JP4068997B2

JP4068997B2 - Electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: JP4068997B2
Application number: JP2003064271A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 政司米丸
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2003-03-11
Filing date: 2003-03-11
Publication date: 2008-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-11
Also published as: JP2004272719A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、熱発電素子と低消費電力型の半導体回路を用いた電子装置に関し、また、非接触のＩＣカード技術に関し、更には、指紋センサを用いて個人認証を行うセキュリティ装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来において、非接触型のＩＣカードにおいてはＩＣカード内に電磁波を受けるアンテナコイルを有し、情報及びＩＣ回路（半導体集積回路）の駆動に必要な電力をこの電磁波から供給する構成とし、１次電池の交換や２次電池の有線による充電等の電力補充作業を不要にしている。かかる従来例は、例えば、下記の特許文献１〜３等に開示されている。
【０００３】
図１６に、特許文献１に開示されているマイクロ波無線カードシステム（非接触ＩＣカード）を示す。該従来例の構成は、複数の無線カード１１０、固定基地局リーダライタ（Ｒ／Ｗ）１２０より成る。相互の通信には該例では２．４５ＧＨｚのマイクロ波帯を用いている。無線カード１１０は、ＣＰＵ１１１、メモリ１１２、変調器１１３、復調器１１４、２次電池１１５、アンテナ１１６、電源回路１１７、コイル１１８から成る。固定基地局リーダライタ１２０は、アンテナ１２１、ＲＦ回路１２２、変調器１２３、復調器１２４、メモリ１２５、ＣＰＵ１２６、通信インターフェイス１２７、及び、電力供給用ライタ１３０より成る。また、電力供給用ライタ１３０は、電力供給回路１３１、変調回路１３２から成る。無線カード１１０と固定基地局１２０は、ＣＰＵ１１１、１２６、メモリ１１２、１２５を内蔵し、送受信のための変、復調器１１３、１１４、１２３、１２４を有している。アンテナ１２１へ信号を送信し、また、無線カード１１０からの微弱高周波信号を受信するために、固定基地局リーダライタ１２０には高周波回路１２２が設けてある。
【０００４】
固定基地局リーダライタ１２０に入出力される信号は、通信インターフェイス２７を介して、上位の制御系へ転送される。無線カード１１０への電源供給は、電力供給ライタ１３０により相互配置されたコイル１１８と１３３を通して磁束が非接触で伝送され、カード側の電源回路１１７で直流電源として復調される。電力供給用ライタ１３０には、電力供給回路１３１から供給される電力を例えば５ＭＨｚのパルス信号を発生するパルス発振器Ｇを有する変調回路１３２とコイル１３３とを備え、コイル１３３から無線カード１１０のコイル１１８に向けてパルス信号を送り電力の供給をしている。
【０００５】
当該従来例においては、磁束にて電力を供給しており、固定基地局側は電力を受け取る無線カードに向けて上記のような電力供給パルスを送信していなければならない。無線カードに必要な電力のみを供給することは困難であり、昨今の地球温暖化防止等の環境問題から省電力が求められる状況にあり、これを解決する必要がある。また効率良く電力を供給するには、例えば、下記の特許文献４に開示されているようにアンテナコイルの設計を考慮する必要があった。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開平８−１４０１２８号公報
【特許文献２】
特開平１１−１３４４４７号公報
【特許文献３】
特開２０００−１１３１３７号公報
【特許文献４】
特開平１１−１３４４４７号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は、上記の従来技術における非効率な電力供給や、アンテナコイル設計等の問題点に鑑みてなされたもので、その目的は、上記問題点を解消し、電磁波による電力供給や電力補充作業を不要とする電子装置を実現する点にある。更に、本発明に目的は、熱エネルギによる電力供給と個人認証を同時に実現できる電子装置を提供する点にある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この目的を達成するための本発明に係る電子装置の特徴構成は、同一の収容体に熱発電素子と指紋センサと半導体集積回路を収容し、前記熱発電素子が、前記収容体外部の雰囲気と、前記収容体表面の特定部位に接触或いは近接した前記雰囲気温度より高温或いは低温の異温体との温度差により、熱起電力を発生可能に設けられ、前記半導体集積回路と指紋センサが、前記熱発電素子の発生する前記熱起電力によって動作し、前記指紋センサに指で触れる際に、同時に、前記指紋センサに触れる前記指若しくは当該指を含む手の他の部位で前記熱発電素子に触れることが可能となるように、前記指紋センサが前記熱発電素子と並列若しくは一体化して前記収容体に設置されている点にある。
【００１０】
上記特徴構成によれば、収容体外部の雰囲気と異温体との温度差により熱発電素子が発生する熱起電力によって半導体集積回路が動作するので、電磁波による電力供給や電力補充作業を不要とする電子装置を実現できる。
【００１２】
また、本発明に係る電子装置は、前記熱発電素子、前記指紋センサ、及び、前記半導体集積回路を、カード状収容体、プレート状収容体、または、箱状収容体に収容することを特徴とする。更に、本発明に係る電子装置は、前記熱発電素子と前記指紋センサを、前記カード状収容体の片面に並べて配置すること、或いは、前記カード状収容体の一方の片面と他方の片面に各別に配置すること、或いは、両者を積層して形成し前記カード状収容体の片面に配置すること、或いは、前記プレート状収容体表面に並べて配置すること、両者を積層して形成し前記プレート状収容体表面に配置すること、或いは、前記箱状収容体の任意の側面に並べて配置すること、或いは、前記箱状収容体の二つの側面に各別に配置すること、或いは、両者を積層して形成し前記箱状収容体の任意の側面に配置すること、を特徴とする。
【００１３】
当該特徴構成によれば、収容体外部の雰囲気と指や掌等の人体部位との温度差により熱発電素子が発生する熱起電力によって半導体集積回路と指紋センサが動作するので、電磁波による電力供給や電力補充作業を不要とする指紋照合機能を有する電子装置を実現できる。
【００１４】
更に、指紋照合のために、指を指紋センサに触れる時に、同時に、熱発電素子の吸熱板表面に他の指を触れさせることで、熱発電素子に対し熱起電力を発生させることができ、指紋照合処理に必要な電力を適時に供給できる。
【００１５】
また、本発明に係る電子装置は、前記箱状収容体に開閉蓋を設け、前記指紋センサの検出出力に基づき、前記半導体集積回路が形成する信号処理回路により個人認証を実行し、その個人認証結果により前記開閉蓋の開閉制御を行うことを特徴とする。更に、前記箱状収容体が、シリンダー錠の鍵挿入口側先端部を、前記箱状収容体の内部に収容可能な構造を有していることを特徴とする。
【００１６】
更に、本発明に係る電子装置は、前記指紋センサの検出出力に基づき、前記半導体集積回路が形成する信号処理回路により個人認証を実行し、その個人認証結果に対応する所定の制御信号を外部に出力することを特徴とする。また、前記熱発電素子の発生する前記起電力を外部に供給可能に構成されているのも好ましい。
【００１７】
当該電子装置の特徴構成によれば、電磁波による電力供給や電力補充作業を不要とする指紋照合機能を有し、更に、指紋照合による個人認証結果によって作動するセキュリティ装置を実現することができる。
【００１８】
更に、本発明に係る電子装置は、前記半導体集積回路がＳＯＩ（ＳｉｌｉｃｏｎｏｎＩｎｓｕｌａｔｏｒ）構造を用いて作製されていることを特徴とする。
【００１９】
当該電子装置の特徴構成によれば、熱発電素子が発生する熱起電力による電力を消費する半導体集積回路の低消費電力化が図れるので、熱発電素子に不必要に大きな発電能力を持たせる必要がなくなる。また、余剰の電力が発生する場合には、外部の電力消費装置に給電することも可能となる。
【００２０】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明に係る電子装置（以下、適宜「本発明装置」という。）の一実施の形態につき、図面に基づいて説明する。
【００２１】
〈第１実施形態〉
図１に、本発明装置１１のブロック構成図を示す。図１に示すように、本発明装置１１は、一つの収容体６であるＩＣカード７（カード状収容体）に、熱発電素子１、電源回路２、信号処理回路３、ＲＦ回路４、及び、アンテナ５を、一つのＩＣカード型筐体６に実装して構成される。電源回路２は熱発電素子１で発電した電力を蓄積供給する電源回路であり、信号処理回路３は電源回路２から電力の供給を受けて動作し、ＲＦ回路４は信号処理回路３で処理されたデータをホスト等へアンテナ５より送信するための回路である。
【００２２】
熱発電素子１は、例えば、特開平８−３２１２７号公報（熱発電素子の従来例）に開示されているような公知な素子構造により形成される。当該素子構造を図２に示す。熱発電素子１は、図２に示すように、Ｐ型半導体からなるＰ型発電素子２０及びＮ型半導体からなるＮ型発電素子２１を、熱伝導性の良好な導電体２２を介して折り返しながら直列に多数接続して発電素子部２３を形成し、その発電素子部２３の各発電素子２０、２１の電流の流れる方向の一方面に、熱伝導性の良好な絶縁板２４を介して放熱板２５を設け、発電素子部２３の他方面に、同じく熱伝導性の良好な絶縁板２４を介して吸熱板２６を設けて構成されており、放熱板２５と吸熱板２６の間の温度差によりゼーベック効果に基づく熱起電力を発生するものである。尚、放熱板２５及び吸熱板２６が電気的に絶縁体であれば、絶縁板２４を必ずしも設けなくてもよい。
【００２３】
熱発電素子１の吸熱板２６に指または掌を当てて体温を与え、放熱板２５を外気（雰囲気中の空気）に触れさせることで、これらの温度差によって発電し、電源回路２にその電力を蓄電し、半導体集積回路で構成された信号処理回路３及びＲＦ回路４に供給する。このようにしてＩＣカード７に形成された本発明装置１１は熱発電素子１によって体温の有する熱エネルギを熱電変換して得られた電力を供給され動作する。
【００２４】
ところで、上記の熱発電素子の従来例のように、熱発電素子自体の発電能力を向上させる開発も進んでいるが、その電力供給能力は、まだまだ現行の電池等には及ばない。従って、信号処理回路３やＲＦ回路４にはより低消費電力化が要求される。
【００２５】
一方、近年ＳＯＩ（ＳｉｌｉｃｏｎｏｎＩｎｓｕｌａｔｏｒ：シリコン／絶縁膜構造）技術により低電圧、低消費電力で動作する半導体集積回路が研究開発されている。国内においても新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構委託事業として「極低電力情報端末用ＬＳＩの研究開発」において０．５Ｖで動作可能な極低消費電力のＬＳＩをＳＯＩ構造にて開発している。ＳＯＩ構造のＭＯＳトランジスタ構造の例を図３に示す。図は完全空乏型（ＦＤ）の例であり、図３中のチャンネルＣが全て空乏化されている。このため急峻なサブスレッショルド特性を有し、より低い閾値電圧を設定でき、低電圧動作に有利となる。ＳＯＩ構造は、図３に示すように、ソース領域Ｓ、ドレイン領域Ｄがゲート酸化膜で囲われているため、接合容量が小さく、低消費電力を実現できる。
【００２６】
このようにＳＯＩ構造の半導体集積回路は低電圧動作、低消費電力動作が可能で、熱発電素子１から供給される少ない電力でも十分な性能を発揮できる特性を備えており、本発明装置１１の信号処理回路３、ＲＦ回路４等を形成するのに非常に有効な特性を有している。したがって本発明装置１１にＳＯＩ構造の半導体集積回路を適応することにより、低消費電力で高性能なシステムを提供することが可能となる。
【００２７】
上述のように、本発明装置１１では、熱発電素子１の吸熱板２６に指または掌を当てて体温を与え、放熱板２５を外気（雰囲気中の空気）に触れさせることで、これらの温度差によって発電し、電源回路２にその電力を蓄電し、信号処理回路３及びＲＦ回路４に供給する。信号処理回路３は供給された電力により信号処理動作を行い必要なデータをＲＦ回路４に送り、ＲＦ回路４は受け取ったデータをアンテナ５により外部に送信する。これらの信号処理回路３及びＲＦ回路４をＳＯＩ構造で形成することで、熱発電素子１から発電供給されるべき電力需要をより少なく実現することが可能となる。
【００２８】
〈第２実施形態〉
次に、本発明に係る電子装置の第２実施形態につき説明する。図４に、第２実施形態に係る本発明装置１２のブロック構成図を示す。尚、第１実施形態と共通する部分及び箇所には同じ符号を付して説明する。
【００２９】
図４に示すように、本発明装置１２は、第１実施形態に加え、指紋センサ８を同一の収容体６であるＩＣカード７（カード状収容体）中に具備し、熱発電素子１が体温の熱エネルギーから熱電変換により発電し、その電力を指紋センサ８、半導体集積回路で構成された信号処理回路３及びＲＦ回路４に供給して動作させる。熱発電素子１の発電のために、その吸熱板２６に指等で触れる必要があるので、指紋センサ８を具備し、同時に指紋照合による使用者個人の個人認証に使用するのは、非常に有効である。つまり、熱発電素子１も指紋センサ８の何れも人体部位である指を接触させる動作を伴うので、これらを同時に実行でき、熱発電素子１の発電する電力を、他方の指紋センサ８や指紋照合や個人認証にかかるデータ処理を実行する信号処理回路３等に同時に給電できるので、非常に効率的である。
【００３０】
熱発電素子１、電源回路２、信号処理回路３、ＲＦ回路４、及び、アンテナ５は、基本的に第１実施形態と同様であるので、重複する説明は割愛する。但し、信号処理回路３は、指紋センサ８から検出出力データ（指紋データ）を受けて指紋照合や個人認証等の信号処理を行う点で、第１実施形態に比べて機能が追加されている。より詳細には、熱発電素子１が発電した電力を、電源回路２を介して指紋センサ８に供給し、指紋センサ８が当該電力供給を受けてそのセンサ面に接触した指または掌の指紋パターンを検出する。信号処理回路３は、指紋センサ８から検出出力データを入力し、指紋照合処理や個人認証処理（必ずしも両処理を区別する必要はない）及びその他の信号処理やデータ処理を実行し、当該処理により生成された必要なデータをＲＦ回路４に送り、ＲＦ回路４は受け取ったデータをアンテナ５により外部に送信する。また、低消費電力の要請から、信号処理回路３及びＲＦ回路４を図２に示すＳＯＩ構造で作製するのも好ましい。
【００３１】
図５〜図７に、本発明装置１２の熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８のＩＣカード７上の配置実現について考えられる３通りの変形実施例を示す。図５は、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８をＩＣカード７の片方の側面に並べて配置した第１の実施例を示す。この様に配置することにより、例えばＩＣカード７を手で保持する際に、一本の指で熱発電素子１を、もう一本の指で指紋センサ８を触れることにより、熱発電素子１で発電すると同時に指紋センサ８により指紋データを読み取ることが可能となる。
【００３２】
また、図６は、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８をＩＣカード７の表側面と裏側面の各々に各別に配置する第２の実施例を示す。このように配置することにより、例えばＩＣカード７を２本の指で挟持し、表側面を挟持する指で熱発電素子１の吸熱板２６に触れ、裏側面を挟持する指で指紋センサ８のセンサ面に触れるようにする。かかる２本の指でのＩＣカード７の挟持により、熱発電素子１で発電すると同時に指紋センサ８より指紋データを読み取ることが可能となる。
【００３３】
また、図７は、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８を積層一体化して形成し、ＩＣカード７の一方面に配置する第３の実施例を示す。例えば、ＩＣカード７の表面側に配置した指紋センサ８にて指紋データを認識し、熱は積層した裏面側の熱発電素子１に伝導することにより、熱発電素子１にて発電を行う。このようにして積層形成して一体化した熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８をＩＣカード７の一方面に実装する。このように配置することにより、ＩＣカード７を保持するときに一本の指で指紋センサ８に触れることにより、熱発電素子１で発電すると同時に指紋センサ８より指紋データを読み取ることが可能となる。
【００３４】
本発明装置１２により実現した指紋照合機能付のＩＣカードを、例えば、玄関等のドアロック、自動車のキーレスエントリー等に適応すれば、個人認証を備えた非常に安全度の高いセキュリティシステムを構築することが可能となる。また、このようなセキュリティシステムに適応した場合、電源として電池を使用するようなシステムにおいては電池がなくなった場合には動作不能となるため、常に電池残量の心配をしなければならないが、本発明装置１２のように熱発電素子１にて使用者の体温によって発電し、その僅かなエネルギーにて動作するシステムを提供することにより、電池切れの心配から解放される。しかも、指紋照合により個人認証を行っているのだが、そのために指等を触れる必要があるのならば、本発明装置１２のように熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８の両方を具備し、同時に熱発電してエネルギーを供給するようにすることは非常に効率的であり理にかなっている。
【００３５】
〈第３実施形態〉
次に、本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態につき図８〜図１３を用いて説明する。尚、第１実施形態及び第２実施形態と共通する部分及び箇所には同じ符号を付して説明する。第３実施形態に係る本発明装置１３、１４は、第１実施形態や第２実施形態と異なり、熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８等を収容体６であるプレート９（プレート状収容体）に収容している。
【００３６】
図８と図９に、第３実施形態に係る本発明装置１３と１４のブロック構成図を夫々示す。本発明装置１４は、収容体６がプレート９である点を除き、第２実施形態と同様に、熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８、電源回路２、信号処理回路３、ＲＦ回路４、及び、アンテナ５を備えて構成される。これに対し、本発明装置１３は、ＲＦ回路４とアンテナ５を備えず、電源回路２からの電力Ｐを外部に供給でき、更に、信号処理回路３の生成する制御信号Ｃを外部に有線で出力する構成となっている。本発明装置１３と１４の熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８、電源回路２、信号処理回路３、ＲＦ回路４、及び、アンテナ５は、基本的に第１実施形態と同様であるので、重複する説明は割愛する。尚、プレート９は、ＩＣカード７と異なり、通常は、建造物等の固定物体に固定して使用する。
【００３７】
次に、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８のプレート９上の配置に関する変形実施例と、本発明装置１３と１４のドアロックに適応した場合の実現例について、図１０〜図１３を用いて説明する。図１０〜図１２では、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８がプレート９の表面に露出して並んで配置されている。
【００３８】
図１０と図１１は、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８をプレート９上に並べ配置するとともに、ドアロックに適応する本発明装置１３の第１及び第２の実施例（本発明装置１３ａ）を示している。図１０では、電磁シリンダー３０が、本発明装置１３の電源回路２と信号処理回路３から電力Ｐと制御信号Ｃを夫々受けて動作する構成となっている。第１の実施例では、電磁シリンダー３０と本発明装置１３ａの間を有線で結線しているので第２実施形態のようにＲＦ回路４やアンテナ５を備えていない。熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８、電源回路２、信号処理回路３は、プレート９に一体形成されており、特に、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８はプレート９の表面上にその吸熱板２６とセンサ面を露出するように配置されている。尚、熱発電素子１の放熱板２５は外気に接触可能或いは外気温と同じ（ほぼ同じ）温度となるようにプレート９に装着される。この点は第１実施形態と同様である。
【００３９】
図１０の第１の実施例に沿って、本発明装置１３の動作を説明する。使用者が熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８に触れると、熱発電素子１により体温と外気温の温度差により発電し、電源回路２にその電力を蓄電し、信号処理回路３と指紋センサ８に電力供給する。電力供給を受けて指紋センサ８は指紋パターンを検出し信号処理回路３に送る。信号処理回路３は登録されている使用者の指紋パターンとの照合を行い、一致した場合には個人認証が完了したと判定し、開閉信号である制御信号Ｃを電磁シリンダー３０に出力する。電磁シリンダー３０は制御信号Ｃを受けて、電源回路２から供給される電力により電磁シリンダー３０を作動させドアロックを開閉する。電磁シリンダー３０には極力消費電力の小さなものを使用することが望ましい。また、前述したように半導体集積回路にＳＯＩ構造を採用することで信号処理系の消費電力を非常に小さく実現でき、熱発電素子１により発電された電力の大部分を電磁シリンダー３０へ供給することが可能となる。
【００４０】
図１１に示すように、更に低消費電力化を図るためにドアロックの開閉は通常の鍵を用いるシリンダー錠３１にて実現し、シリンダー錠３１の鍵挿入口をカバーするように摺動するスライドカバー３２を電磁的に開閉することでピッキング等を防止するドアロックシステムを提供できる。
【００４１】
以下、図１１に示す第２の実施例の動作を説明する。使用者が熱発電素子１及び指紋センサ８に触れると、熱発電素子１が体温と外気温の温度差により発電し、電源回路２にその電力を蓄電し、信号処理回路３と指紋センサ８に電力供給する。電力供給を受けて指紋センサ８は指紋パターンを検出し信号処理回路３に送る。信号処理回路３は登録されている使用者の指紋パターンとの照合を行い、一致した場合には個人認証が完了したと判定し、開閉信号である制御信号Ｃをスライドカバー３２に送る。スライドカバー３２はその制御信号Ｃを受けて、電源回路２から供給される電力により電磁スイッチを作動させスライドカバー３２を開閉する。電磁スイッチには極力消費電力の小さなものを使用することが望ましい。
【００４２】
また、第２の実施例においては動作させるのはシリンダー錠３１のスライドカバー３２であり、その駆動する負荷は小さく低消費電力で実現できる。前述したように半導体集積回路にＳＯＩ構造を採用することで信号処理系の消費電力を非常に小さく実現でき有益である。また、シリンダー錠３１は通常の鍵により手動で行うが、鍵穴はスライドカバー３２でロックされておりピッキング等は容易に行えない。スライドカバー３２の開閉は、本発明装置１３の指紋照合による個人認証結果に基づき実行されるので、そのセキュリティは向上している。また、図１１の第２の実施例によれば、通常のシリンダー錠３１に本発明装置１３を後付けで追加して、容易にセキュリティの向上を図ることが可能である。
【００４３】
また、図１０に示す第１の実施例に対し、第２実施形態の本発明装置１２のように無線インターフェイスを備えた本発明装置１４を用いて、電磁シリンダー３０を作動させるようにしてもよい。図１２に示すように、プレート９上には図１０と同様に熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８が並べて配置されている。本発明装置１４の構成は図９に示すとおりである。電磁シリンダー３０には外部電源３３から電力が供給され、外部電源３３は通常のＡＣ電源等から電力供給されている。
【００４４】
以下、本発明装置１４を用いた図１２に示す第３の実施例の動作を説明する。使用者が熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８に触れると、熱発電素子１により体温と外気温の温度差により発電し、電源回路２にその電力を蓄電し、信号処理回路３と指紋センサ８に電力供給する。電力供給を受けて指紋センサ８は指紋パターンを検出し信号処理回路３に送る。信号処理回路３は登録されている使用者の指紋パターンとの照合を行い、一致した場合には個人認証が完了したと判定し、開閉信号である制御信号をＲＦ回路４に送りアンテナ５より、電磁シリンダー３０に向けて無線で送信する。電磁シリンダー３０はその無線信号の制御信号Ｃを受けて、外部電源３３から供給される電力により電磁シリンダー３０を作動させドアを開閉する。
【００４５】
ここで、電磁シリンダー３０には外部電源３３から十分な電力が供給されるのでドアの開閉に対して電力不足が問題となることはない。また、第３の実施例において、個人認証システムは熱発電素子１にて動作し、１次電池等を内蔵する必要はない。そのため、電波が届く範囲で任意の場所に本発明装置１４を設置でき、その設置自由度の高さは有益である。
【００４６】
また、前述したように半導体集積回路にＳＯＩ構造を採用することで信号処理系の消費電力を非常に小さく実現でき有益である。第３の実施例のように個人認証プレートとしても本発明装置１４を自由に設置できるようにすることにより、目立たないところに個人認証プレートを設置すれば、外部からは鍵穴もなく、認証ロックも分からないので容易に開閉できず、セキュリティは向上する。また、鍵またはカードキーを携帯しなくてもよく、鍵の盗難や置き忘れの心配もない。
【００４７】
図１０〜図１２に示す実施例において、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８はプレート９上に並んで配置していたが、第２実施形態の図７の実施例と同様に、図１３に示すように、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８を積層形成して一体化し、プレート９上に配置するようにしてもよい（第４の実施例：本発明装置１３ｂ）。
【００４８】
この場合、例えば、プレート９の表面側に配置した指紋センサ８にて指紋データを認識し、熱は積層した裏面側の熱発電素子１に伝導することにより、熱発電素子１にて発電を行う。このようにして積層形成して一体化した熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８をプレート９上に実装する。このように配置することによりプレート９に一本の指で指紋センサ８に触れることにより、熱発電素子１で発電すると同時に指紋センサ８より指紋データを読み取ることが可能となる。図１３に示す第４の実施例の動作は、図１０に示す第１の実施例と基本的に同じであるので、重複する説明は割愛する。尚、第４の実施例では、電磁シリンダー３０を用いた電子錠システムについて説明したが、図１１に示す第２の実施例と同様に、シリンダー錠３１とスライドカバー３２を組み合わせたドアロックに適応への適応も可能である。
【００４９】
〈第４実施形態〉
次に、本発明に係る電子装置の第４実施形態につき、図１４と図１５を用いて説明する。尚、第１実施形態乃至第３実施形態と共通する部分及び箇所には同じ符号を付して説明する。第４実施形態に係る本発明装置１５は、第１乃至第３実施形態と異なり、熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８等を収容体６である箱状収容体１０に収容している。本発明装置１５は、第３実施形態の本発明装置１３と同様に、熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８、電源回路２、信号処理回路３を備え、ＲＦ回路４とアンテナ５を備えず、電源回路２からの電力Ｐを外部に供給でき、更に、信号処理回路３の生成する制御信号Ｃを外部に有線で出力する構成となっている。
【００５０】
図１４に、箱状収容体１０上に熱発電素子１、指紋センサ８等を収容して実現した本発明装置１５の概要を模式的に示す。図１４は、箱状収容体１０の頭部の左側上方から見た斜視図である。図１４に示すように、指紋センサ８及び熱発電素子１が箱状収容体１０の２つの側面上に配置実装されている。本発明装置１５の動作は、第３実施形態で説明したプレート型の本発明装置１３（特に、図１１の実施例）と同様である。例えば、箱状収容体１０の頭部には開閉できる開閉蓋１０ａが実装されており、図１１の実施例と同様に、指紋照合により開閉蓋１０ａを電磁的に開閉する。本発明装置１５を、通常の鍵を用いるシリンダー錠３１にて適応すべく、そのシリンダー錠３１のシリンダー錠３１の鍵挿入口側の先端部を覆うように箱状収容体１０を設置する。かかる構成により、開閉蓋１０ａが図１１の実施例のスライドカバー３２と同等の機能を奏し、ピッキングを防止するドアロックシステムが構築できる。図１４に示す本発明装置１５の動作は、スライドカバー３２が開閉蓋１０ａに変わるだけで、図１１の実施例における本発明装置１３と基本的に同様である。即ち、使用者が熱発電素子１及び指紋センサ８に触れると、熱発電素子１が体温と外気温の温度差により発電し、電源回路２にその電力を蓄電し、信号処理回路３と指紋センサ８に電力供給する。電力供給を受けて指紋センサ８は指紋パターンを検出し信号処理回路３に送る。信号処理回路３は登録されている使用者の指紋パターンとの照合を行い、一致した場合には個人認証が完了したと判定し、開閉信号である制御信号を出力して電源回路２から供給される電力により電磁スイッチを作動させ、開閉蓋１０ａを開閉する。尚、開閉蓋１０ａは開状態に付勢しておき、電磁スイッチの作動により閉状態から開放させるようにしてもよい。この場合は、開閉蓋１０ａは手動で閉じる。
【００５１】
図１４に示す実施例では、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８を箱状収容体１０の各々別の側面に配置していたが、図１５に示すように、熱発電素子１と指紋センサ８を積層形成して一体化し、箱状収容体１０の一つの側面に実装することも可能である。この場合、例えば、箱状収容体１０の外側に配置した指紋センサ８にて指紋データを認識し、熱は積層した裏面側の熱発電素子１に伝導することにより、熱発電素子１にて発電を行う。図１５に示す本発明装置１５の動作は、図１４の実施例と基本的に同様であり、重複する説明は割愛する。
【００５２】
本発明装置１５を構成する半導体集積回路も、熱発電素子１において発電した微弱な電力により動作するものであり、極低消費電力の集積回路実現には上記ＳＯＩ構造を採用した集積回路が非常に有効である。
【００５３】
以下に、本発明に係る電子装置の別実施形態につき説明する。
〈１〉上記各実施形態において、熱発電素子１、電源回路２、信号処理回路３等を収容する収容体６として、カード状収容体７、プレート状収容体９、箱状収容体１０を例示したが、収容体６はこれらの形状に限定されるものではない。
【００５４】
〈２〉上記第１実施形態において、熱発電素子１は、吸熱板２６に与えられた体温と、放熱板２５に与えられた外気温度との温度差によって発電する実施例を説明したが、熱発電素子１に与える温度差は、上記のものに限定されるものではない。
【００５５】
〈３〉上記第２〜第４実施形態において、本発明装置１２〜１５をドアロックに適応する実施例を説明したが、ドアロック以外のセキュリティシステムに適用しても構わない。例えば、コンピュータ等の電子機器へのアクセス時の個人認証に適用するのも好ましい。
【００５６】
【発明の効果】
以上、本発明によれば、指、掌等で触れることにより体温と外気温の温度差により発電する熱発電素子の電力を有効に利用し、バッテリーレスなＩＣカード、セキュリティ装置が実現できるものである。また、熱発電素子と並列、若しくは、一体化して指紋センサを同一収容体に設置することで、熱発電と同時に指紋データを検出することで、より効率的にＩＣカード、セキュリティ装置を実現できる。セキュリティ上要求される個人認証のため指紋照合に指を触れる必要が発生するので、同時にその体温エネルギーを用いて発電し、セキュリティ装置の電力を供給することは非常に効率がよい。また、このような装置を実現するために極低消費電力の半導体集積回路が必要になるが、ＳＯＩ構造を採用した半導体集積回路用いることで、低消費電力化が実現できる。このように、極低消費電力集積回路技術としてのＳＯＩ製造プロセス及び回路技術を駆使し極低消費電力の半導体集積回路を実現することで、熱発電素子のような微弱な発電エネルギーを有効に活用でき、且つ、同時に発電エネルギーの供給源である指（体温）から同時に指紋データを検出することにより、バッテリーレスなセキュリティ装置が実現できるものである。このような装置において電池切れ等による動作不能への心配から解放され、常に動作することが可能となることは非常に有益である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る電子装置の第１実施形態の機能構成を示すブロック構成図
【図２】本発明に係る電子装置に用いる熱発電素子の断面構造を模式的に説明する断面図
【図３】本発明に係る電子装置に用いる半導体集積回路に採用するＳＯＩ構造を、ＭＯＳトランジスタを用いて説明する素子断面図
【図４】本発明に係る電子装置の第２実施形態の機能構成を示すブロック構成図
【図５】本発明に係る電子装置の第２実施形態における熱発電素子と指紋センサの第１の実装例を説明する図
【図６】本発明に係る電子装置の第２実施形態における熱発電素子と指紋センサの第２の実装例を説明する図
【図７】本発明に係る電子装置の第２実施形態における熱発電素子と指紋センサの第３の実装例を説明する図
【図８】本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態の機能構成例を示すブロック構成図
【図９】本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態の他の機能構成例を示すブロック構成図
【図１０】本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態をドアロックシステムに適応させた場合の第１実施例を説明する図
【図１１】本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態をドアロックシステムに適応させた場合の第２実施例を説明する図
【図１２】本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態をドアロックシステムに適応させた場合の第３実施例を説明する図
【図１３】本発明に係る電子装置の第３実施形態をドアロックシステムに適応させた場合の第４実施例を説明する図
【図１４】本発明に係る電子装置の第４実施形態をドアロックシステムに適応させた場合の第１実施例を説明する図
【図１５】本発明に係る電子装置の第４実施形態をドアロックシステムに適応させた場合の第２実施例を説明する図
【図１６】従来の非接触型カードシステムの一例を示すブロック構成図
【符号の説明】
１熱発電素子
２電源回路
３信号処理回路
４ＲＦ回路
５アンテナ
６収容体
７ＩＣカード（カード状収容体）
８指紋センサ
９プレート（プレート状収容体）
１０箱状収容体
１０ａ開閉蓋
１１本発明に係る電子装置（第１実施形態）
１２本発明に係る電子装置（第２実施形態）
１３本発明に係る電子装置（第３実施形態）
１４本発明に係る電子装置（第３実施形態）
１５本発明に係る電子装置（第４実施形態）
２０Ｐ型発電素子
２１Ｎ型発電素子
２２導電体
２３発電素子部
２４絶縁板
２５放熱板
２６吸熱板
３０電磁シリンダー
３１シリンダー錠
３２スライドカバー
３３外部電源
１１０無線カード
１２０固定基地局リーダライタ（Ｒ／Ｗ）
１１１ＣＰＵ
１１２メモリ
１１３変調器
１１４復調器
１１５２次電池
１１６アンテナ
１１７電源回路
１１８コイル
１２０固定基地局リーダライタ
１２１アンテナ
１２２ＲＦ回路
１２３変調器
１２４復調器
１２５メモリ
１２６ＣＰＵ
１２７通信インターフェイス
１３０電力供給用ライタ
１３１電力供給回路
１３２変調回路
１３３コイル[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device using a thermoelectric generator and a low power consumption type semiconductor circuit, to a non-contact IC card technology, and further to a security device for performing personal authentication using a fingerprint sensor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a non-contact type IC card has an antenna coil for receiving an electromagnetic wave in the IC card, and is configured to supply information and power necessary for driving an IC circuit (semiconductor integrated circuit) from the electromagnetic wave. It eliminates the need for power replenishment work such as battery replacement and secondary battery charging. Such conventional examples are disclosed in, for example, the following Patent Documents 1 to 3 and the like.
[0003]
FIG. 16 shows a microwave radio card system (non-contact IC card) disclosed in Patent Document 1. The configuration of the conventional example includes a plurality of wireless cards 110 and a fixed base station reader / writer (R / W) 120. In this example, a microwave band of 2.45 GHz is used for mutual communication. The wireless card 110 includes a CPU 111, a memory 112, a modulator 113, a demodulator 114, a secondary battery 115, an antenna 116, a power supply circuit 117, and a coil 118. The fixed base station reader / writer 120 includes an antenna 121, an RF circuit 122, a modulator 123, a demodulator 124, a memory 125, a CPU 126, a communication interface 127, and a power supply writer 130. The power supply writer 130 includes a power supply circuit 131 and a modulation circuit 132. The wireless card 110 and the fixed base station 120 include CPUs 111 and 126 and memories 112 and 125, and have modulation / demodulators 113, 114, 123, and 124 for transmission and reception. In order to transmit a signal to the antenna 121 and receive a weak high frequency signal from the wireless card 110, the fixed base station reader / writer 120 is provided with a high frequency circuit 122.
[0004]
Signals input / output to / from the fixed base station reader / writer 120 are transferred to the upper control system via the communication interface 27. The power supply to the wireless card 110 is transmitted in a non-contact manner through the coils 118 and 133 arranged by the power supply writer 130 and demodulated as a DC power by the power circuit 117 on the card side. The power supply writer 130 includes a modulation circuit 132 having a pulse oscillator G that generates, for example, a pulse signal of 5 MHz from the power supply circuit 131 and a coil 133, and the coil 133 to the coil 118 of the wireless card 110. A pulse signal is sent toward the power supply.
[0005]
In the conventional example, power is supplied by magnetic flux, and the fixed base station must transmit the power supply pulse as described above to the wireless card that receives the power. It is difficult to supply only the necessary power to the wireless card, and there is a need for power saving due to recent environmental problems such as prevention of global warming, and it is necessary to solve this. In order to supply power efficiently, for example, it is necessary to consider the design of the antenna coil as disclosed in Patent Document 4 below.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-140128
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-134447
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2000-113137 A
[Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-134447
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of inefficient power supply and antenna coil design in the above-described prior art, and its purpose is to solve the above problems, and to supply power and supplement power by electromagnetic waves. It is in the point which implement | achieves the electronic device which does not require. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can simultaneously realize power supply by thermal energy and personal authentication.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the characteristic configuration of the electronic device according to the present invention includes a thermoelectric generator and a same container. With fingerprint sensor A semiconductor integrated circuit is housed, and the thermoelectric power generation element has a temperature difference between an atmosphere outside the housing body and a different temperature body that is higher or lower than the ambient temperature in contact with or close to a specific portion of the surface of the housing body. The semiconductor integrated circuit provided so as to be capable of generating thermoelectromotive force And fingerprint sensor Is operated by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator When the finger touches the fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint sensor can be simultaneously touched by the finger touching the fingerprint sensor or another part of the hand including the finger. Installed in the container in parallel or integrated with the thermoelectric generator In the point.
[0010]
According to the above characteristic configuration, the semiconductor integrated circuit is operated by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator due to the temperature difference between the atmosphere outside the container and the different temperature body. An electronic device can be realized.
[0012]
The electronic device according to the present invention is characterized in that the thermoelectric generator, the fingerprint sensor, and the semiconductor integrated circuit are housed in a card-shaped container, a plate-shaped container, or a box-shaped container. To do. Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are arranged side by side on one side of the card-like container, or each one side and the other side of the card-like container. Arranged separately, or laminated and formed on one side of the card-like container, or arranged side by side on the surface of the plate-like container, and laminated to form the plate Arranged on the surface of the container, or arranged side by side on any side of the box-shaped container, or separately disposed on two side surfaces of the box-shaped container, or laminated both It forms and arrange | positions to the arbitrary side surfaces of the said box-shaped container.
[0013]
According to the characteristic configuration, the semiconductor integrated circuit and the fingerprint sensor are operated by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator due to the temperature difference between the atmosphere outside the container and the human body part such as a finger or palm. And an electronic device having a fingerprint collation function that eliminates the need for power replenishment.
[0014]
Furthermore, for fingerprint collation, when a finger touches the fingerprint sensor, at the same time, by touching the other end of the heat absorption plate surface of the thermoelectric generation element, a thermoelectromotive force can be generated for the thermoelectric generation element. Power required for fingerprint verification processing can be supplied in a timely manner.
[0015]
In the electronic device according to the present invention, the box-shaped container is provided with an open / close lid, and based on the detection output of the fingerprint sensor, personal authentication is performed by a signal processing circuit formed by the semiconductor integrated circuit. According to the result, opening / closing control of the opening / closing lid is performed. Furthermore, the box-shaped container has a structure that can accommodate the key insertion port side tip of the cylinder lock inside the box-shaped container.
[0016]
Furthermore, the electronic device according to the present invention executes personal authentication by a signal processing circuit formed by the semiconductor integrated circuit based on the detection output of the fingerprint sensor, and sends a predetermined control signal corresponding to the personal authentication result to the outside. It is characterized by outputting. Moreover, it is preferable that the electromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator is configured to be supplied to the outside.
[0017]
According to the characteristic configuration of the electronic device, it is possible to realize a security device that has a fingerprint verification function that eliminates the need for power supply or power supplementation using electromagnetic waves, and that operates according to a personal authentication result by fingerprint verification.
[0018]
Furthermore, the electronic device according to the present invention is characterized in that the semiconductor integrated circuit is manufactured using an SOI (Silicon on Insulator) structure.
[0019]
According to the characteristic configuration of the electronic device, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit that consumes the electric power generated by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator. Therefore, it is necessary to give the thermoelectric generator an unnecessarily large power generation capability. Disappears. In addition, when surplus power is generated, power can be supplied to an external power consuming device.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present device” as appropriate) will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the device 11 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the device 11 of the present invention includes an IC card 7 (card-like container) as one container 6, a thermoelectric generator 1, a power supply circuit 2, a signal processing circuit 3, an RF circuit 4, and The antenna 5 is mounted on a single IC card type housing 6. The power supply circuit 2 is a power supply circuit that stores and supplies power generated by the thermoelectric generator 1, the signal processing circuit 3 operates by receiving power supply from the power supply circuit 2, and the RF circuit 4 is processed by the signal processing circuit 3. This is a circuit for transmitting the received data from the antenna 5 to the host or the like.
[0022]
The thermoelectric generator 1 is formed by a known element structure as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-32127 (conventional example of a thermoelectric generator). The element structure is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the thermoelectric generator 1, while folding back a P-type power generator 20 made of a P-type semiconductor and an N-type power generator 21 made of an N-type semiconductor via a conductor 22 having good thermal conductivity. A large number of power generating element portions 23 are connected in series to form a power generating element portion 23, and a heat radiating plate is disposed on one surface of each power generating element 20, 21 of the power generating element portion 23 in the direction of current flow through an insulating plate 24 having good thermal conductivity. 25, and a heat absorption plate 26 is provided on the other surface of the power generation element portion 23 through an insulating plate 24 having a good thermal conductivity. Due to the temperature difference between the heat dissipation plate 25 and the heat absorption plate 26, A thermoelectromotive force based on the Seebeck effect is generated. In addition, if the heat sink 25 and the heat sink 26 are electrically insulating, the insulating plate 24 is not necessarily provided.
[0023]
By applying a finger or palm to the heat-absorbing plate 26 of the thermoelectric generator 1 to give a body temperature and bringing the heat-radiating plate 25 into contact with the outside air (air in the atmosphere), power is generated by these temperature differences, and the power is supplied to the power circuit 2. Is stored and supplied to the signal processing circuit 3 and the RF circuit 4 which are constituted by semiconductor integrated circuits. The inventive device 11 formed on the IC card 7 in this way operates by being supplied with electric power obtained by thermoelectrically converting the thermal energy of the body temperature by the thermoelectric generator 1.
[0024]
By the way, as in the conventional example of the thermoelectric generator described above, development for improving the power generation capability of the thermoelectric generator itself is also progressing, but the power supply capability is not as high as that of current batteries. Accordingly, the signal processing circuit 3 and the RF circuit 4 are required to have lower power consumption.
[0025]
On the other hand, in recent years, semiconductor integrated circuits that operate at low voltage and low power consumption have been researched and developed by SOI (Silicon on Insulator: silicon / insulating film structure) technology. In Japan, as a commissioned project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, "Research and development of LSIs for ultra-low power information terminals" is developing ultra-low power consumption LSIs with an SOI structure that can operate at 0.5V. An example of an SOI-structure MOS transistor structure is shown in FIG. The figure is an example of a fully depleted type (FD), and all the channels C in FIG. 3 are depleted. Therefore, it has a steep subthreshold characteristic, a lower threshold voltage can be set, and is advantageous for low voltage operation. In the SOI structure, as shown in FIG. 3, since the source region S and the drain region D are surrounded by a gate oxide film, the junction capacitance is small and low power consumption can be realized.
[0026]
As described above, the SOI-structured semiconductor integrated circuit is capable of low-voltage operation and low-power consumption operation, and has a characteristic capable of exhibiting sufficient performance even with a small amount of power supplied from the thermoelectric generator 1. It has very effective characteristics for forming the signal processing circuit 3, the RF circuit 4, and the like. Therefore, by applying a semiconductor integrated circuit having an SOI structure to the device 11 of the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-performance system with low power consumption.
[0027]
As described above, in the device 11 of the present invention, a body temperature is applied by applying a finger or palm to the heat absorbing plate 26 of the thermoelectric generator 1, and the heat radiating plate 25 is brought into contact with outside air (air in the atmosphere). Power is generated by the difference, the electric power is stored in the power supply circuit 2 and supplied to the signal processing circuit 3 and the RF circuit 4. The signal processing circuit 3 performs a signal processing operation with the supplied power and sends necessary data to the RF circuit 4, and the RF circuit 4 transmits the received data to the outside through the antenna 5. By forming the signal processing circuit 3 and the RF circuit 4 with an SOI structure, it is possible to realize less power demand to be generated and supplied from the thermoelectric generator 1.
[0028]
Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the inventive device 12 according to the second embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the part and location which are common in 1st Embodiment.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the first embodiment, the device 12 of the present invention includes a fingerprint sensor 8 in an IC card 7 (card-shaped container) that is the same container 6, and the thermoelectric generator 1 is provided. Electric power is generated from thermal energy of body temperature by thermoelectric conversion, and the electric power is supplied to the fingerprint sensor 8 and the signal processing circuit 3 and RF circuit 4 configured by a semiconductor integrated circuit to be operated. Since it is necessary to touch the heat absorbing plate 26 with a finger or the like for power generation of the thermoelectric generator 1, it is very effective to have the fingerprint sensor 8 and simultaneously use it for personal authentication of the user by fingerprint verification. It is. That is, since both the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 involve an operation of bringing a finger, which is a human body part, into contact with each other, these can be executed at the same time, and the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator 1 is used for the other fingerprint sensor 8 or fingerprint verification. Since the power can be supplied to the signal processing circuit 3 or the like that executes data processing related to personal authentication at the same time, it is very efficient.
[0030]
Since the thermoelectric generator 1, the power supply circuit 2, the signal processing circuit 3, the RF circuit 4, and the antenna 5 are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, a duplicate description is omitted. However, the signal processing circuit 3 has an additional function compared to the first embodiment in that it receives detection output data (fingerprint data) from the fingerprint sensor 8 and performs signal processing such as fingerprint collation and personal authentication. More specifically, the power generated by the thermoelectric generator 1 is supplied to the fingerprint sensor 8 via the power supply circuit 2, and the fingerprint sensor 8 receives the power supply and touches the sensor surface of the finger or palm fingerprint pattern. Is detected. The signal processing circuit 3 receives detection output data from the fingerprint sensor 8 and executes fingerprint collation processing, personal authentication processing (not necessarily required to distinguish between both processing), and other signal processing and data processing. The generated necessary data is sent to the RF circuit 4, and the RF circuit 4 transmits the received data to the outside through the antenna 5. In addition, it is preferable to manufacture the signal processing circuit 3 and the RF circuit 4 with the SOI structure shown in FIG.
[0031]
5 to 7 show three modified embodiments that can be considered for the realization of the arrangement of the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 of the device 12 of the present invention on the IC card 7. FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment in which the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged side by side on one side of the IC card 7. With this arrangement, for example, when the IC card 7 is held by hand, the thermoelectric generator 1 is touched with one finger, and the fingerprint sensor 8 is touched with the other finger. The fingerprint data can be read by the fingerprint sensor 8 at the same time as power generation.
[0032]
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment in which the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are separately arranged on the front side surface and the back side surface of the IC card 7, respectively. With this arrangement, for example, the IC card 7 is sandwiched between two fingers, the heat absorption plate 26 of the thermoelectric generator 1 is touched with the fingers sandwiching the front side surface, and the fingerprint sensor 8 is sandwiched between the fingers sandwiching the back side surface. Touch the sensor surface. By sandwiching the IC card 7 with the two fingers, fingerprint data can be read from the fingerprint sensor 8 at the same time as the thermoelectric generator 1 generates power.
[0033]
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment in which the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are laminated and integrated and arranged on one surface of the IC card 7. For example, fingerprint data is recognized by the fingerprint sensor 8 disposed on the front surface side of the IC card 7, and heat is conducted to the thermoelectric generator 1 on the back side of the stacked layer, whereby the thermoelectric generator 1 generates power. The thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 that are laminated and integrated in this way are mounted on one surface of the IC card 7. With this arrangement, when the IC card 7 is held, the fingerprint sensor 8 is touched with one finger, so that the thermoelectric generator 1 can generate power and simultaneously read the fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor 8. .
[0034]
If the IC card with fingerprint verification function realized by the device 12 of the present invention is applied to, for example, door locks of entrances, keyless entry of automobiles, etc., a highly secure security system with personal authentication is constructed. It becomes possible. Also, when adapting to such a security system, in a system that uses a battery as a power source, it becomes inoperable when the battery runs out, so you must always worry about the remaining battery power. By providing a system that generates electricity according to the body temperature of the user with the thermoelectric generator 1 as in the inventive device 12 and operates with the slight energy, it is freed from worrying about running out of the battery. In addition, personal authentication is performed by fingerprint collation. If it is necessary to touch a finger or the like for that purpose, both the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are provided as in the device 12 of the present invention, and heat is simultaneously applied. It is very efficient and reasonable to generate electricity and supply energy.
[0035]
<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the part and location which are common in 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment. The devices 13 and 14 of the present invention according to the third embodiment are different from the first and second embodiments in that the thermoelectric generator 1, the fingerprint sensor 8 and the like are mounted on a plate 9 (plate-shaped container) which is a container 6. Contained.
[0036]
FIGS. 8 and 9 show block configuration diagrams of the devices 13 and 14 of the present invention according to the third embodiment, respectively. The inventive device 14 is similar to the second embodiment except that the container 6 is a plate 9, and the thermoelectric generator 1, fingerprint sensor 8, power supply circuit 2, signal processing circuit 3, RF circuit 4, and An antenna 5 is provided. On the other hand, the device 13 of the present invention does not include the RF circuit 4 and the antenna 5 and can supply the power P from the power supply circuit 2 to the outside. Further, the control signal C generated by the signal processing circuit 3 is wired to the outside. It is the composition to output. The thermoelectric generator 1, fingerprint sensor 8, power supply circuit 2, signal processing circuit 3, RF circuit 4, and antenna 5 of the devices 13 and 14 of the present invention are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus overlap. I will omit the explanation. Unlike the IC card 7, the plate 9 is normally used by being fixed to a fixed object such as a building.
[0037]
Next, a modified embodiment relating to the arrangement of the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 on the plate 9 and an implementation example in the case of being adapted to the door lock of the devices 13 and 14 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. To do. 10 to 12, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged side by side exposed on the surface of the plate 9.
[0038]
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show the first and second embodiments of the present invention device 13 (the present invention device 13a) which are arranged side by side on the plate 9 and the thermoelectric device 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are adapted to the door lock. Show. In FIG. 10, the electromagnetic cylinder 30 is configured to operate by receiving the power P and the control signal C from the power supply circuit 2 and the signal processing circuit 3 of the device 13 of the present invention. In the first example, since the electromagnetic cylinder 30 and the device 13a of the present invention are connected by wire, the RF circuit 4 and the antenna 5 are not provided as in the second embodiment. The thermoelectric generator 1, the fingerprint sensor 8, the power supply circuit 2, and the signal processing circuit 3 are integrally formed on the plate 9. In particular, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged on the surface of the plate 9 with the heat absorbing plate 26. It arrange | positions so that a sensor surface may be exposed. The heat radiating plate 25 of the thermoelectric generator 1 is attached to the plate 9 so as to be in contact with the outside air or to have the same (substantially the same) temperature as the outside air temperature. This is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0039]
The operation of the device 13 of the present invention will be described along the first embodiment of FIG. When the user touches the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8, the thermoelectric generator 1 generates electric power due to the temperature difference between the body temperature and the outside air temperature, stores the electric power in the power supply circuit 2, and the signal processing circuit 3 and the fingerprint sensor 8. Supply power. Upon receiving the power supply, the fingerprint sensor 8 detects the fingerprint pattern and sends it to the signal processing circuit 3. The signal processing circuit 3 collates with the registered user's fingerprint pattern, and if it matches, the signal processing circuit 3 determines that the personal authentication is completed, and outputs a control signal C as an open / close signal to the electromagnetic cylinder 30. In response to the control signal C, the electromagnetic cylinder 30 operates the electromagnetic cylinder 30 with electric power supplied from the power supply circuit 2 to open and close the door lock. It is desirable to use an electromagnetic cylinder 30 that consumes as little power as possible. Further, as described above, the power consumption of the signal processing system can be realized by adopting the SOI structure in the semiconductor integrated circuit, and most of the power generated by the thermoelectric generator 1 is supplied to the electromagnetic cylinder 30. Is possible.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 11, in order to further reduce power consumption, the door lock is opened and closed by a cylinder lock 31 using a normal key, and a slide that slides to cover the key insertion opening of the cylinder lock 31. A door lock system that prevents picking and the like by electromagnetically opening and closing the cover 32 can be provided.
[0041]
The operation of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11 will be described below. When the user touches the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8, the thermoelectric generator 1 generates electricity due to the temperature difference between the body temperature and the outside air temperature, stores the electric power in the power supply circuit 2, and the signal processing circuit 3 and the fingerprint sensor 8. Supply power. Upon receiving the power supply, the fingerprint sensor 8 detects the fingerprint pattern and sends it to the signal processing circuit 3. The signal processing circuit 3 collates with the registered user's fingerprint pattern, and if it matches, it determines that the personal authentication is completed, and sends a control signal C, which is an open / close signal, to the slide cover 32. Upon receiving the control signal C, the slide cover 32 operates the electromagnetic switch with the power supplied from the power supply circuit 2 to open and close the slide cover 32. It is desirable to use an electromagnetic switch with as little power consumption as possible.
[0042]
In the second embodiment, the slide cover 32 of the cylinder lock 31 is operated, and the driving load is small and can be realized with low power consumption. As described above, adopting the SOI structure in the semiconductor integrated circuit is beneficial because it can realize a very small power consumption of the signal processing system. The cylinder lock 31 is manually operated with a normal key, but the keyhole is locked with the slide cover 32, so that picking or the like cannot be easily performed. Since the opening and closing of the slide cover 32 is executed based on the personal authentication result by the fingerprint verification of the device 13 of the present invention, the security is improved. Further, according to the second embodiment of FIG. 11, it is possible to easily improve the security by adding the device 13 of the present invention to the normal cylinder lock 31 as a retrofit.
[0043]
Further, in contrast to the first example shown in FIG. 10, the electromagnetic cylinder 30 may be operated by using the inventive device 14 having a wireless interface like the inventive device 12 of the second embodiment. . As shown in FIG. 12, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged side by side on the plate 9 as in FIG. The configuration of the device 14 of the present invention is as shown in FIG. Electric power is supplied to the electromagnetic cylinder 30 from an external power source 33, and the external power source 33 is supplied with power from a normal AC power source or the like.
[0044]
The operation of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12 using the device 14 of the present invention will be described below. When the user touches the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8, the thermoelectric generator 1 generates electric power due to the temperature difference between the body temperature and the outside air temperature, stores the electric power in the power supply circuit 2, and the signal processing circuit 3 and the fingerprint sensor 8. Supply power. Upon receiving the power supply, the fingerprint sensor 8 detects the fingerprint pattern and sends it to the signal processing circuit 3. The signal processing circuit 3 collates with the registered user's fingerprint pattern, and if it matches, it determines that the personal authentication is completed, sends a control signal as an open / close signal to the RF circuit 4 from the antenna 5, It transmits to the electromagnetic cylinder 30 by radio. The electromagnetic cylinder 30 receives the control signal C of the radio signal and operates the electromagnetic cylinder 30 with the power supplied from the external power source 33 to open and close the door.
[0045]
Here, since sufficient electric power is supplied to the electromagnetic cylinder 30 from the external power supply 33, there is no problem of insufficient electric power for opening and closing the door. In the third embodiment, the personal authentication system operates on the thermoelectric generator 1 and does not need to incorporate a primary battery or the like. Therefore, the device 14 of the present invention can be installed at an arbitrary place within a range where radio waves reach, and the high degree of freedom of installation is beneficial.
[0046]
In addition, as described above, the use of the SOI structure in the semiconductor integrated circuit is beneficial because the power consumption of the signal processing system can be realized extremely small. By allowing the apparatus 14 of the present invention to be freely installed as a personal authentication plate as in the third embodiment, if the personal authentication plate is installed in an inconspicuous place, there is no key hole from the outside, and the authentication lock can be prevented. Since it is not known, it cannot be opened and closed easily, and security is improved. Also, there is no need to carry a key or a card key, and there is no worry of the key being stolen or misplaced.
[0047]
10 to 12, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged side by side on the plate 9, but as shown in FIG. 13 as in the example of FIG. 7 of the second embodiment. As described above, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 may be laminated and integrated, and arranged on the plate 9 (fourth embodiment: the device of the present invention 13b).
[0048]
In this case, for example, fingerprint data is recognized by the fingerprint sensor 8 arranged on the front surface side of the plate 9, and heat is conducted to the thermoelectric generator 1 on the back side of the stacked layer, thereby generating power by the thermoelectric generator 1. . The thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 that are laminated and integrated in this way are mounted on the plate 9. With this arrangement, by touching the fingerprint sensor 8 with one finger on the plate 9, it is possible to generate power with the thermoelectric generator 1 and simultaneously read fingerprint data from the fingerprint sensor 8. Since the operation of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10, duplicate description is omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the electronic lock system using the electromagnetic cylinder 30 has been described. However, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11, it is applicable to a door lock in which the cylinder lock 31 and the slide cover 32 are combined. Adaptation to is also possible.
[0049]
<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the part and location which are common in 1st Embodiment thru | or 3rd Embodiment. Unlike the first to third embodiments, the inventive device 15 according to the fourth embodiment accommodates the thermoelectric generator 1, the fingerprint sensor 8, etc. in a box-shaped container 10 that is a container 6. Similar to the inventive device 13 of the third embodiment, the inventive device 15 includes the thermoelectric generator 1, the fingerprint sensor 8, the power supply circuit 2, and the signal processing circuit 3, and does not include the RF circuit 4 and the antenna 5, The power P from the circuit 2 can be supplied to the outside, and the control signal C generated by the signal processing circuit 3 is output to the outside by wire.
[0050]
FIG. 14 schematically shows the outline of the device 15 of the present invention realized by housing the thermoelectric generator 1, the fingerprint sensor 8 and the like on the box-shaped container 10. FIG. 14 is a perspective view seen from the upper left side of the head of the box-shaped container 10. As shown in FIG. 14, the fingerprint sensor 8 and the thermoelectric generator 1 are arranged and mounted on the two side surfaces of the box-shaped container 10. The operation of the device 15 of the present invention is the same as that of the plate-type device 13 of the present invention described in the third embodiment (particularly, the embodiment of FIG. 11). For example, an opening / closing lid 10a that can be opened and closed is mounted on the head of the box-shaped container 10, and the opening / closing lid 10a is electromagnetically opened and closed by fingerprint collation as in the embodiment of FIG. In order to adapt the device 15 of the present invention with the cylinder lock 31 using a normal key, the box-shaped container 10 is installed so as to cover the tip of the cylinder lock 31 on the key insertion port side of the cylinder lock 31. With this configuration, it is possible to construct a door lock system in which the opening / closing lid 10a has the same function as the slide cover 32 of the embodiment of FIG. 11 and prevents picking. The operation of the device 15 of the present invention shown in FIG. 14 is basically the same as that of the device 13 of the present invention in the embodiment of FIG. 11 except that the slide cover 32 is changed to the opening / closing lid 10a. That is, when the user touches the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8, the thermoelectric generator 1 generates electricity due to the temperature difference between the body temperature and the outside air temperature, stores the electric power in the power supply circuit 2, and the signal processing circuit 3 and the fingerprint sensor. 8 is powered. Upon receiving the power supply, the fingerprint sensor 8 detects the fingerprint pattern and sends it to the signal processing circuit 3. The signal processing circuit 3 collates with the registered user's fingerprint pattern, and if it matches, it determines that the personal authentication is completed, outputs a control signal as an open / close signal, and is supplied from the power supply circuit 2 The electromagnetic switch is operated by the electric power to open and close the open / close lid 10a. The opening / closing lid 10a may be biased to the open state and may be opened from the closed state by operating an electromagnetic switch. In this case, the open / close lid 10a is manually closed.
[0051]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged on different side surfaces of the box-shaped container 10, but the thermoelectric generator 1 and the fingerprint sensor 8 are arranged as shown in FIG. It is also possible to form a single unit by stacking and mounting on one side surface of the box-shaped container 10. In this case, for example, the fingerprint data is recognized by the fingerprint sensor 8 arranged outside the box-shaped container 10, and the heat is conducted to the thermoelectric generator 1 on the laminated back surface, thereby generating power by the thermoelectric generator 1. I do. The operation of the device 15 of the present invention shown in FIG. 15 is basically the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 14, and a duplicate description is omitted.
[0052]
The semiconductor integrated circuit constituting the device 15 of the present invention is also operated by the weak electric power generated in the thermoelectric generator 1, and an integrated circuit employing the above SOI structure is very useful for realizing an integrated circuit with extremely low power consumption. It is valid.
[0053]
Hereinafter, another embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention will be described.
<1> In each of the above embodiments, the card-shaped container 7, the plate-shaped container 9, and the box-shaped container 10 are illustrated as the container 6 that houses the thermoelectric generator 1, the power supply circuit 2, the signal processing circuit 3, and the like. However, the container 6 is not limited to these shapes.
[0054]
<2> In the first embodiment, the thermoelectric generator 1 has been described as an example in which power is generated by the temperature difference between the body temperature given to the heat absorbing plate 26 and the outside air temperature given to the heat radiating plate 25. The temperature difference given to the power generation element 1 is not limited to the above.
[0055]
<3> In the second to fourth embodiments, the examples in which the present invention devices 12 to 15 are applied to the door lock have been described. However, the present invention may be applied to security systems other than the door lock. For example, it is also preferable to apply to personal authentication when accessing an electronic device such as a computer.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a battery-less IC card and a security device can be realized by effectively using the power of the thermoelectric generator that generates electricity by the temperature difference between the body temperature and the outside air temperature when touched with a finger, palm, or the like. is there. Further, by installing the fingerprint sensor in the same container in parallel with or integrated with the thermoelectric generator, the IC card and the security device can be realized more efficiently by detecting the fingerprint data simultaneously with the thermoelectric generator. Since it is necessary to touch the fingerprint collation for personal authentication required for security, it is very efficient to simultaneously generate power using the body temperature energy and supply the power of the security device. In order to realize such a device, a semiconductor integrated circuit with extremely low power consumption is required. However, by using a semiconductor integrated circuit employing an SOI structure, low power consumption can be realized. In this way, by utilizing the SOI manufacturing process and circuit technology as the ultra-low power consumption integrated circuit technology, and realizing the ultra-low power consumption semiconductor integrated circuit, it is possible to effectively utilize the weak power generation energy such as the thermoelectric generator. In addition, a batteryless security device can be realized by simultaneously detecting fingerprint data from a finger (body temperature) that is a supply source of power generation energy. In such a device, it is very beneficial to be able to always operate by being freed from worrying about inoperability due to battery exhaustion or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a functional configuration of a first embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a thermoelectric generator used in an electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an element cross-sectional view illustrating an SOI structure employed in a semiconductor integrated circuit used in an electronic device according to the present invention, using a MOS transistor.
FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram showing a functional configuration of a second embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first implementation example of a thermoelectric generator and a fingerprint sensor in the second embodiment of the electronic device according to the invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a second implementation example of the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor in the second embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a third implementation example of the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor in the second embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram showing a functional configuration example of a third embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another functional configuration example of the third embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a first example when the third embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention is applied to a door lock system;
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a second example when the third embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention is applied to a door lock system;
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a third example when the third embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention is applied to a door lock system;
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a fourth example when the third embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention is applied to a door lock system;
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a first example when the fourth embodiment of the electronic apparatus according to the invention is applied to a door lock system;
FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a second example when the fourth embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention is applied to a door lock system;
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional contactless card system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Thermoelectric generator
2 Power supply circuit
3 Signal processing circuit
4 RF circuit
5 Antenna
6 container
7 IC card (card-shaped container)
8 Fingerprint sensor
9 Plate (plate-shaped container)
10 Box-shaped container
10a Open / close lid
11 Electronic device according to the present invention (first embodiment)
12 Electronic Device according to the Present Invention (Second Embodiment)
13 Electronic Device According to the Present Invention (Third Embodiment)
14 Electronic Device According to the Present Invention (Third Embodiment)
15 Electronic Device according to the Present Invention (Fourth Embodiment)
20 P-type power generation element
21 N-type power generation element
22 Conductor
23 Power generation element
24 Insulation plate
25 Heat sink
26 Endothermic plate
30 Electromagnetic cylinder
31 cylinder lock
32 Slide cover
33 External power supply
110 wireless card
120 Fixed base station reader / writer (R / W)
111 CPU
112 memory
113 modulator
114 Demodulator
115 secondary battery
116 Antenna
117 Power supply circuit
118 coils
120 Fixed Base Station Reader / Writer
121 Antenna
122 RF circuit
123 modulator
124 Demodulator
125 memory
126 CPU
127 communication interface
130 Power Supply Writer
131 Power supply circuit
132 Modulation circuit
133 coil

Claims

A thermoelectric generator, a fingerprint sensor, and a semiconductor integrated circuit are housed in the same container,
The thermoelectric generator can generate a thermoelectromotive force due to a temperature difference between the atmosphere outside the container and a different temperature that is higher or lower than the atmosphere temperature in contact with or close to a specific part of the surface of the container. Provided,
The semiconductor integrated circuit and the fingerprint sensor are operated by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric generator ,
When the finger touches the fingerprint sensor, at the same time, the fingerprint sensor touches the thermoelectric generator so that the finger touching the fingerprint sensor or another part of the hand including the finger can touch the thermoelectric generator. An electronic device, wherein the electronic device is installed in the container in parallel or integrated with a power generation element .

The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is an IC card in which the thermoelectric generator, the fingerprint sensor, and the semiconductor integrated circuit are housed in a card-like housing.

The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are arranged side by side on one side of the card-like container.

The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are separately arranged on one side and the other side of the card-like container.

The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are stacked and arranged on one side of the card-like container.

The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric generator, the fingerprint sensor, and the semiconductor integrated circuit are housed in a plate-shaped container that can be fixed to a fixed object.

The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are arranged side by side on the surface of the plate-shaped container.

The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are laminated and disposed on a surface of the plate-shaped container.

The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric generator, the fingerprint sensor, and the semiconductor integrated circuit are accommodated in a box-shaped container.

The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are arranged side by side on an arbitrary side of the box-shaped container.

The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are separately arranged on two side surfaces of the box-shaped container.

The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric generator and the fingerprint sensor are laminated and disposed on an arbitrary side surface of the box-shaped container.

An opening / closing lid is provided on the box-shaped container, and personal authentication is performed by a signal processing circuit formed by the semiconductor integrated circuit based on the detection output of the fingerprint sensor, and opening / closing control of the opening / closing lid is performed based on the personal authentication result. The electronic device according to any one of claims 9 to 12 , wherein the electronic device is an electronic device.

The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein the box-shaped container has a structure that can accommodate a key insertion port side tip of a cylinder lock inside the box-shaped container.

Based on the detection output of the fingerprint sensor, the run personal authentication by a signal processing circuit for the semiconductor integrated circuit is formed, according to claim 1, characterized in that for outputting a predetermined control signal corresponding to the personal authentication result to the outside The electronic device according to any one of to 14 .

Electronic device according to any one of claim 1 to 15, characterized in that it is configured to be capable of supplying the electromotive force generated in the heat generating element to the outside.

The semiconductor integrated circuit SOI (Silicon on Insulator) electronic device according to any one of claim 1 to 16, characterized in that it is produced using the structure.