JP3870782B2 - Card reader and card reader control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a card reader comprising both a contact type interface for communicating with an IC card via a contact and a non-contact type interface for communicating via a radio signal, and The present invention relates to a card reader control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are two types of systems for performing communication between an IC card and a card reader: a contact type for performing communication via a contact and a non-contact type for performing communication via a radio signal. Historically, the use of IC cards that adopted the contact type first started, and then IC cards that adopted the non-contact type appeared and were used. Correspondingly, cards having a contact type and a non-contact type interface are sequentially used on the card reader side, and both are mixed and arranged in various places in the world.
[0003]
Since the IC card has a large amount of data that can be stored, a single card can support various applications. As described above, as a result of the card reader having a contact type and non-contact type interface being mixed, the contact point is set so that the IC card side can cope with any of the card readers. A hybrid IC card having both an interface type and a non-contact type interface is devised and put to practical use.
Therefore, it is preferable that the card reader side is also configured to be compatible with any of the three types of IC cards: contact type, non-contact type, and hybrid type.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, assuming that the card reader as described above is actually configured, the following becomes a problem. That is, a short wave (for example, 13.56 MHz) radio signal is used for non-contact communication. The IC card needs to be mounted with a circuit within a thickness of 0.76 mm, and a one-chip integrated circuit formed in a very thin shape is used to suppress an increase in cost.
[0005]
Therefore, in order to construct a hybrid IC card, it is necessary to dispose both contact type and non-contact type interfaces under such restrictions. Then, when the positions of the two approach each other, a phenomenon occurs in which the radio signal on the non-contact type interface side wraps around the contact type interface side. Since the contact type interface handles digital signals, if an analog radio signal having an amplitude that is not specified is applied, the contact type interface may malfunction or be damaged.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to interfere with communication using a contact type interface when communication with an IC card is provided with both contact type and non-contact type interfaces. And a card reader capable of appropriately protecting the contact interface side and a method of controlling the card reader.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the card reader of claim 1, the communication control means is arranged between the transmission / reception buffer and the contact terminal in the contact type interface when communicating with the IC card via the non-contact type interface. Since the electrical connection at the input / output part of the interface is cut off by opening the switch, it is possible to prevent the radio signal handled by the non-contact type interface from entering the contact type interface side. Further, when the communication control means performs communication through the contact type interface, the operation of the non-contact type interface is stopped, so that the radio signal can be prevented from interfering with the communication performed through the contact type interface.
[0008]
Therefore, even when communicating with the IC card by any method, the radio signal on the non-contact interface side can be prevented from adversely affecting the contact interface side, and the contact interface side is appropriately protected. It becomes possible.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration example of an insertion type IC card reader. The card reader 1 includes a main body 2 having an IC card 3 carrying path 4, a carrying unit 5, a contact interface (I / F) 6, a non-contact I / F 7, a control unit (communication control means) 8, a power supply unit. 9. An external I / F 10 is provided.
[0010]
The control unit 8 is constituted by a CPU, a memory, and the like. When a sensor (not shown) detects that the IC card 3 has been inserted through the card insertion slot 11 provided in the main body 2, The IC card 3 is transported to a predetermined position on the transport path 4 by the transport unit 5 configured.
[0011]
When the IC card 3 is conveyed to a predetermined position, the control unit 8 sets the contact type I / F 6 using a contact or the non-contact type I / F 7 using a radio signal according to the type or application of the IC card 3. The data stored in the IC card 3 is read out through communication. The read data is transmitted to an external device (for example, a personal computer) 12 via the external I / F 10. The power supply unit 9 is a circuit that supplies power for operation to each component inside the main body 2.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of the hybrid IC card 3. The IC card 3 is compatible with both contact type and non-contact type communication methods, and includes a contact terminal (contact) 13 used in the former and an antenna 14 used in the latter.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration inside the IC card 3. The IC card 3 includes a one-chip integrated circuit 15 and the antenna 14 connected to the integrated circuit 15. In the integrated circuit 15, the CPU 16 is operated by being supplied with 3 V operation power supplied from the constant voltage unit 17.
[0013]
When contact type communication is performed, the constant voltage unit 17 receives 5V power supplied from the card reader 1 via the contact terminal 13 to generate an operation power source, and performs non-contact type communication. In this case, the radio wave signal received by the antenna 14 is rectified by the rectifying unit 18 and receives the DC voltage that is output to generate an operation power source. In non-contact communication, a signal received via the rectifying unit 18 is given to the modulation / demodulation unit 19 and demodulated to the CPU 16 as received data. The transmission data output from the CPU 16 is applied to the modulation / demodulation unit 19 and modulated, and then transmitted to the card reader 1 side as a radio wave signal via the transmission unit 20 and the antenna 14.
[0014]
In non-contact communication, the signal received via the rectifier 18 is also given to the clock generator 21, which generates a clock signal from the signal and supplies it to the CPU 16. Yes.
[0015]
On the other hand, in contact type communication, data transmitted and received between the CPU 16 and the card reader 1 is transferred via the contact terminal 13, and a clock signal and a reset signal are also supplied via the contact terminal 13.
Data used in accordance with various applications in which the IC card 3 is used is stored in the memory 22 connected to the CPU 16 so as to be writable and readable.
[0016]
FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration centering on the contact type I / F 6 on the card reader 1 side. The contact type I / F 6 includes a contact type power supply unit 23, transmission or reception buffers 24 to 27, and a circuit interrupting unit 29 disposed between these and the contact terminal 28. The contact-type power supply unit 23 supplies operation power to the IC card 3 side when performing contact-type communication, and ON / OFF of the contact-type power supply unit 23 is controlled by the control unit 8. The two power lines (5V, GND) extending from the contact-type power supply unit 23 are connected to the contact terminal 28 via the switches 29a and 29b of the circuit interruption unit 29.
[0017]
The transmission buffer 24 is used when the control unit 8 transmits data to the IC card 3 side, and its output terminal is connected to the switch 29 c of the circuit interrupting unit 29 via the transmission / reception changeover switch 30. The reception buffer 25 is used when the control unit 8 receives data transmitted from the IC card 4 side, and its input terminal is connected to the switch 29c. That is, the control unit 8 switches the reception / transmission of data by opening and closing the transmission / reception selector switch 30.
[0018]
The transmission buffers 26 and 27 are used to supply a clock signal and a reset signal to the IC card 3, and their output terminals are connected to the contact terminal 28 via the switches 29 d and 29 e of the circuit interrupter 29. Yes.
And the opening and closing of each switch 29a-29e in the circuit interruption | blocking part 29 is controlled by the control part 8 collectively.
[0019]
FIG. 5 shows a detailed configuration centering on the non-contact type I / F 7 on the card reader 1 side. The non-contact type I / F 7 includes a carrier generation unit 31, a modulation unit 32, a demodulation unit 33, an antenna 34, and the like. The carrier generation unit 31 outputs a 13.56 MHz carrier (carrier wave) signal to the modulation unit 32 when performing non-contact communication, and ON / OFF of the carrier generation unit 31 is controlled by the control unit 8. .
[0020]
The modulation unit 32 modulates the carrier given from the carrier generation unit 31 with the transmission data outputted from the control unit 8 and outputs the modulated data to the antenna 34. Further, when the radio wave signal transmitted from the IC card 3 is received via the antenna 34, it is given to the demodulator 33, and the demodulated data is output to the controller 8 as received data.
[0021]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the IC card recognition process performed by the control unit 8 of the card reader 1. As an initial state, it is assumed that the switches 29a to 29e in the circuit interruption unit 29 are in an open state and the carrier generation unit 31 is ON.
[0022]
When the control unit 8 first detects that the IC card has been transported to a predetermined position by a sensor (not shown) (step A1, “YES”), the carrier generation unit 31 is turned off (step A2). The switches 29a to 29e are closed (step A3). When the contact-type power supply unit 23 is turned on (step A4), it is determined whether or not a response is returned from the IC card side (step A5).
[0023]
In step A5, if a response from the IC card is returned (“YES”), the control unit 8 determines that the card has a contact-type interface (step A6), and if no response is returned (“ NO ") It is determined that it does not have a contact type interface (step A7).
[0024]
Next, the control unit 8 turns off the contact-type power supply unit 23 (step A8), and opens the switches 29a to 29e in the circuit interrupting unit 29 (step A9). Then, when the carrier generating unit 31 is turned on (step A10), it is determined whether or not a response is returned from the IC card side (step A11).
[0025]
In step A11, if a response from the IC card is returned (“YES”), the control unit 8 determines that the card has a non-contact interface (step A12), and if no response is returned (step A12). "NO") It is determined that no non-contact interface is provided (step A13).
For example, since the hybrid IC card 3 has both interfaces, the control unit 8 determines “YES” in both steps A5 and A11.
[0026]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of communication processing with the IC card 3 performed by the control unit 8 of the card reader 1. When detecting that the IC card 3 is at a predetermined position (step B1, “YES”) as in step A1, the control unit 8 determines whether or not there is a contact-type communication start command from the host device 12. (Step B2). If “NO” is determined in the step B2, the process proceeds to a step B7, and if “YES” is determined, the process proceeds to the step B3.
[0027]
In steps B3 to B5, the control unit 8 turns off the carrier generation unit 31 (step B3) and closes the switches 29a to 29e in the circuit interrupting unit 29 (step B4), as in steps A2 to A4. The power supply unit 23 is turned on (step B5). Then, when contact type communication processing is performed between the IC card 3 and the contact terminal 28 of the contact type I / F 6 and the contact terminal 13 on the IC card 3 side (step B6), the process proceeds to step B7.
[0028]
That is, when contact type communication processing is performed in step B6, the carrier generating unit 31 is turned off in step B3, and the operation of the non-contact type I / F 7 is stopped. Interference with communication processing is avoided.
[0029]
On the other hand, in step B <b> 7, the control unit 8 determines whether or not there is a contact type communication start command from the host device 12. If “NO” is determined, the process returns to Step B1, and if “YES” is determined, the process proceeds to Step B8.
[0030]
In steps B8 to B10, similarly to steps A8 to A10, the control unit 8 turns off the contact-type power supply unit 23 (step B8), opens the switches 29a to 29e in the circuit interrupting unit 29 (step B9), and the carrier The generator 31 is turned on (step B10). Then, when non-contact type communication processing is performed with the IC card 3 via the non-contact type I / F 7 and the antenna 14 on the IC card 3 side (step B11), the process returns to step B1.
[0031]
That is, when non-contact communication processing is performed in step B11, the contact-type power supply unit 23 is turned off in step B8, and the switches 29a to 29e in the circuit cutoff unit 29 are opened in step B9. It is avoided that the carrier used in the contact type communication goes around to the contact type I / F 6 side. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 8 of the card reader 1 turns off the contact type power supply unit 23 when communicating with the IC card 3 through the non-contact type I / F 7. At the same time, the switches 29a to 29e in the circuit interrupting unit 29 are opened to disconnect the electrical connection in the input / output unit of the contact type I / F 6, so that the radio wave signal handled by the non-contact type I / F 7 is converted into the contact type I / F. It is possible to prevent going around to the F side.
[0032]
Further, when the control unit 8 performs communication via the contact type I / F 6, the carrier generation unit 31 is turned off to stop the operation of the non-contact type I / F 7. It is possible to avoid interfering with communication performed via the network.
Therefore, even when communicating with the IC card 3 by any method, the radio signal on the non-contact type I / F 7 side is prevented from adversely affecting the contact type I / F 6 side. It becomes possible to protect the / F6 side appropriately.
[0033]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following modifications or expansions are possible.
Even when the IC card is not a hybrid type like the IC card 3 and is compatible with only one of the contact type and the non-contact type, the communication processing of either one can be performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. .
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the processes of steps A8 to A13 may be performed prior to the processes of steps A2 to A7.
Further, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the processes of steps B7 to B11 may be performed prior to the processes of steps B2 to B6.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the configuration of an insertion type IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an external configuration of a hybrid IC card. Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration [FIG. 4] A diagram showing a detailed configuration centered on the contact-type interface on the card reader side [FIG. 5] A diagram showing a detailed configuration centering on the non-contact type interface [FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of an IC card recognition process performed by the control unit of the card reader. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of a communication process with the IC card.
1 is an IC card reader, 3 is an IC card, 6 is a contact interface, 7 is a non-contact interface, and 8 is a control unit (communication control means).

Claims (2)

A contact-type interface for communicating with the IC card via a contact, a non-contact type interface for communicating with the IC card via a radio wave signal, and communication performed via these interfaces In a card reader comprising communication control means for controlling
The non-contact type interface is arranged so as to face the back side of the IC card in a state where the IC card is connected to the contact terminal of the contact type interface on the front side.
In the contact type interface, a switch is inserted between a transmission / reception buffer for transmitting / receiving communication data to / from the IC card and the contact terminal,
Said communication control unit, when communication is performed between the IC card via said contactless interface blocks the electrical connection in the input-output unit of the contactless interface by opening the front kissing switch, A card reader, wherein when performing communication with an IC card via the contact interface, control is performed so as to stop the operation of the non-contact interface. About a card reader comprising both a contact type interface for communicating with an IC card via a contact and a non-contact type interface for communicating with an IC card via a radio wave signal A method of performing control,
The non-contact type interface is arranged so as to face the back side of the IC card in a state where the IC card is connected to the contact terminal of the contact type interface on the front side.
The contact type interface has a switch inserted between a transmission / reception buffer for transmitting / receiving communication data to / from the IC card and the contact terminal,
When communication is performed between the IC card via said contactless interface, prior to shutting off the electrical connection in input and output unit of the contactless interface by opening the kiss switches, via said contactless interface When performing communication with an IC card, the operation of the non-contact interface is stopped.

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