JP2012079249A - Noncontact communication medium with display function and communication method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact communication medium having both functions of a noncontact IC medium with a self display function and a reader of the noncontact communication medium.SOLUTION: The noncontact communication medium includes: a display device; an arithmetic processing device connected to the display device; first noncontact communication means connected to the arithmetic processing device and capable of controlling a communication distance; second noncontact communication means disposed in such a manner as to be capable of performing noncontact communication with the first noncontact communication means; a first switch for connecting/disconnecting the communication function of the first noncontact communication means; and a second switch for connecting/disconnecting the communication function of the second noncontact communication means. In the noncontact communication medium, the first switch and the second switch are connected to the arithmetic processing device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a contactless communication medium having a function of displaying information and capable of transmitting and receiving information, and more particularly to a contactless communication medium in the form of an IC card.

  In recent years, contactless communication media such as contactless IC cards capable of exchanging information without contact have become widespread as tickets for transportation and the like and electronic money media. These communicate by transmitting and receiving via an antenna connected to the IC chip.

  By the way, in order to read the information recorded on such a non-contact IC card, a reader for receiving electromagnetic waves transmitted from the non-contact IC card is necessary. The reader is equipped with an antenna for information communication like the non-contact IC card. On the other hand, a non-contact IC card including a display device that displays information recorded on its own IC chip is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. However, in Patent Document 1, since information on the IC chip is displayed on the display device by wiring electrically connected to the IC chip, information on the IC card with display function itself can be displayed. Unlike other readers, it does not display information on other IC cards.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-120212

  As described above, conventional non-contact IC media with a self-display function and readers for non-contact IC cards have been conventionally used, but non-contact communication media having both functions have been difficult to realize. One is that when one of the reader / writer function and the transmission / reception of data recorded on its own IC chip is performed by the antenna coil provided in the IC card, the antenna coil also functions as the other function. It becomes unstable. That is, there is a problem that electromagnetic wave communication using the antenna of its own non-contact IC card and communication for reading electromagnetic waves from other non-contact IC cards are mixed because they use the same communication frequency. .

  In view of such problems, the present invention has a non-contact communication medium having both functions of a non-contact IC medium with a self-display function and a reader of a non-contact communication medium, and a communication method using the non-contact communication medium Is to provide.

The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-described problems, is a display device, an arithmetic processing device connected to the display device, and a communication distance connected to the arithmetic processing device capable of controlling a communication distance. A first contactless communication means; a contactless communication means; a second contactless communication means arranged so as to be contactlessly communicated; and a first communication function of the first contactless communication means. And a second switch for opening and closing the communication function of the second non-contact communication means, and the first switch and the second switch are connected to the arithmetic processing unit. That is a non-contact communication medium.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first non-contact communication means includes an IC to which a transmitter and a first antenna are connected, and the second non-contact communication means is a second antenna. 2. The IC according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna is provided with the first switch, and the second antenna is provided with the second switch. It is a non-contact communication medium.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that in the first non-contact communication means, the output of the carrier wave for transmitting and receiving signals can be controlled in at least two stages of high output and low output. Item 3. A non-contact communication medium according to item 1 or 2.
The invention according to claim 4 further includes control means for controlling opening and closing of the first switch and / or the second switch and a communication distance of the first non-contact communication means, The first switch is disconnected and the second switch is opened, the first switch is opened and the second switch is disconnected, and the first non-contact communication means The state where the output of the carrier wave is set to a high output, the first switch is opened, the second switch is opened, and the output of the carrier wave of the first non-contact communication means is lowered. The non-contact communication medium according to claim 3, having a function of switching between states.

The invention according to claim 5 is a communication method using the non-contact communication medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first switch is opened and the second switch is disconnected. A step of setting the communication distance of the first non-contact communication means to a long distance, a step of detecting a signal of an external non-contact IC medium and establishing communication, and outputting the communicated information to a display device A communication method comprising the steps of:
The invention according to claim 6 is the communication method according to claim 5, wherein the step of detecting the signal of the external non-contact IC medium and establishing communication includes the signal detection of the first communication standard. Performing communication with the non-contact IC medium according to the first communication standard if detected, and performing signal detection of the second communication standard when the signal of the non-contact IC medium is not detected, A communication method characterized by including:
The invention according to claim 7 is the communication method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the communication is not established in the step of detecting the signal of the external non-contact IC medium and establishing the communication. Opening the second switch; setting a communication distance of the first non-contact communication means to a short distance; detecting a signal of the second non-contact communication means and establishing communication The communication method characterized by including these.
The invention according to claim 7 is the communication method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein when the termination condition recorded in the arithmetic processing device is satisfied, the first switch is disconnected, And a step of opening the second switch.

  The non-contact communication medium of the present invention has a first non-contact communication means (reader / writer means) capable of controlling the communication distance and a second non-contact means, and each has a switch for opening / closing the antenna circuit. Since it is connected to the arithmetic processing unit, 1) communication between the external non-contact IC medium and the reader / writer unit 203, 2) communication between the external reader / writer unit and the second non-contact communication unit, 3) Stable communication can be realized in any case of communication between the reader / writer means and the second non-contact communication means.

  Further, according to the communication method of the present invention, communication with an external non-contact IC medium and communication with an internal non-contact communication means are automatically performed depending on the presence / absence of communication of the external non-contact IC medium. It becomes possible to select a method and display information on the display device.

It is a mimetic diagram showing an embodiment of a non-contact communication medium concerning the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the non-contact communication medium based on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of arrangement | positioning of each component of the non-contact communication medium which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the communication method using the non-contact communication medium based on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the communication method using the non-contact communication medium based on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the communication method using the non-contact communication medium based on this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an external configuration of a non-contact communication medium according to the present invention. The non-contact communication medium of the present invention includes at least a display device 101 and an operation unit 102 including a power switch. In FIG. 1, a card-type non-contact communication medium is shown as an example on the assumption that it is used as a general IC card, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the non-contact communication medium according to the present invention. The display device 101 is connected to an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) for inputting display information to the display device. Further, an IC 1 for controlling and transmitting a signal as a reader / writer for a non-contact IC medium (IC card or the like) is connected to the arithmetic processing unit. Further, an operation unit 102 (CTL) including a power switch and a CPU power source are provided. In FIG. 2, a battery (Bat.) Is illustrated as a power source. Although not shown in the figure, a CPU-side transmitter or an initialization circuit for initializing the CPU may be provided.

  The IC 1 is connected with a transmitter (OSC) and an antenna 201 (first antenna) for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves (reader / writer means 203). Furthermore, the non-contact communication medium of the present invention includes another antenna 202 (second antenna), and the second antenna is connected to the IC 2 (non-contact communication means 204). A dotted line passing through the antenna 201 and the antenna 202 in FIG. 2 indicates that communication is possible using the first antenna and the second antenna. That is, the non-contact communication means including the IC 2 and the second antenna can be read or written by the reader / writer means 203 including the IC 1, the first antenna, and the transmitter. Note that the non-contact communication means can transmit and receive information without a power source, as in a general non-contact IC card.

  The reader / writer means 203 has at least two modes of communication distance, that is, long distance and short distance. More specifically, the control means can control the output of the carrier wave for transmitting and receiving signals by the first antenna 201 at least in two stages of high output and low output. The output intensity of the reader / writer means can be controlled by a control signal from the arithmetic processing unit. In the high output setting, in order to communicate with an external non-contact IC medium (IC card), an output that can detect a signal at a distance exceeding the thickness of at least the non-contact communication medium. More preferably, the detection distance is 2 cm or more from the surface of the non-contact communication medium. On the other hand, in the low output setting, the output is smaller than that in the high output setting, and the output intensity is set so that communication with the second antenna 202 is possible. Therefore, in the card-shaped non-contact communication medium, the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged so as to overlap each other, so that the detection distance may be about 5 mm of the non-contact communication medium. If the detection area of the electromagnetic wave signal in the case of low output is about the thickness of the non-contact communication medium, the detection will not be unstable due to the external electromagnetic wave signal. As described above, according to the non-contact communication medium of the present invention, since the communication distance of the reader / writer means 203 is switched, the reading mode of the external non-contact IC medium and the reading mode of the internal non-contact communication means 204 are provided. Can be switched.

  Further, the reader / writer means 203 and the non-contact communication means 204 include a switch 1 for opening / closing the circuit of the reader / writer means 203 and a switch 2 for opening / closing the circuit of the non-contact communication means 204, respectively. And is controlled by the arithmetic processing unit. When reading an external non-contact IC medium, that is, as a reader / writer, the non-contact communication means 204 functions for the carrier wave of the first antenna 201 with the switch 1 opened and the switch 2 disconnected. Do not. For this reason, reading of an external signal by the first antenna does not become unstable due to the reaction of the second antenna 202.

  When communicating with an external reader / writer device, that is, when the non-contact communication medium of the present invention is used as a non-contact IC medium (IC card), the switch 1 is disconnected and the switch 2 is opened. In the communication with the second antenna 202, the first antenna 201 is prevented from functioning. As described above, since the non-contact communication means 204 can transmit and receive information without a power source, if the switch 1 is disconnected and the switch 2 is opened with the power off, the non-contact communication means 204 is a normal non-contact type. It can be used as an IC card.

  Further, when the reader / writer unit 203 communicates with the non-contact communication unit 204, the switch 1 and the switch 2 are opened. As described above, in this case, by making the output of the carrier wave for transmission / reception by the first antenna 201 of the reader / writer means 203 low, reading may become unstable due to detection of an external signal. Absent.

  As described above, by switching the switch 1 and the switch 2 and the communication distance of the reader / writer means 203 being switched, 1) communication between the external non-contact IC medium and the reader / writer means 203, and 2) external reader / Communication between the writer device and the non-contact communication means 204, and 3) Communication with the reader / writer means 203 and communication with the non-contact communication means 204 can be realized in any case. . In the non-contact communication medium of the present invention, the arithmetic processing unit includes control means for controlling switching of the switch 1 and the switch 2 and switching of the communication distance of the reader / writer means 203, so that the three communication modes can be selected. Switching is possible electrically.

  Further, the non-contact communication means 204 that records its own information and the reader / writer means 203 are provided separately, and the data recorded in the IC 2 of the non-contact communication means 204 only via two antennas in the information communication medium. Therefore, if an IC chip with high security is used for IC2, security for its own information can be improved.

  Next, a detailed configuration example of the non-contact communication medium according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a configuration example of the arrangement of each component of the non-contact communication medium according to the present invention described above. In FIG. 3, the switch circuit of the display device 101 and the operation unit 102 is arranged on the uppermost layer. Next, in order from the top, a wiring circuit layer 301 in which a layer including the second antenna 202 of the non-contact communication unit 204, a layer including the first antenna 201 of the reader / writer unit 203, and a wiring circuit including the arithmetic processing unit are formed. Is arranged. Furthermore, a battery 302 which is a power source of the non-contact communication means 204 and the arithmetic processing unit is provided in the lower part. Of course, the order of these layers can be changed according to the purpose.

  As the display device 101 used in the present invention, a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, an electrophoretic display device, or a general display device can be used. For example, a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device or an electrophoretic display device is suitable for long-time use because it consumes power only when switching images. On the other hand, when displaying a dynamic image, a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device is preferable.

  As the reader / writer means 203, an IC and a transmitter used in a general reader / writer device can be used. For the IC 1 of the reader / writer means, a communication standard that can read information may be one corresponding to one standard such as type A or type B, or one that can switch between a plurality of standards. Specifically, NFC (Near Field Communication) can be cited as one corresponding to a plurality of standards. NFC is a short-range wireless communication standard and supports a plurality of standards such as FeliCa (registered trademark) and MIFARE (registered trademark). In order to save space as much as possible, the communication antenna 201 is preferably an etching antenna obtained by patterning a metal foil or a wound antenna using an enameled wire. As the switch 1 for opening / closing the circuit of the reader / writer means 203, for example, a switching circuit may be formed in a part of an antenna.

  As the non-contact communication means 204, a non-contact communication inlet used for a general IC card can be used. This includes a second antenna 202 and an IC 2 connected to the second antenna on a sheet base material. The IC 2 has a memory function for recording information. The switch 2 for opening / closing the circuit of the non-contact communication means can be provided by forming a switching circuit in a part of the inlet antenna.

  The antenna 201 of the reader / writer unit 203 preferably forms an antenna loop in accordance with the shape of the non-contact communication medium in order to increase the reading distance. The antenna 202 of the non-contact communication means 204 is arranged in the antenna 201 loop in a plan view in the layer direction of the arrangement.

  In the wiring circuit layer 301, in addition to the arithmetic processing unit, a connector with the display device 101, an IC of the reader / writer means 203, a power supply control circuit, and the like are formed. Further, the antenna 201 or the antenna 202 may be formed over the same base material.

  The IC used as the arithmetic processing device is electrically connected to the display device 101, the IC 1 of the reader / writer means 203, the switch 1, and the switch 2. Further, it is electrically connected to a power source (power control circuit), a switch of the operation unit 102, and the like. Further, the connection circuit may include a relay circuit (IC), and includes, for example, a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) between the IC 1 and the arithmetic processing unit.

  The circuit of the operation unit 102 includes at least a switch for turning on / off the power. Further, depending on how the non-contact communication medium is used, a signal circuit for mode selection / determination and a signal circuit for scrolling the display screen may be provided.

  The battery 302 may be either a primary battery or a secondary battery. Or you may use electrical storage means other than chemical cells, such as a solar cell, as an electric power source.

  These components may be provided individually on the circuit, or a predetermined plurality of components may be packaged. Moreover, you may add another component between each layer. For example, a magnetic sheet for reducing electromagnetic noise can be added between the display device and the adjacent layer (the first antenna 201).

  Next, in order to show the communication method using the non-contact communication medium with a display function of the present invention, processing steps of the communication method of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The following processing is controlled by a communication program stored in the arithmetic processing unit.

  First, at the stage before starting communication, the switch 1 of the reader / writer means 203 is disconnected and the switch 2 of the non-contact communication means 204 is opened. Thereby, since the non-contact communication means 204 functions, it can be used as a normal non-contact IC card.

  The communication mode (S1) may be set to the communication mode at the moment when the power is turned on, or may be executed by selecting the communication mode after the power is turned on. According to the aspect of the present invention, when the communication mode is started, an “external non-contact IC medium communication mode” is first automatically started, which first attempts to communicate with an external non-contact IC medium. The switch 1 of the reader / writer means 203 is opened (ON) (S2), and the switch 2 of the non-contact communication means 204 is disconnected (OFF) (S3). The steps S2 and S3 may be performed simultaneously, or may be performed in the order of S3 and S2. Next, the reader / writer means is set to long distance detection (S4). That is, the communication carrier wave output from the first antenna is set to a high output so that an external non-contact IC medium can be detected. By the steps S2 to S4, it is possible to read an external non-contact IC medium.

  Next, the communication standard of the external non-contact IC medium is detected (S5 to 12). FIG. 4 shows steps when a non-contact IC medium of communication standards 1 to 3 is detected using an IC corresponding to a plurality of standards for the reader / writer means 203. The arithmetic processing unit sends a detection command instructing detection of communication of communication standard 1 to the IC 1 of the reader / writer means 203 (S5). The arithmetic processing unit determines whether or not communication according to the communication standard 1 has been detected from the response from the IC 1 (S6), and if detected, sends an instruction (data communication command) for exchanging data (data communication command) (S6). S7). If not detected, a detection command for instructing detection of communication of communication standard 2 is sent next (S8). Thereafter, the communication standard 2 or the communication standard 3 is detected by the same steps as the communication standard 1 (S9 to S12). After completing the detection confirmation for all the communication standards, it is preferable to repeat the non-contact IC medium detection steps of S5 to S12 a plurality of times in order to increase communication accuracy. Specifically, the number n of detection step repetitions is set in the communication program, and it is determined whether or not n detection steps are repeated. If n times are not reached, S5 to S12 are repeated. Recursively (S13). In this step, if communication with the non-contact IC medium is possible, data communication is started. If communication with the non-contact IC medium is not possible or no signal is detected, communication with the non-contact communication means 204 is performed. The process proceeds to the step of executing ("internal data communication mode").

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing communication processing steps after transition to the “internal data communication mode”. If communication is not established in the “external non-contact IC medium communication mode”, the “internal data communication mode” is subsequently executed. When the “internal data communication mode” is started, the switch 2 of the non-contact communication means 204 is opened (ON) (S21). The switch 1 of the reader / writer means 203 is continuously opened. Next, the reader / writer means is set to short distance detection (S22). That is, the communication carrier wave output from the first antenna is set to a low output, making it difficult to detect the signal of the external non-contact IC medium, and reducing noise during communication with the internal non-contact communication means 204. it can. The non-contact communication means can be read by the steps S21 to S23.

  In addition, the unique information for specifying the communication entity may be stored in the IC 2 of the non-contact communication unit 204 and the unique information may be recorded on the IC 1 side of the arithmetic processing unit or the reader / writer unit. It is added to the unique information during transmission / reception with the reader / writer means 203, and in the internal data display mode, the communication matching the unique information is set to give the highest priority so that it can be distinguished from the external signal (noise). , More stable communication becomes possible.

  When data communication is established in either the “external non-contact IC medium communication mode” shown in FIG. 4 or the “internal data communication mode” shown in FIG. 5, the arithmetic processing unit performs a predetermined process according to the stored specific program. Read the data and output the display data to the display device. A program for outputting display data automatically selects and displays specific information such as transportation history and electronic money balance from information recorded in the memory of an external non-contact IC medium. Alternatively, the user may operate the display device to select display contents.

  FIG. 6 shows the steps in ending the communication mode. After the display data is output from the arithmetic processing unit to the display unit (S32) and the information is displayed, it is determined whether or not to end communication according to the end condition set for the arithmetic processing unit (S33). The end condition may satisfy the end condition when, for example, the operation of the power button of the operation unit 102 or the display time has elapsed. If the end condition is satisfied, the switch 1 of the reader / writer means 203 is disconnected (OFF) (S34), and the switch 2 of the non-contact communication means 204 is opened (ON) (S35). When disconnecting from the “internal data communication mode”, since the switch 2 has already been opened, this step can be omitted.

  As described above, according to the communication method of the present invention, communication with an external non-contact IC medium and communication with an internal non-contact communication means are automatically performed depending on the presence / absence of communication of the external non-contact IC medium. It is possible to select a communication method and display information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Non-contact communication medium 101 with a display function ... Display apparatus 102 ... Operation part 201 ... 1st antenna 202 ... 2nd antenna 203 ... Reader / writer means 204 ... Non-contact communication means 301 ... wiring circuit layer 302 ... battery

Claims (8)

A display device;
An arithmetic processing device connected to the display device;
A first non-contact communication means connected to the arithmetic processing unit and capable of controlling a communication distance;
The non-contact communication means and a second non-contact communication means arranged so as to be capable of non-contact communication;
A first switch for opening and closing a communication function of the first non-contact communication means;
A second switch for opening and closing the communication function of the second non-contact communication means;
With
The non-contact communication medium that the first switch and the second switch are connected to the arithmetic processing unit. The first non-contact communication means includes an IC to which a transmitter and a first antenna are connected,
The second non-contact communication means includes an IC to which a second antenna is connected,
The first switch is provided on the first antenna;
The contactless communication medium according to claim 1, wherein the second switch is provided in the second antenna.   3. The non-contact according to claim 1, wherein the first non-contact communication means can control the output of a carrier wave for transmitting and receiving signals at least in two stages of high output and low output. Communication medium. Control means for controlling opening and closing of the first switch and / or the second switch and the communication distance of the first non-contact communication means;
The control means includes
A state in which the first switch is disconnected and the second switch is opened;
A state in which the first switch is opened, the second switch is disconnected, and the output of the carrier wave of the first non-contact communication means is set to a high output;
The first switch is opened, the second switch is opened, and the output of the carrier wave of the first non-contact communication means is low,
The non-contact communication medium according to claim 3, having a function of switching between. A communication method using the non-contact communication medium according to claim 1,
Opening the first switch and disconnecting the second switch;
Setting the communication distance of the first non-contact communication means to a long distance;
Detecting a signal of an external non-contact IC medium and establishing communication;
Outputting the communicated information to a display device;
A communication method comprising: The communication method according to claim 5, wherein
Detecting a signal of the external non-contact IC medium and establishing communication;
Perform signal detection of the first communication standard, and if detected, establish communication with the non-contact IC medium according to the first communication standard, and if the signal of the non-contact IC medium is not detected, second Performing communication standard signal detection. The communication method according to claim 5 or 6,
When communication is not established in the step of detecting the signal of the external non-contact IC medium and establishing communication,
Opening the second switch;
Setting the communication distance of the first non-contact communication means to a short distance;
Detecting a signal of the second non-contact communication means and establishing communication;
A communication method comprising: The communication method according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
When the end condition recorded in the arithmetic processing unit is satisfied,
Disconnecting the first switch and opening the second switch; and
A communication method comprising:

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