JPH1091904A - Magnetic card information recording and reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance secrecy of data by preventing forgery of a magnetic card and to highly speed up recording and reading operation by simple constitution without mechanical drive. SOLUTION: In this device, a magnetic head for recording and reading a data on a magnetic card 21 is composed of a multichannel structure, and recording is performed in a recording pattern variably provided with a partial space (blank time) in a data to be recorded in each track of each channel, and at the time of reading such a data, the data is compared and collated with a recording pattern at the recording time, and if the recording pattern is different from a regular recording pattern, a decision is made to be an error.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and reading information on and from a magnetic card, and more particularly to a recording and reading apparatus with improved confidentiality of data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic cards generally used include, for example, telephone charges, prepaid cards used for payment of train fares and expressway tolls, ID cards such as identification cards, and bank CD cards. , Other,
It is widely used in a wide range of fields.

Many magnetic cards 1 conventionally used are provided with one track (magnetic stripe) 3, and as shown in FIG. 9A, one magnetic head has a fixed recording angle (azimuth angle). A method of recording data at the same angle from the starting point 4 to the ending point 5 of the track 3 in a state where it is fixed at 0 to about ± 20 °) and reading the data with a magnetic head fixed at the same azimuth angle is common. there were.
Here, the azimuth angle is a recording angle between the direction of the gap of the magnetic head on the track and the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the track.

However, such a recording method of the magnetic card 1 is a simple magnetic pattern, so that analysis and forgery of magnetic data by another person can be easily performed, and security is insufficient.

[0005] In view of this, there is a method in which the azimuth angle from the recording start point to the end point on the track as shown in FIG. Normally, a magnetic head for reading cannot be read as accurate data unless it passes in a direction perpendicular to the azimuth angle. Therefore, the angle must be changed by causing the reading magnetic head to follow the changing azimuth angle. .

A structure for realizing such a change of the read magnetic head is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-6305 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-53002.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 0, information is obtained by changing the read magnetic head so that the read head matches the recording angle based on the information of the azimuth angle when data is recorded on the magnetic card.

That is, using the synchronization mechanism 51, the operation of the constant speed drive mechanism 52 for driving the magnetic card 1 at a constant speed and the operation of the motor control circuit 53 are synchronized, and Reads track 3 and magnetic head 54
The data is read by changing the azimuth angle of the read magnetic head so as to match the azimuth angle of the recorded data while moving at a constant speed.

The azimuth angle of the read magnetic head 54 is changed by rotating a cam 57 by a motor 55 via a controller 56 and causing a lever 58 supported by a spring 60 to swing along the cam 57. The read magnetic head 54 connected to the rod 59 is tilted. This cam shape must be the same shape as the cam at the time of recording, and it is necessary to exchange both the recording side and the reading side every time an arbitrary magnetic recording pattern is selected.

[0009]

As described above, in the conventional recording method, when the azimuth angle 2 of the data recorded on the magnetic card 1 is constant, the data is analyzed by another person because of a simple recording pattern. Or forgery was easily possible, and security was insufficient.

A recording and reading apparatus in which the azimuth angle 2 of the data of the magnetic card 1 is changed to improve the security is provided by a read head which matches (synchronizes) the azimuth angle 2 of the data of the magnetic card 1. A highly accurate and complicated mechanism for changing the angle of 54 is required. Furthermore, because of the mechanical drive, the recording and reading speeds are limited, and it is difficult to increase the speed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a magnetic card information which prevents forgery and falsification of a magnetic card, improves data confidentiality, and realizes high recording and reading speed with a simple structure without mechanical driving. It is an object to provide a recording and reading device.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for recording magnetic data on a magnetic card provided with a track made of a magnetic material and for reading the data. When recording
Recording means for recording data in a predetermined recording pattern, converting the recording pattern into identification data and recording the data at the head of the track, and a recording pattern indicated by the read identification data when reading data from the magnetic card A discriminating means for comparing and checking whether or not the recording pattern is a recording pattern registered at the time of recording, and performing magnetic data processing after the recording pattern of the data of the magnetic card is recognized as the recording pattern registered at the time of recording. A card information recording and reading device is provided.

Further, in an apparatus for reading magnetic data recorded on a magnetic card having a track made of a magnetic material while changing the azimuth angle, the apparatus is arranged at the upper end side and the lower end side of the track, and the data is respectively read. First and second magnetic heads for reading data at
Calculating means for calculating an azimuth angle from a time difference between a first output signal read by the magnetic head and a second output signal read by the second lower magnetic head; and recording data on the magnetic card. Identification data storage means for converting the change in azimuth angle and the polarity of the data upon recording into identification data as a recording pattern, and storing the identification data based on the recording pattern read from the magnetic card and the identification data read from the identification data storage means. Comparing means for comparing the recording pattern with the data to determine whether or not the data is legitimate; and reading the data to be output to the outside as data when the data recorded on the magnetic card is determined to be legitimate by the comparing means. A magnetic card information reading device provided with data processing means.

In the magnetic card information recording / reading apparatus having the above-described configuration, the magnetic head for recording / reading data to / from the magnetic card is composed of multiple channels, and the data to be recorded for each track of each channel has a predetermined recording pattern. More specifically, recording is performed using a pattern provided by changing a partial space (blank time), and when reading the data, the data is compared with the recording pattern, and if the recording pattern is different from the regular recording pattern, Is determined as an error.
Further, the magnetic card information reader reads two signals from data recorded by changing the azimuth angle without changing the angles of the two reading magnetic heads fixed at the upper and lower ends of the track of the magnetic card. The azimuth angle is calculated from the signal difference (phase difference signal) of these signals shifted in time, the data (polarity) and the azimuth angle are compared with regular data, and the pass / fail judgment is performed. Read.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows data recording / writing on a magnetic card according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
A configuration example of a magnetic card information recording and reading apparatus for reading is shown and described.

The present embodiment is applied to a conventional magnetic card provided with a one-track magnetic stripe. This device has a magnetic head 11 that is fixed at a fixed azimuth angle and records data 6 on a track 3 of the magnetic card 1 in a predetermined recording pattern, which will be described later, or reads the recorded data 6. A recording / reading drive unit 12 for driving; an identification data storage unit 13 for storing a plurality of recording patterns as identification data, respectively; and comparing and collating the recording pattern of the identification data with the recording pattern of the read data. 6, a recording / read data processing unit 14 for performing a predetermined reproduction process, an operation unit 15 for giving various instructions to the recording / read data processing unit 14, and a recording / read data processing unit 1
A display unit 16 for displaying whether or not the data 6 is legitimate according to the judgment of 4; and a card constant speed driving mechanism unit 17 for moving the magnetic card 1 in a predetermined direction A at a constant speed during recording / reading.
And a drive synchronization control unit 18 that controls the constant speed of the card constant speed drive mechanism unit 17 in synchronization with the operation of the recording / read data processing unit 14.

Here, the recording pattern will be described with reference to FIGS. Data 6 stored in the track 3 of the magnetic card 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes data areas d1, d2, d3, d
, And space regions (non-data regions) t1, t2, t3, t4, t5, etc. defined in time, and the time and space regions of these data regions are respectively or By setting either one, the data 6 is distributed to form a specific pattern.

The data areas d11, d12, d13,
The recording pattern composed of d14, d15, ... and the space areas t11, t12, t13, t14, t15, ... is different from the recording pattern of FIG. 1. For example, the data 6 of the recording pattern shown in FIG.
Otherwise, if it is set to be unacceptable, the magnetic card 1 shown in FIG. 2 is determined to be unusable due to the difference in the recording pattern, even if the magnetic card has the same shape and cannot be distinguished from the appearance. Will result in an error.

These pattern states are identified by identification data d1, d11.
If it is recorded at the starting point 4 of the track 3 of the magnetic card 1, at the time of reading, the recording pattern based on the correct identification data read from the identification data storage unit 13 and the identification data d 1 read from the magnetic card 1 After comparing and collating with the recording patterns of d11 and d11, it can be used only when they match. Then, for example, in the case of a prepaid card, each time the card is read out, or periodically, it is changed to a new recording pattern and overwritten,
Analysis and forgery of the recorded data becomes difficult, and security is improved.

The above-mentioned identification data of the magnetic card need not necessarily be limited to the magnetic data to be written in the head portion 4 of the track, but it is determined by punching holes m as shown in FIG. You may.

The magnetic head 11 shown in FIG. 1 has recording and reading functions, and therefore requires at least one reciprocating movement of the magnetic card. However, as shown in FIG. If the reading head 11a and the recording head 11b are arranged with a gap, the reading and recording can be performed by one movement.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Due to the recording pattern of the magnetic card used in the first embodiment described above, the security is higher than before, but since it is a general one track, it cannot be said that it is sufficient.
If necessary, the area of the magnetic recording portion can be enlarged to the entire surface of the card and used as a multi-channel.

In FIG. 3, a multi-channel magnetic head 23 simultaneously records data on two or more tracks 24 under the control of a multi-type recording / read driving unit 25 on a magnetic recording portion 22 of a magnetic card 21. 1 shows a configuration example of a magnetic card information recording and reading device for reading or reading. Here, the components shown in FIG. 3 that are the same as the components shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this apparatus, when reading data from the magnetic card 21, the magnetic card 21 is moved at a constant speed in the direction of arrow A, and the identification data d21 to d28 recorded at the starting point 4 of each track 24 are read by the magnetic head. Read at 23. The recording / reading data processing section 14 compares / collates the recording pattern based on the read identification data with the recording pattern set as usable and read out from the identification data storage section 26. If they do not match, an error is displayed on the display unit 16 as unusable.

As in the first embodiment, the recording pattern in the present embodiment is also recorded with a space area (non-data area) in which the position of the data on the track is defined by time. is there. Therefore, a certain recording pattern is formed. This recording pattern is recorded at the starting point 4 of each track 24 as identification data d21 to d28.

It is not always necessary to record the identification data at the starting point 4 of all the tracks 24. If the recording can be performed in a capacity-wise manner, the identification data d29 is recorded on one track as shown in FIG. The identification data may be recorded on a larger number of tracks, and there is no particular limitation.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the recording pattern is not limited to the identification data composed of magnetic data, but can be identified by adding another identification mark, for example, a punched hole or a bar code. May be.

FIG. 4 shows that when writing data to the magnetic card 21, pattern identification information indicating at which position (time axis display in the card moving direction) for each track is to be written in the identification data storage unit 26 in advance. This is an example of a recording data pattern obtained by placing the above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, data to be recorded on the magnetic card is recorded in various patterns for each track, making it difficult for others to falsify or falsify, thereby improving security. Can be done.

FIGS. 5A to 5D show examples of the arrangement of the magnetic head 23. FIG. FIG. 5A shows the magnetic card 21.
This is an example in which a read magnetic head 23a and a recording magnetic head 23b are arranged with a width of. According to this arrangement, data can be read and recorded by one movement. FIG. 5B shows an example in which the read magnetic head 23a and the recording magnetic head 23b are arranged close to each other.
According to this arrangement, reading and recording of data are performed in at least one round trip.

In FIG. 5C, a read head 23a is arranged above the multi-channel track, and a recording head 23b is arranged below the multi-channel track. According to this arrangement, the lower half and the upper half of the magnetic card 21 track are used separately. FIG. 5D shows an example in which the reading magnetic head 23a and the recording magnetic head 23b are arranged at a distance of half the track of the magnetic card 21. According to this arrangement, the magnetic card 21 can be used by being divided into the right half and the left half of the track.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of a magnetic card information reading apparatus for reading data recorded by changing the azimuth angle from a magnetic card according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the magnetic card used in the first and second embodiments described above, the azimuth angle of the recorded data is constant, but in this embodiment, the magnetic card in which the azimuth angle is changed is recorded. Is a device that reads data from

This magnetic card information reading apparatus comprises two reading magnetic heads 33 and 34 fixed above and below the traveling direction A of the track 32 of the magnetic card 31, and signals detected by the reading magnetic heads 33 and 34. 35 and 36 for amplifying the data, waveform shaping circuits 37 and 38 for shaping the amplified signal into a pulse waveform, and a measuring circuit 39 for measuring the polarity and azimuth angle of data based on the shaped pulse. A recording pattern storage unit 40 that stores a data pattern and an azimuth angle in association with each other, a polarity and azimuth angle of data of a recording pattern read from the recording pattern storage unit 40, and a data pattern read from the magnetic card 31. A comparison circuit 41 that compares the polarity and the azimuth angle to determine whether the data is normal;
A display section 42 for displaying the comparison result, a read data processing circuit 43 for processing and outputting data when the comparison result is good, and moving the magnetic card 31 in a predetermined direction A at a constant speed during reading. A card constant speed driving mechanism 44 to be driven;
A drive synchronization control section 45 controls the constant speed of the card constant speed drive mechanism section 44 in synchronization with the operation of the measurement circuit 39.

The detection and comparison of the azimuth angle in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
As shown in (a), when the azimuth angle is perpendicular to the moving direction A of the magnetic card 31, the phase difference between the output signal of the magnetic head 33 and the output signal of the magnetic head 34 becomes zero. 7 (b) and 7 (c), when the azimuth angle is not vertical, a phase difference ± T occurs in the output signal. Whether the azimuth angle is positive or negative is determined depending on which pulse of the read magnetic heads 33 and 34 is detected first. Further, the polarity of the output signal is inverted depending on the direction of the magnetic pole recorded on the track. In FIG. 7, the right arrow is shown as a positive output signal.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The signals read by the read magnetic heads 33 and 34 are
Amplified by the amplifiers 35 and 36, the waveform shaping circuit 37,
The waveform is shaped by 38 and converted into a pulse waveform.
At this time, the data recorded on the magnetic card 31 has positive and negative magnetism and has a pulse waveform as shown in FIG.

When there is an azimuth angle with respect to the moving direction of the magnetic card 31, the waveform shaping circuits 37, 3
8 produces a phase difference. The clock pulse CLK is applied to this phase difference signal (gate pulse signal), the number of clocks having the pulse width of the phase difference is counted, and the magnitude of the azimuth angle is counted.

As a specific example, the width of the track 32 of the magnetic card 31 is 7 mm, and the length of the magnetic stripe is 85 m in the longitudinal direction.
m, the recording density is 200 dpi, and the magnetic card 31 is 800 m
An example in the case of moving at m / s will be described.

Assuming that all the magnetic information is input to 85 mm of the track 32, about 660 tracks are recorded on the track. The reading speed is 630 lines /
0. ls. The time change of the minimum pitch of data between data at a pitch of 0.127 mm is 158 μs.

Here, assuming that the azimuth angle recorded on the track 32 is 25 degrees, the read magnetic head 33,
34 are 3.26 mm, and the time change (phase difference) is 4.26 mm.
075 ms. Assuming that the clock of the counting counter provided in the measuring circuit 39 is 10 MHz, 40,750 pulses are counted.

The minimum azimuth angle is set to 0.25 de.
If g, the interval between the read magnetic heads 33 and 34 is 0.03 mm, the time change (phase difference) is 37.5 μs, and the count number is 375 pulses.

In the present embodiment, whether the data recorded on the magnetic card is legitimate or not is determined by the recording / read data processing unit 14 or the comparison circuit 41.
Although the notification is made by displaying at 6, 42, the present invention is not limited to this, and the notification may be made by sound or light.

Incidentally, the read magnetic head 3 of this embodiment
Nos. 3 and 34 use an amorphous alloy for the magnetic material of the head portion in order to improve the sensitivity. Further, the measurement circuit 39 includes a CPU, calculates the number of pulses, and outputs the result as an azimuth angle. As described above, the azimuth angle can be calculated and the high speed can be obtained with sufficient accuracy from the minute angle to the wide angle.

[0044]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, forgery or alteration of a magnetic card by another person is prevented, data confidentiality is improved, and recording and recording can be performed with a simple structure without mechanical driving. It is possible to provide a magnetic card information recording and reading device capable of realizing a high reading speed.

Further, since the data is read with the reading magnetic head fixed, a complicated drive mechanism for changing the angle of the head is not required, and the information on the magnetic card can be read at a high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a magnetic card information recording and reading device that records and reads data on a magnetic card according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording method of a magnetic card on which data is recorded according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a magnetic card information recording and reading apparatus that records and reads data on a magnetic card in multiple channels according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a recording method of a magnetic card on which data is recorded according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of a magnetic card, a read magnetic head, and a recording head.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a magnetic card information reading apparatus that reads data recorded by changing an azimuth angle from a magnetic card according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output signal read from a magnetic card by a magnetic head according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing output signals of respective parts for explaining the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a recording method of a magnetic card.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration for reading data recorded with a change in azimuth angle from a conventional magnetic card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magnetic card 2 ... Recording angle (azimuth angle) 3 ... Track (magnetic stripe) 4 ... Track start point 5 ... Track end point 6 ... Data 11 ... Magnetic head 12 ... Recording / read drive unit 13 ... Identification data storage unit 14 ... Recording / reading data processing unit 15 ... Operation unit 16 ... Display unit 17 ... Card constant speed drive mechanism unit 18 ... Drive synchronization control unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for recording magnetic data on a magnetic card having a track made of a magnetic material and reading the data, wherein when recording data on the track, the data is recorded in a predetermined recording pattern in the data. Recording means for converting the recording pattern into identification data and recording the data at the beginning of the track; and when reading data from the magnetic card, whether the recording pattern indicated by the read identification data is a recording pattern registered at the time of recording. Discrimination means for comparing and discriminating whether or not the magnetic card data recording pattern of the magnetic card data is recognized as a recording pattern registered at the time of recording; Reader. 2. An apparatus for recording and reading magnetic data on a magnetic card having tracks made of a magnetic material, comprising: a magnetic card having a plurality of tracks; and recording data on each of the tracks. Recording means for recording a predetermined recording pattern in the data, converting the recording pattern into identification data and recording the data at the beginning of each of the tracks; and reading the identification data when reading data from the magnetic card. Discriminating means for comparing and determining whether the recording pattern indicated by is a recording pattern registered at the time of recording, and determining whether the recording pattern of the data on the magnetic card is recognized as the recording pattern registered at the time of recording. And a magnetic card information recording and reading apparatus for performing data processing. 3. The magnetic card information recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined recording pattern is a pattern in which a plurality of space areas are arranged in data. 4. A magnetic head for recording data on each track of the magnetic card and reading the recorded data, wherein the recording means is fixed at a fixed azimuth angle, and a recording and reading for driving the magnetic head. A drive unit, wherein the determination unit stores identification data generated based on a recording pattern when the data is recorded; and identification data read from each track of the magnetic card. A recording / reading data processing unit for comparing and collating the recording pattern based on the data pattern with the recording pattern from the data storage unit to determine whether the data is normal and generating output data, And a notifying unit for notifying that the data is invalid if the data is illegal. Reader. 5. The identification data generated based on the recording pattern includes at least one track on a track of the magnetic card.
5. The magnetic card information recording and reading device according to claim 4, wherein the information is recorded at the head of a track. 6. An apparatus for reading magnetic data recorded on a magnetic card provided with a track made of a magnetic material while changing the azimuth angle, wherein the data is arranged at the upper end side and the lower end side of the track, respectively. A first output signal read by the first magnetic head on the upper end, and a second output signal read by the second magnetic head on the lower end.
Calculating means for calculating an azimuth angle from a time difference from the output signal of the magnetic card; identification data storage means for converting a change in the azimuth angle and a polarity of data when recording data on the magnetic card into identification data as a recording pattern and storing the identification data; A comparing unit that compares and compares a recording pattern read from the magnetic card with a recording pattern based on the identification data read from the identification data storage unit, and determines whether the recording pattern is legitimate; And a read data processing means for performing an external output process as data when it is determined that the data recorded in the magnetic card information is legitimate. 7. The arithmetic unit according to claim 1, wherein the first output signal output by the first magnetic head and the second output signal output by the second magnetic head have no time difference. Determines that the azimuth angle is vertical, and if there is a time difference between the first output signal and the second output signal, the arrival order of the first and second output signals and the 7. The magnetic card information reading device according to claim 6, wherein a positive or negative azimuth angle is quantitatively output with the number of clock pulses according to the phase difference.