JPH09212617A - Magnetic card authenticity recognition method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic card recognition method which can prevent the easy forgery and reproduction of a magnetic card by providing a magnetic recording area where the magnetic data are recorded and at least one light emitting area which is excited by the excited light and emits the light in a card substrate and recognizing the card authenticity by collating the detected signal of a photodetector with the magnetic recording data. SOLUTION: A magnetic card 10 includes a magnetic recording area where the data are magnetically recorded and at least one light emitting area 12 which is excited by the exciting light of a heavy hydrogen lamp, etc., and emits the light ion a card substrate. The area 12 and its periphery are colored so that they cannot be visually distinguished from each other. The area 12 also keeps its detectable light emitting intensity at least up to the position of a photodetector 26b after the area 12 is executed by an exciting light source 26a. Then, a reading device 20 rewrites the data on the card 10 according to its use, punched the card 10 and also collates the data on the magnetic recording area with the signal that is detected by the photodetector 26b to recognize the genuineness of the card 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card substrate having a magnetic recording area for magnetically recording data and at least one light emitting portion for preventing forgery which emits light when excited by excitation light having a specific wavelength range. The present invention relates to a method for determining the authenticity of a magnetic card provided in.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic cards such as telephone cards and orange cards (registered trademark) are widely distributed as machine-readable cash vouchers using magnetic recording. However, the advantage of magnetic recording that information can be easily rewritten becomes a disadvantage that magnetic cards can be easily forged, and with the spread of magnetic cards, the importance of anti-counterfeit technology has increased.

As a concrete forgery method, a prepaid card or a premium card with a balance of 0 yen is obtained, and the magnetic card is forged and reproduced by re-recording the magnetic information. There is a problem of illegal use of magnetic cards that are illegally forged and reproduced by the method.

In order to prevent such forgery reproduction, a method of verifying the authenticity of the recording medium by collating the invisible information with the magnetic recording information (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-70394 and 4-82797 is disclosed. See also), and punching holes in the magnetic card to check whether it is used or not depending on the presence or absence of transmitted light. However, in the method of verifying the authenticity of the magnetic card by collating the invisible information with the magnetic recording information,
Although it is possible to prevent counterfeit reproduction of a low-priced card into a high-priced card, it is relatively easy to counterfeit a magnetic card with a balance of 0 yen at the original face value.

Further, even in the method of punching holes in a magnetic card, a method that has been put into practical use is to make a hole after use in a portion that is not used for magnetic recording and to confirm that light is transmitted by a photodetector. Since it was discriminated whether the magnetic card was used or not, it was possible to easily illegally reproduce by attaching a light-shielding tape or the like to the hole portion.

A method of punching holes on a magnetic track used for magnetic recording due to a decrease in balance due to use has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-93295). Forgery reproduction was possible by shifting the magnetic track position of the card and re-recording by utilizing the recordability.

A method of making a punch hole in the invisible information portion using infrared absorption light has also been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-17).
It is considered that forgery reproduction is possible by blocking the punch hole and coloring with an ink containing a pigment having absorption in the entire wavelength region such as carbon black.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic card recognition method that makes it difficult to forge and reproduce.

[0009]

A magnetic card used in the present invention comprises a magnetic recording area for magnetically recording data, and at least one light emitting portion which emits light when excited by excitation light in a specific wavelength range. Is provided on the card base, and the light emitting portion and its surroundings are colored so that they cannot be visually distinguished. After the light emitting material at a specific light emitting point is excited, it is determined by the detection result of the light receiving body that it has a light emission lifetime that maintains the light emission intensity until it reaches the position of the light receiving body, by comparing with the magnetic recording data. Authenticate. Forgery reproduction is made more difficult by arranging the light-emitting portion or other portion which is colored so as not to be visually detected at the position of the punch hole which is opened according to the frequency of use of the magnetic card.

When an invisible light emitting portion is provided on the punch hole, it is necessary to obtain a punched piece of the punch and restore the destroyed light emitting pattern by filling the hole in order to forge and reproduce the magnetic card. is there. However, even if a punch piece is available, it is necessary to return the punched luminescent substance to the punch hole without fail, and it is extremely difficult to forge and reproduce using a small punch fragment provided with an invisible luminescent substance. Is. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of light emission points where a punch hole is formed and selecting a light emitting substance so that one or both of the excitation wavelength and the emission wavelength of those light emission points are different, the punch holes and the punch fragments to fill them are It makes the combination complicated and makes counterfeit reproduction virtually impossible. Forgery reproduction can be made even more difficult by punching holes even in non-light emitting areas.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various forms of the light emitting portion on the magnetic card can be considered, from a case where the punch hole diameter is smaller to a case where the punch hole diameter is larger. There is no particular limitation as long as it is possible.

As the excitation light source, a deuterium lamp, a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, a light modulation tube, a capillary lamp,
General-purpose light sources such as hollow cathode lamps, light emitting diodes, laser diodes, and laser beams can be used. However, downsizing of the device, measures against heat generation, cost, life,
In terms of reliability, a small-sized, power-saving solid-state device such as a light emitting diode is preferable.

A photodiode is used to detect the light emission.
Although a phototransistor, a photomultiplier tube or the like can be used, a solid-state device such as a photodiode or a phototransistor is preferable for the same reason as the light source selection.

When a plurality of luminescent substances are used, those which emit light in the same wavelength region at different excitation wavelengths, those which emit light in different wavelength regions at the same excitation wavelength, and those which emit light in different wavelength regions at different excitation wavelengths. Depending on the combination of the excitation wavelength and the emission wavelength, the number of the excitation light sources and the number of the light receiving elements is plural, the number of the excitation light sources is one and the light receiving element is common, and the one of the excitation light sources is the same. Therefore, a combination such as the case where there are a plurality of light receiving elements can be adopted.

As a method of lighting the excitation light source, there are a constant lighting method and a blinking method (lighting is performed when a light emitting portion of the magnetic card comes to the position of the excitation light source).

There are the following two methods for receiving the light emitted from the light emitting portion. Method of measuring light emission while a magnetic card is moving: The afterglow life required to detect light emission at a light emitting point is determined by the distance between the excitation light source and the light receiving element and the moving speed of the magnetic card. . Method of measuring light emission with the magnetic card stopped: The excitation light source is blinked at the light emission location, and the light emission is measured after a predetermined time determined from the emission life after the excitation light source is turned off. Therefore, there are three combinations of excitation-light reception methods in Table 1 below.

[0017]

[Table 1] Combination of excitation-light reception methods

The light-emitting substance used in the present invention is generally called a phosphorescent substance, in which a ground state atom or an organic compound molecule or an inorganic compound molecule is brought into an excited singlet state by light energy and undergoes internal transition. Excess energy is emitted as light in the process of returning to the excited triplet state and then returning to the ground state.
It is 10 ⁻³ seconds.

The luminescent substance for forming the luminescent part according to the present invention includes a compound which is excited by absorbing light in a specific wavelength region and emits light in the specific wavelength region. Specifically, as an inorganic luminescent material, calcium tungstate (CaW) containing no impurity element as an activator is used.
O ₄ ), magnesium tungstate (MgWO ₄ ), and other pure oxygenate compounds, potassium chloride / thallium (KC) containing a specified small amount of a specific impurity as an activator.
l: Tl) and other halides, strontium sulfide
Samarium / cerium (SrS: Sm: Ce), zinc sulfide / cadmium / silver ((Zn, Cd) S: Ag) sulfides, zinc silicate / manganese (Zn ₂ SiO ₄ : Mn), cadmium / manganese borate ( Inorganic compounds such as activated oxygenate compounds such as CdB ₂ O ₅ : Mn) can be used. on the other hand,
Fluorescence is light emitted when returning from the excited singlet state to the ground state, and has a short emission lifetime of 10 ⁻⁷ to 10 ⁻¹⁰ seconds.

As the luminescent material used in the present invention, a material whose emission intensity decays to 1 / e of the initial emission intensity for 500 milliseconds or less is used. If the time for which the emission intensity becomes 1 / e of the initial emission intensity is longer than 500 milliseconds, it is possible that the magnetic card is still emitting light after being ejected from the reader. If the emitted light belongs to the visible region, it is easy to visually confirm the emitted light portion, and the possibility of forgery increases, which is not preferable. The initial emission intensity described here is the intensity when the light emitting substance emits light while receiving light from the light source.

The present invention will be described in more detail below. Structure of Magnetic Card FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the magnetic card. The magnetic card 10 is provided with a magnetic recording area for magnetically recording data on the front surface of the card substrate, and a plurality of light emitting portions 12 which are excited by excitation light of a specific wavelength range to emit light on the back surface of the card substrate. However, the back surface of the card base is colored so that the light emitting portion 12 and its surroundings cannot be visually distinguished. Forgery and reproduction can be made more difficult by providing a light emitting portion of the fluorescent material as a dummy on the entire surface or a part of the magnetic card. Specifically, a fluorescent substance may be applied or contained in each layer or support.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the sectional view. The basic layer structure of the magnetic card according to the present invention may be the same as that of a magnetic card currently in general circulation, and it is not limited to the structure illustrated here.

The features of the present invention will be described below according to the configuration thereof. (Support) As the support 1 forming a card base, a film-like or sheet-like plastic film such as polyester, polyethylene, nylon or the like, a metal plate such as copper or aluminum, paper, a net or the like can be used as a single body or a composite body. In particular, the plastic film contained white inorganic pigments such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and barium sulfate, those that were made opaque by mixing low-compatible organic polymers, and the transparent film surface contained white inorganic pigments or organic pigments. A sheet made opaque by providing a coating layer is preferable.

(Magnetic Recording Layer) On the front side of the support 1, a magnetic recording layer 2 forming a magnetic recording area is formed on the support 1. The magnetic recording layer 2 is made of a ferromagnetic material such as chromium oxide, iron carbide, metallic iron or barium ferrite, and a single or mixed resin such as polyurethane resin, polyester resin, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, cellulose resin or epoxy resin. It is formed by applying the coating material obtained by dispersing to a substrate 1 by gravure coating, knife coating, printing, etc., and then drying and curing.

(Magnetic Shield Layer) A magnetic shield layer 3 is formed on the magnetic recording layer 2. Magnetic shield layer 3
Is a coating material obtained by dispersing soft magnetic material powder such as Sendust or Permalloy in a single substance or a mixture of polyurethane resin, polyester resin, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, cellulose resin and the like on the magnetic recording layer 2. After being applied by gravure coating, knife coating, printing, etc., it is formed by drying and curing. The magnetic shield layer 3 is provided for the purpose of preventing the magnetic signal pattern from leaking to the outside by blocking the magnetic flux of the magnetic recording layer 2 by the high-permeability soft magnetic powder contained therein. It is a thing.

(Visual Performance Information Recording Layer) A visual performance information recording layer 4 is formed on the magnetic shield layer 3. The visual information recording layer 4 is a layer provided only when it is necessary to record information such as the balance of the magnetic card as character information that can be visually confirmed, and a vapor deposition film of tin or the like is formed and the film is formed. There are a type in which recording is performed by thermal destruction, a type in which a thermosensitive coloring type dye such as a leuco dye is applied to form a recording layer, and thermal recording is performed in the layer.

(Protective Layer) A protective layer 5 is provided on the uppermost layer. The protective layer 5 is a layer provided to protect the magnetic recording layer 2, the magnetic shield layer 3, etc., and is made of at least one of polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl butyral, acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, epoxy resin and the like. It is formed of various types of resins, and a layer of paint or ink in which a pigment such as aluminum or titanium dioxide or a lubricant is dispersed is formed on the resin layer. It is preferable to smooth the surface after forming the protective layer 5 with a super calendar or the like to improve the adhesion with the magnetic head.

(Normal Printing) The normal printing layer 6 is formed on the back surface of the support 1, and the light emitting pattern layer 7 is formed on the normal printing layer 6. An OP layer (overprinting layer) 8 is formed on the uppermost layer on the back side of the support 1 so as to cover the normal printing layer 6 and the light emitting pattern layer 7. The normal printing layer 6 is
It is a layer printed on the magnetic card with a design for giving the magnetic card a decorative effect, card usage agreement, and a visible bar code for machine reading. The normal printing layer 6 has a function of making it difficult for the naked eye to discriminate the phosphors at the individual light emitting portions for preventing fraud in the magnetic recording layer.

(Formation of Luminescent Pattern) The luminescent material used in the luminescent material pattern layer 7 of the present invention is an inorganic phosphorescent pigment. Phosphorescent materials of organic compounds are being developed, but have not been put to practical use in terms of safety and stability.
The luminescent material used in the present invention is mixed with a printing resin and used as a luminescent ink. Further, it is possible to adjust the light emission time by mixing an energy storage type substance into the ink or the light emitting substance.

The luminescent ink in which the luminescent substance is mixed with the resin is printed by a generally popular method such as offset, gravure, intaglio, and silk printing. What is important when punching holes in the portion where the luminescent material is provided is that it is necessary to print accurately where the punch holes are punched. As the luminescent ink, it is preferable to use several kinds of ink having different luminescent wavelengths, but the purpose can be achieved even with one color. It is also possible to mix and use the luminescent ink and the normal ink. In addition, it is preferable to print with a dummy ink having the same color tone as the place where the luminescent substance is printed at a place where a punch hole is opened at a place where the luminescent ink is not printed, to make it difficult to forge and reproduce.

When the light emitting patterns are provided at two or more places, it is advantageous in terms of cost to provide the light emitting patterns on a straight line with respect to the traveling direction of the magnetic card, but it is not necessary to arrange them on a straight line. From the perspective of counterfeit prevention,
It is preferable to make it difficult to identify the light emitting points by providing dummy light emitting points by arranging them in a random manner rather than arranging them on a straight line.

<Punching> In the method of preventing unauthorized use according to the present invention, it becomes more difficult to read by punching a portion provided with a luminescent substance as the remaining amount decreases due to use. The shape of the punched hole is not particularly limited, and may be circular, polygonal, star-shaped or the like. Further, the size of the punch hole may be any size as long as the portion where the luminescent substance is provided is cut off so that the detection level of the photoreceptor by the light emission of the portion can be distinguished from that before the punch hole is opened. .

<Magnetic Recording Information and Light Emission Signal Reader>
FIG. 3 shows an example in which, in addition to a head for reading and writing magnetic recording information of a conventional card reader / writer, a light emitting body of an excitation light source for confirming light emitting information and a light receiving body for detection are added. The card reader / writer 20 has a magnetic card 1
When 0 is inserted, the magnetic card 1 is inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow.
A transport belt 22 for transporting 0 is provided, and a card position detector 24 is disposed on the entrance side of the magnetic card with the transport belt 22 interposed therebetween.

It is assumed that the magnetic card 10 is inserted so that the surface provided with the light emitting portion 12 faces upward. Two sets of light emission detectors 26 and 28 are provided above the conveyor belt 22 at positions behind the card position detector 24. In one light emission detection unit 26, a light emitter (excitation light source) 26a and a light receiver 26b are arranged at a constant interval along the transport direction, and in the other light emission detection unit 28, the light emitter 28a and the light receiver 2 are also provided.
8b are arranged at regular intervals along the transport direction.
In the magnetic card 10 of this example, the light emission points 12 are arranged on two straight lines along the carrying direction, so that the light emission detection sections 26 and 28 can detect the light emission points 12 on the respective straight lines. They are arranged on the straight lines of the respective different light emitting point arrangements.

At a position farther from the card position detector 24, magnetic recording information is written in the magnetic card 10 or magnetic recording information written in the magnetic card 10 is read out below the conveyor belt 22. Magnetic head 30 for
Is provided. Although not shown, there is also provided a mechanism for punching holes at the light emitting points 12 of the magnetic card 10 depending on the use.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the card reader / writer 20 and the magnetic card 10, and the conditions for detecting the light emitting portion will be described. It is necessary that the light emitting material of the light emitting portion 12 of the magnetic card 10 is excited by the excitation light source to emit light, and the light emission is detected by the light receiver.
After being discharged from 0, it is preferable that the light emission is not visually recognized even if it is in the visible region. For that purpose, it is preferable that the following conditions are satisfied. Here, it is assumed that the light emitting portions P _{1 to} P _i arranged on a straight line are detected by the light source 26a and the light receiving body 26b. L _1h / S ≈ T _i t ₁ ≈ (L _2h + l ₁ ) / S (first light emitting point) l _{i + 1} / S ≈ t _{i + 1} + T _i (second light emitting point or later) where each The symbols have the following meanings and are shown in FIG. S: the moving speed L _1h of the magnetic card 10: distance between the light source 26a and the light receiving element L _2h: distance between the light source 26a and the card position detector 24 T _i: light source 26a measurements after extinguishing time l _1: magnetic card 10 From the tip of the light source to the first light emitting portion P ₁ l _{i + 1} : Distance between light emitting portions P _{i and} P _{i + 1} ti: Light emitting time of the light source 26 a, the start time of t ₁ is the card position detector When 24 detects the tip of the magnetic card 10 i = 1, 2, 3, ...

[0037]

【Example】

<Preparation of magnetic card> A 188 μm white polyester film (Lumirror, manufactured by Toray) is coated on one side with the magnetic recording layer 2 and the like as shown in FIG. 2, and on the back side thereof as shown in FIG. Offsets were printed as shown in Table 3 with ink mixed with the luminescent material and the binder shown in Table 2 at 6 mm from the lower end in the width direction and 5 mm and 10 mm from the beginning in the flow direction with respect to the card insertion direction. . Table 3
So, in the case of a sample with two light emitting points,
Sample No. 6 and 10 in the width direction of the magnetic card
Sample No. In 1, 2, 4 and 8, the light emitting portions were arranged on a straight line along the insertion direction for printing.

[0038]

[Table 2] Physical properties of luminescent materials

[0039]

[Table 3] Magnetic card with luminescent material

<Composition of Luminescent Ink> Luminescent substance: Binder (SEIKAPRENE 300: manufactured by Dainichi Seika)
= 80: 20 The luminescent materials A + B were prepared by mixing the luminescent materials A and B in a ratio of 1: 1 and mixing the mixture with the binder in the same ratio. 85mm × 54m of magnetic card with coating printing
The size of m was used for punching evaluation.

<Creation of inspection device>

[Table 4] Light source and light receiver of the light emission detector (Remarks) LED: Light emitting diode PD: Photodiode The distance between the light source and the light receiver is 6 mm, which corresponds to the measurement of the light emission intensity 20 milliseconds after the light emitting point is excited, and 15 mm
The interval also corresponds to the emission intensity measurement after 50 milliseconds.

Commercial reader / writer (GMB-80
0: General Business Machine Co., Ltd. is modified, and in the combination of FIG. 3, the photomicrosensor (EE-SPZ401W-02; Omron Co.) for detecting the card position, the light source, and the light receiver are as shown in Table 4. Lined up. The light emission was detected while the magnetic card was moving (moving speed = 300 mm / sec). In Table 4, the inspection device No. I
And II are the light emission detection units NO. 1 and NO. 2 are arranged on a straight line, and the inspection device NO. In III, the light emission detection unit NO. 1 and N
O. 2 was arranged so as to be offset by 10 mm in the width direction of the magnetic card.

The samples prepared as shown in Table 3 and the inspection device shown in Table 4 were used in combination as shown in Table 5 to prepare Examples and Comparative Examples. The evaluation method was as follows. : It was evaluated with an oscilloscope whether the magnetic card provided with the luminescent substance could be recognized by the inspection device. : A card after punching a 1.2 mm punch hole at a light emitting portion was passed through an inspection device, and it was evaluated with an oscilloscope that the detection pattern was different from that observed in. : The inspection device was placed in a dark room, and a sensory evaluation was made as to whether or not the light emitting portion of the magnetic card emerging in could be visually confirmed. Sensory evaluation was performed on the heat generation state of the inspecting device after inspecting 10,000 magnetic cards continuously in an environment of 30 ° C. The "discriminable" in these evaluation results indicates that the magnetic card has been subjected to anti-counterfeiting processing, and the "indeterminable" indicates that it cannot be determined, that is, it is determined that forgery is easy. .

[0044]

[Table 5] Examples and comparative examples and the results

[0045]

The authenticity recognizing method for a magnetic card according to the present invention is a method for using a magnetic card, which is provided at the time of manufacturing a magnetic card and uses the specificity of the emission wavelength as a key depending on the luminescent substance. By destroying the light emitting area, it is extremely difficult to forge and reproduce the magnetic card. For counterfeit reproduction, it is necessary to select the correct punched piece from among many punched pieces that are difficult to identify and fill the invisible punched piece in the correct position. However, it is almost impossible to discriminate by a normal method such as irradiating with black light. In principle, it is almost impossible to satisfy these requirements at the same time, and forgery of the magnetic card can be easily prevented. This method can be used by simply adding a punching machine, a simple light source and a detector to the card reader / writer which is currently popular.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an example of a magnetic card used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a magnetic card used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a card reader / writer as a magnetic card reader used in the present invention together with a bottom view of a magnetic card.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a card reader / writer and a bottom view of a magnetic card shown for explaining a magnetic card reading condition.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Support 2 Magnetic Recording Layer 7 Light Emitting Material Pattern Layer 10 Magnetic Card 12 Light Emitting Point 20 Card Reader / Writer 26, 28 Light Emitting Detection Section 26a, 28a Excitation Light Source 26b, 28b Photoreceptor 30 Magnetic Head

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A card base is provided with a magnetic recording area for magnetically recording data, and at least one light-emitting portion that emits light when excited by excitation light in a specific wavelength range. A magnetic card using a magnetic card that is colored so that it cannot be distinguished visually, and a reader that at least reads the data recorded in the magnetic recording area by moving the magnetic card and detects the light emission at the light emitting portion. In the card recognition method, the light emission detection unit of the reading device moves the magnetic card when detecting a light emission point of an excitation light source that generates the excitation light and a light receiver that detects light emission from the light emission point of the magnetic card. On a straight line along the direction, the light emitting portion is provided on a straight line, and a magnetic card moves in the reading device at the light emitting portion of the magnetic card, After being excited by a light source, a luminescent material having a luminescence lifetime that maintains a detectable luminescence intensity is used at least until it reaches the position of the photoreceptor, and the magnetic card is used depending on the use by the reader. Rewriting the data in the magnetic recording area, punching holes in the magnetic card, and recognizing the authenticity of the magnetic card by comparing the data in the magnetic recording area with the signal detected by the photoreceptor. How to recognize the authenticity of a magnetic card. 2. The authenticity of the magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting material used in the light emitting portion of the magnetic card is a phosphorescent material having an initial emission intensity that decays to 1 / e for 500 ms or less. Recognition method. 3. The authenticity recognizing method for a magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of light emitting portions of the magnetic card are provided. 4. The authenticity of the magnetic card according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of light emitting portions are arranged on a straight line along a moving direction of the magnetic card when the light emitting portion is detected in the reading device. Recognition method.