JPS58139285A - Ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extend the life of an IC card and a card reader and to make it possible to use the IC card in atmosphere in addition to air by providing the IC card with a non-contact type receiving means and a non-contact type information transmitting means. CONSTITUTION:The IC card is provided with a flexible print board 1, a light emitting part 2 such as a photodiode, a photodetecting part 3 such as a phototransistor, a plastic reinforcing plate 4, a solar battery 6, a separator 7, and a seal 8. The seal 8 is made transparent at the parts corresponding to the solar battery 6, the light emitting part 2 and the photodetecting part 3. When the IC card is inserted into the reader, a light source is turned on and the light is irradiated to the solar battery 6 of the IC card to supply power to the IC card. Subsequently, prescribed data are transferred between the IC card and the card reader through the light emitting part 2 and photodetecting part 3 of the IC card and the photodetecting part and the light emitting part of the card reader.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an IC card, and particularly to an IC card that allows data to be read out in a contactless manner without using electrical contacts or the like.

Conventionally, in so-called IC cards, such as credit cards or cash cards, in which an IC (integrated circuit) is incorporated, when reading data from the IC card, electrical contacts provided on the IC card and a card reading device are used. Data was read by electrical contact between the contacts.

Furthermore, the power supply voltage supplied to the IC card was also supplied through some kind of electrical contact.

However, in the conventional type, the life of the IC card is shortened due to abrasion of the contacts provided on the IC card, etc., and dust attached to the contacts of the IC card etc. causes the contacts of the IC card and the card to be read. There is a problem in that the reliability of contact with the contact portion of the device deteriorates.

Furthermore, the conventional IC card has the disadvantage that it cannot be used under conditions other than air, such as water.

In view of the problems in the conventional type described above, the purpose of the present invention is to
Based on the concept of providing an IC card with a contactless power receiving means and a contactless information transmission means, it is possible to read data from the IC card without contact, and the IC card and card reading device can be read out without contact. prolong life,
Another object of the present invention is to enable the IC card to be used under various conditions other than in the air.

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below using the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of an IC card according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is an exploded view of the IC card, and FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view showing the structure of the IC card after completion. The IC card shown in these figures includes a flexible printed circuit board l, a light emitting part 2 such as a photodiode, a light receiving part 3 such as a phototransistor, a plastic reinforcing plate 4, an IC or LSI, a chip resistor, and other chipped electronic components. 5. Solar cells6. separator 7,
and a seal 8. In addition, the seal 8
The parts corresponding to the solar cell 6, the light emitting section 2, and the light receiving section 3 are transparent. Further, the circuit portion of such an IC card is constructed on a flexible printed circuit board l, and each electronic component uses small and thin components such as a chip resistor.

As shown in FIG. 1 (&), the interior is constructed by connecting a circuit section configured on a flexible printed circuit board 1, a solar cell 6, and a light emitting section 2 and a light receiving section 3 attached to a plastic reinforcing plate 4. After writing predetermined data into the memory built into the IC card as described later, the circuit element is sealed with a sealing seal 8, and an IC card as shown in FIG. 1(b) is completed.

Figure 2 (at and Figure 2 (bl) are respectively I of Figure 1.
These are a top view and a bottom view of the C card, and the solar cell 6 is visible in the top view of FIG. 2(al), and the light emitting part 2 and light receiving part 3 are visible in the bottom view of FIG.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show the structure of the above-mentioned IC card reading device as seen from the front and side.

The card reading device includes a light source 11. Light emitting section 12 such as a photodiode. It is equipped with a light receiving section 13 such as a phototransistor, a photosensor 14 for detecting card insertion, and the like. In these figures, illustration of the card feeding mechanism, other mechanical parts, etc. is omitted and indicated by '1'. Also, light source 1
11, the light emitting section 12 and the light receiving section 13 are attached to the solar cell 6° of the IC card 10 at positions facing the light receiving section 3 and the light emitting section 2, respectively.

The operation of the card reading device shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

When the IC card 10 is inserted in the direction of arrow A, the photosensor 14 optically detects the insertion of the IC card. Next, the light source 11 lights up, and the solar cell 6 of the IC card 10
irradiates with light to supply power to the IC card 10. Next, predetermined data transmission is performed between the IC card IO and the card reading device via the light emitting section 2, the light receiving section 3 of the IC card 100, the light receiving section 13, and the light emitting section 12 of the card reading device. Through this data transmission, the card reader side receives various information from the IC card 10 and performs necessary processing, for example, discharging cash.

FIG. 4 shows the internal circuit of the above-mentioned IC card.

In FIG. 4, 15 is a solar cell, 16 is a constant voltage power supply unit,
17 is a central processing unit, 18 is a clock circuit that supplies clock signals to each part, 19 is a pass line, 20 is a random access memory (RAM), 21 is a read only memory (ROM) that records programs, etc., and 22 is a data transmission a transmission control circuit 2 for controlling the sequence ii1, etc.;
3 and 24 are buffer amplifiers; 25 is a programmable ROM (FROM) for storing card data; 26 is a gate circuit; and 27 is a write terminal used to write cart data to the programmable ROM 25. In the same figure, 2 and 3 are a light emitting part and a light receiving part, respectively, and the same symbols as in FIG. 1 and the like are used.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 4, when the solar cell 15 is irradiated with light, a voltage is generated, and a voltage of +
5. The power supply voltage Vcc' is outputted and supplied to each part. As a result, each circuit operates, and based on the clock pulse supplied from the clock circuit 18, the central processing unit 17. Random access memory 20 and read only memory 21
etc., data processing is performed, and the programmable R
Data from OM25 is sent to gate circuit 26. pass line 1
9 and the like to the transmission control circuit 22, and further transmitted to the guard reading device via the buffer amplifier 24 and the light emitting section 2. Further, data such as commands from the card reading device is received by the light receiving section 3.

The signal is sent to the central processing unit 17 etc. via the buffer amplifier 23 and the transmission control circuit 22, and predetermined processing is performed thereon. PROM before sealing the IC card with an airtight seal.
Predetermined card data is written to 25, and this writing is performed by bringing the write terminal 27 into contact with a contact terminal of a writing device (not shown). In this case, the writing device supplies the write data WD to the PROM 25 and also supplies the writing signal WS to the gate circuit 26.
Disconnect the connection between the and BAKO line 19.

The write voltage from the write device is applied to other internal circuits of the IC card.
prevent it from flowing into the

FIG. 5 shows a data transmission procedure between the above-mentioned IC card and the card reader. As shown in the figure, when light is irradiated from the light source of the reading device, the power supply voltage VW of the IC card gradually increases accordingly. When the power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage, a reset signal within the IC card becomes high level, that is, the reset of the internal circuits of the IC card is released, and each circuit of the IC card starts operating. first.

A confirmation signal ENQ is transmitted from the light emitting section of the IC card and received by the light receiving section of the reader. Upon receiving this confirmation signal ENQ, the reading device transmits a data signal including a command signal for instructing the IC card to transmit data from the light emitting section of the reading device. Here, the data signal transmitted from the reading device is as shown in FIG.
A data start code STX is placed before and after the data information to be transmitted.
, a data end code ETX are provided, and a check code BCC is added after the data end code. Such data signals are received by the light receiving section of the IC card and decoded by a processing device within the IC card. Next, an information signal such as predetermined card data is transmitted from the IC card light emitting section to the reader in response to the data signal transmitted from the reader. In this case, the data sent from the IC card has a data start code STX and a data end code E, similar to the data sent from the reader.
TX, and a check code BCC is added.

The data signal sent from the IC card light emitting section is.

The data signal is received by the light receiving section of the reading device, and the data signal is inspected by the reading device. As a result of this inspection, if there is no error in the transmitted data, a valid signal ACK is transmitted from the light emitting section of the reading device. When the IC card light receiving section receives this valid signal ACK, the IC card transmits a confirmation signal ENQ to the reading device. This completes the reading of data from the IC card by the reading device, and the light source of the reading device is shut off. In addition, when reading multiple blocks of data in the IC card, after the reading device receives the confirmation signal, it sends the data including commands etc. to the IC card again, and reads the data using the same procedure as described above. Do the following.

In the above description, power is supplied to the IC card.

Although the data transmission between the IC card and the reading device is performed by optical means, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to cases where power supply and data transmission are performed by electromagnetic coupling or the like. is clear.

As described above, according to the present invention, power can be supplied to the IC card and data can be transmitted between the IC card and the reader without contact, thereby extending the life of the IC card and the reader. It is possible.

Reliability in reading data from an IC card, etc. is improved. Further, according to the present invention, an IC card or the like can be used even under conditions other than air, such as water.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1(a) and 1 (bl are exploded cross-sectional views and cross-sectional views showing the structure of the IC card, respectively; Figures 2 (al) and 2 (bl are top views and cross-sectional views showing the external appearance of the IC card, respectively); A bottom view, FIG. 3 (at and FIG. 3 (bl) are an explanatory front view and a side view showing the outline of the card reading device, respectively.
FIG. 4 is an internal time chart of the IC card. 1...Flexible printed circuit board, 2...
... Light emitting section, 3 ... Light receiving section, 4 ......
・Plastic reinforcement plate, 5... Chip electronic components, 6... Solar cells, 7...
・Separator, 8... Sealing seal, 10
...IC card, 11...Light source,
12... Light emitting section, 13... Light receiving section, 14... Photo sensor, 16... Constant voltage power supply section, 17... Central processing unit ,
18... Clock circuit, 19... Pass line, 20... Random access memory, 21... Read only memory, 22
...Transmission control circuit, 23゜24...□...Buffer amplifier, 25...Programmable RO
M, 26...Gate circuit, 27...Write terminal. Patent hemorrhage agent Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Tatsuo Ito 〃 〃 Tetsuya Ito 456- Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An IC card characterized by being equipped with a non-contact power receiving means and a non-contact information transmitting means, thereby making it possible to read data without contact. 2. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact power receiving means includes a solar cell. 3. The IC card according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-contact information transmission means includes a photoelectric conversion element.