JPH0581459A - Embossed image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When the emboss formed on the recording medium is read and an image is output, the emboss can be displayed in almost the same way as it actually looks. [Structure] A slit light is projected obliquely from a recording medium (card) surface at a constant incident angle, and a deviation amount L1 of a slit light pattern projected on an embossed portion with respect to a slit light pattern projected on the ground surface of a recording medium. , L2, the heights H1 and H2 of the slit light projection position are detected. Multi-valued image data is created using the detected height data as density data. [Effect] Since the image data represented by the density according to the height and shape of the emboss can be obtained, it can be easily recognized by outputting the image, and the evidence is enhanced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embossed image reading device for reading an embossed image formed on a recording medium such as a card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in ATM and CD,
2. Description of the Related Art An imprint apparatus that prints an embossed image formed on a card used for a transaction on a processing slip during transaction processing is used.

As a conventional imprint apparatus, there is a method of copying an embossed image on a slip by stacking a copy slip on the card and pressing the copy slip against the card with a constant pressure using a roller or the like. There is a method in which the card surface is imaged and printed out to an image printer.

In the former method, ink may be attached to the emboss of the card due to poor conveyance of the copy-type slip, and the card may be contaminated. In the latter method,
Since the entire apparatus is downsized and the mechanical transport system is simplified, reliability is improved and read data can be converted into electronic information.

As a method of reading an embossed image with an image sensor, illumination light is radiated onto a recording medium from an oblique direction, a specular reflection image from the recording medium is picked up by the image sensor, and recording is performed according to the output signal level of the image sensor. The applicant of the present invention has disclosed an embossed image reading apparatus for reading an embossed image formed on a medium.
No. 74345 filed earlier.

7 and 8 show the structure of an optical system of a conventional embossed image reading apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, slit light is projected from the slit light source 1 onto an embossed card and the projected portion is imaged by the lens system 2 and the CCD line sensor 3. With such a configuration, the specular reflection light from the top of the emboss and the ground surface of the card is detected, and as shown in FIG. 8, the slit light emitted to the shoulder portion of the emboss does not enter the CCD line sensor 3. Use it to read the embossed image.

For example, if the embossed "number 1" as shown in FIG. 6 is read, the top P of the emboss is represented by the same white as the surface of the card and the shoulder S of the emboss is represented by black as shown in FIG. It

[0008]

However, as described above, the embossed shoulder portion is extracted and simply binarized and then printed out or displayed and output is actually formed on a recording medium such as a card. Gives an impression that is far from the embossing of. In addition, an embossed image with a low height may be overlooked without being recognized as an embossed image.

An object of the present invention is to provide an embossed image reading apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems by making it possible to display multiple gradations according to the height of the embossing.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embossed image reading apparatus of the present invention comprises means for projecting slit light at a constant incident angle from an oblique direction onto a recording medium having an emboss, and slit light projection for the recording medium. An image sensor for imaging a position, a means for extracting a slit light pattern from an output signal of the image sensor, and a deviation amount of the slit light pattern projected on the embossed portion with respect to the slit light pattern projected on the ground surface of the recording medium. And a means for detecting the height of the slit light projection position and a means for creating multivalued image data using the detected height data as density data.

[0011]

In the embossed image reading apparatus of the present invention, slit light is projected obliquely onto the recording medium on which the emboss is formed at a constant incident angle, and the slit light projection position of the recording medium is imaged by the image sensor. Then, the slit light pattern is extracted from the output signal of the image sensor, and the height of the slit light projection position is calculated from the deviation amount of the slit light pattern projected on the embossed portion with respect to the slit light pattern projected on the ground surface of the recording medium. To be detected. Then, multi-valued image data is created using the detected height data as density data.

By the above operation, multi-valued image data corresponding to the height of the emboss and the shape of the shoulder portion of the emboss is created. By displaying this image data on a printer, CRT, or the like in multiple gradations, an embossed image can be displayed in a state close to the actual appearance of the embossed image.

[0013]

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an optical system of an embossed image reading apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 14a, 1
Reference numeral 4b is a slit light source for projecting slit light at a constant incident angle from an oblique direction onto the card surface on which the emboss is formed, and 9 is a lens for forming an image of the card surface on the imaging surface of the image sensor 15. The image sensor 15 is C
It is composed of a CD area sensor and takes an image of the slit light pattern on the card surface.

In this state, the card is moved to the slit light source 14a,
The embossed image formed on the card is read by moving the lens 14b, the lens 9 and the image sensor 15 relative to each other and scanning them sequentially.

Next, a method of extracting embossed images and creating multi-valued image data will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the image sensor 15 captures a slit light pattern by slit light projection from the slit light source 14a shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 2 shows an example of a slit light pattern that is imaged. 1 and 2, P is the top of the emboss and S is the shoulder of the emboss. When the slit light is projected on the top of the emboss, the amount of deviation from the slit light pattern projected on the ground surface of the card is indicated by L1 in FIG. When the slit light is projected on the shoulder portion of the emboss, the shift amount with respect to the slit light pattern projected on the surface of the card is L2 in FIG.
Indicated by. In this way, the deviation amount of the slit light pattern projected on the embossed portion with respect to the slit light pattern projected on the ground surface of the card is proportional to the height of the slit light projection position. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the heights H1 and H2 at the positions are obtained from L1 and L2. If multi-valued image data is created using the obtained height data as density data, multi-gradation embossed image image data as shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 can be obtained. Although FIG. 1 shows only the slit light projected from the left side in the figure, depending on the incident angle of the slit light and the shape of the shoulder portion of the emboss, the shoulder portion of the emboss on the opposite side to the slit light source has a complete shadow. May be Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, by projecting slit light from both sides and extracting each slit light pattern, height data of both shoulders of the emboss is obtained. The image at the bottom of FIG. 1 is the image thus obtained.

Next, the above-mentioned embossed image reading device is installed in the ATM.
The example applied to the card reader / slip issuing machine in is shown. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the card reader / slip issuing machine. In FIG. 4, a CPU 10 is one slave CPU in a control unit that constitutes an ATM, and reads a card, reads an embossed image provided on the card, and issues a transaction and issues a voucher representing an imprint. A program to be executed by the CPU 10 is written in the ROM 11 in advance. The RAM 12 is used as various working areas such as temporary storage of card data, temporary storage of processing contents to be printed on a slip, and temporary storage of embossed images. The image imprint control circuit 13 mainly controls the reading of the embossed image provided on the card, inputs a timing signal from the motor control circuit 19, and outputs the slit light source 14 and the area sensor 1.
5, and gives timing signals to the A / D converter 17, the data processing circuit 18, etc., respectively. The area sensor 15 is composed of a CCD area sensor, and receives light (accumulates electric charge) and outputs a video signal in accordance with a timing signal given from the image imprint control circuit 13.
The amplifier circuit 16 amplifies the signal, and the A / D converter 1
7 sequentially samples and holds this and converts it into 1-bit digital data. Data processing circuit 18
Temporarily stores data for one line or one pixel, and outputs a read request for the temporarily stored data to the CPU 10. When the CPU 10 receives this read request, it reads the data in the data processing circuit 18, performs the processing described later, and then stores it in a predetermined area of the RAM 12. The motor 20 is a pulse motor that receives / discharges and conveys the card, and the motor control circuit 19 controls this and gives the timing signal to the image imprint control circuit 13. The printer 22 prints the embossed image on the slip with multiple gradations by the dither method or the error diffusion method together with the contents of the transaction. Interface circuit 21
Interface for the print control. The card reader 24 reads the contents recorded on the magnetic stripe of the card being conveyed, and the interface circuit 23 interfaces the reading control.

With the above arrangement, the height direction of the embossed image formed on the card can be obtained as image data represented by a density pattern. By printing this out, the actual embossed image can be obtained. You will be able to recognize it in almost the same way.

Next, a processing procedure of the CPU 10 shown in FIG. 4 is shown as a flowchart in FIG. First, the slit light pattern by the slit light source 14a is extracted, and as shown in FIG. 2, the slit light pattern of the embossed portion included in the slit light pattern is extracted (n1). afterwards,
The shift amount of the slit light pattern of the embossed portion with respect to the slit light pattern of the card surface is extracted (n2).
Then, the shift amount extracted from the slit light pattern projected by the slit light source 14a and the shift amount extracted from the slit light pattern projected by the slit light source 14b are combined to obtain height data at each point on the card ( n3). After that, height data is used as density data to create multi-valued image data (n4). In this way, the projection of the slit light source is alternately switched and the above-described processing is sequentially repeated, and the processing ends when the card is conveyed for a predetermined distance (n5).

With the above-described structure, multivalued image data corresponding to the height of the emboss formed on the card and the shape of the shoulder portion of the emboss is obtained, and this is printed out. You can recognize it almost as easily as.

Although the multi-valued image data is printed out by the dither method or the error diffusion method in the embodiment, the present invention can be applied to the case of displaying a multi-gradation on a CRT or the like.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the height and shape of the emboss formed on the recording medium can be read as multi-valued image data. Therefore, by displaying the read data in multiple gradations, the embossed image can be expressed almost in the same way as the actual embossed appearance, and the embossed image can be easily recognized. In addition, even if the embossing height is low, it can be recognized, and even if there are slight scratches or dents on the recording medium, the image can be easily discriminated. If you leave, the evidence will increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emboss height detection method and multi-valued image data according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a slit light pattern projected near an emboss.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical system of an embossed image reading device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit of the card reader / slip issuing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU for reading an embossed image.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the shape of embossing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical system of a conventional embossed image reading device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical system of a conventional embossed image reading device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an embossed image obtained by a conventional embossed image reading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9-lens 14a, 14b-slit light source 15-CCD area sensor P-top of emboss S-shoulder of emboss

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A means for projecting slit light from a diagonal direction at a constant incident angle onto an embossed recording medium, an image sensor for imaging the slit light projection position of the recording medium, and an output of the image sensor. A means for extracting the slit light pattern from the signal, and a means for detecting the height of the slit light projection position from the deviation amount of the slit light pattern projected on the embossed portion with respect to the slit light pattern projected on the ground surface of the recording medium. An embossed image reading apparatus comprising means for creating multi-valued image data using the detected height data as density data.