KR200471479Y1 - Smart card - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a smart card capable of turning on or off a contactless card function by coupling or separating an external connection member to a card body to which a disconnected portion of the coil is exposed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a smart card includes a card body having a fitting portion at an edge, an integrated circuit chip embedded in the card body and performing a contactless card function, and one end connected to the integrated circuit chip, respectively. Extending in opposite directions along the edge of the main body, and the other end of the first coil and the second coil embedded in the card main body such that the other end is exposed to the fitting portion, and the other ends of the first coil and the second coil, respectively. And a connection plate for connecting to each other, the connection member being detachable from the fitting portion such that the first coil, the integrated circuit chip, and the second coil form a closed circuit or an open circuit.

Description

Smart card {SMART CARD}

The present invention relates to a smart card, and more particularly to a smart card that can selectively use a contactless card function.

Smart cards are electronic cards that contain one or more integrated circuit chips. Such a smart card has a microprocessor and a memory embedded in an integrated circuit form, and thus has a larger information storage capacity, less damage due to use, and harder to forge or alter than a conventional magnetic card. Therefore, smart cards have recently been replaced by magnetic cards in various fields such as finance, transportation, communication, security, and the like.

Looking at the function of the smart card, the smart card has a contact card function that operates in physical contact with a terminal device such as a card reader, such as when used as a credit card or a cash card, depending on the type and number of integrated circuit chips, As in the case of being used as a traffic card, it has at least one function of a contactless card function that operates by transmitting and receiving wireless signals without physical contact with the terminal device. When the smart card includes a contactless card function, the smart card includes a coil that functions as an antenna, and the coil is connected to form an integrated circuit chip and a closed circuit. Therefore, when the smart card is close to the terminal device, a current is induced in the coil by a radio signal according to the RFID method generated in the terminal device and used as a power source for the integrated circuit chip.

Routinely, smart cards are stored in a purse or bag for carrying and use. However, when a plurality of smart cards having a contactless card function are stored in a wallet or the like, when one or more smart cards are kept close to the terminal device, one or more smart cards respond to the terminal device, causing communication confusion. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that one smart card must be taken out of a wallet or the like.

In order to alleviate the inconvenience of using such a card, a smart card capable of selectively turning on and off a contactless card function has been proposed, and an example thereof is Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2009-0076720 (published 2009.07.13) Is disclosed in. In the smart card according to the patent document, a switch for disconnecting or connecting a coil connected to an integrated circuit chip is embedded in the card body. That is, the contactless card function can be selectively used by making the integrated circuit chip and the coil form a closed circuit (closed circuit) or an open circuit (open circuit) according to a switch operation. Therefore, even when a plurality of smart cards having a contactless card function are stored in a wallet or the like, only one smart card can be set to respond to the card terminal device, thereby preventing the inconvenience of having to remove the smart card from the wallet or the like.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0076720, Publication Date 2009.07.13

When a switch is built in the card body as in a conventional smart card, the switch protrudes from the card body so that the card user can operate the switch. Since the switch protrudes from the card body having a thin thickness, it is restricted to storing the smart card in a wallet or the like, and there is a possibility that the switch can be arbitrarily operated while the smart card is being carried. Therefore, it is inconvenient to repeatedly adjust the switch to maintain the contactless card function of the smart card in a desired state. In addition, when the smart card includes a contact card function as well as a contactless card function, the thickness of the smart card is increased due to the built-in switch, making it difficult to insert the smart card into an ATM. Therefore, there is a problem in that the use of the smart card is limited.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and provides a smart card that can be turned on or off the contactless card function by coupling or disconnecting the external connection member to the card body exposed to the disconnection portion of the coil.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a smart card includes a card body having a fitting portion at an edge, an integrated circuit chip embedded in the card body and performing a contactless card function, and one end connected to the integrated circuit chip, respectively. Extending in opposite directions along the edge of the main body, and the other end of the first coil and the second coil embedded in the card main body such that the other end is exposed to the fitting portion, and the other ends of the first coil and the second coil, respectively. And a connection plate for connecting to each other, the connection member being detachable from the fitting portion such that the first coil, the integrated circuit chip, and the second coil form a closed circuit or an open circuit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the connection member includes a front horizontal portion, a rear horizontal portion, a vertical portion connecting the front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion, and the connection plate is the front horizontal portion facing the rear horizontal portion. It can be attached to the bottom surface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the vertical portion may have a thickness to position the front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion on the same plane as the front and rear of the card body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion may each have a fixing projection on the opposite side of the free end.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the card body may include an upper plastic plate and a lower plastic plate to be joined to each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the fitting part includes a first fitting part and a second fitting part which are folded up and down, the first fitting part is provided concavely at an edge of the upper plastic plate, and the second fitting part is formed of the first fitting part. A recess is provided so as to be narrower than the first fitting portion at an edge of the lower plastic plate corresponding to the fitting portion, and the second fitting portion is exposed on the first fitting portion of the lower surface of the lower plastic plate. The recess may be provided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lower plastic plate is fixed to which the fixing projection of the connection member fits on the upper surface around the second fitting portion exposed on the first fitting portion and the lower surface on which the recess is formed. Grooves may be provided.

The smart card according to the present invention can manufacture a card main body having a disconnection portion of the coil and an external connection member coupled to or separated from the card main body in a simple process to turn on or off the contactless card function of the smart card. That is, by connecting the connection member to the disconnection part of the coil to make the integrated circuit chip and coil become a closed circuit (closed circuit), or by disconnecting the connection member from the disconnection part of the coil to open the integrated circuit chip and coil (open circuit). It is possible to control whether or not to supply the power to operate the integrated circuit chip.

In addition, the connection member can be fitted to the card body, and does not protrude to the front, back and side of the card body in the engaged state. Therefore, the smart card can be stored without being caught in a wallet or the like, and the connection member is not easily separated during carrying, thereby preventing the on-off state of the non-contact card function from being randomly changed. Therefore, even if a plurality of smart cards having a contactless card function are stored in a wallet or the like to approach the card holder of the wallet, communication confusion does not occur. That is, the inconvenience of having to use the smart card from the wallet can be prevented. In addition, as described above, since the connection member is fitted so as not to protrude from the card body, the smart card can be withdrawn to and from the ATM. Therefore, even if a smart card includes a contact card function, the card usage is not limited.

1 is a perspective view showing a smart card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the card main body and the connection member shown in FIG. 1 separated from each other. FIG.
3 is an exploded perspective view of a card body employed in a smart card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing a first fitting portion of the upper plastic plate shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a second fitting portion of the lower plastic plate shown in FIG. 3.
6 is a diagram illustrating a circuit connection state of the smart card shown in FIG. 1.
7 is a perspective view illustrating a connection member employed in a smart card according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 7.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the smart card of the present invention.

In an embodiment, the smart card includes a contactless card function, such as a traffic card function. In addition, the smart card may include both a contactless card function and a contact card function, such as a hybrid card or a combination card.

1 to 9, the smart card 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to or separated from the card body 100 and the card body 100 to turn on and off a contactless card function. The connection member 200 as an external switch is included. In an embodiment, the contactless card function remains on when the connection member 200 is inserted into the card body 100, and the contactless card function is turned off when the connection member 200 is detached from the card body 100. (off) state.

The card body 100 may have a shape and size such as a conventional credit card. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card body 100 is provided with a fitting portion 102 which is recessed inward from the edge. The disconnection portion of the coils 140 and 150 embedded in the card body 100 is exposed to the outside through the fitting portion 102, and the connection member 200 is fitted to the fitting portion 102 to be coupled or separated to form a coil. Disconnection sites of 140 and 150 may be electrically connected or blocked.

As shown in FIG. 3, the card body 100 includes an upper plastic plate 110 and a lower plastic plate 120, and the upper plastic plate 110 and the lower plastic plate 120 are joined to each other. . The integrated circuit chip 130 embedded in the card body 100, the first coil 140, and the second coil 150 are provided between the upper plastic plate 110 and the lower plastic plate 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper plastic plate 110 is provided with a first recess 112 that is recessed in a square shape at the edge thereof, that is, a concave first fitting portion 112. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower plastic plate 120 may be fitted with the upper plastic plate 110 so as to be opened to be narrower than the first fitting portion 112 at an edge corresponding to the first fitting portion 112. The recessed 2nd insertion part 122 is provided in the shape. Here, the first fitting portion 112 has a square shape enough to cover the second fitting portion 122. In the embodiment, the first fitting portion 112 and the second fitting portion 122 are formed in a square shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be formed in various shapes such as polygons such as triangles and pentagons, semicircles, and semi-ellipses. .

The first fitting part 112 and the second fitting part 122 may be fitted with the upper plastic plate 110 and the lower plastic plate 120 to form the fitting part 102 of the card body 100. On the other hand, the lower plastic plate 120 is around the second fitting portion 122 exposed on the first fitting portion 112 so that the connection member 200 can be fitted to the fitting portion 102 of the card body 100. A stepped recess 124 is formed on the bottom surface of (A). In addition, the lower plastic plate 120 is formed such that the front portion of the peripheral portion A of the second fitting portion 122 exposed on the first fitting portion 112 is stepped inward. Accordingly, when the connection member 200 is inserted into the fitting portion 102 of the card body 100, the connection member 200 can be prevented from protruding from the edge of the card body 100.

The integrated circuit chip 130 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a memory such as an EEPROM, an RF / digital conversion circuit, a power rectifier circuit, and the like. That is, the integrated circuit chip 130 may store a signal transmitted and received wirelessly by the smart card 1000 as data in response to the card terminal device and perform a calculation function. The integrated circuit chip 130 according to the embodiment may be an integrated circuit chip having only a contactless card function or an integrated circuit chip having both a contactless card function and a contact card function. In addition, although one integrated circuit chip 130 is embedded in the card main body 100 in the embodiment, an integrated circuit chip having a contactless card function and an integrated circuit chip having a contact card function are separately provided in the card main body 100. It can be built in. When the integrated circuit chip 130 includes a contact card function, the integrated circuit chip 130 may be exposed on the front surface of the card body 100.

The integrated circuit chip embedded in the card main body 100, in particular, the integrated circuit chip 130 performing a contactless card function, transmits and receives data wirelessly with the card terminal device, and induced current is generated by a wireless signal generated from the card terminal device. Coils acting as antennas are connected so that they can be generated. In an embodiment, the film main body 100 includes a first coil 140 and a second coil 150 having a film shape. One end of each of the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 is connected to the integrated circuit chip 130 and extends along the edge of the card body 100 in opposite directions, for example, clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. In addition, the other ends of each of the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 are exposed to face each other at the fitting portion 102. In an embodiment, the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 may be formed in the shape of a metal plate made of copper. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of conductor materials capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals with the card terminal device and generating current by electromagnetic induction may be used, and may be formed in the shape of metal wires.

As shown in FIG. 6, the connection member 200 is fitted to the fitting portion 102 of the card body 100 and is exposed to the opposite state on the fitting portion 102 of the card body 100. The other end of the) and the other end of the second coil 150 is electrically connected. That is, the integrated circuit chip 130, the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 are connected to be a closed circuit. As shown in FIG. 7, the connection member 200 may electrically connect the disconnection portions of the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 to the first coil 140 and the second coil 150. Connection plate 240 for connecting the disconnection portion of the) is provided on the inside. In an embodiment, the connection member 200 has a 'c' shape, such as a clip shape, when viewed from the side, as shown in FIG. 8. The connection member 200 includes a front horizontal part 210, a rear horizontal part 220, and a vertical part 230 connecting the front horizontal part 210 and the rear horizontal part 220 to be spaced apart from each other. The connection member 200 may be formed of a plastic material, such as the card body 100. When the connecting member 200 is inserted into the card body 100, the front horizontal portion 210 is a portion seen from the front of the card body 100, and the rear horizontal portion 220 is formed from the rear side of the card body 100. This is the visible part. In addition, the vertical portion 230 is a portion seen from the side of the card body (100). The connection plate 240 is attached to the lower surface of the front horizontal part 210 among the front horizontal part 210 and the rear horizontal part 220 facing by the vertical part 230. Therefore, the connecting plate on the other end of each of the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 seated on the upper surface of the periphery A around the second fitting portion 122 exposed on the first fitting portion 112. 240 may be placed to electrically connect the ends of each of the first coil 140 and the second coil 150. The vertical portion 230 of the connection member 200 may be configured such that the front horizontal portion 210 and the rear horizontal portion 220 face the front surface of the card body 100 with the connection member 200 fitted to the card body 100. It has a thickness that does not protrude to the rear side, for example, a thickness which is placed on the same plane as the front side and the rear side of the card body 100. Therefore, the thickness of the card body 100 can be prevented from increasing even when the connection member 200 is inserted into the card body 100.

The front horizontal part 210 and the rear horizontal part 220 have free ends that can be narrowed in the opposite direction or opposite to the opposite direction connected to the vertical part 230, and can be opened in opposite directions to each other. Fixing protrusions 212 and 222 protrude from the free end to the opposite portions.

The lower plastic plate 120 includes a recess 126 and a recess 124 recessed concave in an upper surface of the periphery A of the second fitting portion 122 exposed on the first fitting portion 112. Fixing grooves (not shown) recessed in a concave shape is formed in the lower surface is formed can be fitted in accordance with the fixing projections (212, 222) formed in the connection member (200). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connection member 200 fitted to the card body 100 from being arbitrarily separated. A plurality of concave grooves 214 are formed on the upper surface of the front horizontal part 210, so that the connection member 200 fitted to the card body 100 can be easily separated.

In the present embodiment, the connection member 200 is attached to the card body 100 to electrically connect the disconnection portions of the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 to the connection member (from the card body 100). The contactless card function of the smart card 1000 is turned on or off by breaking the electrical connection between the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 by separating the 200. However, when the connection member 200 is separated from the card body 100, foreign matter may be caught or damaged in the first coil 140 and the second coil 150 exposed to the fitting portion 102. In order to prevent this, it is provided with a separate connection member that is not shown, but does not include a connection plate 240, by using this connection member can solve the above problems. In addition, the above-described problem can be compensated by turning the connection member 200 on the card body 100 so as to be detachable.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various permutations, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is clear to those who have it.

100: card body 102: fitting portion
110: upper plastic plate 112: first fitting portion
120: lower plastic plate 122: second fitting portion
124: recess 126: fixing groove
130: integrated circuit chip 140: first coil
150: second coil 200: connection member
210: front horizontal portion 212: fixing protrusion
214: recessed groove 220: rear horizontal portion
222: fixing protrusion 230: vertical portion
240: connection board 1000: smart card

Claims (7)

delete A card body having a fitting portion at an edge,
An integrated circuit chip embedded in the card body and performing a contactless card function;
First and second coils each of which is connected to the integrated circuit chip and extends in opposite directions along the edge of the card body, and the other ends are embedded in the card body so that the other ends thereof are exposed to the fitting portions, respectively;
Connection plates for electrically connecting the other ends of each of the first coil and the second coil are provided, and are detachably connected to the fitting portion such that the first coil, the integrated circuit chip, and the second coil form a closed circuit or an open circuit. Including members,
The connection member includes a front horizontal portion, a rear horizontal portion, a vertical portion connecting the front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion,
The connection plate is a smart card attached to the lower surface of the front horizontal portion facing the rear horizontal portion. 3. The method of claim 2,
The vertical portion has a smart card having a thickness to position the front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion on the same plane as the front and rear of the card body. The method of claim 3,
The front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion is a smart card each having a fixed projection on the opposite side of the free end. 5. The method of claim 4,
The card body comprises a top plastic plate and a bottom plastic plate. The method of claim 5,
The fitting part has a first fitting part and a second fitting part which are stacked up and down,
The first fitting portion is recessed at an edge of the upper plastic plate, and the second fitting portion is recessed to be narrower than the first fitting portion at an edge of the lower plastic plate corresponding to the first fitting portion. ,
And a recessed portion provided around the second fitting portion exposed on the first fitting portion among the lower surfaces of the lower plastic plate. The method according to claim 6,
The lower plastic plate is provided with a fixing groove into which the fixing projection of the connection member is fitted on the upper surface around the second fitting portion exposed on the first fitting portion and the lower surface on which the recess is formed.

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