JPH05185775A - Optical information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a design-printing layer across the entire area including an area where an optical recording material is located as seen from the front of an optical card. CONSTITUTION:The subject optical information recording medium consists of a card base 1, an optical recording material 3 in which data is recorded or regenerated using an optical means, an optical transmission layer 4 is laminated on the optical recording material 3, and a design printing layer 2 provided between the card base 1 and the optical recording material 3. In addition, the transmission factor of the optical recording material 3 to a visible ray is set beyond a specified value so that light is transmitted through the design printing layer 2. The transmission factor of the optical recording material 3 is set to such a high extent that the light does not affect the recording and regeneration properties adversely. To meet the above conditions, the mentioned transmission factor should be set at 1%, preferably 10% or higher.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a substrate, an optical recording material formed on the substrate and capable of recording and / or reproducing by a light beam, and a light transmitting material formed on the optical recording material. The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium formed by laminating layers with each other, and more particularly to an optical information recording medium having a visible information recording layer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical information recording medium, for example,
Optical discs and optical cards are known. In particular, an optical card has a conventionally known size of a magnetic card and is being put into practical use as an optical information recording medium capable of recording a large amount of information as compared with the magnetic card. This light car
The disk is an information recording medium that records and reproduces information by an optical beam. The types of the optical card include a read-only type (ROM type: Read Only Memory), a write-once type (WORM type: Write Once Read Many) type, and a rewritable type.

Information is recorded by irradiating an optical recording material in an optical card with laser light to cause formation of pits, thermal deformation, or phase change, and the change in reflectance thereof is utilized. .. At present, magneto-optical materials, phase change and organic dye materials, and the like have been put into practical use as write-once and rewritable optical recording materials.

Recently, there has been a demand for an optical card having not only the original quality and performance of the optical card but also the added value of the functionality and the fashionable design, that is, the optical card having visible information. There is. Such a demand applies not only to the optical card but also to other optical information recording media.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past,
In the optical card which is an optical information recording medium, the visible information recording layer is formed except the area where the optical recording material is located on the front surface (the surface viewed from the light transmitting layer side) of the optical information recording medium. And the back surface of the optical information recording medium (the surface viewed from the card substrate side), which was not sufficient from the viewpoint of design and functionality.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and visible information recording is carried out over the entire area including the area where the optical recording material is located when viewed from the front surface of the optical information recording medium. It is an object to provide an optical information recording medium capable of forming a layer.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical information recording medium according to the present invention comprises a base material and a recording / reproducing of information using a light beam formed on the base material. Optical recording material capable of, a light transmission layer formed on the optical recording material, and a visible information recording layer disposed between the substrate and the optical recording material, the optical recording material, It is characterized in that it has a transmittance of a certain value or more with respect to visible light so as to transmit light to the visible information recording layer, and is configured so as to cover at least a part of the visible information recording layer.

[0008]

In the present invention, since the visible information recording layer is seen through the optical recording material, the advantage of the design of the visible information recording layer is not only the color of the optical recording material and the drawing and color tone of the design but also the optical recording. It also depends on the light transmittance of the material. That is, when the visible information recording layer is viewed from the front surface of the optical information recording medium, the design contrast of the visible information recording layer depends on the light transmittance of the optical recording material. Therefore, the transmittance of the optical recording material for visible light is
Set it large enough not to affect the recording / playback characteristics.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An optical card, which is a first embodiment of the optical information recording medium according to the present invention, will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a thickness of 0.3 mm.
2 shows a card base material formed by the white vinyl chloride plate of FIG. On the upper surface of the card substrate 1, a visible information recording layer for multicolor printing, that is, a design printing layer 2 is formed by silk printing. This design printing layer 2 is a card substrate 1
Is applied to the entire area of the upper surface of. This design print layer 2
An optical recording material 3 provided on the lower surface of a light transmissive layer 4 made of polycarbonate having a thickness of 0.4 mm is disposed on the upper side of the light transmissive adhesive 5. The optical recording material 3 is a Te-based material deposited on the lower surface of the light transmitting layer 4 by sputtering. An epoxy adhesive is used as the adhesive 5. In FIG. 2, the design print layer 2 is located below the optical recording material 3 (the back side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface).

A card substrate 1 sequentially laminated in this manner,
The design printing layer 2, the adhesive 5, the optical recording material 3, and the light transmitting layer 4 are punched into a card size of 86 mm × 54 mm, and thus the optical card of this embodiment is constructed. Has been done. In the optical card of this example, the transmittance of the optical recording material 3 for visible light is 35%.

If the optical card is constructed as described above, the design printing layer 2 can be set independently of the area of the optical recording material 3, so that the entire surface of the card can be seen from the front side of the optical card. It is possible to provide a design printing layer on the. Needless to say, the design printing layer 2 need not be provided on the entire surface of the card, and may be provided only on a part of the card.

The card base material 1 is intended to protect the optical recording material and to maintain the mechanical strength of the card body. If this purpose is satisfied, the material need not be limited.
For example, resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate and polyethylene can be used. In addition, a metal plate, ceramics, paper, or the like can be used depending on the case. The card substrate may be opaque or transparent.

As a method of forming the design print of the design print layer 2, a method of ordinary printing, a method of forming irregularities on the card substrate 1 by etching or the like, a method of printing according to the irregularities, an organic method There is a method such as variable information utilizing phase change of polymer. For example, in the case of a printing method, commonly used methods include silk printing, offset printing, gravure printing, and the like. The printing ink is selected to be compatible with each printing method and the material of the card substrate. The contents recorded in the visible information include characters, figures, marks, logos, etc., and the contents are not limited.

The optical recording material 3 is a material for optically recording or reproducing information, and may be a read-only type, a write-once type, or a rewritable type. The type of these materials may be any of a bit molding type, a heat deformation type, a phase change type, a punching type and the like. As the recording mechanism, a pit formation type, a heat deformation type or a phase change type is well known.
Any information can be used as long as the reflectance of the reproduction light is changed by recording the information. It is also conceivable to use a magneto-optical material or an organic dye material utilizing the magneto-optical effect as the optical recording material 3.

As a material satisfying these characteristics, a generally known optical recording material may be used. Specifically, T
Examples thereof include low melting point metals such as e, Bi, Al, Se, Sn, and In, or alloys containing these metals as main components. For example, TeGeSb, TeSeSn, TbFeCo and the like can be mentioned. Further, dye-based recording materials such as cyanine-based, polymethine-based, azaannulene-based, and naphthoquinone-based can also be used. However, in order to effectively show the design of the design printing layer 2, it is necessary to set the transmittance of the optical recording material 3 to a certain value or more with respect to visible light. The transmittance of 1% or more satisfies the above purpose, but 10% or more is preferable.

In the present invention, since the design printing is viewed through the optical recording material, the superiority and inferiority of the design is not only the color of the optical recording material and the drawing and color tone of the design printing, but also the light transmittance of the optical recording material 3. Becomes When viewing this design print from the front side of the optical card, the contrast of the design print depends on the light transmittance of the optical recording medium.
Unless the recording / reproducing characteristics are affected, it is desirable that the optical recording medium has a high transmittance for visible light. The transmittance is 1% or more, preferably 10 as described above.
% Or more is desirable.

The light transmitting layer 4 may be transparent to visible light and the wavelengths of the recording / reproducing light beam. Specific examples include polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, glass and the like. Further, the light transmission layer 4 is preferably made of a material having high transparency and low birefringence. In addition, this light transmission layer 4 has no guide groove,
Either may be used.

As the adhesive 5, it is necessary to select one having high adhesive strength and little influence on recording / reproduction. Further, it is necessary that the design printing layer 2 has such a light transmitting property that it can be seen from the upper surface of the optical card. Specific examples include epoxy-based, urethane-based, and acrylic-based adhesives. Before describing the second to seventh embodiments of the optical information recording medium according to the present invention, the ideological process derived from the present invention will be described.

In the optical card of the first embodiment, the recording use status of the optical recording material cannot be known unless it is put in a device such as an optical card reading device, and the current used memory capacity or the remaining memory amount is the optical card. I can't know alone.

On the other hand, an optical information recording medium disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-23439 is known. In this optical information recording medium, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a bar-shaped usage amount display area 8 is provided on the back side of the optical recording material 7 of the optical card 6. .. The ground color of the usage amount display area 8, that is, the color when no information is recorded on the optical recording material 7 is blue. Optical recording material 7
On the other hand, when pit recording is performed and a hole is formed in the optical recording material 7, the color of the usage amount display area 8 at that portion changes from blue to white. In this way, the recorded portion and the unrecorded portion can be distinguished by the visual difference.

However, in general, in an optical information recording medium, even without the proposal of the above publication, an approximate recording capacity can be visually observed by scattered light such as pits formed by optical recording. Also, in the proposal, it is difficult to know the exact value although the approximate value of the usage amount can be known. Further, among the optical information recording media, the width of the optical recording material in the optical card in the vertical direction of the card differs depending on the type of the optical card, and therefore it is desirable to display the absolute amount.

Furthermore, in the periodic data recording of the optical information recording medium, for example, in the data recording of the periodical health examination information used for the health management of the optical card holder, the data input status (consultation status) is referred to as the optical information. There is an inconvenience that the recording medium itself cannot be directly seen.

The second to seventh embodiments are derived from the present invention through such a conceptual process, and their purpose is to visually read the recording use condition of the optical recording material. In order to achieve this object, in the second to seventh embodiments, the visible information of the visible information recording layer indicates the recording use status of the optical recording material.

In the second to fourth embodiments, the visible information of the visible information recording layer is used as a scale, and when data is input to the optical information recording medium by the recording mark, the visible light is reflected by the recording mark to cause the memory. The used capacity can be known directly from the optical information recording medium itself. In the fifth example, the recordable remaining capacity values of the optical recording material are discretely displayed. In the sixth embodiment, the visible information formed on the visible information recording layer is set to a specific date and time such as a scheduled time for data input. In order to determine whether or not the data recorded at this specific date and time has been recorded, the display position of the specific date and time and the positions of a plurality of recording marks forming the data recorded at this specific date and time are associated with each other. .. When data is input, the data input status (consultation status) can be directly seen from the optical information recording medium itself by the reflection of visible light by the recording mark. In the seventh embodiment, the visible information recording layer is composed of a rewritable material,
The recording and use situation of the optical information recording medium is recorded in a visible state by a thermal rewriting means or the like, and this can be directly seen from the optical information recording medium itself.

An optical card as a second embodiment of the optical information recording medium according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals,
Only the differences will be explained. The same applies to the third to fifth embodiments.

In FIG. 5, the optical card 6 has an optical recording area 12 in which information can be recorded / reproduced by optical means. The cross-sectional structure is configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 as described above.

The design printing layer 2 is provided with a vertical axis scale 30 shown in FIG. Since the memory capacity of the optical card 6 in this embodiment is 2.5 megabytes (hereinafter abbreviated as MB), the vertical axis scale 30 shows "0", "1.0", "0" as values corresponding to this memory capacity. Although “2.0” and “MB” are attached, the percentage may be displayed or the characters may be blank. Further, the numerical values may be displayed in reverse order to display the remaining memory.

In this embodiment, the optical card 6 has an all-optical recording area 32. Data recording is generally performed sequentially from the top of the card (top in FIG. 5). The part where the recording is completed becomes the written optical recording area 34. Since these data are recorded as pits, diffuse reflection occurs, and when the optical card is directly viewed, it can be seen that the pit train is recorded. Therefore, when the vertical axis scale 30 and the written optical recording area 34 are overlaid, the memory capacity can be directly seen from the optical card itself. In the example of FIG. 5, it can be seen that about 1.0 MB was used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the conventional optical card, the current memory usage capacity or the remaining memory amount of the optical card cannot be known by the optical card alone, and the optical card reading device or the like can be used. I couldn't tell if I couldn't put it in the device, but I could easily see the used capacity or the remaining capacity by observing the optical card alone.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this example,
As a substitute for the vertical scale 30 in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG.
0 and the second color-dividing portion 42, which are painted in different colors. As the colors, for example, black and white, green and blue, and any combination can be used as long as the color-separating portions are visible.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this example,
The vertical axis scale 30 in the second embodiment is a horizontal axis scale 38 as shown in FIG. The other structure is similar to that of the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the recorded data portion 36 has a block shape and is sequentially written from the right side in the drawing. Such data is, for example, a case where the types of information are layered in the lateral direction of the card and are written in time series.

In the conventional optical card, the current memory recording use state of the optical card cannot be known by the optical card alone, and it cannot be understood unless it is inserted into a device such as an optical card reader. According to this, as in the case of the second embodiment, the recording use status can be easily understood by visually observing the optical card alone.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of remaining memory capacity values 44 are discretely formed in the design printing layer 2. The other structure is similar to that of the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the recorded data portion 36 is sequentially written from the upper portion (upper portion in the drawing) of the optical card 6, but random writing may be performed.

In the present embodiment, the remaining memory capacity is calculated when the optical card 6 is inserted into an optical card reader (not shown), and when the optical card 6 is ejected, the remaining memory capacity value 44 is written in as needed. The state shown in 8 is obtained. In this embodiment, each memory remaining capacity value 44 is written, but it may be written in a bar shape from the right of the optical card 6, that is, continuously. FIG. 8 shows that this optical card 6 has been used for 1.5 MB or more. As described above, also in this embodiment, it is possible to easily determine the used capacity or the remaining capacity by visually observing the optical card as in the second embodiment.

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the specific date / time value 46 is formed on the design printing layer 2. This specific date time value 46
Is a ordinate scale extending along the width direction of the optical card 6. In the present embodiment, the recorded data portion 36 has a block shape, and the writing position is determined by the specific date and time. Examples of such data include personal data that is regularly performed, such as a periodical health checkup for residents. The principle of reading is the same as described above. In the case of FIG. 9, the owner of this optical card 6 is 1
Haven't received a resident medical examination in 1990, or
Optical card 6 indicates that either data has not been entered.
You can tell immediately by looking at it.

Next, a modification of the sixth embodiment will be described. In this modification, the specific due time value 46 in the sixth embodiment is used.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, a horizontal axis scale is added and further divided. If the sixth embodiment is modified in this way, the owner of this optical card 6 will be the summer of 1989, 1990.
It is immediately apparent by looking at the optical card 6 that either the citizen's health examination in the spring of the year has not been received or the data has not been entered.

Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the fixed visible information section 48 and the variable visible information section 50 are formed on the design printing layer 2. The fixed visible information section 48 is previously printed on the design print layer 2. The variable visible information section 50 displays the remaining capacity of the memory and is made of a rewritable material 52. In this embodiment, a photochromic material (Ricoh) that can be displayed by changing the light transmittance by a thermally reversible reaction is used as the rewritable material 52.
The other points are the same as those in the second embodiment.

The variable visible information section 50 is rewritten by a device 53 as shown in FIG. 12, for example. This device 53
Variable visible information section 50 (shown in FIG. 11) on a conventional optical read / write device for optical card 6 (shown in FIG. 11).
The rewriting function is added. To erase visible information,
Rolling and erasing roller 5 heated to a specified temperature
By the heat applied to the card by 8. As shown in FIG. 13, the writing of the visible information is performed by the light beam 54 from the optical head and the optical recording area 12 (shown in FIG. 11).
The writing is performed by heating. In this device, an optical head for reading / writing optical memory 56
And the visible information writing optical head 70 are connected so as to move together. Optical card 6 is optical card slot 6
6, the visible information is erased at the time of loading, is placed on the optical card carrier 60, and the visible information writing optical head 70 writes the remaining memory capacity as visible information. When the optical card 6 is ejected, the temperature of the roller for erasing and erasing 58 is lowered by the controller 62, and the visible information is not erased.

In the conventional optical card, the present memory usage capacity or the remaining memory capacity of the optical card cannot be known by the optical card alone, and cannot be known unless it is inserted in a device such as an optical card reader. According to this embodiment, the used capacity or the remaining capacity can be easily determined by visually observing the optical card alone.

Further, as another application of this embodiment, for example, when an optical card is used as a medical chart, the next medical examination date can be displayed as variable visible information to inform the wearer.

In the present embodiment, as the rewritable material 52, a photochromic medium which can be displayed by changing the light transmittance by a thermally reversible reaction is used. A spiropyran-based photochromic substance capable of displaying characters by a spot heating means such as a head or an optical head, a substance using liquid crystal, or a substance using magnetic powder can be used.

As described above, according to the second to seventh embodiments, the optical card is formed by forming the visible information in the information recording area in the optical information recording medium capable of optically recording and reproducing the information. It is possible to easily know the current recording use status of the optical card by visually observing the optical card itself without inserting it in a device such as an optical card reading device.

The present invention is not limited to the above seven embodiments, and various embodiments and modifications are possible. For example, although the case of the reflection type reading method has been described in the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and can be easily applied to the transmission type reading method. Further, the optical information recording medium of the present invention is not limited to the optical card in the above-mentioned embodiment, and various embodiments such as a compact disc (CD), an optical disc, a laser disc, a magneto-optical disc, optical data, etc. Modifications are possible.

[0045]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides a visible information recording layer between a card substrate and the optical recording material, and transmits the light to the visible information recording layer so that the optical recording material can be exposed to visible light. Is set to a certain value or more. This allows
For example, by setting, it becomes possible to form the design print on the entire area including the area where the optical recording material is located when viewed from the front surface of the optical card. Further, this makes it possible to visualize the usage amount and usage status of the card as visible information without inserting the optical card into the reading device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an optical card which is a first embodiment of an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the optical card shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical card in FIG. 1 taken in a direction different from that in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top view including (A) to (C) showing a conventional optical information recording medium, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing an optical card according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing an optical card according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing an optical card according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing an optical card according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing an optical card according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view showing a modified example of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a top view showing an optical card according to a seventh embodiment.

12 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a reading / writing device for the optical card shown in FIG.

13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the optical card shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Card substrate, 2 ... Visible information recording layer, 3 ... Optical recording material, 4 ... Transparent substrate, 5 ... Adhesive, 6 ... Optical card, 12 ...
Optical recording area, 30 ... Vertical scale, 38 ... Horizontal scale, 40 ...
1st color coded part, 42 ... 2nd color coded part, 44 ... Memory remaining capacity value, 46 ... Specific date time value, 48 ... Fixed visible information part, 50 ... Variable visible information part, 52 ... Rewritable material.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A substrate, an optical recording material formed on the substrate and capable of recording and / or reproducing information using a light beam, and a light transmitting layer formed on the optical recording material. An optical information recording medium comprising: a visible information recording layer disposed between the base material and the optical recording material, wherein the optical recording material transmits light to the visible information recording layer. And an optical information recording medium having a transmittance of a certain value or more with respect to visible light and configured to cover at least a part of the visible information recording layer. 2. The optical information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the visible information of the visible information recording layer indicates a recording use status of the optical recording material. 3. The optical information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the visible information has a scale. 4. The optical information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the visible information discretely displays a recordable remaining capacity value of the optical recording material. 5. The optical information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the visible information indicates a specific date and time. 6. The optical information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the visible information recording layer contains a rewriting material.