JPS62264999A - Business card with identification mark and business-card information reading method and device using said card - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a business card with an identification mark that can automatically input information, a method for optically reading business card information using the same, and an apparatus therefor. To explain this in detail, there are information such as the company name, status, name, etc. listed on the business card, and information about what these business card details are written near, overlapping, and directly above or below. A business card with an identification mark indicating whether it is written on it, a method for reading the identification mark and business card information written on such a business card using an optical device, and an apparatus for carrying out the method It is related to.

(Technical background) Business cards are used both publicly and privately in countries around the world as a convenient way to introduce yourself to others. It is not uncommon for the exchange of business cards to create a sense of camaraderie, and for subsequent conversations to proceed smoothly, leading to close friends and business negotiations.

Especially when meeting someone who speaks a different language for the first time, if your business card is written in a language that the other person can understand, you will feel closer to them, and you will be able to have them understand your identity, name, etc. accurately. The story can proceed smoothly.

However, because business cards are used so frequently, it is difficult for receivers to organize and store them, and furthermore, it is not easy to find the business cards they need from among these stored business cards. do not have.

Currently used tools for organizing and storing things include an album-type organizer and a box-type device with partitions inserted at appropriate positions.

These tools for organizing and storing require a lot of time and effort to organize, and if you forget the key word for organizing when looking for the business cards you need, you will have no choice but to find them one by one. There is no way.

Moreover, this sorting and storage method is not useful for searching for people from the perspective of having a list of people related to Company A or golf-related friends. For this reason, in recent years, all information written on business cards has been entered manually into a computer, with company names as company names, affiliations as affiliations, and positions as positions, and the computer data searched as needed. A method of obtaining the necessary business card information has been devised. However, even with this method, all business card information must be entered manually, which has the disadvantage of being too time consuming and expensive, and is therefore not widely used.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and develops a business card that can automatically and mechanically read business card information without manual intervention, and uses it to automatically read business card information such as company name and name and identification marks. and the company name as the company name,
The purpose of this project is to develop a method and device that can input data into a computer by distinguishing each name as a name.

In line with this purpose, the present invention provides a business card mount that is placed near or overlapping, directly to the left of, directly above, or directly below the business card details such as the company name, affiliation, title, name, company location, and telephone number written on the business card. We devised a business card with identification marks attached to the periphery to distinguish what it is about. This business card is then automatically read by an optical device and transmitted to the computer as an electrical signal or optical signal, thereby distinguishing the company name as the company name and the name as the name, and inputting the information on each business card into the computer. be able to.

In order to understand the present invention in more detail, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a business card (1) with an identification mark according to the present invention, in which (2) is the company name, (3) is the affiliation, (4) is the position, (5) is the name, and (6) is the company name. ) is the company location,
(The number indicates the phone number. These business card details (2)
) ~ (The ability is written on it is no different from a conventional business card. However, the identification mark (8
)~α is different from conventional business cards. These identification marks (8) to (131) are pre-written with the company name "I".
", and the name is rIVJ, which is commonly used on all business cards. In addition to the Roman numerals such as rIJ, "■", etc., this identification mark may also include alphabet letters, other foreign characters, numbers, symbols, bar codes, etc., but here we will explain using Roman numerals. .

In FIG. 1, an identification mark rIJ (8) is placed in front of the company name rTOKYOCO, LTDJ (2). Below, the affiliation [Technical Dep, J (3)
In front of ``wan'' (9), title [chiefJ (4) before 璽J (10), name [Tom Sm1thJ
In front of (5) is rIVJen, company location [1-1mar
unouchi chiyada-...J(6) nomae niha rVJ (I'lJ, phone number [03-274-13
25J(7) is preceded by [Jα country.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 6, and 4. - This business card has a business card mount (1") as shown in the figure.
There is no difference from conventional business cards in that business card information such as the company name and name is written in the center of the card. However, there are marks, types of characters, and letters to distinguish whether the information on the business card is a company name or a full name, etc. It differs from conventional business cards in that it includes an identification mark indicating the size, etc. To explain this in detail, the company name (
The area immediately to the left of 2) is r indicating that it is the company name.
It is marked with lJ (14), "α" a5) indicating the type of character, and "i" indicating the size of the character. In addition, in the affiliation (3), there is "...J (17) indicating the affiliation, "βJ (is) indicating the type of character, and "mouth J (
11 is marked.

Similarly, the position (4) is "Seal", "γ" Cυ, and "mouth" Kan, the name (5) is NiharlVJ 03, "a" ea, rIJ fi, and the company location (6) is rVJ (I). )and"
ξ” (goods) and “mouth” pen, rl'IJ for phone number (7)
(to), "θJ (to)," and "mouth J (31) are marked respectively. These identification marks may be concentrated on one side around the business card mount (32), or may be marked in several numbers. The identification mark may be used as an identification mark to indicate whether the information on each business card is about the business card, or to indicate the type or size of the font or other information. They may be used in combination. When used in combination, they may be arranged vertically as shown in Figure 6, or horizontally as shown in Figure 4. Items used as identification marks include the characters of each country, Anything can be used as long as it can be optically distinguished, such as numbers, figures, symbols, and barcodes.

When such a business card is read by an optical device, light is irradiated around the business card, and when an identification mark is detected, it is read and the light beam is then moved to the right or left, or even downwards or upwards to read the information on the business card. By doing this, you can read business card information efficiently.

Still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.

The business card with identification mark (I') shown in FIG. 5 is compared with the one in the embodiment shown in FIG.
They are exactly the same except that 0) is applied. Therefore, descriptions of business card entries (8) to (13) will be omitted, and camouflage printing (50), which is different from the example shown above, will be described. The camouflage printing (50) is printed to cover at least the identification marks (8) to (13) individually or in succession and its color must be a dropout color that is not detected by the optical device.

Business card with identification mark shown in Figures 6 and 7 (11)
This is exactly the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 described above, except that camouflage printing (50) is applied. Therefore, in this example as well, only the camouflage printing (50'), which is different from the example of FIG. 2, will be described.

The camouflage printing (so') in this example is similar to the camouflage printing (50) in the example of FIG. 5, and is printed to at least cover the identification marks (14) to (31). This camouflage printing (5
As in the previous example, the 0 colors must be a color that can be distinguished from the identification marks (14) to (31) and the business card description items (2) to (2) by the optical device. This camouflage printing (SO) is printed with the primary purpose of making identification marks less noticeable, but it is not limited to just that; it can also be printed with your own favorite pictures, such as flowers, animals, cars, ships, etc. , a popular main character appearing in an animation, etc. In addition to the picture, it can also be confusing with the company's trademark or initials.

The ink used for camouflage printing is generally commercially available as "dropout color ink," but for more information, the ink listed on page 234 of "Tokuku Printing" by Kazuo Matsumoto, published July 15, 1986, published by Printing Publishing Research Institute. used. Also, camouflage printing may be performed using ink of a complementary color to the color of the identification mark.

Next, a business card with an identification mark as described above (1)
A method and apparatus for optically reading only business card entries (2) to (7) and identification marks (8) to (13) or (14) to (31) from (1') will be described.

An outline of the method and apparatus for optically reading business card information according to the present invention is shown in FIG. That is, business cards (1) with identification marks according to the present invention are stored in a supply box (100), and are sequentially supplied one by one to a conveying device (102) by a feeding device (101).

On the other hand, the light source of the optical device is equipped with an incandescent lamp or a lamp (107) that emits a specific wavelength, and a slit plate (110) is provided.
), it reaches a rotatable reflector (108), which adjusts the irradiation angle and irradiates one business card (1) with an identification mark (1) sent by the transport device (102). , the reflected light is received by the light receiving element (109), the optical signal is converted into an electrical signal (on-off signal), and a character is generated by a computer (Ul) built in the optical device or provided separately. It is also recognized and memorized as numbers, symbols, etc. Also, it is scanned by facsimile and converted into a binary signal, and this signal is transmitted as it is through a communication line, etc., and the image signal is recognized as characters by a computer (111), and the company name is used as the company name. The name can be stored as a name, distinguishing information from items (2) to (7) on each business card.This stored business card information can be freely searched from the terminal (112) connected to the computer. This allows users to quickly obtain necessary business card information accurately and from various perspectives.

Here, the principle by which business card information is read by an optical device will be explained in detail.

First, a business card (hereinafter referred to as type A name side) in which an identification mark is marked with ordinary ink that can be recognized by visible light will be explained. Business card details (company name, name, etc.) where the identification mark on the type a name side is written on the business card (2)
(If they are marked in substantially the same color as the card, the business card information and the identification mark can be read at the same time by a commonly available optical device (such as an OCR device).

Next, a description will be given of a business card (referred to as a type B name example) in which the business card entries (2) to (7) are marked with black ink and the identification mark is marked with ink of a predetermined color. b
Light of a wavelength that is absorbed by the color of the ink of the identification mark on the e-business card, for example, if the identification mark is marked with red ink, is irradiated with blue light. Then, blue light is absorbed only in the area marked with the red ink identification mark and the area marked with the black business card information. but,
The blue light rays irradiated onto the unmarked white part of the business card mount surface are reflected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the reflected light does not reach the light-receiving element (207), or even if it reaches the light-receiving element (207), the reflected light does not reach the light-receiving element (207) in the area where the identification mark and business card information are marked, so it is not excited and becomes an OFF state. The light that irradiates the blank portion of the business card mount (32) is reflected and excites the light receiving element (207) to turn it on. This is on
It becomes an off signal, and characters, numbers, symbols, etc. are recognized and read.

Surprisingly, if a business card is marked with an identification mark in blue ink (hereinafter referred to as a C-type business card), if the C-type business card is irradiated with red light, the same phenomenon as explained above will occur. , identification marks and business card details are recognized and read.

In addition, for business cards with identification marks in ink that is difficult to see but can be recognized by optical equipment, it is possible to use light that emits only wavelengths that allow recognition of such ink (for example, infrared or ultraviolet light). Can be read. Inks that are invisible to the naked eye but can be recognized by optical devices are well-known, including inks and materials containing rutile Ti0=, zinc white, infrared absorbing glass powder, and organic inks such as benzophenone as an ultraviolet absorber. In addition, manganese of 4-hydroxy-6-benzenesulfonic acid may be used as a body, and the products include IR-750, IRQ-002, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku ■.
IRQ-003, etc. are mentioned. Business cards with identification marks marked with these inks or substances (referred to as d-type cards) may be read by irradiating them with infrared rays or ultraviolet rays. As shown in Figure 12, these include a white or colorless identification mark (8) that is invisible to the naked eye but responds to optical devices that emit infrared or ultraviolet light, and business card information (8).
The part marked 2) will be absorbed and the business card mount (32
) portion is reflected and only that portion is excited, so that the identification mark (8) and business card information can be read.

Next, a method and apparatus for reading a business card with an identification mark as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 on which camouflage printing has been applied will be described.

First, a description will be given of a business card with an identification mark (referred to as a C-type business card) in which the same color system is used for camouflage printing on all business cards. In C-type business cards, the colors of the camouflage printing are unified in the same system, so the unified colors of the camouflage printing (50) are reflected, and the identification marks (8) to a■ and (14) to
(31) and business card information (2) - (Colors marked with power are read using a light source device that emits only specific wavelengths that are absorbed.

That is, for light of that specific wavelength, identification marks (8) to
α■ and αa~(31) and business card information (2)~(7)
In the area marked with , the irradiated light is absorbed and the reflected light is 0 or extremely weak, so the light receiving element is not excited and is turned off. On the other hand, since the irradiated light is reflected on the camouflage printed portion (50) and the white portion of the business card mount, the light receiving element is excited and turns on. This allows the shapes of letters, numbers, symbols, etc. to be recognized and read.

(See FIG. 13) Next, a method and apparatus for reading business cards with identification marks in which camouflage printing is not uniform in color but in various colors will be described.

In this case, business card information (2) - (All letters and numbers must be marked in black ink.

Then, identification marks (8) to (13 and C14) to (3
The color of the ink marked with 1) and the color of the ink for camouflage printing must be composed of optically distinguishable colors or components. In other words, when the identification mark is marked with blue ink, the camouflage printing is marked with red ink, and conversely, when the identification mark is marked with red ink, the camouflage printing is blue. It must be marked with a similar ink. The reading principle by the optical device in this case is as shown in Figures 11 and 12 above.
Since it is the same as shown in the figure, the explanation will be omitted. However, since the reading method and device are slightly different, the different points will be explained.

FIG. 9 shows the light source part of the optical device used in this case, in which light emitted by an incandescent lamp (200) passes through a slit plate (201) and passes through a prism (202).
The light is then separated into spectra. Of the separated light,
Pickpocket 7) (2
A shielding plate (204) having a wavelength of 05) blocks unnecessary light and allows only light of a necessary wavelength to pass through the slit (205). Only the light passing through this slit (205) is irradiated onto one business card (1) with an identification mark to be read.

At this time, it is necessary to be able to select the required wavelength of light. For this purpose, the prism (202) must be rotatable to any angle, or the light-shielding plate (204) having the slit (205) must be vertically movable.

And a business card with an identification mark to be read (1) (1'
) The wavelength of the light to be irradiated is freely selected depending on the color of the color flash print (50). As a result, even if a business card has an identification mark printed with camouflage printing in various colors, the ink printed on the business card information (2) and identification mark (9) will be absorbed and camouflaged, as shown in Figure 10. The printing (50) and the white business card mount portion (32) are reflected.

As a result, the reflected light does not reach the light-receiving element in the part where the light is absorbed, so it is not excited and turns off.
In the portion where the light is reflected, the light receiving element is excited by the reflected light and turned on. As a result, identification marks (8) to α3), (
141 to (31) and business card entries (2) to (7), letters, numerical symbols, figures, etc. are read. The read characters, numbers, symbols, figures, etc. are transmitted as electrical signals or optical signals and input into the computer (208).

This makes it possible to output business card information from the computer (208) when necessary.

As described above, according to the present invention, the business card information such as the company name and name written on the business card and the identification mark can be automatically read by an optical device without the need for human intervention, and the name can be read as the name. The company name can be entered into the computer separately for each item listed on the business card, such as as the company name.

Therefore, you can input business card information accurately, quickly, and inexpensively.

Furthermore, since the business card information input according to the present invention is inputted separately, when searching by computer, a name can be outputted as a full name and a company name can be outputted as a company name without mistakes.

Note that the optical device in the present invention includes an optical reading device (0
('!Used to include storage devices, facsimile machines, and optical copying machines.Furthermore, the term ``computer'' includes computers, microcomputers, and family computers.)

4. Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 shows an example of a business card with an identification mark according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows another example of a business card with an identification mark according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by a dotted line in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows another example of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a business card with an identification mark on which camouflage printing has been applied.

FIG. 6 shows another example of a business card with an identification mark on which camouflage printing has been applied, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the business card information reading method and device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a light source device for reading business card information according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the reading portion of the business card information reading method and device of the present invention.

Figures 11, 12, and 13 are diagrams showing the principle of the optical reading method of the present invention.

1.1゛...Business card 2-7...Business card information 8-16...Identification mark 14-61...Identification mark 32...Business card mount 5[1,50'
...Camouflage printing 100...Supply box
107... Light source 109.207... Light receiving element 1
10.201... Slit plate 200... Incandescent lamp 202... Prism 204... Shielding plate
111.208...Computer 205...Slit 112...Terminal 206...Optical device Kabuto 5 Figure 6 Figure 9 Rabbit 12 Procedure correction honor (method) February 21, 1986

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Business card details such as company name and name are written on the periphery of the business card mount located near the position where the business card information is stamped, or directly to the right, left, directly above, or directly below the position. A business card with an identifying mark that has an identifying mark on it to indicate what the item is about. 2) A business card with an identification mark according to claim 1, wherein the identification mark attached to each of the business card entries is marked with ink or a substance that is difficult to see with the human eye but can be recognized by an optical device. . 3) An ink or substance in which the identification mark attached to each item on a business card is difficult to see to the human eye but is optically readable by a machine, and the ink reacts to light in the ultraviolet or infrared wavelength range. The business card according to claim 2, which is a substance or substance. 4) Identification marks attached to each item on a business card are marks that convey information such as type of font, size of font, etc., in addition to marks for distinguishing what each item on the business card means. A business card with an identification mark according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is used in combination with at least one of the above. 5) A business card with an identification mark on which camouflage printing is applied to cover at least the identification mark of the business card with an identification mark, and the camouflage printing includes ink of a color that reflects light from a light source or such components. A business card with an identification mark, which is characterized by being printed with a substance that has an identification mark. 6) A light beam is irradiated onto a business card with an identification mark that has or has not been printed with camouflage, and the reflected light is received by a light receiving element/sensor, and the light receiving element/sensor is excited depending on the presence or absence of the reflected light. A method for reading business card information in which business card information and identification marks written on a business card are read by reading the characters of the business card information and the identification mark by reading the characters of the business card information and the identification mark. 7) A method for reading business card information according to claim 6, wherein only a light beam having a specific wavelength is irradiated to a business card with an identification mark that has been subjected to camouflage printing or not. 8) When irradiating a business card with an identification mark with or without camouflage printing with a light beam having a specific wavelength, the wavelength of the light to be irradiated according to the color of the camouflage print or the color of the identification mark. 8. The business card information reading method according to claim 7, wherein the business card information reading method is capable of changing. 9) Optical characters having a light source device capable of emitting only light of a specific wavelength, a business card mounting stand with an identification mark, and a light receiving element or sensor provided at a position to receive the reflected light irradiated from the business card with an identification mark. Business card information reading device such as reading device or facsimile. 10) A light source device that can irradiate only a light beam of a specific wavelength, a transport device that can successively move business cards with identification marks one by one to a reading position, and a reflection device that irradiates business cards with identification marks. An optical character reading device or a business card information reading device such as a facsimile machine having a light receiving element/sensor provided at a position that receives light beams. 11) Claim 9, which has a light source device comprising an incandescent lamp, a rotatable prism, and a light shielding plate in which a narrow slit is formed that allows only light of a limited wavelength to pass through.
The business card information reading device according to item 1 or 10. 12) A patent that has a light source device consisting of an incandescent lamp, a fixed or rotatable prism, and a light-shielding plate formed with a narrow slit that allows only light of a limited wavelength to pass through and whose position can be changed. Claim 9 or 10
Business card information reading device described in Section 1.