JP2005085150A - Non-contact ic card and adapter for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact IC card capable of stably communicating with a reader writer, and an adapter for the same. <P>SOLUTION: A non-contact IC card 1 has an antenna coil 14 connected to an IC module and is used while being put on the adaptor 30. The adapter 30 incorporates an antenna coil 32 for resonance. When an assembly 40 of the IC card 1 and the adapter 30 are arranged in a specific magnetic field, the antenna coil 32 generates a magnetic flux 38, and the magnetic flux 38 acts on the antenna coil 14 together with a magnetic flux 21 from an antenna 9 to amplify the power generated in the antenna coil 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact type IC card that performs wireless communication with a reader / writer by being placed in a magnetic field generated via an antenna of a reader / writer device, and a non-contact type IC card adapter, For example, the present invention relates to a non-contact type IC card that is used as an antenna of an automatic ticket gate installed at a railway station ticket gate and an adapter for a non-contact type IC card.

  Conventionally, as a non-contact type IC card, for example, a non-contact type IC card (hereinafter simply referred to as an IC card) used in an automatic ticket gate installed at a railway ticket gate is known.

  This type of IC card does not have a power source, for example, generates power by being placed in a magnetic field generated by an antenna of a reader / writer device of an automatic ticket checker, and uses this power to connect to the automatic ticket checker. Wireless communication with In other words, the magnetic flux generated from the antenna of the automatic ticket gate is received by the antenna coil of the IC card, converted into electric power necessary for non-contact communication by a rectifier circuit or the like, and communication is performed using the electric power.

  In this case, the range (distance) in which wireless communication is possible between the antenna of the automatic ticket checker and the IC card is determined by the magnitude of power generated by the antenna coil of the IC card.

  If the power obtained by the antenna coil is smaller than the power required for wireless communication, it is impossible to respond to a command transmitted from the reader / writer device, and communication is impossible. That is, if the communicable range in which power required for communication can be obtained is narrow, communication failure due to an error occurs, and stable non-contact communication cannot be performed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact type IC card capable of stable communication with a reader / writer, and a non-contact type IC card adapter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the non-contact type IC card of the present invention comprises an IC module, a first coil having both ends connected to the IC module, a resonance capacitor, and both ends connected to the resonance capacitor. And a second coil.

  The non-contact type IC card adapter of the present invention has a non-contact type IC card comprising an IC module and a first coil having both ends connected to the IC module placed in a specific magnetic field. In order to amplify the electric power generated by the first coil, it is combined with the non-contact type IC card, and a resonance capacitor, a second coil having both ends connected to the resonance capacitor, It has.

  According to the said invention, when arrange | positioning in a specific magnetic field, a 2nd coil produces | generates magnetic flux and amplifies the electric power which a 1st coil produces | generates.

  As described above, the non-contact type IC card and the non-contact type IC card adapter of the present invention have the above-described configuration and operation, so that stable communication can be performed with the reader / writer. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows various data with an IC card 1 by performing wireless communication with a non-contact IC card 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as an IC card 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a schematic structure of a wireless communication system 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as system 10) for transmitting and receiving.

  This system 10 is configured by connecting a non-contact type IC card reader / writer device 4 (hereinafter simply referred to as a reader / writer 4) to a host device 2 such as an automatic ticket gate installed at a railway ticket gate, for example. ing. The reader / writer 4 includes a control unit 6 having a CPU, a memory, and a logic circuit, a conversion unit 8 having a modulation circuit and a demodulation circuit, and an antenna 9 for emitting a carrier wave for wireless communication.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the IC card 1 does not contain a battery and has an IC module 12 configured by a logic circuit or the like, and an antenna coil 14 (first coil) having both ends connected to the IC module 12. Built in. In the present embodiment, the antenna coil 14 has a rectangular shape and is wound n times.

  When wireless communication is performed with the IC card 1 using the system 10 having the above structure, the host device 2 transmits a command to the reader / writer 4, and the reader / writer 4 that receives the command from the host device 2 converts the command. The unit 8 converts the command for the IC card 1 and transmits it to the IC card 1 via the antenna 9.

  The IC card 1 transmits a response to the reader / writer 4 in response to the command received from the reader / writer 4. Upon receiving the response from the IC card 1, the reader / writer 4 converts the response from the IC card 1 for the higher-level device 2 by the conversion unit 8 and transmits the response to the higher-level device 2.

  When the IC card 1 having the structure shown in FIG. 2 is placed in a magnetic field emitted from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic flux 21 emitted from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4 It passes through the antenna coil 14 built in the card 1. At this time, the IC card 1 receives the magnetic flux that has passed through the antenna coil 14 and generates electric power necessary for communication.

  The magnitude of the electric power generated by the IC card 1 varies depending on the intensity of the magnetic flux received by the antenna coil 14, but the generated electric power increases as the magnetic flux intensity increases. That is, the closer the IC card 1 is to the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4, the greater the power that can be generated by the IC card 1, and the smaller the distance between the two, the smaller the power that can be generated.

  Further, if the intensity of the magnetic flux 21 generated from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4 is constant, the communicable distance becomes shorter as the power consumed inside the IC card 1 (IC module or the like) is larger, and the longer the power consumption is smaller, the longer is the power consumption. Become. That is, the communicable distance varies depending on the type of IC module.

  That is, when using the same type of IC card 1 in a magnetic field having a constant strength, stable communication is possible by making the power consumption of the IC card 1 as small as possible and as close as possible to the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4. Become.

  As another method for enabling stable communication, a method of increasing the power generated by the IC card 1 can be considered. That is, if the IC card 1 can generate a larger amount of power, the communicable distance can be increased, and more stable communication is possible.

  Therefore, the present inventors have used an IC card 1 by combining an adapter (described later) with antenna coils 32 and 34 (second coil) as shown in FIG. The power generated by 1 is increased.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the antenna coils 32 and 34 of the adapter 30 can have any shape such as a quadrangle and an ellipse. However, when the IC card 1 is combined with the adapter 30, it is not desirable to have a shape that adversely affects the characteristics of the IC card 1. Preferably, the shape of the antenna coil of the adapter 30 is similar to that of the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1. In addition, both ends of the antenna coils 32 and 34 are connected to a resonance capacitor 36.

  The number of turns of the antenna coils 32 and 34 and the capacity of the resonance capacitor 36 are set to values that maximize the power generated by the IC card 1 in accordance with the resonance frequency of the IC card 1 used in the system 10. In other words, the capacity of the resonance capacitor 36 is determined by the magnetic flux 38 generated by the antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30 when the assembly 40 (FIG. 6) in which the adapter 30 is combined with the IC card 1 is placed in a specific magnetic field. It is set to a value that amplifies the power generated by the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 most efficiently.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which an assembly 40 in which an IC card 1 and an adapter 30 incorporating an antenna coil 32 (which will be described as a representative) are combined is arranged in the magnetic field of the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4.

  As described above, when the assembly 40 is disposed in a magnetic field generated from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4, the magnetic flux 21 generated from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4 is generated in the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 and the antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30. Go through both of them.

  When the magnetic flux enters the antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30, the antenna coil 32 is induced and the antenna coil 32 generates a magnetic flux 38. That is, in this case, the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 obtains the magnetic flux 38 generated by the antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30 in addition to the magnetic flux 21 generated by the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4.

  As a result, compared to the case where only the IC card 1 is arranged in the magnetic field of the antenna 9 (FIG. 3), the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 obtains more magnetic flux and generates more power. You will be able to do it. As a result, more power required for communication can be secured and the communicable distance can be increased.

  7 to 9 illustrate several structures in which the IC card 1 is combined with the antenna coils 32 and 34 as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 7 shows an assembly 40 in which the card-type adapter 30 described in FIG. In this case, an adapter 30 having the same size as that of the IC card 1 is prepared, and the adapters 30 are used so that the end sides thereof are substantially matched. In this state, the antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30 is arranged inside the antenna coil 14 built in the IC card 1. In addition, you may provide the structure latched in the state which accumulated both.

  FIG. 8 shows an assembly 40 ′ having a structure for inserting the IC card 1 into the slot 30 a of the case type adapter 30 ′. Here, a state in which the IC card 1 is extracted from the slot 30a is shown. The case-type adapter 30 ′ includes an antenna coil 32, similar to the adapter 30 described above. The antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30 ′ is arranged inside the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 with the IC card 1 inserted into the slot 30 a.

  FIG. 9 shows an assembly having a structure in which the IC card 1 is mounted in the recess 30b of the fitting adapter 30 ″. Here, the state where the IC card 1 is removed from the recess 30b is shown. Similarly to the adapter 30 described above, this adapter 30 ″ also incorporates an antenna coil 32. By placing the IC card 1 in a recess 30b, the inside of the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 is arranged. The antenna coil 32 of the adapter 30 ″ is arranged on the top.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by using the adapter 30 incorporating the antenna coil 32 in combination with the IC card 1, the power that can be generated by the antenna coil 14 of the IC card 1 can be increased. became. As a result, the wireless communication distance between the IC card 1 and the reader / writer 4 can be increased, and the range in which wireless communication can be performed can be expanded, thereby enabling more stable wireless communication.

  In addition, since stable wireless communication is possible, problems such as incompletion of communication due to a communication error are reduced when the present invention is operated with an automatic ticket gate or the like, and smoother operation becomes possible.

  Next, a non-contact IC card 50 (hereinafter simply referred to as an IC card 50) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the same reference numerals are given to components that function in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. FIG. 10 shows a circuit configuration for explaining the internal structure of the IC card 50, and FIG. 11 shows a state in which the IC card 50 is arranged in the magnetic field of the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the IC card 50 of the present embodiment is characterized in that the antenna coil 32 and the resonance capacitor 36 of the adapter 30 described above are built in the card body. In other words, the IC card 50 of the present embodiment has a structure in which the resonant antenna coil 32 having both ends connected to the resonance capacitor 36 is built in the conventional IC card 1 shown in FIG.

  The communication antenna coil 14 that generates power for communication and the resonance antenna coil 32 that amplifies the power may or may not be arranged in the same plane. In the present embodiment, the two antenna coils 14 and 32 have a similar shape and are arranged in a positional relationship slightly shifted in the surface direction.

  The number of turns of the communication antenna coil 14, the number of turns of the resonance antenna coil 32, and the capacity of the resonance capacitor 36 are adjusted so that the resonance frequency of the IC card 50 is optimized. In particular, the capacity of the resonance capacitor 36 is such that when the IC card 50 is placed in a specific magnetic field as shown in FIG. 11, the communication antenna coil 14 of the IC card 50 is generated by the magnetic flux 38 generated by the resonance antenna coil 32. Is set to a value that amplifies the power generated most efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the IC card 50 having the above structure is placed in a magnetic field generated from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4, the magnetic flux 21 enters the resonance antenna coil 32 inside the IC card 50, and the resonance antenna coil 32. Generates a magnetic flux 38.

  Therefore, in addition to the magnetic flux 21 generated from the antenna 9 of the reader / writer 4, the magnetic flux 38 generated by the resonance antenna coil 32 acts on the communication antenna coil 14. Therefore, more magnetic flux can be obtained and more electric power can be generated than in the case of using only the communication antenna coil 14. As a result, more power required for communication can be secured and the distance over which wireless communication can be performed can be increased.

  As described above, also in this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Further, by incorporating the resonance antenna coil 32 in the IC card 50 as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to carry the adapter 30 and the convenience can be improved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, you may delete some components from all the components shown by embodiment mentioned above. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a wireless communication system using a non-contact IC card according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic which shows the internal structure of the IC card used with the system of FIG. The figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the IC card of FIG. 2 in the magnetic field of the antenna of a reader / writer. The figure which shows the example of the antenna coil incorporated in the adapter combined with the IC card of FIG. The figure which shows the other example of the antenna coil incorporated in the adapter combined with the IC card of FIG. The figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the assembly which combined the adapter incorporating the antenna coil of FIG. 4 with the IC card in the magnetic field. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 6. The figure for demonstrating the modification of an adapter. The figure for demonstrating the other modification of an adapter. Schematic which shows the internal structure of the IC card which incorporated the antenna coil for resonance. The figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the IC card of FIG. 10 in the magnetic field.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Non-contact type IC card, 2 ... Host device, 4 ... Reader / writer, 9 ... Antenna, 10 ... Wireless communication system, 12 ... IC module, 14 ... Antenna coil, 21 ... Magnetic flux, 30 ... Adapter, 32, 34 ... Antenna coil 36 ... Resonance capacitor 38 ... Magnetic flux 40 ... Assembly 50 ... IC card

Claims (8)

An IC module;
A first coil having both ends connected to the IC module;
A resonant capacitor;
A second coil having both ends connected to the resonance capacitor;
A non-contact type IC card comprising:   2. The non-contact IC card according to claim 1, wherein the second coil is disposed inside the first coil.   The non-contact IC card according to claim 2, wherein the first and second coils have similar shapes.   The capacity of the resonance capacitor is such that when the non-contact IC card is placed in a specific magnetic field, the power generated by the first coil is amplified most efficiently by the magnetic flux generated by the second coil. 2. The non-contact type IC card according to claim 1, wherein a value is set based on. In order to amplify the electric power generated by the first coil when a non-contact type IC card including an IC module and a first coil having both ends connected to the IC module is placed in a specific magnetic field. A non-contact IC card adapter combined with the non-contact IC card,
A resonance capacitor;
A second coil having both ends connected to the resonance capacitor;
A non-contact type IC card adapter, comprising:   6. The non-contact type IC card adapter according to claim 5, wherein the second coil is arranged inside the first coil in a state where the adapter is combined with the non-contact type IC card.   7. The non-contact type IC card adapter according to claim 6, wherein the first and second coils have similar shapes.   The capacity of the resonance capacitor is the power generated by the first coil by the magnetic flux generated by the second coil when an assembly in which an adapter is combined with a non-contact IC card is placed in a specific magnetic field. 6. The non-contact type IC card adapter according to claim 5, wherein a value is set based on a condition for amplifying the card with the highest efficiency.

Images