Patent ID: 7896251
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. An information reading method comprising: providing a medium with at least one magnetic element group having a plurality of magnetic elements each having a different length and generating a signal in response to a reversal of magnetization of the magnetic element when an alternating magnetic field is applied to the medium, and at least one camouflaging pseudo element group having the same number of camouflaging pseudo elements as that of the magnetic elements included in the magnetic element group, each of the camouflaging pseudo elements having the same length as that of the magnetic elements included in the magnetic element group and not generating the signal when the alternating magnetic field is applied to the medium, the magnetic element group and the camouflaging pseudo element group being arranged parallel to each other; detecting, by an excitation-detection unit, the signal generated from the magnetic element group provided in the medium by applying the alternating magnetic field to the medium; reading, by an information reading unit, information formed by the magnetic element group based on the signal detected by the excitation-detection unit; and controlling, by a controller, a processing for copying or printing of the medium based on the information read by the information reading unit.