Magnetic element-applied medium, and medium information reading method and device

1. An information reading device for reading identification information from a medium to which at least one magnetic element for generating a signal upon receiving a magnetic field is provided, comprising:

a plurality of detecting parts that detect presence of the at least one magnetic element by detecting the signal generated from the at least one magnetic element according to the magnetic field applied to the medium; and

an information reading part that reads information formed by the at least one magnetic element based on a combination of the presence of the at least one magnetic element detected by each of the plurality of detecting parts,

wherein the magnetic field is provided by at least one magnetizing coil, the at least one magnetizing coil enclosing an area that includes the plurality of detecting parts, and

the at least one magnetic element comprises a plurality of magnetic elements are provided to the medium, and the information reading part reads information which is formed by the at least one magnetic element according to a detection signal pattern detected by the detecting parts in accordance with a combination of the number, length and shape of the plurality of magnetic elements;

each of the plurality of detecting parts includes a detecting coil for detecting the signal generated from the at least one magnetic element when the magnetic field is applied, and includes a detecting circuit connected in association with each detecting coil, for detecting the signal detected by each detecting coil and for outputting a detection signal;

the detecting coils are disposed in a lattice-like pattern with their centers separated at equal intervals and each detecting area of the detecting coils in which the signal generated from the at least one magnetic element is detectable is the same in size with each other; and

when an output pattern of detection signals from detecting circuits associated with detecting coils adjacent to each other among the detecting coils are included in the detection signal pattern, the information reading part reads information formed by the at least one magnetic element by detecting a fact that signals detected by the detecting coils adjacent to each other are generated from an identical magnetic element.

2. An information reading method, comprising:

providing at least one magnetic element to a medium;

detecting presence of the at least one magnetic element by detecting a signal, which is generated from the at least one magnetic element by a magnetic field applied to the medium by a plurality of detecting parts; and

reading, by a information reading part, information formed by the at least one magnetic element according to a combination of the presence of the at least one magnetic element detected by each of the plurality of detecting parts,

wherein the magnetic field is applied to the medium by at least one magnetizing coil, the at least one magnetizing coil enclosing an area that includes the plurality of detecting parts, and

the at least one magnetic element comprises a plurality of magnetic elements are provided to the medium, and the information reading part reads information which is formed by the at least one magnetic element according to a detection signal pattern detected by the detecting parts in accordance with a combination of the number, length and shape of the plurality of magnetic elements;

each of the plurality of detecting parts includes a detecting coil for detecting the signal generated from the at least one magnetic element when the magnetic field is applied, and includes a detecting circuit connected in association with each detecting coil, for detecting the signal detected by each detecting coil and for outputting a detection signal;

the detecting coils are disposed in a lattice-like pattern with their centers separated at equal intervals and each detecting area of the detecting coils in which the signal generated from the at least one magnetic element is detectable is the same in size with each other; and

when an output pattern of detection signals from detecting circuits associated with detecting coils adjacent to each other among the detecting coils are included in the detection signal pattern, the information reading part reads information formed by the at least one magnetic element by detecting a fact that signals detected by the detecting coils adjacent to each other are generated from an identical magnetic element.