JPH05143787A - Optical card and optical card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Immediately determine the incorrect insertion of an optical card. [Structure] When the optical card 1A is inserted through the card insertion slot 7 and the first micro switch 11 is turned on, the second card
The micro switch 12 is the end 2 on the insertion side of the optical card body 2.
When it is in the off state without operating due to the notch 3 provided in A,
It is determined that the optical card 1A is correctly inserted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical card capable of optically recording and reproducing information, and an optical card processing device for optically recording and reproducing information on an optical card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When information is recorded on and reproduced from an optical card by an optical card processing device, the optical card is introduced into the main body of the optical card processing device through a card insertion port of the optical card processing device.

At this time, if the optical card is not inserted into the card insertion slot in the correct state, the optical card is returned to the card insertion slot without performing the predetermined processing due to the determination of the card misinsertion performed by the optical card processing device. I will end up. The correct insertion state of the optical card means a state in which the optical card is inserted in a specified direction and the specified surface is inserted upward or downward.

In the conventional optical card processing device, when an optical card is inserted through the card insertion slot, the preformatted data is read to determine the card insertion direction, and the focus servo is applied to identify the card surface. However, if OK is output in both of these determinations, it is determined that the optical card has been inserted in the correct state.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional optical card erroneous insertion discriminating method in the optical card processing apparatus, the discrimination result of the card erroneous insertion is obtained after the optical card is inserted into the card insertion slot. There is a problem in that the time required until this time is significantly longer than that of a magnetic card that is performed instantly, and a waiting time is required to determine whether the card is erroneously inserted.

That is, in the case of a magnetic card, the recording section (magnetic section) can be read immediately when the card is inserted.
After the card is inserted, the result of the card misinsertion can be obtained in less than 1 second, and the waiting time for the card misinsertion is not required.

On the other hand, in the case of an optical card, after the card is inserted, the optical card and the optical head are moved in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the objective lens is moved in the Z-axis direction, so that the format data is converted. Since reading and focus servo are applied, it takes about 3 seconds from when the optical card is inserted into the card insertion slot until the determination result of the card misinsertion is obtained.

This time of 3 seconds is a psychologically long waiting time for a card user who expects a quick card processing, which is annoying.

[0009] As one of the measures to deal with such a problem, a technique is devised so as to prevent erroneous insertion of the card in the card itself (for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-50369).
No.

In this technique, a part of the card body is provided with notches, holes, etc. for indicating the card insertion direction and confirming the front and back surfaces of the card, so that a blind person can touch the card with his hand. The card can be inserted into the card processing device in the correct state.

However, in the case of this measure, if the card user correctly uses the card, the effect of preventing erroneous card insertion can be obtained, but if the card is not used correctly, the effect of preventing card erroneous insertion cannot be obtained. ..

If the card is not used correctly,
The card processing device determines that the card is incorrectly inserted. At this time, the optical card requires a long waiting time as described above.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical card and an optical card processing device capable of instantaneously determining the error insertion of an optical card without waiting time. To aim.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the optical card of the present invention according to claim 1 is provided with an insertion side end of the optical card main body, an inserting direction of the optical card main body, and front and back sides of the optical card main body. Is characterized in that a notch or a through hole is provided as a detected portion for mechanically determining

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the optical card processing device of the present invention according to claim 2 has a card holder portion for holding the optical card inserted from the card insertion opening, and the detected object of the optical card. It is characterized in that a microswitch or a photomicrosensor is provided as a detection means for detecting a notch or a through hole as a part.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the optical card processing device of the present invention according to claim 3 is such that a microswitch or a photomicrosensor as the detecting means has a notch or a notch as a detected portion of the optical card. When the through hole is detected, it is determined that the optical card is inserted in the correct state.

[0017]

In the optical card and the optical card processing device having the above structure, when the optical card is inserted into the card insertion slot of the optical card processing device, the micro switch or the photomicro sensor provided in the card holder portion causes the cutout or Detects through holes.

When the micro switch or the photo micro sensor detects the cutout or the through hole,
The optical card processing device determines that the optical card is correctly inserted.

As a result, the erroneous insertion of the card in the optical card processing device can be determined instantaneously at the same time as the insertion of the card without reading the format data or applying focus servo. For this reason, there is no waiting time for determining the erroneous insertion of the card.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an optical card according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the essential configuration of an optical card processing apparatus using the same optical card.

The optical card 1A has a rectangular cutout (detected) at the end 2A of the optical card body 2 on the side of the insertion opening for mechanically determining the insertion direction of the optical card body 2 and the front and back of the optical card body 2. Part) 3 and a semicircular cutout 4 at the end 2B of the optical card main body 2 opposite to the insertion opening for indicating the card insertion direction to the blind and confirming the front and back surfaces of the card. is doing.

The notches 3 and 4 are formed at positions displaced to one side from the center line of the optical card body 2, so that the front and back surfaces of the optical card body 2 can be confirmed.

The optical card processing device 5A has a first microswitch 11 for detecting the card holder 8 on one side of the card carry-in path 6 on the card insertion port 7 side, and also the card holder 8 A second microswitch (detection means) 12 for detecting the optical card 1A inserted from the card insertion slot 7 is provided on one side of the card.

The first micro switch 11 is installed at a position where the card holder 8 can be detected immediately when the optical card 1A inserted from the card insertion port 7 pushes the card holder 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the optical card 1A is correctly inserted from the card insertion slot 7 and abuts against the front end face of the card holder 8, the second microswitch 12 has its contact 12A in the notch 3 portion. It is placed in a position where it enters and is not switched on by the optical card 1A.

In the optical card processing device 5A, when the first micro switch 11 is turned on and the second micro switch 12 is turned off, the optical card 1A is correctly inserted. Judge, second
When the micro switch 12 is turned on, it is determined that the optical card 1A is erroneously inserted.

Now, as shown in FIG. 2, when the optical card 1A is inserted into the card insertion slot 7 of the optical card processing device 5A, the optical card 1A is correctly inserted into the card insertion slot 7, so that the second micro card is inserted. The switch 12 is not operated by the optical card 1A and is in the off state.

Therefore, the optical card processing device 5A determines that the optical card 1A is correctly inserted, holds the optical card 1A with the card holder 8 and carries it into the main body of the optical card processing device as shown in FIG. To do.

On the other hand, when the optical card 1A is not properly inserted into the card insertion slot 7, the second micro switch 12
Is pressed by the insertion side end 2A of the optical card 1A,
It turns on.

Therefore, the optical card processing device 5A determines that the optical card 1A has been erroneously inserted, and does not carry the optical card 1A into the main body of the optical card processing device.

<Embodiment 2> FIG. 4 shows another configuration example of an optical card processing apparatus 5A using the optical card 1A of the above-mentioned Embodiment 1.

Here, the first micro switch 11 is attached to the card holder 8 in parallel with the second micro switch 12.

In the case of this configuration, even when the optical card 1A is inserted upside down, the first microswitch 1
The first microswitch 11 is arranged at a position where 1 is pressed by the optical card 1A inserted from the card insertion slot 7 and turned on.

Then, as in the case of the optical card processing apparatus 5A of the first embodiment, when the first micro switch 11 is turned on and the second micro switch 12 is turned off, the optical card 1A of the optical card 1A is turned off. When it is determined that the optical card 1A has been properly inserted and the second micro switch 12 is in the ON state, it is determined that the optical card 1A has been erroneously inserted.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 5 shows the structure of an optical card which is a part of the optical card 1A of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows a main configuration of an optical card processing device using the optical card.

This optical card 1B has a small circular through-hole (2) at the insertion side end 2A of the optical card body 2 for mechanically determining the insertion direction of the optical card body 2 and the front and back of the optical card body 2. It has a detected part) 13.

In the optical card processing device 5B, the card holder 8 is provided on one side of the card loading path 6 on the card insertion port 7 side.
Has a microswitch 14 for detecting
A photomicrosensor (detection means) 15 is provided on one side of the card holder 8.

The microswitch 14 has a card insertion slot 7
When the inserted optical card 1B pushes the card holder 8, the optical card 1B is installed at a position where the card holder 8 can be detected immediately.

In the photomicrosensor 15, as shown in FIG. 6, when the optical card 1B is correctly inserted and comes into contact with the front end face of the card holder 8, the light L emitted from the light emitting element 15A is passed through the through hole of the optical card 1B. It is arranged at a position where 13 is transmitted.

Then, this photomicro sensor 15
Is the light receiving element 15B for receiving the light L emitted from the light emitting element 15A.
When is received, the sensor is turned on and the detection signal is output.

In the present optical card processing device 5B, when the micro switch 14 is turned on and the photo micro sensor 15 is in the on state, it is determined that the optical card 1B is properly inserted, and the photo micro sensor 1 is detected.
When 5 is off, it is determined that the optical card 1B is erroneously inserted.

Now, as shown in FIG. 6, when the optical card 1B is inserted into the card insertion slot 7 of the optical card processing device 5B, the optical card 1B is correctly inserted into the card insertion slot 7, so the photomicrosensor 15 Light L is through hole 1
After passing through 3, the sensor is on.

Therefore, the optical card processing device 5B judges that the optical card 1B is correctly inserted, holds the optical card 1B by the card holder 8 and carries it into the main body of the optical card processing device as shown in the figure.

On the other hand, when the optical card 1B is not correctly inserted into the card insertion slot 7, the photomicrosensor 15 is
Since the light L is blocked by the optical card 1B, the sensor is turned off.

Therefore, the optical card processing device 5B determines that the optical card 1B is erroneously inserted, and does not carry the optical card 1B into the main body of the optical card processing device.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the detected portion provided at the end of the optical card insertion side of the optical card body is detected by the detecting means provided in the card holder portion of the optical card processing device. Since I tried to identify the incorrect insertion,
There is an advantage that it is possible to instantly determine whether the card is inserted incorrectly.

Further, since it is possible to discriminate the erroneous insertion of the card with a simple structure in which the detected portion is provided on the optical card side and the detecting means is provided on the optical card processing device side, the discrimination reliability is low and the cost is low. high.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical card according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main configuration of an optical card processing device using the optical card.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main configuration of an optical card processing device using the optical card.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the main configuration of an optical card processing device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical card according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the main configuration of an optical card processing device using the same optical card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B Optical card 2 Optical card body 2A Insertion side end 3 Notch (detected part) 5A, 5B Optical card processing device 7 Card insertion port 8 Card holder 12 Second micro switch (detection means) 13 Through hole (detected part) Part) 15 Photomicro sensor (detection means)

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical card, characterized in that a detection part for mechanically determining the insertion direction of the optical card body and the front and back of the optical card body is provided at the end of the optical card body on the insertion side. 2. An optical card processing device, characterized in that a card holder for holding an optical card inserted from a card insertion opening is provided with a detection means for detecting a detected portion of the optical card. 3. The optical card processing device according to claim 2, wherein when the detecting means detects a detected portion of the optical card, it is determined that the optical card is inserted in a correct state.