JP4699915B2 - Non-contact terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact terminal device that communicates in a non-contact state with a value information recording medium such as an IC card having an IC chip, and reads and writes an IC chip.

  In recent years, with the progress of cashless and the spread of electronic money, various services and systems using IC cards as value holding media have been provided in various fields such as distribution. Among them, non-contact type IC cards are attracting attention especially in terms of ease of use. In addition, electronic value information (electronic value) of electronic money and electronic tickets (commuter pass, boarding ticket, airline ticket, etc.) is stored in an ultra-small IC chip built in the non-contact type IC card. Various payments, such as payments at ticket vending machines at stations, payments at vending machines such as beverages, payments at stores, admission to various facilities, etc. are considered.

  When such an IC card is used, wireless communication is generally performed in a non-contact state with respect to the IC card, and information recorded on the internal IC chip is read or new information is written to the IC chip. A reader / writer device as a contact type terminal device is used (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  Such a reader / writer device includes a reading surface (reading unit) having an antenna capable of wireless communication with an IC chip. Then, the holder of the IC card can perform various payments using the electronic money described above by reading and writing the IC chip while holding the IC card close to the reading surface. Further, whether reading and writing of the IC chip is completed, that is, whether or not settlement of electronic money is completed can be easily determined by checking the contents of the display unit provided in the reader / writer device.

  In processing using IC cards (such as payment processing), the user's intention to pay is to bring the IC card closer to the reader / writer device. However, an IC card as electronic money cannot know how much balance is left without using a balance confirmation device.

  In recent years, non-contact type value information recording media such as IC cards and mobile phones have rapidly spread as value holding media, and the number of media owned by users has become natural. In the non-contact type value information recording medium, since the state (balance, etc.) is not known unless a confirmation terminal is used, there is a possibility that an unintended non-contact type value information recording medium may be used at the time of payment.

  As a reader / writer device, a device that can check the balance is widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 3). By using a reader / writer device that can check the balance, the balance can be confirmed only by operating an operation key or the like. It becomes possible.

However, even when using a reader / writer device capable of checking the balance, the procedure becomes complicated, such as operation of the operation keys and whether or not to use it after confirmation, and the process is interrupted every time, and non-contact type value information recording There is a possibility that the advantage of using the medium is impaired. A technique (for example, see Patent Document 4) that enables re-processing using the same non-contact type value information recording medium is also known. For example, the current situation is that it is not possible to cope with usage such as using a plurality of non-contact type value information recording media after confirming the balance.
JP 2002-133378 A JP 2003-141463 A JP 2001-256565 A JP 2004-318707 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a non-contact type terminal device capable of performing a plurality of processes even on a plurality of non-contact type value information recording media in a series of operations. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a contactless terminal device that processes information in a contactless manner with respect to a value information recording medium having a readable / writable IC chip. An antenna unit that performs wireless communication by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic coupling and transmits / receives information to / from an IC chip, and an output that controls an electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit to a plurality of outputs corresponding to a plurality of processes. A non-contact type terminal device comprising a control means.

  In the first aspect, since the output control means converts the electromagnetic output into a plurality of outputs corresponding to the plurality of processes, a plurality of processes can be performed in a series of operations on the value information recording medium.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a non-contact type terminal device that processes information in a non-contact manner with respect to a value information recording medium having a readable / writable IC chip, the value information recording medium is wirelessly connected by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic coupling. An antenna unit that communicates and transmits / receives information to / from an IC chip; and a first output unit that transmits an electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit as a first output for performing a first process; And a second output means for transmitting the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit as a second output for performing a second process executed after the first process. It is in a contactless terminal device.

  In a 2nd aspect, it is provided with the 1st output means which transmits the 1st output for performing a 1st process, and the 2nd output means which transmits the 2nd output for performing a 2nd process Therefore, a plurality of processes can be performed in a series of operations on the value information recording medium.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a non-contact type terminal device that processes information in a non-contact manner with respect to a value information recording medium having a readable / writable IC chip, the value information recording medium is wirelessly connected by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic coupling. The antenna unit that communicates and transmits / receives information to / from the IC chip, and the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit is controlled to the first output when the first process is performed. The non-contact type terminal device includes an output control means for controlling to the second output when performing the second processing executed after the step.

  In the third aspect, when performing the first process, the output control means controls the electromagnetic output to the first output, and when performing the second process, the output control means controls the electromagnetic output to the second output. Therefore, a plurality of processes can be performed in a series of operations on the value information recording medium.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the output intensity of the second output is set to be weaker than the output intensity of the first output. It is in.

  In the fourth aspect, the first process is performed when the value information recording medium is brought closer, and the second process is performed when the value information recording medium is brought closer.

  In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, when the second process is not executed for a predetermined time when the second output is transmitted after the first process is executed. The non-contact type terminal device has a function of switching to the first output.

  In the fifth aspect, if the second process is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the first process is performed, the output is switched to the output for performing the first process. Can be implemented.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in a non-contact type terminal device that processes information in a non-contact manner with respect to a value information recording medium having a readable / writable IC chip, the value information recording medium is wirelessly connected to the value information recording medium by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic coupling. An antenna unit that communicates and transmits / receives information to / from an IC chip, an output unit that supplies a transmission output to the antenna unit, an input unit that detects a reception input from the antenna unit, and the output unit Output control means for variably controlling the output supplied to the antenna unit and control means for executing the first process or the second process based on the reception input detected by the input means, the output control means, The output supplied to the antenna unit by the output means is controlled to the first output or the second output, and the output supplied to the antenna unit is controlled to the first output. In addition, when the control unit executes a first process based on the reception input detected by the input unit, the input unit cannot detect the reception input of the output supplied to the antenna unit by the output unit. The control unit controls the output supplied to the antenna unit by the output control unit to the second output, and then, based on the received input detected by the input unit, A non-contact type terminal device is characterized by executing processing.

  In the sixth aspect, the first process is performed when the value information recording medium is brought close to, and then the input unit is controlled to the second output that cannot detect the received input. Therefore, the input unit again receives the received input. The second process is performed when it is brought closer to be detected.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, when the antenna unit transmits the second output, when the input unit does not detect the reception input for a predetermined time when the antenna unit transmits the second output, In the non-contact type terminal device, the output control means has a function of switching to one output.

  In the seventh aspect, when the reception input is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the first process is performed, the output is switched to the output for performing the first process without shifting to the second process. Therefore, the first process can be newly performed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to seventh aspects, the first process is a process of reading the contents of the value information recording medium, and the second process is the value information. A non-contact terminal device is characterized in that the process includes writing to the contents of a recording medium.

  In the eighth aspect, the contents of the value information recording medium can be read and further written.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to seventh aspects, the value information recording medium is a payment medium, and the first process is a confirmation process of the contents of the payment medium, The second process is a contactless terminal device characterized in that it is a settlement process.

  In the ninth aspect, balance confirmation and settlement processing can be performed.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the contactless terminal device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the information communicated with the IC chip is information including at least an amount of money. is there.

  In the tenth aspect, the present invention can be applied to processing of information including a monetary amount.

  The contactless terminal device of the present invention can perform a plurality of processes in a series of operations on a value information recording medium. In addition, a plurality of processes can be performed on a plurality of value information recording media in a series of operations.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a non-contact type terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show schematic blocks of a basic communication system, and FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 show the flow of processing operations.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the non-contact type terminal device 1 is configured by a holding unit 10 and a terminal body unit 15. The holding unit 10 includes a reading surface 5 on which the IC card 3 is brought close to the surface, and a wireless communication unit 8 having an antenna substrate 7 as an antenna unit capable of wirelessly communicating information with the IC chip 2. . The terminal body unit 15 controls the operation of the wireless communication unit 8 and performs data processing and recording of the IC chip 2 via the antenna substrate 7 and the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna substrate 7 in the time axis direction. And a control unit 12 that controls the contactless terminal device 1 in an integrated manner.

  In the non-contact type terminal device 1 of the present embodiment, the holding unit 10 and the terminal body unit 15 are wiredly connected by a cable 16, and the holding unit 10 can be separated from the terminal body unit 15. Note that the cover unit 10 and the terminal main unit 15 can be formed integrally.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the holding unit 10 includes a plastic case 20, and the case 20 has a lower case 21 that can be placed on the placement surface and a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the placement surface. The upper case 22 is fitted to the upper side of the lower case 21 with an inclination angle (for example, 30 degrees). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a part of the surface of the upper case 22 is a reading surface 5.

  In the present embodiment, the reading surface 5 is formed with a light surface 23 that emits light on the surface of the reading surface 5 in a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the IC card 3, for example, a rectangular shape, and the light surface 23 is the antenna substrate 7. It is formed in a slit shape so as to wrap around the periphery. In the upper case 22, areas other than the light surface 23 are optically shielded. Note that the shape of the light emitted from the light surface is not limited to the shape of the present embodiment, and the light surface is not necessarily required.

  The antenna substrate 7 is formed so that, for example, a transmission coil pattern and a reception coil pattern are adjacent to each other on the surface, and is electrically connected to the RF substrate 28 shown in FIG. A transceiver unit 29 is mounted on the RF substrate 28, and the transceiver unit 29 and the antenna substrate 7 constitute a wireless communication unit 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the holding unit 10 includes a display unit 30 that displays the contents of the IC chip 2 and a speaker 31 that outputs sound from the vicinity of the reading surface 5. The display unit 30 is provided on the surface of the upper case 22 so as to be adjacent to the light surface 23, and the display unit 30 is electrically connected to the circuit board 27 via the I / O module 26. The speaker 31 can output sound through a sound hole 32 formed on the surface of the upper case 22 so as to be adjacent to the display unit 30. Like the display unit 30, the speaker 31 is an I / O module 26. Is electrically connected to the circuit board 27 via In addition, the speaker 31 is controlled so as to output different sound according to a control signal from the control unit 12. The audio output is not limited to the configuration of the present embodiment, and is not necessarily required.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the terminal body unit 15 can be placed on the placement surface, and in the present embodiment, a predetermined inclination angle (for example, an inclination angle of 30 degrees) with respect to the placement surface. The case 35 is made of plastic and has the settlement module 11 and the control unit 12 in the case 35.

  Further, the terminal body unit 15 includes an operation key 36 including a plurality of buttons capable of inputting information such as an amount of money, and displays various information such as information input by the operation key 36 and data in the IC chip 2. A portion 37 is provided. For example, the operation key 36 instructs to start the settlement process. Furthermore, a printer unit 38 capable of printing the information displayed on the display unit 37 on paper and a communication means capable of connecting and transmitting information recorded in the settlement module 11 to an external organization, for example, a modem unit 39 is provided. ing.

  The modem unit 39 is connected to an IP network via a third party in addition to connecting and communicating with a modem for communication transmission / reception installed directly in an external organization, and via communication means such as the Internet. It is also possible to send it to an external organization.

  The display unit 37, the printer unit 38, and the modem unit 39 are integrally controlled by the control unit 12 in accordance with an input from the operation key 36. The settlement module 11 is electrically connected to the RF board 28 via the cable 16, and the control unit 12 is electrically connected to the circuit board 27 via the cable 16. The control unit 12 has a function of outputting sound to the speaker 31.

  A case where electronic payment such as electronic money payment or credit payment is performed by the IC card 3 using the non-contact type terminal device 1 configured as described above will be described.

  By turning on the power button from the operation key 36, a self-diagnosis (self-test) is performed to determine whether each function is normal. For example, it is confirmed whether the connection state between the cover unit 10 and the terminal body unit 15 is normal, or the payment module 11 itself diagnoses whether its function is normal. Note that the self-test is not limited to the diagnostic content, and can be set arbitrarily. Further, during the self-test, for example, “Self-diagnosis” is displayed on the display unit 37 of the terminal body unit 15.

  As a result of the self-test, when it is determined that there is an abnormality or failure, “error” is displayed on the display unit 37 of the terminal body unit 15. In response to this, the operator of the non-contact type terminal device 1 confirms the electrical connection state of the cable 16 or the like, or performs predetermined measures such as searching for a failure part. On the other hand, when it is determined that the input is normal, the state waits for input from the operation key 36. At this time, the power can be shut off by turning off the power button of the operation key 36.

  For example, when the holder of the IC card 3 purchases an item with a price of 1000 yen, the operator of the operation key 36 inputs the amount information of 1000 yen with the operation key 36. The control unit 12 determines whether the instruction from the operator is an instruction, that is, what kind of signal is the input signal from the operation key 36 and performs control according to the determination. For example, in the case described above, a signal is sent to the settlement module 11 so as to perform a settlement process of 1000 yen in response to an input signal from the operation key 36. If the input signal from the operation key 36 is a power OFF signal, the termination process is executed. If the input signal from the operation key 36 is a signal for performing various settings and management of the terminal body unit 15. Executes setting / management processing.

  When the control unit 12 determines that the settlement process is to be performed, the control unit 12 displays the input amount on the display unit 37 of the terminal body unit 15. The operator confirms that an accurate input has been made with the amount displayed on the display unit 37, and then presses the confirmation button with the operation key 36. In response to this, the control unit 12 transmits money amount information to the settlement module 11. Further, a control signal is sent through the cable 16 and the circuit board 27 so that the light is turned on from the light surface 23. On the other hand, when the amount information is input, the settlement module 11 places the transmission / reception unit 29 in a standby state and waits for an input from the antenna board 7.

  The holder of the IC card 3 can easily hold the IC card 3 over the reading surface 5 by guiding the blinking light through the light surface 23. When the IC card 3 is held over the reading surface 5, the transmitting / receiving unit 29 reads information recorded on the IC chip 2 of the IC card 3 via the antenna substrate 7 by wireless communication and transmits the information to the settlement module 11. The settlement module 11 performs data processing of the IC chip 2 that has been sent.

  In other words, the saving amount (balance) recorded in the IC chip 2 is displayed, and the amount of 1000 yen inputted with the operation key 36 is subtracted from the balance, and a new saving amount (balance) is calculated to perform the settlement process. Do. After the settlement process is completed, a new saving amount is written (overwritten) in the IC chip 2 via the transmission / reception unit 29 and the antenna substrate 7. At the same time, the payment module 11 notifies the control unit 12 that the payment has been completed normally. The end can be notified by sound or light.

  On the other hand, similarly to the display unit 30 of the cover unit 10, the control unit 12 uses the purchase amount that has been settled, that is, the amount input by the operation key 36 and the new saving amount as a settlement result, and displays the display unit 37 of the terminal body unit 15. To display. After confirming the display on the display unit 37 again, the operator prints out the settlement result by the printer unit 38.

  The settlement result printout is used as a receipt for the holder as well as for the operator. Further, the control unit 12 may be set so that the settlement result is displayed on the display unit 37 and at the same time the settlement result is automatically printed out by the printer unit 38. If the payment does not end normally and, for example, a payment abnormality occurs due to some reason, for example, communication failure, the payment abnormality can be notified by sound or light.

  Further, the data of the IC chip 2 recorded in the settlement module 11 can be transmitted to the external organization periodically by the operator, for example, once every evening in the evening. That is, the modem unit 39 can communicate with a communication receiving modem (not shown) installed in an external organization and transmit data. As described above, the modem unit 39 may be connected to the IP network via the third party organization, and may be transmitted via communication means such as the Internet. For example, when a credit function is added to the IC card 3, it is possible to perform electronic settlement such as electronic money settlement or credit settlement by communicating with the center by means of communication using the modem unit 39.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, wireless communication is performed between the non-contact type terminal device 1 and the IC card 3 by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic coupling.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the non-contact terminal device 1 includes a control circuit 41, a transmission circuit 42, and output switching means 45, and outputs a signal from an antenna unit 43 (corresponding to the antenna substrate 7). The antenna unit 43 exchanges signals with the antenna unit 44 of the IC card 3, receives information from the control unit 46 of the IC card 3, and sends the information to the control circuit 41 via the receiving circuit 47.

  The output switching means 45 is, for example, switched between a strong electromagnetic output and a weak electromagnetic output by changing the voltage of a power supply (not shown) (first output means, second output means). Thus, when the execution of the first process is requested, it is switched to a strong state, and when the execution of the second process with the IC card 3 is requested, it is switched to a weak state. The switching by the output switching means 45 can be switched to three or more types of outputs.

  Specifically, when the electromagnetic output is strong (for example, the strength capable of capturing the IC card 3 at a distance of about 5 cm to 7 cm), the balance is confirmed and the balance is displayed as the first processing. After the above processing, the output is weakened (for example, the strength at which the IC card 3 cannot be captured unless it is brought close to a distance of about 2 cm to 3 cm). As a result, the non-contact type terminal device 1 side is less able to communicate with the IC card 3 because the induction electromagnetic field is reduced at one end, so that the IC card 3 is automatically disconnected and the non-contact type terminal device 1 Migrate to If the IC card 3 is further brought closer, the capture distance is entered again, and the settlement process as the second process is executed.

  When balance confirmation is not required, a series of operations can be switched instantaneously even if the IC card 3 is brought close to the device, so that the settlement process can be executed without a sense of incongruity.

In addition, although the balance display process was applied as the first process and the settlement process was applied as the second process, the first process and the second process are not limited to the balance display process and the settlement process. Various processes can be applied. For example, various processes such as a reservation / settlement confirmation process for various events and an event participation registration process can be applied depending on the form of the value holding medium.
Regarding the processing to the IC card 3, for example, the first processing and the second processing can be applied as a read-only process and a process involving writing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the non-contact terminal device 1 includes a control circuit 41, a transmission circuit 42, and an output control unit 101, and outputs a signal from an antenna unit 43 (corresponding to the antenna substrate 7). The antenna unit 43 exchanges signals with the antenna unit 44 of the IC card 3, receives information from the control unit 46 of the IC card 3, and sends the information to the control circuit 41 via the receiving circuit 47.

  The output control unit 101 is capable of continuously switching the electromagnetic output from a strong state to a weak state, for example, by changing the amplification factor of the transmission circuit 42. The amplification factor can be made different when the execution of the process is requested and when the execution of the second process is requested.

  Specifically, the gain is increased and the electromagnetic output is controlled to be strong (for example, the strength at which the IC card 3 can be captured at a distance of about 5 cm to 7 cm), and the balance confirmation is performed as the first process. After performing the first process, the control circuit 41 changes the amplification factor of the transmission circuit 42 weakly via the output control unit 101 while monitoring the output of the reception circuit 47. When the IC card 3 cannot be captured from the output, the amplification factor of the transmission circuit 42 is determined via the output control unit 101 (for example, the strength is such that the IC card 3 cannot be captured unless it is close to a distance of about 3 cm to 4 cm). Controlled). Thereafter, the non-contact terminal device 1 proceeds to a payment process. If the IC card 3 is further brought closer, the capture distance is entered again, and the settlement process as the second process is executed.

  When balance confirmation is not required, a series of operations can be switched instantaneously even if the IC card 3 is brought close to the device, so that the settlement process can be executed without a sense of incongruity.

  In addition, although the balance display process was applied as the first process and the settlement process was applied as the second process, the first process and the second process are not limited to the balance display process and the settlement process. Various processes can be applied. For example, various processes such as a reservation / settlement confirmation process for various events and an event participation registration process can be applied depending on the form of the value holding medium.

  Regarding the processing to the IC card 3, for example, the first processing and the second processing can be applied as a read-only process and a process involving writing.

  An example of balance display and settlement processing operations will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in step S1, the output power is set to a high level of electromagnetic output, and in step S2, capturing of the IC card 3 is started. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 has been captured. If it has not been captured, the capture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S3 that the IC card 3 has been captured, a balance display process is executed in step S4. After the balance display processing is executed, the output is weak in a state where the electromagnetic output is weak in step S5. At this point, the communication with the IC card 3 is disconnected once.

  In step S6, re-capturing of the IC card 3 is started. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 has been re-captured. If it has not been re-captured, the re-capture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S7 that the IC card 3 has been recaptured, a payment process is executed in step S8. If the case where the IC card 3 is not recaptured continues, when the balance display process is executed by the operation of the operation key 36 (see FIG. 1), the process for the IC card 3 is terminated, and the process of FIG. 6 is canceled. The

  Accordingly, for example, when a user who owns a plurality of IC cards 3 holds an unintended IC card 3 and recognizes that there is a shortage of balance, confirmation and settlement of the balance of the desired IC card 3 using the new IC card 3 It can be performed. When the IC card 3 that is intended from the beginning is held over, the settlement process is executed as it is by bringing the IC card 3 closer to be recaptured. Therefore, balance display processing and settlement processing can be performed for a plurality of IC cards 3 in a series of operations.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step S21, the gain is increased to set the output strength to a state where the electromagnetic output is strong, and the capture of the IC card 3 is started in step S22. In step S23, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 has been captured. If it has not been captured, the capture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S23 that the IC card 3 has been captured, a balance display process is executed in step S24. After the balance display process is executed, the gain is changed in a lower direction and the electromagnetic output is changed in a weak direction in step S25. In step S20, the capture of the IC card 3 is confirmed. If captured, the process returns to step S25 to change the amplification factor to a lower direction and change the electromagnetic output to a weaker direction. In step S20, the capture of the IC card 3 is performed again. Confirm.

  When step S25 and step S20 are repeated and the IC card 3 cannot be captured, re-supplementation of the IC card 3 is started in step S26. Here, since the IC card 3 cannot be captured in step S20, if there is no change in the interrelationship between the IC card 3 and the non-contact type terminal device 1, the replenishment of the IC card 3 in step S26 is performed. Will not be re-captured even when starting, and if the mutual relationship has changed, specifically, for example, when the mutual distance has changed (the IC card 3 has come closer to the non-contact terminal device 1) If).

  In step S26, re-capturing of the IC card 3 is started. In step S27, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 has been re-captured. If it has not been re-captured, the re-capture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S27 that the IC card 3 has been recaptured, a payment process is executed in step S28. If the case where the IC card 3 is not re-supplemented continues, the processing for the IC card 3 ends when the balance display processing is executed by the operation of the operation key 36 (see FIG. 1), and the processing in FIG. 7 is canceled. The

  Accordingly, for example, when a user who owns a plurality of IC cards 3 holds an unintended IC card 3 and recognizes that there is a shortage of balance, confirmation and settlement of the balance of the desired IC card 3 using the new IC card 3 It can be performed. When the IC card 3 that is intended from the beginning is held over, the settlement process is executed as it is by bringing the IC card 3 closer to be recaptured. Therefore, balance display processing and settlement processing can be performed for a plurality of IC cards 3 in a series of operations.

  Another embodiment of the balance display and settlement processing operations will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the IC card 3 cannot be recaptured for a predetermined time after the electromagnetic output is made weak, the electromagnetic output is returned to the strong output and the process proceeds to balance confirmation processing. Is. Thereby, it is possible to automatically check the balance for a plurality of IC cards 3 one after another in a series of operations, and select and settle the IC card 3 to be used.

  As shown in FIG. 8, at step S11, the output power is set to a high level when the electromagnetic output is strong. At step S12, capture of the IC card 3 is started. In step S13, it is determined whether the IC card 3 has been captured. If it has not been captured, the capture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S13 that the IC card 3 has been captured, a balance display process is executed in step S14. After the balance display process is executed, the output is weak in a state where the electromagnetic output is weak in step S15. At this point, the communication with the IC card 3 is disconnected once.

  In step S16, re-supplement of the IC card 3 is started, and in step S17, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 is re-captured. If it is determined in step S17 that the IC card 3 has been recaptured, a payment process is executed in step S18.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S17 that the IC card 3 is not recaptured, it is determined in step S19 whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined in step S19 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the determination of recapture of the IC card 3 is repeated in step S17. If it is determined in step S19 that a certain time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S11 to return to a strong output with a strong electromagnetic output, and another IC card 3 is captured (in the case of reconfirming the balance of the same IC card 3). There is also.

  Accordingly, for example, when a user who owns a plurality of IC cards 3 holds an unintended IC card 3 and recognizes that there is a shortage of balance, confirmation and settlement of the balance of the desired IC card 3 using the new IC card 3 Can be performed one after another. As in the case shown in FIG. 6, when the IC card 3 intended from the beginning is held over, the settlement process is executed as it is by bringing the IC card 3 closer to be recaptured. For this reason, it is possible to perform balance display processing one after another even for a plurality of IC cards 3 in a series of operations, and select the IC card 3 to be used for settlement processing.

  In the contactless terminal device described above, the electromagnetic output is set to the first output corresponding to the first process and the second process, and the second output that is weaker than the first output. The balance display process and the settlement process can be performed on the IC card 3 in the operation, and the balance display process and the settlement process are performed on the plurality of IC cards 3 in a series of operations. It becomes possible.

As shown in FIG. 9, in step S31, the amplification factor is increased to set the output strength to be strong in the electromagnetic output, and in step S32, the capture of the IC card 3 is started. In step S33, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 has been captured. If it has not been captured, the capture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S33 that the IC card 3 has been captured, a balance display process is executed in step S34. After the balance display process is executed, the gain is changed in a lower direction and the electromagnetic output is changed in a weak direction in step S35. In step S30, the capture of the IC card 3 is confirmed. If captured, the process returns to step S35 to change the amplification factor to a lower direction and change the electromagnetic output to a weaker direction. In step S30, the capture of the IC card 3 is performed again. Confirm.
Steps S35 and 30 are repeated, and when the IC card 3 cannot be captured, re-supplement of the IC card 3 is started in step S36. In step S37, it is determined whether or not the IC card 3 has been recaptured. If it has not been recaptured, the recapture determination is repeated. If it is determined in step S37 that the IC card 3 has been recaptured, a payment process is executed in step S38.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S37 that the IC card 3 is not recaptured, it is determined in step S39 whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined in step S39 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the determination of recapture of the IC card 3 is repeated in step S37. If it is determined in step S39 that the fixed time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S31 to return to a strong output with a high amplification factor, and another IC card 3 is captured (the balance of the same IC card 3). In case of reconfirmation).

  Accordingly, for example, when a user who owns a plurality of IC cards 3 holds an unintended IC card 3 and recognizes that there is a shortage of balance, confirmation and settlement of the balance of the desired IC card 3 using the new IC card 3 Can be performed one after another. As in the case shown in FIG. 7, when the IC card 3 intended from the beginning is held over, the settlement process is executed as it is by bringing the IC card 3 closer to be recaptured. For this reason, it is possible to perform balance display processing one after another even for a plurality of IC cards 3 in a series of operations, and select the IC card 3 to be used for settlement processing.

  In the non-contact type terminal device described above, since the output of the electromagnetic output can be changed corresponding to the first process and the second process, the balance display process for the IC card 3 in a series of operations. Further, it is possible to perform balance display processing and settlement processing in a series of operations even for a plurality of IC cards 3.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in the industrial field of a non-contact type terminal device that communicates in a non-contact state with a value holding medium such as an IC card having an IC chip, and reads and writes the IC chip.

1 is an external view of a contactless terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the II-II arrow directional view in FIG. It is a schematic block block diagram of the non-contact type terminal device which concerns on one example of embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of a basic communication system. It is a schematic block diagram of a basic communication system. It is a flowchart of processing operation. It is a flowchart of processing operation. It is a flowchart of processing operation. It is a flowchart of processing operation.

Explanation of symbols

1 Contactless terminal device 2 IC chip 3 IC card (value holding media)
5 Reading surface 7 Antenna board (antenna part)
8 Wireless communication unit 10 Holding unit (reading unit)
11 Payment module (data processing storage)
12 Control Unit 15 Terminal Main Unit (Terminal Main Unit)
20 Case 21 Lower Case 22 Upper Case 23 Optical Surface 26 I / O Module 27 Circuit Forming Board 28 RF Board 30, 37 Display Unit 31 Speaker 36 Operation Key 38 Printer Unit 39 Modem Unit 41 Control Circuit 42 Transmitting Circuit 43, 44 Antenna Unit 45 Output switching means 46 Control unit 47 Demodulation circuit 101 Output control unit

Claims (6)

In a non-contact type terminal device that processes information in a non-contact manner with respect to a value information recording medium having a readable / writable IC chip,
An antenna unit that wirelessly communicates with the value information recording medium by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic coupling, and transmits and receives information to and from an IC chip;
Input means for detecting a reception input from the antenna unit;
Output means for supplying a transmission output to the antenna unit;
Control means for executing processing based on the received input detected by the input means;
Output control means for controlling the intensity of the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit corresponding to the processing performed by the control means ,
The control means reads out information recorded on the value information recording medium based on a reception input from the input means as a first process,
The output control means, after the first processing by the control means, sets the electromagnetic output intensity to be weak and disconnects wireless communication with the value information recording medium,
When the control means receives a reception input indicating that the value information recording medium has been captured from the input means in a state where the output control means sets the electromagnetic output to be weak, as a second process, the control means Based on the information recorded on the information recording medium, a write process is performed on the value information recording medium, and the value information recording medium is captured from the input means in a state where the output control means sets the electromagnetic output weakly. If the reception input indicating that the information has been received is not received for a predetermined period, it is determined that the process for the value information recording medium is terminated and the first process is started again.
The output control unit is configured to return the strength of the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit to the original strength in response to the determination by the control unit that the first process is started again. A non-contact type terminal device. Et al, a display unit of,
The first process by the control unit is a process of reading information recorded on the value information recording medium based on a reception input from the input unit and performing display based on the information on the display unit. ,
The contactless terminal device according to claim 1. The value information recording medium is a payment medium;
Said first processing by said control means, as a process of confirming the contents of the payment medium, said control means read a process for performing display based on the recorded information to the value information recording medium,
The second process by the control unit receives a reception input indicating that the value information recording medium has been captured from the input unit during a predetermined period in a state where the output control unit sets the electromagnetic output to be weak. Is a payment process to be executed based on the information recorded on the value information recording medium ,
The non-contact type terminal device according to claim 2 . The output control means controls the intensity of the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit by changing a power supply voltage supplied to the output means.
The non-contact type terminal device according to claim 1. The output control means controls the intensity of the electromagnetic output transmitted from the antenna unit by changing the amplification factor of the transmission output from the output means.
The non-contact type terminal device according to claim 1. The information communicated with the IC chip is information including at least an amount of money,
The non-contact type terminal device according to claim 1 .

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