JPH04217087A - Identification number collating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer the combination of a card and a card reader as a device for collating an identification signal from the card with high safety, because the card reader remains expensive, although the cost of the card is reduced. CONSTITUTION:The card is provided with a 3-color LED and two pieces of switches for executing an opening/closing operation of electric conduction of two pieces (two colors) of light emission diodes contained therein, and its light emission is further reflected between a card reader and the card thereafter, and also, photodetected by a photosensor of the card reader side and decoded by a control part. In such a way, safety of the identification number collating device can be enhanced by a simple constitution as follows. (1) The photosensor cannot photodetect unless the card is the card for sending out and reflecting light by a correct optical path. (2) There is no memory of the identification number in the card and unless a persom who knows the identification number executes an operation input, the identification number is not transmitted to the card reader side.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a password verification device used in a card system, and more particularly to a password verification device that is low in cost and compact. Note that in the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, cards include magnetic cards, IC cards, optical cards, etc., and although the prices of each card are decreasing, the price of the card reader that performs the PIN verification function is generally expensive. It is.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the cost of a personal identification number verification device using a card can be reduced, it is expected that various fields of application of the card system will be developed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost PIN verification device that combines a card that allows a PIN to be entered without an input key and a card reader that uses the same and has a simple and compact structure. It is in.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the personal identification number verification device according to claim 1 has the following features: ``A plurality of individual light-emitting elements (such as light-emitting diodes) each emitting a different color; When the individual light emitting elements emit light at the same time, a multicolor light emitting element (such as a three-color LED 5) that emits composite light is provided corresponding to each of the individual light emitting elements, and a light emitting element for the individual light emitting element is provided. A card (2, etc.) equipped with a manually operable switch (4A, 4B, etc.) that turns on electricity;

A means (such as a photosensor 9) for detecting the light emission of the multicolor light emitting element of the card inserted into the card (through the card insertion slot 3 or the like), and an output signal from this detection means is used to control the operation of the switch. A card reader (such as 1) equipped with a means (such as control unit 13) for decoding the PIN number based on
shall have the following:

[0006] In the PIN number verification device according to claim 2, in the PIN number verification device according to claim 1, ``the card includes a light guide that guides the light emitted by the multicolor light emitting element in a predetermined direction on the card reader side. means (such as an optical fiber line 16);

[0007] The card reader includes a first reflecting means (reflector plate 7, etc.) that reflects the guided light in a predetermined direction on the card reader side;

[0008] The card further includes a second reflecting means (such as a reflecting plate 8) that reflects the light reflected by the reflecting means toward the light emission detecting means on the card reader side. Also

[0009] In the PIN verification device according to claim 3, claim 2
In the PIN verification device described in ``The card reader is provided with a means (such as a slit plate 6) that allows only the light that follows this optical path to pass through or transmit in the optical path from the light guiding means to the light emission detecting means. shall be 'ta'.

0010

[Operation] One card has two switches for transmitting signals such as PIN numbers, three color LEDs that emit light of different colors depending on the opening and closing operation of these switches, and light emitted from these three color LEDs. Provide an optical fiber line that transmits light to the reflector (on the card reader side), a reflector that receives the light reflected from the card reader's reflector and transmits the light to the photosensor, and a hole or plate that allows the light to pass through. .

[0011] Furthermore, in the card reader, the card (LE
D) A reflector that receives the light emitted from the card and transmits it to a reflector on the card side, a photosensor that receives the light from the reflector on the card side, and wiring that transmits the light from the photosensor to the control unit. , a control unit with memory and calculation functions, and a slit plate provided to further improve safety.
Provide holes or plates for each light to pass through.

[0012] As a result, by combining the operations of two switches provided on the card, a PIN number known only to the user is transmitted, and verified by both software and hardware, resulting in high security and low cost for the card system. Realize.

[0013]

Embodiments An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the structure of a card according to the present invention, in which FIG. 2(B) is a front view of the card, and FIG. 2(A) is a plan view taken along section XX on the front view. Same figure (
In A), 2 is the card (main body), and 5 is a so-called three-color LED, that is, in this example, an LED that is a combination of two individual light-emitting diodes, a green light-emitting diode and a red light-emitting diode. This is an LED that emits orange light when the individual light emitting diodes are turned on simultaneously. 4A
, 4B are operating switches for energizing the red and green light emitting diodes via the battery 15, respectively. Reference numeral 16 designates an optical fiber line that guides the light emitted by the three-color LED 5 in the direction of insertion into the card reader (in the direction of arrow AR), which will be described later, and 8 represents a reflection plate, which will be described later.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the structure of a card reader based on the present invention, and FIG. 3(B) is a front view of the card reader, and FIG. FIG. In FIG. 3, 1 is a card reader (main body), 3 is a card insertion slot, 6 is a slit plate, 7 is a reflection plate, and 9 is a photosensor.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the above-mentioned card 2 inserted into the card reader 1. FIG. 1(B) is a front view, and FIG. Plan view,
Figure (C) is a side view. In this figure 1, card 2
is inserted into the card reader 1, and by pressing the two switches 4A and 4B at the same time, the three-color LED 5 lights up in orange, and this light is transmitted through the optical fiber line 16 to the reflection plate 7 on the card reader side.
The signal is transmitted along the optical path 10 toward the destination. This light is reflected by the reflecting plate 7 and follows an optical path 11, and is further reflected by the card-side reflecting plate 8 and sent to the photosensor 9 following an optical path 12. The photosensor 9 receiving this light transmits a signal to the control unit 13 via the wiring 14. In this way, the signals sent from the card 2 by operating the switches 4A and 4B are verified by the control section 13.

The slit plate 6 is a plate having slits through which only the light following the above-mentioned regular optical path can pass, and is used to prevent card forgery. However, instead of this slit plate, a transparent plate with a high refractive index may be used so that only the light on the correct optical path reaches the photosensor 9 due to the refraction effect. In this way, in the present invention, by utilizing the reflection of light between the card 2 and the card reader 1, only when the card 2 has the correct structure, the light is transmitted from the three-color LED 5 to the photosensor 9.
Verification is performed by hardware, which ensures that light can be transmitted correctly up to the point in time, and by inputting a PIN number by operating a switch, as shown below.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are time charts for explaining a method of inputting a password by operating a switch. In this example, when switch 4B is pressed and the three-color LED 5 is emitting green light, a numerical value is input by the number of times the LED 5 emits orange light when switch 4A is pressed for a short time, and switch 4B is turned on ( ), then switch 4B and 4
It is assumed that one digit worth of numbers is input before both A are turned off. In this case, an example will be shown in which four digits (that is, four times) of numerical input are sequentially repeated and a number value of "1321" is input as the password 23. Note that 21 is a password signal as an orange signal that is determined by the control unit 13, and 22 is a password end signal that is also determined by turning off both switches 4A and 4B.

FIG. 6 is a main flowchart showing the procedure of this password verification process, and the symbols S0 to S8 indicate the steps in the figure. That is, after card insertion (S0, branch Y
), through the switch operations, optical transmission, and control unit processing as described above in steps S1A, S1B, and S1C, one digit of the PIN (in this case, the first digit) is input and the control unit 1
3 is stored, and the same procedure is performed for step S of the last digit.
When steps 4A to S4C are repeated four times, the four-digit password stored in the control unit 13 is verified, and if this matches the password registered in the control unit 13 in advance (S5,
Branch Y), the system that performs this verification performs a predetermined operation (for example, withdrawing a deposit in the case of a cash dispenser, selling a product in the case of a vending machine, etc.) (S6).
If the above-mentioned switch operation is started again with this card inserted, the procedure from step S1A onward is repeated (S7, branch Y), but the switch is not operated again (S7, branch N), and the card is removed. If so (S8), the procedure of FIG. 6 ends.

FIG. 7 shows the operation of the switches 4A and 4B on the card side in the operations of steps S1A to S4C in FIG.
This is a detailed flowchart of the light emission of the color LED 5, and FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of the light reception of the photosensor 9 on the card reader side and the storage of the control unit 13. Note that the symbols S11 to S19 hereinafter refer to the steps in FIG.
The symbols 1 to S32 indicate the steps in FIG. 8, and the light emitted by the switch 4B of the LED 5 (in this case, green) is emitted by ■; the light emitted by simultaneous turning on of switches 4B and 4A (in this case, orange) is emitted by ■. shall be.

First, after inserting the card, when the switch 4B is pressed, the LED emits light (green), and this light passes through the optical fiber line 16 and is transmitted to the reflector plate 7 on the card reader 1 side. It is reflected by the reflection plate 8 on the card side and reaches the photosensor 9 on the card reader side (S11→S
12 and S21-S25). The color of the signal received by the photosensor 9 is detected, and the detection result is sent to the control section 13 and stored in the control section 13 (S26→S27).

Next, the switch 4A is pressed and the LED lights up.
(orange), the procedure from step S22 onwards is repeated and the signal is stored in the control unit 13 (S14).
and S28→S22-S27).

Next, when the switch 4A is released and the switch 4A is pressed again, storage is performed if the switch 4B remains pressed. (S15→S12-S14 and S29→S22-S28→S22-S27).

[0023] Also, when switch 4B is released, switch 4B is released.
When only A is pressed, the light (red) reaches the photosensor 9, but the light (red) reaches the photo sensor 9, but the light (red) reaches the photo sensor 9, but the
If you assume that other than light emitting ■) will not be accepted, switch 4A
Even if the button is pressed and a red light arrives, it is ignored. In other words, when switch 4A is pressed while switch 4B is pressed, the signal is stored as described above, but when switch 4B is released, the control section assumes that the signal has ended and the signal for one digit is stored. End (S16-S18 and S29-S31
).

In this example, for each digit of the PIN number, the control unit stores the number of times the switch 4A is pressed while the switch 4B is being pressed, and then when the switch 4B is released, the signal is stored. ends. These operations are performed 4 times (4 digits)
It is repeated, and at the end of the fourth signal (S18, branch Y
), verification is performed within the control unit 13.

The card 2 and card reader 1 of the present invention are effective when used in places where keys are used, and are even more frequently used if they are personal keys.

[0026]

Effects of the Invention According to the invention related to claim 1, there are two individual light emitting diodes each emitting a different color,
When the plurality of individual light emitting diodes emit light at the same time, a three-color LED 5 that emits composite light is provided corresponding to each of the individual light emitting diodes, and energizes the individual light emitting diodes in order to emit light. A card 2 equipped with manually operable switches 4A and 4B;

002
7] Photo sensor 9 that detects light emission from the three-color LED 5 of the card 2 inserted into the card 2 through the card insertion slot 3
, a control unit 13 as a means for decoding a password signal based on the operation of the switch from the output signal of the photosensor 9;
It shall have a card reader equipped with

0028
According to the invention related to claim 2, in the invention related to claim 1, the card 2 includes an optical fiber line 16 that guides the light emitted by the three-color LED 5 in a predetermined direction on the card reader side,

The card reader 1 includes a reflecting plate 7 that reflects the guided light in a predetermined direction on the card reader side,

The card 2 further includes a reflecting plate 8 that reflects the light reflected by the reflecting plate 7 toward the photosensor 9 on the card reader side, and

[
According to the invention related to claim 3, in the invention related to claim 2, the card reader 1 passes only the light that follows this optical path from the optical fiber line 16 to the photosensor 9, or Since it is equipped with a slit plate 6 as a means for transmitting the light,

0
[032] On the card side, there is no need for a numeric keypad or keyboard to input the PIN number, etc., the role can be fulfilled with simple operation, verification can be done by changing the color (wavelength), and there are only two operation switches. By providing this, safety will be improved. In addition, the structure is simple and the number of parts is small, so cost reduction can be expected, and functions can be expanded by increasing the number of parts. Because it has a simple structure and uses a lot of light, it has a fast transmission speed and is advantageous in terms of noise compared to conventional cards.

As for the card reader side, the structure is simple and the number of parts is small, so it is compact and inexpensive, and is resistant to noise. Also, the control section has sufficient space, and the three colors output from the card side are Even a simple structure can be made multifunctional by combining lights. From these, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and highly secure password verification device that combines a card and a card reader.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] A combination configuration diagram of a card and a card reader as an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Configuration diagram of the card in Figure 1

[Figure 3] Configuration diagram of the card reader in Figure 1

[Figure 4] Time chart for explaining PIN operation input

[Figure 5] Time chart for explaining PIN operation input

[Figure 6] Main flowchart for explaining the operation in Figure 1

[Figure 7] Detailed flowchart on the card side of the main part of Figure 6

[Figure 8] Detailed flowchart on the card reader side of the main part in Figure 6

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Card reader 2 Card 3 Card insertion slot 4A switch 4B Switch 5 3 color LED 6 Slit plate 7 Card reader side reflector 8 Card side reflector 9 Photo sensor 10 Optical path 11 Optical path 12 Optical path 13 Control section 15 Battery 16 Optical fiber line

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multicolor light emitting element having a plurality of individual light emitting elements each emitting a different color and emitting composite light when the plurality of individual light emitting elements emit light at the same time; a card equipped with a manually operable switch for energizing the individual light emitting elements for emitting light, and means for detecting light emission from the multicolor light emitting elements of the card inserted therein; A personal identification number verification device comprising: a card reader having means for decoding a personal identification signal based on the operation of the switch from the output signal of the detection means. 2. The personal identification number verification device according to claim 1, wherein the card includes light guide means for guiding light emitted by the multicolor light emitting element in a predetermined direction on the card reader side, and the card reader The card further includes a first reflecting means for reflecting the guided light in a predetermined direction on the card reader side, and the card further reflects the light reflected by the reflecting means toward the light emission detecting means on the card reader side. Second to do
A personal identification number verification device characterized in that it is equipped with a reflecting means. 3. The personal identification number verification device according to claim 2, wherein the card reader includes means for passing or transmitting only light that follows this optical path in an optical path from the light guiding means to the light emission detecting means. A PIN verification device characterized by: