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Description  |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to optical data information storage and more
particularly to a system for recording personal information on an
information medium containing both eye visible images and laser recorded
machine readable data.
BACKGROUND ART
Identification cards have used magnetic data strips in conjunction with
photographic prints of the card owner. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,728, Drexler
discloses a bank card for automatic teller machines bearing both a strip
of magnetic recording material and a direct-read-after-write reflective
laser recording material.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,332, Domo discloses a medical record card containing
a microfilm portion having some data visible to the eye and other data
visible by magnification. the directly visible data is alphanumeric
character codes pertaining to emergency medical conditions of the patient
and the magnifiable data portions detail the medical history.
Silverman et al. teach in U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,038 an access control system
with an identification card. The card has machine recordable indicia used
to choose a master microspot pattern from the machine's memory. This
master pattern is compared with an identical pattern on the card for
verification. the card also has space for a picture and a signature.
Similarly, Idelson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,667) teach an
identification card having a photograph and a phosphorescent bar code
patterns used for verification. The amount of information these cards can
hold is extremely limited. Random microspot patterns can only be used for
verification, while bar codes can only represent a small amount of
specific data.
An object of the invention is to provide a system of recording personal
information on a card, both a visual image and data to accompany the image
either prior to, during, or after exposure forming such image.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The above object has been met with a card having visually readable
information on a piece of laser recordable material or on photographic
material and a strip of laser recordable material, recorded in situ, both
disposed on a wallet-size card. The visually readable information, which
is adhered to an inner or outer surface of the card, relates to a person,
and may consist of a face image or a fingerprint. A laser beam records
data on the strip of optical storage material, in situ, either by
ablation, melting, physical or chemical change, thereby forming spots
representing changes in reflectivity. The recording process produces
differences in reflectivity detectable by a light detector. The recording
may be done either before or after the strip is ahdered to the card. In
this manner data concerning the person may be recorded and read directly
from the strip. No processing after laser recording is required when the
recording strip is a direct-read-after-write material. Laser recording
materials also may be used that require heat processing after laser
recording.
The uniform surface reflectivity of this reflective strip before recording
typically would range between 8% and 65%. For a highly reflective strip
the average reflectivity over a laser recorded spot might be in the range
of 5% to 25%. Thus, the reflective contrast ratio of the recorded spots
would range between 2:1 and 7:1. Laser recording materials are known in
the art that create either low reflectivity spots in a reflective field or
high reflective spots in a low reflectivity field. An example of the
latter type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,879. When the reflectivity
of the field is in the range of 8% to 20% the reflective spots have a
reflectivity of about 40%. The reflective contrast ratio would range from
2:1 to 5:1. Photographic pre-formatting would create spots having a 10%
reflectivity in a reflective field or 40% in a low reflectivity field.
By means of an in situ laser recording, transaction data, information, or
the like related to the photographic image is recorded at subsequent
times. For example, insurance claims or medical record entries may be
processed sequentially, recording various transactions on the strip one
after another, without erasing data. Digital voice recordings or
signatures could also be recorded. A photograph of the claimant would
protect against fraudulent use of the card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the recording medium of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3-6 are alternate sectional constructions of the medium of FIG. 1
taken along lines A--A in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the medium
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of optical apparatus for reading and writing on the
data strip portion of the medium illustrated in FIG. 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 1, the data medium used in the present invention may
be seen to comprise a photographic medium 11 having a planar major surface
13 which is divided into a visual image area 15 and a data strip 17.
Visual image medium 11 is in sheet form. The visual image area 15 can be
conventional photographic images, produced by usual photographic
techniques, typically by exposure and development of the medium.
Alternatively a laser can be used to create eye readable visual images.
The image areas 15 may occupy the entirety of the visual image medium,
except for the data strip, or discrete areas as shown in FIG. 1. Several
images may be disposed on the photographic medium. Alternatively, only a
single image may be on the medium.
The present invention uses an optical data strip 17 which may be a direct
read-after-write (DRAW) material which may have prerecorded information,
but must have user-written information, written on the strip in-situ. The
type of DRAW material that may be used is relatively highly reflective
material which forms a shiny field against low reflectivity spots such as
pits, craters, holes or dark spots in the reflective surface which tend to
be absorptive of light energy. The contrast differences between the low
reflectivity spots and the shiny reflective field surrounding the spots
cause variations at a detector when the spots are illuminated by light of
lesser intensity than the light that originally created the spots.
Alternatively a low reflectivity material may be used which creates high
reflectivity spots when recorded with a laser.
Data strip 17 is intended to provide a personal data record accompanying
the visual images on the same material just as a movie sound track
accompanies a sequence of frames of film. Data is written in individual
tracks extending in a longitudinal direction, as indicated by the spot
patterns 19 and these spot patterns are analogous to sound track on a
film, except that the data tracks contain a much higher density of
information and are usually read in reflection, rather than in
transmission. The information density is greater because each of the spots
in the spot pattern is approximately 5 microns in diameter with a spacing
of about 5-10 microns between spots. The spots may be either digital or
analog data, but in either case are recorded by a laser in the usual way,
for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,756 to Bouldin, et al.
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 except that a larger visual image medium 21 is
used with a plurality of rows of images 23, 25 and 27. Accompanying each
row of images is a corresponding data strip 33, 35 and 37. These data
strips are analogous in construction to the strip of FIG. 1. Once again,
it is not necessary that each row have individually different images. Each
row may consist of either multiple images or a single image. The
embodiment of FIG. 2 is a microfiche type medium where each row of images
would have corresponding data on a data strip. The images are such that
they can be viewed with the naked eye or with low power (magnification)
optical systems. On the other hand, the data strips are not usually read
with the naked eye, but require either microscopic inspection or
preferably reading by reflection of a scanning laser beam as explained
below. However, a laser could record visual images such as serial numbers,
personal data, or even face images on the laser recordable material.
FIG. 3 illustrates a first construction of the recording medium shown in
FIG. 1. The sectional view includes a substrate 22 which is transparent
and may be one of the many polymeric substrate materials known in
photographic arts. Applied to the substrate 22 is a subbing layer, not
shown, and an emulsion layer 24. This emulsion layer has a photographic
image area 15 made by exposure and development in the usual way. The wavy
lines 26 represent filamentary black silver particles which characterize
normal photographic black and clear images. Data strip 17 is one of many
laser recording materials. For example it could be made from silver-halide
emulsion having fine grain size, less than 0.1 microns, by a silver
diffusion transfer process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,938 (Drexler
and Bouldin), incorporated by reference herein.
In the referenced patented process, silver-halide emulsion is exposed to a
non-saturating level of actinic radiation to activate silver halide. The
activated emulsion is then photographically developed to a gray color of
an optical density of 0.05-2.0 to red light, forming an absorptive
underlayer. There is no fixing after this first development step. The
surface of the emulsion strip is then fogged by a fogging agent such as
borohydride to produce silver precipitating nuclei from the part of the
unexposed and undeveloped silver-halide emulsion. The strip is then
contacted with a monobath containing a silver-halide solvent and a silver
reducing agent to complex, transfer and reduce the remaining unexposed and
undeveloped silver to reflective non-filamentary silver at the nuclei
sites on the surface. The reflective layer contains from 20% to 50% silver
particles of which 1% to 50% may be filamentary silver formed in the
initial development step. Beneath the reflective layer is an absorptive
underlayer.
The reflective surface layer is characterized by non-filamentary particles
28 overlying a concentration of filamentary particles which form the
absorptive underlayer. Separating the data strip from the image area is an
unprocessed silver-halide buffer area 30 which would remain generally
clear since it is neither exposed nor developed. The buffer area 30 is not
necessary, but is desirable because chemical processing of data strip 17
differs from the processing of image area 15. The buffer area 30 may be
fixed to remove silver halide so that the area will remain clear. This is
optional. Both processes may occur by spraying of chemicals onto the
surface of the film, with a mask covering buffer area 30. Such spray
processing is well known in photolithography. However, in the present case
it may be necessary to proceed in two steps. In the first step,
conventional photographic processing of image area 26 takes place.
Subsequently, the image area, together with the buffer area 30 is masked
to allow separate processing of the data strip 28. After processing is
complete, a transparent layer 32 is applied to the emulsion, forming a
protective layer. Layer 32 may be any of the well known protective
coatings, including a layer of clear gelatin. The remainder of the film,
apart from the data strip 17, need not have fine grain size. Data strip 17
can also be added to the photographic material in the form of an adhesive
tape which is bonded to the photographic material either before or after
the photograph is developed, or both can be bonded separately to a
wallet-size card.
FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except that substrate 34 is coated only with
silver-halide emulsion to the right of line 36. The image area 15 is
exposed, developed and fixed. A protective coating 38 may then be applied.
A preformed strip 40 of laser recording material may then be disposed on
the substrate. This may be a strip of Drexon material. Drexon is a
trademark of Drexler Technology Corporation for reflective silver based
laser recording material, such as that described in the aforementioned
U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,938. Such a preformed strip of laser recording
material would have its own thin substrate 39 carrying the emulsion layer.
Alternatively, the recording material could be any of the other
direct-read-after-write laser recording materials, for example such as
that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,939 issued to De Bont, et al. where
the patent teaches a thin metallic recording layer of reflective metal
such as Bi, Te, Ind, Sn, Cu, Al, Pt, Au, Rh, As, Sb, Ge, Se, Ga. Materials
which are preferred are those having high reflectivity and low melting
point, particularly Cd, Sn, Tl, Ind, Bi and amalgams. These materials may
be deposited directly on substrate 34, as by sputtering, or may be
premanufactured on a very thin substrate and adhered to the substrate by
means of a subbing layer. After adhering the laser recording material to
the substrate, a transparent protective coating 44 is applied. This
coating material may be the same as protective material 38.
With reference to FIG. 5, substrate 52 has a notch or groove 54 which
allows placement of a laser recording material 56 therein. This laser
recording material may be processed in situ from silver-halide material
previously existing in the groove, as in the case of FIG. 3, or
preexisting laser recording material which is placed in the groove, as
with the preexisting laser recording material of FIG. 4. In either case,
the photographic image area 15 is exposed and developed in the usual way,
while an unexposed and undeveloped area 58 protects data strip 56. Since
emulsion area 58 is unexposed and undeveloped, it remains clear and forms
a protective layer over the data strip.
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, no groove exists in substrate 60. Rather, a
photographic image area 15 is exposed and developed in the usual way, with
the remainder of the substrate being covered with emulsion which is masked
and protected from exposure and development, forming a protected region
62. On top of the protected region 62 a strip of laser recording material
64 is positioned. This laser recording material may be formed in situ by
application of a silver-halide emulsion strip which is then processed, as
data strip 17 in FIG. 3 is processed, or may be a preformed strip which is
applied as in FIG. 4. The strip is then covered with a protective coating
66.
With reference to FIG. 7, a substrate 70 is shown which carries a
photographic image in a substrate portion not shown. This image may be
above the substrate surface or within a groove of the substrate, as
previously mentioned. The substrate carries a secondary substrate 72 which
is a thin flexible material, only a few mils thick carrying a laser
recording material 74. The secondary substrate 72 is adhered to the
primary substrate 70 by means of an adhesive or sticky substance, similar
to dry adhesives found on tape. The laser recording material may be any of
the materials previously discussed, such as DREXON material, except that
the secondary substrate 72 is substituted for the substrate previously
mentioned. A protective coating 76 is applied over the laser recording
material. Using this embodiment, photographs of the prior art may be
converted to the optical data and image medium of the present invention.
In this situation, not shown in the drawing of FIG. 7, a portion of an
image area is converted to a non-image area by application of the sticky
laser recording material. The laser recording material rests above
developed silver-halide emulsion, resembling FIG. 6, except that the
emulsion is completely exposed and developed in the region underlying the
secondary substrate.
In all of these embodiments, a strip of laser recording material is
positioned adjacent one or more visual images for providing archival data
storage of a similar quality for data as for the photo image. Remarks in
the form of alphanumerics, voice or digitized pictures or signature may be
laser recorded adjacent to the photographic image. By this means these two
forms of communication will not be separated. Information about the person
is complimentary to the photo image on the card. For example, transaction
information related to a person may be recorded on the card. Such
transaction information could be banking information, such as a record of
deposits and withdrawals. In former years, such transactions were recorded
in a passbook, but because of the amount of time taken for sequential
entries in a passbook and because of automation, passbook banking was
abandoned, even though it was more favorable to consumers. Now, sequential
transactions may be recorded automatically so that a consumer may once
again have a complete record of prior transactions, although a card reader
is necessary. The visual image on the card provides for security and
guards agaisnt fraudulent transactions. Insurance transactions,
immigration matters and the like all involve sequential transactions
involving personal data. While it is important to record the transaction,
it is also important to relate the transaction to eyereadable personal
data so that a human judgment may be formed. For this purpose, a visual
image of a face or a fingerprint assists in forming a human judgment
relating to the validity of the transaction.
Of course, while the photo images may be read by conventional means,
low-powered laser or a photodetector array apparatus must be used to read
the data strip. A laser apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 8, which
illustrates the side view of the lengthwise dimension of the medium of
FIG. 1 consisting of a data strip in combination with photo images on a
card. The data strip portion 41 of the medium is usually received in a
movable holder 42 which brings the strip into the trajectory of a laser
beam. A laser light source 43, preferably a pulsed semiconductor laser of
infrared wavelength emits a beam 45 which passes through collimating and
forusing optics 47. The beam is sampled by a beam splitter 49 which
transmits a portion of the beam through a focusing lens 51 to a
photodetector 53. The detector 53 confirms laser writing. The beam is then
directed to a first servo controlled mirror 55 which is mounted for
rotation along axis 57 in the direction indicated by arrows B. The purpose
of the mirror 55 is to find the lateral edges of the data strip in a
coarse mode of operation and then in a fine mode of operation identify
data paths which exist predetermined distances from the edges.
From mirror 55, the beam is directed toward a mirror 61. This mirror is
mounted for rotation at pivot 63. The purpose of mirror 55 is for fine
control of motion of the beam along the length of the data strip. Coarse
control of the lengthwise portion of the data strip relative to the beam
is achieved by motion of the movable holder 42. The position of the holder
may be established by a linear motor adjusted by a closed loop position
servo system of the type used in magnetic disk drives. Reference position
information may be prerecorded on the card so that position error signals
may be generated and used as feedback in motor control. Upon reading one
data path, the mirror 55 is slightly rotated. The motor moves holder 42
lengthwise so that the path can be read again, and so on. As light is
scattered and reflected from spots in the laser recording material, the
reflectivity of the beam changes relative to surrounding material where no
spots exist. The beam should deliver sufficient laser energy to the
surface of the recording material to create spots in the data writing
mode, but should not cause disruption of the surface so as to cause
difficulty in the data reading mode. The wavelength of the laser should be
compatible with the recording material to achieve this purpose. In the
read mode, power is approximately 5% to 10% of the recording or writing
power.
Differences in reflectivity between a spot and surrounding material are
detected by light detector 65 which may be a photodiode. Light is focused
onto detector 65 by beam splitter 67 and focusing lens 69. Servo motors,
not shown, control the positions of the mirrors and drive the motors in
accord with instructions received from control circuits, as well as from
feedback devices. The detector 65 produces electrical signals
corresponding to pits. Other optics, not shown, could be used to observe
the photo images, while data is being read or written on the data strip.
A photodetector array such as a CCD could also be used. It could be either
a linear array or area array. The number of detector elements per track
would be approximately three elements to create a reading redundancy. The
surface would be eliminated with low-cost light-emitting diodes generating
power primarily in the near infra-red to match the sensitivity spectrum of
the photodetector array.
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