JP2000048177A - Card with fingerprint scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PC card capable of easily and conveniently constructing the security countermeasure of a portable information equipment without hindering any portability on condition that the card slot of a portable information equipment, for example, the normally equipped PC card slot of a note PC is used, and that a 'fingerprint' is used as the most effective means for individual identification is used. SOLUTION: This card includes a card part 3 and a scanner part 5 incorporating a scanner unit 25 for fingerprint scanning. The card part 3 and the scanner part 5 has a configuration in which they are integrated and a configuration that they are separately constituted and mechanically connected so as to be relatively rotatable. There is a case that the scanner part 5 is provided with a supporting leg part whose height can be adjusted. The scanner part 5 includes a sensor 27 for fingerprint detection provided separately from the scanner unit 25 for detecting the position state of a finger, and the position state of the finger can be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information device (Portable Type Information Apparatus), for example, a card which can be removably mounted in a card slot of a notebook type personal computer (hereinafter, notebook PC), for example, Related to PC cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, notebook PCs have become widespread, but the need for personal authentication has increased from the viewpoint of security. In other words, there are many cases where a person other than the authorized person illegally obtains data from the notebook PC or illegally invades the network via the notebook PC. In order to prevent such cases, an identification device is required.

[0003] Such an identification device is an existing notebook PC.
It is necessary to satisfy at least the condition that the notebook PC can be easily attached to the notebook PC and should not impair the portability of the notebook PC in terms of size and weight, but there is no such thing at present.

[0004]

The inventor of the present invention pays attention to a card slot of a portable information device, for example, a PC card slot which is usually provided in a notebook PC, and utilizes the PC card slot as well as personal identification. "Fingerprint" as the strongest means
The present invention has been conceived based on the premise that the present invention is used.

[0005] The present invention relates to a card which can be removably inserted into a card slot of a portable information device, and comprises a card section and a scanner section having a built-in scanner unit for fingerprint scanning. Features. In this case, since the card includes the scanner unit, it is very convenient to carry and easy to mount. Preferably, the card unit and the scanner unit are integrally formed. In this case, handling is easy.

Preferably, the card section and the scanner section are mechanically connected so as to be relatively rotatable. In this case, an excessive force hardly acts on the card portion. Preferably, the scanner unit is provided with a supporting height-adjustable leg. In this case, the scanner unit can be stably supported. Preferably, the scanner unit includes a finger detection sensor for detecting a position state of a finger, which is different from the scanner unit. In this case, the fingerprint reading accuracy can be improved.

[0007] Preferably, the card is a PC card. In this case, there is no need to provide a special dedicated slot.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a PC card 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a card slot on one side of a portable information device, for example, a notebook personal computer (hereinafter, a notebook PC) 11. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the PC card 1.

The PC card 1 has a card section 3 and a scanner section 5. The card unit 3 includes an opening, for example, a base frame 13 formed by injection molding of a resin, a printed circuit board 15 disposed in the base frame opening, and a stainless steel cover that covers the printed circuit board 15 from above and below. And covers 17 and 19. Printed circuit board 1
5 is connected to a connector 21 for external connection.

[0010] The scanner section 5 includes a cover 23 constituting a main body thereof. The cover 23 is mounted and fixed on an end of the base frame 13 of the card section 3. Inside the cover 23, a CCD type scanner unit 25 and a finger detection sensor 27 are arranged. The scanner unit 25 and the printed circuit board 15 are, for example, flexible boards (FP)
C) are electrically connected.

On the top surface of the cover 23, there is formed a substantially flat receiving surface portion 29 which is one step lower than the surrounding top surface portion of the cover 23 and which can be brought into contact with a fingertip (belly portion). As can be understood from FIG. 3, a rectangular opening 31 is provided on the back side of the receiving surface portion 29.
The fingerprint detection unit of the scanner unit 25 is disposed in the opening 31, and a small rectangular opening 33 is formed in front of the receiving surface 29.
The upper part of the finger detection sensor 27 is arranged.

The finger detection sensor 27 is used to determine whether or not the finger is in an optimal position (horizontal contact state) with respect to the receiving surface 29. Fingerprints can be read when the finger is in an optimal state, which can significantly improve fingerprint reading accuracy. Also, this finger detection sensor 2
It is also possible to turn on / off the main power supply of the scanner unit 25 by using the output signal from the controller 7 so as to reduce the power consumption.

As can be understood from FIG. 4, the boundary between the high cover upper surface portion and the low receiving surface portion 29 is formed of a smooth concave curved surface 37, and the left and right direction and the back direction of the finger (three directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 1). ) Can be restrained to some extent, that is, the fingers are fitted so that they do not move, and the holdability is good. Here, two examples are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as usage modes of the PC card according to the present invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 relates to network security. In this embodiment, in order to prevent a person other than an authorized person from illegally entering a computer network, the present PC card is used. Used. That is, the fingerprint data obtained by the scanner unit (fingerprint collation unit) is compared with the registered fingerprint data, and whether or not the user is an authorized person is identified. In the case of access by a person other than the authorized person, the connection line is cut off by software, making it impossible to invade the network. This is the same as providing a dedicated key (KEY) for each of the notebook PCs, which are portable terminals of the network, and a normal operating state of the network can be maintained safely and reliably.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 relates to computer security. In this embodiment, unauthorized access to data stored in a notebook PC by anyone other than the authorized person is prevented. This PC card is used to prevent this. That is, the fingerprint data obtained by the scanner unit (fingerprint collation unit) is compared with the registered fingerprint data, and whether or not the user is an authorized person is identified. In the case of access by a person other than the authorized person, access becomes software-inaccessible.
This is the same as providing a dedicated key (KEY) for each notebook PC, and unauthorized operation of the notebook PC can be reliably prevented.

In the following, a plurality of other embodiments of the PC card will be described. Parts and components common to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate. The different parts will be mainly described.
The PC card of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a cover 23 of the scanner unit 5 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment.
L-shaped flanges 43 provided to face each other. Then, a C-shaped hook 45 made of resin or metal is prepared such that one end thereof frictionally engages with the L-shaped flange 43 and the other end can be hooked on an edge (bezel) of the notebook PC 11.

PC to card slot of notebook PC 11
After the card 41 is inserted, the C-shaped hook 45 is attached and is hooked on the edge of the notebook PC 11 and the L-shaped flange 4 is inserted.
3, the PC card 41 can be prevented from coming off. Further, the C-shaped hook 45 can support a certain amount of downward force acting on the scanner unit 5 when reading a fingerprint (at the time of scanning), and exerts an undesirable bending force acting on the PC card 41 or the notebook PC 11. This is preferable because it can be reduced to some extent.

The PC card 51 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 has the following height adjustment mechanism in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. That is, on the side surface of the scanner section 5, a leg section 53 whose height can be adjusted stepwise is provided. The leg portion 53 has a rotary shaft 55 rotatably supported on the side surface of the scanner portion 5, a thin eccentric disk 57 having a cutout portion and eccentrically attached to the rotary shaft 55, and an eccentric circle. A click lever 59 that is mounted to rotate integrally with the plate 57 (see FIG. 14). Scanner unit 5
On the circumference of a predetermined circle around the rotation axis,
A depression 61 into which the projection at the tip of the click lever can fit is formed.

When the eccentric disk 57 is rotated around the rotation shaft 55, the tip of the click lever 59 is elastically fitted into the recess 61, and the eccentric disk 57 is moved from the bottom of the scanner unit 5 to a certain point. The leg portion 53 which is positioned at an angular position protruding downward by a fixed amount and which supports the scanner portion 5 and whose height can be adjusted stepwise is configured. Therefore, this PC card 5
1, even when a considerable amount of downward force acts on the scanner unit 5 during scanning,
Can be reliably and stably supported, that is, an unreasonable bending force hardly acts on the PC card 51, which is practical and rational. Since the leg 53 has a relatively simple structure, the cost increase is small.

A PC according to a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS.
The card 71 has a configuration in which the configuration of the first embodiment is slightly changed. That is, the PC card 71
In the first embodiment, the card unit 3 and the scanner unit 5 are formed separately and are rotatably interconnected. As shown in FIG. 13, when the present PC card 71 is inserted into the card slot of the notebook PC 11, the scanner unit 5 is positioned in an obliquely inclined state. The direction in which the finger is pressed against the scanner unit 5 during scanning is not a vertical direction but an obliquely downward direction (arrow), which facilitates the pressing.

A PC according to a fifth embodiment shown in FIGS.
The card 81 has a configuration in which the height adjusting leg 53 of the third embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 11) is provided in addition to the configuration of the fourth embodiment (FIGS. 12 and 13). That is, book P
In the C card 81, the card unit 3 and the scanner unit 5 are formed separately, and are rotatably interconnected via a connecting unit 73.
On the side surface of the scanner section 5, a leg section 53 whose height can be adjusted stepwise is provided.

Accordingly, in the present PC card 81, the scanner section 5 can be completely and stably supported, that is, an excessive bending force can be prevented from acting on the PC card 81, which is very practical and rational. .

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, security measures for a portable information device can be easily and simply constructed without impairing portability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a PC card according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a notebook P.
It is a principal part perspective view which shows the state attached to C.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the PC card of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the scanner unit viewed from a side surface of the notebook PC.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the PC card of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front side of the notebook PC.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a use mode of the PC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another use mode of the PC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a PC card according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a notebook P.
It is a principal part perspective view which shows the state attached to C.

8 is an essential part perspective view of the PC card of FIG. 7 viewed from another direction.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part of a PC card according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the movement of an eccentric disk constituting a leg.

11 is a side view of the PC card of FIG. 9 as viewed from the front side of the notebook PC.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a main part of a PC card according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the notebook PC shown in FIG. 12;
It is a side view of a card.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a PC card according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows the PC of FIG. 14 as viewed from the front side of the notebook PC;
It is a side view of a card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 41, 51, 71 PC card 3 Card section 5 Scanner section 11 Notebook PC 13 Base frame 15 Printed circuit board 17, 19 Cover 21 Connector 23 Cover 25 Scanner unit 27 Finger detection Sensor 29: Receiving surface 53: Leg 57: Eccentric disk 59: Click lever 61: Depression

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A card which can be removably inserted into a card slot of a portable information device, comprising: a card unit; and a scanner unit having a built-in scanner unit for fingerprint scanning. 2. The card according to claim 1, wherein the card unit and the scanner unit are integrated. 3. The card according to claim 1, wherein the card unit and the scanner unit are mechanically connected so as to be relatively rotatable. 4. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the scanner has a supportable height-adjustable leg.
The card according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The scanner unit according to claim 1, wherein the scanner unit includes a finger detection sensor for detecting a position state of a finger, which is different from the scanner unit.
Card described in section. 6. The card according to claim 1, wherein the card is a PC card.