Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Patent
1991-12-18
1993-03-30
Pitts, Harold
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
235454, 235487, G06K 500
Patent
active
051986469
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a system for detecting punched holes of magnetic cards in which holes are punched to indicate incidence of use or the like for the purpose of preventing data from being forged and falsified.
BACKGROUND ART
When a magnetic card is used, holes are punched therein as a means for providing simple visual information to indicate such things as the number of remaining units or the amount of money or the like remaining in prepaid cards, such as telephone cards. These punched holes are used as a means for preventing magnetic cards from being forged. By applying the method of the prior art, the positions of punched holes are checked by optical or magnetic means. Whether forgery or falsification has been made is confirmed by comparing the positions with the contents of the data.
However, in the method of the prior art in which the positions of punched holes are detected optically, detection becomes impossible by merely filling up the punched holes. When detection is performed by a magnetic means, forgery or the like cannot be completely prevented since detection becomes impossible when punched holes are filled up with a material having the same magnetic properties as those of the magnetic cards, for example, scraps produced by punching holes.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system for detecting punched holes of magnetic cards, which is capable of detecting the punched holes even if these holes are filled up by the same material as that of the magnetic cards so that the forgery of the magnetic card can be reliably prevented.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there are provided magnetic cards for magnetically recording data, in which holes are punched to indicate incidence of use data, and a punched hole detection apparatus for detecting punched holes in the magnetic card. The magnetic card has a hole punch section in the shape of a strip. The punched hole section has a plurality of small segments in a row which are arranged parallel to the length of the card, and two kinds of inks having different optical characteristics are applied to the small segments according to prescribed rules. The punched hole detection apparatus comprises a light source for shooting rays of light used to distinguish the two kinds of ink onto the punched hole section; a light-receiving section for receiving rays of light reflected by the hole punch section of the magnetic card and for outputting a light reception signal; a pattern storage section for storing predefined signal patterns for normal magnetic cards; and a comparison section for comparing the light reception signal from the light-receiving section with normal signal patterns stored by the pattern storage section. As a result, the present invention has an advantage in that it can prevent magnetic cards from being forged and falsified even if punched holes are filled up with the same material as that of a magnetic card, as it is possible to detect the punched holes and the fact that they are filled up by checking the optical characteristics of the small segments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view which illustrates a magnetic card according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view which illustrates the construction of an apparatus for detecting punched holes of the magnetic card of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) are charts which illustrate hole punch sections of FIG. 1 and the results of the detection by the punched hole detection apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3(a) is a view which illustrates a condition in which there are no punched holes;
FIG. 3(b) is a view which illustrates a condition in which holes are punched; and
FIG. 3(c) is a view which illustrates a condition in which punched holes are filled up by foreign matter.
THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE IN
REFERENCES:
patent: 4211918 (1980-07-01), Nyekler
Kabushiki Kaisha CSK
Pitts Harold
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