JP2001188885A - Card reader system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card reader system for accurately detecting the output of a light emitting diode and surely operating a load circuit. SOLUTION: This card reader system is provided with a current change part 33 for outputting a variable driving current, a current detection part 31 connected to a power source, a card reader 51 provided with a control part 18, the light emitting diode 34, a light receiving part 53 for detecting the output of the light emitting diode 34 and an external equipment 52 connected to the current detection part 31 and provided with the load circuit 56 energized by the output of the light receiving part 53.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a card reader system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of system is, for example,
This is disclosed in JP-A-8-8861. According to this publication, a remote controller including a light emitting unit, a card reader unit, and an operation unit is disclosed. Also, an external device including a light receiving unit for detecting the output of the light emitting diode, a control unit, a load circuit, and the like is shown.

[0003]

In the above system, when a user presses an operation key on a remote controller, a light emitting diode emits light. Then, when the light receiving unit detects the output of the light emitting diode, the control unit turns on the load circuit. However, the above system has a drawback that the load circuit is not energized when the above operation is performed. The inventor of the present invention has investigated the cause, and found that if the light emitting diode emits light near the light receiving unit, too strong light enters the light receiving unit, thereby causing a saturation phenomenon in the light receiving unit. Therefore, the light receiving unit cannot detect the signal, and cannot perform the control.

In order to solve this drawback, the light of the light emitting diode may be weakened. However, if the light is too weak, the light receiving unit cannot detect the output of the light emitting diode. Accordingly, the present invention provides a card reader system that accurately detects the output of a light emitting diode and reliably operates a load circuit in consideration of such a conventional drawback.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a current changing section for outputting a variable driving current, a current detecting section connected to a power supply, and a control section. A card reader, a light emitting diode, a light receiving unit for detecting an output of the light emitting diode, and an external device connected to the current detecting unit and having a load circuit energized by an output of the light receiving unit, the current changing unit Outputs the drive current to the light emitting diode, and when the current detection unit detects a predetermined current, the control unit maintains the output of the drive current.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the current detecting section does not detect a predetermined current, the current changing section outputs a driving current different from the driving current to the light emitting diode.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the current change unit to output the drive current by gradually reducing the drive current until the current detection unit detects a predetermined current. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the light emitting diode emits infrared light, and the light receiving section receives the infrared light.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS.
A card reader system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a card reader 1 used in the system, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a current changing unit and the like used in the system.

First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 1 is
It comprises a base 2 and a second base 3. The first base 2 is made of, for example, plastic, has a substantially concave shape when viewed from the side, and has a protrusion 4 on the front side. The second base 3 is made of, for example, plastic and is formed in a substantially flat shape partially having a boss portion, and is fixed to the first base 2 with, for example, small screws (not shown).

An insertion port 5 is formed by the tip of the projection 4 and the tip of the second base 3. A predetermined space is provided between the bottom surface of the first base 2 and the surface of the second base 3, and this space is a transfer path 7 for transferring the card 6.

The drive wheel 8, the guide wheel 9, and the guide wheel 10 are all formed in a gear-like outer shape, and are fixed to the first base 2 so as to be located on the front side, the center, and the rear side, respectively. Motor 11
Is composed of, for example, a stepping motor, is fixed to the first base 2, and a gear 12 is fixed to a shaft of the motor 11. The gear 13 is formed so that the outside meshes with the gear 12.
A gear 14 is formed near the center. The gear 15 formed near the center of the driving wheel 8 is formed to mesh with the gear 14. With this configuration, the motor 1
When one shaft rotates, the driving wheel 8 decelerates and drives (rotates).
It is provided to do.

The head 16 reads and writes the card 6. Card (for example, consisting of a magnetic card) 6
Move, a magnetic field is generated by the data written on the card 6. The head 16 reads the change in the magnetic field or the like as an electric signal (analog value), a recording / reproducing amplifier (not shown) amplifies the analog value, and an AD converter (not shown) converts the analog value into a digital value. The digital value is input to the control unit 18 (see FIG. 2).

The control unit 18 includes a CPU and a storage unit (memory).
Etc. The digital value input to the control unit 18 is stored in the storage unit. When the card 6 moves, the data (digital value) output from the control unit 18 is converted into an analog value by a DA converter (not shown) and input to the head 16. The head 16 generates a magnetic field corresponding to the analog value, and transfers the magnetic field to the card 6.
Write to.

The carrier 19 is made of, for example, a rubber belt and is formed in a loop. The inner surface of the transport body 19 is formed with irregularities, and the inner surface is configured to mesh with the gears of the drive wheel 8 and the guide wheels 9 and 10. And motor 1
The rotation of the shaft 1 causes the driving wheel 8 to rotate.
Is configured to move and rotate.

The rollers 20, 21 and 22 are respectively connected to the drive wheels 8
And is fixed to the second base 3 so as to be located a predetermined distance below the guide wheels 9 and 10. With such a configuration, the carrier 19 and the card 6 are sandwiched between the driving wheel 8, the guide wheels 9 and 10, and the rollers 20, 21 and 22. Then, when the driving vehicle 8 rotates, the transport body 1 is rotated.
9 conveys the card 6 while holding (contacting) the card 6.

The photo sensors 23, 24 and 25 are sensors for detecting whether or not the end of the card 6 has passed. The photo sensors 23, 24 and 25 are located below the driving vehicle 8 and the guide wheels 9 and 10, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the motor 11 is connected to a control unit 18 via a drive circuit (not shown). The photo sensors 23, 24, 25 are connected to the control unit 18. The display unit 26 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device or a plurality of light emitting diodes, and is connected to the control unit 18 to display the balance (remaining time or remaining frequency) of the card 6.

The operation unit 27 includes, for example, a return key, a power key, a volume up key, a volume down key, a channel up key, a channel down key, and the like. The clock unit 28 includes, for example, a clock IC, and measures the use time of an external device (described later).

The power supply unit 29 converts a power supply (for example, 100 V AC) 31 a input via a power plug 30 into a predetermined DC voltage, and drives the motor 11, a recording / reproducing amplifier, and a control unit 18. And a predetermined DC voltage to each of a current changing unit (described later) and the like.

The current detector 31 has a power plug 30 on one side.
Is connected to the power supply 31a through the
It is connected to the. The current detection unit 31 detects a current flowing through a load circuit (described later) connected thereto, and the detected current is converted into a voltage value and output to the control unit 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, the current changing section 33 outputs a variable drive current to the light emitting diode 34. The current changing unit 33 includes, for example, the switching units 35 and 3
6, 37, 38, 39, 40 and resistors 41, 42, 4
3, 44, and 45, and a resistor set 46 and the like.

The emitter of the transistor constituting the switching unit 35 is connected to the power supply V1, the base is connected to the terminal P1 of the control unit 18 via a resistor, and the collector is connected to the terminal 48 of the female connector 47.

The emitter of the transistor constituting the switching unit 36 is grounded, the collector is connected to the terminal 49 of the female connector 47 via a resistor 41 (for example, 56 ohms), and the base is connected to the terminal P2 of the control unit 18 via a resistor. It is connected.

The transistor constituting the switching section 37 has an emitter grounded, a collector connected to a terminal 49 via a resistor 42 (for example, 120 ohms), and a base connected to a terminal P3 via a resistor.

The transistor constituting the switching section 38 has an emitter grounded, a collector connected to a terminal 49 via a resistor 43 (for example, 270 ohms), and a base connected to a terminal P4 via a resistor.

The emitter of the transistor constituting the switching section 39 is grounded, the collector is connected to the terminal 49 via the resistor 44 (for example, 820 ohms), and the base is connected to the terminal P5 via the resistor.

The transistor constituting the switching section 40 has an emitter grounded, a collector connected to a terminal 49 via a resistor 45 (for example, 1200 ohms), and a base connected to a terminal P6 via a resistor.

One side of each resistor constituting the resistor set 46 is connected to the power source V2, and the other side is connected to each of the switching units 36-4.
0 is connected to the base side.

The light emitting diode 34 emits, for example, infrared light (infrared light). The anode side of the light emitting diode 34 is connected to a terminal 48 via a male connector 50. The cathode side of the light emitting diode 34 is connected to a terminal 49 via a male connector 50. The male connector 50 is inserted into the female connector 47. The card reader 51 is configured by the above components except the light emitting diode 34.

The external device 52 is, for example, a television receiver (hereinafter referred to as a television).
A light receiving unit 53, a power supply circuit 54, a control circuit 55,
It comprises a load circuit 56 and the like.

The light emitting diode 34 is connected to a male connector 50 via a cable (conductive wire) 57. That is, the light emitting diode 34 is electrically connected to the current changing unit 33.

The light receiving section 53 is composed of, for example, a phototransistor. The light receiving section 53 is connected to a control circuit 55 via an amplifier, a filter and a demodulator. This light receiving section 53
Is made of a material that detects infrared rays, for example, and detects the output (infrared rays) emitted by the light emitting diode 34. Also,
The light emitting diode 34 and the light receiving section 53 are covered with a cover (not shown) that does not transmit infrared light. This cover is for eliminating the influence of infrared rays from outside other than the light emitting diode 34.

The input side of the power supply circuit 54 is connected to a power supply cord 58
And the power plug 59 is inserted into the outlet 32. The power supply circuit 54 includes a power cord 58, a power plug 59, the outlet 32,
The power supply 31 is connected to the
Connected to. The power supply circuit 54 converts the voltage supplied from the power supply 31 into a predetermined voltage, and supplies the voltage to a control circuit 55, a load circuit 56, and the like.

The control circuit 55 includes, for example, a CPU and a storage unit, and is connected to the light receiving unit 53, the load circuit 56, and the like.

The load circuit 56 comprises, for example, a video circuit, a CRT preheating circuit, an audio circuit and the like. The load circuit 56
Power supply circuit 54, power supply cord 58, power supply plug 59
Are connected to the current detection unit 31 via the outlet 32. The external device 52 is configured by these components, and the card reader system 60 is configured by the external device 52 and the card reader 51.

In the card reader system 60, the current changing section 33 outputs a predetermined drive current to the light emitting diode 34. Then, when the light emitting diode 34 emits (outputs) infrared light, the light receiving unit 53 receives the infrared light. As a result, the light receiving unit 53 outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 55. The control circuit 55 activates and operates the load circuit 56 based on the output of the light receiving unit 53. That is, at this time, predetermined voltages are supplied to the video circuit, the CRT preheating circuit, the audio circuit, and the like that constitute the load circuit 56.

Next, the operation of the card reader system 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the main operation of the system 60. In these figures, when the power plug 30 is inserted into the power supply 31, the control operation by the control unit 18 starts.

First, the user inserts the card 6 into the insertion slot 5. The photo sensor 23 detects that the card 6 has passed, and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 18. As a result, the control unit 18 determines that the card 6 has been inserted.

Next, the controller 18 energizes the motor 11 so that the shaft rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the gear 12,
13, 14, 15 rotate, and the driving wheel 8 rotates counterclockwise. Then, the transport body 19 meshing with the driving vehicle 8 advances to the back side. The card 6 in contact with the carrier 19 moves to the back.

Then, the controller 18 keeps energizing the motor 11, and the card 6 in contact with the carrier 19 passes below the head 16. In this manner, while the card 6 is moving, the head 16 reads the ID data written on the card 6 and
The data is output to the control unit 18. The control unit 18 determines whether or not the data is correct. If the determination is affirmative, the control unit 18 enters a standby state. At this time, the CRT preheating circuit constituting the load circuit 56 is energized, and the CRT is also in a standby state. The control operation is not shown in FIG. 4 for the sake of simplicity.

Next, the controller 18 determines whether or not the power key has been pressed (S1 in FIG. 4). If the user operates the operation unit 2
If the power key provided on the switch 7 is pressed, the control section 18 affirms S1.

Then, the control section 18 outputs the first largest drive current (S2 in FIG. 4). That is, the control unit 18
Supplies a Lo signal to terminals P1, P3, P4, P5, and P6 and a Hi signal to terminal P2 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the switching unit 35 is turned on and the light emitting diode 34
A positive voltage is applied to the anode side of. Then, the switching unit 36 is turned on, and the cathode side of the light emitting diode 34 is grounded via the resistor 41 (first smallest resistance value). Therefore, the current changing unit 33 outputs the first largest drive current to the light emitting diode 34.

The driving current is, for example, about 38 kHz.
This is a modulation signal obtained by amplitude-modulating a carrier wave of z with a signal wave. In response to the input of the modulation signal, the light emitting diode 34 outputs the modulated infrared light, and the light receiving unit 53 detects it, and outputs a detection signal (a demodulated signal) to the control circuit 55. The control circuit 55 controls the load circuit 56 according to the output.

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the television has been turned on (S3 in FIG. 4). That is, the control unit 18 determines whether the current detection unit 31 connected to the load circuit 56 has detected a predetermined current (threshold).

If the current detector 31 detects a predetermined current, the controller 18 affirms S3. That is, the control unit 18
In the load circuit 56, the video circuit, the CRT preheating circuit, and the audio circuit are all energized, and the television (external device) 52
Is in an on state (a state in which an image is captured). The control unit 18 causes the current changing unit 33 to keep maintaining the output of the first largest drive current. Then, the control unit 18 ends the on / off determination control operation of the external device 52 (see FIG. 4).

If the current detector 31 does not detect the predetermined current, the controller 18 denies the determination in S3. That is, the control unit 18 determines that, for example, only the cathode ray tube preheating circuit is energized in the load circuit 56 and the external device 52 is in an off state (a state in which no image is captured).

Next, the control unit 18 outputs the second largest drive current (S4 in FIG. 4). That is, the control unit 18 supplies a Lo signal to the terminals P1, P2, P4, P5, and P6 and a Hi signal to the terminal P3 (see FIG. 3). as a result,
The switching 35 and 37 are turned on, and the cathode side of the light emitting diode 34 is grounded via the resistor 42 (the second smallest resistance value). Therefore, the current changing unit 33 outputs the second largest drive current to the light emitting diode 34.

As described above, when the current detecting section 31 does not detect the predetermined current, the current changing section 33 supplies the light emitting diode 34 with the next driving current (for example, the first driving current different from the first driving current). For example, the second largest one is output.

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the television has been turned on (S5 in FIG. 4). That is, the control unit 18 determines whether the current detection unit 31 has detected a predetermined current.

If the external device 52 is in the ON state (described above), the control unit 18 affirms the determination in S5. Then, the control unit 18 causes the current changing unit 33 to keep maintaining the output of the second largest drive current, and ends the on / off determination control operation.

If the external device 52 is in the off state, the control unit 18 denies the determination in S5 and proceeds to S2 and S3.
The operation similar to is repeated.

Then, the control unit 18 outputs the n-th largest drive current (S6 in FIG. 4). For example, n = 5. That is, the control unit 18 controls the terminals P1, P2, P3, P
4. Apply Lo signal to P5 and Hi signal to terminal P6 (see FIG. 3). As a result, switching 35, 40
Turns on, and the cathode side of the light emitting diode 34
5 (n = fifth smallest resistance value).
Therefore, the current changing unit 33 supplies the light emitting diode 34 with n
= Output the fifth largest drive current.

Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the television has been turned on (S7 in FIG. 4). If the current detector 31 detects a predetermined current, the controller 18 affirms S7. Then, the control unit 18 controls the current changing unit 33 to
= The output of the fifth largest drive current is maintained, and the on / off determination control operation is terminated.

If the current detecting section 31 does not detect the predetermined current, the control section 18 denies the determination in S7, returns to just before S1, and repeats the above operation.

As described above, the current changing unit 33 repeats this operation until the current detecting unit 31 detects a predetermined current.
The control unit 18 controls the drive current so as to decrease the drive current stepwise and output the drive current to the light emitting diode 34.

By the above-described ON / OFF determination control operation, the control unit 18 allows the current detection unit 31 to detect a predetermined current, and the external device 52 is turned on.

As described above, when the external device 52 is turned on (image is displayed), the timer 28 provided in the card reader 51 starts counting time. Then, the clocked use (operation) time of the external device 52 is integrated, and the control unit 1
8 is stored in the storage unit.

Thereafter, it is assumed that the user has finished using the external device 52 and pressed the return key of the operation unit 27. At this time,
The control unit 18 reads out the data of the accumulated use time of the external device 52 stored in the storage unit. Then, the control unit 18 calculates the balance (remaining frequency) of the card 6 based on the data. Then, the control unit 18 energizes the motor 11 so that the shaft rotates clockwise.

As a result, the driving wheel 8 rotates clockwise, and the portion of the carrier 19 that comes into contact with the card 6 and the card 6 move forward. At this time, the card 6 passes below the head 16 and moves forward. The control unit 18 outputs the balance data to the head 16, and the head 16 writes the balance on the card 6.

Next, the controller 18 keeps energizing the motor 11 so that the driving vehicle 8 rotates clockwise. As a result, the portion of the carrier 19 that comes into contact with the card 6 and the tip of the card 6 pass below the drive vehicle 8, move further forward, reach the insertion slot 5, and stop. At this time, the power supply to the motor 11 is stopped.

At this time, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 26 to display a message indicating that reading and writing have been completed. When the user notices the display, the user removes the card 6. Thus, the operation of the card reader system 60 ends.

[0062]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a current reader for outputting a variable drive current, a current detector connected to a power supply, a card reader having a controller, a light emitting diode, and a light emitting diode are provided. A light receiving unit that detects an output, and an external device that is connected to the current detecting unit and has a load circuit that is energized by the output of the light receiving unit, wherein the current changing unit outputs the driving current to the light emitting diode. When the current detecting section detects a predetermined current, the control section maintains the output of the driving current. With this configuration, the current detection unit detects the predetermined current in the load circuit, so that the load circuit is reliably operated. Further, by detecting the predetermined current and maintaining the output of the drive current to the light emitting diode corresponding to the predetermined current, the load circuit can be reliably operated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the current detecting section does not detect a predetermined current, the current changing section outputs a driving current different from the driving current to the light emitting diode. As described above, when the current detecting unit does not detect the predetermined current, the driving current to the light emitting diode is too high and the light receiving unit is saturated, or the driving current to the light emitting diode is too low and the light receiving It is considered that the unit cannot detect the signal. Therefore, by outputting a driving current different from the driving current to the light emitting diode, the light receiving section can detect a sufficient (reliable) signal, and the load circuit can be operated reliably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the current change unit to output the drive current by gradually reducing the drive current until the current detection unit detects a predetermined current. Things. In this way, when the driving current to the light emitting diode is too high and the light receiving section causes a saturation phenomenon,
There is a case where the driving current to the light emitting diode is too low and the light receiving unit cannot detect the signal. And in the results of the experiment,
It was found that the frequency of the latter was much higher than that of the former. Therefore, the current changing unit outputs the highest drive current first and decreases the drive current step by step, so that the light emitting diode can output an appropriate output. As a result, the light receiving section can detect a sufficient (reliable) signal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the light emitting diode emits infrared light, and the light receiving section receives the infrared light. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the light receiving unit from detecting anything other than a regular signal due to external light (for example, visible light) other than the light emitted from the light emitting diode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a card reader 51 used in a card reader system 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the card reader system 60.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a current changing unit 33 used in the card reader system 60.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing main control operations in the card reader system 60.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 18 control unit 31 current detection unit 33 current change unit 34 light emitting diode 51 card reader 52 external device 53 light receiving unit 56 load circuit

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Izumi Onda 320-1, Yamagata, Kiji-cho, Ohara-gun, Shimane Prefecture F-term in Shimane Sanyo Industry Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5B011 DA01 DB11 DB27 EA06 EA10 HH02 KK12 MA03 MB11 MB16 5B058 CA31 KA40 YA20 5K048 AA06 BA03 EB11 HA24 HA34

Claims (4)

[Claims] A current changing unit that outputs a variable drive current;
A current detection unit connected to a power supply, a card reader having a control unit, a light emitting diode, a light receiving unit that detects an output of the light emitting diode, and a light receiving unit that is connected to the current detection unit and is energized by an output of the light receiving unit. An external device having a load circuit that outputs the drive current to the light emitting diode, and when the current detection unit detects a predetermined current, the control unit maintains the output of the drive current. Card reader system characterized by doing. 2. The card reader system according to claim 1, wherein when the current detecting unit does not detect a predetermined current, the current changing unit outputs a driving current different from the driving current to the light emitting diode. . 3. The control unit controls the current change unit so that the drive current is reduced and output stepwise until the current detection unit detects a predetermined current. Item 1. The card reader system according to Item 1. 4. The card reader system according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting diode emits infrared light, and said light receiving section receives said infrared light.