Patent ID: 6616043
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
An information reader for reading data contained on a card, where the data on the card may include at least one of bar code data, magnetic data and holographic data contained within a target area, comprising:a housing containing a holograph sensing means and a surface detector; said housing including means for inserting the card to be read within the housing; said holographic sensing means including a laser beam for illuminating said card and a first sensor for sensing holographic information contained on the target area of said card; said surface detector including a second sensor for sensing reflectivity characteristics of a surface of said card outside of said target area as well as within the target area; and means for comparing signals sensed by the first and second sensors from the target area and means for sensing the signals produced by the second sensor outside of the target area independently of the signals produced by the first sensor and including means for ascertaining that a signal corresponding to the reflectivity characteristic lies within a predetermined range.