JP4677108B2 - Non-contact type IC card and method of using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a non-contact type IC card and a method for using the same, and more particularly to a non-contact type IC card of an electrostatic coupling type and a method for using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the progress of the information-oriented society, information is recorded on a card, and information management and settlement using the card are performed.
[0003]
As a card used for such information management and settlement, a contactless IC card capable of writing and reading information only by being brought close to a dedicated device in recent years has high security and can be written. Since the amount of information is large, a single card can be used for multiple purposes, and it has the advantage of being easy to handle, it has been increasingly popular in the market.
[0004]
As this non-contact type IC card, an electromagnetic coupling type using mutual induction of coils by an AC magnetic field, an electromagnetic induction type using induction power caused by dielectric flux of two coils, and data by microwaves are used. A microwave system that transmits and receives data, an electrostatic coupling system that performs communication by charging between the antenna on the card side and the information writing / reading side provided on the outside by the capacitor principle, and near infrared light at high speed There are optical systems that use light energy modulation by blinking. Among such non-contact type IC cards, those of the capacitive coupling type in which communication is performed by charging between the antenna on the card side and the information writing / reading side provided on the outside on the capacitor principle, Since the chip can be removed, the available applications can be changed.
[0005]
5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of the structure of a non-contact type IC card of an electrostatic coupling system. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a surface structure, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view.
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 5, in this conventional example, the antennas 102a and 102b are printed on the base material 105 at a predetermined interval, and the contacts 106a and 106b are formed so as to straddle the antennas 102a and 102b. The IC chip 101 connected to each of the antennas 102a and 102b via the adhesive 104 is detachably bonded.
[0007]
In the non-contact type IC card of the electrostatic coupling system configured as described above, charging is generated on the basis of the capacitor between the antennas 102a and 102b and the antenna of an external information writing / reading device (not shown). As a result, information is written to and read from the IC chip 101. At this time, since the communicable distance is very short unless the IC chip 101 is securely grounded, two antennas 102a and 102b having a predetermined size are provided, and the two antennas 102a and 102b are connected. An IC chip 101 is mounted so as to straddle. Thus, one of the antennas 102a and 102b is caused to function as a ground so that the IC chip 101 is reliably grounded, and the communicable distance is controlled to be a predetermined value.
[0008]
When a non-contact type IC card of the electrostatic coupling type as described above is used for a plurality of applications, the IC chip 101 is exchanged for each application, or data for a plurality of applications is stored in the IC chip 101. It is possible to keep things.
[0009]
However, when the IC chip 101 is exchanged for each application, it takes time and effort for the user, so it is more convenient for the user to have a card for each application. If the number is large, there is a possibility that convenience may be reduced due to confusion in use.
[0010]
Further, when data used for a plurality of applications is stored in the IC chip 101, the IC chip 101 needs to have a large capacity for that purpose, which is expensive.
[0011]
In view of this, a non-contact type IC card is conceivable in which a plurality of IC chips are mounted, and thereby a plurality of applications can be used.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, when a plurality of IC chips are mounted on one electrostatic coupling type non-contact type IC card, and a plurality of applications are used with one card, when reading or writing information, However, the application used by the user must be selected using the information writing / reading device from among the applications that can be used with this card.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and can be used for a plurality of applications that can be easily selected at a low cost. An object is to provide a type IC card and a method of using the same.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
When a plurality of IC modules each storing data used for a predetermined application are mounted and held over an information writing / reading device, one of the two antennas connected to the IC module functions as a ground. Thus, the information writing / reading device is a non-contact type IC card in which information is written or read using an electrostatic coupling method with respect to the IC module,
A first antenna connected to the plurality of IC modules and having an area sufficient to ground the IC module;
Each of the plurality of IC modules has a contact terminal connected to the IC module and provided so that a human body can be contacted from the outside.
When a human body comes into contact with one contact terminal among the plurality of contact terminals , the human body functions as a second antenna and is held over the information writing / reading device while the human body is in contact with the contact terminal Further, when one of the first and second antennas functions as a ground, an IC connected to a contact terminal with which a human body is in contact among the plurality of IC modules in the information writing / reading device. Information is written to or read from the module .
[0015]
The antenna, the IC module, and the contact terminal are provided on both surfaces of the non-contact type IC card, and are connected to other IC modules on the back surface of the portion where the contact terminal is provided. Further, the contact terminal is not provided.
[0017]
(Function)
In the present invention configured as described above, a plurality of IC modules each storing data used for a predetermined application are mounted, and information is written to or read from the IC modules using an electrostatic coupling method. A non-contact type IC card that can be used for a plurality of applications, an antenna connected to a plurality of IC modules and having a sufficient area for grounding the IC module, and a plurality of IC modules, A contact terminal that is connected to the IC module and can be contacted from the outside is provided. When a user uses a desired application using a non-contact type IC card, data used for the application is stored. Touch the contact terminals connected to the IC module. With type IC card. Then, the IC module in which data used for the desired application is stored is connected across the antenna and the human body, and either the antenna or the human body functions as a ground. The IC module storing the data to be used is securely grounded. As a result, information can be written to and read from only the IC module in which data used for the desired application is stored, and the desired application can be used by the IC module.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a non-contact type IC card of the present invention, (a) is a view showing a surface structure, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ shown in (a), (C) is BB 'sectional drawing shown to (a).
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the first antenna 2 and contact terminals 7a and 7b made of the same material as the antenna 2 are printed on the base material 5 with a predetermined distance from each other. The IC chip 1a connected to the antenna 2 and the contact terminal 7a via the contacts 6a and 6b is detachably adhered by the adhesive 4 so as to straddle the antenna 2 and the contact terminal 7a. 2 and the contact terminal 7b, the IC chip 1b connected to the antenna 2 and the contact terminal 7b via the contacts 6c and 6d is detachably bonded by the adhesive 4.
[0021]
Each of the IC chips 1a and 1b stores data used for an application that can be used, and an identifier that can identify the application. Here, an application that can be used using the data stored in the IC chip 1a is referred to as application A, and an application that can be used using the data stored in the IC chip 1b is referred to as application B. Examples of these applications include attendee management for events including ticket purchases and boarding management in transportation.
[0022]
Further, a protection label (not shown) for protecting the IC chips 1a and 1b may be provided on the IC chips 1a and 1b so as to cover the IC chips 1a and 1b.
[0023]
The shape of the antenna provided in the electrostatic coupling type non-contact type IC card will be described in detail below.
[0024]
Generally, in a non-contact type IC card of electrostatic coupling type, charging is performed on the capacitor principle between an antenna provided on the non-contact type IC card and an antenna of an external information writing / reading device (not shown). As a result, information is written to and read from the IC chip. However, if the IC chip is not securely grounded, the communicable distance becomes very short. Therefore, two antennas having an area larger than a predetermined size are provided, and an IC chip is mounted so as to straddle the two antennas. As a result, one of the two antennas functions as a ground so that the IC chip is securely grounded, and the communicable distance is controlled to be a predetermined value or more.
[0025]
In this embodiment, only one antenna 2 is connected to the IC chips 1a and 1b, and the IC chip 1a is connected to the contact terminal 7a in addition to the antenna 2, and is in contact with the antenna 2. The IC chip 1b is connected to the contact terminal 7b in addition to the antenna 2, and is provided to straddle the antenna 2 and the contact terminal 7b. Here, the contact terminals 7a and 7b do not have an area larger than the size required for reliably grounding the IC chips 1a and 1b as described above, and therefore, as shown in FIG. If the non-contact type IC card is used as it is, the IC chips 1a and 1b are not reliably grounded and the communicable distance becomes very short, and the applications A and B cannot be used.
[0026]
Below, the usage method of the non-contact-type IC card comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how to use the non-contact type IC card shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a non-contact type IC card used in the usage method explained with reference to FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the information writing / reading device in the case of failure. In the information writing / reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, programs corresponding to a plurality of applications are stored and can be applied to each application.
[0028]
For example, when the application A is used by using the non-contact type IC card shown in FIG. 1, the user touches the contact terminal 7a connected to the IC chip 1a as shown in FIG. Hold an IC card.
[0029]
Then, when the contact terminal 7a contacts the human body, the human body substitutes for the second antenna, and the IC chip 1a is connected so as to straddle between the antenna 2 and the antenna by the human body. In the human body, an action equal to or greater than that of an antenna having an area larger than that required for reliably grounding the IC chip 1a in a non-contact type IC card of electrostatic coupling type occurs. 2 or the human body functions as a ground, so that the IC chip 1a is reliably grounded, and the communicable distance in the non-contact type IC card of the electrostatic coupling system can be sufficiently satisfied.
[0030]
When a non-contact type IC card is held over the information writing / reading device in such a state, first, the data stored in the IC chip 1a is read in the information writing / reading device (step S1). It is determined whether or not an identifier for identifying the application is included in the processed data (step S2).
[0031]
When an identifier for identifying an application is read from the IC chip 1a, it is determined which application is identified by the identifier (step S3).
[0032]
In this embodiment, since the identifier is read from the IC chip 1a, the identifier for identifying the application A is read (step S4), and the program corresponding to the application A is started (step S5).
[0033]
When the identifier is read from the IC chip 1b (step S6), the program corresponding to the application B is activated (step S7).
[0034]
Thereafter, data is transmitted and received between the non-contact type IC card and the information writing / reading device in the state shown in FIG.
[0035]
As described above, in this embodiment, when a contactless IC card that can be used for a plurality of applications is used for a desired application, a contact terminal to which an IC chip storing data used for the application to be used is connected. When touching, either the antenna to which the IC chip is connected or the human body functions as a ground, and the IC chip is surely grounded, so that a desired application can be used. As a result, a non-contact IC card that can be used for a plurality of applications is not expensive, and a desired application can be easily selected when the desired application is used using the non-contact IC card. Can do.
[0036]
In the embodiment described above, two IC chips are mounted and can be used for two applications. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the number of IC chips mounted on a card is increased, That many applications can be used on a single card. In addition, since these IC chips are detachably mounted, available applications can be added by replacement.
[0037]
(Other embodiments)
As in the embodiment described above, the antenna, IC chip and contact terminal are not provided only on the surface of the non-contact type IC card, but the antenna, IC chip and contact terminal are provided on the back side of the non-contact type IC card. By providing, it is possible to make more applications available.
[0038]
4A and 4B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the non-contact type IC card of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a front surface structure, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a back surface structure.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the antenna 2a and the contact terminals 7a and 7b are printed on the surface of the base material 5 with a predetermined distance from each other, and the antenna 2a and the contact terminal 7a are connected to each other. The IC chip 1a connected to the antenna 2a and the contact terminal 7a is detachably bonded so as to straddle, and similarly, the antenna 2a and the contact terminal 7b are connected to straddle the antenna 2a and the contact terminal 7b. The formed IC chip 1b is detachably bonded. Further, the antenna 2b and the contact terminals 7c and 7d are printed on the back surface of the base material 5 with a predetermined distance from each other, and the antenna 2b and the contact terminals are straddling the antenna 2b and the contact terminal 7c. The IC chip 1c connected to each of the terminals 7c is detachably bonded, and similarly, the IC chip 1d connected to the antenna 2b and the contact terminal 7d can be peeled across the antenna 2b and the contact terminal 7d. It is glued to. Here, the contact terminals 7c and 7d are printed on the back surface on which the antenna 2a is printed, and the antenna 2b is printed on the back surface on which the contact terminals 7a and 7b are printed.
[0040]
Each of the IC chips 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d stores data used for different applications and an identifier that can identify the application. By selecting the IC chips 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, desired data can be obtained. The application becomes available.
[0041]
In the non-contact type IC card configured as described above, the user touches a contact terminal connected to an IC chip in which data used for an application to be used is stored, as shown in FIG. By selecting an application.
[0042]
For example, when using an application in which data stored in the IC chip 1b is used, the user has a non-contact type IC card so as to touch the contact terminal 7b connected to the IC chip 1b.
[0043]
Then, the IC chip 1b is connected so as to straddle the antenna 2a and the antenna by the human body, and either the antenna 2a or the human body functions as a ground, thereby ensuring that the IC chip 1b is grounded. Therefore, the communicable distance in the non-contact type IC card of the electrostatic coupling method is sufficiently satisfied.
[0044]
As a result, the user can use an application that uses data stored in the IC chip 1b.
[0045]
Here, since no other contact terminal is provided on the back surface of the contact terminal 7b touched by the user, another application is not selected.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of IC modules each storing data used for a predetermined application are mounted, and information is written to or read from the IC modules using an electrostatic coupling method. The contactless IC card that can be used for a plurality of applications, the antenna connected to the plurality of IC modules and having a sufficient area for grounding the IC module, and the IC module for each of the plurality of IC modules In addition, when a user uses a desired application using a non-contact type IC card, an IC module storing data used for the application is provided. Non-contact IC to touch the connected contact terminals If you have a card, the IC module that stores data used for the desired application is connected across the antenna and the human body, and either the antenna or the human body functions as a ground, The IC module storing data used for a desired application can be reliably grounded, and the desired application can be used by the IC module storing data used for the desired application.
[0047]
Thereby, it is possible to provide a non-contact type IC card that can be used for a plurality of applications at low cost and with which applications to be used can be easily selected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are diagrams showing an embodiment of a non-contact type IC card according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a surface structure, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ shown in FIG. (C) is BB 'sectional drawing shown to (a).
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a method of using the non-contact type IC card shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the information writing / reading apparatus when a non-contact type IC card is used in the usage method described with reference to FIG. 2;
4A and 4B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the non-contact type IC card of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a front surface structure, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a back surface structure.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of the structure of a non-contact type IC card of electrostatic coupling type, where FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a surface structure, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b, 1c, 1d IC chip 2, 2a, 2b Antenna 4 Adhesive 5 Base material 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Contact 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d Contact terminal

Claims (2)

When a plurality of IC modules each storing data used for a predetermined application are mounted and held over an information writing / reading device, one of the two antennas connected to the IC module functions as a ground. Thus, the information writing / reading device is a non-contact type IC card in which information is written or read using an electrostatic coupling method with respect to the IC module,
A first antenna connected to the plurality of IC modules and having an area sufficient to ground the IC module;
Each of the plurality of IC modules has a contact terminal connected to the IC module and provided so that a human body can be contacted from the outside.
When a human body comes into contact with one contact terminal among the plurality of contact terminals , the human body functions as a second antenna and is held over the information writing / reading device while the human body is in contact with the contact terminal. When one of the first and second antennas functions as a ground, an IC connected to a contact terminal with which a human body is in contact among the plurality of IC modules in the information writing / reading device. A contactless IC card in which information is written to or read from the module . The contactless IC card according to claim 1,
The antenna, the IC module, and the contact terminal are provided on both surfaces of the contactless IC card, and the back surface of the portion where the contact terminal is provided is connected to the other IC module. A non-contact type IC card, wherein no contact terminal is provided.

Images