JP2000251009A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide both power saving of a power source in a reader and the miniaturization and simplification of the entire device by turning on/off the power source in the main body of device through a switch to be pressed and opened with the physical contact of an inserted card itself. SOLUTION: Concerning a card reader 10 having a card inserting part 10a so as to read/write information to a card 1 inserted to this card inserting part 10a, this device is provided with a power source switch 11 arranged at a deep end in the card inserting direction of the card inserting part 10a so as to be pressed and opened with the top end of the card 1 in the inserting direction for turning on/off the power source of the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card reader capable of reading information stored in a card or writing predetermined information into the card by inserting the card, and more particularly to turning on the power of the main body of the apparatus. / OFF
Is performed through a switch that is pressed and released by physical contact of the inserted card itself, thereby realizing power saving, miniaturization, and simplification of the reader. It relates to a suitable card reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a card reader is a device for reading or writing predetermined information on a magnetic card or an IC card inserted into a card insertion portion of the device.
Today, it is widely used in all fields because a card that is easy to carry allows quick and reliable processing.

In particular, in recent years, IC cards in which an IC chip is embedded in a card are rapidly becoming popular because they can store a large amount of information, can perform various processes such as arithmetic operations, and are excellent in security. In various fields, such as a slot of a PC card used for expansion of a personal computer, a card reader of an electronic money card having a payment function similar to cash, or an identification device of various ID cards, reading and reading of IC cards are performed. A card reader that performs a writing process is employed.

A card reader for performing such information processing of a card includes an apparatus main body having a card insertion section and a power supply for supplying power to the apparatus main body. The power is turned on and power is always supplied to the apparatus main body regardless of the presence or absence of the card reading process.

For this reason, in a conventional card reader,
There is a problem that wasteful power is consumed even though card processing is not performed. In particular, recently, a simple and small card reader such as a portable card reader has been provided. In such a portable reader, a cordless battery pack or the like is often used as a power source. However, the waste of power consumption as described above has become an important problem.

Therefore, a card detecting means for detecting whether or not a card has been inserted is provided in the card insertion portion of the apparatus main body, so that the power supply of the apparatus is turned on only when the insertion of the card is detected. Card readers have been proposed. According to such a card reader, power is supplied to the apparatus main body only when it is detected that a card has been inserted, and when the card is removed, the power is turned off by detection of the detection means. As described above, wasteful power is not consumed, and power saving of the apparatus power supply can be achieved. Such a power-saving card reader is disclosed in, for example,
"Card reader" described in 23482 and 3-10
No. 0965, "Magnetic card reader"
No. 62804, “IC card reader” and the like.

[0007]

However, any of the conventionally proposed power-saving reading devices has a detecting means for detecting the presence of a card provided in a card insertion portion, and a card from the detecting means. A complicated and large number of circuits and components, such as power control means for turning on / off the power supply depending on the presence or absence of the detection signal, are required. For this reason, the entire reading apparatus has a complicated and large configuration, and a new problem has been generated that hinders reduction in size and weight of the reading apparatus. In particular, the increase in size and complexity of such a device has a serious problem in that it cannot cope with a portable small-sized reader capable of reading an IC card which has been rapidly spreading in recent years.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve such problems of the prior art. The power ON / OFF of the apparatus main body is pressed by physical contact of the inserted card itself. By performing the operation through an open switch, it is possible to realize both the power saving of the power supply in the reading apparatus and the miniaturization and simplification of the whole apparatus. Particularly, an IC used for a PC card, an electronic money card, and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a card reader suitable for a card and a smart card.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card reader comprising: an apparatus main body having a card insertion portion; a power supply for supplying power to the apparatus main body; What is claimed is: 1. A card reading device for reading and writing information from and to a card inserted into an insertion portion, comprising: a switch in the card insertion portion which is pressed and released by the inserted card. The power of the main unit is ON / O
It is configured to be flip-flopped.

[0010] In particular, according to the present invention, the switch is disposed at a far end of the card insertion portion in a card insertion direction.
The power is turned on / off by being pressed and released by the leading end of the card in the insertion direction.

On the other hand, the switch is disposed on a side surface of the card insertion portion in the card insertion direction, and is pressed and released by an end portion of the card in the insertion direction to turn on / off the power supply. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the switch is disposed on an upper surface or a lower surface of the card insertion portion in the card insertion direction, and is pressed and released by the upper surface or the lower surface of the card in the insertion direction to turn on / off the power supply. There is a configuration to do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the reading device according to the third or fourth aspect, a surface of the switch, which comes into contact with a leading end of the card in the insertion direction, is formed with a slope inclined toward the insertion direction of the card. There is a configuration.

Further, in the card reader according to claim 6, the power supply is an internal power supply provided in the apparatus main body. On the other hand, in the card reader according to claim 7, the power supply is an external power supply provided outside the apparatus main body.

In the card reader according to the present invention, the card is an IC card, and in particular, in the ninth embodiment, the card is a smart card.

According to the card reader of the present invention having such a configuration, a switch having a mechanical configuration that is pressed and released by physical contact of the card itself is provided in the card insertion portion into which the card is inserted. Since the power supply for supplying power to the apparatus is turned on / off by the switch, the power supply is turned on when the card is inserted into the card insertion portion, and the power supply is turned off when the card is removed.

As a result, the power is not turned on unless the card is inserted into the card insertion portion, and unnecessary power is consumed regardless of the presence or absence of the card as in the conventional reader. Disappears. In addition, since the power is turned ON / OFF only by a mechanical power switch that is pressed and released by physical contact of the card, complicated devices such as card detection means and power control means, which have been conventionally proposed, can be used. No circuit is required at all, and the entire reading device can be reduced in size and simplified. This makes it possible to cope particularly with a portable card reader for an IC card or a smart card, for which miniaturization and simplification of the device are required.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a card reader according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] First, a first embodiment of a card reader according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view showing a card reader according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state before a power switch is turned on, and (b) shows a state before the power switch is turned on. The state is shown. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the card reader according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of another embodiment of the card reader according to the present embodiment.

As shown in these figures, the card reader 10 according to the present embodiment includes a card insertion portion 10a into which the card 1 is inserted from the outside, and a power supply 12 for supplying power to the device main body. This is a card reader that reads and writes predetermined information from and to the card 1 inserted into the insertion section 10a. Here, the card 1 inserted into the card reader 10 of the present embodiment is an IC card in which an IC chip (not shown) is embedded in the card body, and is specifically used for expanding a personal computer. PC cards, electronic money cards having a payment function similar to cash, and smart cards used as various ID cards.

A smart card equipped with an IC chip is
Since the amount of information that can be stored is large, various processes such as calculations are possible, and the security is excellent, it has been rapidly spreading in recent years. It is a card reader that performs read / write processing.

Then, the card insertion section 1 of the apparatus main body
A power switch 11 that is pressed and released by the inserted card 1 is provided in Oa. The power switch 11 is a mechanical switch that is pressed and released by physical contact with the card 1, and is connected to a power supply 12 that supplies power to the apparatus main body, as shown in FIG. 2 (or FIG. 3). . Thus, when the power switch 11 is pressed and opened, the power supply 12 is turned on / off and power is supplied to the apparatus main body.

The power switch 11 is, as shown in FIG.
The card 1 which is disposed at the far end of the card insertion portion 10a in the card insertion direction and is inserted into the card insertion portion 10a
Is pressed and released by the leading end in the insertion direction. Then, the power switch 11 moves back and forth along the front and back of the card insertion direction, and is turned “ON” when the card 1 is completely mounted (the state shown in FIG. 1B), and is turned “OFF” in other states. It has become. As described above, the power switch 1 that is turned on / off by moving back and forth along the card insertion direction is located at the far end of the card 1 in the insertion direction.
By disposing the power supply 1, the power switch 11 is pressed and released by the insertion / removal operation of the card 1, and the power supply 12 is reliably turned on / off.

Here, although the power switch 11 is schematically shown in FIG.
A switch having any structure may be used as long as the switch is turned ON / OFF by opening. For example, a switch structure generally called a push button switch can be adopted as the power switch 11 of the present embodiment.
In a push button switch structure, when a physical force is applied to an operation unit (button), the switch unit is pressed by the operation unit to connect and conduct the switch terminals on the circuit via a conductive plate or the like, and the connection circuit is in an initial state ( When the power is switched from the (OFF state) to the ON state and the force on the operation unit is released, the switch terminals are disconnected, the connection circuit is also disconnected, and the switch returns to the initial state. Pressing and releasing such a switch structure
By performing the physical contact of the card 1 inserted into the apparatus, the present invention can be applied to the reader of the present embodiment.

Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1, when the card 1 is completely mounted on the apparatus side, a card holding mechanism (not shown) provided in the card insertion portion 10a.
Thus, the card 1 can be easily and reliably pulled out by an ejecting mechanism (not shown) on the card insertion portion 10a side.

The power supply 12 which is turned on / off by the power switch 11 of the present embodiment includes:
As shown in FIG. 2, an internal power supply provided inside the apparatus main body may be used. As shown in FIG. 3, an external power supply provided outside the apparatus main body may be used. Generally, FIG.
The internal power supply as shown in the figure, in the case of a card reader or the like having a relatively simple and
An external power supply as shown in FIG. 3 is used as a cordless battery pack or the like. When the apparatus main body is a relatively large stationary type card reader, the power is supplied by plugging in a cord. It is used as a power source when the power supply is used. In the card reader of the present embodiment,
The power supply 12 can be applied irrespective of whether it is an internal power supply or an external power supply, and is a highly versatile reader.

Next, the operation of the card reader of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. First, when the card 1 is not inserted into the card reader 10, the power switch 11 is open (see FIG. 1).
(Refer to (a)), the power supply 12 is turned off, and power is not supplied to the apparatus main body. In this state, the card 1 is inserted into the card insertion portion 10a (the state shown in FIG. 1A), and when the card 1 is inserted to the far end of the card insertion portion 10a, the front end of the card 1
Physical contact, and when card 1 is inserted,
When the power switch 11 is pressed by the card 1 and the card 1 is completely mounted, the power supply 12 is turned on (FIG. 1).
(State shown in (b)).

As a result, power is supplied from the power supply 12 to the apparatus main body, and the information read / write processing operation for the card 1 is performed. When the processing operation on the card 1 is completed and the card 1 is pulled out, the pressed power switch 11 is opened and the power supply 12 is turned off again.
As a result, power is not supplied to the apparatus body unless the card 1 is inserted, and unnecessary power is not wasted.

As described above, according to the card reader of the present embodiment, the power supply having the mechanical structure that is pressed and released by the physical contact of the card itself in the card insertion portion 10a into which the card 1 is inserted. Since the power switch 12 is provided with a switch 11 to turn on / off a power supply 12 for supplying power to the apparatus, the power supply 12 is turned on when the card 1 is inserted into the card insertion portion 10a, and the card 1 is turned on. When pulled out, the power supply 12 is turned off.

As a result, unless the card 1 is inserted into the card insertion portion 10a, the power supply 12 is not turned on, and unnecessary power is consumed regardless of the presence or absence of the card as in the conventional reader. Such a thing disappears. In addition, since the power supply 12 is turned ON / OFF only by the mechanical power switch 11 which is pressed and released by the physical contact of the card 1, complicated power such as card detection means and power control means which have been conventionally proposed. A simple device or circuit is not required at all, and the entire reading device can be reduced in size and simplified. This makes it possible, in particular, to reduce the size of the device,
The present invention can also be applied to a portable card reader for an IC card or a smart card that requires simplification.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the card reader of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional plan view showing a card reader according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state before a power switch is turned on, and (b) shows a state before the power switch is turned on. The state is shown.

As shown in the figure, the card reader of the present embodiment is a modified embodiment of the card reader of the first embodiment described above, and the power switch 11 is provided on the side of the card insertion section 10a in the card insertion direction. The power supply 12 (not shown in the present embodiment) is turned on / off by being pressed and released by the end of the card 1 in the insertion direction.
It is turned off.

Specifically, the power switch 1 of the present embodiment
Reference numeral 1 denotes a mechanical switch that projects from the side surface of the card insertion portion 10a in the insertion direction of the card 1, as shown in FIG. The power switch 11 according to the present embodiment advances and retreats in a device side direction substantially perpendicular to the card insertion direction to turn on / off the power supply 12.
As shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the power switch 11 that contacts the leading end of the card 1 in the insertion direction is a slope 11a that is inclined toward the card insertion direction.

As a result, the card 1 inserted into the card insertion portion 10a abuts on the slope 11a of the power switch 11 during the insertion operation.
The power switch 11 is further inserted while pressing the slope 11 a, and the power switch 11 is pressed toward the side of the device by the side end of the inserted card 1, and when the card 1 is completely mounted (FIG. 4B), the power switch 12 is turned on. Is turned on. Other components are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment.

According to the card reader of the present embodiment having such a configuration, the ON / OFF of the power supply 12 of the apparatus main body is controlled by the physical contact of the inserted card 1 itself, as in the first embodiment. By performing the operation via the power switch 11 which is pressed and released, both power saving of the power supply in the reading apparatus and miniaturization and simplification of the whole apparatus can be realized. In particular, in the present embodiment, the power switch 11 is turned on / off while the card 1 is being inserted and removed.
Is performed, the power supply 1 is smoothly and reliably operated.
2 ON / OFF can be realized.

Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the card reader according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5A and 5B are schematic cross-sectional side views showing a card reader according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a state before a power switch is turned on, and FIG. 5B shows a state before the power switch is turned on. The state is shown.

As shown in the figure, the card reader of this embodiment is a modified embodiment of the card reader of the first and second embodiments described above, and includes a power switch 1.
1 is disposed on the lower surface of the card insertion portion 10a in the card insertion direction, and is pressed and released by the lower surface portion of the card 1 in the insertion direction, and the power source 12 (not shown in the present embodiment).
Is turned on / off.

Specifically, the power switch 1 of the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 5, a mechanical switch 1 protrudes from the lower surface of the card insertion portion 10a in the insertion direction of the card 1 and moves up and down in the direction of the lower surface of the device substantially perpendicular to the card insertion direction. The power supply 12 is turned on / off. As shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the power switch 11 that contacts the leading end of the card 1 in the insertion direction is
As in the case of the second embodiment, the slope 11a is inclined toward the card insertion direction.

As a result, the card 1 inserted into the card insertion portion 10a abuts on the slope 11a of the power switch 11 during the insertion operation.
The power switch 11 is further inserted while pressing the slope 11 a, and is pressed toward the lower surface of the device by the lower surface of the card 1 to be inserted. When the card 1 is completely mounted (FIG. 5B), the power switch 12 is turned on. Is turned on. Other components are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment.

With the card reader of this embodiment having such a configuration, as in the first and second embodiments, the power supply 12 of the apparatus main body is turned ON / OFF by the physical operation of the card 1 itself. By performing the operation via the power switch 11 which is pressed and released by an appropriate contact, it is possible to realize both the power saving of the power supply in the reading apparatus and the miniaturization and simplification of the whole apparatus.

In the present embodiment, the power switch 11 is turned on / off during the insertion / removal of the card 1, so that the power supply 12 is turned on / off by a smooth and reliable operation as in the second embodiment. Can be realized. In the present embodiment, the power switch 11 is disposed on the lower surface side in the card insertion portion 10a, and is pressed and released by the lower surface of the card 1 to be inserted and removed. The power supply 1 is disposed on the upper surface side of the insertion portion 10 a and is pressed and released by the upper surface of the card 1.
2 may be turned on / off.

The card reader of the present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
It goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described first to third embodiments, a card reader for a smart card is described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other IC card and magnetic card readers. That is, the present invention is applicable to any card reader as long as the power can be turned on / off via a switch pressed and released by physical contact of a card inserted into the apparatus main body. The target card may be of any type, size and shape.

[0042]

As described above, according to the card reader of the present invention, the power of the main body of the apparatus is turned ON / OFF through the switch pressed and released by the physical contact of the inserted card itself. As a result, both the power saving of the power supply in the reading device and the miniaturization and simplification of the whole device can be realized. In particular, as a reading device for IC cards and smart cards used for PC cards, electronic money cards, and the like. It is suitable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view showing a card reader according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state before a power switch is turned on, and (b) shows a state before the power switch is turned on.
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the card reader according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of another embodiment of the card reader according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional plan view showing a card reader according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state before a power switch is turned on, and (b) shows a state before the power switch is turned on.
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing a card reader according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a state before a power switch is turned on, and (b) shows a state before the power switch is turned on.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card 10 Card reader 10a Card insertion part 11 Power switch 11a Slope 12 Power supply 12a External power supply 13 Card control circuit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A card reader, comprising: an apparatus main body having a card insertion section; and a power supply for supplying power to the apparatus main body, wherein the card reading apparatus reads and writes information on a card inserted into the card insertion section. A card reader, comprising a switch which is pressed and released by the inserted card in the insertion portion, and the power of the apparatus main body is turned ON / OFF by pressing and releasing the switch. 2. The switch is disposed at a far end of the card insertion portion in a card insertion direction, and is pressed and released by a front end of the card insertion direction to turn on / off the power supply.
The card reader according to claim 1, which is turned off. 3. The switch is disposed on a side surface of the card insertion portion in the card insertion direction, and is pressed and released by an end portion of the card in the insertion direction to turn on / off the power supply.
The card reader according to claim 1, which is turned off. 4. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the switch is disposed on an upper surface or a lower surface of the card insertion portion in the card insertion direction, and is pressed and released by the upper surface or the lower surface of the card insertion direction to turn on / off the power supply. Card reader. 5. The card reader according to claim 3, wherein a surface of the switch that comes into contact with a leading end of the card in the insertion direction is a slope inclined toward the insertion direction of the card. 6. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is an internal power supply provided in the apparatus main body. 7. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is an external power supply provided outside the apparatus main body. 8. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein said card is an IC card. 9. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein said card is a smart card.