KR970006488B1 - Method for recording and reading information - Google Patents

Abstract

None.

Description

How to record and read information

1 is a diagram showing a state in which information recorded on a magnetic card is read according to the method of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the card shown in FIG.

3 is a graph showing the relationship between the removal portion and the output voltage in the patterned information area formed in the metal deposition layer of the magnetic card shown in FIGS.

4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a removal portion, an output voltage, and a digital output in another type of patterned information area formed on the magnetic card of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram of a signal processing circuit for obtaining the digital output of FIG. 4C from the signal of FIG. 4B.

6 is a block diagram showing an example of an apparatus for recording and reading information according to the method of the present invention.

7 is a partial perspective view showing the relationship between the removal portion of the patterned information area of the magnetic card and the magnetic recording and playback tracks.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of authenticating the magnetic card of FIG. 7 in the apparatus of FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base material 2 Magnetic layer

3: metal deposition layer 3A: non-removable portion

3B: removed portion 4: concealed layer

5: protective layer 6: printed layer

11: Synchronization signal output 12: Amplifier

13: A / D conversion circuit 14: differential circuit

15: level setting circuit 16: level determination circuit

17: output control circuit 18, 19: AND circuit

20, 21, 22: level maintaining circuit C: magnetic card

S: Sensor head (eddy current sensor) MH1: Magnetic head for regeneration

MH2: Magnetic head for recording MT: Magnetic recording playback track

TH: Dermal Head

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reading method for reading this information in a card in which desired information is recorded by partially removing a metal thickening layer such as various prepayed magnetic cards.

With the spread of prepaid magnetic cards, magnetic cards having a thermal recording layer that can be recorded by using thermal recording means have been developed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-62287). This card has a structure in which a contrast imparting layer, a heat-sensitive layer, a metal deposition layer, and a protective layer are sequentially formed on one surface of a plastic base material, and thermal recording is performed on the surface of the protective layer. This is done by bringing the dermal head into contact. The heat imparted by the dermal head is transferred to the metal deposition layer via the protective layer to melt it, and then drills a hole in this portion.

In such a card, if an arbitrary letter, number, or the like is formed in the metal deposition layer, the contrast imparting layer is located below the metal deposition layer, so that the contrast imparting layer is transparent at the portion of the hole. The contrast corresponding to the missing portion makes it possible to visually read the information corresponding to the hole.

In the conventional card as described above, the metal deposition layer is used for recording information such as a usage specification and a balance, but since the recorded information is fictitious, important information such as identification information for authenticity determination of the card is used. It is not suitable for recording, and such information is recorded in a separate magnetic layer. However, there is a risk that the information recorded in the magnetic layer may be rewritten or erased by the access of the magnetic material.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of reading patterning information comprising a combination of a portion in which a metal deposition layer having a predetermined area is formed on a substrate, and a portion in which the metal deposition layer is present and a removed portion partially removed. The area in which the fluorescence information is formed is scanned by a sensor head for detecting the difference in eddy current between the portion where the metal deposition layer is present and the removal portion, and the information is read by detecting the removal portion from the detected difference in eddy current. An information reading method of a card can be provided.

According to the method of the present invention, patterning information formed by partially removing the metal deposition layer in accordance with a predetermined pattern is detected as a series eddy current signal by scanning of the sensor head, and is read as information by processing this detection signal. It is possible to do

Therefore, the reading of this information is not affected even if there is a magnetic layer made of metal fine particles remaining in the position where the metal deposition layer is removed by heating or ferrite particles adjacent to the metal deposition layer. As described above, according to the method of the present invention, the patterning information formed by partially removing the metal deposition layer according to a predetermined pattern is detected as a series eddy current signal by scanning of the sensor head, and by processing the detection signal. It is possible to read as information. Therefore, the information can be read reliably in a non-contact manner, and is different from the conventional method of reading information such as barcodes by optical means, and there is no seeing or staining on the printing surface of the magnetic card. Even when concealed by a layer, it can be read, the reading reliability is high, and extremely high safety can be obtained in terms of secret protection and forgery prevention.

The principle of the information reading of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings when reading information set on a general magnetic card.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the magnetic card shown by the code | symbol C has the magnetic layer 2, the metal deposition layer 3, the concealment layer 4, and the abrasion-resistant on one surface of the base material 1. As shown in FIG. As the protective layer 5 is formed in this order, you may form the printing layer 6 for forming arbitrary visual symbols or patterns between the concealment layer 4 and the protective layer 5 as needed. . In the metal deposition layer 3, according to predetermined patterning information, the non-removing portion 3A constituting each information unit is provided with a removing portion 3B.

The sensor head S used in the present invention includes an oscillation coil, which is connected to an oscillation circuit (not shown) in order to generate a high frequency magnetic field in front of the oscillation coil.

When the sensor head S is moved along the patterned information area of the magnetic card C, in the non-removable portion 3A in which the metal deposition layer 3 is present, an eddy current is generated on the surface by the electron induction action. This eddy current acts to reduce the oscillation energy of the oscillation coil, and as a result, the oscillation amplitude becomes small at the portion where the metal deposition layer is present. In the process of scanning the patterned information area of the magnetic card, when the removal part 3B comes to the front of the sensor head, the generation of the eddy current is reduced or stopped, and the oscillation amplitude is increased.

In other words, by scanning the patterned information area of the card with the sensor head, the oscillation amplitude is small in the non-removable portion 3A of the metal deposition layer 3 and large in the removal portion 3B. As shown in FIG. 3 by detecting the change of the oscillation amplitude by appropriate means, for example, rectification, the L level and the removal portion 3B in the non-removable portion 3A of the metal deposition layer 3 are shown. ), A serial detection signal having an H level can be obtained, and information is read out.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the case where the length (information unit) in the scanning direction of the sensor head S is substantially equal to the length in the scanning direction of the sensor head S has been described. Is approximately 1/2 of the length in the scanning direction of the sensor head S, so that information can be recorded at a density of about twice the patterned information area of the same length.

Referring to Fig. 4 in detail, the patterned information area is a series of information units as shown in Fig. 4, in units of about 1/2 the length L1 in the scanning direction of the sensor head S. For each information unit, non-removable portions 21A and 21B are formed in accordance with desired information. 4 shows an example of the arrangement of the non-removing portion 21A and the removing portion 21B, and the hatched portion corresponds to the non-removing portion 21A.

When the patterned information area is scanned by the sensor head S having a length L1, the detected signal shown in Fig. 4B can be obtained as the output. For this detection signal, two threshold levels TL1 and TL2 are set, and the level of the output signal is compared with the threshold levels TL1 and TL2, so that the theoretical value "1" or as shown in FIG. A digital signal output consisting of a series of "0" is obtained.

Table 1 below shows the detection signal processing method when the information unit is about 1/2 the length in the scan head S direction.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a signal processing circuit for obtaining a digital signal from the signal as shown in FIG. 4 (b). In Fig. 5, reference numeral S denotes a sensor head, and 11 denotes a synchronization signal output corresponding to the movement amount when the sensor head S is conveyed along the patterned information area of the magnetic card. The output of the sensor head S is amplified by the amplifier 12 and then simultaneously input to the A / D conversion circuit 13 and the differential circuit 14.

The level setting circuit 15 sets two threshold levels TL1 and TL2 in which the level of the input signal is shown in FIG. 4B, and the level determining circuit 16 starts from the A / D conversion circuit 13. Compares the level L of the signal with the threshold levels TL1 and TL2, and sends a signal indicating the respective state to the output control circuit 17 when the level L exceeds the threshold level TL2 and is below the threshold level TL1. It works. On the other hand, when the level L is between the threshold levels TL1 and TL2, a signal indicating the state is supplied to the two AND circuits 18 and 19 and the level holding circuit 20.

On the other hand, the differential circuit 14 determines whether the level change of the signal from the A / D conversion circuit 13 is positive or negative, and if it is positive, the AND circuit 18 is AND Outputs to the circuit 19, respectively. That is, the AND circuit 18 supplies the output of the level determining circuit 16 to the level holding circuit 21 when the level L is between the threshold levels TL1 and TL2 and the value is rising. The AND circuit 19 supplies the output of the level determining circuit 16 to the level holding circuit 22 when the level L is between the threshold levels TL1 and TL2 and the value is falling. The level holding circuits 20 to 22 maintain the given level until the next pulse is supplied.

The output control circuit 17 receives the outputs of the level determining circuit 16 and the level holding circuits 20 to 22, and according to the absolute value of the level of the output signal of the sensor head S and the direction of the change of this level. Or "0" is output. The correspondence between the patterning information of the magnetic card and the output signal of the output control circuit 17 is as shown in Figs. 4B and 4C.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of an apparatus for recording and reading information according to the method of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a portion showing the relationship between the removal portion of the patterned information area of the magnetic card and the magnetic recording reproduction track. Fig. 8 and Fig. 8 each show a flow chart showing the operation of performing the potential determination of the magnetic card of Fig. 7 in the apparatus of Fig. 6.

Hereinafter, referring to these drawings, the operation of authenticating the authenticity of the magnetic card shown in FIG. 7 in accordance with the recording and reading method of the information of the present invention will be described.

In Fig. 7, the magnetic recording, reproduction track MT and the removal portion 3B of the patterned information area are formed so as to overlap each other, and the type of card, balance and non-removal portion 3A and removal portion of the patterned information area are formed. It is assumed that authenticity determination information constituted by (3B) is formed. The non-removing portion 3A and the removing portion 3B of the patterned information area can be formed at any position of the card C, but are formed along the long side of the card C in this embodiment.

First, the magnetic card C is inserted into an information reading apparatus (not shown). This apparatus is composed of a CPU, a memory M, a main controller, a magnetic head for reproduction MH1, a magnetic head for recording MH2, a thermal head TH, and an eddy current sensor S. The apparatus starts operation when the gy card C is inserted (F1), reads the information formed by the non-removing portion 3A and the removing portion 3B of the patterned information area by the eddy current sensor S (F2). Subsequently, magnetic recording and reproduction track MT information are read out by the reproduction magnetic head MH1 (F3).

Next, the CPU compares the information of the read non-removing portion 3A and removal portion 3B with the information of magnetic recording and reproduction track MT (F4), and executes the authenticity determination. As a result of this determination, when the card C is determined to be "true" (Yes), the use of the predetermined service (F5) is enabled, and when it is determined as "fake" (No), forgery / use It becomes impossible (F10), and this card L is discharged | finished and it becomes the end (11).

On the other hand, with the card C determined to be "real", after the service (F5) is enabled, whether or not the next service is in a usable range is available. The balance is recorded by comparing the balance recorded in the recording and playback track MT (F6). Here, if it is determined that it is not available, the fish is forged / unusable (F10), and the card C is discharged to end (F11). When it is determined that it is available, the amount of money available is removed by the thermal head TH to remove the metal deposition layer 3 (FIG. 2), thereby updating the patterning information (F7), and then recording magnetic head MH2. In this manner, the magnetic information of the magnetic recording reproduction block MT is updated (F8). When this process is completed, the said card C is discharged and it is complete | finished F11.

As described above, according to the information recording and reading method of the present invention, even when the non-removing portion 3A, the removing portion 3B, and the magnetic recording reproduction track are formed on top of each other, the information is recorded. It is possible to widen the recording range without the reproducing operation affecting the other recording enhancement operation, and the non-removing portions 3A and 3B of the patterned information area can be visually recognized and recognized. Therefore, it is difficult to illegally read the patterned information by other means, and high security can be maintained.

Experimental Example

On one surface of the base material 1, the magnetic layer 2, the metal deposition layer 3, the concealment layer 4, and the wear-resistant protective layer 5 were laminated in this order, thereby forming a magnetic card having the structure shown in FIG. It became.

As the base material 1, in this example, a resin sheet having a thickness of 188 mu m made of polyethylene terephthalate was used. Synthetic paper and the like can be used.

The metal deposition layer 3 is formed on the magnetic layer 2 to have a thickness of about 200 by vapor deposition (vacuum deposition).

The grace layer 4 has a moderate degree of opacity, i.e., concealment, thereby visually concealing the metal deposition layer 3. In this example, the concealed layer

10 parts by weight of polyester resin

30 solvents

5 parts by weight of aluminum flakes

It is a coating film of 2-4 micrometers in thickness formed by apply | coating and drying the coating material which consists of on the metal vapor deposition layer (3).

The protective layer 5 is for protecting the surface of the magnetic card and is made of a polyester resin having a thickness of about one. Other materials, such as cellulose resins, urethane resins, vinyl resins, epoxy resins, acrylic resins, etc., have good abrasion resistance and heat resistance. You may use a material.

One or two or more kinds of phthalic acid esters, fatty acid esters and phosphoric acid esters may be added to these resins as a plasticizer in any combination.

As the active layer is imparted to the protective layer 5, low molecular weight polyethylene, oleyl amide, stearyl amide silicone and the like can be added. The preferable range of the thickness of this protective layer 5 is 0.1-10 micrometers, Preferably it is about 1-5 micrometers.

According to the conventional thermal recording method, the magnetic card C is printed by contacting the thermal recording head from the surface of the protective layer 5 so that the width is about 5 mm and the length varies between about 5 mm and 10 mm. Three removal portions 3B, 3B and 3B were formed. Other than each removal part, it is the non-removal part 3A.

Along with the longitudinal direction of the patterned information area, the scan head was moved at a constant speed of 20 mm / sec. In addition, the magnetic card C surface and the sensor head S tip were kept at a constant interval of about 0.1 mm.

The relationship between the removed portions 3B, 3B and 3B formed in the metal deposition layer 3 and the voltage signal detected by the sensor head S is shown in FIG. As is evident in this figure, the output voltages obtained at the elimination portions 3B, 3B and 3B are sufficiently high compared to the output voltages obtained at the non-removing portion 3A, and according to the results of the experiment, A voltage difference of 1 V was obtained.

Claims (3)

Arbitrary information is recorded by removing in a pattern corresponding to information to be heated, melted, and recorded by a metal deposition layer provided on a non-conductive gas and a dermal head, and the information is read based on the pattern of the removed portion. A patterning method comprising: a patterning comprising a first information unit consisting of a pattern of a region in which the metal deposition layer is present in the metal deposition layer and a second information unit consisting of a pattern of a region in which the metal deposition layer is not present in the method; Recording information as an information area; Scanning the patterned information area with an eddy current sensor head for detecting a difference in eddy current between a portion where the metal deposition layer is present and a portion that is not present; And detecting the first information unit and the second information unit from the difference in the eddy current detected in the scanning step, and reading the information. The information recording and reading method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second information units of said patterned information area have an area substantially equal to a detection surface of said eddy current sensor head. 2. The area according to claim 1, wherein the first and second information units of the patterned information area have an area of approximately 1/2 of the length of the detection surface of the eddy current sensor head with respect to the scanning direction of the eddy current sensor head. Method of recording and reading information, characterized in that it has.