JPS5911478A - Contactless interface for ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the reliability of connection, by providing a mechanism transmitting and receiving a signal with a light beam of a wave band different from the wave band used for a light supply mechanism between a device offering the service and the IC card, for improving the degree of freedom of the connecting position. CONSTITUTION:A device 1 offering the service with the IC card 2 is provided and the card 2 is provided with a light emitting element 10, a photodetector 11 and a solar cell 14. Further, the device 1 is provided with a light emitting element and a photodetector 12 placed oppositely to the elements 10 and 11, and a light source 17 supplying power to the card 2 is mounted to the device 1. Then, the card 2 is provided with a display section 15 and a keyboard 16. A light signal transmitting/receiving mechanism is constituted with the light emitting elements and the photodetectors 10-13 of the card 2 and the device 1, other wavelength band than that used for the light supply mechanism comprising the light source 17 and the solar cell 14 is used, the transmission/receiving of a signal is performed with an optical signal, the degree of freedom of the connecting position is improved, allowing to improve the reliability of the connection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an interface for transmitting and receiving signals in a contactless manner between an IC card and a device using an IC card.

Conventionally, contacts have been used as an interface for IC cards. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a kIC card interlocking method using contacts, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an ink face. In these figures, 1 is a device that provides a service, 2 is an IC card, 3 is an IC memory, and 4 and 5 are contacts. When using contacts for the interface, as shown in Figure 1, the IC card 2 must be inserted into the device 1 and fixed, so it is not possible to add a keyboard, display, etc. to the IC card 2 to make it more functional. Have difficulty. In addition, contact 4,
5 requires precision in the facing position between the IC card 2 and the device 1, so it is necessary to manufacture the IC card 2 and its contacts 5 in correspondence with the device 1. This makes it difficult to connect and use one IC card 2 to devices 1 that provide different types of services. In addition, the contacts 4 and 5 have drawbacks such as reliability problems when the environment in which they are used becomes poor.

This invention was made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and when connecting an IC card to a device, there is a large degree of freedom in the connection position, the reliability of the connection is high, and a keyboard and display section are added to the IC card. In this case, in order to realize a high-performance IC card usage system with good operability, lights with different wavelength bands are used for the interface and power supply. This invention will be explained below.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show how a high-performance IC card is used. In these figures, 1 is a device that provides a service, 2 is a high-performance 10 card, 6 is a keyboard provided in the device 1, and 1 is an operation panel surface. In the case of FIG. 3, the user only needs to place the IC card 2 at a predetermined location on the operation panel surface 70, and in the case of FIG. It is something that can be interfaced. The IC card 2 has a display function and a keyboard if necessary, and can be separated from the device 1 and used alone. Such a high-performance IC card 2 is required to have a high degree of freedom in connection position in order to realize various services with one card.

Now, in this invention, flexibility in the connection position is ensured by using a source for power supply and signal transmission/reception, and connecting in a non-contact manner.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are block diagrams showing an embodiment of a high-performance IC card and interface according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a signal transmission/reception part, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a power supply part. . In these figures, 1o is a light emitting element, 11 is a light receiving element,
12.13 is a light receiving element 1 light emitting element provided on the device 1 side; light emitting element 10.13 is provided on the IC card 2 side; They respectively face the light receiving elements 11 . 14 is a solar cell, 15
16 is a keyboard, and 1T is a light source for supplying power to the IC card 2 installed in the device 1. Note that the solar cell number 14 above is a general term for all elements that convert original energy into electrical energy.

Next, the operation will be explained.

The optical signal transmitting/receiving mechanism of the IC card 2 is arranged at the head of the IC card 2 as shown in FIG. That is, signals are transmitted and received between the light receiving element 12 and the light emitting element 13 on the device 1 side, which are provided opposite the light emitting element 1o and the light receiving element 11 of the IC card 20. The light emitting element 10°13 has a constant solid angle ω3. The light intensity is strong within ω2, and the light receiving elements 11 and 12 also have a solid angle ω
1. It is assumed that the light has directivity with strong light intensity within ω4. Each facing element is within the solid angle of the other, and the light receiving element 11°1
If the light intensity at 2 is above a certain level, it is possible to send and receive signals, and there is a large degree of freedom in the opposing positions. Regarding power supply, if the light intensity from the light source 17 to the solar cell 14 is above a certain value, I
C card 2 operates. In this case as well, the degree of freedom in opposing positions is large. In addition to the light supplied from the light source 1T, if the light intensity at the solar cell 14 is sufficient, the power supply light may be from the sun.
ffi (natural light).

Indoor lighting may also be used. In this case, IC card 2
It is also possible for the user to transmit and receive signals at a distance from the device while holding it in the user's hand without placing it on the operation panel surface 7.

7 and 8 show the light emitting element 10. Another example regarding the arrangement of the light-receiving element 11 and the solar cell 14 is a case where the signal input/output element, that is, the light-emitting element 10 and the light-receiving element 11 are arranged within the power feeding element durability region, that is, the solar cell 14.

Moreover, FIG. 9 and FIG. 1θ show the case where an optical power supply mechanism and an optical signal transmission/reception mechanism are arranged on the back side of the IC card 2. FIG. 9 shows the back side of the IC card 2, and 18 indicates a portion that reflects light. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the IC card 2 placed on the operation panel surface 7 of the device 1, where 1g is a light-reflecting surface hollowed out inside the operation panel surface T, and 20 is the hollowed-out part. It is a light-transmissive lid that covers the upper part, and the other parts are the same as in FIGS. 5 and 6. This light feeding mechanism efficiently transmits light to the solar cells 1 and 2 while ensuring flexibility in opposing positions.
By irradiating the light at 400 nm, power consumption is reduced. The light emitted from the light source 17 is reflected inside the hollowed out portion and irradiated onto the solar cell 14 .

This invention is characterized in that light is used for power supply and signal transmission and reception. 11(&) to (c) show the wavelength bands used. In FIG. 11(a), P is the light intensity, λ is the wavelength, 21S is the wavelength band of the light emitting element of the IC car 12, and 22
R is the wavelength band of the light receiving element of the device 1, and the detection element wavelength *Z
The shaded area (■) where 1S and the light-receiving element wavelength band 22R overlap is the received light intensity.

Similarly, the light emitting element wavelength band 228 is the light emitting element wavelength band on the device 1 side, and the light receiving element wavelength band 21R is the receiving X element wavelength band of the IC card 2. , 238 is a feeding light wavelength band, 23
R is the solar cell sensitive wavelength band of the IC card 2. Since the shaded areas (■, ■, ■) are in different wavelength bands, the power supply source does not adversely affect the signal pressure. Figure 11 (b), (c
) indicates other wavelength bands used. In the case of FIG. 11(o), the wave bands of the signal light and the power supply source partially overlap, but if the optical intensity of the signal light is increased in a narrow wavelength range, it is possible to easily differentiate between the signal light and the power supply source. The one-dot chain line in FIG. 11(c) is a threshold value for distinguishing between signal light and power supply light.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment showing the circuit configuration within the IC circuit of the IC card 2. FIG. In this figure, FIG.

The same symbol as the sixth leg indicates the same thing, 12A is a filter, 31 is a waveform shaping circuit, 32 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer), 33 is a read-only memory,
34 is a rewritable non-interruptible memory, 35 is a drive circuit, 3
6 is a display, 37.38 is a circuit and transistor for driving the light emitting element 13, 39 is a switch, 40 is a battery,
41 is a diode. 42 is a battery or a capacitor, which is provided when it is necessary to operate without any trouble even if the original input is cut off for a certain period of time.

Next, the operation will be explained.

The light source 1T illuminates the solar cell 14 and supplies optical power. The microcomputer 32 operates using this optical power and, if necessary, the battery 40 as an auxiliary power source. Signal light emitted from a light emitting element 10 consisting of an oscillating LED is converted into an electrical signal by a light receiving element 12, shaped into a square wave by a waveform shaping circuit 31, and becomes an input signal to a microcomputer 32. The filter 12A is a filter that attenuates light outside the wavelength band of 1° of the light emitting element.

When the user places the IC card 2 in a predetermined place, it is detected and the power supply circuit of the device 1 operates, and the light source 1 is activated as described above.
Fire 7. When the microcomputer 32 is operated by the solar cell 14, a code in the form of a pulse signal is sent from the light emitting element 10 to the microcomputer 32.

The microcomputer 32 decodes the code and determines whether the signal is from the device 11 or not. If it is determined that the circuit 37. The light emitting element 13 is driven by the transistor 38, and a signal 7' indicating that reception is ready is sent to the device IVc.

This series of signal exchanges prevents unauthorized use of the IC card 2. After the connection of the IC card 2 to the device 1 is completed as described above, the process moves on to transmitting and receiving service signals. The read-only memory 33 stores programs necessary for the operation of the IC card 2, and the rewritable non-volatile memory 34
stores service information. The service information is rewritten through the exchange of signals with the device 1. The user can also display service information on the display 36 by operating the keyboard 16 as needed.

FIG. 13 is an embodiment showing another circuit configuration, which has enhanced measures against unauthorized use. In this figure, 50 is a switch driving circuit, 51 is a level detection circuit, and 52 and 53 are switches. When IC card 2 is placed on device 1, light source 1
Pay from 7! At the same time, the light emitting element 10 is lit. This light is received by the light receiving element 12, its intensity is measured by the level detection circuit 51, and if the level is above a certain value, the switch drive circuit 50 is activated. The switch drive circuit 50 connects switches 3'9. '52. 53. By driving these, the microcomputer 32 is powered on and a signal receiving circuit is formed. In this circuit, if the IC card 2 is significantly displaced from the predetermined position, the output of the light receiving element 12 decreases, so by detecting this level, the switches 39, 52, and 53 can be disconnected. If the user pulls out the IC card 2 while receiving a service, the service can be stopped at that point. As a result, when the public telephone is used to process charges, the IC card 2 is pulled out in order to avoid charges (fraud is prevented).

FIG. 14 shows still another embodiment of the invention,
This is an interface using two light receiving elements. That is, 10a and 10b are light emitting elements, 12m and 12b are light receiving elements, and each of them is provided with filters 12A and 12B. It is assumed that both the light emitting elements 10m and 10b have different wavelengths. 54 is an AND circuit. The rest is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. The switch drive circuit 50 operates only when light of two predetermined wavelengths is irradiated.

This makes unauthorized use difficult.

FIG. 15 shows still another embodiment of the invention,
This is an example of an interface that supplies power to a main circuit such as a microcomputer only when an encrypted optical signal is received. 55 is a read-only memory storing a code, 56 is a waveform shaping circuit, and 57 is a code comparator. The rest is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. When the IC card 2 is turned on to Vcl on the device 1, the light source 1T turns on and at the same time the light emitting element 10 sends out an encrypted optical signal at regular intervals. The light receiving element 12 receives this light, shapes the waveform in a waveform shaping circuit 56, and compares it with the decoded signal stored in the read-only memory 55 in a code comparator 57. If they match, the switch drive circuit 5G is activated. This makes unauthorized use even more difficult.

As explained above, this invention provides an optical power supply mechanism and an original signal transmission/reception mechanism between the IC card and the device, and makes the wavelength bands of the two different, so that the two can be connected without contact. A large degree of freedom can be obtained in the contact position. Therefore, IC cards can be created with any design, and, for example, round IC cards, pen-shaped IC cards, vertical square IC cards, etc. can be connected to the same service device. That is, according to the present invention, even if the shapes of IC cards differ depending on various services, the interface can be unified. Examples of usage include cards for public telephone charges, services that store the other party's phone number in the card and use it as a speed dial after connecting to the device, bank cash cards, electronic memo pads, and devices from a distance. The scope of its use is extremely wide, with services that can be used to control people's lives.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing how to connect an IC card using conventional contacts, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the IC card interface shown in Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are high-performance type. IC
FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing how the card is used; FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the original signal transmitting and receiving mechanism and the optical power feeding mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the IC card. A perspective view showing another embodiment regarding the arrangement of the light receiving element and the solar cell, and a perspective view showing the mounting state thereof, FIG. 9, 1
Figure 0 shows the case where the power supply and signal input/output mechanism are arranged on the back of the IC card, Figure 9 is a plan view showing the back of the IC card, and Figure 10 shows the case where the IC card is placed on the operation panel of the device. Figures 11 (a) to (c) are waveform diagrams showing the original wavelength bands used for power supply and signals.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the IC circuit of the invention, and FIGS. 13 to 15 are block diagrams showing other embodiments of the IC circuit of the invention. In the figure, 1 is a device, 2 is an IC card, 10.13 is a light emitting element, and 11. j2 is a light receiving element, 14 is a solar cell, 15 is a display section, 16 is a gear board, and 17 is a light source. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 711 Figure 14

Claims (1)

[Claims] At the interface between an IC card and a device that provides a service by using this IC card,
A light source is provided on the device side, and an optical power feeding mechanism is provided with a solar tube and a pond on the IC card side, and furthermore, light of a wave and band different from the wavelength band used in the optical power feeding mechanism is used. Send and receive signals! A contactless interface for an IC card, characterized in that a signal transmitter/receiver is provided between the device and the IC card.