JPH0916834A - Detected object to be checked for its genuineness and checking method for the detected object - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a detected object that is hard to be forged or altered. CONSTITUTION: A detected object 10 includes a scanning area 12 and a data recording part 20. The magnetic bars 13 are prepared in the area 12. Every bar 13 is made of a magnetic material that contains many magnetic elements of a magnetic metal scattered at random and outputs an analog waveform of a magnitude accordant with the mixing state of the magnetic elements when the area 12 is magnetically scanned. The information is encoded and registered at the part 20 in response to the output value of every bar 13 when the area 12 is magnetically scanned. The magnetic elements scattered in the magnetic materials used for the bars 13 use the powder, fiber or flake type magnetic metals. Thus every bar 13 shows its inherent magnetic characteristic according to the mixture content of the magnetic elements or the mixing state such as the overlapping state of the magnetic elements, etc., although all bars 13 look equal to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a prepaid card for purchasing a ticket for various transportation facilities, a prepaid card for paying a toll road charge, or a public telephone card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an object to be detected whose authenticity is to be checked and whose authenticity is checked, and a method of checking the object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic bar is used in a train ticket prepaid card as a measure for preventing unauthorized use. In this magnetic bar, a first magnetic bar made of a magnetic material having a high coercive force and a second magnetic bar having a low coercive force are arranged at equal intervals in the scanning direction of the card. The data obtained by detecting these magnetic bars is
The digital code is a combination of "0" and "1", and data corresponding to the digital code is recorded at a specific position of the card. And when this card is used, the balance data is updated.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional magnetic bar merely represents the alternative data of "0" and "1", and therefore the portion where the magnetic bar is provided is not shown. There is room for improvement in preventing unauthorized use, such as the possibility of forging relatively easily by cutting and pasting. In addition, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to print two types of magnetic materials having a high coercive force and a low coercive force. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an object to be detected which is difficult to be illegally used such as forgery or alteration and can be reduced in cost, and a check method thereof.

[0004]

The object to be detected of the present invention, which has been developed to achieve the above object, comprises a base material made of a non-magnetic material and a scanning area set at a specific position, and a magnetic element at random. A plurality of magnetic bars dispersed in the scanning region at predetermined intervals along the scanning direction, each magnetic bar having different magnetic properties depending on the mixing state of the magnetic element; And a data recording unit in which information corresponding to the magnitude of the output of each analog waveform obtained for each magnetic bar when the magnetic bar in the scanning region is magnetically scanned is coded and registered.

The above-mentioned magnetic element is composed of a powder, a fibrous or flake-shaped magnetic metal, or a cut body of a magnetic polymer fiber containing a magnetic metal. As the magnetic metal, a magnetically soft high-permeability magnetic material such as permalloy, sendust, Co-based amorphous, and soft ferrite is suitable. The magnetic element, which is randomly dispersed in ink, may be printed on the object to be detected.

According to the checking method of the present invention, a plurality of magnetic bars are provided at predetermined intervals in a scanning region of a base material made of a non-magnetic material by a magnetic material in which magnetic elements are randomly dispersed. By magnetically scanning, an output of a unique analog waveform corresponding to the mixing state of the magnetic elements of each magnetic bar is obtained, and information corresponding to the magnitude of each output obtained is provided on the base material. The detection signal obtained by magnetically scanning the magnetic bar in the scanning area when the detected object is used is registered in the data recording unit and collated with the information registered in the data recording unit. It is characterized in that the detected object is judged to be authentic when both correspond.

[0007]

When the object to be detected is created, the magnetic bar is provided in the scanning region of the object to be detected by means such as printing. Since the magnetic elements included in this magnetic bar are randomly (non-uniformly) distributed, even if the magnetic bars appear to be the same, each magnetic bar has a mixed amount of magnetic elements and the degree of overlap between magnetic elements. The magnetic properties such as the magnetic permeability will be obtained depending on the mixed state of. By magnetically scanning the scanning area provided with the magnetic bar by the processing device, the output of the unique analog waveform is detected according to the magnetic property of each magnetic bar, and the detected output is reduced in magnitude. Corresponding information is coded based on a specific algorithm and registered in the data recording section of the detected object.

When the object to be detected is used, the scanning area is magnetically scanned. The detection signal obtained by this scanning is collated with the information registered in the data recording section, and when both correspond, it is judged that the detected object is authentic.

The detection signal obtained by the magnetic bar of the present invention is not a binary one of "0" and "1".
Since it is an analog waveform of various outputs that changes depending on the amount of magnetic elements contained in the magnetic bar and the degree of overlapping of magnetic elements, etc., a magnetic material is attached to the scanning area or the magnetic bar is cut out for unauthorized use. However, it is difficult to reproduce the scanning area so as to match the registered content of the data recording unit.

Further, even if the registered contents of the data recording portion are rewritten for the purpose of unauthorized use, the output generated by the magnetic bar of the present invention is a random analog waveform, so that the data should be matched to the contents of the scanning area. It is extremely difficult to rewrite the registered contents of the recording unit. Moreover, since the object to be detected of the present invention does not magnetize (magnetize) the magnetic bar itself, but utilizes the output according to the magnetic properties (permeability, etc.) of the magnetic bar when a magnetic field is applied from the outside. However, it is difficult for a person who attempts unauthorized use to read the contents of the scanning area.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings when a magnetic ink is used. An object to be detected 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a card-shaped base material 11 mainly made of non-magnetic material such as paper or synthetic resin, and a scanning region 12 is set at a specific position of the base material 11. ing.
In the scanning region 12, a plurality of magnetic bars 13 are printed with the magnetic ink described below at regular intervals along the scanning direction.

A magnetic ink as an example of a magnetic material referred to in this specification is, as schematically shown in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner, powdered, fibrous or plate-like in a binder 15 made of, for example, a polymer material. The magnetic elements 16 are randomly (non-uniformly) dispersed. In such a magnetic ink, a large number of magnetic elements 16 face in an unspecified direction in the binder 15 and irregularly overlap each other, so that the respective magnetic bars 13 can exhibit different magnetic properties. . Examples of the material of the magnetic element 16 include magnetically soft high magnetic permeability magnetic materials such as permalloy, sendust, Co-based amorphous, and soft ferrite, and cut bodies of magnetic polymer fibers containing the high magnetic permeability magnetic material ( The one cut to an appropriate length) is suitable.

A data recording section 2 is provided at a specific position on the object to be detected 10.
0 is provided. For the data recording unit 20, a recording medium capable of magnetically writing and reading data and capable of rewriting data, such as a magnetic stripe, is suitable. When a magnetic layer is provided on the entire surface of the object to be detected 10, a part of the magnetic layer may be used as the data recording unit 20. As another example of the data recording unit 20, an optically readable recording medium such as a rewritable barcode may be used. If the detected object 10 is a prepaid card, the data recording unit 2
Data relating to the remaining amount such as the remaining amount data is recorded in a part of 0.

In the data recording section 20, the output obtained when the magnetic bar 13 in the scanning area 12 is magnetically scanned by the processing device 50 described below, that is, each magnetic bar 1
Information corresponding to the output magnitude of the unique analog waveform obtained according to the magnetic properties of 3 is coded and recorded.

The processing device 50 includes a housing 55 and a transfer mechanism 56. The transfer mechanism 56 is configured to move the detected object 10 at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow F in the figure by a transfer member 57 using a belt, rollers, or the like. A magnetic sensor 60 is provided in the middle of the movement path of the detection object 10. In this magnetic sensor 60, a first MR element 61 and a second MR element 62 are arranged in the moving direction of the object to be detected 10, and a magnet 63 is arranged behind the MR elements 61 and 62. A change in magnetic permeability of the scanning area 12 can be detected.

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. The second MR element 62 is the DC power supply circuit 7
5 is connected.

When the magnetic bar 13 passes under the MR elements 61 and 62, the output voltage V _out changes as the position of the magnetic bar 13 changes in the scanning direction. That is, the scanning region 12 moves in the direction of the arrow F, and the magnetic bar 13 passes near the MR elements 61 and 62, so that the amount of the magnetic elements 16 included in the magnetic bar 13 and the degree of overlapping of the magnetic elements 16 are determined. Accordingly, the magnetic flux passing through the MR elements 61 and 62 changes with time, and the resistance values R ₁ and R ₂ of the MR elements 61 and 62 differ from each other. The output voltage V _out of the analog waveform is generated.

The processing device 50 includes a controller 80 using a microcomputer, a code writing unit 81 for recording the following encryption code in the data recording unit 20 of the object to be detected 10, and a data recording unit 20. A code reading unit 82 for reading the code is provided.
The code writing section 81 and the reading section 82 are connected to a read / write circuit 83. The controller 80
It includes an A / D converter 90, a comparator 91, an encryption code converter 92, and the like. Display 95 on controller 80
Is connected.

Next, the operation of the detection object 10 and the processing device 50 will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example of a process for creating the detected object 10. In the base material manufacturing step S1, a card-shaped base material 11 is manufactured from a nonmagnetic material such as synthetic resin or paper. Printing step S
In 2, the above-mentioned magnetic bar 13 is printed on the scanning area 12 by the magnetic ink.

In the scanning step S3, the processing device 50
The scanning region 12 is magnetically scanned by. That is, by moving the object to be detected 10 in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 4 by the transfer mechanism 56 and detecting the output of the magnetic bars 13, the magnitude of the output as shown in FIG. A detection signal of a random analog waveform in which the heights h1, h2, h3, and h4 are different from each other can be obtained.

In the encryption step S4, the detection signal is encrypted by the code converter 92 according to a specific algorithm according to the magnitude of the output. In the writing step S5, the encryption code thus obtained is recorded by the code writing section 81 in the data recording section 20 as a digital value, for example.

When the detected object 10 is used, it is checked whether the detected object 10 is authentic or not. FIG.
2 shows an example of a collation process for checking the authenticity of the object 10. In the case of this example, in the scanning step S11, the processing device 50 magnetically scans the scanning region 12 of the detection object 10 in the same manner as described above to obtain an output for each magnetic bar 13. Then, this output is processed by the processing device 50 based on the above algorithm to obtain a unique detection signal corresponding to each magnetic bar 13.

In the code reading step S12, the code reading section 82 reads the encryption code recorded in the data recording section 20. In the code reproducing step S13, the read code is decrypted by the cipher code converter 92 based on a predetermined algorithm to reproduce the collating code.

Then, in the discrimination step S14, the collation code and the detection signal detected in the scanning step S11 are compared by the comparator 91, and when they match each other, it is determined that the object 10 to be detected is a genuine article. It

When the object to be detected 10 of this embodiment is a prepaid card, balance data is recorded in the data recording section 20, and the data recording section 20 is used every time the object to be detected 10 is used.
The content (remaining balance data) of is updated.

In the case of the above-described detected object 10, even if some magnetic material is attached to or cut out from the scanning area 12 for the purpose of illegal use, an output corresponding to the unique analog waveform of each magnetic bar 13 is produced. It is difficult to falsify so as to reproduce, and it is extremely difficult to falsify the magnetic bar 13 so as to match the encrypted data registered in the data recording unit 20. Moreover, even with the same balance amount, the registered contents of the data recording unit 20 of each detected object 10 can be different.

In the scanning area 12 in which a plurality of magnetic bars 13 are spaced from each other as in the above embodiment, the signal portion a by the magnetic bar 13 and the non-signal portion b where the magnetic bar 13 does not exist. Are alternately generated, and the difference between the signal portion a and the non-signal portion b becomes clear, which is advantageous in increasing the S / N ratio. On the other hand, when the magnetic ink is applied to the entire surface of the scanning region 12, an analog waveform is continuously generated, so that the signal portion and the non-signal portion are unclear and the S / N ratio is adversely affected. Therefore, the scanning region 12 having the magnetic bar 13 as in the present embodiment is preferable in order to improve the detection accuracy.

[0028]

According to the present invention, since the information that can be variously characterized by the magnetic bar is collated with the registered contents of the data recording section, there is no illegal action such as falsification of the scanning area or rewriting of the data recording section. Even if it is performed, it is possible to prevent the contents of the scanning area and the data recording unit from being matched with each other. Further, since it is not necessary to use two kinds of magnetic materials having high coercive force and low coercive force as in the conventional case, the printing process is simplified,
It is possible to reduce the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the magnetic bar of the object shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a detection signal when the object to be detected shown in FIG. 1 is magnetically scanned.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a partial cross section of an apparatus for processing an object to be detected.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing steps of processing when creating an object to be detected.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing steps of a process for collating an object to be detected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Detected object 11 ... Base material 12 ... Scan area 13 ... Magnetic bar 16 ... Magnetic element 20 ... Data recording part 50 ... Processing device

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base material made of a non-magnetic material and having a scanning area set at a specific position, and a plurality of magnetic elements in which magnetic elements are randomly dispersed are provided in the scanning area at predetermined intervals along the scanning direction. And magnetic bars capable of having different magnetic properties depending on the mixing state of the magnetic element, and the individual magnetic bars obtained when the magnetic bars in the scanning region are magnetically scanned. An object to be checked for authenticity, comprising: a data recording unit in which information corresponding to the output magnitude of an analog waveform is coded and registered. 2. A plurality of magnetic bars are provided at predetermined intervals by a magnetic material in which magnetic elements are randomly dispersed in a scanning area of a base material made of a non-magnetic material, and the magnetic bars in the scanning area are magnetically scanned. By doing so, the output of a unique analog waveform corresponding to the mixing state of the magnetic elements of each magnetic bar is obtained, and the information corresponding to the magnitude of each output obtained is registered in the data recording section provided on the base material. Then, when the object to be detected is used, the detection signal obtained by magnetically scanning the magnetic bar in the scanning area is collated with the information registered in the data recording unit, and both are corresponded. A method of checking an object to be detected, characterized in that the object is sometimes judged to be authentic.