JP2001101374A - Non-contact ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a card holding person to optionally permit data access. SOLUTION: An IC chip 12 is arranged nearly in a center on a chip holding paper 14, and antennas (conductors), 16 and 18 for allowing a reader/writer (not shown in the figure) to read and write data into the chip 12 by electrostatic coupling are printed on both sides of the chip 12. The antenna 16 is large enough to read and write data but the antenna 18 is too small to read and write data as it is. The upper side of the paper 14 is covered with an electrically insulated cover paper 20 of the same size as the paper 14 to be adhered. A conductor 22 electrically continued with the antenna 18 is printed on the surface of the paper 20. A human body itself makes an antenna by allowing a card- holding person to hold the part of the conductor 22 with his/her fingers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a non-contact IC card, and more particularly, to a non-contact IC card having an IC chip accessible by an electrostatic coupling method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system for writing and reading data to and from an IC card by an electrostatic coupling method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-1.
No. 53170. In the electrostatic coupling method, an IC card and a card reader are coupled electrostatically, that is, coupled with a capacitor, and data is transmitted. Therefore,
There is an advantage that data stored in the IC card can be read out without bringing the IC card into contact with the card reader.

In the configuration described in this publication, power for operating the IC card is supplied from the card reader to the IC card by a magnetic coupling method, but power can also be supplied by electrostatic coupling for data transmission.

[0004]

In the electrostatic coupling method, I
An antenna connected to an IC chip such as a C memory and an antenna connected to a reader / writer may face each other to form a capacitor. The required capacity of the capacitor and the generation of the IC chip and the reader / writer Although the distance between the antennas is limited by a possible current, the restriction on the distance between the IC chip and the reader / writer is relaxed, so that various applications are expected.

[0005] An antenna for electrostatic coupling can also be formed by, for example, pasting a conductive paint on paper, so that it is not a rigid medium but a flexible medium such as general paper. Easy to apply. The antenna can be easily separated from the IC chip, and writing and reading of data can be prevented or made difficult by a simple operation of separating the antenna from the IC chip.

[0006] Such a non-contact type IC card can generally read and write data regardless of the intention of the holder. However, for example, there is a demand that a cardholder himself / herself can select whether or not to notify his / her information to an exhibitor at an exhibition or the like.

Further, in the cutting operation, it is necessary that the operator does not place his / her hand at the cutting position, and the operator's work qualification must be confirmed in advance and during operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact IC card that satisfies such needs and needs.

[0009]

A non-contact IC according to the present invention.
The card includes an IC chip, and first and second conductors electrically connected to the IC chip. The first conductor has a size necessary for electrostatic coupling at a predetermined distance, and the card has the first and second conductors. The second conductor has a size that is insufficient for electrostatic coupling at the predetermined distance, and at least a portion of the second conductor is exposed to the outside.

[0010] When the card holder touches the second conductor, the card holder itself becomes an antenna for electrostatic coupling, and access to the IC chip becomes possible. That is, in the normal state, access to the IC chip is prohibited, and access to the IC chip becomes possible only when the card holder permits. Therefore, the card holder is forced to perform a specific operation, and a useful usage is possible in a situation where the operator requires the specific operation.

By arranging the portion of the second conductor exposed to the outside on the surface of the card medium, it becomes clear to the card holder where to touch.

The contactless IC card according to the present invention is
A C chip, a first antenna for electrostatic coupling connected to the IC chip, a second antenna for electrostatic coupling electrically separated from the IC chip, and a conductor connected to the IC chip. And a connection conductor having an electric connection pad at a predetermined distance from the second antenna.

With such a configuration, the IC chip can be accessed only when the card holder electrically connects the second antenna and the electrical connection pad with a finger or the like. That is, in the normal state, access to the IC chip is prohibited, and access to the IC chip becomes possible only when the card holder permits. Therefore, the card holder is forced to perform a specific operation, and a useful usage is possible in a situation where the operator requires the specific operation.

Further, an IC chip, a first antenna, a second antenna,
A holding sheet for holding the antenna and the connection conductor, and a covering sheet for covering the holding sheet, the covering sheet having holes for exposing electric connection pads and a part of the second antenna. I do. This allows
A non-contact IC card having desired performance can be manufactured at low cost.

By arranging the IC chip, the first antenna, the second antenna, and the connection conductor on the same surface of the holding sheet, manufacturing around the IC chip becomes easy.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a contactless IC card according to the present embodiment. The IC chip 12 is disposed substantially at the center on the chip holding paper 14, and a reader / writer (not shown) is provided on both sides of the chip 12 on the card holding paper 14 by electrostatic coupling.
Antennas (conductors) 16 and 18 for reading and writing data are printed on the C chip 12. Antenna 16,
Each 18 is electrically connected to a predetermined terminal of the chip 12. The antennas 16 and 18 are formed, for example, by applying or printing a conductive paint on the chip holding paper 14 in a desired pattern. However, the antenna 16 is large enough to read and write data, but the antenna 18 is small enough to read and write data as it is.

On the chip holding paper 14, an electrically insulating coating paper 20 of the same size is put and adhered. A conductor 22 that is electrically connected to the antenna 18 is printed on the surface of the coated paper 20. In this embodiment, the human body itself is used as the antenna by holding the conductor 22 with the finger of the card holder.
In other words, when the holder's finger contacts the conductor 22,
The insufficient area of the antenna 18 is compensated for by the body of the holder.

By printing the conductor 20 on the front side of the card 10, it is easy for the holder to understand the part gripped by the finger. A description of the method of use is described in the margin of the coated paper 20. Instead of or in addition to the conductor 22, a similar conductor may be printed on the back surface of the chip holding paper 14 corresponding to the conductor 18.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a contactless IC card according to the present embodiment. The IC chip 32 is disposed substantially at the center on the chip holding paper 34, and a reader / writer (not shown) is provided on both sides of the chip 32 on the card holding paper 34 by electrostatic coupling.
Antennas (conductors) 36 and 38 for reading and writing data are printed on the C chip 32. Antenna 36,
Numeral 38 is formed, for example, by applying or printing a conductive paint on the chip holding paper 34 in a desired pattern. Antenna 3
6, 38 are large enough to read and write data.

The antenna 36 is electrically connected to a predetermined terminal of the chip 32. A circular pad 40a is formed at the end of a conducting wire 40 extending from a terminal of the chip 32 to which the antenna 38 is to be connected. The antenna 38 is printed so as to have a certain space between the antenna 38 and the circular pad 40a. That is, in this state, the antenna 38 is not electrically connected to the IC chip 32.

The chip holding paper 34 is covered with an electrically insulating coating paper 42 of the same size and adhered thereto. The cover paper 42 has a hole 44 exposing a circular pad 40a of the conductor 40 and a part of the antenna 38 around the circular pad 40a. In other words, the hole 44 is large enough that when the card holder closes the hole 44 with a finger, the finger can simultaneously contact both the circular pad 40a and the antenna 38. When the card holder closes the hole 44 with a finger, the antenna 38 is also electrically connected to the IC chip 32, and data can be read from and written to the IC chip 32.

In the above embodiment, reading and writing of data on the IC chips 12 and 32 can be performed only when the card holder touches his / her finger on a predetermined portion of the cards 10 and 30. Therefore, the identification information of the card holder is transferred to the IC chip 1
2, 32, for example, at an exhibition, there is a use method in which the card holder is allowed to read his / her own information only when the card holder touches a predetermined portion of the card 10, 30 with a finger. Will be possible.

Also, in dangerous work such as cutting work,
A reader / writer is arranged near the operation panel. Then, the operator holds the cards 10 and 30 of the present embodiment, and touches a predetermined portion thereof with a finger, so that the operator's name and qualification can be confirmed before and during the operation. Further, while keeping the cards 10 and 30 in a readable state,
By setting the device so that the operation panel must be operated, carelessly bringing a hand or finger or the like to the cut position can be prevented.

[0027]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a contactless IC card in which a card holder can arbitrarily grant data access.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Non-contact IC card 12: IC chip 14: Chip holding paper 16, 18: Antenna (conductor) 20: Coated paper 22: Conductor 30: Non-contact IC card 32: IC chip 34: Chip holding paper 36, 38: Antenna 40: Conductor 40a: Circular pad 42: Coated paper 44: Hole

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An IC chip comprising: an IC chip; and first and second conductors electrically connected to the IC chip, wherein the first conductor has a size necessary for electrostatic coupling at a predetermined distance. A non-contact IC card, wherein the second conductor has a size insufficient for electrostatic coupling at the predetermined distance, and at least a part of the second conductor is exposed to the outside. 2. The non-contact IC card according to claim 1, wherein a portion exposed to the outside of the second conductor is arranged on a surface of the card medium. 3. An IC chip, a first antenna for electrostatic coupling connected to the IC chip, and a second antenna for electrostatic coupling electrically separated from the IC chip.
A non-contact IC card, comprising: an antenna according to claim 1; and a connection conductor provided with an electric connection pad at a predetermined distance from the second antenna, the conductor being connected to the IC chip. 4. The non-contact IC card according to claim 3, further comprising a holding sheet for holding the IC chip, the first antenna, the second antenna, and the connection conductor. 5. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a cover sheet for covering the holding sheet, the cover sheet having holes for exposing the electric connection pads and a part of the second antenna. Non-contact IC card. 6. The IC chip, the first antenna,
The non-contact IC card according to claim 3, wherein the second antenna and the connection conductor are arranged on the same surface of the holding sheet.