JPH04107692A - Information identifying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the danger of amelioration and forgery or the like by detecting information according to the electrostatic shielding effect of a conductive member by using an information member covering the conductive number, whose shape is corresponding to the information, with an inconductive member. CONSTITUTION:The above method is equipped with an amplifier 10 for amplifying a pulse obtained by a pulse oscillator 9, electric field generating electrode 2 for generating an electric field by the amplifier pulse, potential detecting electrode 3 for detecting the electric field, filter circuit 11 for detecting and filtering the potential, waveform shaping circuit 12 for synchronizing and waveform shaping between the pulse from the oscillator 9 and the detected pulse, output circuit 13 for decoding and outputting the detected and shaped pulse, and ground electrode 8. A card 1 covering a patterned conductive film with the inconductive member is passed through a lower part on end faces 6 and 7 of the both electrodes 2 and 3 and according to the electrostatic shielding effect of the conductive film, information is detected corresponding to the shape of the conductive film. Thus, unvisible and individual information reducing the danger of amelioration and forgery can be applied at low cost and identification can be easily automated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides an information member in which a conductive member formed into a shape corresponding to information is coated with a non-conductive material from the outside by shielding or not shielding the capacitive coupling space. The present invention relates to a method of detecting the shape of a conductive member and reproducing information.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, cards such as prepaid cards, credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, driver's licenses, tickets, admission tickets, membership cards, securities, etc., tickets, and certificates have generally been made on the surface of paper or plastic substrates. printing, engraving, embossing,
Processing methods such as laser, discharge, lamination or vapor deposition, magnetic materials, conductive materials, photosensitive materials, heat-sensitive materials,
By combining functional materials such as foaming materials and luminescent materials with detection means according to their functions, it is possible to improve anti-counterfeiting and counterfeiting measures, improve checking means for identification, or improve built-in information. Various proposals have been made to achieve objectives such as improving the environmental resistance of.

A common method of verification for identification is to match visible information such as name, date of birth, signature, card number, or facial photograph with written invisible information or the person's signature or face. Magnetic recording has been widely used as the simplest method for writing invisible information.

However, in the case of magnetic recording, there is a risk that information may be erased by a strong external magnetic field. In addition, in recent years, magnetic recording has become commonplace, so recorded information can be easily copied and
This created a risk of modification, counterfeiting, etc. In order to prevent such risks, various proposals have been made, such as increasing the coercive force of the magnetic film itself, patterning the recording section, and changing the rules for decoding. However, since magnetic recording methods can essentially be rewritten without destruction, there is a built-in risk of misuse.

Another proposed method for writing invisible information is embedding an IC in a card and writing information into the IC memory. However, it has the drawbacks of high cost and limited applications.

Information to be added to cards, certificates, etc. can also be classified into fixed information and individual information. Fixed information is the same information that is reproduced in large quantities by processing means such as printing, and individual information such as pictures, patterns, marks, source masking of barcodes, etc. is produced by, for example, embossing, magnetic recording, etc. Individual information is added to each recording medium by processing means such as printing or printer printing, such as floating letters, coating on a magnetic film, numbering, etc.

Magnetic recording is practically the only method that is easy to automate and is inexpensive as a means of adding invisible information or individual information.However, this recording method has the risk of being tampered with, forged, etc. big.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention provides an information identification method that can provide invisible information and individual information at low cost with little risk of modification, forgery, etc., and can easily automate identification.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has a space in which an electric field generating means including a pulse generator and a potential detecting means for the electric field are mutually interfered with each other by electrostatic coupling, and a potential electrostatic coupling space. An information member, in which a conductive member shaped according to the information is coated with a non-conductive material, is passed through the potential electrostatic coupling space, and the electrostatic shielding effect of the conductive member causes the information member to pass through the potential electrostatic coupling space. An information identification method comprising detecting information according to shape is provided.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a ground electrode be provided in parallel and close to the conductive member of the information member passing through the potential capacitive coupling space so that the conductive member can substantially and easily assume a ground potential. .

In the information fFI identification method of the present invention, a guard electrode is provided on at least one of the electric field generating means or the potential detecting means for detecting the electric field, and a capacitive coupling space is used for detecting a conductive member having a shape according to information. Other Seri? Preferably, electrical coupling is limited to improve the sensitivity of information identification.

Examples of the conductive member shaped according to the information used in the information identification method of the present invention include conductive films, conductive fibers, etc.1 For example, when the shape according to the information is a barcode, each of the barcodes is The bars may be conductive and the peripheral portion of each bar may be made of a non-conductive material, or the peripheral portion of each bar may be a conductive film and each bar may be made of a non-conductive material.

Conductive members shaped according to the information may be connected by a connecting member made of a conductive material, or may have a member for forming an electrostatic coupling space between the connecting member and the connected earth electrode. This is to make it easier for the conductive member to have a ground potential.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings in a case where the conductive member is a conductive film.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an apparatus that can be used in the information identification method of the present invention. 1 is a card in which a patterned conductive film is coated with a non-conductive material.

9 is a pulse oscillator, 10 is an amplifier for amplifying the pulse obtained by the oscillator, 2 is an electric field generating electrode for generating an electric field by the amplified pulse, 3 is a potential detecting electrode for detecting the electric field, 11 12 is a circuit for detecting the potential of the potential detection electrode 3 and a filter; 12 is a circuit for synchronizing the pulse from the oscillator 9 and the detected pulse; and 13 is a waveform shaping circuit.
is a detection, shaped pulse decoding and output circuit.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a ground electrode having a hole below the electric field generating electrode and the potential detecting electrode, which are installed parallel to the conductive film in the card.The electric field generating electrode 2 has end faces 4 and 6, and the electric field generating electrode 3 has end faces 5 and 7. The end surfaces 4 and 5 are formed to be substantially parallel, and the end surfaces 6 and 7 are formed substantially perpendicular to and substantially on the same plane as the end surfaces 4 and 5, respectively.

14 indicates the direction of movement of the card.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are principle diagrams showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a case where the conductive film 16 is not located below the end faces 6 and 7 of the picture electrodes 2 and 3. Reference numerals 15 and 17 indicate non-conductive films covering the conductive JIW 16. In such a state, the end face 4 of the two electric field generating electrodes 2
An electrostatic coupling is generated between the end face 5 of the potential detection electrode 3 and the end face 5 of the potential detection electrode 3. Hereinafter, the space between the end surface 4 and the end surface 5 will be referred to as an electrostatic coupling space.

FIG. 3 shows the case where the conductive ff16 is located below the end faces 6 and 7 of the picture electrodes 2 and 3, and the ground electrode 8 and the conductive g! 16, the conductive film 16 is substantially at ground potential. Due to the presence of the conductive layer 1i1i16 which is at ground potential, an electrostatic coupling is generated between the end surfaces 6 and 7 of the picture electrode via the conductive WA16, and therefore the potential of the picture electrode becomes close to the ground potential.
The electrostatic coupling between the end faces 4 and 5 of the picture electrodes is weakened, resulting in an electrostatic shielding state. For the above reasons, the following end faces 6 and 7
The space formed by this is called the potential electrostatic coupling space.

FIG. 4 is an explanation including a partial cross-sectional view showing an example in which the electric field generating electrode 2, the potential detecting electrode 3, and the guard electrode 18 for restricting the position of the electrostatic coupling space of the image electrode are arranged concentrically. It is a diagram. When the electrodes 2.3 and 18 are arranged as described above, the directional dependence of detection sensitivity can be eliminated. Note that in the present invention, the earth tis must be installed so as not to be located within the electrostatic coupling space or within the potential electrostatic coupling space. The information member 1 consists of a conductive film 16 formed in a pattern and non-conductive materials 15 and 17 covering the conductive film.

As the non-conductive material 15, 17, materials conventionally used for cards, securities, etc., such as plastics and paper, can be used as they are. The non-conductive material 15 is colored, named, numbered, designed, etc. using one or more processing means such as a laminator, printing machine, thermal transfer printer, sublimation transfer printer, wire tod printer, or inkjet printer. The electrically conductive member may be substantially concealed.

As the conductive material for forming the conductive member, NiFe, Pd
, Cr, Ti, Cu, Ag, Au, Al, Zn, Co and their alloys, or Sn○2, In,
Oxides such as O, CdO, ZnO, Cd 2 SO 4, doped with Sb, F, Sn, W, Mo, AI, etc., or Cu 2 S, Cd S, Z
nS, L a B s, TiN, Tic, ZrN
, ZrB2, non-oxides such as HfN, conductive carbon,
Examples include graphite or a non-conductive material whose surface is made conductive by coating such as electroless plating.

In order to increase the shielding property by adding pictures, patterns, symbols, etc. on the conductive member, it is preferable that the conductive member has high transparency or low concentration.Even if the conductive member is a high concentration conductive member, The conductive member may be made invisible by providing a white hiding layer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the information member 1 in which the pattern of the conductive ff16 is a bar code. In the case where each bar of the barcode is electrically isolated and the area of the portion of each bar located outside the potential capacitive coupling space overlaps with the ground electrode 8 in a sufficiently large area to form sufficient capacitive coupling. Although not particularly necessary, it is preferable to connect each bar to the conductive connecting member 1.
This connecting member 19 is electrically connected to the ground electrode by W? It is preferable to stabilize the earth potential by connecting to the electrocoupling space forming member 20 and forming an electrostatic coupling space between the earth electrode 20 and the earth electrode 8.

In FIG. 6, a guard electrode 18 is arranged in a cylindrical shape around a cylindrical electric field generating electrode 2 and a potential detecting electrode 3, and a ground electrode 8 is connected to the guard electrode [! 18 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an example in which the device is connected to the computer 18. FIG. 6(I) is a schematic perspective view of the arrangement example,
FIG. 6 (II) shows a cross-sectional view of this arrangement example. A potential electrostatic coupling space is formed below the electric field generating electrode 2 and the potential detecting electrode 3.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the results of measuring the electrostatic shielding effect due to the potential electrostatic coupling space with an oscilloscope using the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 (1) shows the pulse given to the electric field generating electrode, and FIG. The waveform after passing through is shown.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the waveform of a signal obtained from the potential detection electrode when the conductive film having a ground potential is positioned in the potential electrostatic coupling space in FIG. (I
) shows the signal given to the electric field generating electrode, and (II) shows the waveform of the signal obtained from the potential detecting electrode.

Clear capacitive coupling was observed in FIG. 7, and electrostatic shielding effect was observed in FIG. 8 due to the presence of the conductive film within the potential capacitive coupling space.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a barcode in which each bar is electrically isolated to be detected as a pattern of a conductive film.The information given to this barcode pattern is determined by the width of the bar. and the width of the space between the bars. To find each distance, it is sufficient to multiply the moving speed by the reciprocal of the frequency used for detection, and then take the product of the counted number of detected pulses or the counted number of undetected pulses.

10I21 is a barcode having the same pattern as that in FIG. 9, but shows an example in which the conductive films are reversed in terms of positive and negative relationships.

FIG. 11 shows the case of character information, and the case where the information is identified as two-dimensional information on the X and Y axes.

In this case, one-dimensional information in the X-axis direction or Y-axis direction may be identified, and the information may be identified as two-dimensional information by scanning in the Y-axis direction or X-axis direction.

In order to form a conductive member into a shape according to information, that is, to form various patterns, conventionally known methods can be adopted6.For example, vapor deposition method, chemical plating method, electroplating method, method of applying conductive paint, metal foil method, etc. Examples of the method of baking the pattern after applying the photosensitive material after bonding include a method of dissolving and removing insoluble areas, and a method of forming a pattern by etching or laser processing after bonding the metal foil. As a more convenient method, a pattern may be formed using a thermal head using a thermal transfer ribbon using electrically conductive thermal transfer ink.

After forming the conductive pattern, the conductive pattern can be covered or hidden with a non-conductive material f:I by laminating a non-conductive material coated with an adhesive on one side, or by applying a thermoplastic resin to one side. Various conventionally known methods can be employed, such as applying a heat roll after coating or applying non-conductive ink using a printing machine. Alternatively, the ink may be applied using a thermal head using a thermal transfer ribbon having a generally used non-conductive ink.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the information identification method of the present invention, it is possible to use an information member in which a conductive member containing various information is sandwiched with a non-conductive material, so that it is possible to easily make the information invisible. . Further, since the information member is formed from conductive members and non-conductive materials in various patterns, it is resistant to changes in the environment, and has the advantage that various methods such as a thermal transfer method can be used for pattern formation.

According to the information identification method of the present invention, individual information can be recorded and identified in real time. Further, if the pattern is formed by a printing method or the like, it has the advantage that it can also be used as a fixed information adding means.

According to the information identification method of the present invention, the information identification part can be relatively simply composed of an electrode, a guard electrode, or even a ground electrode, so it is easy to arrange the electrodes in one or two dimensions. be. Moreover, this also provides the advantage that it is easy to identify a conductive member having two-dimensional information by moving it only in one dimension or by fixing it.

According to the information identification portion of the present invention, it can be used in conjunction with other identification methods to apply to any of the -dimensional movement method, two-dimensional movement method, or fixed identification method. It also has the advantage that the identification method can be easily automated.

According to the information identification method of the present invention, the means for imparting information to a conductive member is simple and inexpensive, and for example, a conventional barcode printer can be used as is by using conductive thermal transfer ink.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1, 4, and 6 are schematic explanatory diagrams of a device that can be used in the information identification method of the present invention; FIGS. 2 and 3 are principle diagrams for explaining the operation of FIG. 1; 7 and 8 are graphs showing the identification results according to the method of the present invention.
9, 10, and 11 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of patterns of information members used in the present invention. 1: Information member 2: Field generating electrode 3: Potential detection potential 8: Earth electrode 9: Oscillator 11:
Potential detection circuit 13: Decoding/output circuit 15: Non-conductive material 16: Conductive film 17: Non-conductive material 18: Guard electrode Applicant: Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) An electric field generating means including a pulse generator and a potential detecting means for the electric field are arranged so as to have a space where they mutually interfere with each other by electrostatic coupling and a potential electrostatic coupling space, and the shape is shaped according to the information. An information member in which a conductive member is coated with a non-conductive material is passed through the potential electrostatic coupling space, and information corresponding to the shape of the conductive member is detected by the electrostatic shielding effect of the conductive member. Information identification method. (2) The information identification method according to claim 1, wherein a ground electrode is provided in parallel and adjacent to the conductive member of the information member, and the conductive member is substantially at ground potential. (3) The information identification method according to claim 1, wherein a guard electrode is provided on at least one of the electric field generating means and the electric field potential detecting means to limit electrostatic coupling outside the electrostatic coupling space. (4) The information identification method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member having a shape corresponding to the information is a positive pattern of a bar code. (5) The information identification method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member having a shape corresponding to the information is a negative pattern of a bar code. (6) The information identification method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive members each having a shape corresponding to the information are connected by a connecting member made of a conductive material. (7) The information identification method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member shaped according to the information includes a member for forming an electrostatic coupling space between the connecting member and the connected earth electrode.