JPS63127435A - Optical card system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a recording time by displaying the remaining recording capacity, which is recorded in a recording part, on the remaining capacitor display area of an optical card. CONSTITUTION:When an optical card 1 is inserted to a recording and reproducing deice 13, it is detected by a sensor 20. When detecting that a remaining capacity display area 4 of the card 1 is punched, a microcomputer 27 refers to a prescribed area of a memory 28, and in case of reading, an optical head 18 is set to the initial position of a recording part 2 of the card 1 to read out information in accordance with presence or absence of the reflected light to a sensor 49. In case of writing, a strong laser light is projected to a prescribed position on a track by a laser 29 to heat and fuse the upper layer of an information recording layer and a spot is formed to record information. The remaining capacity is displayed on an area 4 of the card 1 by punching.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical card system, and more particularly to an optical card system that can display remaining write capacity when information is written to the optical card. .

[Conventional technology]

Optical cards are cards that perform optical recording and playback, and have recently begun to be reconsidered because they are inexpensive, can record large amounts of data, and do not have the problems of IC cards, such as being susceptible to bending and static electricity. This optical card includes an information recording layer inside the card. In systems that use such optical cards, when writing information, the information is optically written into the information recording layer of the optical card, and it is difficult to erase and rewrite the information once written. I haven't done it yet. Further, the information written on the optical card is read out optically by relatively moving the optical head for optically reading out the information and the optical card.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) By the way, in the case of the above-mentioned optical card system, if a write end command is given after a certain amount of information has been written to the optical card, the next attempt to rewrite the information will be delayed. Sometimes a problem occurs.In other words, it is necessary to write information beyond the area recorded in the information recording layer of the optical card, so it is necessary to move the optical head and the optical card relatively to determine how far the recording area can be. There was a problem in that the recording time could not be shortened because the recording method had to be scanned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical card system that solves the above-mentioned problems and speeds up the writing time by shortening unnecessary time not directly related to writing.

[Means for solving problems]

An optical card system according to the present invention that achieves the above object is:
An optical card comprising an information recording layer for optically recording and reproducing is provided with a remaining capacity display area, the remaining recording capacity is determined when information is recorded on the information recording layer, and the remaining capacity is determined when information recording is completed. The present invention is characterized in that the remaining amount of recording is displayed in the remaining amount display area.

r action] Information is written in the information recording layer using light. At this time, the remaining capacity of the recording layer is determined. When recording is completed, the remaining amount is displayed at a position corresponding to the remaining amount.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

Figure 1 shows an optical card used in an embodiment of the present invention.)
7, and this optical card l has a structure in which a recording section 2 including an information recording layer is provided in a thin rectangular plate 3, and a number indicating the remaining storage capacity and a remaining capacity display area 4 are displayed on the surface.
is provided, and the notation 5 of the card name, issued note name, etc. is printed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the recording section 2 of the optical card 1. This recording section 2 has an information recording layer 7 provided on a film base material 6, and the film base material 6 and the information recording layer 7 are provided on the film base material 6. The recording layer 7 is protected by polycarbonate resin N8.
．． 9 in a sandwich-like manner, and a surface hardening layer 10 for preventing scratches is provided on the protective layer 8 on the information recording side N7.

Although the information recording layer 7 is not shown in detail in the figure, it consists of two layers, and has a structure in which a lower layer with low reflectance is provided on the film base material 6, and an upper layer with high reflectance is provided on this lower layer. It becomes. Then, by irradiating the laser beam and heating it to 180 to 190° C., the upper layer is melted and a portion of the lower layer is melted to form a focus. Reflectance from the upper layer is 40
%, and the reflectance from the pit is about 6%, so
Information can be recorded in the information record N7 depending on the presence or absence of pits.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. Third
In the figure, a recording/reproducing device 13 is connected via a cable 12 to a computer 11 that performs various processing.

The computer 11 includes at least a keyboard 14 as an input device and a display device 15 as an output device, and is configured as a man-machine conversation type. The recording/reproducing device W13 is provided with an insertion/ejection port 16 into which the optical card 1 is inserted or removed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the recording/reproducing apparatus 13. When the optical card l is inserted through the slot 16, the recording/reproducing device 13 shown in FIG. 4 takes it into the device and moves it in the direction of arrow Y in the figure.
, an optical head 18 that reads and writes information, an X-axis drive mechanism 19 that moves the optical head 18 in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing (X-axis), and detects whether or not the optical card 1 is inserted. A first sensor 2o that controls the movement of the optical card l when reading and writing, and a second sensor 21 that controls the movement position of the optical card l when reading and writing.
and the third sensor 22, the punch hole reading device 23 as a remaining capacity reading device that reads the remaining capacity shown in the remaining capacity display area of the optical card 1, and when writing to the recording section 2 of the optical card 1 is completed. a punch mechanism 24 as a remaining capacity display mechanism for displaying the remaining capacity on the optical card 1; and an X-axis drive mechanism 17.
a rotation detector 25 that converts the amount of movement of the optical card 1 into a pulse signal, an optical head 18, and a first sensor 20.
~ In addition to taking in signals from the third sensor 22, punch hole reading device 23, and rotation detector 25, the X-axis drive mechanism 17
, a microcomputer 27 that controls the optical head 18, the X-axis drive mechanism 19, and the punch mechanism 24, and can communicate with the external computer 11 via the interface 26 and cable 12, and a memory 28 that stores various processing programs. It is composed of:

The optical head 18 is provided with a half-quad laser 29 whose output can be controlled, and a collimator lens 45 is provided at the output part of this semiconductor laser 29 to convert the laser beam into a parallel beam.
7, the laser beam irradiated onto the information recording layer 7 of the recording section 2 of the optical card 1, and the reflected light of the laser beam irradiated onto the information recording layer 7 of the storage section 2 of the optical card 1 is transmitted to the objective lens 47 and the beam splitter 46. , the sensor 4 via the spot lens 48
9. In the optical head 18, a semiconductor laser "P-29" is driven and controlled by a microcomputer 27, and a signal detected by a sensor 49 is supplied to the microcombinator 27.

The memory 28 stores at least a reader/writer O8, a signal processing program, an error processing program, a punch hole reading processing program, a punch mechanism processing program, and other processing programs.

Figures 5 and 6 show the X-axis drive mechanism 17 and the X-axis drive mechanism 1.
9 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the computer.

The X-axis drive mechanism 17 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is constructed as follows. A pair of rollers 30 are located on the right side of the insertion/removal port 16.
and a pair of rollers 31 are arranged with a width W slightly shorter than the width of the short side of the optical card 1, and a punch hole reading device L23 and a first sensor 20 are installed between these rollers 30 and 31. This is provided. In addition to these rollers 30 and 31, a pair of rollers 32 and 33 having a width W are provided in a direction opposite to the insertion/removal port 16 at a constant interval. A further pair of rollers 34, 36, 38 are provided on the extension of the rollers 30, 32 at regular intervals. A further pair of rollers 35, 37, 39 are provided on the extension of the rollers 31, 33 at regular intervals. The lower rollers 30 to 39 are driven by a step motor 40. A rotation detector 25 is provided on the rotation axis of the upper roller 35, and when the optical card 1 is inserted and reaches the roller 35, it rotates, so the rotation detector 25 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of rotation. This is how it will be output. roller 3
A punch mechanism 24 is provided between 3.35 and a position corresponding to the remaining capacity display area 4 of the optical card 1. Further, a second sensor 21 is provided between rollers 34 and 35, slightly to the right in the drawing, and a third sensor 22 is similarly provided between rollers 38 and 39, slightly to the right in the drawing. Incidentally, the sensors 20, 21, 22 and the punch hole reading device 23 may be constituted by optical sensors.

In the X-axis drive mechanism 19 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a drive shaft 42 having a screw is directly connected to the rotating shaft of a thread feed motor 41, and a threaded portion of a thread 43 is screwed onto this drive shaft 42. The thread 43 is slidably supported on slide shafts 44 and 45 provided at the.

FIG. 7 shows a memory map of a memory that stores specific information used in this embodiment, where 50 indicates an area for a large number of punches, 51 indicates an area where writing has been executed, and 52 indicates an area for a large number of punches. This shows the area of the amount of writing.

The operation of the embodiment as described above will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart shown to explain the operation of this embodiment.

When the optical card 1 is inserted into the slot 16 of the recording/reproducing device 13 (step S100), the first sensor 20 detects that the optical card 1 has been inserted (step S101), so the micro combinator 27 28 predetermined areas and areas 50 to 52 of memory 28
(FIG. 7) to the initial state (step S102), and at the same time drive the step motor 40 to take the optical card 1 into the apparatus (step S103). When the optical card 1 comes to the position of the punch hole reading device 23 and detects that there is a punch hole in the remaining capacity display area 4 of the optical card 1, the microcomputer 27 increments the area 50 in step S104) and then in step S104). 2 sensor 21 has detected the optical card 1, but it is determined that the optical card 1 has not been detected (Step S105).
Stop 0. Step motor 4 in step 5IO6
0, the area 51 of the memory 28 is referenced to determine whether or not the reading is to be performed (step S107).
is set (step 3108).

Next, in step 5109, a reading process is performed, and in step 3110, it is determined whether or not the reading is complete. If the reading is incomplete, the process moves to step 5109, and if the reading is complete, the process moves to step 5107. Here, in the reading process, as shown in Figure 9 N), if a weak laser beam is irradiated to the focal point, reflected light cannot be obtained because the reflectance at the focal point is small.
As shown in FIG. 9 (II), when a weak laser beam is irradiated onto a portion other than the focused area, the sensor 49 receives reflected light because the reflectance is large. In this way, information is read based on the presence or absence of reflected light. When the process moves to step 5107 and the area 51 is determined, if the area 51 is not read, step 5il is executed.
Move to l. The microcomputer 27 determines whether or not to write (step 5ill). For area writing, the microcomputer 27 writes area 5 of the memory 28.
0 (see FIG. 7) (step 3112), the thread feed motor 41 is driven to move the optical head 18 to the remaining capacity position stored in that area 50 (step S113). Next, the optical head 18 is operated to read, the YIlh drive mechanism 17 is operated, the optical card 1 is moved in the Y-axis direction, and the recording section 2 of the optical card 1 is searched (step S114), and the data is written. Steps S114 and 8115 are repeated until an area that is not covered is reached. When an unwritten area is found, write processing is performed from that position (step S116).
). Next, in step S117, the amount of writing in area 52 (FIG. 7) of memory 28 is incremented. Next, it is determined whether writing is complete.

If the writing is not completed, the process moves to step 5116, but when the writing is completed, the process moves to step 5119, where the punch hole position is determined by referring to the area 50.51 of the memory 28.

Next, the Y-axis drive mechanism 17 is driven to drive the optical card 1, and the pulse signal from the rotation detector 25 is input into the microcomputer 27 to determine the amount of movement of the optical card 1 (step S120). If the amount of movement determined in step 5120 is not the same as the value determined in step 5119, the process returns to step 5120, and when they become the same, the step motor 40 is stopped, the punch mechanism 24 is driven, and the optical card 1 is moved. A punch hole is punched at the position determined in step 5119 in the remaining capacity display area 4 (step S122
). After that, the process returns to step S107.

To briefly explain the writing process, a spot is formed by irradiating a strong laser beam onto a predetermined position on the trunk using the semiconductor laser 29 and melting the upper layer of the information recording layer 2 by heating 5'. Information is recorded based on the presence or absence of spots on the track.

Next, if it is determined in steps 5107 and 5111 that area 51 of memory 28 is neither writeable nor readable,
Proceeding to step S123, the Y-axis drive mechanism 17 is driven in accordance with a command from the microcomputer 27 to send it out in the direction of the insertion/ejection port 16 (step S123). Next, when the edge of the optical card 1 is detected by the first sensor 20 (step S124), the Y-axis drive mechanism 17 is stopped (step S125), but if the edge is not detected (step S124), The process returns to step 5123.

Since it operates in this way, the optical card
In the remaining capacity display area 4, the remaining capacity is displayed using punched holes as shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the remaining amount is displayed using punched holes, but it may be displayed using ink or the like that is not easily erased.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the remaining recording capacity recorded in the recording section can be displayed in the remaining capacity display area of the optical card, so there is no need to search all the recording sections one by one, so the recording time can be reduced. This has the effect of significantly shortening the time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an optical card used in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the recording section of the same optical card, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view shown, No. 4
The figure is a block diagram showing the recording/reproducing device of the same embodiment, FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan and side views showing the Y-axis drive mechanism and the X-axis drive mechanism, and FIG. 7 is the layout of a part of the memory. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same embodiment, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the overview of the reading process, and FIG. 10 is an explanation for explaining the overview of the writing process. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of an optical card on which the remaining capacity is displayed. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Optical card, 2... Recording part, 4... Remaining capacity display area, 11... Computer, 13... Recording/reproducing device, 16... Insertion/ejection opening, 17... Y-axis Drive mechanism, 1
8... Optical head, 19... X-axis drive mechanism, 20...
・First sensor, 21...Second sensor, 22...
Third sensor, 23... Punch hole (remaining capacity) reading device, 24... Punch (remaining capacity display) mechanism, 27... Microcomputer, 28... Memory. Patent Applicant Computer Service Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Akiaki Hibi Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 (p Figure 10)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical card comprising an information recording layer for optically recording and reproducing is provided with a remaining capacity display area, the remaining recording capacity is determined when information is recorded on the information recording layer, and the remaining capacity is determined when information recording is completed. An optical card system characterized in that a remaining amount of recording is displayed in the remaining amount display area.