JPS63207695A - Method and device for automatically inputting business card information and business card with identification mark - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for inputting and recording business card information written on a business card with an optical device, an apparatus used therefor, and a business card with an identification mark necessary for carrying out this method. It is related to.

(Prior Art) Although business cards are widely used as useful objects, methods and methods for organizing them have not been developed much, and little thought has been given to business cards themselves that make it easy to search for business card information.

A method of organizing business cards that has been widely used so far is to use an album-type organizer or card box to arrange them in the order of company name or first letter of the name. A method of organizing business card information by printing it out and reading it is being considered. However, the method of using a organizer or card box requires time and effort to organize, and there are many problems such as there is no way to find the business card if you forget the company name or name of the card, and it is difficult to store it. There is.

For this purpose, as mentioned above, even if the code is printed in the margin of the business card, or even if the code is not printed, the information written on the business card can be manually entered and recorded on the computer using a keyboard, allowing for multifaceted searches. Some efforts are being made to make this possible. Even with these types of cards, there are problems such as the presence of the code detracts from the appearance of the business card, and the amount of information is small because it is simply a printed phone number code, so it is difficult to enter it manually. This is expensive and time consuming, and there are problems such as input errors and misreadings.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 81-9418 improved these problems.
There are inventions such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-24358:1, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-243584, all of which encode business card information such as company name and name. This coded text information is displayed in the margins of business cards, etc., and it is not possible to distinguish whether this coded text information is about the company name or the name and read it into a computer. New problems have arisen, such as the need to re-express company names and names as encoded character information instead of reading the characters as they are.

(Disadvantages to be solved) The present invention has developed a computer that reads and distinguishes business card information such as the company name and name written on a blank business card while automatically determining what it is about. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to develop a method for inputting business card information that can be input and recorded in a computer, an apparatus for implementing the method, and a business card suitable for the method.

(Means for solving the problem) In order to solve the above problem, business card information such as company name and name can be printed using carbon-based ink that absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays or that contains a substance that absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays. dye,
Printed with infrared or ultraviolet light-absorbing ink such as pigment-based ink, there are identification marks near the business card details that indicate what they are about, but are difficult to see with the naked eye, but can be recognized with some optical equipment. By developing business cards printed with a special ink that is sequentially read by an optical device that has a light source that emits infrared or ultraviolet rays and a sensor that responds to these rays, the company name can be changed to the name of the company. We devised a method for inputting business card information in which each name, such as the name, is input and recorded separately on a computer, and in order to implement this method, we have a light source that emits infrared or ultraviolet rays and a sensor that responds to these rays. constantly conveying the business card with the identification mark to an optical device and a reading position of the optical device on a conveying device that sequentially conveys the business card, and irradiating the business card with the identification mark with the light beam;
A computer built into the optical device or connected to the optical device, which has a sensor that reacts depending on the presence or absence of the reflected light, uses light or electrical signals from the sensor of the optical device to mark business card details and identification marks. has developed an automatic business card information input device that recognizes reading characters and inputs and records them into a computer.

(Example) The first to third inventions of the present application will be explained using figures.
For convenience of explanation, a business card with an identification mark according to the third invention will be explained first.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an embodiment of the third invention of the present application, and the same parts are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation will be given first from the one in FIG. 1.

The business card with identification mark (1) of the third invention of the present application is a business card mount (
2) Write the company name (3) and affiliation (4) on the top, just like a regular business card.
Ink that absorbs infrared rays or ultraviolet rays and allows the business card details such as , role $1 (5), name (6), postal code (7), company address (8), and telephone number (9) to be visible, such as carbon-based ink. It is printed with dye-based or pigment-based colored ink containing benzophenone-based or cyanine-based compounds, and there is an identification mark ``^'' near these business card entries to indicate what they are about. (It is difficult to see with the naked eye, but it is printed with white or transparent ink such as zinc white, rutile, benzophenone, or cyanine compounds that absorb infrared and ultraviolet rays.)

In other words, the company name (3) is "^" (1.), the affiliation (4) is rBJ (11), and the role a11 (5) is rCJ (12).
, r[1J (13) for name (6), rEJ (14) for postal code (7), rFJ (15) for company address (8).
), the telephone number (9) has the identification mark '1;
Arbitrary coloring with dye-based or pigment-based inks that are unreactive to infrared and ultraviolet light, that is, do not absorb these lights at all (28)
This coloring (28) may include flowers, birds,
It can be a pattern representing the wind or the moon, it can be an illustration or photo of the main character of your favorite manga or a popular celebrity, or it can even be your company's trademark, major products, or the initials of your name. It may be a pattern that represents the same color, or it may be the same color on the entire surface.Such a pattern may be a geometric pattern, a striped pattern, etc. uniformly on the entire surface.In Figure 1, (21) is the reading range. An indication mark, which is a mark for pointing the range to be read by the optical device,
Business card details (3) to (9) and identification marks (10) to (16) that require reading and input are marked with ink that absorbs infrared and ultraviolet rays, although they are difficult to see.

FIG. 2 also shows an embodiment of the business card (1) with an identification mark according to the third invention, and the business card mount (2) has a business card (2) that is visible and does not react (does not absorb) to infrared or ultraviolet light. Appropriate coloring with dye-based or pigment-based ink (28
), and on top of that, the company name (3) and affiliation (4) are written in a different color, such as blue, green, yellow, or red.
, role 11 (5), name (6), postal code (7), company address (8), telephone number (9), etc., and any of the business card information, such as company name (3
) and the name (6) with reading characters (19
), (2G) are printed with ink that absorbs infrared or ultraviolet light.

In other words, the pronunciation of the company name (19) is written immediately above and parallel to the company name (3), such as [Chibasangi Yokabu].
Also in parallel just below the name (6) is rcHIBA.
The pronunciation of the name (20) is TAROJ.
It is printed with ink containing an infrared or ultraviolet light absorbing material in an appropriate color such as blue, green, yellow, or red.

Each of these business card entries (3) to (9) and pronunciation characters (19) and (2G) are predetermined and uniformly used identifiers to distinguish what the card is about. Marks (10) to (18) are attached, respectively.

In other words, the company name (3) is ``^J (10), the affiliation (4) is rBJ (11), the position (5) is ``Cba 12), and the name (6) is 'DJ (13). , the postal code (7) is 'EJ
(14), the company address (8) is rFJ (15), the phone number (9) is rGJ (+6), and the company name (19) is 'a', 1 (17).
), an identification mark called rdJ (18) is printed in ink on the readable character (20) of the name, which is difficult to see but can be recognized depending on the optical device. These printed business card details (3) to (9), their identification marks (10) to (16), reading characters (19), (2G
) and any of their identification marks (17) and (18) are given a reading range indication mark (22) with ink that is difficult to see but can be recognized depending on the optical marking device. In addition to the ones surrounded by a frame such as a mouth as shown in Fig. 1 and the ones with underlines shown in Fig. 2, there are other types of indicator marks such as those shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. Conceivable. In addition to solid lines, these frames, lines, and brackets may also be drawn with dotted lines, chain lines, or wavy lines.

In addition, if there are multiple reading range indication marks represented by frames, parentheses, or lines in the same row or column, it is better to use arrows (27) to indicate the following, so that they can be read more efficiently. This reading range indicating mark is easy to read if it is continuous from end to end or at least to one end of the business card mount.

Next, both the first and second inventions of the present application will be explained using FIG. 7.

In FIG. 7, (31) is a feed box that stores business cards (1) with identification marks according to the third invention of the present application described above, and the business cards (1) stored here are fed into one by a feeder (32). The sheets are sent out one by one. The sent out business card (1) with an identification mark is transferred onto a conveyance device (33), fixed on the conveyance device (33) by means such as suction, and conveyed directly below the optical device (34). At this point, it is temporarily stopped or the speed is reduced to a speed matching the scanning speed of the optical device, and the transport is carried out slowly or intermittently. If the optical device has a part that absorbs infrared or ultraviolet light, that is, a reading range indication mark (21), scan that range and pattern the characters, figures, marks, and code books marked in that range. recognized as

That is, as shown in Fig. 8, when the infrared rays emitted from the light source reach the business card with identification mark (1), the rays in the area marked with the reading range indication mark (21) are absorbed by the ink. The surrounding business card mount (2) and coloring (2)
8) will be reflected and the reflected light will reach the infrared sensor (35). As a result, it knows that there is an area to be read, and the speed control mechanism (36) of the transport device (33) is actuated by a signal from the optical device to reduce the speed to a predetermined speed, but once it stops, it starts scanning over that range. . At this time, infrared light is emitted and the business card is blank (2)
The business card 3dil thing 1 (I (3) ~ (
9)'? Sof) M? -ri'A I (10) ~
rG ” (16) Sara has reading characters (19), (2
0) and its identification mark 'a' (17) and rdJ (18)
The light rays that hit the printed area are absorbed as shown in Figure 8, and are absorbed by the other parts of the business card mount (2) and the colored part (28).
) The light beam that hits the part is reflected and is detected by the infrared sensor (35
). Depending on the presence or absence of this reflected light, the above-mentioned characters, figures, marks, and codes are recognized as images.

What is recognized as an image is recognized by shape or literature by a computer (37) built into the optical device or external, and the company name is input and stored separately, such as 2 names as company names and 2 names as names. Ru. The scan at this time is the reading range indicator (21)
Since the part to be read is automatically determined by the arrows and arrows (27), efficient reading is possible.

It goes without saying that the reading of business cards with identification marks (1) is not limited to one card at a time, but can be performed simultaneously for multiple cards, and it is not necessary to use a conveying device or a feeder as shown in the figure. .

Business cards with identification marks read in this way (1)
is separated from the transport device (33), passes through a guide (38), and is collected into a storage box (39). On the other hand, the computer (37
) can be searched for necessary business card information by using a dedicated terminal (40) or a button-type telephone connected thereto.

In addition, terms used in each invention of the present application will be defined here.

Optical devices include image scanners and facsimile machines that use image sensors that use infrared or ultraviolet light, as well as optical character reading devices.

Inks that are visible to the naked eye and absorb infrared or ultraviolet rays include carbon-based inks, black, blue, and green inks that contain substances that absorb infrared or ultraviolet rays, such as zinc white, rutile, benzophenone compounds, and cyanine compounds. , refers to ink with colors such as yellow and red.

Although it is difficult to see, inks that absorb infrared or ultraviolet rays are colorless or white inks that contain substances that absorb infrared or ultraviolet rays, such as zinc white, rutile, benzophenone compounds, or cyanine compounds. Furthermore, it refers to ink having a light color.

(Effects) According to the first invention of the present application, business card information can be automatically input without input errors, and business card information can be input and recorded separately, such as the company name for the company name and the name for the name. As a result, business card information can be searched from multiple perspectives, making it possible to find the desired business card even with the slightest clue, and tabulations can be made according to the purpose.

According to the second invention, any type of business card according to the third invention of the present application can be automatically read by the optical device, so business card information can be inputted efficiently and accurately.

According to the third invention, business card information and readable characters are printed using colored ink that contains dye-based, pigment-based, or carbon-based ink containing a substance that absorbs infrared rays and ultraviolet rays, and Alternatively, we have developed a blank business card with identification marks and reading range indication marks using near-colorless ink that absorbs ultraviolet rays, or a blank business card with a colored pattern. It has a beautiful appearance, and an optical device can automatically read business card details, characters, identification marks, etc. using infrared and ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is possible to input business card information efficiently and accurately while maintaining a beautiful business card.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 respectively show examples of business cards with identification marks according to the present invention, and FIGS.
FIG. 6 shows different forms of the reading range indicating mark stamped on the identification mark-equipped business card of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the automatic business card information input method of the present invention and an apparatus for carrying out the method. FIG. 8 is a principle diagram showing the state of absorption and reflection of infrared rays in each part for image recognition using infrared rays.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Business card information such as company name and name is printed using ink that is visible and absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays, and is identified using ink that is difficult to see but absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays. By sequentially reading business cards with identification marks printed on them by an optical device equipped with infrared or ultraviolet rays as a light source and equipped with a sensor that reacts to these rays, the company name can be recognized as a company name, and the name can be recognized as a full name. A method for automatically inputting business card information that distinguishes the information on each business card and automatically inputs it into the computer. 2) The visible information on business cards with identification marks that is printed using ink that absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays is the business card information such as company name and name, and the pronunciation characters attached to any of them. A method for automatically inputting business card information according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3) Claim 1 in which the matters printed on the business card with an identification mark using ink that is difficult to see but absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays are the identification mark and the reading range indicating mark.
2. Automatic input method of business card information as described in Section 2 or Section 2. 4) An optical device equipped with a light source that emits infrared or ultraviolet rays and a sensor that reacts to these rays, and a visible ink that absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays at the reading position of this optical device to display the company name, name, etc. A conveying device that transports business cards with identification marks printed with business card information and reading characters attached to any of them, and identification marks printed with ink that is difficult to see but absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays. , and a computer connected to the optical device. 5) Business card information such as company name and name is printed using ink that is visible and absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays, and an identification mark is printed using ink that is difficult to see but absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays. business card. 6) The items printed using ink that is visible and absorbs infrared or ultraviolet rays are business card information such as company name and name, and reading characters attached to any of these items. A business card with an identification mark as described in Section 5. 7) A business card with an identification mark according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the item printed with ink that is difficult to see but absorbs infrared or ultraviolet light is an identification mark and a reading range indicator.