JP2009282694A - Ic card reader and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IC card reader capable of surely reading an IC card. <P>SOLUTION: The IC card reader 24 includes an antenna section 25 for detecting the IC card 23, and a projection section 26 arranged an upper side of the antenna section 25 so as to cover the antenna section 25 and used as a target object for making the IC card 23 and the antenna section 25 approach each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an IC (Integrated Circuit) card reader and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an IC card reader having an antenna unit for detecting an IC card, and an image forming apparatus including such an IC card reader. is there.

  Some image forming apparatuses are provided with an IC card reader that forms an image by performing user authentication using an IC card when an image is formed. That is, at the time of image formation, the user causes the IC card reader to read the IC card on which the user information is written, and performs user authentication after performing user authentication.

Here, technologies related to the IC card reader are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-240718 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-33629 (Patent Document 2). According to Patent Document 1, the antenna portion included in the IC card reader is curved to have a convex shape, and the antenna portion is attached to the card reader main body without the convex portion of the antenna portion contacting the card reader main body. In this way, when the mobile terminal device is applied to the antenna unit, the antenna unit is bent to secure a long movement time of the mobile terminal device and increase the read / write time. According to Patent Document 2, in order to improve the directivity in a wide range, five loop antennas are provided on the communication surfaces of the projecting pentahedrons having different directions.
JP 2004-240718 A JP 2005-33629 A

  In Patent Document 1, since the antenna unit is covered with a flexible member and the antenna unit is curved, the configuration becomes complicated. Further, even in an IC card reader as shown in Patent Document 2, since a plurality of antennas must be provided, the configuration becomes complicated.

  Here, in the conventional IC card reader, even in a non-contact type, it is preferable to place the IC card on the reading surface of the IC card reader even for a moment in order to surely read. In this case, the IC card is usually placed on the reading surface of the IC card reader while being held in the user's hand. In this case, the IC card is placed on the reading surface while being tilted due to individual differences of the user such as the user's finger and holding method, and there is a possibility that the reading cannot be performed properly.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader that can read an IC card more reliably.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably performing user authentication.

  An IC card reader according to the present invention is disposed on a plane, is provided on an upper side of an antenna unit so as to cover the antenna unit and an antenna unit for detecting the IC card, and for bringing the IC card and the antenna unit close to each other A target body is provided.

  Preferably, the target body is composed of a member having elasticity.

  More preferably, the target body includes a protruding portion that protrudes upward from the antenna portion.

  More preferably, a marking that is visible from the outside is provided on the tip of the protrusion.

  More preferably, the surface constituting the projecting portion includes a curved surface.

  More preferably, the tip portion is arranged at the apex of the curved surface.

  More preferably, a vibration means for vibrating the target body when the IC card is detected by the antenna unit is provided.

  In another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes any one of the above-described IC card readers and an image forming unit that forms an image in response to a request for image formation if the IC card is detected by the IC card reader. including.

  According to the present invention, since the target body for bringing the IC card and the antenna section close to each other is provided above the antenna section, the user places the IC card aiming at the target body. Therefore, the IC card can be read more reliably.

  Since the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the IC card reader that can read the IC card more reliably, user authentication by the IC card reader can be reliably performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral 10 when an image forming apparatus including an IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the digital multifunction peripheral 10. Referring to FIG. 1, a digital multifunction peripheral 10 displays a control unit 11 that controls the entire digital multifunction peripheral 10, a DRAM 12 for writing and reading image data and the like, and information that the digital multifunction peripheral 10 has. An operation unit 13 that includes a display screen and serves as an interface with the user in the digital multi-function peripheral 10, a document feeder 14 that automatically transports a document to a predetermined document reading position, and a document that has been transported by the document feeder 14 An image reading unit 15 that reads the image at a predetermined reading position, an image forming unit 16 that forms the image from a document read by the image reading unit 15 and outputs the image to a sheet, and a hard disk 17 that stores image data and the like. A FAX communication unit 18 connected to the public line 20 and a network IF (interface) for connecting to the network 21. A) unit 19 includes an IC card reader 24 to perform user authentication by reading the information written in the IC card 23. A user authentication symbol is written on the IC card 23.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 10 can perform user authentication using the IC card 23 and the IC card reader 24. Specifically, the information of the user authentication symbol written in the IC card 23 is read by the IC card reader 24. Then, the control unit 11 collates the read authentication symbol with the user authentication symbol stored in the hard disk 17 or the like. In this way, user authentication is performed. If user authentication is performed, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 can be used.

  The control unit 11 compresses and writes the original data output from the image reading unit 15 in the DRAM 12, reads the data written in the DRAM 12, decompresses and encodes the data, and outputs it by the image forming unit 16.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 10 operates as a copier by forming an image in the image forming section 16 via the DRAM 12 using the document read by the image reading section 15. Further, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 forms an image in the image forming unit 16 via the DRAM 12 using the image data transmitted from the personal computer 22 connected to the network 21 through the network IF unit 19, thereby serving as a printer. Operate. Further, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 forms an image in the image forming unit 16 through the DRAM 12 using the image data transmitted from the public line 20 through the FAX communication unit 18, and also by the image reading unit 15. The image data of the read original is transmitted to the public line 20 through the FAX communication unit 18 to operate as a facsimile machine.

  In FIG. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of image data, and thin arrows indicate the flow of control signals or control data.

  Next, details of the configuration of the IC card reader 24 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the IC card reader 24. 3 is a view of the IC card reader 24 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow III in FIG. 4 is a view of the IC card reader 24 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a view of the IC card reader 24 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of the arrow V in FIG. In the drawings shown below, the upward direction in FIG. 4 is the upward direction.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, IC card reader 24 is provided on antenna unit 25 that detects IC card 23 and above antenna unit 25 so as to cover antenna unit 25. 25, and a projecting portion 26 as a target body for bringing them close to each other.

  The antenna unit 25 is disposed on a plane. The antenna unit 25 is configured to vortex on a plane as shown in FIG. 3 by a plurality of linear members indicated by thick lines in FIG. The antenna unit 25 has a detection region 31 indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Although not shown, the antenna unit 25 is wired to the control unit 11. Data read by the antenna unit 25 is transmitted to the control unit 11.

  The projecting portion 26 as the target body includes a rectangular bottom surface 29, a pair of side wall surfaces 30 a and 30 b provided so as to extend in an upward vertical direction from each side of the bottom surface 29, and the side wall surfaces 30 a and 30 b. And a reading surface 27 protruding upward so as to include the upper side. The reading surface 27 is a substantially arc-shaped curved surface that protrudes upward, and its apex constitutes the tip portion 28. That is, the upper surface constituting the protruding portion 26 is a curved surface. The protruding portion 26 is disposed so as to cover the entire antenna portion 25. That is, the protruding portion 26 has a configuration in which the antenna portion 25 is embedded therein. The entire projecting portion 26 including the distal end portion 28 is made of rubber having elasticity such as urethane rubber.

  The tip portion 28 is provided with markings that are visible from the outside. Specifically, for example, on the white unmarked reading surface 27, the vertex that is the tip portion 28 is marked with a black dot.

  The distal end portion 28 of the protruding portion 26 is configured to be disposed in a detection region 31 located on the upper side of the antenna portion 25. In other words, the detection region 31 is formed above the antenna portion 25, and the height of the tip portion 28 from the antenna portion 25 so that the tip portion 28 of the protruding portion 26 is disposed in the detection region 31. Has been adjusted.

  Next, a case where the IC card 23 is detected by the IC card reader 24 and information written in the IC card 23 is read will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 11 in this case. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, first, a user places IC card 23 over IC card reader 24 in order to perform the above-described user authentication when using digital multi-function peripheral 10. In this case, since the protruding portion 26 serving as a target body for bringing the IC card 23 and the antenna portion 25 close to each other is provided on the upper side of the antenna portion 25, the user aims the protruding portion 26 with the IC card. Deploy. The IC card reader 24 reads the information of the IC card 23 (in FIG. 6, step S11, hereinafter, steps are omitted).

  Thereafter, the user information of the read IC card 23 is collated with the user information stored in the hard disk 17 or the like, and user authentication is performed (S12). If the information written in IC card 23 is incorrect and user authentication is performed (YES in S12), use by digital multifunction device 10 is permitted and printing is performed (S13). If user authentication is not performed (NO in S13), the process is terminated without printing.

  Thus, since the protruding portion 26 as a target body for bringing the IC card 23 and the antenna portion 25 close to each other is provided on the upper side of the antenna portion 25, the user aims at the protruding portion 26. The IC card 23 is arranged. Therefore, the IC card 23 can be read more reliably.

  Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 including such an IC card reader 24 can reliably perform user authentication.

  Here, since the protruding portion 26 that covers the antenna portion 25 has elasticity, the IC card 23 can be surely disposed at the distal end portion 28 of the protruding portion 26 regardless of the angle at which the user's finger or card is placed. it can.

  In this case, since the tip portion 28 is marked from the outside, when the user places the IC card 23 on the reading surface 27, the tip portion 28 is recognized and placed at an appropriate position. Can be encouraged. Therefore, the information on the IC card 23 can be read more reliably.

  Moreover, since the front-end | tip part 28 is arrange | positioned at the vertex of a curved surface, it can make it easier for a user to arrange | position the IC card 23 more.

  In the above-described embodiment, the entire protruding portion is made of rubber. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the tip portion may be configured to have elasticity. That is, it is good also as parts other than a front-end | tip part having rigidity, for example. This also makes it possible to read more appropriately.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reading surface is configured by only a curved surface protruding upward, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured by a plurality of planes and curved surfaces.

  In the above embodiment, the projecting portion is configured to cover the entire antenna unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to cover only a part of the antenna unit. As shown in FIG. 7, the IC card reader 32 may be a protruding portion 35 that protrudes from a part of the reading surface 34 that is located above the antenna portion 33.

  In the above embodiment, the protrusion may be vibrated if the IC card can be read appropriately by the IC card reader. In other words, the IC card reader may include a vibration unit that vibrates the protruding portion when the IC card is detected by the antenna unit. By doing so, it is possible to notify the user that the IC card has been properly detected by vibration. Furthermore, if it is detected appropriately, a notification sound may be generated to notify the user that the IC card has been properly detected by the notification sound.

  In the above embodiment, the IC card reader is controlled by the control unit included in the digital multifunction peripheral. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the IC card reader has its own control unit. The entire IC card reader may be controlled by the unit.

  In the above embodiment, the IC card reader is included in the digital multi-function peripheral. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be included in another electronic device such as a computer.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral including an IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which looked at the IC card reader shown in FIG. 2 from the direction of arrow III in FIG. It is the figure which looked at the IC card reader shown in FIG. 2 from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. It is the figure which looked at the IC card reader shown in FIG. 2 from the direction of the arrow V in FIG. It is a flowchart at the time of performing user authentication using the IC card reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the IC card reader which concerns on other embodiment of this invention from the horizontal direction, and is a part corresponded in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital multifunction device, 11 Control part, 12 DRAM, 13 Operation part, 14 Document feeder, 15 Image reading part, 16 Image formation part, 17 Hard disk, 18 FAX communication part, 19 Network IF part, 20 Public line, 21 Network , 22 PC, 23 IC card, 24, 32 IC card reader, 25, 33 Antenna part, 26, 35 Protruding part, 27, 34 Reading surface, 28 Tip part, 29 Bottom surface, 30a, 30b Side wall surface, 31 Detection area .

Claims (8)

An antenna unit arranged on a plane and detecting an IC card;
An IC card reader provided on the upper side of the antenna unit so as to cover the antenna unit, and comprising a target body for bringing the IC card and the antenna unit close to each other. The IC card reader according to claim 1, wherein the target body is made of an elastic member. The IC card reader according to claim 1, wherein the target body includes a projecting portion that protrudes upward from the antenna unit. The IC card reader according to claim 3, wherein a marking that is visible from outside is provided on a tip portion of the protruding portion. 5. The IC card reader according to claim 3, wherein the surface constituting the protruding portion includes a curved surface. The IC card reader according to claim 5, wherein the tip portion is disposed at a vertex of the curved surface. The IC card reader according to claim 1, further comprising a vibrating unit that vibrates the target body when the IC card is detected by the antenna unit. An IC card reader according to claim 1;
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image in response to a request for image formation when the IC card is detected by the IC card reader.

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