Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-14
2001-02-13
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S493000, C428S065100, C428S611000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186398
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic card comprising a substrate, and a magnetic layer provided thereon, in which information is magnetically recorded in such a manner that the recorded information can be mechanically read.
2. Description of Related Art
A magnetic card is produced by providing, on a substrate, a magnetic layer in which the ID number of the user of the card, and the like are magnetically recorded in such a manner that the recorded data can be mechanically read. Magnetic cards of this type are widely used as bank cards, credit cards, and the like.
It has conventionally been known that the magnetic layer is concealed in order to ensure the security of the magnetic card. Conventional methods for concealing the magnetic layer are as follows:
a first method in which a specific ink is applied, by means of printing, to the entire surface of the substrate including the surface of the magnetic layer provided on the substrate, thereby concealing the magnetic layer;
a second method in which an ink is applied, by means of printing, to the surface of the magnetic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the color of the ink is the same as that of the substrate, thereby concealing the magnetic layer; and
a third method in which an ink is applied, by means of printing, to the surface of the substrate excluding the surface of the magnetic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the color (dark color) of the ink is the same as that of the magnetic layer, thereby concealing the magnetic layer.
However, the conventional magnetic cards have had the following problem. Namely, when the thickness of the ink layer which is provided on the magnetic layer by means of printing is increased, the magnetic output of the magnetic layer is lowered, so that reading errors can be made when the information recorded in the magnetic layer is read. Under the circumstances, it has been impossible to form, on the magnetic layer by means of printing, an ink layer whose thickness is larger than approximately 6 micrometers. Therefore, there has been such a problem that, when an ink is applied to the magnetic layer by means of printing to conceal the magnetic layer by the above-described first or second method, and when patterns, etc. are further printed on the surface of this ink layer, the number of colors which can be used for printing the patterns, etc. is limited.
On the other hand, in the case of the above third method, an ink is not applied to the surface of the magnetic layer by means of printing, so that this method is free from the aforementioned problem. However, the card produced by the third method is entirely darkish in color. The design of the card is therefore restricted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in the light of the foregoing problems. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a magnetic card in which a magnetic layer is successfully concealed without lowering the magnetic output thereof and restricting the design of the card.
A first aspect of the present invention is a magnetic card comprising a substrate, a magnetic layer provided on the substrate, in which information is magnetically recorded in such a manner that the recorded information can be mechanically read, and a thin film layer made from a metal or metallic compound having the property of concealing the underlying layer, provided to cover at least the magnetic layer. Both the recording of information in the magnetic layer, and the reading of the information recorded in the magnetic layer being performed through the thin film layer provided on the magnetic layer.
A second aspect of the present invention is a magnetic card whose structure is the same as that of the above-described magnetic card except that a first protective layer into which the above magnetic layer is embedded is further provided between the substrate and the thin film layer.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the above-described thin film layer be simply formed by means of vapor deposition, electrodeposition or sputtering. Further, it is preferable that a print layer, and/or a light-diffractive structure layer having a light-diffractive pattern be provided on the surface of the thin film layer. Furthermore, it is preferable that the print layer and the light-diffractive structure layer be provided by allowing them to at least partly overlap each other in the direction of thickness and that such a part of the light-diffractive structure layer that overlaps the print layer in the direction of thickness be made either transparent or semitransparent so that the print layer can be visually seen through the light-diffractive structure layer. In addition, it is preferable that, in the region where the print layer and the light-diffractive structure layer overlap each other in the direction of thickness, these layers be so provided that at least a part of the image reconstructed from the light-diffractive structure layer by the diffraction of light will align with the image formed in the print layer in order to make the magnetic card more aesthetic.
Further, it is preferable to provide a transparent or semitransparent second protective layer on the surface of the above-described print layer or light-diffractive structure layer in order to protect the print layer or the light-diffractive structure layer. Furthermore, it is preferable to color the light-diffractive structure layer or the second protective layer to a predetermined color in order to make the magnetic card still more aesthetic.
According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the thin film layer can be made extremely thin as compared with the print layer or the light-diffractive structure layer. This means that the magnetic layer can be concealed by an extremely thin layer. Thus, it becomes possible to produce magnetic cards without undergoing the limitation on the number of colors which can be used for the print layer to be provided on the magnetic layer, while sufficiently retaining the magnetic output of the magnetic layer.
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Hori Keisuke
Kato Yoko
Cyr Daniel St.
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.
Frech Karl D.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
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