U.S. patent application number 12/498125 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-29 for method provided with magnetic body and magnetic body sensing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Mario Fuse, Kunihiro Takahashi, Shoji Yamaguchi.
Application Number | 20090266902 12/498125 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35908716 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090266902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamaguchi; Shoji ; et
al. |
October 29, 2009 |
METHOD PROVIDED WITH MAGNETIC BODY AND MAGNETIC BODY SENSING
DEVICE
Abstract
A medium comprises a magnetic body which generates a signal when
a magnetic field is applied thereto, wherein the magnetic body has
two or more easy magnetization directions and the magnetic body
forms information that identifies the medium based on the signal
generated when the magnetic field is applied to the magnetic
body.
Inventors: |
Yamaguchi; Shoji; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Fuse; Mario; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Takahashi;
Kunihiro; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
Kanagawa
JP
|
Family ID: |
35908716 |
Appl. No.: |
12/498125 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11066780 |
Feb 28, 2005 |
|
|
|
12498125 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/493 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 19/06187 20130101;
G06K 7/087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/493 |
International
Class: |
G06K 19/06 20060101
G06K019/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 23, 2004 |
JP |
2004-242516 |
Claims
1. A medium comprising: a magnetic body that generates a signal
when an alternating magnetic field is applied thereto, wherein the
magnetic body has two or more non-parallel directional axes in
which the magnetic body is easy to cause magnetization reversion,
wherein each directional axis is with respect to a direction from
which the alternating magnetic field is applied; the magnetic body
forms information that identifies the medium based on the signal
generated when the alternating magnetic field is applied; and the
alternating magnetic field alternates between a positive magnetic
field and a negative magnetic field along the direction from which
the alternating magnetic field is applied.
2. A magnetic body sensing device for sensing a medium provided
with a magnetic body that generates a signal when an alternating
magnetic field is applied thereto, comprising: a coil that applies
an alternating magnetic field to the magnetic body provided to the
medium, a detector that detects a signal generated by the magnetic
body in response to the alternating magnetic field applied; and a
sensor that senses information formed by the magnetic body based on
the signal generated by the magnetic body and detected by the
detector, wherein the magnetic body has two or more non-parallel
directional axes in which the magnetic body is easy to cause
magnetization reversion, and each directional axis is with respect
to a direction from which the alternating magnetic field is
applied, and the alternating magnetic field alternates between a
positive magnetic field and a negative magnetic field along the
direction from which the alternating magnetic field is applied.
3. A medium comprising: means for identifying the medium based on a
signal generated when an alternating magnetic field is applied to
the medium irrespective of a relative orientation between an axis
of the medium and a magnetic flux direction of the alternating
magnetic field, wherein the medium has two or more non-parallel
directional axes in which the medium is easy to cause magnetization
reversion, and each directional axis is with respect to a direction
from which the alternating magnetic field is applied, and the
alternating magnetic field alternates between a positive magnetic
field and a negative magnetic field along the direction from which
the alternating magnetic field is applied.
4. A medium comprising: a magnetic body that generates a signal
when an alternating magnetic field is applied thereto, wherein the
magnetic body has two or more non-parallel easy magnetization
directions along a magnetic element for causing magnetic reversion
to the magnetic body; the magnetic body forms information that
identifies the medium based on the signal generated when the
alternating magnetic field is applied; and the alternating magnetic
field alternates between a positive magnetic field and a negative
magnetic field along the direction from which the alternating
magnetic field is applied.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/066,780
filed Feb. 28, 2005. The entire disclosure of the prior
application, application Ser. No. 11/066,780, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a medium provided with a
magnetic body and a magnetic body sensing device, and particularly,
to a medium provided with a magnetic body and a magnetic body
sensing device that senses the medium in a non-contact manner, and
prevents erroneous sensing that may occur when the magnetic body
sensing device performs sensing of the medium along some
directions, thereby to improve the accuracy of sensing.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Various methods and devices for enhancing security have been
proposed. Such methods and devices are designed to prevent leaks of
confidential or personal information, or prevent forgery of
securities or the like by unauthorized copying.
[0006] For the purpose of preventing forgery of securities or the
like, a method has been proposed in which securities or the like
are made of a special paper having therein a latent image formed in
a specific pattern or formed with special ink containing an
infrared absorbing agent, for example.
[0007] In this method, when securities made of such a special paper
is copied with a scanner (image input device) or copying machine, a
latent image of a specific pattern or a latent image drawn with
special ink formed in the special paper is printed in a visually
observable state. With the printed latent image, the fact that the
securities were copied is recognized, thereby enabling to prevent
the forgery of securities.
[0008] It is known to provide a forgery preventing paper and
securities made of such paper, which make it very difficult to
forge securities by the use of a color copying machine and to forge
the paper itself for the securities. This forgery preventing paper
is manufactured by mixing, in a paper base material consisting of
pulp fibers, small pieces of paper or fiber fibrils coated with an
ink containing a metameric pigment with substantially the same
amount of small pieces of paper or fiber fibrils colored with an
ordinary color ink which looks the same hue as that of the ink
containing the metameric pigment under ordinary light such as
sunlight, whereby when a document such as securities made of the
forgery preventing paper is copied, two kinds of spots with
differing hues appear on the color-copied paper and thus the
forgery of securities can be prevented.
[0009] It is also known to provide an image processing device and a
method of adding a specific pattern when a specific original
document is copied. According to this technique, the specific
property of an original document is determined by comparing an
image from the original document with an image from a transferred
material. An output image from the original document with such
specific property is always processed before outputting the same,
so that if a specific original document (e.g. banknote) that is
supposed not to be copied is copied, a clue is provided for
locating the copying machine used for the unauthorized copying.
[0010] However, the techniques disclosed above require special
operations such as scanning image data of an original document,
transferred material, or securities. It has therefore been desired
a method, device or forgery preventing paper, which, without
performing such special operations, is capable of protecting
securities against fraudulent copying, or determining whether or
not a specific original document.
[0011] Further, it is known to provide a robbery preventing label
(tag) used in an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system.
According to this technique, a robbery preventing label is provided
with a soft magnetic thin film used as an active element. The
robbery preventing label is designed to be usable in an electronic
article inspection system without being affect by orientation of
the label at the detector outlet of the system. Specifically, the
soft magnetic thin film has an easy magnetization axis in a
specific direction, and the robbery preventing label is folded
along at least one folding line, so that the robbery preventing
label has at least two layers which overlap at least partially with
each other, at least one of the folding lines intersects with the
direction of the easy magnetization axis to form an oblique angle,
and thus the direction of the easy magnetization axis of one of the
layers differ from the directions of the easy magnetization axes of
other layers.
[0012] However, this robbery preventing label is designed such that
a response signal from the robbery preventing label can be detected
at a predetermine level irrespective of orientations of the
magnetic field and the robbery preventing label by differing the
direction of the easy magnetization axis of one layer from the
directions of the easy magnetization axes of the other layers.
Thus, a method of applying this robbery preventing label to a
medium to enable unique identification of the medium and sensing
and identifying a desired medium from plural media provided with
such robbery preventing label is not disclosed.
[0013] Further, it is known to provide a magnetic marker that is
readable in a non-contact manner and has various information
recorded in a magnetic pattern and a method of reading such a
magnetic marker. According to this technique, the magnetic marker
is provided with a magnetic pattern such that the easy
magnetization direction forms a predetermined angle with a scanning
direction, and encoding is thus performed with an angle formed
between the easy magnetization direction and the scanning
direction. As the results, it is made possible not only to read the
magnetic marker in a non-contact manner but also to represent
analog data or multi-value data by the use of a single bar.
[0014] However, this magnetic marker is designed such that encoding
is performed by using an angle formed between the easy
magnetization direction of the magnetic pattern and a scanning
direction. Therefore, if a medium provided with the magnetic marker
is placed in an arbitrary orientation, an angle formed between the
easy magnetization direction of the magnetic pattern and a scanning
direction will vary, even for the same medium, according to the
orientation where the medium is placed, and a sensed code will
possibly be detected as a different code.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances and provides a medium provided with a magnetic body
and a magnetic body sensing device for sensing in a non-contact
manner a medium provided with a magnetic body capable of preventing
erroneous sensing caused by a direction along which the magnetic
body sensing device senses the medium, thereby to improve the
detection accuracy.
[0016] In a first aspect of the present invention, a medium
comprises a magnetic body which generates a signal when a magnetic
field is applied thereto, wherein the magnetic body has two or more
easy magnetization directions and the magnetic body forms
information that identifies the medium based on the signal
generated when the magnetic field is applied to the magnetic
body.
[0017] In a second aspect of the present invention, a magnetic body
sensing device for sensing a medium provided with a magnetic body
generating a signal when a magnetic field is applied thereto,
comprises a detector that applies a magnetic field to the magnetic
body provided to the medium, and detects a signal generated by the
magnetic body in response to the magnetic field applied; and a
sensor that senses information formed by the magnetic body based on
the signal generated by the magnetic body and detected by the
detector, wherein the magnetic body has two or more easy
magnetization directions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0019] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views of a copying machine 10
equipped with a magnetic body sensing device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A being a block diagram
schematically illustrating the copying machine 10 and FIG. 1B being
a schematic perspective view of the copying machine 10;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a
principal part of the magnetic body sensing device 100 according to
the embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 3A illustrates magnetic bodies 111 and 112 associated
with identification information 110 provided to an original
document 1 and an example of shapes of the magnetic bodies;
[0022] FIG. 3B illustrates magnetic properties of the magnetic
bodies 111 and 112;
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the detection signal waveform in portion
(a) and detection pulse signal waveform of the magnetic bodies 111
and 112 provided to the original document 1 in portion (b);
[0024] FIGS. 5A to 5F illustrate measurement results of detection
output from plural magnetic bodies having different shapes provided
to paper when the paper is placed longitudinally on a platen glass
14 of the copying machine 10;
[0025] FIGS. 6A to 6F illustrate measurement results of detection
output from plural magnetic bodies having different shapes provided
to paper when the paper is placed obliquely on the platen glass 14
of the copying machine 10;
[0026] FIGS. 7A to 7F illustrate measurement results of detection
output from plural magnetic bodies having different shapes provided
to paper when the paper is placed laterally on the platen glass 14
of the copying machine 10;
[0027] FIGS. 8A to 8F illustrate examples of magnetic bodies having
shapes other than the L-shape or circular shape;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a
principal part of a magnetic body sensing device 200 that is
constructed differently from the magnetic body sensing device 100;
and
[0029] FIG. 10A illustrates an original document 21 provided with
plural magnetic bodies associated with identification information
210, and FIG. 10B illustrates an example of the detection signals
of the magnetic bodies provided to the original document 21.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Embodiment of the present invention will be described while
referring to the accompanying drawings.
[0031] The medium provided with a magnetic body and the magnetic
body sensing device according to the present invention are
applicable to printing machines, copying machines, robbery
preventing devices or the like for the purpose of preventing the
leakage of confidential information or personal information, or for
the purpose of document management.
[0032] The document management is performed by printing
confidential information on paper provided with a magnetic body
that indicates identification information unique to the paper. When
the confidential information printed on the paper is copied in a
copying machine that includes the magnetic body sensing device
according to the present invention, the magnetic body sensing
device senses the magnetic body provided to the paper, and performs
control to prohibit the copying operations by the copying machine
based on the results of the sensing. When paper on which
confidential information is printed is taken out without
authorization, the magnetic body sensing device of the present
invention provided in a robbery preventing device senses this
unauthorized action, and performs prescribed operations such as
sounding alarms based on the sensing results, thus preventing the
unauthorized action. In the above manners, it is possible to
prevent the fraudulent copying or taking out of the confidential
information, whereby the leakage of the confidential information
can be prevented effectively.
[0033] The magnetic body provided to the medium such as paper has a
property of being magnetized in a predetermined magnetic field and
of generating a steep magnetic pulse when the magnetization is
reversed, or a property of generating an electromagnetic wave
during magnetostrictive vibrations. Therefore, it is possible to
identify information given to the medium by combining plural
different type of magnetic bodies having different shapes or sizes,
and providing such magnetic bodies to the medium.
[0034] Therefore, the medium provided with a magnetic body and the
magnetic body sensing device according to the present invention are
designed such that a predetermined magnetic field is applied to the
magnetic body provided to the medium, a magnetic pulse signal or
electromagnetic wave signal generated in the magnetic body is
detected, and information of the magnetic body provided to the
medium is sensed based on the detection results.
[0035] However, the detection signal detected when the magnetic
body is reversed in magnetization by being subjected to a
predetermined magnetic field, or the detection output of the
detection signal detected through magnetostrictive vibrations
differs depending on the direction of the magnetic field applied to
the magnetic body and the direction of the easy magnetization axis
of the magnetic body.
[0036] Accordingly, even if a predetermined magnetic field is
applied to the medium that is placed in an arbitrary orientation in
the magnetic body, the output of a detection signal detected from
the magnetic body will differ depending on the direction of the
easy magnetization axis of the magnetic body and the direction of
the predetermined magnetic field applied to the medium. Depending
on the detection output values, the magnetic body may not be sensed
at all or may be sensed erroneously.
[0037] Therefore, the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments will be made on a case where the magnetic
body sensing device of the present invention is applied to a
copying machine, which is capable of, when an original document
having confidential information printed on paper provided with a
magnetic body is attempted to be copied, sensing the magnetic body
provided to the original document by means of the magnetic body
sensing device, recognizing that the original document is an
uncopiable document, and performs control to prohibit the copying
operations.
[0038] A detailed description of an embodiment of the present
invention will now be made with reference to the attached drawings
on an example where a medium provided with a magnetic body and a
magnetic body sensing device according to the embodiment are
applied to a copying machine.
[0039] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views of a copying machine 10
equipped with a magnetic body sensing device 100 according to the
embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a block diagram schematically
illustrating the copying machine 10 and FIG. 1B is a schematic
perspective view of the copying machine 10.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the copying machine 10
includes a magnetic body sensing device 100 which senses magnetic
bodies 111 and 112 provided to an original document 1 placed on a
platen glass 14 of the copying machine 10, and outputs a signal
indicating the sensing results; a control unit 11 which controls
the entirety of the copying machine 10, and either controls to
prohibit the copying machine 10 from copying the original document
1 or controls the copying operations depending on the sensing
results of the magnetic body sensing device 100; an image reading
processor 12 which illuminates the original document 1 placed on
the platen glass 14, receives reflected light from the original
document 1 and converts the received reflected light into an
electric signal by means of a photoelectric conversion element (not
shown) such as a charge coupling device (CCD), and reads image data
recorded on the original document 1 based on the electric signal
converted by the photoelectric conversion element; and an image
generating processor 13 which prints the image data read by the
image reading processor 12 on copying paper (not shown) fed from a
paper tray 16 and discharges the paper onto a paper exit tray
17.
[0041] An exciting coil 101 and a sensing coil 102 of the magnetic
body sensing device 100 are arranged on the rear face of a platen
cover 15 of the copying machine 10 for sensing the magnetic bodies
111 and 112 provided to the original document 1 placed on the
platen glass 14. The exciting coil 101 generates a predetermined
alternate magnetic field, and the sensing coil 102 receives
magnetic pulses or electromagnetic waves generated from the
magnetic bodies 111 and 112 as well as the alternate magnetic
field.
[0042] A brief description will now be made on the operations of
the copying machine 10, which determines whether an original
document 1 placed on the platen glass 14 in an arbitrary
orientation is copiable or not, and performs either processing for
copying or processing for prohibiting the copying in accordance
with the results of the determination.
[0043] When an original document 1 is placed on the platen glass 14
of the copying machine 10, the platen cover 15 is closed (in the
direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1A), and a copy start
button (not shown) is pressed, the control unit 11 of the copying
machine 10 activates the magnetic body sensing device 100 before
starting the operations of copying the original document 1.
[0044] Upon activation of the magnetic body sensing device 100, a
predetermined alternate magnetic field is generated from the
exciting coil 101, and the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 provided to
the original document 1 on the platen glass 14 are magnetized,
receiving the alternate magnetic field. As a result, the magnetic
bodies are caused to generate a steep magnetic pulse due to the
magnetization reversal thereof or an electromagnetic wave due to
magnetostrictive vibrations thereof.
[0045] The magnetic pulse or electromagnetic wave generated by the
magnetic bodies is received by the sensing coil 102 and sensed by
the magnetic body sensing device 100.
[0046] Based on the sensing results of the magnetic bodies 111 and
112 in the original document 1 by the magnetic body sensing device
100, the control unit 11 of the copying machine 10 determines
whether the original document 1 provided with the magnetic bodies
111 and 112 is a copiable document or not. If it is determined that
the original document 1 is an uncopiable document, then the control
unit 11 outputs a message indicating prohibition of copying, such
as "This document cannot be copied", or outputs an alarm sound, and
at the same time performs control to prohibit the copying
operation.
[0047] If it is determined that the original document 1 is a
copiable document, image data of the original document 1 placed on
the platen glass 14 is read by the image reading processor 12, the
image data of the original document 1 thus read is printed on
copying paper fed from the paper tray 16, and the printed paper is
discharged onto the paper exit tray 17.
[0048] In this manner, before performing the copying operations on
the original document 1 placed on the platen glass 14, the copying
machine 10 determines whether the original document 1 is a copiable
document or not, and if it is determined that the original document
1 is an uncopiable document, the copying machine 10 performs
control to prohibit the copying operation. Therefore, it is
possible to prevent an uncopiable original document from being
copied by mistake or fraudulently. It is also possible to save the
power consumption of the copying machine 10 by suppressing
unnecessary copying operations.
[0049] The timing for the magnetic body sensing device 100 to
determine whether copying operations of the original document 1
should be performed is not fixedly determined, and may be the time
at after the original document 1 is placed on the platen glass 14,
or before or after the copying machine 10 is instructed to start
copying.
[0050] The magnetic bodies 111 and 112 provided to the original
document 1 as shown in FIG. 1 are an example of many possible ways
of embodying the magnetic bodies. The number and the shape of the
magnetic bodies 111 and 112 are not determined particularly.
Therefore, only one magnetic body may be provided to the original
document 1, or plural magnetic bodies of plurality of shapes may be
provided thereto.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a principal part of
the magnetic body sensing device 100 according to the
embodiment.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, the magnetic body sensing device 100
includes an exciting circuit 103, a sensing circuit 104, a signal
processor 106, a binary output unit 107 and a timing control unit
105. The exciting circuit 103 performs control to cause the
exciting coil 101 to generate a predetermined alternate magnetic
field. The sensing circuit 104 detects, by means of the sensing
coil 102, a steep magnetic pulse which is generated by plural
magnetic bodies 111 and 112 provided to the original document 1 in
association with identification information 110 unique to the
original document 1 and formed in the original document 1 (the area
of the original document 1 indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2),
when the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 are magnetized by the original
document 1 receiving the predetermined alternate magnetic field
generated by the exciting coil 101 and the magnetization of the
magnetized magnetic bodies are reversed. The signal processor 106
processes a detection signal corresponding to the alternate
magnetic field or a magnetic pulse generated by the magnetic bodies
detected by the sensing circuit 104 and stored in a memory unit
(not shown). The binary output unit 107 outputs the identification
information 110 of the original document 1 in binary digits based
on the information signal-processed by the signal processor 106.
The timing control unit 105 performs timing-controlling of the
exciting circuit 103 and the sensing circuit 104 so as to enable
the sensing circuit 104 to sense the alternate magnetic field or
magnetic pulse at a timing corresponding to the cycle of the
alternate magnetic field.
[0053] In the magnetic body sensing device 100 thus constructed,
the exciting circuit 103 supplies current having a frequency of 1
kHz to the exciting coil 101, for example, whereby an alternate
magnetic field is generated at a frequency of 1 kHz in a
predetermined space corresponding to the shape of the exciting coil
101.
[0054] The timing control unit 105 detects the time when a current
value of the current with the frequency of 1 kHz generated by the
exciting circuit 103 becomes zero in the rising direction, in other
words when the direction of the current is reversed from negative
to positive, and outputs a reference signal to the sensing circuit
104 at this detected time at a timing of once per cycle of the
alternate magnetic field.
[0055] The sensing circuit 104 receives the detection signal
detected by the sensing coil 102 based on the timing of the
reference signal output by the timing control unit 105, and stores
the detection signal in the memory of a storage device (not
shown).
[0056] The signal processor 106 detects a pulse signal
corresponding to the magnetic pulses generated at the magnetization
reversal of the magnetic bodies, for example, by removing the
alternate magnetic field component from the detection signal stored
in the memory, amplifying a positive signal component of the signal
from which the alternate magnetic field component has been removed,
and removing noise components.
[0057] The detection pulse signal detected by the signal processor
106 is output to the binary output unit 107. The binary output unit
107 converts the detection pulse signal into identification
information represented by a binary digit of `1` or `0` and outputs
the identification information to the control unit 11 of the
copying machine 10 as identification information assigned to the
original document 1.
[0058] As described above, the magnetic body sensing device 100
applies an alternate magnetic field to plural magnetic bodies
associated with the identification information formed on the
original document 1, detects the magnetic pulse generated by the
magnetization reversal of the magnetic bodies, senses the
identification information assigned to the original document 1
based on the detected detection pulse signal pattern, and outputs
the sensing results.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, a description will now be
made on an original document 1 provided with magnetic bodies
detected by the magnetic body sensing device 100 constructed in
this manner, and magnetic bodies provided to the original document
1.
[0060] FIG. 3A illustrates an example of magnetic bodies 111 and
112 provided to an original document 1 in association with
identification information 110 assigned to the original document 1
and shapes of the magnetic bodies, and FIG. 3B illustrates magnetic
properties of the magnetic bodies 111 and 112, respectively.
[0061] Portion (a) of FIG. 4 illustrates a detection signal
waveform of a predetermined alternate magnetic field and a magnetic
pulse generated by the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 detected by the
sensing circuit 104 of the magnetic body sensing device 100, and
portion (b) of FIG. 4 illustrates a detection pulse signal waveform
detected by the signal processor 106 from the detection signal
waveform detected by the sensing circuit 104.
[0062] As mentioned in the above, a single magnetic body may be
provided to the original document 1, or plural magnetic bodies of
plural shapes may be provided in combination. For the convenience
of description, an L-shaped magnetic body 111 and a circular-shaped
magnetic body 112 are shown in FIG. 3.
[0063] A detailed description will be given later on the properties
of the magnetic bodies for each of the shapes.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 3A, the magnetic bodies 111 and 112
provided to the original document 1 are formed of a magnetic wire
of Fe--Co amorphous alloy. The magnetic body 111 of a magnetic wire
is formed into an L-shape and the magnetic body 112 of a magnetic
wire is formed into a circular shape, and they are provided to the
original document 1.
[0065] The magnetic wire has an easy magnetization axis in the
lengthwise direction thereof.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 3B, the magnetic bodies 111 and 112
provided to the original document 1 have magnetic properties as
represented by magnetic hysteresis curves 310 and 311,
respectively. The magnetic body 111 has a coercive force H1, for
example, as shown by the magnetic hysteresis curve 310, and the
magnetic body 112 has a coercive force H2, for example, as shown by
the magnetic hysteresis curve 311.
[0067] The magnetic body 111 having the coercive force H1 is
reversed in magnetization upon receiving an alternate magnetic
field with intensity higher than H1, and generates a steep magnetic
pulse at the same time. The magnetic body 112 having the coercive
force H2 is reversed in magnetization upon receiving an alternate
magnetic field with intensity higher than H2, and generates a steep
magnetic pulse at the same time.
[0068] The intrinsic coercive forces H1 and H2 of the magnetic
bodies 111 and 112 differ depending on the sizes and/or shapes of
the magnetic bodies. For example, as shown by the detection signal
waveform 402 in FIG. 4A, the magnetic body 111 having the coercive
force H1 is reversed in magnetization upon receiving an alternate
magnetic field whose magnetic field intensity has become
substantially H1 at the time t1 defined by the reference signal
output from the timing control unit 105, and generates a steep
magnetic pulse A at the same time. The magnetic body 111 is
reversed in magnetization again upon receiving an alternate
magnetic field whose magnetic field intensity has become
substantially -H1 at the time t3, and generates a steep magnetic
pulse C at the same time.
[0069] The magnetic body 112 having the coercive force H2 is
reversed in magnetization upon receiving an alternate magnetic
field whose magnetic field intensity has become substantially H2 at
the time t2, and generates a steep magnetic pulse B at the same
time. The magnetic body 112 is reversed in magnetization again upon
receiving an alternate magnetic field whose magnetic field
intensity has become substantially -H2 at the time t4, and
generates a steep magnetic pulse D at the same time.
[0070] The detection signal waveform 402 detected by the sensing
circuit 104 of the magnetic body sensing device 100 is output to
the signal processor 106, where the signal waveform 401
corresponding to the alternate magnetic field component is removed
from the detection signal waveform 402. The pulse signals A and B
which are positive signal components are detected from among the
pulse signals A, B, C, and D, and are further amplified. After
removing the noise component from the pulse signals A and B,
detection pulse signals A and B as shown in FIG. 4B are
detected.
[0071] The detection pulse signals A and B detected by the signal
processor 106 are output to the binary output unit 107. The binary
output unit 107 converts the detection pulse signals A and B into
identification information associated with binary information based
on the pattern of the detection pulse signal detected in the
detection pulse signals A and B.
[0072] Specifically, for example, the detection times t1 and t2 of
two detection pulse signals corresponding to magnetic pulses
generated by the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 are associated with
information on whether a detection pulse signal is detected or not.
Information on whether a detection pulse signal is detected or not
at the detection time t1 is associated as first bit information,
and information on whether a detection pulse signal is detected or
not at the detection time t2 is associated as second bit
information, so that identification information is output as
two-binary information.
[0073] More specifically, the binary output unit 107 determines
whether or not a detection pulse signal is detected at the
detection time t1 and t2 based on the patterns of the detection
pulse signals A and B detected from the original document 1,
respectively. If it is determined that the detection pulse signal A
is detected at the detection time t1, the first bit information
associated with the detection time t1 is set to `1`, and if it is
determined that the detection pulse signal B is detected at the
detection time t2, the second bit information associated with the
detection time t2 is set to `1`, whereby binary information of `11`
is output as identification information assigned to the original
document 1.
[0074] The method as described above in which the binary output
unit 107 outputs the identification information assigned to the
original document 1 as binary information based on the detection
pulse signals is to be taken as an example and the present
invention is not limited to this method.
[0075] For example, identification information may be associated
with numbers of detection pulse signals detected. Further, the
detection pulse signal may be output as a detection pulse signal
without being converted into binary information, or may be output
as information corresponding to the detection pulse signal.
[0076] As described above, by applying a predetermined alternate
magnetic field to the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 provided to the
original document 1, a steep pulse signal generated upon the
magnetization reversal caused thereby is detected, the presence of
the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 provided to the original document 1
is detected based on this detection results, and identification
information of the original document 1 associated with the
detection results of the magnetic bodies 111 and 112 is sensed.
[0077] The control unit 11 of the copying machine 10 determines
whether the original document 1 is a copiable document or not, on
the basis of the identification information of the original
document 1 output from the magnetic body sensing device 100 or on
the sensing results. If it is determined that the original document
1 is an uncopiable document, then the control unit 11 performs
control to prohibit the copying operations of the copying machine
10.
[0078] Although, according to the embodiment described above, it is
determined whether an original document 1 is a copiable document or
an uncopiable document based on identification information or
sensing results of the original document 1, it may also be
determined by the control unit 11 based on a management table in
which identification information or sensing results stored in a
database (not shown) based on identification information or sensing
results of the original document 1 are associated with information
enabling the copying and information disabling the copying. It is
also possible that the magnetic body sensing device 100 outputs
information enabling or disabling the copying based on the
identification information or sensing results.
[0079] The magnetic body sensing device 100 also may be designed to
recognize that the original document 1 is an uncopiable document
upon sensing a magnetic body in the original document 1 and to
perform control for prohibiting the copying operation.
[0080] As described above, the magnetic body sensing device 100
according to the embodiment is designed such that a magnetic body
having such property as generating a steep magnetic pulse upon
magnetization reversal, namely property of so-called Barkhausen
effect is provided to a medium, a predetermined magnetic field is
applied to the medium to cause magnetization reversal of the
magnetic body provided to the medium, a magnetic pulse generated by
the magnetization reversal is detected, and the detection signal
thus obtained is used to sense identification information assigned
to the medium or information on whether a magnetic body is present
in the medium or not.
[0081] However, when magnetic bodies with various shapes associated
with identification information are provided to an original
document, the original document is placed on the platen glass 14 of
the copying machine 10 in an arbitrary orientation, and the
magnetic bodies with various shapes provided to the original
document are detected by using the magnetic body sensing device
100, it is found that the detection output of a pulse signal
generated by magnetization reversal of a detected magnetic body
differs in accordance with the relationship between the direction
of the magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 101 of the
magnetic body sensing device 100 and the direction of the easy
magnetization axis of the magnetic body provided to the original
document placed on the platen glass 14. There is even a possibility
that, for certain values of the detection output, the magnetic body
provided to the original document is not detected at all or is
erroneously detected.
[0082] Therefore, for the purpose of comparing detection outputs of
detection signals detected when magnetic bodies are reversed in
magnetization upon receiving a predetermined magnetic field, the
inventors of the present application conducted measurements as
shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 by providing paper with plural magnetic
bodies with different shapes and associating the easy magnetization
direction axis of each magnetic body provided to the paper with the
direction of the predetermined magnetic field applied to the
magnetic body.
[0083] The measurements were performed on the detection outputs of
an I-shaped magnetic wire having one easy magnetization axis, and
L-shaped and circular-shaped magnetic wire having two or more easy
magnetization directions.
[0084] Specifically, referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, an I-shaped
magnetic wire 501 was prepared by forming a magnetic wire having an
easy magnetization axis along the lengthwise direction of the wire
into a linear shape with a predetermined length, an L-shaped
magnetic wire 511 was prepared by forming the wire into an L-shape,
and a circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 was prepared by forming the
wire into a circular shape. The I-shaped magnetic wire 501,
L-shaped magnetic wire 511 and circular-shaped magnetic wire 521
were provided to A4 size paper 500, 510 and 520, respectively. The
paper 500, 510 and 520 were placed on the platen glass 14 of the
copying machine 10 longitudinally (FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C), obliquely
(FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C), and transversely (FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C),
and the detection outputs of the magnetic pulse generated upon the
magnetization reversal of the magnetic wires 501, 511 and 521
detected by the magnetic body sensing device 100 were measured.
[0085] Referring to FIGS. 5A through 5F, the paper 500,510 and 520
provided with the magnetic wires 501,511 and 521 were placed
longitudinally on the platen glass 14 of the copying machine 10 and
the detection output at the time of magnetization reversal of the
magnetic wires 501, 511 and 521 were measured. Referring to FIG.
5A, the magnetic flux direction of the magnetic field generated by
the exciting coil 101 of the magnetic body sensing device 100 was
in parallel with the easy magnetization axis of the I-shaped
magnetic wire 501 provided to the paper 500. Referring to FIG. 5B,
the measurement results of the I-shaped magnetic wire 501 were
obtained in which the coercive force (Hc) was about 1 oersted and
the magnetic flux-voltage (sensing output), which was sensible, is
about 3 mV.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 5C, the magnetic flux direction of the
magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 101 of the magnetic
body sensing device 100 was in parallel with the easy magnetization
axis of a part 511a of the L-shaped magnetic wire 511 provided to
the paper 510, while the easy magnetization axis of another part
511b of the L-shaped magnetic wire 511 was vertical to the magnetic
flux direction. Referring to FIG. 5D, the measurement results of
the L-shaped magnetic wire 511 were obtained in which the coercive
force (Hc) was about 0.1 oersteds and the magnetic flux-voltage
(sensing output), which was sensible, is about 2 mV.
[0087] Further, as shown in FIG. 5E, the magnetic flux direction of
the magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 101 of the
magnetic body sensing device 100 was vertical to the easy
magnetization axis in the tangential direction of a part 521 a of
the circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 provided to the paper 520,
while the easy magnetization axis of another part of the
circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 was in parallel with the magnetic
flux direction. Referring to FIG. 5F, the measurement results of
the circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 were obtained in which the
coercive force (Hc) was about 0.1 oersteds and the magnetic
flux-voltage (sensing output), which was sensible, is about 2
mV.
[0088] Referring to FIGS. 6A through 6F, the paper 500, 510 and 520
shown in FIG. 5 were placed obliquely on the platen glass 14 of the
copying machine 10, and the detection outputs at the time of
magnetization reversal of the magnetic wires 501, 511 and 521
sensed by the magnetic body sensing device 100 were measured.
Referring to FIG. 6A, the magnetic flux direction of the magnetic
field and the direction of the easy magnetization axis of the
I-shaped magnetic wire 501 provided to the paper 500 formed a
certain angle with respect to the magnetic flux direction of the
magnetic field. The detection output of the I-shaped magnetic wire
501 upon magnetization reversal exhibited a decrease in the
magnetic flux-voltage compared to the case when the paper was
placed longitudinally as shown in FIG. 5A, but the magnetic
flux-voltage, which was sensible, is about 2 mV.
[0089] Further, the measurement results of the L-shaped magnetic
wire 511 and circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 provided to the
paper 510 and 520, respectively, were obtained in which they had a
coercive force (Hc) of about 0.1 oersteds and a sensible magnetic
flux-voltage (sensing output) of about 2 mV, similarly to the case
when the paper were placed longitudinally as shown in FIGS. 5B and
5C.
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 7A through 7F, the paper 500, 510 and 520
as shown in FIG. 5 were placed transversely on the platen glass 14
of the copying machine 10, and the detection outputs at the time of
magnetization reversal of the magnetic wires 501, 511 and 521
sensed by the magnetic body sensing device 100 were measured.
Referring to FIG. 7A, the magnetic flux direction of the magnetic
field was vertical to the direction of the easy magnetization axis
of the I-shaped magnetic wire 501 provided to the paper 500, and
the magnetic property of the I-shaped magnetic wire 501 were
substantially flat as shown in FIG. 7B. The detection output upon
magnetization reversal of the I-shaped magnetic wire 501 was found
to be a value difficult to sense.
[0091] For the L-shaped magnetic wire 511 provided to the paper
510, similarly to the case when the paper was placed longitudinally
as described above with reference to FIG. 5B, the direction of the
easy magnetization axis of a part 51 lb of the L-shaped magnetic
wire 511 was parallel with the magnetic flux direction of the
magnetic field, while the direction of the easy magnetization axis
of another part 511 a is vertical to the magnetic flux direction of
the magnetic field. Referring to FIG. 7D, the coercive force (Hc)
of the L-shaped magnetic wire 511 was about 0.1 oersteds and the
magnetic flux-voltage (sensing output), which was sensible, is
about 2 mV.
[0092] For the circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 provided to the
paper 520, similarly to the case when the paper was placed
longitudinally as described above with reference to FIG. 5C, the
direction of the easy magnetization axis of a part of the
circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 in the tangential direction was
vertical to the magnetic flux direction of the magnetic field,
while the direction of the easy magnetization axis of another part
was parallel with the magnetic flux direction of the magnetic
field. Referring to FIG. 7F, the coercive force (Hc) of the
circular-shaped magnetic wire 521 was about 0.1 oersteds and the
magnetic flux-voltage (sensing output), which was sensible, is
about 2 mV.
[0093] As seen from the measurements results described above, the
I-shaped magnetic wire 501 exhibits a large difference in magnetic
flux-voltage depending on the orientation of placing the paper on
the platen glass 14. Whereas, the L-shaped and circular-shaped
magnetic wires 511 and 521 exhibit almost no change in magnetic
flux-voltage even if the orientation of placing the paper is
changed. Consequently, a sensible detection signal can be
constantly obtained, irrelevant to the orientation of placing a
paper, and erroneous detection can be prevented.
[0094] Although the magnetic wires with an L-shape and a circular
shape and their effects have been described in relation to the
present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to these
shapes. A magnetic body with various other shapes may be used as
long as the detection output of a magnetic pulse generated by
magnetization reversal of the magnetic body is obtained within a
range sensible by the magnetic body sensing device, based on the
relationship between the direction of the magnetic field applied to
the magnetic body and the direction of the easy magnetization axis
of the magnetic body. Further, the exciting coil and the sensing
coil of the magnetic body sensing device also may be arranged at
any desired position and in any orientation.
[0095] FIG. 8 illustrates other examples of paper provided with
magnetic bodies having other shapes than the L-shape and circular
shape described above. FIG. 8A illustrates a paper 81 provided with
a single magnetic wire formed into a V-shape. FIG. 8B illustrates a
paper 82 provided with a single magnetic wire formed into a
U-shape. FIG. 8C illustrates a paper 83 provided with two magnetic
wires arranged in a V-shape forming an angle smaller than 90
degrees. FIG. 8D illustrates a paper 84 provided with two magnetic
wires arranged into a V-shape forming an angle larger than 90
degrees. FIG. 8E illustrates a paper 85 provided with three
magnetic wires formed into a U-shape. FIG. 8F illustrates a paper
86 provided with three magnetic wires formed into plural
V-shapes.
[0096] When the paper 81 to 86 are provided with magnetic bodies
having the shapes as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8F instead of the
L-Shaped and circular-shaped magnetic bodies described above, it is
possible to obtain a detection output of the detection signal
generated by magnetization reversal of the magnetic bodies as a
detection output sensible by the magnetic body sensing device by
applying a predetermined magnetic field irrespective to the
orientations where these paper are placed on the platen glass 14 of
the copying machine 10, and similar effects to those described
above can be obtained.
[0097] The foregoing description has been made on the copying
machine 10 equipped with the magnetic body sensing device 100 which
applies an alternate magnetic field to plural magnetic bodies
associated with identification information formed on the original
document 1, and senses the identification information assigned to
the original document 1 based on the detection results of a
magnetic pulse generated by magnetization reversal of the magnetic
bodies.
[0098] A description will now be made on a case where the copying
machine 10 is equipped with a magnetic body sensing device 200
which applies an alternate magnetic field to plural magnetic bodies
associated with identification information formed on an original
document 1, and senses the identification information assigned to
the original document 1 based on a detection results of an
electromagnetic wave generated by magnetostrictive vibrations of
the magnetic bodies.
[0099] The construction and operations of the copying machine 10
equipped with the magnetic body sensing device 200 are similar to
those of the copying machine 10 described above, except that the
magnetic body sensing device 100 is substituted with the magnetic
body sensing device 200, and a magnetic body applied to a medium
has magnetic property to make magnetostrictive vibrations when the
magnetic body sensible by the magnetic sensing device 200 receives
a magnetic field. Therefore, a detailed description will be made
here, focusing on the configuration of the magnetic body sensing
device 200 and the operations of the magnetic body sensing device
200 detecting plural magnetic bodies associated with identification
information assigned to medium.
[0100] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a principal part of the magnetic body sensing device 200.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 9, the magnetic body sensing device 200 is
designed to sense the presence of magnetic bodies provided to an
original document 21 by applying a predetermined alternate magnetic
field to plural magnetic bodies associated with identification
information 210 assigned to the original document 21, and detecting
an electromagnetic wave generated by magnetostrictive vibrations of
the magnetic bodies.
[0102] The alternate magnetic field generated by the exciting coil
101 is designed to repeat the operation of sequentially changing
the frequency thereof from a predetermined low frequency to a
predetermined high frequency, and from the predetermined low
frequency to the predetermined high frequency upon the
predetermined high frequency being attained.
[0103] Specifically, the magnetic body sensing device 200 includes
an exciting circuit 203 for performing control to cause the
exciting coil 101 to generate a predetermined alternate magnetic
field whose frequency changes sequentially from a low frequency to
a high frequency; a sensing circuit 204 for detecting an
electromagnetic wave as a voltage signal, by means of the sensing
coil 102, the electromagnetic wave being generated when magnetic
bodies provided to the original document 21 make magnetostrictive
vibrations upon receiving the predetermined alternate magnetic
field generated by the exciting coil 101; a binary output unit 207
for outputting, in binary digits, information on the magnetic
bodies provided to the original document 21 based on the detection
signal detected by the sensing circuit 204; and a frequency control
circuit 205 for controlling the frequency of the exciting circuit
203 and the sensing circuit 204.
[0104] The frequency control circuit 205 performs, for example,
control of bandwidth restriction for the set frequency of a
band-pass filter circuit (not shown) of the sensing circuit 205 in
accordance with the frequency of the alternate magnetic field
generated by the exciting circuit 203.
[0105] In the magnetic body sensing device 200 thus configured, the
exciting circuit 203 for example applies a voltage to a voltage
controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit not shown in the drawings,
generates a waveform signal according to the voltage controlled by
the voltage controlled oscillator circuit, and performs power
amplification on the generated waveform signal to generate an
alternate magnetic field which changes its frequency continuously
linearly from a low frequency to a high frequency or from a high
frequency to a low frequency, by way of the exciting coil 101.
[0106] In this embodiment, an alternate magnetic field which
changes its frequency continuously linearly from a predetermined
low frequency to a predetermined high frequency is generated
intermittently.
[0107] Specifically, an alternate magnetic field with a
predetermined low frequency is generated for a certain period of
time, the generation with the low frequency is stopped for a
certain period of time, then an alternate magnetic field with a
high frequency is generated for a certain period of time, and then
the generation with the high frequency is stopped for a certain
period of time. This cycle of operations is repeated sequentially
until a predetermined high frequency is attained.
[0108] When the frequency of the alternate magnetic field has
attained the predetermined high frequency, the cycle of operations
of generating an alternate magnetic field whose frequency changes
continuously linearly from a predetermined low frequency to a
predetermined high frequency and stopping of the generation is
repeated again.
[0109] In this manner, an alternate magnetic field whose frequency
changes continuously and linearly from a predetermined low
frequency to a predetermined high frequency is generated by the
exciting coil 101 intermittently, and the sensing circuit 204
detects, by means of the sensing coil 102, an electromagnetic wave
generated by the magnetic bodies provided to the original document
21 making magnetostrictive vibrations upon receiving the alternate
magnetic field, and outputs information on whether the original
document 21 has a magnetic body by a binary digit of `1` or `0`,
based on the detection signal.
[0110] More specifically, the electromagnetic wave generated by the
magnetostrictive vibrations of the magnetic bodies detected by the
sensing coil 102 is detected as a received voltage signal, filtered
by a band-pass filter circuit or the like (not shown) in the
sensing circuit 204, amplified by an amplifier circuit or the like
(not shown) and output in binary digits to the binary output unit
207 as a detection signal indicating the presence of the magnetic
body in the original document 21.
[0111] The binary output unit 207 converts the input detection
signal into binary information represented by a value of `1` or
`0`, and outputs this binary information to the control unit 11 of
the copying machine.
[0112] The binary output unit 207 outputs binary information of `1`
for example if the magnetic bodies provided to the original
document 21 are detected, and binary information of `0` for example
if no magnetic body is detected.
[0113] A description will now be made with reference to FIG. 10 on
operations of the magnetic body sensing device 200 thus configured
to detect plural magnetic bodies associated with provided
identification information assigned to the original document
21.
[0114] FIG. 10A illustrates an original document 21 provided with
plural magnetic bodies associated with identification information
210, and FIG. 10B illustrates an example of the detection signals
of the magnetic bodies provided to the original document 21, which
are detected by the sensing circuit 204 of the magnetic body
sensing device 200.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 10A, the original document 21 is provided
with magnetic bodies 211a, 211b, 212a and 212b associated with
identification information 210. The magnetic bodies are formed of a
narrow foil of a ferrite or amorphous material, and have the
magnetostriction property which is a property of causing
dimensional change when receiving a magnetic field from the
outside.
[0116] The magnetic bodies 211a and 211b are arranged to form an
L-shape together, and have an equal length and a same resonance
frequency (for example of f2). This will be described in detail
later.
[0117] The magnetic bodies 212a and 212b are arranged to form a
V-shape together, and have an equal length and a same resonance
frequency (for example of f1). This will be described in detail
later.
[0118] When a predetermined alternate magnetic field whose
frequency changes sequentially from a low frequency to a high
frequency or from a high frequency to a low frequency is applied to
the magnetic bodies 211a, 211b, 212a, and 212b, these magnetic
bodies magnetostrictively vibrate in the greatest amplitude when
receiving an alternate magnetic field with a specific
frequency.
[0119] The frequency of the alternate magnetic field at which each
of the magnetic bodies magnetostrictively vibrates in the greatest
amplitude depends on its coercive force that corresponds to the
size or shape of the magnetic body. These magnetic bodies have
respective unique frequencies according to their sizes and shapes
(hereafter, referred to as "resonance frequency").
[0120] Conversely, as the results of the magnetostrictive
vibrations, the magnetic bodies cause a dimensional change, and an
electromagnetic wave is generated by the magnetic bodies.
[0121] From the foregoing, the presence of the magnetic bodies
211a, 211b, 212a and 212b provided to the original document 21 can
be detected by applying an alternate magnetic field according to a
resonance frequency unique to the magnetic bodies to cause the
magnetic bodies 211a, 211b, 212a and 212b magnetostrictively
vibrate, and detecting the electromagnetic wave generated by the
magnetic bodies.
[0122] Specifically, when the magnetic bodies 211a and 211b, which
have a resonance frequency of f2 at which the magnetic bodies 211a
and 211b magnetostrictively vibrate in the greatest amplitude upon
receiving an alternate magnetic field, receive an alternate
magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 101 and whose
frequency changes sequentially from a predetermined low frequency
to a predetermined high frequency, the magnetic bodies 211a and
211b make magnetostrictive vibrations and generate an
electromagnetic wave at the frequency of the alternate magnetic
field in the vicinity of f2.
[0123] When the magnetic bodies 212a and 212b, which have a
resonance frequency of f1 at which the magnetic bodies 212a and
212b magnetostrictively vibrate in the greatest amplitude upon
receiving an alternate magnetic field, receive an alternate
magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 101 and whose
frequency changes sequentially from a predetermined low frequency
to a predetermined high frequency, the magnetic bodies 212a and
212b make magnetostrictive vibrations and generate an
electromagnetic wave at the frequency of the alternate magnetic
field in the vicinity of f1.
[0124] The electromagnetic waves generated by the magnetic bodies
211a, 211b, 212a, and 212b are received by the sensing coil 102,
and detected by the sensing circuit 204 as detection signals L and
M shown in FIG. 10B.
[0125] Based on the detection signals L and M detected by the
sensing circuit 204, the binary output unit 207 associates
information on whether there is a detection signal in the vicinity
of the frequency f1 of the alternate magnetic field with a first
bit information, and information on whether there is a detection
signal in the vicinity of the frequency f2 of the alternate
magnetic field with a second bit information. For example, if the
detection signals L and M as shown in FIG. 10B are detected from
the original document 21, the binary output unit 207 sets, based on
these detection signals, the first bit information to `1`
indicating that there is a detection signal in the vicinity the
frequency f1 of the alternate magnetic field, and sets the second
bit information as `1` indicating that there is a detection signal
in the vicinity of the frequency f2 of the alternate magnetic
field. Thus, the binary output unit 207 associates the information
on the presence of the detection signals with the information of
`11`, and outputs the identification information 210 assigned to
the original document 21 as the binary information of `11`.
[0126] The magnetic body sensing device 200 generates
intermittently an alternate magnetic field whose frequency changes
continuously linearly from a predetermined low frequency to a
predetermined high frequency by means of the exciting coil 101, and
receives through the exciting coil 102 the electromagnetic waves,
which are generated by the magnetostrictive vibrations of the
magnetic bodies 211a, 211b, 212a and 212b in a predetermined period
of time during which the generation of the alternate magnetic field
is suspended. Therefore, the configuration may be adopted in which
the exciting coil 101 also serves to perform the function of the
sensing coil 102.
[0127] As described above, a magnetic body that generates a signal
when a magnetic field is applied thereto is provided to a medium in
association with identification information of the medium, and the
magnetic body has at least two or more easy magnetization
directions. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the erroneous
detection of the magnetic body caused by a direction along which
the magnetic body sensing device senses the medium, and to improve
the accuracy of detecting information that identifies the
medium.
* * * * *