JPH07156580A - Genuineness-checkable cardlike matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a checkable cardlike matter, which has no defect, as in the case when metal wire is imbedded in a sign panel, and having a high security properties. CONSTITUTION:A matter to be checked 1 has a cardlike main body 2 made of non-magnetic material such as synthetic resin or the like and a sign panel 3, which is provided in some part of the main body 2 and in which the predetermined entry is written. The sign panel 3 is equipped with base material 11 mainly made of paper and magnetic polymer elements 12, which are prepared by mixing magnetic metal power with fibrous element main bodies made of polymeric material and made together with the pulp fibers of the base material in a paper-making fashion. Further, a code displaying part 6 is provided in some part of the main body 2. In the code displaying part 6, information concerning to the detection signal, which is intrinsic and obtained in response to the magnetic polymer elements 12, is encoded and recorded. The code displaying part 6 is displayed by magnetically readable recording medium such as magnetic stripe or optically readable recording medium such as bar code.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card-like object to be detected whose authenticity is to be checked and whose authenticity is to be checked, such as banknotes, credit cards, prepaid cards, and cash vouchers. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a means for checking the authenticity of a card, as described in JP-A-5-270181, a sign panel provided on a card base is mixed with stainless steel fibers in a dispersed state. However, there is one that determines the authenticity of the card by measuring a response microwave flux obtained when the card is irradiated with microwaves.

[0003]

On the sign panel provided on the card, predetermined items such as a card user's signature are written by a writing instrument such as a ballpoint pen or a fountain pen. It has become. Therefore, when a metal wire such as a stainless steel fiber is mixed in the sign panel as described above, the metal wire may be seen from the outside. Further, if a metal wire is mixed into a thin material such as a sign panel, the metal wire may be exposed on the surface of the sign panel, and therefore the metal wire is not preferable in terms of security.

Further, since the surface of the metal wire is smooth, the metal wire may hinder the writing or the ink may bleed when writing on the sign panel with a writing instrument. Moreover, when a sign panel is cut into a desired size by a cutter when manufacturing a sign panel including a metal wire, a part of the metal wire may come out of the cut surface of the sign panel, or the life of the cutter may be significantly shortened. There's a problem.

Further, in the checking means using the microwave as described above, the SN ratio is deteriorated because the response microwave flux is easily affected by external noise.
Moreover, since it oscillates microwaves, it may be a noise source. Moreover, microwave transmitters and receivers are generally large and costly.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a detected object with a high security, which can avoid the problems that occur when a metal wire is embedded in a sign panel.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which was developed to achieve the above object, has a card-shaped main body made of a non-magnetic material, and a predetermined body provided on at least a part of the front surface or the back surface of the main body. A card-shaped object to be detected having a sign panel on which entries are made, wherein the sign panel has a base material mainly made of paper and a magnetic metal powder on a fibrous element body made of a polymer material. Information about the unique detection signal obtained in response to the magnetic polymer element in the sign panel, the magnetic polymer element being mixed and squeezed into the substrate with the pulp fiber of the substrate. And a code display section which is coded and recorded.

As the code display section, a magnetically readable recording medium such as a magnetic stripe or an optically readable recording medium such as a bar code is adopted. In some cases, a host computer is used. It may be stored in a memory such as.

An example of the polymer material used for the element body is
It is an acrylic resin. As the magnetic metal powder, powder made of a magnetically soft high magnetic permeability material such as permalloy, sendust, Co-based amorphous, and soft ferrite, or for example ferrite or Sm-Co.
A powder made of a magnetically hard high coercive force material such as an alloy or Nd alloy is suitable. When a high coercive force material is used for the magnetic metal powder, the magnetic polymer element can be magnetized in advance.

[0010]

In the manufacturing process for manufacturing the object to be detected, the magnetic polymer element is squeezed into the sign panel together with the pulp fiber at the time of manufacturing the sign panel, and the sign panel is magnetically scanned. The unique detection signal is used to check the authenticity of the detected object. That is, while moving the detected object at a predetermined speed,
The detection signal corresponding to the distribution of the magnetic polymer element in the sign panel is detected by the detection means. This detection signal has an output pattern peculiar to each sign panel because it changes for each minute portion of the sign panel depending on the mixing density of the magnetic polymer element, the burial depth, the size of the magnetic polymer element or the arrangement direction. This detection signal is encrypted according to a specific rule when the detected object is created and recorded on the code display unit.

In the process of checking whether the detected object is authentic or not, the detected object is scanned again to obtain a detection signal specific to the sign panel and is recorded on the code display section. Read the code code that is present, and when this code code and the above detection signal correspond,
It is determined that the object to be detected is authentic.

In the sign panel of the present invention, since the magnetic polymer element is embedded in the base material mainly composed of pulp fiber, the pulp fiber and the magnetic polymer element are entwined three-dimensionally (three-dimensionally). For this reason, it is possible to avoid problems such as the magnetic polymer element flocking to the surface of the sign panel, the state stability of the magnetic polymer element is extremely high, and the distribution state (especially the burial depth) of the magnetic polymer element in the sign panel is falsified. Since this is impossible, it is a detected object with high security.

The magnetic polymer element mixed in the sign panel can be easily coated with a coating layer of a desired color (for example, white) so as not to be conspicuous, and the sign panel base material surface is made of paper. It is also easy to hide the magnetic polymer element by providing a surface material for the magnetic polymer element. Further, there is no problem in writing the predetermined items on the signature panel with a writing instrument or a stamp. Since this sign panel does not contain metal wires, it does not rust and can be easily cut with a cutter.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the detected object 1 is
It has a card-shaped main body 2 made of a non-magnetic material, and a sign panel 3 provided on a part of the front surface or the back surface of the main body 2. The main body 2 is generally made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene or vinyl chloride, but may be made of paper.

Prescribed items (for example, a cardholder's signature) 4 are written on the signature panel 3 with a writing instrument such as a ballpoint pen or a fountain pen. Sign panel 3 as shown in FIGS.
Is fixed to the main body 2 by an adhesive material 5. Adhesive 5
An example is a thermoplastic synthetic resin, but other adhesive materials may be used.

Further, the code display portion 6 is provided on the detected object 1.
Is provided. Unique information corresponding to the distribution and the like of the magnetic polymer element 12 described below embedded in the sign panel 3 is encrypted and written in the code display unit 6 by the processing device 50 described below. The code display portion 6 may be a magnetic stripe having a width narrower than that of the card body 2 as shown in the figure, but it can be optically read like a normal barcode, a two-dimensional barcode or an OCR character. It may be recorded by a recording medium.

The sign panel 3 is a white paper base material 11
In the base material 11, a large number of magnetic polymer elements 12 are randomly mixed so as to face a large number of unspecified directions.

As shown in FIG. 4, the base material 11 contains a large number of pulp fibers 13, and these pulp fibers 13 and the magnetic polymer element 12 are integrally squeezed into the base material 11. ing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic polymer element 12 is a fibrous element in which magnetic metal powder 16 is mixed in the entire cross section of an element body 15 made of a polymer material. Acrylic resin is suitable as an example of the polymer material used for the element body 15, but thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polyester, or urethane may be used. In short, a well-known synthetic resin having appropriate flexibility is used. Applicable.

The magnetic polymer element 12 can be manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. The manufacturing apparatus 20 includes an acrylic solution supply unit 22 having a nozzle 21 for ejecting an acrylic solution, a solution tank 24 containing a coagulating solution 23, and the like.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 7, the acrylic solution 25 mixed with a large number of magnetic metal powders 16 is drawn out from the nozzle 21 and passed through the coagulation solution 23, so that the acrylic element body 15 is made inside. The magnetic polymer element 12 in which a large number of magnetic metal powders 16 are mixed can be obtained. The magnetic polymer element 12 is cut into a length of, for example, 2 mm to 10 mm.

The cross-sectional shape of the magnetic polymer element 12 is not limited to a circle, but the opening cross-section of the nozzle 21 may be made rectangular so that the magnetic polymer has a flat rectangular or oval cross section or a polygonal cross section. The device may be manufactured. If the magnetic polymer element 12 is molded into a flat shape,
This is advantageous in mixing the element 12 when the base material 11 is thin.

When an acrylic resin is used for the element body 15 of the magnetic polymer element 12, since the specific gravity of the magnetic polymer element 12 is close to that of the pulp fiber 13, the pulp fiber 13 and the magnetic polymer element 12 are in pulp solution with each other. It mixes well and the surface of acrylic resin (magnetic polymer element 12
When the surface of the magnetic fiber is observed with a microscope, innumerable small projections are in a raised state, so that the entanglement between the magnetic polymer element 12 and the pulp fiber 13 becomes extremely strong. In addition,
In the case of the conventional metal magnetic wire, the wire is easily accumulated under the pulp solution, and thus it is difficult to mix with the pulp fiber. Further, since the conventional metal magnetic wire has a smooth surface, it has a poor bite to pulp fibers.

The magnetic polymer element 12 shown in FIG.
As described above, the base material 1 is formed on the outer surface of the element 12 over the entire circumference.
You may make it coat with the coating layer 30 of the same color as 1. As an example of the coating layer 30, when the base material 11 is white, a white material in which a titanium oxide 31 is contained in a polymer material is used. When the base material 11 is brown, the coating layer 30 may be brown.

In the magnetic polymer element 12 provided with the coating layer 30 as described above, as shown in FIG. 9, the magnetic metal powder 16 is mixed by the acrylic solution supply unit 36 using the double-structured nozzle 35. It is manufactured by wrapping the outside of the acrylic solution 25 with a polymer solution 37 containing titanium oxide 31 and passing it through a coagulating solution 23 (see FIG. 6).

The magnetic polymer element 12 is replaced with pulp fiber 1
The step of scrubbing with No. 3 can be carried out without any problems by a usual paper pulp manufacturing process. That is, a step of obtaining a pulp solution in which the pulp fiber 13 and the magnetic polymer element 12 are mixed, and a sheet-like material having a predetermined thickness in which the pulp fiber 13 and the magnetic polymer element 12 are three-dimensionally entangled with each other by scooping the pulp solution The sign panel 3 having a predetermined size is manufactured through the steps of obtaining and cutting the sheet-shaped material into a predetermined size with a cutter.

When the pulp fiber 13 and the magnetic polymer element 12 are rubbed together in this way, the pulp fiber 1
Since the magnetic polymer element 3 and the magnetic polymer element 12 are entangled three-dimensionally (three-dimensionally), the magnetic polymer element 12 moves in the base material 11, is peeled off, or the magnetic polymer element 12 rises up on the surface of the base material 11. Since the defect can be avoided, the state stability of the magnetic polymer element 12 is extremely high. Further, since the magnetic polymer element 12 is entangled with the pulp fiber 13 three-dimensionally, forgery is difficult and security is improved.

The mixing amount of the magnetic metal powder 16 is 30% by weight.
The range of -80 wt% is preferred. If it is less than 30 wt%, the output of the magnetic metal powder 16 may not reach the practical level. If it exceeds 80 wt%, the strength of the element 12 (mainly tensile strength) is remarkably reduced, and it cannot be put to practical use. The particle size of the magnetic metal powder 16 is, for example, 1 μm or less, and preferably the average particle size is about 0.2 to 0.3 μm.

The length of the magnetic polymer element 12 is 2 mm.
The range from 1 to 10 mm is preferred. If it is less than 2 mm, the elements 12 become too fine and are evenly dispersed in the base material 11 like powder. Therefore, in the processing device 50 described below, the output becomes uniform and it is difficult for random features to appear. 2 mm long
If it is more than the above, the characteristics are likely to appear in the output. If the length of the element 12 exceeds 10 mm, the element 12 is less likely to mix with the pulp fiber 13 in the pulp solution, and it is difficult to pour the magnetic polymer element 12 in the current papermaking technology.

The wire diameter of the magnetic polymer element 12 is 10
It is preferably between 100 μm and 100 μm. If the wire diameter is 10 μm or more, a practical level output can be obtained as long as the content of the magnetic metal powder 16 is sufficient. The larger the wire diameter is, the larger the output is, which is preferable, but the thickness of the base material 11 is 10
If the wire diameter of the element 12 exceeds 100 μm when it is about 0 μm, part of the element 12 is exposed on the surface of the base material 11, which is not preferable. That is, the wire diameter needs to be equal to or less than the thickness of the base material 11.

Like the sign panel 3 of the object 1 to be detected shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, by providing a surface material 42 mainly made of paper on the surface of the base material 11, the surface material 42 is The magnetic polymer element 12 may be concealed by the surface material 42 while the predetermined entry items are written.

Magnetic metal powder 1 of the magnetic polymer element 12
When a high magnetic permeability material is used for 6 (for example, a magnetically soft metal such as permalloy, Co-based amorphous, sendust, and soft ferrite), the detected object 1
Are magnetically scanned by the processor 50 as shown in FIG.

The processing device 50 comprises a housing 55 and a transfer mechanism 56. The transfer mechanism 56 is configured to move the object to be detected 1 at a predetermined speed (constant speed) in the direction of arrow F in the figure by a transfer member 57 using a belt, a roller, or the like.

A magnetic sensor 60 is provided on the way of the moving path of the object 1. The magnetic sensor 60 includes a first MR element 61 and a second MR element 61 as an example of a pair of magnetoelectric conversion elements.
The MR element 62 and the MR element 62 are arranged in the moving direction of the detected object 1, and a magnet 63 as an example of a magnetic field generating means is arranged behind the MR elements 61 and 62. The magnet 63 may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet using a coil may be used.

The MR elements 61 and 62 are magnetoresistive elements whose electric resistance value changes according to the strength of the magnetic field. Depending on required specifications, for example, a positive magnetic field using a compound semiconductor such as indium antimony or gallium arsenide is used. A material having characteristics or a material having negative magnetic characteristics such as a ferromagnetic material such as nickel cobalt or permalloy is used.

These MR elements 61 and 62 are electrically connected to each other, and each MR element 61 and 62 is
A magnetic field of the same strength is applied by the magnet 63. The first MR element 61 is connected to the controller 80 described below via a detection circuit 74. Second M
The R element 62 is connected to the DC power supply circuit 75. The sign panel 3 can be moved along the direction in which the MR elements 61 and 62 are arranged.

When the magnetic polymer element 12 passes under the MR elements 61 and 62, the output voltage V _out changes as the position of the magnetic polymer element 12 changes in the scanning direction.
That is, when the magnetic polymer element 12 is not present in the vicinity of the MR elements 61 and 62, the magnetic field of the magnet 63 is evenly applied to the MR elements 61 and 62, and the MR elements 61 and 6 are
Since the resistance values of 2 are equal to each other, the output voltage V _out is about half (V _in / 2) with respect to the input voltage V _in . When the magnetic polymer element 12 moves under the MR elements 61 and 62 by the movement of the magnetic polymer element 12 in the direction of the arrow F, each of the MR elements corresponding to the position of the magnetic polymer element 12 is moved.
The magnetic flux passing through the elements 61 and 62 changes with time, and the resistance values of the MR elements 61 and 62 differ, so that the output voltage V _out fluctuates substantially (V _in / 2).

Here, the resistance of the first MR element 61 is set to R ₁ ,
When the resistance of the second MR element 62 is R ₂ , the output voltage V
_out is represented by V _out = V _in × {R ₂ / (R ₁ + R ₂ )}. The output voltage V _out is determined by the distribution density and the burial depth of the magnetic polymer element 12, the magnetic polymer element 12
Since the size changes according to the distribution state such as the diameter (or thickness), length, direction, etc., a unique output voltage pattern is detected.

The processing device 50 includes a controller 80 using a microcomputer, a code writing section 81 for recording the following encryption code on the code display section 6 of the object to be detected 1, and a code display section 6. A code reading unit 82 for reading the encrypted code is provided. The code writing section 81 and the reading section 82 are connected to a read / write circuit 83. The controller 80 is A
/ D converter 90, comparator 91 and encryption code converter 9
Including 2. A display 95 is connected to the controller 80.

Next, the operation and the like of the apparatus 50 of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 shows an outline of a process for producing the detected object 1. In step S1,
When the detected object 1 is manufactured, the magnetic polymer element 12 is mixed into the sign panel 3. Scanning / detection step S2
Includes a scanning step S3 and a detection step S4, and the object to be detected 1 is moved in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 12 at a predetermined speed by the transfer mechanism 56, so as to be unique to the magnetic polymer element 12 in the sign panel 3. The detection signal of is obtained.

That is, in the scanning step S3, when the object to be detected 1 is moved in the direction of arrow F at a predetermined speed by the transfer mechanism 56, a plurality of minute portions of the sign panel 3 are MR-coupled.
It passes through the vicinity of the elements 61 and 62 sequentially. At this time, since the magnetic flux passing through the MR elements 61, 62 changes with time according to the density, diameter, direction, length, embedding depth of the magnetic polymer element 12, the property of the magnetic metal powder 16, etc., the MR element 61,62
Due to the difference in the resistance values R ₁ and R ₂ of the output voltage V _out , the output voltage V _out is measured as a unique output voltage pattern. In this embodiment, in the detection step S4, the sign panel 3 is divided and detected for each minute time, and the output voltage for each minute time is ranked in a plurality of stages and digitized. A coded detection signal specific to the sign panel 3 is thus obtained.

In the encryption step S5, the above-mentioned detection signal is encrypted by the encryption code converter 92 according to a specific rule. The code encrypted in this way is
In the writing step S6, the code is recorded on the code display unit 6 by the magnetic head of the code writing unit 81. Although the code display unit 6 of this embodiment is a magnetic band, for example, a mark and a code (for example, a bar code, a two-dimensional bar code, an OCR) by which the code code can be optically read on the code display unit 6 by using a print head. (For example, characters) or the hologram in which the code is recorded may be stamped in order according to the encryption code. The encryption code may be stored in the code storage area of the host computer.

The processing device 50 is also used to check whether the detected object 1 is authentic or not. FIG. 14 shows an outline of the matching process for checking the authenticity of the detected object 1. Step S11 includes a scanning step S3 and a detection step S4 similar to the above-described process of creating the detected object 1. The magnetic sensor 60 scans the sign panel 3 at a predetermined speed to distribute the magnetic polymer element 12. Etc. to obtain a detection signal.

In the code reading step S12,
The encryption code recorded on the code display unit 6 is read by the code reading unit 82. This cipher code is used by the cipher code converter 9 in the code reproducing step S13.
The verification code is reproduced by being decoded by 2 according to a predetermined rule. And a determination step S
14, the collation code and the detection step S4
The detector 91 compares the detected signal with the detector 91, and only when they match each other, the detected object 1 is determined to be a genuine product, and the comparison result is displayed on the display 95.

According to the processing device 50, the sign panel 3 can be detected even if the external magnetic field applied to the object to be detected 1 is weak, so that the code code and other information are displayed on the code display portion 6 or other places. Even if magnetically recorded, these magnetic information will not be destroyed.

The magnetic sensor 60 has two MRs.
Since the detection signal is obtained based on the output ratio of the elements 61 and 62, it is less susceptible to temperature changes and noise. Further, in a general magnetic head, the magnitude of the output changes depending on the moving speed of the object to be detected, but with the processing device 50 including the magnetic sensor 60 of the present embodiment, the influence of the moving speed and the temperature change is affected. It is difficult to receive, and the output always shows a substantially constant magnitude.

When the cryptographic code is registered in the code storage area of the host computer in the process of creating the detected object 1 described above, the cryptographic code is called from the host computer in the collation process and collated with the detection signal. Good. Alternatively, in the verification process, the detection signal obtained in the detection step S4 is encrypted according to the same rule as in the creation process, and this encryption code is
You may make it collate with the encryption code read in the code reading step S12.

The magnetic polymer element 12 used in the object to be detected 1 of the above embodiment is extremely flexible, and the substrate 1
Since it is entwined three-dimensionally with the pulp fiber 13 of No. 1, even if it is mixed in a thin material such as the sign panel 3, there is no problem that it projects onto the surface of the sign panel 3. Further, when the magnetic polymer element 12 is covered with the coating layer 30 of the same color as the base material 11, the presence of the element 12 can be made inconspicuous, and the security is further enhanced.

[0049]

According to the present invention, when the authenticity of an object to be detected is determined, the unique information about the magnetic polymer element embedded in the sign panel is recorded in advance in the code display section. Only when it corresponds to the information, it is judged that the detected object is authentic, and therefore the reliability of the sign panel is high, and it is extremely effective in preventing unauthorized use due to counterfeit signatures such as credit cards. . Since the sign panel can be detected magnetically, noise generation from the device is avoided and the SN ratio is high as compared with the checking means using microwaves.

Further, since the magnetic polymer element is incorporated together with the pulp fiber of the sign panel base material, the pulp fiber and the magnetic polymer element are sufficiently entangled three-dimensionally to falsify the distribution state of the element. It is virtually impossible, and even if a genuine sign panel is peeled off and an unauthorized sign panel is attached, it can be easily detected. Moreover, since the magnetic polymer element can be made invisible from the outside of the sign panel, it is an object to be detected with high security. There is no problem in writing or printing the predetermined items on the sign panel. Moreover, the cutter can be cut into a predetermined size cleanly, the cutting is easy, and the life of the cutter is not adversely affected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an object to be detected showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the detected object shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a sign panel portion of the detected object shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the sign panel of the detected object shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a magnetic polymer element used in the detected object shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the outline of an apparatus for producing a magnetic polymer element.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the magnetic polymer element.

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of an apparatus for manufacturing the magnetic polymer device shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view of an object to be detected using a sign panel having a surface material.

11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sign panel portion of the detection object shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a partial cross-section of a processing device that processes an object to be detected.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing steps of processing when creating an object to be detected.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the steps of processing when collating an object to be detected.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Object to be detected 2 ... Main body 3 ... Sign panel 4 ... Entry 5 ... Adhesive material 6 ... Code display part 11 ... Base material 12 ... Magnetic polymer element 13 ... Pulp fiber 15 ... Element body 16 ... Magnetic metal powder 30 ... Coating Layer 42 ... Surface material 50 ... Processing device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06K 19/10 G07D 7/00 H G07F 7/12 7199-3B D21H 5/10 (72) Inventor Minoru Komiya 3-10 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card-shaped object to be detected, comprising a card-shaped main body made of a non-magnetic material, and a sign panel provided on at least a part of the front surface or the back surface of the main body and on which predetermined information is entered. The sign panel described above has a base material mainly made of paper, a magnetic metal powder mixed in a fibrous element body made of a polymer material, and the pulp fiber of the base material is squeezed into the base material. And a code display section in which information regarding a unique detection signal obtained according to the magnetic polymer element in the sign panel is coded and recorded. Card-shaped object to be checked for authenticity. 2. The object to be detected according to claim 1, wherein the code display section is recorded on the main body by a magnetically or optically readable recording medium. 3. The object to be detected according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the magnetic polymer element is covered with a coating layer having a color similar to that of the base material over the entire circumference. 4. The object to be detected according to claim 3, wherein the coating layer is a white coating layer in which a polymer material contains titanium oxide. 5. The object to be detected according to claim 1, wherein a surface material composed mainly of paper is provided on the surface of the base material of the sign panel.