JPH0769944B2 - Identification structure of information storage card, its method and information storage card - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention forges an information storage card such as a magnetic card, an IC card, or an optical card that exchanges information with a reader / writer. In order to prevent such a situation, the present invention relates to an information storage card identification structure and method and an information storage card for identifying with a reader / writer that the card is a legitimate card.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, for example, a magnetic card has a multilayer structure in order to prevent the magnetic card from being forged, a bar code or a magnetic bar code is provided on the surface of the card, and the magnetic card is not reused. As a result, punching holes are formed on the magnetic recording surface when it becomes unnecessary.

However, each of the above methods has a problem that the forgery side can analyze the structure relatively easily and the card can be forged by using a relatively inexpensive device. Further, although it is conceivable that the internal structure of the card itself is complicated, there is a problem that the reader / writer for reading / writing the card becomes complicated and the size becomes large.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the main object of the present invention is to make it difficult to forge a card and to identify that it is a legitimate card. An object is to provide an easy information storage card identification structure and method, and an information storage card.

[Configuration of the Invention] <Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, such an object is an identification structure of an information storage card for exchanging information with a reader / writer.
The light from above extends in a direction perpendicular to a certain surface including the optical axis and extends in a direction orthogonal to the surface, and a few reflected lights
/ mm to several tens of lines / mm, each of which has a plurality of V-shaped or U-shaped grooves which are parallel to each other and which are formed on the surface of the reader / writer,
Means for irradiating the identification portion with illumination light from above, and means for passing the optical axis orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove so as to receive reflected light of the illumination light emitted toward the identification portion. One or two or more first light receiving portions provided in a position facing the surface in the plane, and the first light receiving portion in a plane that is not orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and that passes through the optical axis. Comparing the intensities of the reflected light received by each of the light receiving units of the light receiving unit with each other, and a light receiving unit having one or more second light receiving units provided at a position facing the surface. And a means for identifying that the card is an authentic card with an identification structure of an information storage card and the surface for reflecting light from above along a surface including its optical axis. Reflects while extending in a direction orthogonal to An information storage card having an identification portion consisting of a large number of V-shaped or U-shaped grooves parallel to each other of several lines / mm to several tens of lines / mm on a reader / writer for transmitting and receiving information to and from the card. A method for identification, which comprises irradiating illumination light toward the identification portion of the card inserted in the reader / writer, in a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and passing through the optical axis. And one or more first light receiving portions provided at a position facing the surface and facing the surface in a plane that is not orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and that passes through the optical axis. Position 1
The reflected light of the illumination light emitted toward the identification unit is received by the light receiving unit having one or two or more second light receiving units, and the reflection received by each of the light receiving units of the light receiving unit. A method for identifying an information storage card, characterized in that the card is identified as a legitimate card by comparing light intensities with each other, and an information storage card for exchanging information with a reader / writer, comprising: By providing an information storage card having an identification portion having a large number of V-shaped or U-shaped grooves parallel to each other of several lines / mm to several tens lines / mm that can be identified by a physical identification means To be achieved.

<Operation> In this way, the identification of the card is not complicated, and the groove shape of the identification portion provided on the card is analyzed,
Since it is difficult to forge, the card can be prevented from being forged.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment based on the present invention, and is a perspective view schematically showing a main structure in the magnetic card 1 and a card reader / writer.

The card 1 is driven in the direction of the arrow, that is, in the substantially left-right direction in FIG. 1 by a transport roller or the like (not shown), and at the position of the magnetic head 3, with respect to the magnetic stripe 2 provided on the main surface 1a of the card 1. Information is written / read out.

On the other hand, an identification unit 4 is provided at a position near the corner of the main surface 1a of the card 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the identification section 4 extends in the direction of the imaginary line S and is diffracted at an interval and a width at which reflected light does not cause interference interference, that is, at the wavelength of a normally used light beam. Several lines / mm to several dozen lines /
The first set 5 composed of a large number of parallel V-shaped grooves 6 of mm and the second set 7 composed of a large number of parallel V-shaped grooves 8 extending in the direction of the imaginary line T different from the above direction are combined. It consists of Due to these grooves 6 and 8, the identification unit 4 reflects the light from above along the plane orthogonal to the imaginary line S and the plane orthogonal to the imaginary line T.

On the card reader / writer side, a light emitting element 9 is provided to the identification section 4 as means for irradiating a laser beam whose optical axis is orthogonal to the main surface 1a when the card 1 is at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. It is provided with a predetermined interval. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, a large number of light receiving portions surrounding the light emitting element 9 are provided.
A light receiving element 10 including a multi-divided photodiode having 10a to 10l is provided. This light receiving element 10 has a card 1
An identification circuit 11 is connected to identify whether the card is an authorized card.

In order to actually identify the card 1, the card 1 inserted in the card reader / writer is held at a position where the identification unit 4 faces the light emitting element 9, and the illumination light is emitted from the light emitting element 9 toward the identification unit 4. Irradiate. Then, the light reflected by the identification portion 4 is orthogonal to the light receiving portions 10a to 10l of the light receiving element 10 in a pattern as shown in FIG. 4, that is, the extending direction of the grooves 6 and 8 (imaginary lines S and T). The light is received as a pair of elliptical patterns extending along the plane. This is because the reflection pattern of grooves parallel to each other of several lines / mm to several tens of lines / mm has the same specular reflection as a plane in the direction parallel to the groove, and the groove inclines in the direction orthogonal to the groove. Since the light is reflected at an angle by the side surface or the like, an elliptical pattern that expands in the direction orthogonal to the spot groove is formed. Therefore, the light receiving intensity of each light receiving unit is measured and the light receiving unit having a high light receiving intensity is obtained (the light receiving units 10d and 10j shown in FIG.
10e, 10k: Both light receiving parts provided in a plane orthogonal to the groove,
The received light intensity and other light receiving parts (light receiving parts 10a, 10b,
10c, 10f, 10g, 10h, 10i, and 10l: All of them have a predetermined difference compared to the light receiving intensity of the light receiving unit provided in a plane that is not orthogonal to the groove, and the positional relationship between the light receiving units with high light receiving intensity If is a predetermined relationship, the card 1 is identified as an authorized card. Therefore, for example, even if the card 1 is obtained for the purpose of forging a card, it is not only difficult to analyze the groove pattern of the identification portion, but also a great cost is required to create a similar identification portion. Therefore, the anti-counterfeiting effect is extremely high.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be applied in various ways. For example, the identification section may be provided on the back side of the card. Further, a plurality of identification portions having different groove patterns may be provided on the surface of the card to perform more advanced identification, or different identification portions may perform identification according to the usage state of the card. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the illumination light is directly emitted from the light emitting element to the identification portion, but a mirror, a prism or the like may be inserted in the optical path to change the optical path.
Further, a positioning sensing device (PSD) or the like may be used as the light receiving element other than the photodiode.
Furthermore, the irradiation light to the identification unit is not limited to the light of a specific wavelength, and may be white light, for example.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in order to reflect light from above along a surface including the optical axis thereof, the light extends in a direction orthogonal to the surface and interferes with reflected light. An identification section having a large number of parallel V-shaped or U-shaped grooves with a gap and a width that does not cause light emission is provided on the surface of the card, and the identification section is irradiated with illumination light by a reader / writer, and the reflected light is reflected at a predetermined position. By receiving light by the light receiving means and identifying the authentic card with the light receiving pattern, it becomes difficult to analyze the groove shape of the identifying section for the purpose of counterfeiting the card, and the identifying section Since it costs a lot of money to create a card, it is virtually impossible to forge a card. In addition, to identify the card, illuminate the identification part with illumination light,
Only the shape pattern of the light received by the light receiving unit is detected, and the equipment provided in the reader / writer does not become large or complicated. In addition, by changing the groove formation direction, it is possible to set the reflection direction for the surface parallel to the groove formation surface within an angle range of 180 ° C, which makes it possible to set a wide variety of settings and improve discrimination. However, it is sufficient to specify only the extending direction of this groove, for example, the accuracy of the groove depth and its angle is not required, and the accuracy of the interval of each groove is not required. Since various kinds of identification portions can be formed only by forming similar grooves, the manufacturing thereof is easier than the difficulty of analysis and forgery. From the above, the effect of the present invention is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the essential parts of a magnetic card and a card reader / writer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 ... Card, 1a ... Main surface 2 ... Magnetic stripe, 3 ... Magnetic head 4 ... Identification part, 5 ... First group 6 ... V-shaped groove, 7 ... Second group 8 ... … V-shaped groove, 9 …… Light emitting element 10 …… Light receiving element, 11 …… Identification circuit 10a to 10l …… Light receiving surface

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A discriminating structure of an information storage card for exchanging information with a reader / writer, wherein the card is adapted to reflect light from above along a plane including its optical axis. Several lines extending in the orthogonal direction
/ mm to several tens of lines / mm, which has a plurality of V-shaped or U-shaped grooves that are parallel to each other on the surface, and the reader / writer irradiates the identification part with collation light from above. And is provided at a position that is orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and that faces the card surface in a plane that passes through the optical axis so as to receive the reflected light of the irradiation light that is irradiated toward the identification unit. One or two or more first light receiving portions, and one or two provided at a position that is not orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and faces the card surface in a plane passing through the optical axis. It is identified that the card is a regular card by comparing the intensity of the reflected light received by each of the light receiving units of the light receiving unit with each other, and the light receiving unit having one or more second light receiving units. Information storage characterized by having means Identification structure of over de. 2. The grooves have the same cross section, and the light receiving portions of the light receiving means are provided at positions surrounding the light emitting means in the same plane facing the card surface. The identification structure for an information storage card according to claim 1, wherein 3. The identification section has a set of a large number of grooves extending in a certain direction and a set of a plurality of grooves extending in a direction different from the direction or a set of two or more. The identification structure for an information storage card according to claim 1, wherein the identification structure is an information storage card. 4. Several lines / mm extending in a direction orthogonal to a certain surface including the optical axis of the light from above so as to reflect the light from above.
To a method for identifying an information storage card having on its surface an identification part composed of a large number of V-shaped or U-shaped grooves parallel to each other of several tens of lines / mm by a reader / writer for transmitting / receiving information to / from the card Of, irradiating illumination light toward the identification portion of the card inserted into the reader / writer, on the card surface in a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and passing through the optical axis 1 provided at the opposite position
One or two or more first light receiving portions, and one or two provided at a position which is not orthogonal to the extending direction of the groove and faces the card surface in a plane passing through the optical axis.
Intensity of the reflected light received by each of the light receiving portions of the light receiving means by receiving the reflected light of the illumination light emitted toward the identification portion by the light receiving means having one or more second light receiving portions. A method for identifying an information storage card, characterized in that the card is identified as a legitimate card by comparing with each other. 5. An information storage card for exchanging information with a reader / writer, which can be identified by optical identification means: several lines / mm to several tens /
An information storage card having an identification portion having a large number of V-shaped or U-shaped grooves parallel to each other of mm. 6. The identification section has a set of a plurality of grooves extending in a certain direction and one or more sets of a plurality of grooves extending in a direction different from the direction. The information storage card according to claim 5, wherein: