System for forming picture, alphanumeric and micrographic images on the surface of a plastic card

• US 4,675,746 A
• Filed: 06/30/1986
• Issued: 06/23/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Card Corp.
• Original Assignee: Data Card Corp.
• Inventors: McCoy, Randall L., Tetrick, Kenneth H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, E. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Patrick W.
• Application Number:
  US06/880,108
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 346/108, 346/153.1, 346/160, 358/296, 358/300, 358/302
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/44 Miniaturised markings
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/50 Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/42 by photographic processes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/485 by electronic processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals

Abstract

A system for forming an image on the outer surface of a plastic card and for correlating image data with corresponding alphanumeric data, comprises a data acquisition subsystem shown in FIG. 1, an encoder shown in FIG. 2, an exposure station for scanning an electrophotographic medium in accordance with digital image data generated by the data acquisition system, and a toning station for toning the electrophotographic medium to produce a toner image. The encoder forms identifying information corresponding to the alphanumeric data on the card and provides the encoded card to an image transfer station. At the image transfer station, the toner image on the electrophotographic medium is transferred to a portion of the card through heat and pressure. A protective layer is placed over the fused toner image.

Claims

1. A method of applying an array of macrographic and micrographic characters to a surface comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a digital image from the array of data wherein the macrographic data is represented by a plurality of pixels to define a varying grey scale image and the micrographic data includes alphanumeric characters in one pixel;

(b) modifying the digital image by replacing at least one pixel in the digital image with micrographic data pixels; and

(c) applying the digital image in visible form to the surface.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the micrographic character embedded in a particular macrographic character corresponds to that macrographic character.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the entirety of macrographic alphanumeric characters are reproduced in micrographic and both macrographic form on the card.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the macrographic data includes a picture printed on the card having certain pixels wherein the picture data is replaced with micrographic characters.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the micrographic security data corresponds to the alphanumeric macrographic data.

6. A system for applying data to a card, comprising:

(a) an electrophotographic medium;

(b) a light source for generating a coherent light beam;

(c) electronic means for receiving and storing a digital image signal in a plurality of memory locations corresponding to pixels of a macrographic digital image;

(d) means for altering the digital image signal by replacing digital image data from selected pixels thereof with pixels representative of micrographic data to form a modified digital image signal having micrographic data embedded within a macrographic data image;

(e) modulation means operatively coupled to the electronic means and positioned in the path of the coherent light beam for modulating the coherent light beam in accordance with the modified digital image signal;

(f) scanning means for scanning the modulated coherent light beam across the electrophotographic medium to selectively expose the electrophotographic medium and form a latent image thereon in conformance with the modified digital image;

(g) toner applying means for applying a toner image on the electrophotographic medium; and

(h) transfer means for transferring the toner image to a predetermined portion of the card through heat and pressure thereby forming a visible data array thereon having micrographic data pixels embedded at predetermined locations of the macrographic digital image.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the macrographic data is a photographic image and the micrographic data is comprised of alphanumeric characters.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein there is one alphanumeric character in each pixel of the micrographic data.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein the macrographic data comprises alphanumeric characters comprised of a plurality of pixels and the micrographic data is comprised of alphanumeric characters.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the micrographic data has one alphanumeric character in each micrographic pixel.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein one micrographic pixel is embedded in each alphanumeric character of the macrographic data and the alphanumeric character of the pixel of micrographic data bears a predetermined relationship to the alphanumeric character in which it is embedded.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the alphanumeric characters of the macrographic data have embedded therein a pixel of micrographic data containing the same alphanumeric character.