Optical storage identification card and read/write system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An identification card comprising:
- a substrate;
a first color imaging compound disposed in overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a first radiation sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a first select range of spectral wavelengths for effecting a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristics thereof;
a second color imaging compound disposed in overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a second radiation sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a second select range of spectral wavelengths different from said first select range of spectral wavelengths for effecting a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristics thereof; and
a third color imaging compound disposed in overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a third radiation sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a third select range of spectral wavelengths different from said first and second select ranges of spectral wavelengths for effecting a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristics thereof, at least one portion of said first, second and third imaging compounds being selectively exposed to radiant energy within said first, second and/or third select ranges to provide a visually discernible and understandable colored image and a second portion of said first, second and/or third imaging compounds outside said first portion being selectively exposed to radiant energy within said first, second and/or third select ranges to provide a non-visually understandable machine readable binary code.
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Abstract
An identification card comprises a single media having a plurality of different heat sensitive image forming dye compounds on which are encoded a colored pictorial image of the card holder, colored text, and machine readable digital data. A laser printing method is also provided for activating the heat sensitive image forming dyes to provide the colored pictorial image of the card holder, the colored text and the machine readable digital code.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An identification card comprising:
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a substrate; a first color imaging compound disposed in overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a first radiation sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a first select range of spectral wavelengths for effecting a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristics thereof; a second color imaging compound disposed in overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a second radiation sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a second select range of spectral wavelengths different from said first select range of spectral wavelengths for effecting a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristics thereof; and a third color imaging compound disposed in overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a third radiation sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a third select range of spectral wavelengths different from said first and second select ranges of spectral wavelengths for effecting a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristics thereof, at least one portion of said first, second and third imaging compounds being selectively exposed to radiant energy within said first, second and/or third select ranges to provide a visually discernible and understandable colored image and a second portion of said first, second and/or third imaging compounds outside said first portion being selectively exposed to radiant energy within said first, second and/or third select ranges to provide a non-visually understandable machine readable binary code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14)
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9. A method for printing an identification card of the type comprising a plurality of color imaging compounds each of which responds to incident radiant energy within a different select range of spectral wavelengths by changing the spectral absorption characteristics thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
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scanning a composite laser light beam having spectral wavelengths within said different select ranges of spectral wavelengths across a first portion of the identification card while simultaneously modulating the intensity of each portion of said composite laser light beam within one of said select ranges of spectral wavelengths to selectively expose said first, second, and third imaging compounds within said first portion to provide a visually discernible colored image; and scanning at least one laser light beam having spectral wavelengths within a select range of wavelengths across a second portion of the identification card while simultaneously modulating the intensity of said one laser light beam to selectively expose at least one of said first, second and third imaging compounds within said second portion to radiant energy to record a non-visually understandable machine readable code. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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15. A method for printing an identification card of the type comprising a plurality of color imaging layers each of which responds to incident radiant energy within a different select range of visible wavelengths by changing the spectral absorption characteristics thereof, each imaging layer further including substantially the same infrared absorbing material for converting infrared radiation into heat, said method comprising the steps of:
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scanning a laser light beam having a spectral wavelength characteristic corresponding to the spectral absorbing characteristic of the infrared absorbing material across a first portion of the identification card while simultaneously modulating the intensity and focus of the laser light beam to selectively expose different color imaging layers within the first portion to provide a visually discernible colored image; and scanning the laser light beam across a second portion of the identification card while simultaneously modulating the intensity and focus to selectively expose at least one of said imaging layers within said second portion to radiant energy to record a non-visually understandable machine readable code. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An identification card comprising:
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a substrate; and at least one imaging compound layer disposed in coextensive overlying relation with respect to said substrate and comprising a heat sensitive dye responsive to incident radiant energy within a select range of spectral wavelengths whereby said radiant energy converted to heat upon absorption by said color imaging compound so as to effect a visually discernible change in the spectral absorption characteristic of said color imaging compound, at least one portion of said imaging compound being selectively exposed to radiant energy within said select range of spectral wavelengths to provide a visually discernible and understandable image and a second portion of said imaging compound outside said first portion being selectively exposed to radiant energy within said select range of spectral wavelengths to provide a non-visually understandable machine readable binary code. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification