JP2000099652A - Semiconductor recording media and recording and reproduction system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely set a re-write prohibiting state by a simple work. SOLUTION: The package of a semiconductor recording media 1 is provided with an optical window 6, and when a light is made incident through the optical window 6, a photoelectric converting means 2 converts this into an electric signal A, and a light detecting means 3 compares this with a threshold value, and outputs a detection signal B. A memory cell controlling means 4 turns a memory cell 5 into a rewritable state by the detected signal B. When an opaque seal is attached to the optical window 6, a light from the outside part is shielded, and the memory cell controlling means 4 turns the memory cell 5 into a rewriting inhibiting state by the detection signal B outputted from the light detecting means 3. When this semiconductor recording media is mounted on a prescribed device, this light is irradiated for a definite period of time, and the light detecting means is provided with a function for holding the detection signal B even after the lapse of this irradiating time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semiconductor recording medium having a semiconductor memory and a recording / reproducing system using the same, and more particularly, to a semiconductor recording medium suitable for recording data such as audio signals and image signals, and The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a recording device for recording an audio signal or an image signal, a magnetic recording device using a magnetic tape as a recording medium, that is, a tape recorder or a video tape recorder (VTR) is conventionally known. And a cassette (tape cassette) incorporating such a magnetic tape, in particular, V
HS tape cassettes and compact audio cassettes are provided with "claws" in the case to prohibit rewriting, so that the recording data to be preserved can be prevented from being erased by rewriting. I have. That is, whether or not rewriting is possible is determined based on the presence or absence of the "claw". By folding and removing the "claw", writing to the magnetic tape can be prohibited.

As another method for prohibiting rewriting, there is a method of providing a sliding portion in a cassette. This is a structure for closing a predetermined hole provided by the slide of this part, and determines whether or not rewriting to the recording medium is possible depending on whether or not this hole is closed. is there. As a method of detecting whether this hole is closed or not, there are an optical method and a mechanical method. Such a method has been adopted for recording media such as floppy disks, MDs, and MOs, as described in, for example, "Latest Floppy Disk and Its Application Know-how", pp. 14-27, published by CQ Publishing Company.

[0004]

By the way, the progress of semiconductor technology in recent years has been remarkable, and the memory capacity of a semiconductor recording medium using a semiconductor memory has rapidly increased due to the miniaturization of the semiconductor process. In addition, non-volatile media have been developed, and flash memories and the like have been developed as digital image recording media, which have been adopted for digital still cameras. In the future, further miniaturization of the semiconductor process will progress and a highly integrated semiconductor memory will be developed. As a result, audio signals and audio signals will be transferred to a semiconductor memory in which one memory chip or a plurality of memories are mounted in the same package. It becomes possible to record the image signal for 1 hour to 2 hours or more.

[0005] Even in the case of a semiconductor recording medium using such a semiconductor memory, in order to prevent a situation in which a user easily performs an operation error such as rewriting and erases necessary recording data, rewriting is prevented. A mechanism is essential. However, providing an erroneous erasure prevention function by a mechanical sliding function as described above in a case such as an LSI package having a size of at most about 20 mm square has many problems in terms of both reliability and operability. Because
The mechanical slide mechanism provided in such a package is very small in itself and weak in strength, and has problems such as easy breakage. Very difficult to operate. If this slide part is moved by tweezers or the like, it may be possible, but it is impractical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor recording medium and a recording medium provided with an erroneous writing prevention mechanism capable of solving such a problem and enabling a user to easily and surely perform an operation of prohibiting / releasing rewriting. It is to provide a reproduction system.

[0007]

In order to attain the above object, a semiconductor recording medium provided with a semiconductor memory according to the present invention comprises a first means for detecting the presence or absence of light received from outside for a predetermined period of time. A second means for holding a detection output of the first means and continuously generating a detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the light reception; and determining whether data can be written in the semiconductor memory in accordance with the detection signal. A rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism comprising the third means for determining is provided.

Such light is generated from a device in which the semiconductor recording memory is mounted and is not always emitted, so that power consumption by the light emitting means can be reduced. Even if this is done, the determination function of the third means is maintained by the holding function of the second means, and the prohibition state and the permission state of rewriting of the semiconductor memory are stably maintained.

Further, as described above, even if light is generated outside, it is possible to change the determination by the third means by a simple method of shielding this light.

In order to achieve the above object, a recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention includes an optical reflecting means provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus, and a light emitting means, An optical window through which light generated by the light emitting means is emitted to the outside and light from the reflecting means is incident thereon, and a position at which light generated by the light emitting means and reflected by the reflecting means is received through the optical window. Photoelectric conversion means, light detection means for detecting whether or not the light is received by the optical conversion means from an output signal of the photoelectric conversion means, and the semiconductor memory according to an output signal of the light detection means. A rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism comprising control means for determining whether or not data can be rewritten in the semiconductor memory according to whether or not the optical window is to be in a light-shielded state. Prohibited or So as to availability.

With this configuration, since the light emitting means is provided on the semiconductor recording medium side, there is no need to provide such means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side, and an opaque seal or the like is stuck or peeled off the optical window. With this simple operation, it is possible to switch between rewriting inhibition and permission of data rewriting of the semiconductor recording medium. In addition, since the optical window only transmits light from the light emitting means to the photoelectric conversion means, it is not necessary to make the optical window particularly large. Therefore, the optical window can be applied to a semiconductor recording medium as small as an LSI package. is there.

A recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention provides a recording / reproducing apparatus with a light emitting means, a photoelectric conversion means for receiving light from the semiconductor recording medium, Light detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of light reception, and control for determining whether data can be written in the semiconductor memory according to the detection output of the light detecting means.
Means for rewriting / prohibiting rewriting, and reflecting light from the light emitting means in the direction of the photoelectric conversion means on the semiconductor recording medium, and changing the reflectance.
Alternatively, there is provided a light reflecting means capable of changing the reflection direction between the direction of the photoelectric conversion means and the other direction.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention, wherein 1 is a semiconductor recording medium of this embodiment, 2 is a photoelectric conversion unit, 3 is a light detection unit, 4 is a control unit, and 5 is a control unit. A memory cell (semiconductor memory), 6 is an optical window (hereinafter referred to as an optical window), and 7 is an input / output terminal.

In FIG. 1, a memory cell 5 to which data is written is provided in a semiconductor recording medium 1, and an audio signal input from an input / output terminal 7 under the control of a memory cell control means 4. And data such as image signals are written, and data is read from the memory cell 5 and output from the input / output terminal 7 to the outside.

A photoelectric conversion means 2 is provided in the semiconductor recording medium 1 to receive light radiated from outside through an optical window 6 provided in the semiconductor recording medium 1 and convert the light into an electric signal. Convert. This photoelectric conversion means 2
Is supplied to the light detecting means 3. The light detection unit 3 compares the level of the electric signal A from the photoelectric conversion unit 2 with a preset threshold value, and determines that light has been received through the optical window 6 when the level of the electric signal A is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Then, when the level of the electric signal A is less than the threshold value, it is determined that no light is received through the optical window 6 to detect the presence or absence of external light irradiation, and a detection signal B indicating the detection result is output. Output. Hereinafter, the detection signal B when it is determined that there is external light irradiation is logically “1”, and the detection signal B when it is determined that there is no external light irradiation is logically “0”. I do. In response to the detection signal B, the memory cell control means 4 prohibits the writing of data in the memory cell 5 and releases the prohibition.

This embodiment is mounted on a recording / reproducing apparatus in a device such as a digital audio recorder or a digital camera.
Light is emitted from the light emitting means provided in the device to the photoelectric conversion means through the optical window 6. In this case, the detection signal B from the light detection means 3 becomes "1", indicating that light is radiated from the outside through the optical window 6, whereby the memory cell control means 4 Enables rewriting in cell 5. Therefore, in this case,
Data input from the input / output terminal 7 is written to the memory cell 5.

On the other hand, no light is irradiated through the optical window 6,
When the photoelectric conversion unit 2 does not receive light, the detection signal B output from the light detection unit 3 is “0”. This allows
The memory cell control means 4 prohibits writing of data to the memory cell 5. Therefore, in order to prohibit rewriting of data to the memory cell 5 and prevent erroneous erasure of desired data already written to the memory cell 5, light irradiation to the photoelectric conversion unit 2 is blocked. For example, the opening of the optical window 6 may be closed with a seal or the like.

When the size of the semiconductor recording medium 1 is small, the optical window 6 is also very small.
Rewriting in the memory cell 5 can be prohibited by a simple operation of closing the opening of the optical window 6 with a seal or the like.

The reason why the threshold value is set in the light detecting means 3 as described above is that it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the photoelectric conversion means 2 has received light from outside. is there. For example, when the light blocking ratio of a seal or the like that closes the opening of the optical window 6 is low, the photoelectric conversion unit 2 receives a part of the light from the outside. Is output, and the light detection means 3 makes an erroneous determination that writing into the memory cell 5 is permitted. In order to prevent such an erroneous determination, the above-mentioned threshold is set. If this does not cause a problem (for example, the photoelectric conversion unit 2 does not output the electric signal A until a certain amount of light is received due to its conversion characteristics), it is not necessary to provide the above threshold.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein 1a is a package of the semiconductor recording medium 1, 8 is a chip or a substrate, and corresponds to FIG. Parts are given the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, a package 1a of the semiconductor recording medium 1 incorporates a semiconductor chip or a substrate 8 on which each unit shown in FIG. 1 is mounted, and an optical window 6 covers a wide area of the package 1a. It is located near one corner of the surface. The photoelectric conversion unit 2 is disposed so as to face the optical window 6 and receive light incident through the optical window 6.

It should be noted that the semiconductor recording medium does not necessarily have to be integrated on the same semiconductor chip, but may be divided into a plurality of components. In this embodiment, the semiconductor recording medium has a package 1a having a small size and its main purpose is to provide a rewrite inhibiting mechanism. However, the semiconductor recording medium is not necessarily small in size. The present invention is also effective in such a case.

Although the optical window 6 is arranged near one corner of the wide surface of the package 1a in FIG. 2, it may be provided at another place on this surface. Moreover, you may make it arrange | position to another surface, for example, the side surface with a small area.

Further, the shape of the package 1a is not particularly limited, and may be any shape.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the photoelectric conversion means 2 is not irradiated with light, writing in the memory cell 5 is enabled, and when the photoelectric conversion means 2 is irradiated with light, writing is inhibited. You may make it. In this case, assuming that the memory control means 4 in FIG. 1 operates as described above according to the detection signal B, the polarity of the detection signal B output from the photodetector 3 may be simply inverted.

The same applies to other embodiments described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of a method of closing the optical window 6 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 having the structure shown in FIG. 2, and 9 is a seal, which corresponds to FIG. Parts are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the optical window is not closed. Light enters the package 1a through the optical window 6 and the memory cell 5 (FIG. 1). Becomes writable.

FIG. 3B shows that the optical window 6 is closed by the seal 9 and the memory cell 5 is in the write-protected state. The seal 9 is an opaque material having an adhesive surface on one side. By sticking the surface of the package 1a on which the optical window 6 is provided to almost the entire surface, the seal 9 is applied only to the optical window 6 portion. Pasting work becomes easier than pasting.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the photoelectric conversion means 2 in FIG. 1, and 10 is a phototransistor.

In FIG. 1, the photoelectric conversion means 2 comprises a phototransistor 10. When light is applied to the base of the phototransistor 10, the phototransistor 10 receives the base current generated by the photoelectric conversion. A current I flows according to the amount of light (the amount of light received) applied to the collector, and this is output as an electric signal A.
Here, since the phototransistor 10 is of the npn type, the current I flows in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. In the state where rewriting is prohibited, no light is incident, so that photoelectric conversion is not performed in the phototransistor 10, and no current I flows.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of the light detecting means 3 in FIG. 1, where 11 is a comparator, 12 is a resistor,
13 is a reference voltage source.

In the figure, the light detecting means 3 is a comparator 11
And a reference voltage source 13. The reference voltage Es of the reference voltage source 13 is connected to the + (plus) terminal of the comparator 11, and the power supply voltage Eg is connected to the − (minus) terminal via the resistor 12. Supplied respectively. Here, the voltage Ei supplied to the minus terminal of the comparator 11 is given by Ei = Eg-IR, where R is the resistance value of the resistor 12 and I is the current flowing through the resistor. Here, the negative terminal of the comparator 11 is connected to the collector of the phototransistor 10 of the photoelectric conversion means 2 shown in FIG. Phototransistor 1
It is also a collector current I of zero.

Therefore, the current I flowing through the resistor 12 depends on the amount of light received by the photoelectric conversion means 2. From the above equation,
The input voltage Ei of the comparator 11 decreases as the amount of received light of the photoelectric conversion unit 2 increases, and increases as the amount of received light decreases. When the optical window 6 is closed and the amount of received light is almost 0, the power supply voltage Eg Is almost equal to the maximum.

The reference voltage Es of the reference voltage source 13 corresponds to the above threshold value, and is set so that Eg> Es. When the light receiving amount of the photoelectric conversion unit 2 is large and Ei ≦ Es, the comparator The output voltage Eo of No. 11 is at a high level. This is the detection signal of the above logic "1". Issue B
It is. Further, when the amount of light received by the photoelectric conversion means 2 is small, or when the amount of received light is almost 0 and Ei> Es, the output voltage Eo of the comparator 11 becomes low. This is the above-mentioned detection signal B of logic "0".

By appropriately setting the reference voltage Es, that is, the threshold value in this manner, the seal that closes the optical window 6 with the seal having a low light blocking rate has a low light blocking rate. However, even if the light enters through the optical window 6, it is possible to prevent a malfunction in which writing into the memory cell 5 is enabled.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing another specific example of the light detecting means 3 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 14 denotes a latch circuit, 15 denotes a control circuit, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. And a duplicate description will be omitted. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing signal waveforms at various portions in FIG. 6, and portions corresponding to FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this figure, this example is different from the example shown in FIG. 5 in that a latch circuit 14 and a control circuit 15 are added.
The latch circuit 14 holds the level of the output voltage B ′ of the comparator 11.

Next, the operation of this specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In a device such as a digital camera using the semiconductor recording medium according to this embodiment, the semiconductor recording medium is mounted and a predetermined Light is generated by the light emitting means for a certain period of time. This light is applied to the photoelectric conversion means 2 (FIGS. 1 and 4) through the optical window 6 unless the optical window 6 in FIG. 1 is closed. 3 is supplied with an electric signal A which is in the light emitting period “H” (high level). "H" level period T of this electric signal A in FIG.
_H is the light emission period of the device.

[0040] In the light detecting means 3, together with the electric signal A of "H" is supplied, as described in FIG. 5, approximately equal to the period T _H of the "H" of the electric signal A from the comparator 11 A signal B ′ which is “H” for a period is output and supplied to the latch circuit 14 as input data. On the other hand, the control circuit 1
5, a latch pulse P _R of shorter pulse width in the arc period of the device outputs one or plural times by the latch pulse P _R, the input data B 'is latched by the latch circuit 14. The Q output of the latch circuit 14 is supplied to the memory cell control means 4 (FIG. 1) as the detection signal B.

When the optical window 6 (FIG. 1) is closed,
During the light emission period TH of the device,. The input electric signal A does not become “H”. Therefore, the signal B 'of "L" (low level) is latched by the latch circuit 14, and the detection signal B of "L" is output from the latch circuit 14.

As described above, in this specific example, the state of the optical window 6 (ie, whether or not the optical window 6 is closed) cannot be changed when the semiconductor recording medium is mounted on the device. By holding the output signal B ′ of the comparator 11 according to the state, the device only needs to emit light for a short time when the semiconductor recording medium is mounted, and always emits light. Since there is no need to continue, power consumption in the device can be reduced.

Incidentally, the latch pulse P _R, the control circuit 15
Detects the rising edge of the electric signal A input to the comparator 11 or the rising edge of the output voltage B ′ of the comparator 11 or receives a signal indicating that the semiconductor recording medium is mounted from the device. Can be formed. Alternatively, the control pin to the semiconductor recording medium provided, thereby, the control circuit 15 may be adapted to form a detect and latch pulse P _R to attachment to the semiconductor recording medium device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the semiconductor recording memory according to the present invention. The parts corresponding to those in FIG.

In the figure, the detection signal B output from the light detection means 3 is supplied to the memory cell control means 4 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The above device used is also supplied. This device captures the detection signal B during the light emission period, determines the level of the detection signal B, and detects whether the memory cell 5 is prohibited from being rewritten. As a result, as a device,
When the memory cell 5 is prohibited from being rewritten, unnecessary write access to the memory cell 5 does not need to be performed, and unnecessary operation can be omitted.

When the light detecting means 3 has the configuration shown in FIG. 6, a signal C (for example, a latch pulse PR (see FIG. 6) indicating the timing at which the light detecting means 3 has determined whether or not the memory cell 5 can be rewritten. )) Is also supplied to the device. Thus, the device can know the timing of accurately detecting whether or not the memory cell 5 can be rewritten. For example, when the light detecting means 3 has the configuration shown in FIG. 6, when the device side detects the possibility of rewriting of the memory cell 5 using only the detection signal B from the light detecting means 3, the latch pulse PR If the detection is set at the previous timing, accurate detection cannot be performed. On the other hand, if the detection is performed by the detection signal B after the latch pulse PR is captured, the detection signal B at this time accurately indicates whether the memory cell 5 can be rewritten. Can be accurately detected.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention, wherein 16 is a light emitting means, 17 is a mirror, and the portions corresponding to FIG. The reference numerals are given and duplicate description is omitted.

In this embodiment, a light emitting means 16 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and a mirror 1 is provided on the device side using this embodiment.
7 is provided.

When the semiconductor recording medium 1 is mounted on the device, a mirror 17 provided on the device is arranged at a position facing the optical window 6. When the power supply voltage is supplied to the device, the light emitting means 16 emits light. At this time, if the optical window 6 is not closed,
The light generated by the light emitting means 16 is emitted to the outside through the optical window 6, reflected by the mirror 17, passes through the optical window 6 again, and
The light is received by the photoelectric conversion means 2. As a result, the light detection unit 3 outputs a detection signal B for permitting rewriting of the memory cell 5.

When the optical window 6 is closed by a seal or the like, the light generated from the light emitting means 16 is blocked by the seal or the like, and the light is not applied to the photoelectric conversion means 2. As a result, the light detection means 3 outputs a detection signal B for inhibiting the rewriting of the memory cell 5. In this case, the light reflectance of the surface on the light emitting means 16 side of the seal or the like must be sufficiently small.

According to this embodiment, the light emitting means and the driving means of the light emitting means are not required on the device side, and the control operation for operating the driving means is also unnecessary. On the semiconductor recording medium side, of course, the light emitting means 16 needs light emitting element driving means, but this driving means can be configured to operate only by supplying a power supply voltage from the device side. No control operation is necessary for the light emitting means 16 on the side. Therefore, the types of control operations on the device side are reduced.

In particular, when a seal or the like is attached to the optical window 6, it is necessary to prevent light from directly entering the photoelectric conversion means 2 from the light emitting means 16; It is necessary to consider the arrangement relationship between the light emitting means 16 and the photoelectric conversion means 2, and it is also possible to provide an optical window for each of the light emitting means 16 and the photoelectric conversion means 2.

Further, the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is different from the embodiment shown in FIG.
The recording and reproducing apparatus is provided with mirrors 17 respectively.
Similarly, in the second embodiment shown in FIG.
The light emitting means 16 and the mirror 17 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
May be provided.

The above embodiment can be further configured as follows.

(1) The light applied to the photoelectric conversion means 2 is made into invisible light such as infrared light, and a film 9 that blocks such invisible light and transmits visible light is used as a seal 9 for writing protection. It may be used. In this case, when a design or a character is printed on the surface of the package of the semiconductor recording medium, even if the sticker is attached to prohibit the rewriting of the memory cell 5, the design or the character can be printed through the film. You can see.

(2) Before the shipment, if the use of the semiconductor recording medium is determined so that writing to a ROM or the like is prohibited and the data is read-only, before the shipment, the optical window 6 is exposed to light. You may make it paint with the paint which shuts off.

(3) By providing a plurality of optical windows 6 in the semiconductor recording medium, it is possible to prevent erroneous writing due to a part of the seal or the like coming off.

(4) Rewriting may be inhibited in a part of the memory area of the memory cell 5 as described above, and the other memory area may always be made writable.

(5) The memory cell 5 is divided into a plurality of memory areas, and a rewrite inhibiting mechanism including the optical window 6 and the photoelectric conversion means 2 is provided for each of these memory areas.
It is also possible to configure so that rewriting is enabled or disabled independently for each of these memory areas.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a recording / reproducing system for a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention, wherein 1 'is a semiconductor recording medium, 18 is a recording / reproducing apparatus,
19 is a light emitting means, 20 is a photoelectric conversion means, 21 is a light detecting means, 22 is a media control means, and 23 is a light reflecting means.

In the figure, a recording / reproducing means 18 is provided in a device such as a digital audio recorder or a digital camera, and the semiconductor recording medium 1 'is detachable therefrom. At the time of recording in a writable state, data S such as an audio signal and an image signal is supplied to the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ via the media control means 22 and written therein, and at the time of reproduction, the data S is transmitted from the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′. The read data S is supplied to a processing circuit (not shown) via the media control unit 22.

The recording / reproducing device 18 is provided with a light emitting means 19, a photoelectric conversion means 20, and a light detecting means 21.
The semiconductor recording medium 1 'is provided with a light reflecting means 23 so as to face the light emitting means 19 and the photoelectric conversion means 20 when the semiconductor recording medium 1' is mounted on the recording / reproducing device 18. The light reflecting means 23 can change its reflectance greatly, or can change the reflection direction.

When the reflectance of the light reflecting means 23 on the semiconductor recording medium 1 'mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus 18 is set to be large, the light generated from the light emitting means 19 is reflected by the light reflecting means 23. Is incident on the photoelectric conversion means 20. This photoelectric conversion means 20 is similar to the photoelectric conversion means 2 shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, and outputs an electric signal A 'according to the amount of received light. The electric signal A 'is supplied to the light detecting means 21.
And the same as the light detecting means 3 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and outputs a detection signal B ′ when an electric signal A ′ is input. When the photoelectric conversion unit 20 receives the light reflected by the light reflection unit 23, the detection signal B ′ output from the light detection unit 21 is “H”, whereby the media control unit 22 transmits the signal to the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′. Can be rewritten.

If the reflectivity of the light reflecting means 23 is sufficiently small, or if the reflection direction is changed so as to be different from the above, even if the light emitting means 19 generates light, the photoelectric conversion means 2
No light is input from the light reflecting means 23 to 0. Therefore, the detection signal B ′ output from the light detection unit 21 is “L”, and the media control unit 22 puts the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ in a rewrite prohibition state.

In this way, by operating the light reflecting means 23, it is possible to switch and set the semiconductor recording medium 1 'between a state in which rewriting is possible and a state in which rewriting is prohibited.

In this embodiment, the same function as the semiconductor recording medium 1 described above can be provided. For example, when the light detecting means 21 is configured as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitting period of the light emitting means 19 can be a short fixed period when the semiconductor recording medium 1 'is mounted.

As described above, rewriting in the memory cell of the semiconductor recording medium 1 'is prohibited only in a part of the memory area of the memory cell, and in the other memory area, writing is always allowed. Alternatively, the memory cell is divided into a plurality of memory areas, and the light emitting means 19 and the photoelectric conversion means 20 are provided for each of these memory areas.
It is also possible to provide a rewriting prohibition mechanism composed of such as to set the rewriting permission / inhibition independently for each of these memory areas.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a specific example of the light reflecting means 23 in FIG. 10, wherein FIG. 11 (a) is a front view, and FIG. 11 (b) is a section line α-α of FIG. , And (c) is a cross-sectional view along the parting line β-β ′ in (b) of the figure, 24 is a light irradiation surface, 25 is a slide cover, 26 is a groove, and 27 is a projection. is there.

In FIG. 11A, the light reflecting means 23 comprises a light irradiation surface 24, a slide cover 25, and a groove 26, and is one of the packages of the semiconductor recording medium 1 '.
Are located on one side.

The light irradiation surface 24 has a low reflectance of almost 0% and is fixed to the side surface of the package. The slide cover 25 has a surface reflectance of almost 100%.
Is mounted so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow along the side surface of the package, and when it is moved to one end, the entire surface of the light irradiation surface 24 is exposed and the other end is exposed. In the state moved to the unit side, the light irradiation surface 24 is entirely covered.

Here, when the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ is mounted on the recording / reproducing device 18 (FIG. 10), the light emitting means 19 (FIG. 10) of the recording device 18
When the light irradiation surface 24 is not covered with the slide cover 25, the light from the light emitting unit 19 is not reflected to the photoelectric conversion unit 20 (FIG. 10). When the light irradiation surface 24 is covered with the slide cover 25, the light from the light emitting unit 19 is reflected by the slide cover 25 toward the photoelectric conversion unit 20. In this way, the light reflection means 23 can switch and select the reflectance between approximately 100% and approximately 0%.

Here, the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ is
In general, a black mold is used on the surface of the package. Therefore, in this case, the light irradiation surface 24 is the surface of the package itself, and the portion of the package surface to which the light emitting means 19 emits light is the light irradiation surface 24. The surface of the slide cover 25 is mirror-finished with a metal so that
% Reflecting surface.

The slide cover 25 is very small when the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ has a small size of, for example, about 20 mm square. Can be easily moved.

As shown in FIG. 11B, grooves 26 parallel to each other are provided on two surfaces of the package of the semiconductor recording medium 1 'which are in contact with the side surface on which the light reflecting means 23 is provided. The sides of the slide cover 25 having a U-shaped cross section are fitted into these grooves 26. This allows the slide cover 25 to slide in the direction shown in FIG. 11A without detaching from the package.

The groove 26 is formed over the range in which the slide cover 25 moves, and as shown in FIG.
With the provision of 7, the slide cover 25 on one side with respect to the projection 27 in the groove 26 can be held on the same side with respect to this projection 27 unless a force is applied from the outside. (Of course, the protrusion 27 is large enough to allow the slide cover 25 to move over the protrusion 27 when a force is applied to the slide cover 25 with a fingertip.) Thus, in the light reflecting means 23, once one reflectance is selected, the same reflectance is maintained unless the slide cover 25 is moved with a fingertip.

As described above, this specific example is an extremely simple method for enabling the reflectance to be switched.
It can be realized in a very small size, and can be easily realized even in a small package such as an LSI package.

In this specific example, contrary to the above, the light irradiation surface 24 may have a high reflectivity and the surface of the slide cover 25 may have a low reflectivity. The determination on whether or not to prohibit writing based on the detection signal B 'on the reproducing apparatus 18 side is reversed from the above.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing another specific example of the light reflecting means 23 in FIG.
Numeral 9 denotes a coating member, and numeral 30 denotes a seal. FIG. 9A shows a state in which a coating member 29 is applied to the light irradiation surface 28, and FIG. 9B shows a state in which the coating member 29 is removed. (c) shows the state where the seal 30 is attached to the light irradiation surface 28, respectively.

In FIG. 12A, as in the specific example described with reference to FIG. 11, the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ is an LSI package, and a part of the side surface of the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ is a light irradiation surface. Here, as in the specific example described with reference to FIG. 11, the semiconductor recording medium 1 ′ is an LSI package. Therefore, the entire surface of this package is black, and the light irradiation surface 28 has a reflectance of almost 0%. It is a plane.

In this specific example, in the shipping state, the coating member 29 having a high reflectance such as white or silver having a reflectance of about 100% so as to cover the light irradiation surface 28.
Is painted so that it can be scraped off.
When used in the recording / reproducing device 18 shown in FIG.
The light from 9 is reflected on the surface of the coating member 29 and received by the photoelectric conversion means 20, and the media control means 22 makes the semiconductor recording medium 1 'writable.

In order to prevent the semiconductor recording medium 1 'from rewriting data, the paint member 29 may be scraped off to obtain the state shown in FIG. As a result, light from the light emitting means 19 in the recording / reproducing device 18 shown in FIG.
Here, the light is not reflected, and the photoelectric conversion means 20 does not receive light. Therefore, the media control means 22 sets the semiconductor recording medium 1 'in a data write-inhibited state. Therefore, FIG.
(A) The semiconductor recording medium 1 'in the state shown in FIG. 1 (a) is obtained and data is written.
By scraping 9 to the state shown in FIG. 12B, rewriting cannot be performed, and the written data is stored without being destroyed.

In order for the semiconductor recording medium 1 'in the state shown in FIG. 12B to be in a state in which data can be written, as shown in FIG.
A 00% seal may be attached so as to cover the light irradiation surface 28.

Thus, in this specific example,
With a simple operation, it is possible to change the reflectivity of the light reflecting means 23 on the semiconductor recording medium 1 '.
With a simple operation, the semiconductor recording medium 1 'can be selectively set to one of a data rewrite enabled state and a data rewrite prohibited state.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
By sticking a seal having a reflectance of almost 0% to the light irradiation surface 28 in the state shown in FIG. 12A, the semiconductor recording medium 1 'is set in a data rewrite inhibition state, and the seal is peeled off. The data can be rewritten.

The specific examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are as follows.
Although the reflectivity of the light reflecting means 23 has been changed, the reflection direction of the light reflecting means 23 can be changed.
The light from the light emitting means 19 can be reflected in the direction of the photoelectric conversion means 20 or can be reflected in other directions. For this purpose, for example, a mirror-finished metal plate may be attached to the package of the semiconductor recording medium 1 'so that the angle can be slightly changed.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, a mechanism for preventing erasure of data by rewriting can be realized by an extremely simple method of shielding an optical window provided in a package with a seal or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an open state and a closed state of an optical window in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of a photoelectric conversion unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of a light detection unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing another specific example of the light detection means in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a waveform chart showing signals of respective units in the specific example shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of a recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of a reflection unit in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another specific example of the reflection means in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1 'Semiconductor recording medium 1a Package 2 Photoelectric conversion means 3 Photodetection means 4 Memory cell control means 5 Memory cell 6 Optical window 7 I / O terminal 9 Seal 10 Optical transistor 11 Comparator 12 Resistance 13 Reference voltage power supply 14 Latch means Reference Signs List 15 control circuit 16 light emitting means 17 mirror 18 recording / reproducing device 19 light emitting means 20 photoelectric conversion means 21 light detection means 22 media control means 23 reflection means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B017 AA02 BA00 BB03 CA14 5B035 BA03 BB09 BC00 BC05 CA01 CA29 5B058 CA28

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A semiconductor recording medium having a semiconductor memory, a first means for detecting the presence or absence of light received from the outside for a certain period of time, holding a detection output of the first means, and A second means for continuously generating a detection signal indicating the presence / absence of data, and a third means for determining whether data can be written in the semiconductor memory according to the detection signal.
A semiconductor recording medium provided with a permission mechanism. 2. The rewriting inhibition / permission mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism acts on a part of the memory area of the semiconductor memory and permits rewriting of data on another memory area. A semiconductor recording medium characterized by being in a state. 3. The semiconductor recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor memory is divided into a plurality of memory areas, and the rewrite prohibition / permission mechanism is provided for each of the memory areas. 4. A recording / reproducing system comprising a semiconductor recording medium provided with a semiconductor memory and a recording / reproducing device for writing / reading data in / from the semiconductor memory, wherein the recording / reproducing device is provided with an optical reflecting means. A light emitting means, an optical window through which light generated by the light emitting means is emitted to the outside, and light from the reflecting means is incident on the semiconductor recording medium, and a light generated by the light emitting means and reflected by the reflecting means. Photoelectric conversion means arranged at a position to receive the light through the optical window, light detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the light reception by the optical conversion means from an output signal of the photoelectric conversion means, A rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism comprising control means for deciding whether to rewrite data in the semiconductor memory in accordance with an output signal of the light detection means, and setting the optical window in a light-shielding state; Whether according to recording and reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium and inhibits or permits the rewriting of data in the semiconductor memory. 5. The light-emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the light-emitting unit generates the light for a predetermined period when the semiconductor recording medium is mounted on the recording / reproducing device. A recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium, comprising: means for holding a detection result of presence / absence of light reception. 6. A recording / reproducing system comprising a semiconductor recording medium provided with a semiconductor memory and a recording / reproducing apparatus for writing / reading data in / from the semiconductor memory, wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus includes: Photoelectric conversion means for receiving the light, light detection means for detecting whether or not the light is received by the photoelectric conversion means, and whether or not data can be written in the semiconductor memory according to the detection output of the light detection means A recording / reproducing system using a semiconductor recording medium, wherein a rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism including a third means for determining the rewriting is provided. 7. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a light emitting means is provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus, and light from the light emitting means is reflected on the semiconductor recording medium in a direction of the photoelectric conversion means and a reflectance can be changed. A recording / reproducing apparatus using a semiconductor recording medium, comprising: a light reflecting means. 8. The light emitting device according to claim 6, further comprising: a light emitting unit provided in the recording / reproducing device; and a first state in which light from the light emitting unit is reflected on the semiconductor recording medium in a direction of the photoelectric conversion unit. A recording / reproducing apparatus using a semiconductor recording medium, wherein a light reflecting means is provided which can be changed to a second state of reflecting light in a direction different from the direction of the photoelectric conversion means. 9. The light-emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the light-emitting device generates the light for a predetermined period when the semiconductor recording medium is mounted on the recording / reproducing device. A means for holding a detection result of the presence or absence of light reception in the semiconductor recording medium. 10. The rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the rewriting prohibition / permission mechanism operates on a part of the memory area of the semiconductor memory, and on the other memory area, the data rewriting is performed. A semiconductor recording medium wherein rewriting is permitted. 11. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, wherein the semiconductor memory is divided into a plurality of memory areas, and the rewrite prohibition / permission mechanism is provided for each of the memory areas. Recording media.