JPH0430648B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a card-type 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 arranged in a straight line. The present invention relates to an optical memory card reading device for reading out digital information from an optical memory card which is provided on a base and stores digital information along the track 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, a card that stores programs for each purpose such as a microcomputer, a dictionary for a word processor, an electronic translator, etc., or a card that stores the contents of educational printed matter, business printed matter, books, etc. In the case of a card with a memory card, a storage capacity of several kilobytes to several megabytes is required. However, magnetic cards have a small storage capacity and cannot be used for this purpose.

In contrast, optical memories have recently been attracting attention. There are various directions for 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 slight positional deviation 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 described above 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 relatively simple and inexpensive positioning mechanism, and can be formed at 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 sides of the data band in the longitudinal direction. In an optical memory card reading device for reading digital information from an optical memory card in which digital information is stored along the track by being sandwiched between start bits and stop bits for each track by optical brightness of cells, (a) the card; or an X-Y moving device that relatively moves the carrier on which the card is placed and the sensor in the X-Y direction; (c) detecting the reference line of the data band from digital information sent from the sensor; and (c) detecting the reference line of the data band from digital information sent from the sensor. At the same time, it extracts track portion data from the digital information and temporarily stores it, sends out status information related to the detection of the reference line, detects start bits and stop bits from the digital information, and outputs the start signal and stop bit. (d) Based on the status information, the X-Y moving device is configured to send a data band within the field of view of the sensor; (e) data temporarily stored in the read control means; A data accumulation means for reading and accumulating data.

The above-mentioned technical solutions of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5B.

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 5B.

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 rectangular 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). band data 3
is divided into upper and lower parts at the center of the memory layer 2, and at the boundary between the two, there is a row reference line generatrix 7 perpendicular to the center of the column reference line 6 and the T-shape.
0 is set. 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 band data 3, it is formed as a region in which either the state of "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits. The row reference bus line 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.

Each track is provided with a start bit and a stop bit at its leading and trailing ends. The start signal and stop signal set in the start bit and stop bit are set to be different from those of adjacent tracks. For example, the start signal and stop signal may have the same pattern of codes with reversed polarities, and may be set alternately with reversed polarities on tracks arranged in parallel. An example is shown in Figures 5A and 5B. In the figure, polarity reversal is indicated by diagonal lines.

As mentioned above, if the start signal and stop signal have the same pattern of signs with reversed polarities, the permissible limit of angular shift will be a state of inclination to the extent that two tracks are scanned at once. . However, if the start signal and stop signal are composed of codes consisting of a plurality of types of patterns, a plurality of adjacent tracks can be identified, so that the permissible limit of angular displacement can be expanded.

The present invention is configured such that the sensor S sequentially reads data stored in the card C by relatively moving the component card C and the sensor S described above. 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. this is,
Either sensor S or card C may be moved. Card C can be moved either directly or
It may also be configured to move together with a suitable platform.

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 can also be formed by installing multiple sensors in a row.
A configuration may be adopted in which 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. Further, in the case of a linear sensor, the width of the sensor field of view in the data band direction (X-axis direction) is approximately equal to or narrower than the width of the track, but is preferably narrower.

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

The reading control means has a reference detection section that detects a reference line portion from the digital information sent from the sensor S. The function of this detection section is to detect whether or not there is an area in the information in which a preset state of either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, and also to detect which area in the information the area is in. Detect whether it is in position. 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 reference detection section detects a start bit and a stop bit from the digital information, compares the start signal and the stop signal, and determines whether the digital information is information on the same track.

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 relatively displaces the sensor S and the card C in accordance with the determination result. and a transition signal sending section that sends out 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 detection section via the sensor drive circuit. Upon receiving this information, the reference detection unit detects whether or not there is an area in the information in which a preset state of either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, and also detects whether the area is , the position in one track of information is detected. When the card C and the sensor S are in the initial position, the field of view of the sensor S is on the column reference line, and all areas within the field of view are in a state where either "0" or "1" is continuous. ing. Therefore, the reference 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 detection section via the sensor drive circuit. From this information, the reference detection section detects a part where either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, that is, a reference line and its position. At this time, if there is a part in which a certain number of consecutive bits of either "0" or "1" mentioned above are located in the center of the digital information, and this part is a row reference generatrix that is wider than other reference lines, It is confirmed that card C is in the initial position for the data band. Therefore, the reference 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 moves, digital information is sent from the sensor S to the reference detection section via the sensor drive circuit. Based on this information, the reference detection unit determines 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 will fall into these parts. It is assumed that the data is sandwiched and exists normally, and normal status information to that effect is sent to the transfer control unit of the data storage means. On the other hand, if there is only one part where either "0" or "1" continues for a certain number of bits, or if there is no part at all, that fact and abnormal status information regarding the position of the reference line are transferred to the data storage means. The information is sent to the control unit and the determination unit of the movement control means, respectively.

Further, the reference detection section detects a start bit and a stop bit from the digital information for one track, and compares the set start signal and stop signal. The angular shift of the card is detected using the start signal and stop signal.

That is, if both signals are composed of the same pattern of codes with different polarities, comparing the polarities of the two,
If the polarities are different, the angular shift of the card is within the permissible range, and the read digital information will be information on the same track (see Figure 5A). On the other hand, if the polarity is the same, the angular shift of the card is beyond the permissible range, and the sensor is scanning across two adjacent tracks, so the read digital information is incomplete. (See Figure 5B). Therefore, the reference detection section outputs normal angle status information in the former case, and outputs abnormal angle status information in the latter case.

Even in the latter case, if one track is scanned multiple times, if any one of the scans is successfully read, angle normal status information is output for that track.

Then, the data of the track portion is extracted from the detected normal digital information and stored in the temporary storage section, making it possible to input the next digital information.

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 blank.

In addition, when the sensor S moves on the card C,
If the configuration is such that multiple reading operations are performed 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 means receives normal or abnormal information from the reference detection section each time digital information is input. 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, when the reference detection section sends information indicating the position of only one detected reference line as abnormality information, the determination section sends the information to the displacement signal transmission 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 image at all is sent from the reference detection section as abnormal information to the determination section of the movement control means, the determination section sends the sensor S and the card to the movement signal transmission section and the displacement signal transmission section. Instructs to move to set 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.

By the way, when the reference detection section outputs the angle abnormality status information, the movement control section outputs a signal to eject the card. As a result, the card is ejected from the reading device, so it is only necessary to insert it into the reading device again.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

<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 5B 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 eighth
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. do. The width of the field of view increases by 1 as you move in the data band direction.
The width is set so that the book track can be scanned three times. 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 b and moves back and forth. In this embodiment, the card is moved in the data band direction.
End detection units 110 are installed at both ends of the conveyor 119a.
A photoelectric detector 110a is installed.
This end detection 110 is connected to the X-axis movement control section 109.

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 for detecting the blockage of the card insertion slot door of the 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 seventh
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 reading accuracy checking unit 105 checks whether there is an angular shift of the card and checks the parity of the restored data. In this embodiment, the check for the presence or absence of angular shift is performed by comparing the start bit and stop bit of the restored data, and if the polarity is different, it is normal; if the polarity is the same, the angular shift of the card is within the allowable range. It is judged that it exceeds. Then, a parity check is performed on the data in which the angular shift is normal. If the angle shift is abnormal, no parity check is performed and angle abnormality status information is output to the microprocessor 115.

The microprocessor 115 controls the ejection mechanism 114 via a Y-axis movement control section 113, which will be described later.
Outputs instructions to eject the card.

Note that in this embodiment, 3
Since we are performing multiple scans, if the angular shift is within the allowable range in any of the scans,
The data is stored in the temporary storage unit 106. If there is a plurality of normal data, the data DT with the least parity error among them is stored in the temporary storage unit 106.

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

In this way, as the card is moved at a constant speed in the X-axis direction by the X moving unit 109, the information recorded in the data band is read out to the RAM 117. 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. If located within the field of view, it will be removed when extracting data from the read digital signal.

If the status information indicates that the reference line cannot be detected at all, the microprocessor 115 re-initializes the card.

Furthermore, regarding the angular shift of the card, it is sufficient if any one of the multiple scans for one track is normal, so there is a wide permissible range. Therefore, there is no need to extremely precisely process the guide of the carrier or the like on which the card is placed. Moreover,
Even when the card is loaded into the reading device with an angular shift and data is read across two adjacent tracks, the card is reliably checked, so erroneous reading can be prevented. Note that this allowable range can be set wider as the number of scans per track increases.

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 113 controls the ejection mechanism 11.
4, outputs an instruction to eject the card.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention sets the accuracy of positioning by a positioning mechanism such as a servo to be relatively rough, and corrects the error of the rough positioning at the stage of processing the signal read from the card. is completed,
The positioning mechanism has a relatively simple and inexpensive structure, and the reading device can be formed at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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 above card, Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the section viewed from arrow A in Fig. 2, and
5B and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing the arrangement of the start bit and stop bit of the card and their functions, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the optical memory card reading device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the X-axis moving mechanism used, and FIG. 8 is a side view showing the structure of the sensor used in the apparatus of the above embodiment. 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. A reference line consisting of a no-signal area of a constant width is provided on both sides of the data band in the longitudinal direction, and digital information is started for each track along the track based on the optical brightness of the data cell. In an optical memory card reading device for reading digital information from an optical memory card of the type in which digital information is stored by being sandwiched between bits and stop bits, (a) the card or the carrier on which the card is placed and the sensor are relatively - an X-Y moving device for moving in the Y direction; (c) detecting a reference line of the data band from digital information sent from the sensor, extracting track portion data from the digital information and temporarily storing it; Sends status information regarding the reference line detection, further detects a start bit and a stop bit from the digital information, compares the start signal and the stop signal, and determines whether the digital information is information on the same track. (d) a displacement signal for causing the XY moving device to relatively displace the sensor and the card so as to fit the data band within the field of view of the sensor, based on the status information; An optical memory comprising: movement control means for sending a movement signal for relative movement along a data band; and (e) data storage means for reading and accumulating data temporarily stored in the reading control means. Card reading device.