JP2009098821A - Card case - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card case which is easy to operate, excellent in durability, and reduced in costs without causing any erroneous operation due to the interference of two non-contact IC cards. <P>SOLUTION: When two non-contact IC card are stored, electronic shielding layers and electromagnetic absorbing layers are arranged so that the electromagnetic absorbing layers can exist at the both non-contact IC card sides, and that the electromagnetic shielding layers can exist on the back faces. The outer sides of the electromagnetic absorbing layer and the electromagnetic shielding layer are set to the same dimension, and set so as to be vertically and horizontally larger than the outer sides of the non-contact IC cards by 1-4 mm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a card case for storing two non-contact IC cards, and more particularly to a card case capable of preventing malfunction without causing interference between superimposed non-contact IC cards.

In recent years, IC cards are being used for regular commuting. Non-contact type IC cards (non-contact IC cards) in which various information such as personal information and money information are stored are generally used. For example, a credit card, Suica (registered trademark), Edy (registered trademark), and the like are known.
In particular, non-contact IC cards for transportation are a necessity for commuters and usually have about 2 cards and are often used in JR, private railways, and subways, but if they are in the same card case, Malfunctions are a problem with touch and go automatic ticket gates.

There are various causes of the malfunction, but it can be summarized as follows. That is, 1) Since the magnetic field around the reader is only about 10 cm, the card cannot be read if it is slightly shifted.
2) Data cannot be exchanged if the card stays in the magnetic field for an extremely short time.
3) When two or more IC cards are overlapped, it is impossible to determine which data to communicate with.
4) If a metal is close to the IC card, electromotive force using magnetism cannot be obtained and communication is impossible.
5) The angle at which the IC card hits the card reader of the automatic ticket gate is not appropriate. And so on.
In particular, 3) and 4) are important problems.

  In an automatic ticket gate using a non-contact IC card, first, a magnetic field is generated from the card reader. When the non-contact IC card passes this magnetic field, the coil antenna inside the card receives magnetism to generate electricity. . Using this electricity, the IC chip embedded in the card reacts and communicates with the card reader. This is called electromagnetic induction.

  As contactless IC cards, JR Kanto's Suica (registered trademark) and subway Pasmo (registered trademark) in the Kanto region, and JR Kansai's Icoca (registered trademark) and Pitapa (registered) in the Kansai region are particularly familiar. In the transportation system, use two JR, private railway, and subway cards, or use a transportation IC card and two IC cards with a credit function. There are many.

In this case, if they are placed in the same card case, the card reader cannot determine which non-contact IC card information is read because of the problem 3).
Therefore, it is conceivable to install non-contact IC cards on both sides of the card case and put a shielding layer between them.
For example, it is possible to block both materials with sheets of various metals and conductive materials having a skimming prevention function described in JP-A-2006-268826. However, in that case, a sufficient interval is necessary so that the IC card and its metal foil do not react. That is, due to the problem 4), a space is required so that the metal foil or the like does not interfere with the IC card, and when applied to a card case, the thickness becomes considerable and lacks practicality.

  The Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-268826 also describes a hard type card case structure that prevents the cards from interfering with each other. The shield layer is made of metal foil 35-100μm and has a structure such as a slide part, stopper, and spring for non-contact IC cards. It is robust and can prevent malfunction, but the structure is complicated and special. Operation is required and the price is high. In reality, a card case often serves as both a business card and a card in many cases, and it is not practical to devote too much space for the regular period itself.

  As another example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-268146, a card case in which a magnetic part is provided on both sides of a conductor serving as a partition is presented. However, simply taking this structure cannot completely prevent malfunctions. That is, it is known that the electromagnetic wave that has passed through the end portion of the conductor portion turns around and reacts with the non-contact IC card on the opposite surface, causing malfunction. In addition, reflection interference of the metal foil used as the conductor may be caused, and the lower non-contact IC card may not function.

  As a countermeasure, there is an example (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-012012) using a conductive metal sheet having a size different from that of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer. In case manufacture, as a raw material sheet, unlike a simple laminated product supply, it is difficult to cope with various shapes of final products like a card case, resulting in high costs. That is, it is desirable that the electromagnetic wave shielding layer and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer have different dimensions, can be easily manufactured with the same dimensions, have a simple structure, and have no malfunction.

In addition, the three-layer structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-268146 has a three-layer structure in the case where the card case has a space in the center of the card case as shown in FIG. If only one laminate is used, malfunction may occur on one side of the laminate, and two pieces must be inserted vertically. Since the magnetic material is quite expensive, the cost becomes high. In such a case, it cannot be said that the configuration is reasonable.
JP 2006-268826 A JP 2000-268146 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-012012

  The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and even when two non-contact IC cards are stacked and stored, the card reader malfunctions due to interference of the overlapping non-contact IC cards. An object of the present invention is to provide a card case that is reliable, easy to operate, excellent in durability, and low in cost.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have intensively studied, and as a result, have come to develop the invention of the card case according to claim 1.
That is, in a card case in which two non-contact IC cards can be separately stacked and stored, both outer sides of the card case are acting surfaces to the card reader, and each non-contact IC card is stored when two non-contact IC cards are stored. An electromagnetic wave absorbing layer is disposed on the side close to the contact IC card, an electromagnetic wave shielding layer is provided on the back surface of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer, the outer sides of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer have the same dimensions, and The card case is characterized in that it is set to a long dimension in the range of 1 mm to 4 mm on the left, right, top and bottom of the outer side of the non-contact IC card.

  In the invention of claim 2, in the card case of claim 1, the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer is made of a material having a relative permeability of 15 or more at a frequency of 13.56 MHz and has a thickness of 75 μm or more. It is a feature.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the card case of claim 1 or 2, the electromagnetic wave shielding layer is formed of a metal foil having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the card case according to the first to third aspects, a sheet-like support layer having flexibility and strength is provided on at least one surface of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer. Yes.

  Two non-contact IC cards can be stored one on each side of one card case, and each side can be used as a working surface for the card reader, making the operation easy when passing through the card reader. Thus, a card case that does not malfunction due to interference between non-contact IC cards can be provided with good durability and at a low cost.

In the present invention, an interference preventing layer is provided in the order of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer / electromagnetic wave shielding layer on the adjacent sides of the two non-contact IC cards, and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer are formed in the same shape. By making the contact IC card longer than the outer edge by a certain width, interference between non-contact IC cards was prevented.
In the following, an embodiment in which the card case 10 of the present invention is applied to a regular case as an example will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Guard case]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card case 10 accommodates two non-contact IC cards 2, 2 ′, one each between the skins 1 and 1 ′ and the partition portions 11 and 11 ′. A storage space 12 and 12 'is provided, and an insertion space 7 such as a business card holder is formed by the pair of partition portions 11 and 11'.
In this case, each partition 11, 11 ′ has a two-layer interference prevention sheet S, S ′ inserted between the pair of partition walls 3 and 6, 3 ′ and 6 ′, and the interference prevention sheet S, S 'is arranged at a predetermined position, and the pair of partition walls 3, 6, 3' and 6 'are fixed by sewing or the like to form the respective partition portions 11, 11'.
And the said interference prevention sheet S (or S ') consists of the electromagnetic wave absorption layer 4 (or 4') and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 5 (or 5 ').
Here, S and S ′, 3 and 3 ′, 4 and 4 ′, and 5 and 5 ′ are separated for convenience of explanation, but the configuration is the same. Other signing methods follow this.

[Electromagnetic wave shielding layer]
In the present invention, the interference between the two non-contact IC cards 2 and 2 'is shielded by the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5'.
The electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5 ′ are in the form of a sheet that can block electromagnetic waves. For this sheet, a metal foil is used, but inexpensive aluminum, copper, iron, or the like is preferable.
The thickness is preferably 5 to 30 μm. If the thickness is less than 5 μm, the mechanical strength is weak and the durability is not good, so that tearing or the like occurs and the risk of breakthrough of electromagnetic waves increases. Even if it is thicker than 30 μm, there is a shielding effect, but the burden in the sewing process of the card case 10 is large, and the thickness of this range improves the production efficiency of leather, synthetic leather, or plastic card cases.

[Support layer]
The support layer 8 may be provided on one surface (see FIG. 3A) or both surfaces (see FIG. 3B) of the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5 ′.
Even if the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5 'are thin metal foils, the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5' are laminated on the support layer 8 and then the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4 and 4 'are further laminated. The sheet can be processed without causing damage such as tearing.
The same applies to the manufacturing process of the card case 10, and when used as the card case 10, the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 'and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4' are protected, and the non-contact IC card 2, 2 'is protected. The durability of the card case 10 can be increased.
The support layer 8 may be in the form of a sheet having both flexibility and strength, and paper, synthetic paper, non-woven fabric, synthetic resin film, etc. can be used, and the thickness is 500 μm or less. desirable. If the support layer 8 is too thick, the regular case itself becomes thick, which is not convenient.

[Electromagnetic wave absorption layer]
There is an electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 4, 4 ′ between the non-contact IC card 2, 2 ′ and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 5, 5 ′. Thus, the eddy current of the metal foil due to the demagnetizing field from the non-contact IC card 2, 2 'acting on the magnetic field from the card reader can be eliminated, and the non-contact IC card 2, 2' can be operated normally. .
This is not necessary if the space between the non-contact IC cards 2 and 2 ′ is large, but this space is very burdensome, and the practicality of the card case 10 is lost.
For example, using a non-contact IC card with an operating frequency of 13.56 MHz, a spacer of 3 mm or more is required to eliminate the influence of the metal foil, which corresponds to 15 ordinary business cards. In order to make it a practical space, in the present invention, the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4 and 4 'are arranged.
The electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4 and 4 'use a magnetic sheet having a layer composed of a magnetic metal powder and a resin or synthetic rubber binder.

Here, the magnetic field output of the card reader, specifically the automatic ticket gate, becomes a problem.
Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 2, it is known that there are subtle differences in output due to differences in manufacturers even though each railway ticket gate apparatus is in a certain standard range.
The cause of malfunction is that the non-contact IC card 2 on the lower side (card reader side) does not function due to the influence of the intermediate electromagnetic wave shielding layers (metal foil, etc.) 5, 5 ′, and the upper non-contact The IC card 2 'reacts with the magnetic field from the lower card reader.
When the magnetic field output of the card reader is relatively low, the magnetic field coming from the lower side operates only the lower non-contact IC card 2 by the action of the lower electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 4, and the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ' If there is, the line of magnetic force does not come out by the function.

However, when the magnetic field output is strong, the lower magnetic field lines may be turned to the opposite side and may communicate with the upper non-contact IC card 2 ′, resulting in malfunction.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer sides of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′ and the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′ are larger than the outer sides of the non-contact IC card 2, 2 ′ (generally 54 mm × 86 mm) by a predetermined length. It is effective to do.
Further, when the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′ and the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′ are the same size as the non-contact IC card 2, 2 ′, the non-contact IC card 2, 2 ′ is inserted into the card case 10. For example, malfunction may occur when the positional relationship is shifted. However, it is not necessary to simply increase the size. If the outer sides of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′ and the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′ are increased by 5 mm or more, reflection interference of the metal foil of the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′ is caused. In some cases, the lower non-contact IC card 2 may not function.
Therefore, the most preferable size range of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4 and 4 ′ and the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5 ′ is 1 to 4 mm larger than the outer side of the non-contact IC card 2 and 2 ′. .
Therefore, the shape of the storage portions 12 and 12 ′ of the non-contact IC card 2 and 2 ′ and the interference prevention sheets S and S in which the non-contact IC card 2 and 2 ′ inserted into the storage portion are built in the partition portion 11. It is necessary to configure so as to have the above-described positional relationship.

Regarding the back of the magnetic field lines, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-012012 uses an example in which the size of the metal thin sheet and the size of the electromagnetic wave absorption layer are different. In the manufacture of a card case, as a raw material sheet, it is troublesome and costly to deal with various shapes of final products like a card case, unlike simple laminated product supply.
Also in the processing process, the correspondence of the positioning accuracy of sheets having different dimensions becomes complicated.

In the present invention, it is assumed that the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′ and the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′ have the same dimensions. In order to satisfy this precondition, the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′ are 13.56. It is desirable that the relative permeability is 15 or more and the thickness is 75 μm or more under the condition of megahertz frequency.
By using the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′ and arranging the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′, it is not necessary to provide a dimensional difference between the two layers, the processing process can be simplified, and efficient periodic The container can be manufactured. That is, after laminating the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5, 5 ′ and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layers 4, 4 ′, they can be cut or punched into an arbitrary size and shape and stitched to the partition portion or partition wall of the card case 10.

With the above configuration, two non-contact IC cards 2, 2 'can be used by inserting them into the front and back of the card case 10, and can be used without malfunction of the card reader with a simple operation at the time of a ticket gate, etc. It is durable and can provide a lightweight and inexpensive card case.
Although FIG. 1 is illustrated as a practical structure as the card case 10, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to these.

The card case 10 of Example 2 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 has a configuration in which only one partition portion 11 is provided and two non-contact IC cards 2 and 2 ′ are partitioned by one partition portion 11. .
In this card case 10, as clearly shown in FIG. 6, two interference prevention sheets S and S ′ are used in a back-to-back relationship between a pair of partition walls 3 and 3 ′ constituting the partition portion 11.
In other words, the interference preventing sheet S composed of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 4 and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 5 is disposed next to the partition wall 3, and then turned over, and the interference preventing sheet composed of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 5 ′ and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer 4 ′. S 'is overlapped and aligned, and is fixed together with a pair of partition walls 3, 3' by sewing or the like.
Since other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
In addition, since the electromagnetic wave shielding layers 5 and 5 'of the present invention can be made of an inexpensive material such as an aluminum foil, even if two sheets are used, the cost burden is small.

[Experimental example]
Hereinafter, examples to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to these numerical values and forms.
FIG. 7 shows a list of implementation conditions and evaluations of Experimental Examples 1 to 5 in which the present invention was implemented, and FIG. 8 shows a list of implementation conditions and evaluations of Comparative Examples 1 to 3.
Here, as the card case 10, the structure of the card case of Example 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was used.
The card reader frequency was 13.56 MHz, and the non-contact IC card used was Suica (registered trademark) on the A side and Pasmo (registered trademark) on the B side. Both card sizes were 54 mm × 86 mm.
The magnetic sheet as the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer is a sheet coated with a mixture of soft magnetic iron powder and a resin binder, and the one having the relative permeability shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 was used.
Moreover, the metal foil of the sheet | seat of an electromagnetic wave shielding layer uses a 7 micrometer aluminum foil, it bonded on the back surface by using 84.9 g / m2 ^high quality coated paper as a support layer, and laminated | stacked the electromagnetic wave absorption layer on it. (See FIG. 3 (a)).
The sheet sizes of the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer were as shown in FIGS.
In the evaluation, the test was repeated 10 times, and “no pass” was given for all the problems without malfunction, and “malfunction x” was caused even once.
As a result, as apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8, the card cases of Experimental Examples 1 to 5 do not malfunction, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 all malfunction and confirm the effects of the above-described embodiments. I was able to.

The shape of the card case according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be, for example, with a lid as shown in FIG. 9. In short, it has a partition part and can accommodate two non-contact IC cards separately. Any structure can be applied to a known configuration.
In addition, it goes without saying that various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(A) The perspective view of the card case of Example 1, (b) is the schematic sectional drawing. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of Example 1. (A) Main part sectional drawing which shows an example of the interference prevention sheet which has a support body layer, (b) is principal part sectional drawing which shows an example of the interference prevention sheet which used the support body layer for both surfaces. It is explanatory drawing which shows the shape and positional relationship of an interference prevention sheet | seat and a non-contact IC card. (A) The perspective view of the card case of Example 2, (b) is the schematic sectional drawing. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of Example 2. FIG. 5 is a list of experimental conditions and evaluations of Experimental Examples 1 to 5 in which numerical values of Example 1 are changed. It is a table | surface of the experimental conditions and evaluation of Comparative Examples 1-3. It is a perspective view which shows the different shape of a card case.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 'card case skin 2, 2' non-contact IC card (Suica etc.)
3, 3 ′ partition 4, 4 ′ electromagnetic wave absorbing layer (magnetic sheet 100 μm)
5, 5 'electromagnetic wave shielding layer (aluminum foil 7μm)
6, 6 'partition 7 business card space 10 card case 11, 11' partition S, S 'interference prevention sheet

Claims (4)

In a card case that can hold two contactless IC cards,
The outer sides of the card case are the working surfaces for the card reader, and when two non-contact IC cards are accommodated, an electromagnetic wave absorption layer is disposed on the side close to each non-contact IC card. An electromagnetic wave shielding layer is provided on the back,
A card case characterized in that the outer sides of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer and the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer have the same dimensions, and are set to have a long dimension in the range of 1 mm to 4 mm on the left, right, top and bottom of the outer side of the non-contact IC card.   2. The card case according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave absorbing layer is made of a material having a relative permeability of 15 or more at a frequency of 13.56 MHz and has a thickness of 75 μm or more.   The card case according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave shielding layer is formed of a metal foil having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm.     The card case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a sheet-like support layer having flexibility and strength is provided on at least one surface of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer.

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