JPH0327973B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a card-type based data band that is constructed in a band-like manner by arranging a large number of tracks in which a plurality of data cells are constructed in a straight line. The present invention relates to an optical memory card reading device for reading digital information from an optical memory card which is provided on a table and stores digital information along the tracks by optical brightness of the data cells.

[Prior Art] In recent years, cards in which a magnetic storage medium is provided on a card-like base and necessary information is stored in the medium have been widely used, such as personal identification cards and financial cards.

By the way, in today's information age, there is a demand for devices that can store more information in a smaller area. For example, cards that store programs for microcomputers, etc. for each purpose, dictionaries for word processors, electronic translators, etc., and even the contents of educational printed materials, business printed materials, books, etc. Cards with written data are required to have a storage capacity of several kilobytes to several megabytes. However, magnetic cards have a small storage capacity and cannot be used for this purpose.

In contrast, optical memories have recently attracted attention. There are various types of optical memory, but one suitable for card-type memory is one in which a memory layer is formed by arranging a large number of memory cells that store digital values depending on the level of reflectance of light. There is a type of memory that is made by pasting on a card-type substrate.

Since this memory has memory cells arranged at high density, it has a large storage capacity of several kilobytes to several megabytes.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the card-type optical memory has the following problems, and its practical application has been delayed. That is, because of the high-density storage, there is a problem in that it is not easy to position the write or read head when writing or reading information.

This type of positioning is generally performed using a servo mechanism, but with conventional magnetic cards, even slight errors do not interfere with writing and reading, so a relatively simple mechanism is used. Positioning can be performed by

By the way, since optical memory is a high-density recording device, even a slight positional shift or angular displacement causes writing and reading errors. In order to correct this slight positional deviation, etc., a complex and highly accurate control mechanism is required, and positioning must be performed with extremely high accuracy. Although this is technically possible, the equipment becomes expensive.

As described above, since it is not possible to provide a reading device for reading out the contents of a memory at a low cost, it is not possible to popularize this type of memory.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and
The accuracy of positioning by a positioning mechanism such as a servo is set relatively rough, and the error of the rough positioning is
To provide an optical memory card reading device which can be corrected at the stage of processing a signal read from a card, has a positioning mechanism of a relatively simple and inexpensive configuration, and can be formed at a low cost.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The technical means of the present invention for solving the above problems is to form a track by connecting a plurality of data cells in a straight line, and to arrange a large number of these tracks in parallel. A data band configured in the form of a strip is provided on a card-shaped base, and a reference line consisting of a no-signal area of a constant width is provided on both longitudinal sides of the data band, and the data cell In an optical memory card reading device for reading digital information from an optical memory card of a type that stores digital information along the track by optical brightness and darkness of the card, (a) the card or a carrier on which the card is placed, and the sensor; (b) facing at least one of the tracks within a field of view in a range wider than the width of the data band, and moving the track in the X-Y direction relatively; (c) detecting a reference line of the data band from the digital information sent from the sensor and extracting track portion data from the digital information; read control means for temporarily storing and transmitting status information regarding the reference line detection; (d) based on the status information, instructing the X-Y moving device to place the data band within the field of view of the sensor; a movement control means for sending a displacement signal for relatively moving the sensor and the card, and a movement signal for relatively moving the sensor along the data band; (e) reading and accumulating data temporarily stored in the reading control means; It is characterized by comprising a data storage means for:

The above-mentioned technical solutions of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

First, the configuration of an example of an optical memory to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The optical memory card includes, for example, a plastic substrate 1 about the size of a business card, and a memory layer 2 formed by arranging a large number of strip-shaped data bands 3 in parallel, and a memory layer 2 provided along the column direction of the memory layer 2. Column reference line 6
A row reference bus line 70 and a row reference line 71 are provided along the row direction of the memory layer 2.

The memory layer 2 is located approximately at the center of the substrate 1, and is provided with a plurality of data bands 3 arranged in parallel and in a generally longitudinal shape. A column reference line 6 is provided on one side of the memory layer 2 in the column direction (the left end side in each of the above figures). data band 3
is divided into upper and lower halves at the center of the memory layer 2, and at the boundary between the two, there is a row reference generatrix 70 perpendicular to the center of the column reference line 6 and the T-shape.
is provided. Furthermore, row reference lines 71 are provided between each data band 3 and on the sides of the outer data band 3 along the longitudinal direction.

The data band 3 is constructed by providing a large number of memory cells 5 for storing one bit of digital data. The memory cells 5 are lined up in a line in the width direction of the data band 3 to form a track 4. A large number of these tracks 4 are arranged in parallel, and as shown in FIG. form. Although the memory cells 5 are shown in a grid pattern in the figure, this is for convenience of explanation only.
In reality, lines are not laid out in a grid.

Column reference line 6, row reference bus line 70, row reference line 71
In order to distinguish it from data band 3, it is formed as a region in which the state of either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits. The row reference baseline 70 is
The row reference line 7 is provided as a reference for setting the initial position of the data band 3 of the card C, and is formed with a thick width.
It is distinguished from 1.

The present invention provides a card C and a sensor S having the above-mentioned configuration.
The sensor S is configured to sequentially read data stored in the card C by moving the keys relative to each other. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of the present invention.

Relative movement is performed by an X-Y movement device. This moving device consists of an
and a Y-axis moving section. In this case, either the sensor S or the card C may be moved. The card C may be moved directly or may be moved together with an appropriate stand.

As the sensor S, a sensor such as a linear CCD array is used, in which the light receiving section is arranged in a linear manner corresponding to the track. However, the sensor S is not limited to one linear sensor, but may be arranged in a row so that a plurality of tracks can be placed within the field of view at the same time.

The length of the sensor field of view in the track direction is set to be longer than the width of the data band. Therefore, sensor S
and card C in the width direction of the data band (Y-axis direction)
Even if a positional shift occurs, it can be read as long as it is within the field of view. In addition, the width of the sensor field of view in the data band direction (X-axis direction) is, in the case of a linear sensor,
It is formed to be approximately equal to or narrower than the width of the track, preferably narrower.

Incidentally, the sensor S is provided with an appropriate illumination means for illuminating its field of view.

The reading control means includes a reference line detection section that detects a reference line portion from the digital information sent from the sensor S. The function of this detection unit is to detect whether or not there is an area in the information where a preset state of either “0” or “1” continues for a certain number of bits, and to Detect where it is. The reading control means sends information regarding this reference line detection to the movement control means and the data storage means as status information.

Further, the reading control means includes a temporary storage section that temporarily stores digital information.

The movement control means includes a determination section that determines whether the position of the reference line is above or below the normal range based on the status information, and a displacement signal that causes the sensor S to relatively move the card C in accordance with the determination result. - a displacement signal transmitting section for transmitting to the Y moving means.

Further, the movement control means continuously or continuously moves the sensor S and the card C relative to each other along the data band in synchronization with the operations of the sensor S, the drive circuit, the reading control means, etc. It has a movement signal sending section that sends movement signals sent in small increments to the XY movement device.

The data storage means includes a memory that can store a large amount of data, and a transfer control section that stores the data temporarily stored in the read control means in the memory.

[Operation of the invention] In the above configuration, when the card is set in a predetermined position and the reading device is started, the movement control means first sends a movement signal and a displacement signal to the XY movement device, and the sensor S and the card C is set to the initial position.

The sensor S detects a bright and dark pattern within its field of view and sends it as digital information to the reference line detection section via the sensor drive circuit. After receiving this information,
The reference line detection unit sets a preset “0” in the information.
It is detected whether or not there is a region in which either the state of "1" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, and the position of the region in one track of information is detected. When card C and sensor S are in the initial position, the field of view of sensor S is on the column reference line,
All areas within the visual field are in a state where either "0" or "1" is continuous. Therefore, the reference line detection section sends status information to that effect to the determination section of the movement control means.

In response to this, the determination section sends a movement signal for moving the card C or sensor S along the data band from the movement signal sending section to the X-axis movement section. This movement signal is set in consideration of the reading speed of the sensor S, and is set so that at least one reading operation can be performed for one track.

When sensor S moves relatively on the data band,
Digital information is sent from the sensor S to the reference line detection section via the sensor drive circuit. From this information, the reference line detection section detects a portion where either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, that is, the reference line and its position. At this time, if there is a part where either the above "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits in the center of the digital information, and this part is a row reference generatrix that is wider than the other reference lines, It is confirmed that card C is in the initial position for the data band. Therefore, the reference line detection section sends status information to that effect to the determination section of the movement control means.

In response to this, the determination section transmits a displacement signal for displacing the card C or sensor S upward or downward in the width direction of the data band from the movement signal transmitting section to the Y-axis moving section.

As the card changes, the reference line detection section
Digital information is sent from the sensor S via the sensor drive circuit. Based on this information, the reference line detection unit detects that if there are parts in which a certain number of consecutive bits of either "0" or "1" occur in the upper and lower parts of the digital information, the track data is detected in these parts. It is assumed that the data exists normally between the two, and normal status information to that effect is sent to the transfer control unit of the data storage means. On the other hand, “0” or “1”
If there is only one part where a certain number of consecutive bits are present or there is no part at all, this fact and the abnormal status information regarding the position of the reference line are sent to the transfer control unit of the data storage means and the determination unit of the movement control means. Send each to.

Then, the data of the track portion is extracted from the detected normal digital information and stored in the temporary storage section, so that the next digital information can be accepted.

The transfer control unit of the data storage means sequentially transfers the data stored in the temporary storage unit to the memory with an address, and stores the data. At this time, the transfer control section performs the transfer in accordance with the above status information, and when it corresponds to abnormal information, does not read data from the temporary storage section and leaves the corresponding part of the memory layer blank.

In addition, when the sensor S moves on the card C,
If the configuration is such that reading operations are performed multiple times for one track, digital information is input multiple times for that track. In this case, one of the plurality of digital information is selected. The selection is performed by selecting data corresponding to normal status information on a first-come, first-served basis, or by performing a parity check and selecting data with the least number of errors.

The movement control section receives normal or abnormal information each time digital information is input from the reference line detection section. The determination section extracts a synchronization signal from the input timing of this information and sends it to the movement signal transmission section. The movement signal sending section forms a movement signal for relatively moving the sensor S or card C based on this synchronization signal, and sends it to the X-axis movement section.

On the other hand, from the reference line detection unit, 1
When information indicating the position of the reference line where only books have been detected is sent, the determining section sends the information to the displacement signal sending section. The displacement signal sending section sends a displacement signal to the Y-axis moving section to relatively move the sensor S and the card C in the track direction. This movement continues until a normal signal is input to the determination section.

Further, when information indicating that there is no reference line as abnormal information is sent from the reference line detection section to the determination section of the movement control means, the determination section sends the sensor S to the movement signal transmission section and the displacement signal transmission section. Instructs to move to set card C to the initial position. In this case, if the last track of the data band has been read, the determining section instructs the shift signal sending section to move the sensor S to the next data band.

In this way, as the sensor S and the card C move relative to each other on the track of each data band, the data written in each data band of the card is transferred to the memory of the data storage means. Ru. These data are read and used by access from a data processing device connected to the data storage means.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

<Configuration of Embodiment> FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the optical memory card reading device of the present invention.

The device of this embodiment has a structure in which the sensor scans one track three times as the card moves in the data band direction. Further, the structure of the card is basically the same as the card shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 above.

In FIG. 5, a sensor drive circuit 101 is connected to a CCD image sensor (not shown in the figure), and drives and controls the sensor.

In this embodiment, the CCD image sensor is the seventh
As shown in the figure, it is configured by incorporating a light receiving section 101a in which 256 elements are arranged one-dimensionally, a laser light source 101b, an optical system consisting of a lens system 101c, etc., and expands the data band to be detected. Observe.

The light receiving section 101a is set so that four elements correspond to one data cell. That is, an image of one data cell is formed by four elements. The length of the field of view is set to approximately the length of two data bands, and it covers the reference line on both sides of one data band and approximately half of the adjacent data bands. . The width of the field of view is set to a width that allows one track to be scanned three times as the track moves in the data band direction. The laser light source 101b is set to irradiate a slightly wider range than the above field of view.

The sensor drive circuit 101 drives the CCD sensor to sequentially scan the 256 elements from one end to detect a bright and dark pattern within the field of view. Furthermore, the detected signal is output as a serial digital signal.

A reference line detection section 102 and a reference bus line detection section 103 are connected to the sensor drive circuit 101.
These, the subsequent data extracting section 104, the reading accuracy checking section 105, the temporary storage section 106, and the microprocessor 115 connected via the bus 100 constitute a reading control means.

In this embodiment, the temporary storage unit 106 has a serial-in/parallel-out configuration, and also has a first-in/first-out configuration.

Further, an X-axis movement control section 109 and a Y-axis movement control section 113 are connected to a microprocessor 115 via a bus 100, and constitute movement control means. The X-axis movement control section 109 includes an X-axis drive circuit 108 and a servo motor 10 that constitute the X-axis movement section.
7 is connected, and the Y-axis drive circuit 112 and servo motor 111, which constitute the Y-axis movement section, are connected to the Y-axis movement control section 113.

The X-axis moving section has a moving mechanism as shown in FIG. This moving mechanism consists of a belt conveyor 119a driven by the servo motor 107, and a carrier 119 on the conveyor 119a.
Card C is placed on top of b and moves back and forth. In this embodiment, the card is moved in the data band direction. End detection 1 is provided at both ends of the conveyor 119a.
A photoelectric detector 110a constituting 10 is installed. This end detection 110 is carried out by the X-axis movement control section 10.
Connected to 9.

On the other hand, although not shown, the Y-axis moving section moves the sensor side in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction, that is, in a track direction.

Connected to these X-axis movement control section 109 and Y-axis movement control section 113 are a card C ejection request switch 120 and a switch 121 that detects a door blockage of a card insertion slot of a device case (not shown). There is. A discharge mechanism 114 is connected to the Y-axis movement control section 113.

A microprocessor 115 and a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as
Abbreviated as RAM. ) 117 constitutes a data storage means. In this case, the RAM 117 is the memory and the microprocessor 115 is the transfer control means.

Note that a read-only memory (ROM) 116 and a communication port 118 are connected to this bus 100. Read only memory (ROM) 116 is a microprocessor 115
control programs are stored. Communication port 1
18 is used when the data stored in the RAM 117 is used in another data processing device.

<Operation of the Embodiment> In order to read the data stored in the card using the device of this embodiment, first, the door of the case (not shown) is opened and the card is inserted through the insertion slot. When the card is inserted, the door is automatically closed, and the switch 121 detects this. This activates the movement control means.

That is, in the movement control means, the X-axis movement control section 10
9 and a Y-axis movement control unit 113 drive the servo motor 10 through an X-axis drive circuit and a Y-axis drive circuit, respectively.
7, 111 to set the card to the initial position. Then, the X-axis movement control section 109 controls the sixth
The moving mechanism shown in the figure transports the card C in the direction of its data band at a constant speed.

The sensor drive circuit 101 is a CCD shown in FIG.
The sensor 101a scans the card surface illuminated by the laser light source 101b. The signal from the sensor is output from the sensor drive circuit 101 as a serial digital signal DS. The sensor drive circuit 101 also outputs a count signal CS for counting the number of each pulse of the digital signal, and a scan synchronization signal SS that is outputted every time a track is scanned, prior to that scan. It is being output.

The reference line detection unit 102 detects a reference line portion from the digital signal, that is, an area where either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, and this area is the upper and lower two of the digital signal. Normal status information ST
, the data extraction unit 104 and the Y-axis movement control unit 11
3 and is sent to the microprocessor 115. Furthermore, if two reference lines cannot be detected, status information ST to that effect is output, and if no reference lines can be detected, status information ST to that effect is similarly output.

The reference bus detection unit 103 receives a digital signal DS
Detects a reference generatrix portion, that is, a region in which either “0” or “1” is continuous over a certain number of bits, and sends status information regarding the presence or absence of that portion to the Y-axis movement control unit 113. .

The data extraction section 104 uses the count signal CS to extract the data portion from the digital signal DS, and restores the information of each data cell represented by the 4-bit digital signal into a 1-bit representation. .

The read accuracy check section 105 checks the parity, etc. of the restored data. In this embodiment, one track is scanned three times, so the data DT with the least error among them is stored in the temporary storage section 106.

The data stored in the temporary storage section 106 is read out by the microprocessor 115,
assigned a predetermined address and via the bus 100
44 is stored in RAM117.

In this way, as the card is sent at a constant speed in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving section 109, the information recorded in the data band is transferred to the RAM 117.
is read out. Then, when the last track of the data band is scanned and one end of the card is detected by the photoelectric detector 110a of the edge detection 110, the X-axis movement control section 109 reverses the card feeding.

When the other end of the card is detected by the end detection 110, the microprocessor 115 instructs the Y-axis movement control section 113 to move to the next data band. In response to this, the Y-axis movement control section 11
3 drives the servo motor 107 via the Y-axis drive circuit 112 to move the card in the width direction of the data band. This movement is performed by microprocessor 1
This is done by outputting pulses corresponding to the moving distance indicated by 15 and driving the servo motor in steps. After this, the above-described operation is repeated.

By the way, when the status information ST sent from the reference line detection unit 102 to the Y-axis movement control unit 113 indicates that there is only one reference line, the Y-axis movement control unit 113 follows instructions from the microprocessor 115. Performs step movement in the direction. Then, the process stops at the point where status information indicating that two reference lines exist is input.

In this case, as described above, the positioning accuracy only requires that two reference lines exist within the field of view of the sensor, and precise positioning is not required. Positional deviations within the field of view are removed when data is extracted from the read digital signal.

In addition, if the status information indicates that the reference line cannot be detected at all, the microprocessor 115
Reset the card's initial settings.

After scanning all data bands in this way, the Y-axis movement control unit 113
An instruction to eject the card is output to the ejection mechanism 114.

It should be noted that in the middle of reading data from the card, if the reading is to be stopped and the card is to be ejected, the ejection request switch 120 may be turned on. As a result, similarly to the above, the Y-axis movement control section 113 controls the ejection mechanism 1.
14, an instruction to eject the card is output.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention makes it possible to set the accuracy of positioning by a positioning mechanism such as a servo to be relatively rough, and to correct errors in the rough positioning at the stage of processing signals read from the card. This has the advantage that the positioning mechanism can be made relatively simple and inexpensive, and the reading device can be formed at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical memory card reading device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an optical memory card to which the reading device of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the card, FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the portion viewed from arrow A in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the optical memory card reading device of the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view showing an example of the X-axis moving mechanism used in the above embodiment device, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing the structure of a sensor used in the above embodiment device. 1...Substrate, 2...Memory layer, 3...Data band, 4...Track, 5...Storage cell, 6...
Column reference line, 70...Row reference bus line, 71...Row reference line, 101...Sensor drive circuit, 102...Reference line detection section, 104...Data extraction section, 106...
Temporary storage unit, 107, 111... Servo motor,
109...X-axis movement control unit, 113...Y-axis movement control unit, 115...Microprocessor, 117
...Random access memory (RAM).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A data band in which a plurality of data cells are arranged in a straight line to form a track, and a large number of the tracks are arranged in parallel to form a band-like data band is provided on a card-shaped base. an optical memory card having a reference line consisting of a non-signal area of a constant width on both sides of the data band in the longitudinal direction, and storing digital information along the track by optical brightness of the data cell. In an optical memory card reading device for reading digital information from an optical memory card, (a) an X-Y moving device that relatively moves the card or a carrier on which the card is placed and the sensor in the X-Y direction; (b) a sensor and its driving circuit that view at least one of the tracks in a field of view wider than the width of the data band and digitally detect the brightness and darkness pattern of the data cells on the track; (c) Reading control means for detecting the reference line of the data band from the digital information sent from the sensor, extracting track portion data from the digital information and temporarily storing it, and sending out status information regarding the detection of the reference line. (d) Based on the status information, transmitting a displacement signal to the X-Y moving device to cause a relative displacement between the sensor and the card so that the data band is within the field of view of the sensor; an optical memory card reading device comprising: a movement control means for sending a movement signal for relative movement along the optical memory card; and (e) a data storage means for reading and accumulating data temporarily stored in the reading control means. .