JP7107467B1 - Information recording medium, information recording medium reader, program, reading method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are an information recording medium which can be easily read and decoded by a general reading apparatus and which is difficult to duplicate, and a reading apparatus for the information recording medium. The information recording medium 1a includes a substrate 2, a glittering ink layer 3 formed on one side of the substrate 2 with a glittering ink, and a transparent ink layer 3 on one side of which the amount of reflected light varies depending on the viewing angle. and a transparent ink layer 4 formed by: the glitter ink layer 3 forms the first pattern 100; the transparent ink layer 4 forms the second pattern 201; Each of the plurality of partial patterns 201a, 201b, . includes information convertible to a second specific code, which is a specific code, and is superimposed on at least part of the first pattern 100 .

Description

The present invention relates to an information recording medium that is difficult to forge and a forgery-preventive printed material having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital watermarking technology has been used in which information is embedded in printed matter at a level that cannot be visually recognized by humans, and the embedded information is read by a reading device without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the printed matter.

As a printed material using digital watermarking technology, the following Patent Document 1 discloses an information record having a composite image including an image printed on a bright layer and an image formed on the image and printed as a transparent layer. body is described. In the information recording medium, both images are printed with inks that reflect different amounts of light depending on the viewing angle, and one of the images can be recognized in the composite image depending on the viewing angle. The image printed on the bright layer is an image having regularity in the feature points in the spatial frequency domain, and the image printed on the transparent layer is such that the feature points in the spatial frequency domain are located at positions where the regularity is disturbed. This is the image to be placed.

JP 2016-93895 A

In this case, by adjusting the observation angle of the dedicated reading device, it is possible to read and decode the image information printed on the bright layer of the printed matter, which has regularity in feature points in the spatial frequency domain. However, in general, in order to decipher the information embedded by digital watermark technology, the reading device must be equipped with a deciphering application program having a dedicated algorithm. may not be readily available. In addition, it is difficult to visually recognize the appearance of the image information to be read in the printed matter, and it is difficult to visually understand where to read the image information, which may affect convenience. On the other hand, OCR characters, bar codes, two-dimensional codes, and the like are examples of codes that can be read by general reading devices. However, these codes are easily duplicated or counterfeited, and if they are used as they are, there is a risk of hindering the authenticity determination and security of the printed matter.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an information recording medium that is easy to read and decipher by a general reading device and difficult to duplicate, etc., a reading device for the information recording medium, and an information recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide a body reading method.

The information recording medium according to the present embodiment includes a base material, a first printed layer formed on one side of the base material with a glittering ink, and the one side of the base material on which the amount of reflected light varies depending on the observation angle. and a second printed layer formed of a different transparent ink, wherein the first printed layer forms a first pattern, and the second printed layer forms a second pattern. wherein the second pattern is composed of a plurality of partial patterns, each of the plurality of partial patterns is a two-dimensional code, each having one or more segmented symbols, the second pattern is , including information convertible to a second specific code, which is a specific code, and superimposed on at least part of the first pattern. The information recording medium has a second printed layer formed on the one surface side so as to partially cover the first printed layer and formed of transparent ink that reflects light in different amounts depending on the viewing angle. By adopting such a form, it is possible to provide an information recording medium that is easy to read and decode by a general reading apparatus and that is difficult to duplicate, and a reading apparatus for the information recording medium.

Further, in the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present embodiment, the first pattern may include information convertible to a first specific code that is a specific code different from the second pattern, and The first pattern may be a two-dimensional code. Also, all the cutout symbols may be arranged at the ends of the second pattern.

Further, in the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present embodiment, the first specific code converted based on the information of the first pattern is the second specific code among the plurality of partial patterns. may include arrangement information of some of the partial patterns having information convertible to . Further, only some of the partial patterns among the plurality of partial patterns may contain information that can be converted into the second specific code. Furthermore, among the plurality of partial patterns, the partial patterns other than the partial pattern may form dummy information that cannot be converted into the second specific code.

Further, in the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present embodiment, when the plurality of partial patterns are arranged in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, the cut-out symbols of two of the partial patterns adjacent to each other are shared, The partial pattern of may form dummy information that cannot be converted into the second specific code, and the other partial pattern may have information that can be converted into the second specific code.

Further, in the information recording medium according to another aspect of this embodiment, the plurality of partial patterns are sandwiched between a first partial pattern, a second partial pattern, and the first partial pattern and the second partial pattern. When a third partial pattern is used, a first cutout symbol arranged on the second partial pattern side of the first partial pattern and a first cutout symbol arranged on the first partial pattern side of the second partial pattern and the second cut-out symbols constitute at least two cut-out symbols of the third partial pattern, and the third partial pattern constitutes dummy information that cannot be converted into the second specific code. Anything is fine.

Further, in the information recording medium according to another aspect of the present embodiment, the second printed layer may be made of the transparent ink that emits visible light when excited by infrared rays or ultraviolet rays, and may be made of ink containing an infrared absorbing material. may be configured. Further, the second printed layer may be made of ink containing a polarizing material.

Also, a printed matter according to another aspect of the present embodiment may include the above information recording medium.

Further, the reading device for reading the information recording medium of the present embodiment includes a reading unit that reads the information of the second pattern that can be read by turning on the illumination light source, and the information that the reading unit reads. A code identification unit that converts the information of the second pattern into the second specific code.

Further, in the reading device according to another aspect of the present embodiment, the reading unit illuminates the illumination light source with a first light quantity including an extinguished state to read the first pattern of the information recording medium. and the information of the second pattern that can be read by lighting the illumination light source with a second light quantity larger than the first light quantity, and the code specifying unit is configured to read converting the information of the first pattern and the second pattern read by the unit into the first specific code and the second specific code, respectively, and based on the first specific code, the reading unit reads the A position specifying unit that specifies the reading position of the second pattern may be further provided.

Further, the authenticity determination device including the reading device of the present embodiment compares the second specific code with comparison information for authenticity determination of the information recording medium stored in the storage device, An authenticity determination unit may be provided which determines that the information recording medium is authentic when the two match, and determines that the information recording medium is not authentic when the two do not match.

Further, a computer equipped with an illumination light source and a reading unit capable of reading the information recording medium is turned on at a second light intensity larger than the first light intensity including the off state. light amount lighting means; second information reading means for causing the reading section to read information of the second pattern on the information recording medium that can be read while the illumination light source is turned on by the second light amount lighting means; The second information reading means may function as means for converting the information of the second pattern read by the reading section into the second specific code. Further, the second information reading means is read position information of the second pattern of the information recording medium stored in a storage device, and the information of the second pattern of the position information is read by the reading position information. You may make it function so that a part may read it.

Further, the above-described computer according to another embodiment of the present invention further comprises first light intensity lighting means for lighting the illumination light source with the first light intensity, and reading while the illumination light source is lit by the first light intensity lighting means. a first information reading means for causing the reading section to read the information of the first pattern of the information recording medium, and the information of the first pattern read by the reading section by the first information reading means; , a means for converting into a first specific code, and position specifying means for specifying a reading position of the second pattern based on the first specific code, and the second information reading means functions as: The information of the second pattern at the reading position of the second pattern specified by the position specifying unit may be read by the reading unit. Further, the computer compares the second specific code with comparison information for authenticity determination of the information recording medium stored in the storage device, and if the two match, the information recording medium is genuine. and if they do not match, the information recording medium may be judged to be not authentic.

Further, in the reading method of the information recording medium of the present embodiment, the information of the first pattern of the information recording medium, which can be read by turning on the illumination light source with a first light amount including the off state. a step of converting information of the read first pattern into a first specific code; a step of specifying a reading position of the second pattern based on the first specific code; a step of reading the information of the second pattern on the information recording medium, which is readable by turning on the illumination light source with a second light quantity larger than the first light quantity, and reading the read second pattern. and converting the information of the above into the second specific code.

In addition to the above-described reading method, the method for determining authenticity of the information recording medium of the present embodiment compares the second specific code with comparison information for determining authenticity, and if the two match, A step of judging that the information recording medium is genuine, and judging that the information recording medium is not genuine when the two do not match may be further provided.

Further, an information processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above information recording medium, the above authenticity determination device for reading the information recording medium, and a communicable connection to the authenticity determination device, and a server that performs processing using the second specific code determined to be authentic by the authenticity determination device.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an information recording medium that is easy to read and decode by a general reading apparatus and that is difficult to duplicate, an information recording medium reading apparatus, a program, a reading method, and a system. can be done.

1A and 1B are a plan view and a side view of an information recording medium according to a first embodiment; FIG. It is a figure explaining the difference in how an information recording medium is seen by an observation angle. 1 is a configuration diagram showing configurations of an information recording medium reading device and an authenticity determination device of the present disclosure; FIG. FIG. 10 is a flow chart regarding second pattern code identification and authenticity determination; FIG. 10 is a plan view of an information recording medium according to a second embodiment and a third embodiment; FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a reading device according to a third embodiment; FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for code identification of the first pattern; FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for code identification of a second pattern; FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of an authenticity determination device according to a third embodiment; FIG. 10 is a flow chart regarding second pattern code identification and authenticity determination; FIG. 11 is a plan view of an information recording medium according to fourth and fifth embodiments; FIG. 11 is a plan view of an information recording medium according to a sixth embodiment; FIG. 11 is a plan view of an information recording medium according to a seventh embodiment; FIG. 11 is a plan view of an information recording medium according to eighth and ninth embodiments; FIG. 12A is a plan view and a side view of a printed matter including an information recording medium according to a tenth embodiment;

An example of an information recording medium, a printed matter, and an authenticity determination device according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to drawings and the like. However, the information recording medium and the like of the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments and examples described below.

In addition, each figure shown below is shown typically. Therefore, the size and shape of each part are appropriately exaggerated for easy understanding. In each figure, hatching indicating cross sections of members is omitted as appropriate. Numerical values such as dimensions and material names of each member described in this specification are examples as an embodiment, and are not limited to these, and can be appropriately selected and used. In this specification, terms specifying shapes and geometrical conditions, such as parallel, orthogonal, and perpendicular terms, not only have strict meanings but also include substantially the same states.

1. First Embodiment A first embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1(a) is a plan view for explaining an information recording medium 1 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a side view thereof. The information recording medium 1 includes a substrate 2 and a glitter ink layer 3 (first printed layer) formed on one surface of the substrate 2 with a glitter ink. Also, on one surface side of the glitter ink layer 3 opposite to the substrate 2, a transparent ink having a different amount of reflected light depending on the viewing angle is formed so as to cover the glitter ink layer 3. and a transparent ink layer 4 (second printed layer).

(a) Configuration of information recording medium The base material 2 has printing and coating suitability for forming the glittering ink layer 3 and the transparent ink layer 4, and any film base material can be used to support them. be done. As the substrate 2, for example, a polyester film such as polyethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene film, polypropylene film, polyethylene fluoride film, polyvinylidene fluoride film, polyvinyl chloride film, polyvinylidene chloride film, ethylene-vinyl alcohol film, polyvinyl alcohol film, polymethyl methacrylate film, polyether sulfone film, polyether ether ketone film, polyamide film, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer film, polyimide film and the like. Also, the base material 2 may be paper, sticker/label paper, or the like.

Substrate 2 may be opaque or transparent, and may be colored or colorless. In this embodiment, the substrate 2 is colored white, for example. The thickness of the base material 2 can also be arbitrarily determined according to the intended use of the information recording medium 1. It may be thin enough to have moderate flexibility, or thick enough to have almost no flexibility. In the former case, the thickness can be, for example, 0.1 μm or more and 1 mm or less, and in the latter case, the thickness can be, for example, more than 1 mm.

The glitter ink that constitutes the glitter ink layer 3 has, for example, aluminum, copper, zinc or tin powder, iron phosphide, or the like, and exhibits silver, bluish gold, or reddish gold. It can be an ink containing the material. The bright ink layer 3 having such a bright ink has a property of mainly diffusely reflecting white light or the like from an illumination light source.

On the other hand, the transparent ink forming the transparent ink layer 4 can be, for example, transparent varnish, ink varnish, transparent ink, or medium ink that does not use color pigments. Various types of transparent ink, such as ultraviolet curing type, oxidation polymerization type, permeation type, heat drying type, and evaporation drying type, can be applied. The transparent ink layer 4 having such a transparent ink has the property of specularly reflecting mainly at substantially the same incident angle and outgoing angle when white light or the like is incident from an illumination light source.

The printing method for forming the glitter ink layer 3 and the transparent ink layer 4 may be gravure printing, wet offset printing, dry offset printing, letterpress printing, waterless planographic printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, intaglio printing, or the like. , inkjet printing or electrostatic printing.

The glitter ink layer 3 and the transparent ink layer 4 constitute a first pattern 100 (first pattern) and a second pattern 200 (second pattern), respectively, which are predetermined pattern images. As a result, a predetermined pattern image 300 obtained by synthesizing the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 is formed on the one surface of the information recording medium 1, although the appearance differs depending on the viewing angle.

In this embodiment, both the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 are two-dimensional codes. That is, when a general reading device having a two-dimensional code reading function can read the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 separately, the reading device reads a unique specific code ( (first specific code, second specific code). It should be noted that the specific code is an expression system of useful information necessary for the user, which can be converted by a reading device or an authenticity determination device described later. Specifically, the specific code is represented by, for example, a character string.

Specifically, the two-dimensional code of the first pattern 100 is preferably formed with a cell size of 0.20 mm or less, more preferably 0.15 mm or less. This is because when the thickness is 0.20 mm or less, the machine-readable performance of the second pattern 200 by the first pattern 100 is improved, and when the thickness is 0.15 mm or less, the machine readability can be further enhanced. The transparent ink, which is the second pattern 200, is preferably difficult to see, and alignment when reading with a machine (for example, a camera, etc.) is performed while visually observing the bright ink, which is the first pattern 100. FIG. This configuration allows for easy alignment while visually oriented through the machine.

Note that the cell size is the length of one side of a square called a cell, which is the minimum unit constituting the two-dimensional code. A two-dimensional code constitutes a pattern corresponding to a specific code as a whole by arranging or not arranging the cells in a matrix. By the way, if the two-dimensional code is a QR code (registered trademark) model 2, version 25, and the overall size is 20 mm square, the corresponding cell size is about 0.17 mm, which is version 30. case, the corresponding cell size is about 0.15 mm.

In addition, when using an ink containing a silver-based glitter material, the glitter ink layer 3 constituting the first pattern 100 is preferably formed with at least 70% halftone dots, and 100% halftone dots. It is more preferable to form When the glitter ink layer 3 constituting the first pattern 100 is 70% or more halftone dots, the machine reading effect of the second pattern 200 is improved, and when 100% halftone dots, the effect (machine reading) can be further enhanced.

On the other hand, there are no particular restrictions on the two-dimensional code of the second pattern 200, and it is preferable to make the cell size as large as possible and the size of the entire two-dimensional code as small as possible. Incidentally, when the two-dimensional code is a QR code (registered trademark) model 2 and its overall size is 12 mm square, the version is preferably 10 or less, and more preferably 3 or less. This is for improving readability of the second pattern 200 .

Suppose that the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 are both Model 2 QR Codes™. At this time, the outlines of both patterns are substantially square, and cut-out symbols 100p and 200p composed of a small square and an outer frame of a slightly larger square surrounding the small square are arranged at the three vertices of the two patterns. . The cutout symbol is also called a finder pattern, and is used to determine the position and inclination of the pattern when reading the code with a reading device. In particular, when conversion from the first pattern 100 to a specific code (first specific code) is required, the cutout symbol 100p of the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 are arranged so as not to overlap each other. is preferred. This is because the readability of the second pattern 200 is thereby improved.

In this embodiment, both the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 are two-dimensional codes, and can be converted into unique specific codes by a reading device. However, the first pattern 100 may be a random or meaningless pattern that cannot be converted into a specific code. This is because the primary purpose of the first pattern 100 is to make the second pattern 200 appropriately machine-readable under predetermined conditions.

Next, how the pattern image 300 formed on the information recording medium 1 is viewed by changing the viewing angle will be described. FIG. 2(a) shows that the information recording medium 1 on which the pattern image 300 is formed is placed on a flat table (not shown), and an illumination light source 21 is placed on the flat base (not shown) at an angle to the direction normal to the main surface of the information recording medium 1. It shows the situation of emitting white light. The light emitted from the illumination light source 21 has an angle α with respect to the direction normal to the main surface of the information recording medium 1 .

At this time, when observed from the viewpoint 22a of the position P1, which is a position inclined by an angle β1 smaller than the angle α, on the opposite side of the illumination light source 21 with respect to the normal direction, the pattern visible on the information recording medium 1 The image becomes a pattern image 300a shown in FIG. 2(b). That is, only the first pattern 100 can be visually recognized well from the viewpoint 22a at the position P1 where the viewing angle is β1. This is because the first pattern 100 composed of the glittering ink layer 3 diffusely reflects regardless of the observation angle as described above, so that the incident light at the incident angle α is also reflected at the exit angle β1 different from α. . On the other hand, the second pattern 200 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 hardly reflects at a position other than the observation angle corresponding to the emission angle of specular reflection.

Further, when observed from the viewpoint 22b of the position P2, which is a position inclined by an angle β2 which is substantially the same angle as the angle α, on the opposite side of the illumination light source 21 with respect to the normal direction, the information recording medium 1 A visible pattern image is a pattern image 300b shown in FIG. 2(c). That is, both the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 can be visually recognized from the viewpoint 22b at the position P2 where the observation angle is β2, and the second pattern 200 can be visually recognized particularly well. This is because, as described above, the first pattern 100 composed of the glitter ink layer 3 diffusely reflects light regardless of the viewing angle. On the other hand, the second pattern 200 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 reflects more in the vicinity of the observation angle corresponding to the emission angle of specular reflection compared to other observation angles, and the second pattern 200 with respect to the first pattern 100 This is because a sufficient contrast of the pattern 200 can be obtained.

Note that the pattern image visible on the information recording medium 1 when observed from the viewpoint 22c of the position P3, which is a position inclined by an angle β3 larger than the angle α, on the opposite side of the illumination light source 21 with respect to the normal line direction. becomes the pattern image 300a shown in FIG. That is, the view is the same as that of the viewpoint 22a at the position P1 with the viewing angle β1. The reason is the same as when the observation angle is β1.

It is assumed that the pattern image 300a formed on the information recording medium 1 in FIG. 2(b) is read by a two-dimensional code reader at the viewpoint 22a at the position P1 or at the viewpoint 22c at the position P3. Here, Re11 ( %). Let Re12 (%) be the reflectance of the reflected light from the first pattern 100 of the pattern image 300a with respect to the white light from the original illumination light source 21 .

At this time, the reading device performs binarization processing according to the amount of light incident on each pixel, which is a CCD element, and sets the reflectance threshold value to a first threshold value Re13 that is larger than Re12 and smaller than Re11. A pixel that receives light with a reflectance of 1 or white is determined, and a pixel that receives light with a reflectance of less than the threshold value is determined as 0 or black. With such processing, the reading device recognizes the portion of the substrate 2 underlying the pattern image 300a as 1 or white, and the portion of the first pattern 100 as 0 or black, so that the first pattern 100 can be read with good contrast. It can be extracted and well transformed into a specific code (first specific code).

Similarly, it is assumed that the pattern image 300b formed on the information recording medium 1 in FIG. 2(c) is read by the reading device at the viewpoint 22b of the position P2. Here, Re21 (%) is the reflectance of the reflected light from the first pattern 100, which is the base of the pattern image 300b, of the reflected light from the information recording medium 1 incident on the reading device, with respect to the white light from the original illumination light source 21. and Let Re22(%) be the reflectance of the reflected light of the second pattern 200 with respect to the original white light of the illumination light source 21 .

At this time, a second threshold value Re23 smaller than Re21 and larger than Re22 is set as the threshold value of the reflectance of the binarization process of the reading device, and a pixel that receives light with a reflectance equal to or higher than the threshold value is set to 1 or white. A pixel that receives light with a reflectance of less than 0 is judged to be 0 or black. With such processing, the reading device recognizes the portion of the first pattern 100, which is the base of the pattern image 300b, as 1 or white, and the portion of the second pattern 200 as 0 or black, thereby recognizing the second pattern 200. It can be extracted with good contrast and can be converted well into a specific code (second specific code).

The white substrate 2 is slightly exposed in the gaps of the first pattern 100 underlying the pattern image 300b. There is little possibility that the part of the base material 2 of 1 will hinder the reading of the second pattern 200 . Although it has been described that the pattern image 300 appears in two different ways, that is, the pattern images 300a and 300b, depending on the positional relationship between the illumination light source 21 and the observation angle, such a difference in appearance is due to the illumination light source 21 can be generated without changing the positional relationship between and the observation angle.

For example, in FIG. 2(a), the observation is made in a fixed state of the viewpoint 22b at the position P2 which is tilted by an angle β2 which is substantially the same angle as the angle α. Here, the illumination light source 21 is turned off, or the illumination light source 21 is turned on with the first light amount that is greatly reduced. In this case, diffused light is predominantly incident on the information recording medium 1, and strong parallel light is not incident. Therefore, the second pattern 200 cannot be visually recognized, and only the first pattern 100 can be visually recognized due to the diffuse reflection effect. That is, the pattern image 300a in FIG. 2B can be visually recognized.

On the other hand, under the above conditions, when the illumination light source 21 is turned on with the second light quantity, which is a sufficient light quantity, relatively strong parallel light is incident on the information recording medium 1 at the incident angle α, and the first pattern 100 is formed. together with the second pattern 200 can be clearly seen. That is, the pattern image 300b in FIG. 2(c) can be visually recognized.

As described above, the pattern image 300 on the information recording medium 1 can be viewed in two ways, that is, the pattern images 300a and 300b, by fixing the light amount of the illumination light source 21 and changing the observation angle. In addition, without changing the positional relationship between the illumination light source 21 and the observation angle, only the light intensity of the illumination light source 21 can be changed between the off state and the on state, or the illumination state with a small amount of light and the on state with a higher light amount. A similar appearance can be produced by changing to . The above description is based on the case where the illumination light source 21 is arranged and the observation angle is both opposed to the above-mentioned normal line direction in FIG. It holds.

Note that the transparent ink layer 4 forming the second pattern 200 only needs to be transparent enough to satisfy the above-mentioned conditions depending on the observation angle. The transmittance is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 80% or more. With 50% or more, when the first pattern 100 is information that can be converted into a specific code such as a two-dimensional code, the readability can be improved. Furthermore, when the ratio is 80% or more, the second pattern 200 of the transparent ink layer 4 becomes difficult to visually recognize, thereby improving security.

As a result, on one side of the information recording medium 1, the first pattern 100 is easily visible, but the second pattern 200 is difficult to be visually recognized. It can be made difficult for three parties to know, and security can be improved. Furthermore, when the pattern image 300 on one side of the information recording medium 1 is copied by a copier, the illumination light source of the copier is different from constant light irradiation from a fixed position. It is difficult to extract two patterns 200 . As a result, it becomes easier to extract only the first pattern 100 composed of the glitter ink layer 3 that diffuses reflection. Therefore, there is an effect of preventing copying in a copier, making duplication of the information recording medium 1 difficult, and from this point of view also, the security is improved.

In addition, by turning on the illumination light source with a sufficient amount of light and placing the reading device at an observation angle that satisfies the condition of almost regular reflection of the incident light from the illumination light source, a two-dimensional code reading function that does not have a special function can be obtained. Even a commercially available inexpensive reading device equipped with the second pattern 200 can easily extract the second pattern 200 and decode the specific code.

Even in this case, when the illumination light source is turned off or turned on with a reduced amount of light, the ambient light is greatly affected by the diffused light. and the second pattern 200 becomes difficult to read. Therefore, since the second pattern 200 cannot be read unless the reading conditions are appropriate, the reliability of authenticity determination and security of the information recording medium 1 can be sufficiently enhanced. Further, by providing the second pattern 200 smaller than the first pattern 100, when the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 are superimposed and printed, they can be mechanically read without any problem even if their printing positions are slightly shifted. be able to.

However, the second pattern 200 may be provided with substantially the same size as the first pattern 100 . That is, the contour of the outer circumference of the second pattern 200 and the contour of the outer circumference of the first pattern 100 may be provided so as to substantially match. By doing so, it is possible to easily estimate the range in which the second pattern 200 is arranged using the visually recognizable first pattern 100 as a guide, and the alignment of the reading device can be simplified. It should be noted that the outline of the outer periphery of the second pattern 200 and the outline of the outer periphery of the first pattern 100 may be provided so as to partially match, and the above effect can be obtained even in this case.

(b) Configuration of reading device for information recording medium Next, the configuration of a reading device for reading information from the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The reading device 30 has an illumination light source and a two-dimensional code reading function. As shown in FIG. 3A, the reading device 30 includes a reading unit 33 such as a camera, an illumination light source 21, an operation unit 35 for various operations, and a display unit 36 as a display screen for various displays. and The reading device 30 also includes a control unit 31 for inputting/outputting operation instructions and information for these units, and a storage unit 32 .

The reading unit 33 is a CCD camera or the like, and color CCD elements are arranged in units of pixels on a plane corresponding to a photographed image. The reading unit 33 can output 256 levels of gradation information from 0 to 255 for each color of RGB according to the amount of input light for each pixel to the image acquiring unit 44 . An LED light or the like is used as the illumination light source 21, and the amount of light thereof can be adjusted. A liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like is used for the display unit 36, and the operation unit 35 is composed of a capacitive input type touch panel that is also used by the display. operations can be performed. The reading unit 33 may be a monochrome CCD camera or the like, and may be capable of outputting gray level information of 256 gray levels from 0 to 255 according to the amount of input light for each pixel to the image acquiring unit 44. .

The control unit 31 has a CPU or MPU and an input/output interface with each part, performs various calculations and judgments, and inputs/outputs information including instructions to each part. The control unit 31 includes an illumination control unit 41 (first light amount lighting means, second light amount lighting means) that controls on/off of the illumination light source 21 and the intensity of the light amount, and an image acquisition unit that acquires an image captured by the reading unit 33. 44 (first information reading means, second information reading means), and a code identification section 45 for identifying a specific code from the two-dimensional code image or the like acquired by the image acquisition section 44 .
The storage unit 32 is a storage area such as a semiconductor memory device for storing programs, data, and the like necessary for the control unit 31 to execute various processes.
The storage section 32 stores a program storage section 38 . The program storage unit 38 stores programs for executing various functions of the control unit 31 . A program for executing various functions of the control unit 31 may be composed of one program, or may be composed of a plurality of programs. Also, the program may be one that can be incorporated into another program.
The computer means an information processing device including a control unit, a storage device, etc. The reading device 30 is an information processing device including a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, etc., and is included in the concept of a computer.

(c) Method for reading information recording medium Next, a method for reading information from the information recording medium 1 of the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIG. First, the reader 30 activates the reader 33 such as a camera (step S401). Next, the reader 30 brings the pattern image 301 of the information recording medium 1 into the field of view of the reader 33 .

Subsequently, the illumination control section 41 (second light amount lighting means) of the reading device 30 turns on the illumination light source 21 so that the reading section 33 can pick up only the second pattern 200 from the pattern image 300 on the information recording medium 1. to By turning on the illumination light source 21 , strong parallel light from the illumination light source is incident on the information recording medium 1 , and by orienting the reading device 30 at an appropriate viewing angle, the reading unit 33 receives the correct light from the information recording medium 1 . Reflected light can enter. At this time, more reflected light from the transparent ink layer 4 of the information recording medium 1 enters the reading section 33 than reflected light from the glittering ink layer 3, and the reading section 33 captures the second pattern 200 satisfactorily. can do. In this state, the image acquiring section 44 (second information reading means) acquires the image of the second pattern 200 from the reading section 33, and the code specifying section 45 converts it into a specific code (step S402).

Note that when the reading device 30 is a smart phone, the illumination light source 21 and the reading unit 33 are often arranged at substantially the same position. In this case, both the illumination light source 21 and the reading section 33 may be arranged so as to face each other in the direction normal to the main surface of the information recording medium 1 .

Here, if the conversion to the specific code by the code specifying unit 45 is successful, the fact is displayed on the display unit 36 of the reading device 30 (steps S403 and S404), and the conversion to the specific code fails. If so, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 36 (steps S403 and S408). The reading method flow in FIG. 4 is now complete. In the former case, another process can continue based on the code identified from the second pattern 200 . For example, the specific code can be regarded as a financial transaction authorization number, and if it is authentic, the financial transaction can be performed. On the other hand, in the latter case, it may be determined that the information recording medium 1 is not authentic, and the processing may be stopped.

(d) Configuration of Authenticity Determining Apparatus for Information Recording Medium Next, the configuration of an authenticating apparatus for determining the authenticity of the information recording medium 1 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, the authenticity determination device 60 is different from the above-described reading device 30 in that the control unit 31a further includes an authenticity determination unit 46, and the storage unit 32a (storage device) is the program storage unit 38. In addition, it further includes authenticity determination information 53 (comparison information). The authenticity determination unit 46 compares whether or not the code identified by the code identification unit 45 converted from the second pattern 200 in the reader 30 described above is authentic with the authentication information 53 in the storage unit 32a. It has the function of making judgments.
A computer is an information processing device having a control unit, a storage device, etc. The authenticity determination device 60 is an information processing device having a control unit 31a, a storage unit 32a, etc., and is included in the concept of a computer. .

(e) Authenticity Determining Method for Information Recording Medium Subsequently, steps following the above-described reading method in FIG. 4 will be described for a method for determining authenticity of information in the information recording medium 1 of the present embodiment. After the conversion into the specific code by the code identification unit 45 is successful and the fact is displayed on the display unit 36 of the reading device 30 (steps S403 and S404), the code identification unit 45 Authenticity of the code identified from the second pattern 200 is determined (step S405). If the code is determined to be authentic, a message to that effect is displayed (steps S406 and S407), and if the code is determined not to be authentic, a message to that effect is displayed (steps S406 and S409). ), the process ends. Even if the second pattern 200 cannot be converted into the specific code (steps S403 and S408) and proceeds to process A, the process ends via step S409.

Here, the authenticity determination information 53 stored in the storage unit 32a may be, for example, a value that matches the code converted from the second pattern 200, or may be a value encrypted with a predetermined encryption key. In this case, the authenticity determination unit 46 is provided with the predetermined encryption key, calculates a value decrypted with its own encryption key from the value of the authenticity determination information 53 referred to, and converts it to the specified code from the second pattern 200 . You may judge authenticity by comparing with. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the risk of the authentication information 53 being illegally read from the outside or falsified.

Note that the authentication information 53 may be stored not in the storage unit 32a of the authentication device 60 but in a storage unit (storage device) of a separate management server. In this case, the authentication device 60 preferably has a function of communicating with the management server via the Internet, a wide area communication network for mobile phones, or the like.

The reading device 30 and the authenticity determination device 60 correctly extract the required specific code from the information recording medium 1 and determine the authenticity thereof. As a result, the correct information can be specified from the information recording medium 1, and the procedures can be proceeded securely using this as a condition for financial transactions, and forgery or unauthorized use of the information recording medium can be easily detected.

2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The laminated structure of the information recording medium 1a according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5(a) is the same as that of the information recording medium 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1(b). This point also applies to other embodiments and modifications described later. In the information recording medium 1a of the second embodiment, the second pattern 201 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 has a plurality of partial patterns 201a, 201b, and 201c which are separated and arranged at four locations, ie, upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. and 201d. This point is different from the information recording medium 1 of the first embodiment. Each partial pattern is arranged in a matrix of two columns and two rows.

The glitter ink layer 3 and the transparent ink layer 4 respectively constitute a first pattern 100 which is a predetermined pattern image and a second pattern 201 formed of four partial patterns. As a result, a predetermined pattern image 301 in which the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 201 are combined is formed on one side of the information recording medium 1 .

In this embodiment, the four partial patterns forming the second pattern 201 are all two-dimensional codes of the same pattern. That is, when each partial pattern constituting the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 201 can be read separately by a general reading device having a two-dimensional code reading function, each of the partial patterns can be uniquely defined by the reading device. It is possible to convert to a specific specific code. Partial patterns 201a, 201b, 201c and 201d are each converted into the same code.

The four partial patterns are arranged such that they are separated by a predetermined gap and oriented in the same direction. That is, the cut-out symbols 201p of a plurality of partial patterns are arranged so as not to overlap each other, and the cut-out symbols 201p are arranged to be upper left, upper right, and lower left of each partial pattern.

Thus, the information recording medium 1a of the second embodiment has all the configurations of the information recording medium 1 of the first embodiment, and the second pattern 201 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 is arranged separately at four locations. It consists of a plurality of partial patterns. Further, each partial pattern is converted into the same code.

With such a configuration of the information recording medium 1a, the quality of the information recording medium 1a is improved, and adaptability to the reading environment can be expanded. That is, there is a manufacturing defect such as a partial loss of the second pattern 201 composed of the transparent ink layer 4, or the illumination of the information recording medium 1a by the illumination light source is too strong, so that the second pattern 201 is not formed. Some parts may cause halation (a phenomenon in which parts exposed to strong light become white and blurred). Even in such a case, if any one of the four partial patterns can be completely read, the correct specific code can be decoded. Therefore, it is possible to correctly determine authenticity while relaxing the reading environment conditions of the reading device.

3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The configuration of the information recording medium 1b according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5(b) is substantially the same as that of the information recording medium 1a according to the second embodiment. However, it differs from the second embodiment in that the second pattern 202 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 is composed of different partial patterns, and each partial pattern can be converted into a different specific code.

(a) Configuration of information recording medium The plurality of partial patterns 202a, 202b, 202c, and 202d arranged separately at four locations that constitute the second pattern 202 all have the same cutout symbol 202p arrangement, but all It is a two-dimensional code with different patterns. Therefore, each partial pattern when read by the reader is converted into a different specific code. For example, partial patterns 202a, 202b, 202c and 202d can be converted to "XYZ67890", "ABC11111", "ABC22222" and "ABC33333" respectively. Incidentally, the first pattern 100 can be converted to "ABC12345".

Since the information recording medium 1b has such a structure, four different types of information can be stored in the second pattern 202 of the information recording medium 1b. Security for reading can be further improved. For example, only the code converted from the partial pattern 202a may be genuine code, and the codes converted from the other partial patterns 202b, 202c and 202d may all be dummy codes (dummy information). Which of the four partial patterns is the correct code may be set and stored in advance as application data in the reading device, or the code converted by reading the first pattern 100 may be the correct partial pattern. , may be included.

(b) Features of reading device for information recording medium of third embodiment Next, the configuration of the reading device 30a for reading information of the information recording medium 1b of this embodiment is described as the reading device 30 (see FIG. 3(a)). )) and the differences from ) will be mainly explained. As shown in FIG. 6, the reading device 30a has a storage unit 32b for the reading device 30. In addition to the program storage unit 38, the storage unit 32b stores first pattern position specifying information 51 and second pattern position specifying information 51. It is different in that the position specifying information 52 is stored. Further, the reading device 30a differs from the reading device 30 in the following points. That is, the control unit 31b includes a first pattern position specifying unit 42 that specifies the reading position and reading range of the first pattern 100 by referring to the first pattern position specifying information 51 in the storage unit 32b. Further, the control unit 31 b includes a second pattern position specifying unit 43 (position specifying means) that specifies the reading position and reading range of the second pattern 202 by referring to the second pattern position specifying information 52 .

The storage of the first pattern position specifying information 51 is optional, and is used when the first pattern 100 of the information recording medium 1b is arranged separately into a plurality of partial patterns, each of which can be converted into a different specific code. At this time, the first pattern position specifying information 51 includes arrangement information of partial patterns having authentic codes. Since the first pattern 100 can be converted into one code in this embodiment, this information may be omitted. Further, the second pattern position specifying information 52 includes arrangement information of a partial pattern having an authentic code among the plurality of partial patterns forming the second pattern 202 of the information recording medium 1b. For example, it is information that the partial pattern 202a arranged on the upper left is authentic.

(c) Method for reading information recording medium Next, a method for reading information from the information recording medium 1b of the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. First, the reader 30 activates the reader 33 such as a camera (step S421). Next, the reader 30 brings the pattern image 302 of the information recording medium 1b into the field of view of the reader 33 . Here, if the first pattern position specifying information 51 is stored in the storage unit 32b, the control unit 31 refers to it, and the first pattern position specifying unit 42 causes the reading unit 33 to read the pattern image 302. A position and range required to be read are specified for the first pattern 100 (step S422). In the present embodiment, the first pattern 100 is a single two-dimensional code, and the position and range where the first pattern 100 should be read can be specified by the cutout symbol 100p, so this operation is unnecessary.

Subsequently, the illumination control section 41 (first light intensity lighting means) of the reading device 30 turns off the illumination light source 21 so that the reading section 33 can pick up only the first pattern 100 from the pattern image 302 on the information recording medium 1b. to By turning off the illumination light source 21, strong parallel light does not enter the information recording medium 1b from a specific direction, and the information recording medium 1b as a whole receives predominantly diffused light. As a result, almost no reflected light from the transparent ink layer 4 of the information recording medium 1b enters the reading section 33, and much reflected light from the glittering ink layer 3 enters the reading section 33, so that only the first pattern 100 can be read satisfactorily. You can shoot. In this state, the image acquiring section 44 (first information reading means) acquires the image of the first pattern 100 from the reading section 33, and the code specifying section 45 converts it into a specific code (step S423).

Note that the state in which the reading unit 33 can capture only the first pattern 100 from the pattern image 302 on the information recording medium 1b is not limited to the case where the illumination light source 21 is turned off. For example, this is possible even when the illumination light source 21 is turned on and the light intensity is adjusted to be very weak.

Here, if the conversion into the specific code by the code specifying unit 45 is successful, that fact is displayed on the display unit 36 of the reading device 30 (steps S424 and S425), and the conversion into the specific code fails. If so, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 36 (steps S424 and S426). In the former case, the process continues to process B, which is a step of specifying the reading position and range of the second pattern 202 based on the code specified from the first pattern 100 . On the other hand, in the latter case, processing C follows.

In process B, the second pattern position specifying section 43 (position specifying means) of the control section 31 refers to the second pattern position specifying information 52 stored in the storage section 32b. Then, of the second pattern 202 read from the pattern image 302 by the reading unit 33, the position and range required to be read, that is, the position and range of the partial pattern to be acquired by the image acquisition unit 44 are specified (step S441). ). In this embodiment, when four partial patterns 202a, 202b, 202c, and 202d are read as the second pattern 202, only the partial pattern 202a arranged at the upper left is the partial pattern to be acquired by the image acquisition unit 44. identify something.

Subsequently, the illumination control section 41 (second light amount lighting means) of the reading device 30 turns on the illumination light source 21 so that the reading section 33 can pick up only the second pattern 202 from the pattern image 302 on the information recording medium 1b. to By turning on the illumination light source 21, strong parallel light from the illumination light source is incident on the information recording medium 1b. Reflected light can enter. At this time, more light reflected from the transparent ink layer 4 of the information recording medium 1b than light reflected from the glittering ink layer 3 enters the reading section 33, and the reading section 33 satisfactorily captures the second pattern 202. can do. In this state, the image acquiring section 44 (second information reading means) acquires the image of the partial pattern 202a of the second pattern 202 from the reading section 33, and the code specifying section 45 converts it into a specific code ( step S442). As one of the methods for acquiring the image of the partial pattern 202a of the second pattern 202 from the reading unit 33, the image acquisition unit 44 masks the portion excluding the position or range required to be read specified in step S441, for example. You can do it by doing

Here, if the conversion to the specific code by the code specifying unit 45 is successful, the effect is displayed on the display unit 36 of the reading device 30 (steps S443 and S444), and the conversion to the specific code fails. If so, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 36 (steps S443 and S445). In the former case, based on the code identified from the partial pattern 202a of the second pattern 202, another process as described above can be continued.

(d) Configuration of Authenticity Determining Apparatus for Information Recording Medium Next, the configuration of the authenticating apparatus 60a for determining the authenticity of the information in the information recording medium 1b of the present embodiment is the above-described authenticity determining apparatus 60 (FIG. 3 ( b) The description will focus on the differences from the reference). As shown in FIG. 9, the authentication device 60a includes a storage unit 32c in addition to the above-described authentication device 60. In addition to the program storage unit 38 and the authentication information 53, the storage unit 32c stores a first The difference is that the pattern position specifying information 51 and the second pattern position specifying information 52 are stored. In the authenticity determination device 60a, the control unit 31c activates the first pattern position specifying unit 42 that specifies the reading position and reading range of the first pattern 100 by referring to the first pattern position specifying information 51 in the storage unit 32c. Prepare. Further, the control unit 31 c includes a second pattern position specifying unit 43 that specifies the reading position and reading range of the second pattern 202 by referring to the second pattern position specifying information 52 .

(e) Authenticity Determining Method for Information Recording Medium Subsequently, a method for determining authenticity of information in the information recording medium 1b of the present embodiment will be described mainly based on FIGS. 7 and 10. FIG. First, as described above, the authenticity determination device 60a starts the reading unit 33 (step S421 in FIG. 7), specifies the code by reading the first pattern 100 (step S424), and displays a message to that effect (step S424). step S425). This is the same as the code identification method of the first pattern 100 by the reading device 30a. Next, the authenticity determination device 60a performs steps S461 to S464 in FIG. 10 corresponding to steps S441 to S444 in FIG. 8, which are the processes for the reading device 30a.

After that, the authenticity determination unit 46 determines the authenticity of the code identified from the partial pattern 202a by the code identification unit 45 (step S466 in FIG. 10). If the code is determined to be authentic, a message to that effect is displayed (step S467), and if the code is determined not to be authentic, a message to that effect is displayed (step S469), and the process ends. If the first pattern 100 cannot be converted into the specific code (steps S424 and S426 in FIG. 7) and the process of identifying the code of the second pattern 202 cannot be entered, the process also ends after step S469.

The information recording medium 1b of the third embodiment is readable so that the first pattern 100 composed of the glitter ink layer 3 can be converted into a specific code. The second pattern 202 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 is composed of four partial patterns 202a, 202b, 202c and 202d, each of which can be read so as to be converted into a specific code. Furthermore, these partial patterns can be converted into codes, at least one of which is different from the others. Here, the first pattern 100 can be converted into a first specific code, and the specific partial pattern 202a can be converted into a second specific code. The first specific code contains information about the position and range of the specific partial pattern 202a whose code is to be specified in the second pattern 202. FIG.

Therefore, first, the first specific code is extracted from the reading of the first pattern 100, and based on this, the position and range of the specific partial pattern 202a to be read out of the second pattern 202 are specified, and the specific part A second specific code can be extracted from the pattern 202a.

Since the information recording medium 1b has such a structure, it is difficult to correctly read the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 202 separately. Furthermore, even if all of the four partial patterns forming the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 202 can be read using a general-purpose reading device, which of the codes specified from these patterns is the information recording medium? It is difficult to identify whether it is a value representing the authenticity of 1b. As a result, the information recording medium 1b can further improve security.

4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The structure of the information recording medium 1c according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 11(a) is substantially the same as that of the information recording medium 1a according to the second embodiment, but the second pattern 203 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 The directions of the plurality of partial patterns separated and arranged at the four locations of are different from those of the second pattern 201 .

That is, the plurality of partial patterns 203a, 203b, 203c, and 203d arranged separately at four locations forming the second pattern 203 are all two-dimensional codes of the same pattern. However, when the information recording medium 1c is viewed from above one surface, the partial pattern 203b is arranged so as to rotate clockwise from the partial pattern 202a by 90°.

Similarly, the partial pattern 203c is arranged so as to rotate the partial pattern 203a counterclockwise by 90 degrees. Further, the partial pattern 203d is arranged so as to rotate the partial pattern 203a clockwise by 180°. Therefore, the partial pattern 203a is arranged so that its cutout symbols 203p are at the upper left, upper right and lower left of the partial pattern 203a, and the partial pattern 203b is arranged so that its cutout symbols 203p are at its upper left, upper right and lower right. be done.

The partial pattern 203c is arranged so that its cutout symbols 202p are on the upper left, lower left and lower right, and the partial pattern 203d is arranged so that its cutout symbols 203p are on the upper right, lower left and lower right.

In other words, the second pattern 203 of the information recording medium 1c is composed of a plurality of partial patterns, each of which has one or more cutout symbols 203p, and all the cutout symbols 203p are located outside the second pattern 203. is placed at the end so that it faces the Conversely, in each partial pattern, the cut-out symbol 203p is arranged in a direction that is not close to the center side of the second pattern 203 .

In this embodiment, each partial pattern has three cutout symbols 203p, but the present invention can be applied even when there is only one cutout symbol. In this case, the partial patterns are arranged so that the cutout symbol of the upper left partial pattern is arranged at the upper left, and the cutout symbols of the upper right, lower left, and lower right partial patterns are arranged at the upper right, lower left, and lower right, respectively.

Since the information recording medium 1c has such a structure, the quality of the information recording medium 1c is improved, and adaptability to the reading environment can be expanded. That is, depending on the adjustment of the illumination light source, the illumination of the information recording medium 1c may be too strong, causing large halation (a phenomenon in which a portion hit by a strong light beam becomes white and blurred) near the center of the second pattern 203 . At this time, part of the partial patterns near the center of the second pattern 203 cannot be read by the reading device.

However, since the cut-out symbol 203p, which serves as a reference for position detection of the partial pattern, is arranged along the outer periphery of the second pattern 203, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the reader will make a reading error in detecting the position of the partial pattern. .

On the other hand, since the two-dimensional code has a certain degree of redundancy in its information, the code can often be restored by the error correction function even if the area other than the cutout symbol is lost to some extent. Therefore, with the information recording medium 1c of the present embodiment, the partial pattern can be satisfactorily read even if the reading environment is somewhat bad.

In the information recording medium 1c, the first pattern 100 can be converted into a specific code, and part or all of the four partial patterns 202a, 202b, 202c, and 202d forming the second pattern 202 are different from each other. It may be possible to convert to a specific code. At this time, the information recording medium combines the functions and effects of the present embodiment and the third embodiment, and the application of the reading devices 30, 30a and the authentication devices 60, 60a to such an information recording medium is also possible. It is possible.

5. Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The configuration of the information recording medium 1d according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. It is different in that it has a plurality of partial patterns separately arranged at nine locations instead of four locations.

That is, the plurality of partial patterns 204a, 204b, 204c, 204d, 204e, 204f, 204g, 204h, and 204i that are separated and arranged at nine locations forming the second pattern 204 are all two-dimensional codes of the same pattern. They are arranged in a matrix of three columns and three rows. Partial patterns 204a, 204c, 204g, and 204i are arranged at the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right corners of the second pattern 204, which forms a substantially square shape when the information recording medium 1d is viewed from above one surface. . Further, partial patterns 204b, 204d, 204f and 204h are arranged between partial patterns 204a and 204c, 204a and 204g, 204c and 204i, and 204g and 204i, respectively.

Each partial pattern has three cutout symbols 204p at each corner. Of these, the partial patterns 204a, 204c, 204g and 204i arranged at the four corners of the second pattern 204 are arranged such that the three cutout symbols 204p are arranged along the outer periphery of the second pattern 204. FIG.

The partial patterns 204b, 204d, 204e, 204f, and 204h other than the above are arranged in the same direction as the partial pattern 204a so that the cut-out symbol 204p of each partial pattern is at the upper left, upper right, and lower left. However, the partial patterns arranged in places other than the corners of the second pattern 204 may be arranged in any direction.

The same can be done even if each partial pattern has only one cutout symbol. Further, the number of partial patterns included in the second pattern 204 is not limited to 9, but may be increased to 16, 25, or any other number, and the number of columns in the vertical and horizontal directions may be different.

As described above, in the information recording medium 1d of the fourth embodiment, among the partial patterns of the second pattern 204, the cut-out symbols 204p of the partial patterns arranged at the four corners of the second pattern 204 are the second pattern. 204 is arranged at the end so as to follow the outer circumference. With such a configuration of the information recording medium 1d, the quality of the information recording medium 1d is further improved, and adaptability to the reading environment can be further expanded.

6. Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The configuration of the information recording medium 1e according to the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is similar to that of the information recording medium 1d according to the fifth embodiment. The second pattern 205 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 includes partial patterns arranged at four corners thereof, and is sandwiched between these partial patterns (first and second partial patterns) and shares a cutout symbol 205p. There are nine partial patterns in total, including four partial patterns arranged in the center and a centrally arranged partial pattern (third partial pattern).

Partial patterns 205a, 205c, 205g, and 205i are arranged at the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right corners of the second pattern 205, which forms a substantially square shape when the information recording medium 1e is viewed from above one surface. . Between the partial patterns 205a and 205c, between 205a and 205g, between 205c and 205i, and between 205g and 205i, conversion to a specific code is impossible or conversion is intended. A dummy pattern is embedded. These dummy patterns form dummy partial patterns disguised as two-dimensional codes by sharing cut-out symbols 205p of partial patterns arranged on the left and right or above and below.

For example, dummy partial patterns 205b, 205d, 205f and 205h are formed between partial patterns 205a and 205c, 205a and 205g, 205c and 205i, and 205g and 205i. A dummy pattern is also embedded in the center surrounded by the partial patterns 205a, 205c, 205g and 205i to form a dummy partial pattern 205e. Partial patterns 205a, 205c, 205g and 205i of the second pattern 205 can be converted into the same specific code as 205c, 205g and 205i, and 205a can be converted into a different specific code. .

In this embodiment, the second pattern 205 of the information recording medium 1e appears to have nine partial patterns. However, in reality, only the partial patterns 205a, 205c, 205g, and 205i arranged at the four corners can be converted into specific codes as two-dimensional codes, and the others are converted into specific codes. It is just a dummy partial pattern that cannot be converted to . Furthermore, the four partial patterns include those that are converted to different specific codes, and for example, only the partial pattern 205a can be converted to a genuine specific code.

In order to create such print data for the second pattern 205, first, dummy patterns composing the dummy partial patterns 205b, 205d, 205e, 205f and 205h other than the cutout symbols are created and laid out in a predetermined area. Next, a pattern including cutout symbols of the partial patterns 205a, 205c, 205g and 205i is overwritten on the dummy pattern. That is, when a partial pattern overlaps a dummy pattern, the former data is preferentially adopted. By creating the print data of the second pattern 205 in such a procedure, the partial patterns 205a, 205c, 205g and 205i can be reliably read.

In this manner, the information recording medium 1e of the sixth embodiment has a partial pattern in which each partial pattern of the second pattern 204 can be correctly converted into a specific code and a dummy partial pattern that cannot be converted into a specific code. I know. Therefore, even if the pattern image 305 of the second pattern 205 can be photographed, it is difficult to separate the correct pattern from the dummy pattern. Furthermore, even if a plurality of partial patterns that can be correctly converted into code can be identified, it is difficult to identify which of them can be converted into a true code.

It should be noted that the information recording medium 1e of the present embodiment, like the information recording medium 1d of the fifth embodiment, has cut-out symbols 205p of partial patterns arranged at four corners of the second pattern 205. It may be modified to be arranged at the end along the outer periphery. Alternatively, the partial patterns arranged at the four corners of the second pattern 205 may all be the same pattern, or all may be different patterns. Further, it goes without saying that the reading devices 30 and 30a and the authentication devices 60 and 60a described above can be applied to the information recording medium 1e.

7. Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment of the information recording medium of the present disclosure will be described. The configuration of the information recording medium 1j according to the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is similar to that of the information recording medium 1e according to the sixth embodiment. The second pattern 208 composed of the transparent ink layer 4 looks like a two-dimensional code, which is a plurality of partial patterns and dummy partial patterns, arranged in a matrix of three rows and five rows. For example, dummy partial patterns 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d, and 208e are arranged in order from left to right on the uppermost stage.

Here, the partial pattern and the dummy partial pattern each have three cutout symbols, but the partial pattern and the dummy partial pattern that are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction share each cutout symbol 208p. Furthermore, only the partial patterns 208b and 208d that are not adjacent to each other can be converted into a specific code, and the dummy partial patterns 208a, 208c and 208e are meaningless patterns other than the cutout symbol 208p, and cannot be converted into a specific code. Impossible. The same goes for the dummy partial pattern 208f, the partial pattern 208g, the dummy partial pattern 208h, the partial pattern 208i, and the dummy partial pattern 208j arranged in order from the left to the right in the second stage of the second pattern 208. FIG. The same applies to the dummy partial pattern 208k, partial pattern 208l, dummy partial pattern 208m, partial pattern 208n, and dummy partial pattern 208o arranged in order from left to right in the third stage.

In this embodiment, among the partial patterns 208b, 208d, 208g, 208i, 208l, and 208n, the patterns other than 208b are the same, and only the pattern 208b is different. Thus, in this embodiment, the second pattern 208 of the information recording medium 1j appears to have 15 partial patterns. However, in reality, only the patterns in the second and fourth columns from the left are partial patterns that can be converted into a specific code, and the others are composed of meaningless dummy patterns. Furthermore, by making some or all of the six partial patterns that can be converted to a specific code into patterns that can be converted to different codes, it becomes even more difficult to extract only the genuine code and read it correctly. can do. For example, in this embodiment only the partial pattern 208b may be convertible to a bona fide code.

However, the plurality of partial patterns other than the dummy partial patterns may all be the same pattern. By doing this, even though it is difficult to extract a partial pattern that can be converted into a genuine code, conversion into a specific code can be performed if one of the plurality of partial patterns is normally read. As a result, the performance of the reading device is suppressed, thereby increasing the convenience of operation.
As an example of the dummy partial pattern, it is conceivable to have a defect in the cutout pattern. If there is a defect in the cutout pattern, the dummy partial pattern cannot be specified in the reader.

8. Eighth and Ninth Embodiments Up to this point, examples of embodiments have mainly been given in which both the first pattern and the second pattern are two-dimensional codes. However, the first pattern and the second pattern of the information recording medium according to the present disclosure are not limited to the two-dimensional code, and at least the second pattern may include information that can be converted into a specific code by a reading device. As examples of these, an eighth embodiment in which the first and second patterns are bar codes and a ninth embodiment in which they are alphanumeric characters will be briefly described.

The configuration of the information recording medium 1f according to the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. It is configured so that the exposed portion of the surface is reduced. Moreover, the second pattern 206 is a bar code formed horizontally so as to be superimposed thereon, and is arranged as a total of two partial patterns 206a and 206b on the upper and lower sides. Both the first pattern 106 and the second pattern 206 are composed of CODE39 barcodes.

Similarly, in the configuration of the information recording medium 1g according to the ninth embodiment shown in FIG. It is configured as a continuously bonded pattern, and is configured such that the exposed portion of the surface of the underlying substrate 2 is reduced. In addition, the second pattern 207 is configured as partial patterns 207a and 207b in which "XYZ67890", which is a combination of alphanumeric characters written horizontally, are arranged in total two positions above and below so as to be superimposed thereon. Both the first pattern 107 and the second pattern 207 are created with the Century font, but may be created with other fonts or OCR characters. Such information recording mediums 1f and 1g can also obtain the effects and effects described in the first embodiment and other embodiments.

9. Tenth Embodiment Next, a printed matter including an information recording medium will be described as a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure. A printed matter having an information recording medium is, for example, a movie, a concert, an amusement park ticket, an admission ticket, a card, or the like, to which the information recording medium is attached. A printed matter having an information recording medium itself has a monetary value, but a copy of the printed matter by a color copy or the like naturally does not have a monetary value. A printed matter 10, which is an admission ticket, shown in FIG. A printed matter 10 includes a sheet 11 and an information recording medium 1 of the first embodiment in which a part of the sheet 11 is regarded as a base material 2 . Further, the paper 11 is formed with a printing portion 12 printed with an indication indicating the ticket type, a purchaser, a serial number, and the like.

Here, the paper 11 is the base material of the printed matter 10 and is typically white paper, but the paper may be fine paper, coated paper, or plastic other than paper. Alternatively, it may be a mixed or laminated material of paper and plastic. In any case, the paper 11 may support the information recording medium 1 and carry various printed patterns indicating the ticket type and the like.

The printed matter 10 including the information recording medium 1 has a layer structure as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 15(b). FIG. 15(b) is a cross section of the printed matter 10 of FIG. 15(a) cut along the line A--A passing through substantially the vertical center of the information recording medium 1 from left to right, and looking at the cross section from below. It is a diagram. The information recording medium 1 is formed on one surface of the paper 11 of the printed matter 10 by using the paper 11 as the base material 2. From the side near the surface of the paper 11, the glitter ink layer 3 and the transparent ink layer 4 are formed. are stacked in this order. The glitter ink layer 3 and the transparent ink layer 4 respectively constitute the first pattern 100 and the second pattern 200 as described above.

It is difficult to forge or illegally use a printed matter having an information recording medium, especially by copying using a copier. In addition, compared with holograms having the same anti-counterfeiting effect, the material cost and processing cost are low, and development is easy. In addition, using a general-purpose two-dimensional code reading device, it is possible to easily read a specific code and determine authenticity while maintaining high security, thereby improving convenience. The printed material having the information recording medium of this embodiment can also be applied to information recording mediums according to embodiments other than the first embodiment and modifications thereof.

As described in the first embodiment, the first pattern of the information recording medium is easy to see, but the second pattern is difficult to see. All of the second to tenth embodiments are common in that they can be made difficult to be known and the security can be enhanced. Further, when the pattern image of the information recording medium is copied by a copier, it is difficult to extract the second pattern composed of the transparent ink layer, and only the first pattern composed of the glittering ink layer for diffuse reflection is extracted. The same is true for the point that it has a copy check effect in a copier because it is easy to extract.

10. Modification Although not shown, an information recording medium according to a modification of the information recording medium 1 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. However, each of the following modifications can be applied not only to the information recording medium 1 of the first embodiment, but also to modifications of other embodiments.

(a) Modification 1
The information recording medium 1g according to the modification 1 mixes a material that emits visible light when excited by infrared rays or ultraviolet rays, which is an authentication material, to at least part of the ink forming the transparent ink layer 4g. is configured. That is, when the ink forming the transparent ink layer 4g is irradiated with light in the wavelength range of infrared rays or ultraviolet rays, electrons in the luminous body contained in the ink are excited, and when the excited electrons return to the ground state, excess It emits energy as visible light. In addition, the wavelength range of infrared rays here can be, for example, 0.78 μm or more and 1 mm or less, and the wavelength region of ultraviolet rays can be, for example, 0.01 μm or more and 0.38 μm or less. However, there is no problem if the ink emits visible light even in a wavelength range longer than infrared rays or shorter than ultraviolet rays. , X-rays, gamma rays, or the like.

Materials that emit visible light when excited by infrared radiation are also called upconversion emitters. For example, erbium (Er), holmium (Ho), praseodymium (Pr), thulium (Tm), neodymium (Nd), gadolinium (Gd), europium (Eu), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy ) and cerium (Ce), and the base material of the phosphor particles is a halide or the like. In addition, although there are some overlaps with the above, for example, materials disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-297475 can be mentioned.

Materials that are excited by ultraviolet rays and emit visible light include, for example, dyes such as fluorescein-based fluorescent dyes, coumarin-based fluorescent dyes, and rhodamine-based fluorescent dyes. Inorganic pigments include europium-manganese-activated barium magnesium aluminate, manganese-activated zinc silicate, europium-activated yttrium oxide, europium-activated yttrium sulfide, zinc oxide, and manganese-activated germanium. and zinc acid, europium-activated yttrium phosphovanadate, and the like.

In this way, the ink forming the transparent ink layer 4g of the information recording medium 1g is composed of the ink of a transparent material that emits visible light when excited by infrared rays or ultraviolet rays, whereby the following effects can be obtained. . That is, the difference in appearance between the first pattern 100 composed of the glitter ink layer 3 and the second pattern 200 composed of the transparent ink layer 4g due to the relationship between the irradiation angle of visible light and the observation angle is used. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the anti-counterfeiting function of the present disclosure and complement it.

In addition to the difficulty of reading and duplicating the second pattern 200 under visible light irradiation conditions, the transparent ink layer is almost unaffected by the glitter ink layer 3 only when irradiated with infrared rays or ultraviolet rays in a specific wavelength range. 4g visibility can be improved. This may ensure greater readability and duplication difficulty. It is also possible to mix both a material that emits visible light when excited by infrared rays and a material that emits visible light when excited by ultraviolet rays to form a transparent ink. By doing so, the visibility of the transparent ink layer 4 can be improved by irradiation with either of the two types of invisible light, and convenience is improved.

Furthermore, in the manufacturing process of the information recording medium 1, it is difficult to directly visually confirm whether or not the transparent ink layer 4 forms the predetermined second pattern 200 correctly. However, in the present embodiment, the presence of the second pattern 200 is detected by irradiating the transparent ink layer 4g with infrared rays or ultraviolet rays in a specific wavelength range during or after the formation of the transparent ink layer 4g, so that the transparent ink layer 4g emits visible light. can be easily verified. Therefore, it can contribute to the quality improvement of the information recording medium 1g.

(b) Modification 2
Subsequently, an information recording medium 1h according to Modification 2 is formed by mixing an infrared absorption material, which is a material for determining authenticity, with at least a part of the ink forming the transparent ink layer 4h, thereby forming a transparent material ink. . Examples of organic dyes having absorption in the infrared wavelength range include polymethylene-based, phthalocyanine-based, azo-based and anthraquinone-based compounds, and inorganic infrared absorbers include antimony-doped tin oxide and tin-doped indium oxide. be done.

In this way, the same effects as in Modification 1 can be obtained by forming the transparent ink layer 4h of the information recording medium 1h with the ink of the transparent material containing the infrared absorbing material. That is, in addition to the difficulty of reading and duplicating the second pattern 200 under the condition of visible light irradiation, only when irradiated with infrared rays in a specific wavelength range, the transparent ink layer is almost unaffected by the glittering ink layer 3. The second pattern 200 of 4h can be clearly recognized by measuring means, for example an infrared camera. This may ensure greater readability and duplication difficulty.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, infrared rays in a specific wavelength range can be irradiated during or after the formation of the transparent ink layer 4h, and the state of absorption and reflection of the infrared rays can be visualized with an infrared camera or the like. Therefore, the state of formation of the transparent ink layer 4h, which is difficult to see with the naked eye, can be easily checked through an infrared camera or the like, contributing to the improvement of the quality of the information recording medium 1h.

(c) Modification 3
Further, the information recording medium 1i according to Modification 3 is made of ink of a transparent material, in which at least part of the ink forming the transparent ink layer 4i contains a polarizing material as a material for judging authenticity. Such polarizing materials include, for example, an absorbing polarizer obtained by impregnating polyvinyl alcohol with iodine or a dichroic dye and stretching and oriented, or an absorbing polarizer obtained by orienting a dichroic dye on an oriented film. , a reflective circular polarizer in which a cholesteric liquid crystal is oriented on a substrate, a reflective polarizer formed by laminating a birefringent multilayer film, and the like. It should be noted that other elements than these may be used as long as they have the property of extracting a polarized component in a specific direction from reflected light or transmitted light.

Such a transparent ink layer 4i containing a polarizing material can be formed by the method described in Japanese Patent No. 6519582, for example. First, an alignment film solution is prepared by dissolving an alignment film resin, and the solution is coated on the substrate 2 by microgravure to form a coating film in a state where areas other than a predetermined pattern image are masked. Next, an alignment treatment is performed by rubbing the coating film with a rubbing cloth along a predetermined direction to obtain an alignment film. Furthermore, a dichroic dye is added to the UV curable liquid crystal to prepare a polarizer solution.

After that, using the microgravure method, the solution for polarizer is applied on the alignment film so as to have a predetermined thickness to form a coating film. Next, the coating film is annealed, and the coating film is irradiated with UV light in an oxygen atmosphere to cure the coating film, thereby providing a polarizing function having a transmission axis in a predetermined direction. A transparent ink layer 4i can be formed. Further, after forming the transparent ink layer 4i on the entire surface of the predetermined region of the base material 2 without masking, the portion where the pattern image is not formed is irradiated with a laser of a predetermined wavelength region to thermally destroy the liquid crystal molecules in the portion. It is also possible to equip only the pattern image portion with the polarizing function.

In this way, the same effect as in Modifications 1 and 2 can be obtained by forming the transparent ink layer 4i of the information recording medium 1i with ink of a transparent material containing a polarizing material. That is, in addition to the difficulty of reading and duplicating the second pattern 200 under the condition of visible light irradiation, only when a predetermined polarizing film is used, the transparent ink layer is almost unaffected by the glittering ink layer 3. 4i visibility can be improved. This may ensure greater reading and duplication difficulty.

Furthermore, the transparent ink layer may be configured as a mode that includes any or all of Modifications 1 to 3 described above. For example, the ink forming the transparent ink layer may be composed of a transparent ink containing an infrared absorbing material in addition to a material that emits visible light when excited by infrared rays or ultraviolet rays. Alternatively, the ink forming the transparent ink layer may be made of a transparent ink containing a polarizing material in addition to containing an infrared absorbing material. By doing so, it is possible to increase the number of methods for verifying authenticity determination, thereby further contributing to ensuring the difficulty of reading and duplication.

Further, in the present embodiment, by using a predetermined polarizing film during or after the formation of the transparent ink layer 4i, it is possible to easily confirm the formation state of the transparent ink layer 4i, which is difficult to confirm with the naked eye, and to record information. It can contribute to quality improvement of the body 1i.

(d) Modification 4
For example, the information recording medium may be installed in a store or the like and attached to a stand, a sticker, or the like used at the time of payment. In that case, although the information recording medium itself has no monetary value, it is necessary to confirm the authenticity of the information recording medium since it is used for settlement. When the information recording body is used for settlement, when the authenticity determination device determines that the information recording medium is genuine, for example, the second specific code is used to connect to the settlement server and perform processing by the settlement server. to In this way, the reliability of payment processing can be improved in a payment processing system (information processing system) including an information recording medium and an authenticity determination device.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h, 1i, 1j Information recording medium 2 Base material 3 Glittering ink layers 4, 4g, 4h, 4i Transparent ink layer 10 Printed matter 11 Paper 12 Printing part 21 Illumination light source 22 Viewpoint 22a Viewpoint 22b at position P1 Viewpoint 22c at position P2 Viewpoints 30, 30a at position P3 Reading devices 31, 31a, 31b, 31c Control units 32, 32a, 32b, 32c Storage unit 33 Reading unit 35 Operation unit 36 Display Unit 41 Illumination control unit 42 First pattern position specifying unit 43 Second pattern position specifying unit 44 Image acquiring unit 45 Code specifying unit 46 Authenticity determination unit 51 First pattern position specifying information 52 Second pattern position specifying information 53 Authenticity determination information 60 , 60a authenticity determination devices 100, 105, 106, 107 first pattern 100p clipped symbols 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208 second patterns 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d, 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d, 203a, 203b, 203c, 203d, 204a, 204b, 204c, 204d, 204e, 204f, 204g, 204h, 204i, 205a, 205c, 205g, 205i, 206a, 206b, 207a, 207b, 208b, 208d, 208g, 208i, 208l, 208n partial patterns 200p, 201p, 202p, 203p, 204p, 205p, 208p cutout symbols 205b, 205d, 205e, 205f, 205h, 208a, 208c, 208e, 208f, 208h, 208j, 208k, 208m, 208o Dummy partial patterns 300, 300a, 300b, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 Pattern images

Claims (20)

a substrate;
a first printed layer formed on one surface of the substrate with a glitter ink;
an information recording medium comprising a second printed layer on the one surface side and formed of a transparent ink having a different amount of reflected light depending on an observation angle,
The first printed layer forms a first pattern,
The second printed layer forms a second pattern,
The second pattern is composed of a plurality of partial patterns, each of the plurality of partial patterns is a two-dimensional code, each having one or more cutout symbols,
The second pattern includes information convertible to a second specific code that is a specific code, and is superimposed on at least a portion of the first pattern,
The first pattern includes information convertible to a first specific code that is a specific code different from the second pattern,
The first specific code that is converted based on the information that the first pattern has is a part of the partial patterns that has information that can be converted to the second specific code, among the plurality of partial patterns. Contains placement information , information record. a substrate;
a first printed layer formed on one surface of the substrate with a glitter ink;
an information recording medium comprising a second printed layer on the one surface side and formed of a transparent ink that reflects a different amount of light depending on the viewing angle,
The first printed layer forms a first pattern,
The second printed layer forms a second pattern,
The second pattern is composed of a plurality of partial patterns, each of the plurality of partial patterns is a two-dimensional code, each having one or more cutout symbols,
The second pattern includes information convertible to a second specific code that is a specific code, and is superimposed on at least part of the first pattern. death,
Of the plurality of partial patterns, only some of the partial patterns contain information convertible into the second specific code. , information record. 3. The information according to claim 1 , wherein, of the plurality of partial patterns, the partial patterns other than the partial pattern form dummy information that cannot be converted into the second specific code. record body. a substrate;
a first printed layer formed on one surface of the substrate with a glitter ink;
an information recording medium comprising a second printed layer on the one surface side and formed of a transparent ink having a different amount of reflected light depending on an observation angle,
The first printed layer forms a first pattern,
The second printed layer forms a second pattern,
The second pattern is composed of a plurality of partial patterns, each of the plurality of partial patterns is a two-dimensional code, each having one or more cutout symbols,
The second pattern includes information convertible to a second specific code that is a specific code, and is superimposed on at least part of the first pattern. death,
When the plurality of partial patterns are arranged in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, two of the partial patterns adjacent to each other share the cutout symbol, and one of the partial patterns is converted into the second specific code. Impossible dummy information is constructed, and the other partial pattern has information convertible to the second specific code. Information recording body. a base material;
a first printed layer formed on one surface of the substrate with a glitter ink;
an information recording medium comprising a second printed layer on the one surface side and formed of a transparent ink having a different amount of reflected light depending on an observation angle,
The first printed layer forms a first pattern,
The second printed layer forms a second pattern,
The second pattern is composed of a plurality of partial patterns, each of the plurality of partial patterns is a two-dimensional code, each having one or more cutout symbols,
The second pattern includes information convertible to a second specific code that is a specific code, and is superimposed on at least part of the first pattern. death,
When the plurality of partial patterns are a first partial pattern, a second partial pattern, and a third partial pattern sandwiched between the first partial pattern and the second partial pattern,
A first cut-out symbol arranged on the second partial pattern side of the first partial pattern and a second cut-out symbol arranged on the first partial pattern side of the second partial pattern At least two cutout symbols of the third partial pattern are formed, and the third partial pattern is dummy information that cannot be converted into the second specific code. information record body. 6. The information recording medium according to claim 4 , wherein said first pattern contains information convertible to a first specific code, which is a specific code different from said second pattern. 7. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein all said cutout symbols are arranged at the ends of said second pattern. 8. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said first pattern is a two-dimensional code. 9. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said second printed layer is composed of said transparent ink that emits visible light when excited by infrared rays or ultraviolet rays. 9. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein said second printed layer is made of ink containing an infrared absorbing material. 9. The information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein said second printed layer is made of ink containing a polarizing material. A printed matter comprising the information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 11 . from claim 1Claim 11A reading device for reading the information recording medium according to any one of
an illumination source;
a reading unit that reads information of the second pattern that can be read by turning on the illumination light source;
a code identifying unit that converts information of the second pattern read by the reading unit into the second specific code; ,
The reading unit is configured to read the first pattern of the information recording medium, which can be read by turning on the illumination light source with a first light amount including a light-off state, and a second pattern, which is larger than the first light amount. can read the information of the second pattern that can be read by turning on the illumination light source with a light amount of
the code identification unit converts the information of the first pattern and the second pattern read by the reading unit into the first specific code and the second specific code, respectively;
further comprising a position specifying unit that specifies a reading position of the second pattern by the reading unit based on the first specific code; Ru, readingpick-up device. Claim 13 An authenticity determination device including the reading device according to
comparing the second specific code with comparison information for determining the authenticity of the information recording medium stored in a storage device, and determining that the information recording medium is genuine when the two match; Authenticity judgment for judging that the information recording medium is not authentic when the two do not matchDepartmentAuthenticity determination device. from claim 1Claim 11A computer equipped with an illumination light source and a reading unit capable of reading the information recording medium according to any one of
a second light amount lighting means for lighting the illumination light source with a second light amount larger than the first light amount including the off state;
a second information reading means for causing the reading section to read information of the second pattern of the information recording medium that can be read while the illumination light source is turned on by the second light intensity lighting means;
means for converting the information of the second pattern read by the reading unit by the second information reading means into the second specific code;
to make it work ,
The second information reading means is read position information of the second pattern of the information recording medium stored in a storage device, and the information of the second pattern of the position information is read by the reading unit. make it work to read, program. from claim 1Claim 11A computer equipped with an illumination light source and a reading unit capable of reading the information recording medium according to any one of
The illumination light source is set to a first light intensity including an extinguished state a first light intensity lighting means for lighting the illumination light source at
a first information reading means for causing the reading section to read information of the first pattern on the information recording medium that can be read while the illumination light source is turned on by the first light intensity lighting means;
means for converting the information of the first pattern read by the reading unit by the first information reading means into a first specific code;
a position specifying means for specifying a reading position of the second pattern based on the first specific code;
the illumination light source, a second light amount lighting means for lighting with a second light amount larger than the first light amount;
While lighting the illumination light source by the second light amount lighting means, of the reading position of the second pattern specified by the position specifying meansa second information reading means for causing the reading unit to read information of the second pattern;
means for converting the information of the second pattern read by the reading unit by the second information reading means into the second specific code;
program to function as The computer compares the second specific code with comparison information for authenticity determination of the information recording medium stored in a storage device, and if the two match, the information recording medium is genuine. 17. The program according to claim 15 or 16 , which functions as means for determining that the information recording medium is not authentic when the two do not match. A method for reading an information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
a step of reading the information of the first pattern of the information recording medium, which can be read by turning on the illumination light source with a first light amount including an off state;
converting information of the read first pattern into a first specific code;
a step of specifying the reading position of the second pattern based on the first specified code;
a step of reading the information of the second pattern of the information recording medium that can be read by turning on the illumination light source with a second light quantity larger than the first light quantity;
and converting information of the read second pattern into the second specific code. Claim 18 In addition to the method described in 1., the second specific code is compared with comparison information for authenticity determination, and if the two match, the information recording body is determined to be authentic, and the two do not match. A method for determining authenticity, further comprising: determining that the information recording medium is not authentic in some cases. an information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ;
The authenticity determination device according to claim 14 , which reads the information recording medium;
a server that is communicably connected to the authenticity determination device and performs processing using the second specific code that the authenticity determination device determines to be authentic;
An information processing system comprising

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