JPH0696295A - Illegal use preventing method for magnetic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily discriminate whether the card is valid or not at a low cost by providing a magnetic layer, and a covering layer in which a non-magnetic material is mixed and the suface is rugged, in other position than a magnetic stripe, and on its layer, respectively in the magnetic card and magnetizing the magnetic layer, and comparing a detecting signal of the magnetized part and a recording signal of the magnetic stripe. CONSTITUTION:In the magnetic card 1, a magnetic stripe 3, and a magnetic layer 4 are provided on one side surface of a card base made of paper or a synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride, etc., and in other position than the magnetic stripe 3, respectively, and on the magnetic layer 4, a covering layer 6 in which a non-magnetic material 5 is mixed at random and the surface is rugged is provided. To the magnetic stripe 3, a detecting signal read by a magneto-electric converting element 12 by scanning a magnetic head 11, the remainder and the remaining frequency of variable information, and fixed information of, for instance, a store number, an enterprise code, a name, etc., are recorded and read. To the magnetic layer 4, is scanned and a magnetic force by scanning the magneto-electric converting element 12 such as a magnetic head or a Hall element, a magneto-resistance effect element, etc., is read, and becomes a detecting signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for preventing unauthorized use of magnetic cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, credit cards and prepaid cards
Due to the remarkable spread of cards and the like, there is a strong demand for ensuring the security of magnetic card readers. In response to this, various proposals have been made and some have been put into practical use, but they are insufficient in terms of marketability and security. An example of this proposal is Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-501250. In this publication, stainless fibers are randomly mixed in a magnetic card, the card is read by a microwave, and the fact that the mixed state differs depending on the individual card is utilized, and the card due to the difference in mixed state is used. It has been proposed to record the card specific information in a card and prevent forgery of another card to improve security.

However, in the configuration of the above publication, the magnetic card
Since stainless fiber is mixed in the card, the cost of the card is high. A microwave sensor is required to detect the stainless fiber mixed in the magnetic card, which causes a cost increase. When microwaves are used, there is a leakage regulation under the Radio Law, and it is difficult to satisfy the regulation with a card reader, especially a manual card reader.

[0004]

The problem to be solved is that a card containing a stainless fiber and a microwave sensor are required, which increases the cost. When microwaves are used, leakage is regulated by the Radio Law. Therefore, it cannot be used easily. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to magnetize a magnetic layer by providing a magnetic layer at a position other than the magnetic stripe on the magnetic card and a coating layer having a concavo-convex pattern formed thereon by mixing a non-magnetic material,
Proposed a method for preventing unauthorized use of magnetic cards that compares the detection signal affected by the unevenness different for each card with the recording signal of the magnetic stripe to easily determine the correctness of the card at low cost. It is to be.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a magnetic stripe is provided on a magnetic card and a magnetic layer is provided at a position other than the magnetic stripe, and a coating layer having a concavo-convex portion mixed with a non-magnetic material is provided on the magnetic layer. The magnetic layer is magnetized, the magnetized portion is detected by a magnetic head or a magnetoelectric conversion element, and the detection signal is recorded in a magnetic stripe. When the magnetic card is used, the detection signal of the magnetized portion and the magnetic stripe The gist of the invention is to determine whether the card is correct or not by comparing it with the recording signal.

[0006]

In the magnetic card 1, a magnetic layer 4 is provided at a position other than the magnetic stripe 3, and a non-magnetic material 5 is randomly mixed on the magnetic layer 4 to form a coating layer 6 having an uneven surface, and the magnetic layer 4 is magnetized. A magnetized portion, and the magnetic force of the magnetized portion is a magnetic head or a magnetoelectric conversion element.
The comparison / discrimination circuit 13 compares and discriminates the detection signal in which the spacing loss is read at 12 and the recording signal recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 with this detection signal.

[0007]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the magnetic card of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a magnetic card.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the main part of the card, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the main part of the card reader and the magnetic card detection structure of the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnetic card 1 comprises a magnetic stripe 3 on one surface of a card base 2 made of a synthetic resin such as paper or vinyl chloride, and a magnetic stripe at a position other than the magnetic stripe 3. Layer 4
And the non-magnetic material 5 is randomly mixed on the magnetic layer 4 to form the coating layer 6 having an uneven surface. As the non-magnetic material 5, powder or fibrous non-magnetic material having different sizes is used. After that, the magnetic layer 4 is magnetized by a magnetizing device to form a magnetized portion.

The magnetic card reader is, for example, shown in FIG.
A card running path 7a of the magnetic card 1 is provided in the. A card insertion port 7b is formed at the right end of the card traveling path 7a. Card feed rollers 8 and 9 are rotatably supported by front and rear base frames 7 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and rotated by a motor (not shown). A roller 10 is provided on the base frame 7 above the card feed roller 8 so as to face the card feed roller 8, and a magnetic head 11 faces the card feed roller 9. Are arranged. Above the card running path 7a on the side of the magnetic head 11, a magnetic head or a magnetoelectric conversion element 12 such as a hall element or a magnetoresistive effect element is provided.
Are arranged.

A circuit (not shown) for recording / reading information on the magnetic stripe 3 is connected to the magnetic head 11, and a comparison / discrimination circuit is provided on the information reading side of the magnetic head 11.
13 are connected. On the information recording side of the magnetic head 11,
The information input circuit 14 is connected. New information or update information is input to the information input circuit 14. Furthermore, the magnetoelectric conversion element 12
Is connected to the comparison / determination circuit 13 and the information input circuit 14.

When the magnetic card 1 is issued, the magnetic card 1
The magnetic card 1 whose magnetic layer 4 is magnetized is shown in FIG. 3 from the card insertion port 7b of the magnetic card reader to the card running path 7a.
Inserted in. When the magnetic card 1 travels in the card traveling path 7a and the magnetic layer 4 which has become a magnetized portion is scanned by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12, the magnetic force magnetized in the magnetic layer 4 of the magnetized portion. Is read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 and output as a detection signal. However, the coating layer 6 that is scanned by contacting the magnetoelectric conversion element 12
As shown in FIG. 2, since the concaves 6a and the convexes 6b which are different for each card are formed on the surface by randomly mixing the non-magnetic material 5, the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 comes close to the magnetic layer 4 or rises. As a result, the distance between the magnetic layer 4 and the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 changes, causing spacing loss, and the detection signal becomes a detection signal different from the magnetic force itself magnetized in the magnetic layer 4. That is, even if the magnetic layer 4 is uniformly magnetized with the same magnetic field strength, the magnetic card 1 has the concave portions 6a and the convex portions 6b on the surface of the coating layer 6 according to the mixed state in which the non-magnetic material 5 is randomly mixed. It is possible to obtain a detection signal in which the spacing loss which is different for each card is added.

A detection signal in consideration of the spacing loss is input to the information input circuit 14 and the magnetic head 11 causes a magnetic curve.
It is recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 of the drive 1. Further, fixed information such as store number, company code, name and the like and variable information such as the amount of money and frequency usable by the magnetic card 1 are recorded on the magnetic stripe 3. The detection signal recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 may be the detection signal itself output from the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 or a signal obtained by digitizing the detection signal. Further, it may be a signal calculated under a specific condition. When it is a calculated signal, it is input to the comparison / discrimination circuit 13 after being inversely calculated by the inverse calculation circuit as in the second embodiment.

When the magnetic card 1 is used, the magnetic card
The magnetic card 1 is the same as when the card 1 is issued.
It is inserted into the card running path 7a from the card insertion port 7b of the drill. When the magnetic layer 1 which has become a magnetized portion is scanned by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 as the magnetic card 1 travels in the card traveling path 7a, the surface of the coating layer 6 is randomly mixed with the non-magnetic material 5. Since the concave portion 6a and the convex portion 6b are formed on the magnetic field, the magnetic force affected by the concave 6a is read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 and output as a detection signal in which the spacing loss is added. Magnetic head at the same time
At 11, for example, fixed information such as store number, company code, name and the like, the above variable information, and a recording signal of a detection signal in which the spacing loss of the magnetic card 1 is added are read, and read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12. When the detection signal and the recording signal in consideration of the spacing loss thus obtained are compared and discriminated by the comparison / discrimination circuit 13, the material of the magnetic card 1 is discriminated as a correct card which is not forged.

When the magnetic card 1 is used and then returned to the customer, the update information of the balance and the remaining number is input to the information input circuit 14 and recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 through the magnetic head 11.

As described above, in the magnetic card 1, the concave portions 6a and the convex portions 6b which are different for each card are formed on the surface of the coating layer 6 in accordance with the mixing state in which the non-magnetic material 5 is randomly mixed. . When it is determined whether the magnetic card 1 is right or wrong, the magnetic force affected by the unevenness takes into account the spacing loss read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12, and this detection signal is sent to the magnetic stripe 3. When the recorded recording signals are compared by the comparison / discrimination circuit 13 and coincident with each other, it is judged that the material of the magnetic card 1 is a non-counterfeit correct card, and when different, a counterfeit card.
By determining the card as a card, it is possible to easily determine whether the magnetic card 1 is right or wrong, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the magnetic card.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the essential parts of the card reader and the magnetic card detection structure of the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, a circuit (not shown) for recording / reading information on the magnetic stripe 3 is connected to the magnetic head 11 in FIG. 4, and an inverse operation circuit 15 is provided on the information reading side of the magnetic head 11. Is connected and the comparison / determination circuit 13 is connected to the inverse operation circuit 15. A variable information / fixed information arithmetic circuit 16 is connected to the information recording side of the magnetic head 11. New information and update information are input to the variable information / fixed information arithmetic circuit 16. Further, the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 is connected to the comparison / discrimination circuit 13 and the variable information / fixed information arithmetic circuit 16.

When the magnetic card 1 is issued, the magnetic card 1
The magnetic card 1 whose magnetic layer 4 is magnetized is shown in FIG. 3 from the card insertion port 7b of the magnetic card reader to the card running path 7a.
Inserted in. When the magnetic card 1 travels in the card traveling path 7a and the magnetic layer 4 which has become a magnetized portion is scanned by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12, the magnetic force magnetized in the magnetic layer 4 of the magnetized portion. Is read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 and is output as a detection signal with consideration of spacing loss. Next, in the magnetic stripe 3, fixed information such as store number, company code, name, etc., and a magnetic card.
Variable information such as the amount of money and frequency that can be used by the de 1 and the above detection signal are added together by the variable information / fixed information arithmetic circuit 16,
The data is calculated according to a constant law (polynomial, etc.) such as multiplication, multiplication and division, and is recorded as variable data through the magnetic head 11.

When the magnetic card 1 is used, the magnetic card
The magnetic card 1 is the same as when the card 1 is issued.
It is inserted into the card running path 7a from the card insertion port 7b of the drill. When the magnetic layer 1 which has become a magnetized portion is scanned by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 as the magnetic card 1 travels in the card traveling path 7a, the surface of the coating layer 6 is randomly mixed with the non-magnetic material 5. Since different concaves 6a and convexes 6b are formed for each card, a detection signal in which the spacing loss affected by the influence is added is output. At the same time, the variable data recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 is read by the magnetic head 11 and the inverse calculation circuit is operated.
It is input to 15, and is inversely calculated by the inverse calculation circuit 15 to be returned to the original variable information, fixed information, and the recording signal (the detection signal in which the recorded spacing loss is added). Next, the magnetoelectric conversion element
When the detection signal in which the spacing loss is read in 12 and the inversely calculated recording signal are compared and judged by the comparison / decision circuit 13, the material of the magnetic card 1 is not forged. -It is determined to be

When the magnetic card 1 is used and later returned to the customer, the update information is input and the remaining amount of the update variable information and the remaining number and the fixed information are added to the detection signal by the variable information / fixed information arithmetic circuit 16. The calculated variable data is calculated and recorded on the magnetic stripe 3 of the magnetic card 1 through the magnetic head 11.

As described above, since the non-magnetic material 5 is randomly mixed in the magnetic card 1, the concave portion 6a and the convex portion 6b are formed on the surface of the coating layer 6 in accordance with the mixed state, which is affected by this. The detection signal in which the magnetic force is added to the spacing loss read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12, the remaining amount and the remaining frequency of the variable information, for example, fixed information such as store number, company code, name, etc. .The magnetic head 11 is operated as variable data by being operated by addition, multiplication, multiplication, division, etc. in the fixed information operation circuit 16.
When the data is recorded through the variable data, it is necessary to know the information consisting of the detection signal in which the spacing loss peculiar to the card is added.
Data can be prevented from being tampered with, and the balance and the remaining frequency can be prevented from being tampered with, and the detection signal and the recording signal recorded in the magnetic stripe 3 and inversely calculated are compared and discriminated.
By comparing and discriminating with, the correctness of the magnetic card 1 can be discriminated and the illegal use of the magnetic card can be prevented.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional side view of the essential part of a modification of the magnetic card.

The magnetic card 1 shown in FIG. 5 has a magnetic stripe 3 on one surface of a synthetic resin card base 2 such as paper or vinyl chloride and a magnetic layer 4 at a position other than the magnetic stripe 3. It is provided. When the magnetic layer 4 is provided, for example, the intermediate material 18 is applied on the card base 2, and the magnetic layer 4 is provided on the intermediate material 18 by attaching a magnetic sheet or the like. The non-magnetic material 5 is randomly placed on the magnetic layer 4 and pressed while the coating layer 6 is provided on the surface of the non-magnetic material 5 while the coating layer 6 is not dried. As the non-magnetic material 5, powder or fibrous non-magnetic material having different sizes is used. After that, the magnetic layer 4 is magnetized by a magnetizing device to form a magnetized portion.

In this modification, the upper surface of the coating layer 6 is a flat surface, but the non-magnetic material 5 is pushed into the coating layer 6 and the magnetic layer 4 to form irregularities therein. When the magnetic force affected by the unevenness is read by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12, a detection signal in which the unevenness of the coating layer 6 and the magnetic layer 4 is added is obtained.

When the method for preventing unauthorized use of the magnetic card is constructed as described above, the magnetic card 1 is provided with the magnetic stripe 3 and the magnetic layer 4 at a position other than the magnetic stripe 3, and is magnetized. Since the concaves and convexes of the coating layer 6 are formed on the magnetic layer 4 according to the mixed state in which the non-magnetic material 5 is randomly mixed, the effect of the spacing loss or the unevenness due to the magnetic force affected by this is taken into consideration. By comparing the detected signal with the recording signal of the magnetic stripe, the correctness of the card can be discriminated, so that the detection signal peculiar to each magnetic card can be obtained and the non-magnetic material 5 on the magnetic layer 4 can be obtained. Since the concave and convex portions of the coating layer 6 are randomly provided according to the mixed state and can be detected by the magnetoelectric conversion element 12, it is possible to easily prevent unauthorized use of the magnetic card at low cost.

In the above description, the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 is arranged on the side of the magnetic head 11 and above the card running path 7a. However, the magnetic layer 4 as a magnetized portion can be scanned at any position. It may be provided. Alternatively, a magnet may be provided in front of the magnetoelectric conversion element 12 of the magnetic card reader, and the magnetic layer 4 may be magnetized by this magnet.

[0027]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above,
A magnetic layer is provided on the magnetic card at a position other than the magnetic stripe and magnetized, and non-magnetic material is randomly mixed on the magnetic layer to form unevenness of the coating layer according to the mixed state. The space due to the magnetic force affected by this unevenness
By comparing the detection signal with the influence of single loss or unevenness with the recording signal of the magnetic stripe, it is possible to easily and at low cost.
It is possible to provide a method of preventing unauthorized use of a magnetic card, which has excellent effects such as whether the card is correct or not and the unauthorized use of the magnetic card can be easily prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a magnetic card according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of a main part of the magnetic card.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a card reader and a magnetic card detection structure of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a main part of a card reader and a magnetic card detection structure of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of essential parts of a modification of the magnetic card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 magnetic card 3 magnetic stripe 4 magnetic layer 5 non-magnetic material 6 coating layer 12 magnetoelectric conversion element

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic stripe is provided on a magnetic card, and a magnetic layer is provided at a position other than the magnetic stripe, and a coating layer having a concavo-convex pattern formed by mixing a nonmagnetic material is provided on the magnetic layer to magnetize the magnetic layer. The magnetized part is detected by a magnetic head or a magnetoelectric conversion element,
The detection signal is recorded on the magnetic stripe, and when the magnetic card is used, the detection signal of the magnetized portion and the recording signal of the magnetic stripe are compared to determine the correctness of the card. Unauthorized use prevention method.