JP2719416B2 - IC card - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card which is detachably mounted on a host device and used.

[Background Art] As an auxiliary storage medium for an information processing device such as a personal computer, a word processor, and an electronic organizer, an IC memory card instead of a floppy disk is used because of its easy handling and high access speed. Conventional IC memory cards use only RAM and R as external storage devices of the host device.
The OM is used, and the memory is accessed from the host CPU via the connector.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, since no information can be obtained by the IC card alone, the IC card itself has a CPU, a display, and a key to view the data in the IC card. Visual IC cards having pads have been developed and proposed.

Such IC cards are required to be thin and small in mounting, so large-capacity batteries cannot be used, and power consumption is also required for increased memory capacity, faster processing speed, and larger displays. Is increasing. Therefore, power consumption must be reduced for the purpose of increasing the battery life, and there is an automatic power saving state setting (auto power off) as a method thereof. This is to automatically switch to a power saving state if no key operation is performed for a certain period of time.

In this power saving state, only the power supply of the RAM is backed up to turn off the display, and the clock oscillation is stopped to reduce the power consumption.

However, in a conventional IC card, power saving control when it is used alone is known, and how to perform power saving control in a state of connection with a host device has not been considered. In other words, in many cases, power is simply supplied from the host side when the host is connected, and no power saving control is performed on the card side. In the case of a visual IC card that consumes a large amount of power as described above, the life of the internal battery is shortened. There is.

In the case of a visual IC card, it is necessary to provide a means for inputting characters. As a character input means, a keyboard is generally used. However, the visual IC card is required to be thin and small, and therefore, the keyboard is also required to be downsized. However, even if the minimum required characters are entered, the number of required keys, such as numeric keys and alphabet keys, becomes considerably large, so the key intervals are reduced and the keys themselves are also reduced, resulting in remarkable operability. There was a problem of being damaged.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an IC card that is detachable from a host device and has at least a display unit, and the connection between the IC card and the host device is established. Detecting means for detecting, when the connection with the host device is detected by the detecting means, at least the driving of the display unit is stopped, and the connection with the host device is not detected by the detecting means, and a predetermined time or more. And control means for controlling at least driving of the display unit to be stopped when there is no operation on the IC card.

[Operation] According to such a configuration, at least the driving of the display unit is stopped when connected to the host device, and when the IC card is not connected to the host device and there is no operation on the IC card for a predetermined time or more. Since at least driving of the display unit is stopped, power consumption can be reduced. EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an IC card adopting the present invention. The illustrated IC card is a visual IC card.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 denotes a CPU, which controls input and output to and from a memory 15 including a ROM and a RAM, which will be described later, and an operation unit 16 including a key input unit and a display unit, which will be described later. Connection with the host device is performed via the connector 11.

In this embodiment, when the card is connected to a host device such as a computer system, the card enters a power saving mode,
In particular, the drive of the operation unit 16 (which has a large power consumption) is stopped, and only the members necessary for communication with the host are driven. For this reason, the connector 11 is provided with connection detecting means 12. The detecting means 12 detects the connection between the connector 11 and the host. For example, the connection is detected by detecting a potential of a predetermined pin of the connector 11 or a short-circuit state between the predetermined pins unique to the connection of the host. I do.

When the CPU 13 detects the connection with the host via the detecting means 12, the power saving switching means 14 controls the power supply from a power source (not shown) (such as a built-in battery) to each unit to the power saving mode. When not connected to the host, the power-saving switching means 14 performs well-known power-saving control, that is, control to turn off the display and stop the clock for power saving if there is no key input for a certain period of time.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the IC card shown in FIG. 1 more specifically.

The connection detection unit 121 is connected to the connector 11, and detects the host connection based on the potential of a predetermined pin of the connector 11 controlled by the host device and the short-circuit state as described above. Upon detecting the connection, the connection detection unit 121 sends a signal DET to the CPU 13. The connection detection method of the connection detection unit 121 is not limited to the above, and the same detection processing can be performed by detecting a detection object provided at the connection unit of the host device using a magnetic sensor or a photo sensor.

The communication circuit 122 has a signal form capable of communicating the information of the card with the host device, is configured based on a known interface system, and communicates with the host device via the connector 11.

A memory including a ROM 151 and a RAM 152 is connected to the bus B of the CPU 13.

The ROM 151 stores a control program of the CPU 13 for controlling the card, a font of characters to be displayed, a communication control program with the host, and the like.

The RAM 152 stores data received from the host device, data input and processed on the card side, and the like.

The key input unit 161 is used when inputting and searching for data.
A part for giving an instruction to the PU 13 sends various key signals corresponding to the key matrix to the CPU 13. In the key input unit 161,
An ON key 163 for turning on the power of the apparatus is provided.

The display unit 162 is for confirming data input / search, and is subjected to display control by the CPU 13.

The power saving switching circuit 141 stops the display on the display unit 162 for power saving according to the control of the CPU 13.

 Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a program stored in the ROM 151.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether the detection signal DET output from the connection detection unit 121 is on, that is, whether there is a connection with the host device.

In step S1, if the signal DET is off, the process proceeds to step S2 to check the key signal, that is, the key input unit 161.
Detects if there is input from If there is a key input, a process corresponding to the key input (for example, a search process of data stored in a memory or the like) is executed in step S6, and the process returns to step S1 again.

In step S2, if there is no key signal, in step S3 CPU1
Execute the count-up of the built-in timer 3 and execute step S4.
To check whether the timer count has reached a predetermined auto power off time. If the auto power off time has not been reached, display control (for example, transferring data in the display data area to the display unit 162) is performed in step S5, and the process returns to step S1.

In step S4, if the auto power-off time has been reached, the process proceeds to step S7 to save the power, that is, the display unit 162.
Is stopped, and this power saving state is maintained until the ON key 163 is input in step S8.

On the other hand, if the DET signal is on in step S1,
Go to 7, S8 to save power.

As described above, the provision of the means for detecting the connection with the host device and the means for switching to the power saving state makes it possible to significantly reduce the power consumption of the card when the host is connected, thereby increasing the memory capacity and the processing speed. It is possible to meet the demands for higher speed and larger display.

When connecting to the host, from the viewpoint of preventing erroneous operation,
It is desirable to house the entire card in the card loading section of the host device. According to such a connection structure, the display means on the card surface as shown in an embodiment to be described later is covered by the loading portion of the host device and becomes invisible, so that it is useless to prohibit such operations as described above. It makes sense to prevent power consumption.

In the above description, the power saving state when the host is connected is described as stopping the display. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Power other than the backup power supply of the RAM 152 may be cut off. Also,
If control of the CPU is not required, the clock may be stopped. The power saving state when the host is connected is the same as the auto power off state, but this is not a limitation. For example, when connecting to the host, the power saving switching circuit 141 shuts off power other than the backup power supply of the RAM 152, and inputs a predetermined signal from the host via the connector 11 only when communication with the host is necessary. And only the part necessary for communication with the host may be activated.

In short, it is sufficient to perform control to reduce the current consumption of the card when connecting to the host device in the normal operation state.

Second Embodiment FIG. 4 shows a basic configuration of a second embodiment of the IC card of the present invention. The IC card in FIG. 4 is provided with a display unit 162, a voice input unit 18, and a voice recognition unit 19 as user interface units, except for the connection detection unit 12 and the power saving switching unit 14 from the IC card in FIG. is there. A major difference from the first embodiment is that at least a part of the input from the user is performed by voice.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the card shown in FIG. 4 more specifically.
Here, the same members as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

5 is different from FIG. 2 in that it handles the input from the user, and comprises a voice input unit 18 and a key input unit 161. The key input section 161 is for performing a part of the input, for example, power control and the like.

The voice input unit 18 samples voice information from the microphone, extracts the information, and sends the digital information to the CPU 13 as digital data. The CPU 13 compares the sound information stored in the RAM 152 or the ROM 152 in advance with a program stored in the ROM 151 and displays the data as character data on the display. When the input information is correctly recognized, the input is determined by the input key and stored in the RAM 152. At this time,
The data is stored after being replaced with a character code. As described above, in the present embodiment, the voice recognition unit 19 in FIG.
It consists of 3 software.

For this reason, the ROM 151 stores various program information, a voice dictionary, a display character font, and the like. Also, RAM152
Stores memo data, schedule data, address book data, and the like. The RAM 152 is rewritten by information from a voice input unit or information from a host device described later.

Since the voice recognition processing by the CPU 13 is publicly known, a detailed description is omitted here.

The connector 11 has a male pin and is directly inserted into a female connector provided in the host device. The connector 11 is for directly connecting the card to the host device, and transmits and receives data to and from the host device by the communication circuit 122.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the external appearance of the IC card shown in FIGS. The connector of the card is provided at the edge of the short side of the card, and on its surface, a display unit 162 including a liquid crystal display, a voice input unit 18 (a microphone thereof), and a key group constituting a key input unit 161 are provided. Provided. In addition. As in the previous embodiment, when connected to the host, the entire card is accommodated in the card loading unit of the host device,
It is desirable to configure the IC card and the host device so that each user interface means on the card surface is covered by the loading section of the host device and becomes invisible.

According to the above configuration, information can be input by voice input. Therefore, a key input unit having a large number of keys is provided on the surface of a card having a limited area as in the related art, so that visual input can be easily performed without impairing operability.
We can provide IC cards. According to this embodiment, it is possible to dramatically improve the ease of inputting characters.

When using the card, the information received from the host device is carried around with a visual IC card and referred to, and the information is rewritten by voice input means. Then, it becomes easier to input data to the visual IC card by voice input means on the go, and return to the host to download the data.Moreover, by expanding the input method as described above, various application software can be used. The possibility of providing software can be increased.

Note that the voice recognition used for voice input may use an appropriate method. The speech dictionary information used for speech recognition is RO
Although it is speech information stored in advance in M151 and specific speaker information stored in RAM, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these. Also, a kana-kanji conversion dictionary may be provided in the ROM, and when the input voice information is converted into character information, it may be converted into kanji or converted into katakana and stored in the RAM 152.

Although the connector 11 has been described as a male and female two-piece type connector, it is needless to say that the connector 11 may be a card edge type connector or a non-contact optical communication type connector.

Third Embodiment In the second embodiment, a configuration using a voice input method for information input has been described.
The following handwritten character input method may be used.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 4 of the second embodiment, but here, the voice input unit 18 and the voice recognition unit 19 in FIG. 4 are replaced with a handwritten character input unit 21 and a character recognition 22. . FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 5 of the second embodiment, but here, the voice input unit 18 and the key input unit 161 of FIG.
Are replaced with a handwritten character input unit 21 and touch keys 23.

The voice input unit 18 is configured by various known coordinate input methods such as a resistive film method and an ultrasonic method, and sequentially outputs coordinate information that is continuously input to the CPU 13. The CPU 13 performs character recognition by software corresponding to the character recognition unit 22 in FIG.

This character recognition processing is performed by a known character recognition, for example, OCR
The recognition is performed using the same recognition software as that performed by the device. A dictionary of patterns required for recognition or recognition software is stored in the ROM 151. Character information obtained by the recognition processing is stored in the RAM 152 as a character code (according to a predetermined code system such as alphabets and kanji). Since the details of the character recognition processing are known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. As in the above-described embodiment, a kana-kanji conversion dictionary may be provided in the ROM 151 so that handwritten character information based on the input kana may be converted into kanji or katakana when converted into character information.

The touch key 23 is provided with a fixed or variable display or the like in a part of the coordinate input means constituting the handwritten character input unit 21. It is intended to be treated in the same way as.
The touch keys 23 may be used not only as various known function keys, but also for the purpose of inputting timing such as start and end of handwritten character input of the handwritten character input unit 21.

 The appearance of the IC card can be configured as shown in FIG.

Here, the difference from FIG. 6 of the second embodiment is the configuration of the input unit. That is, the handwritten character input unit 21 and the touch keys 23 disposed around the input unit 21 are provided on the card surface. Input to the handwritten character input unit 21 and the touch keys 23 is performed using a dedicated input pen P or a finger.

The touch keys 23 are configured by using the same coordinate input surface as the handwritten character input unit 21 and providing a fixed display thereon as described above. The coordinate information of this display area is stored in the ROM 151 in advance, and the touch key 2
3. Used for operation detection.

According to the above configuration, information can be input by handwritten character input. Therefore, it is possible to provide a visual IC card in which information can be easily input without impairing operability by providing a key input section having a large number of keys on the surface of a card having a limited area as in the related art. According to this embodiment, it is possible to dramatically improve the ease of inputting characters.

When using the card, the information received from the host device is carried around with a visual IC card and referred to, and the information is rewritten by handwritten character input means. Then, the data is visualized by handwritten character input means on the go
The operation of inputting the information to the card, returning the data to the host, and downloading the data to the host can be more easily performed, and the possibility of providing various application software can be increased by expanding the input method as described above.

The handwritten character input unit 21 is made of a transparent material,
It is conceivable that a display is provided below the display and the display of the touch keys 23 is appropriately switched to realize more key input functions.

Further, according to such a configuration, the handwritten character input unit 21
The lower display may control to recognize the input character after displaying the handwritten input character as written, and to change the display using the font of the recognized character. Instead of notifying the end of the character input with the touch key 23, the determination may be made based on the absence of the input for a predetermined time.

The three embodiments have been described above, but it goes without saying that the configurations and modifications in each embodiment may be implemented in any desired combination.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in an IC card that is detachable from a host device and has at least a display unit, at least the display unit is driven when connected to the host device. In addition to being stopped, when the IC card is not connected to the host device and there is no operation on the IC card for a certain period of time, at least the driving of the display unit is stopped, so that power consumption is reduced, thereby, for example,
It is possible to obtain an excellent effect that it is possible to meet demands such as an increase in the capacity of the memory in the card, an increase in the processing speed, and an increase in the size of the display unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an IC card according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 1 in more detail, and FIG. 3 is a control procedure of the device of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 4 in more detail, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the device of the second embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the IC card according to the third embodiment, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 7 in more detail, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the device of the third embodiment. 11 connector, 12 connection detection means 13 CPU, 14 power saving switching means 15 memory, 16 operation unit 18 voice input unit, 19 voice recognition unit 21 handwritten character input unit 22 character recognition unit 23 … Touch key 121… Connection detection circuit, 122… Communication circuit 141… Power saving switching circuit 151… ROM, 152… RAM 161… Key input unit, 162… Display unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An IC card that is detachable from a host device and has at least a display unit, wherein a detecting means for detecting connection of the IC card to the host device, and a connection with the host device is detected by the detecting means. If it is, at least while driving the display unit is stopped,
The connection with the host device is not detected by the detection unit,
And control means for controlling at least driving of the display unit to be stopped when there is no operation on the IC card for a predetermined time or more.