating the similarity between the feature information acquired by the acquisition unit and the feature information obtained from the article as the determination target of authenticity Registration means for storing and registering in the storage means in association with the identification information as the reference information;
Article registration program to make it function. An authenticity determination system for determining the authenticity of an article based on optically readable features having randomness distributed along the surface of the article,
Identification information generating means for generating identification information for identifying the article to be registered as authentic;
Protecting means for attaching a protective member that has light permeability and protects the surface of the article so as to cover a predetermined area of the surface of the article that is authentic,
Wherein at a position adjacent to the predetermined area when affixed to the surface of the article by the protection means on said protective member to be attached by the protection means, the identification information based on the optically readable and the identification information and printing means for printing images,
The reflected light that is irradiated on the surface of the article, passes through the protection member, and is reflected by the predetermined area on the surface of the article, or transmitted light that passes through the predetermined area is received and the characteristics of the predetermined area are received. An acquisition means for acquiring feature information indicating a distribution;
When determining the authenticity of the article as the determination target based on the correlation value indicating the similarity between the feature information acquired by the acquisition unit and the feature information obtained from the article as the determination target of authenticity registration means as a reference information, and registers and stored in the storage means associates the identification information,
A light irradiating means for irradiating light to a region covered with the protective member on the surface of the article to be judged as authentic ;
Receiving reflected light that is irradiated by the light irradiating means and is transmitted through the protective member and reflected by the surface of the article to be determined or transmitted through the surface; identification information based on the identification information image; and Reading means for reading the feature information of a predetermined region of the article to be determined adjacent to the position of the identification image information ;
The reference information corresponding to the identification information read by the reading means is acquired from the storage means, and a correlation value indicating similarity between the corresponding reference information and the feature information read by the reading means is obtained to obtain the correlation value Determining means for determining the authenticity of the article to be determined based on
An authenticity judgment system . The reading means receives reflected light reflected by the collation area larger than the predetermined area including the predetermined area or transmitted light transmitted through the collation area with respect to the article to be determined as the authenticity. Obtaining the feature information of the matching area;
The determination unit sets an extraction target region having the same shape and the same area as the predetermined region from the collation region, and moves the extraction target region within the collation region, while the reference information and the extraction target region Repeatedly determining a correlation value indicating similarity to the feature information, and determining that the authentic target article is true when the maximum value of the calculated correlation value exceeds a preset threshold;
The authenticity determination system according to claim 3.