DATA SUPPORT CHARACTERIZING METHOD* ITS IDENTIFYING METHOD* DATA SUPPORT USED FOR EXECUTING SAME* AND ITS IDENTITY JUDGMENT DEVICE

摘要

The method of characterizing and identifying data supports such as value or identity cards in view of protection against falsification, imitation or duplication, comprises measurement of physical characterizing features of the data support and the measured characterizing values are converted into characterizing data recorded on the data support. The data supports are provided, at least in a zone of a reading track, with a surface pattern the lines, areas or dots of which differ from one data support to another by their widths and/or densities and/or respective associations. The surface pattern is read at selected positions of the reading track over limited paths or in punctual manner, and at least some selected reading results are used as said characterizing values.