JPH0263799A - Information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible the reduction of time for the deletion and writing of visible information without a power supply in a medium by arranging a medium between a liquid crystal layer and a transparent electrode substrate and a photoconductor, dividing a liquid crystal display section into independent areas and rewriting information to be recorded independently in the individual areas. CONSTITUTION:When a voltage applied to a liquid crystal layer 12 is zero, liquid crystal molecules in the neighborhood of a transparent electrode substrate 11 are arranged vertically with an electrode and in parallel in the intermediate layer, and are twisted spirally as a planar structure. In this state, an applied voltage is below the level of VL and the optical transparency is maintained above the level of about 90%. If a voltage is applied, the planar structure undergoes a molecular reorientation, resulting in the parallel arrangement of liquid crystal molecules with the electrode. Consequently, a focal cornic structure with a spiral shaft rotated 90 degrees appears, causing an optical aberration. This state is maintained even after the elimination of an applied voltage VM. In addition, if the applied voltage becomes VH, the molecules are rearranged so that they are uniformly oriented vertically with the electrode. In this case, the light transmission factor is almost 100% and then is returned to an initial state a few seconds after the elimination of the applied voltage VH.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention is used as a prepaid card, for example, and information that can be displayed on the surface of the card as visible information such as the usage status of the card. Regarding recording media.

(Prior Art) In recent years, there has been progress in replacing cashless transactions with cards, and in particular, the use of prepaid cards is increasing.

Typical prepaid cards include:
For example, cards that allow calls at public telephones and cards that allow the purchase of railway tickets are known. These prepaid cards are subject to their usage,
For example, many cards are designed to magnetically record the balance, etc., and in the case of these types of cards, depending on the amount of use, punch holes are formed in advance where the amount is printed. , a rough balance is shown to the card user. For this reason, it has been impossible for card users to accurately determine usage status from the card itself.

Therefore, prepaid cards have been developed that can print out visible information about the status of the card when it is used. However, in the case of this prepaid card, once-printed information cannot be erased or rewritten. Therefore, given the limited area of the card, there is a limit to the amount of information that can be printed, and there are restrictions on its use.

Furthermore, it is conceivable to use, for example, a 7-segment liquid crystal display to display visible information. However, when a 7-segment liquid crystal display is used, there are disadvantages in that a power source is required inside the card and the information that can be displayed is limited.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has problems in that a card in which visible information is printed is limited in its use because the amount of information that can be printed is limited, and a 7-segment liquid crystal display This was done to eliminate the disadvantages of devices that display visible information using devices such as devices that require an internal power source and are limited in the information that can be displayed. The usage status can be checked at a glance from the media, and any visible information can be repeatedly erased and written without the need for a power supply inside the medium. The purpose of this invention is to provide an information recording medium that can shorten this time.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) The information recording medium of the present invention has a liquid crystal display section in which a liquid crystal layer is disposed between a transparent electrode substrate and a photoconductor, Recorded information is recorded as an image by displaying it on the liquid crystal display section, and the liquid crystal display section is divided into a plurality of independent areas, and the recorded information is independently rewritten in each area. It is configured so that it can be used.

(Function) This invention configures a liquid crystal display section by disposing a liquid crystal layer between a transparent electrode substrate and a photoconductor, and records information as an image by displaying recorded information on the liquid crystal display section. , it is possible to rewrite any visible information as the recorded information any number of times, and the liquid crystal display section is divided into a plurality of independent areas, and the recorded information is independently recorded in each area. This makes it possible to rewrite the .

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the information recording medium of the present invention is used as a prepaid card used, for example, in transportation facilities. On the front surface of the prepaid card 1, a visible information display section 2 as a liquid crystal display section is provided, as shown in FIG. 2(a). The visible information display section 2 displays, for example, the usage form 61 (recorded information) of the card 1 as a visually visible image.
Any visible information 3 can be repeatedly erased and written. In this case, the visible information display section 2 is divided into one area, for example, two areas 2a and 2b, and the visible information 3 can be erased and written in each area 2.
This can be done independently for a and 2b.

On the other hand, on the back side of the prepaid card 1, as shown in FIG. A magnetic stripe 5 to be recorded and contacts 7 of an IC (integrated circuit) 6 to be electrically recorded are provided so that information can be exchanged with an external device (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of the prepaid card 1. As shown in FIG. That is, the prepaid card 1 includes a transparent electrode substrate 11, a liquid crystal layer 12, a substrate 14 coated with a photoconductive photoreceptor (photoconductor) 13, and a protective substrate 15 on which the magnetic stripe 5 and the like are arranged. The structure is such that they are laminated in order. The transparent electrode substrate 11 includes:
Polymer films, such as polyurethane films with indium oxide (ITO (In2o3)) deposited on them, Nesa glass, and the like are used.

The liquid crystal layer 12 is made of a nematic cholesteric phase transition type liquid crystal which is a memory type liquid crystal.

°As this memory type liquid crystal, for example, MBBA (p-
A memory type phase change type mixed liquid crystal is used, which is a mixture of a nematic liquid crystal made of methoxybenzylidene-p--n-butylaniline) and a cholesteric liquid crystal made of, for example, COC (cholesteryl oleyl carbonate). The photoconductive photoreceptor 13 is made of, for example, selenium or organic photoconductor (OPC) used in electrophotography.

Further, the transparent electrode substrate 11 has a contact point 16a.

16a and the photoconductive photoreceptor 13 are electrically connected to contacts 16b, 16b through the substrate 14, so that they can receive a voltage VDC or the like from an external device, for example. Note that the contacts 16b, 16b are grounded inside the card 1.

Here, the characteristics of the memory type liquid crystal constituting the liquid crystal layer 12 and the method of writing and erasing visible information using the combination of this liquid crystal and the photoconductive photoreceptor 13 will be described.

As mentioned above, in the nematic-cholesteric phase transition type memory liquid crystal, by applying an appropriate vertical alignment treatment agent to the surface of the transparent electrode substrate 11, the transmittance with respect to the applied voltage VDC as shown in FIG. It is known to exhibit a curved line. That is, when the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer 12 is OV (no load state), the liquid crystal molecules near the transparent electrode substrate 11 are arranged perpendicularly to the electrode, and in the intermediate layer, they are arranged parallel to the electrode and spirally. It has a brainer structure that is twisted and arranged in a shape. In this state, the applied voltage is
The optical transparency is maintained at about 90% or more below the vL shown in the figure.

Next, when an applied voltage vM is applied, the Brehner structure is destroyed, and the liquid crystal molecules are aligned parallel to the electrodes, creating a focal cornic structure (a unique cone-shaped structure of cholesteric liquid crystal) with the helical axis rotated by 90 degrees. appears, creating a state that causes optical transparency. In this state, the applied voltage v
It is designed to be maintained even after M is removed (blocked).

Furthermore, when the applied voltage reaches vH, the arrangement of molecules changes to a state in which all molecules are uniformly oriented perpendicular to the electrode (homeotropic structure). When voltage vH is applied, it is approximately 10
The light transmittance is 0%, and in this case, the initial state (no-load state) is restored several seconds after the applied voltage vH is removed.

Writing and erasing of visible information utilizes the above-mentioned characteristics, and an equivalent driving circuit thereof is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, CL and RL are the capacitance C component and volume resistance of the liquid crystal layer 12, and CP and RP are the photoconductive photoreceptor 1.
3, the capacitance C component and the volume resistance.

When the photoconductive photoreceptor 13 receives the light hν, its volume resistance RP is changed, so that the liquid crystal layer 12
It is designed to change the voltage v applied to.

That is, when the photoconductive photoreceptor 13 is irradiated with light hv, the volume resistance RP of the photoreceptor 13 is reduced, thereby increasing the voltage vi applied to the liquid crystal layer 12. Further, when the light hv does not strike the leading conductive photoreceptor 13, the volume resistance RP of the photoreceptor 13 maintains a high resistance, so that the voltage V applied to the liquid crystal layer 12 becomes low. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the white area of the image (
Visible information, that is, a desired visible image, can be formed by externally applying a voltage VDC such that the voltage applied to the exposed area (exposed area) is VH1 and the voltage applied to the black background area (unexposed area) is vM. It is possible. Note that this visible image is retained even after the applied voltage VDc is removed.

Further, during non-exposure, the visible image is erased by applying a voltage VHH such as voltage VL''VH.

With such a configuration, it is possible to repeatedly write any visible image (visible information) on the prepaid card 1, so that each time the card 1 is used, the usage status, such as the card balance, can be written. It becomes possible to easily determine the accurate balance etc. from this information itself. Further, there is no need to provide a power source inside the prepaid card 1, and there are no restrictions on the use of the card 1 or the information that can be displayed.

Next, a case will be described in which the above-mentioned prepaid card 1 is used as a commuter pass for transportation such as a railway, and the commuter pass is utilized using an automatic ticket gate (external device). That is, by adding the function of a regular commuter pass to the prepaid card 1 and inserting this card 1 into an automatic ticket gate, automatic ticket gates and automatic payment are made possible. In this case, the area 2a of the visible information display section 2
For example, the balance before placing a bid is displayed as visible information 3, and in the area 2b, for example, information regarding placing a bid is displayed. Further, on the back side of the card 1, information on the face of the commuter pass, such as the section of use and period of use, is printed as printed characters 4. Furthermore, information such as the balance as well as the face information such as the usage section and the period of use are pre-recorded magnetically or electrically on the magnetic stripe 5 and the IC 6.

When passing through a ticket gate using such a card 1, for example, as shown in Fig. 6 Ca), the card balance r1000 yen is displayed in the balance display area 2a of the visible information display section 2 (Fig. 7 Ca). In (a)), the card 1 is inserted into an automatic ticket gate (not shown) at the boarding station. Then, Figure 6 (b
), a contact point 16a is provided in the balance display area 2a.

The display in this region 2a is erased by applying the erasing voltage VHH via the voltage VHH 16b.

At the same time, corresponding to the information display area 2b, the boarding station name "Tokyo", the current balance r1000 yen", and the date of use r63.8. An image corresponding to information regarding the bidding such as IOJ is exposed. Then, as shown in FIG. 6(c), a visible image is formed in the information recording area 2b by applying an appropriate voltage VDC through the contacts 16a' and 16b. Thereafter, by removing the application of the voltage VDC, the information display area 2 of the visible information display section 2
The visible image is fixed in b.

Note that information is magnetically and electrically recorded on the magnetic stripe 5 and the IC 6 during or prior to the writing and erasing of the visible image.

Then, the visible image (balance) in the balance display area 2a is erased, and the card 1 with the visible image (information regarding the ticket issue) fixed in the information display area 2b is ejected from the automatic ticket gate and (Figure 7(b)). In this case, from the above-mentioned visible image, it is possible to easily confirm the use status of the card 1, such as the boarding station and the range in which transfers can be made through automatic payment.

On the other hand, when the card 1 in the above state is inserted into the automatic ticket gate at the station where you get off the train, a contact point 16a appears in the information display area 2b, as shown in FIG. 6(d).

By applying the erasing voltage VH, 4 through the voltage VH, 6b, the display of the visible image in this area 2b is erased.

In addition, at the time of erasing the visible image, or prior to this,
By magnetically or electrically reading information from the magnetic stripe 5 and IC 6, the automatic ticket gate compares the station of getting off and the section of use, and the date of use and period of use. As a result of the above comparison, for example, if the boarding section due to a transfer exceeds the used section, or if the date of use is outside the period of use, the above residual amount is updated with a fare corresponding to that. In other words, the amount used outside the usage range of the commuter pass is automatically settled based on the card balance.

In this way, the balance is updated as necessary (in this case, information on the magnetic stripe 5 and IC 6 is also updated).
When ' is done, the balance after the above-mentioned payment "880 yen" is exposed as an image corresponding to the balance display area 2a. Then, as shown in FIG. 6(d), a visible image is formed in the balance recording area 2a by applying an appropriate voltage VDC through the contacts 16a and 16b. Thereafter, the application of the voltage VDC is removed, thereby fixing the visible image in the balance display area 2a of the visible information display section 2.

Then, the visible image in the information display area 2b is erased, and the card 1 with the balance according to the payment fixed as a visible image in the balance display area 2a is ejected from the automatic ticket gate and returned to the user ( Figure 7(C)). In this case, from the visible image above,
The balance of Card 1 can be easily checked.

In this way, when the prepaid card 1 of the present invention is used as a commuter pass for transportation such as railways, as described above,
It is possible to easily determine the exact usage status etc. from the card itself, there is no need to provide a power source inside the prepaid card 1, and there are no restrictions on the use of the card 1 and the information that can be displayed. This allows automatic ticket gates and automatic payment. Therefore, even if there is a conventional automatic ticket gate,
This frees you from the hassle of having to purchase a ticket for an automatic ticket gate using a prepaid cart, and also allows you to pay without going through a counter. It becomes possible to provide a convenient means of transportation.

Further, by dividing the visible information display section 2 into a plurality of regions and writing and erasing a visible image in each region only in one direction, the time required for writing and erasing can be shortened.

As described above, a liquid crystal layer is disposed between a transparent electrode substrate and a photoconductive photoreceptor to constitute a visible information display section, and usage conditions and the like are displayed on the visible information display section and recorded as an image. By doing so, any visible information can be rewritten as many times as desired, and the visible information display section is divided into a plurality of independent areas, and the visible information can be rewritten independently for each area. I'm trying to do what I can.

That is, the visible information display unit that records arbitrary visible information as an image is divided into a plurality of independent areas, and the visible information can be written and erased in each area.

This allows various types of information to be recorded in a visible state, and the contents of this record can be rewritten any number of times in a short period of time.

Therefore, by displaying visible information, you can easily check the accurate balance etc. from the card itself at a glance, and furthermore, any visible information can be repeatedly erased and written without requiring a power supply inside the medium. In addition, it is possible to shorten the time required for erasing and writing the visible information.

Furthermore, by using a polymer film as the transparent electrode substrate, strength against damage during portability is ensured.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the explanation is given using a prepaid card used in transportation facilities as an example, but the application is not limited to this, but can be applied to various prepaid cards such as prepaid cards for telephone use or expressway use. can.

It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, the usage status of the medium itself can be confirmed at a glance by displaying visible information, and furthermore, a power source is not required inside the medium. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information recording medium that can repeatedly erase and write arbitrary visible information and shorten the time required for erasing and writing the visible information.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a prepaid card, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the prepaid card, and FIG. Characteristic diagram showing the transmittance curve, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the drive equivalent circuit of a memory type liquid crystal, Figure 5 is a diagram shown to explain the operation of forming a visible image, Figure 6 is a diagram showing a prepaid cart on a railway, etc. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of a visible image when used as a commuter pass. 1... Prepaid card (information recording medium) 2... Visible information display section (liquid crystal display section), 2a... Balance display closed area, 2b... Information display area, 3... Visible information (visible image), 11... Transparent electrode substrate, 12... Liquid crystal layer, 13
- Leading conductive photoreceptor (photoconductor). Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue (a) 0 voltage V. o [V] Figure (a) ↓ Exposure ll Haze Light 1N port (C) Figure 6 Exposure 11NI (d) (e) Figure (a) Ri (b) (C) Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a liquid crystal display section in which a liquid crystal layer is disposed between a transparent electrode substrate and a photoconductor, and records recorded information as an image by displaying it on the liquid crystal display section,
An information recording medium characterized in that the liquid crystal display section is divided into a plurality of independent areas, and recorded information can be rewritten independently in each area.