JP6878864B2 - card - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a card.

A card such as an IC card has various information formed by printing or embossing on its surface. The information contained on the surface of the card includes, for example, information about the owner of the card and information required for using the card. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-205322

By the way, the information on the surface of the card includes confidential information that should be known only to the card owner and is not desirable to be leaked to a third party who is a person other than the owner. In some cases. The confidential information is, for example, a credit card number possessed by the surface of the credit card, and, for example, an individual number possessed by the surface of the personal number card. Since these confidential information is always visible on the surface of the card, it is easy for the cardholder to grasp it, but it is inevitable that it will be stolen by a third party. Also, if the owner loses the card, the finder of the card can easily obtain confidential information.
An object of the present invention is to provide a card capable of enhancing the confidentiality of information configured so as to be visible.

The card that solves the above problems is a card body containing information to be concealed on the surface and a dimming sheet that is located on the surface and covers the information, and the dimming is performed during a period when no driving voltage is applied. A dimming sheet in which the sheet is in a non-transmissive state that makes the information invisible, and a dimming sheet in which the dimming sheet makes the information visible during a period in which a driving voltage is applied, and the dimming sheet. It is provided with a switching unit which starts applying the driving voltage in response to an operation for changing the state of the above from the opaque state to the permeable state.

According to the above configuration, when the surface of the card is viewed, the information to be concealed is invisible when the dimming sheet is in the opaque state, and the above information is visible when the dimming sheet is in the transmissive state. is there. Therefore, the confidentiality of the information can be enhanced as compared with the configuration in which the information is always visible on the surface of the card.

In the above configuration, the switching unit is based on receiving an authentication information input unit that accepts input of authentication information, a control unit that inputs the authentication information from the authentication information input unit, and a control signal from the control unit. The control unit includes a drive unit that generates a drive voltage and applies it to the dimming sheet, and the control unit performs authentication using the data stored in the control unit and the authentication information, and the authentication is established. At that time, the operation of outputting the control signal to the drive unit and inputting the authentication information for which the authentication is established to the authentication information input unit changes the state of the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transmission. It may be an operation for changing to a state.

According to the above configuration, since the establishment of authentication is a condition for switching the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transparent state, a person other than the owner who has the authentication information illegally operates the card to obtain the information. Is suppressed.

In the above configuration, the operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transmissive state is an operation for supplying electric power to the switching unit, and the switching unit supplies the electric power. The application of the drive voltage may be started based on the reception.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the card as compared with the case where the card itself is provided with a configuration such as a switch for changing the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transmissive state.
In the above configuration, the switching unit may include a circuit located inside the card body.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to protect the circuit included in the switching unit from the impact received by the card.

In the above configuration, the switching unit may be located on the surface of the card body.
According to the above configuration, even for a card having a configuration in which it is difficult to arrange an electronic circuit inside the card body, a configuration for enhancing the confidentiality of information by switching between an opaque state and a transmissive state in the dimming sheet is applied. be able to. It is also possible to configure the card by fixing the dimming sheet and the switching unit to the card body at an opportunity different from the manufacturing process of the card body. Therefore, there is a high degree of freedom regarding the application target of the above configuration that enhances the confidentiality of information by using the dimming sheet.

In the above configuration, electric power may be supplied to the switching unit by non-contact power supply.
According to the above configuration, when switching from the opaque state to the transmissive state of the dimming sheet, it is not necessary to connect the terminals between the card and the device for supplying power, so that the convenience for confirming the information is enhanced.

According to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the confidentiality of information configured so as to be visible.

The perspective view which shows the appearance composition of the card about 1st Embodiment of a card. The cross-sectional view which shows the cross-sectional structure of the light control sheet in 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure in the card of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for switching the state of the light control sheet from the opaque state to the transparent state in the card of the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the appearance composition of the card about the 2nd Embodiment of a card. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure in the card of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for switching the state of the light control sheet from the opaque state to the transparent state in the card of the second embodiment.

(First Embodiment)
A first embodiment of the card will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[Card appearance configuration]
The appearance configuration of the card will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the card 10 includes a card body 20 and a dimming sheet 30. The card body 20 has a flat plate shape and has a multi-layer structure including a resin layer, a printing layer, and the like. An IC or the like is incorporated inside the card body 20.

When viewed from the direction facing the surface of the card body 20, the surface of the card body 20 contains confidential information Is, that is, information that is not desirable to be leaked to a person other than the owner of the card 10. It has been. The secret information Is is composed of, for example, a print layer, and is printed by a thermal transfer method.

Confidential information Is may be information composed of characters, information composed of images, or characters and images as long as the information is not desirable to be leaked to a person other than the owner. The information may be composed of and. Specifically, for example, when the card 10 is a personal number card, the secret information Is is a personal number, and when the card 10 is a credit card, the secret information Is is a credit card number. is there.

The card 10 includes an authentication information input unit 21, and the authentication information input unit 21 is exposed on the front surface or the back surface of the card body 20. That is, in the card body 20, the authentication information input unit 21 may be located on the same surface as the secret information Is, or may be located on the surface opposite to the secret information Is.

The authentication information input unit 21 accepts input of biometric information, which is an example of authentication information. Biometric information is information necessary for biometric authentication. For example, the biometric information is fingerprint information, and the authentication information input unit 21 has a fingerprint reading function, reads the fingerprint of the owner's finger touching the authentication information input unit 21, converts it into a signal, and outputs it as biometric information. To do. That is, it is the input of the biological information to the authentication information input unit 21 that the biological information is generated by the authentication information input unit 21 based on the reading of the characteristics of the living body.

The light control sheet 30 has low light transmission when not energized, and enhances light transmission by consuming electric power. The dimming sheet 30 is arranged at a position on the surface of the card body 20 so as to cover the secret information Is. The dimming sheet 30 is fixed to the surface of the card body 20 by adhesion or the like, and the power receiving terminal of the dimming sheet 30 is inside the card body 20 through a hole or the like formed from the surface of the card body 20 toward the inside. It is electrically connected to the located circuit.

[Composition of dimming sheet]
The configuration of the dimming sheet 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the dimming sheet 30 has a dimming layer 31, two electrode layers 32, and two supports 33. The two electrode layers 32 sandwich a dimming layer 31, and two supports 33 sandwich a laminate composed of the dimming layer 31 and the two electrode layers 32.

The dimming layer 31 includes a polymer network type liquid crystal having a PNLC (Polymer Network Liquid Crystal) structure. The polymer network type liquid crystal includes a polymer network having a three-dimensional network shape, and holds liquid crystal molecules in the voids of the polymer network. The liquid crystal molecules contained in the dimming layer 31 have, for example, positive dielectric anisotropy, and the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal molecules in the long axis direction is larger than the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal molecules in the minor axis direction. The liquid crystal molecules are, for example, Schiff base-based, azo-based, azoxy-based, biphenyl-based, terphenyl-based, benzoic acid ester-based, trans, pyrimidine-based, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ester-based, phenylcyclohexane-based, and dioxane-based liquid crystal molecules. is there.

The electrode layer 32 is a transparent layer having conductivity. Examples of the material constituting the electrode layer 32 include indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), tin oxide, zinc oxide and the like. The support 33 is a transparent base material, and the support 33 is made of, for example, a glass substrate, a silicon substrate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyimide, polysulfone, or the like. Molecular film is used.

When no voltage is applied to the dimming layer 31, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the long axis direction is irregular. Therefore, the light incident on the light control layer 31 is scattered, and the light control sheet 30 looks cloudy. On the other hand, when a voltage is applied between the two electrode layers 32, the liquid crystal molecules are oriented according to the magnitude of the voltage, and the major axis direction thereof is adjusted along the electric field direction between the electrode layers 32. Light easily passes through the light layer 31. That is, the light control sheet 30 is opaque during the period when no voltage is applied to the light control layer 31. During the period when the voltage is applied to the light control layer 31, the light transmittance of the light control sheet 30 increases as the absolute value of the voltage increases, and when the absolute value of the voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the light transmission is adjusted. The light transmittance of the optical sheet 30 is maximized.

The light control sheet 30 is controlled so as to be switched between a non-transmissive state and a transmissive state. The opaque state is a state in which the dimming sheet 30 is opaque so that the secret information Is cannot be seen, and a voltage is not applied to the dimming layer 31 or is applied to the dimming layer 31. The voltage is very small. The transmission state is a state in which the light control sheet 30 has light transmission so that the secret information Is can be visually recognized through the light control sheet 30, and the drive voltage is a voltage having a larger absolute value than in the non-transmissive state. It is in a state of being applied to the dimming layer 31. The haze value (or diffusion transmittance) of the light control sheet 30 in the opaque state is preferably 80% or more, and the haze value (or diffusion transmittance) of the light control sheet 30 in the transmission state is 10% or less. Is preferable.

[Electrical configuration of card]
The electrical configuration of the card 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the card 10 includes a control unit 41, a drive unit 42, and a power supply unit 43 in addition to the above configuration. The control unit 41, the drive unit 42, and the power supply unit 43 are located inside the card body 20.

The control unit 41 includes a CPU and a memory such as a ROM or RAM. When the card 10 is an IC card having a contact type or non-contact type communication function or an IC card having both contact type and non-contact type communication functions, the control unit 41 controls the communication. It may be embodied by the IC that performs the above. Alternatively, the control unit 41 may be embodied by an IC different from the IC that controls the communication.

The control unit 41 receives input of biometric information from the authentication information input unit 21, and performs authentication using the biometric information and the data stored in the control unit 41. For example, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the degree of coincidence between the fingerprint indicated by the biological information and the fingerprint indicated by the biological data stored in the control unit 41 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. Authentication is established when the degree of fingerprint matching is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. A known pattern recognition technique may be used for calculating the degree of fingerprint matching. The biological data stored in the control unit 41 is data taken from the living body of the owner of the card 10 and is stored in advance in the control unit 41.
Further, when the authentication is established, the control unit 41 outputs a control signal, which is a signal instructing the drive unit 42 to supply electric power to the dimming sheet 30.

When the drive unit 42 receives the control signal, the drive unit 42 generates a drive voltage of the dimming sheet 30 by using the electric power received from the power supply unit 43, and transfers the drive voltage to the dimming layer 31 through the electrode layer 32 of the dimming sheet 30. Apply. As described above, the drive voltage is a voltage for driving the dimming sheet 30 in a transmission state.

The power supply unit 43 is, for example, a primary battery or a secondary battery, and supplies electric power for driving to each unit of the card 10 such as the control unit 41, the drive unit 42, and the authentication information input unit 21. If the power supply unit 43 is a battery that performs pulse discharge, the durability of the dimming layer 31 is enhanced.

In the above configuration, the authentication information input unit 21, the control unit 41, and the drive unit 42 adjust the drive voltage by receiving a switching operation which is an operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet 30 from the opaque state to the transmissive state. A switching unit 44 for starting application to the optical sheet 30 is configured. The switching operation is an operation for the card 10 and is an operation for inputting biometric information to the authentication information input unit 21.

[Card operation]
The operation of the card 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for switching the dimming sheet 30 from the opaque state to the transmissive state.

In the card 10, the dimming sheet 30 is normally made opaque when the secret information Is is not required to be visually recognized, and is switched to the transparent state when the secret information Is is required to be visually recognized. When the dimming sheet 30 is opaque, the dimming sheet 30 is opaque, so that the secret information Is covered by the dimming sheet 30 is not visible.

When the owner needs to confirm the confidential information Is when using the card 10, the process according to the flow shown in FIG. 4 is performed. That is, when the owner performs an operation such as putting a finger on the authentication information input unit 21, biometric information is input to the authentication information input unit 21 as the process of step S10. In response to this, the authentication information input unit 21 outputs biometric information to the control unit 41. The authentication information input unit 21 may be activated by an appropriate operation such as pressing the authentication information input unit 21.

Subsequently, as the process of step S11, the control unit 41 authenticates using the biological information and the data stored in the control unit 41. Then, it is determined whether or not the authentication is established as the process of step S12, and when the authentication is established, the control unit 41 outputs a control signal to the drive unit 42 as the process of step S13. The drive unit 42 that receives the control signal generates the drive voltage of the dimming sheet 30 and starts applying the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30 as the process of step S14.

As a result, a driving voltage is applied to the dimming sheet 30, and the dimming sheet 30 is switched from the opaque state to the transmissive state. As a result, the secret information Is covered by the dimming sheet 30 becomes visible. If the establishment of the authentication is denied, the processes of steps S13 and S14 are not performed and the process is completed, and the opaque state of the dimming sheet 30 is maintained. That is, in the first embodiment, the operation of inputting the biometric information for which authentication is established to the authentication information input unit 21 is the switching operation.

According to the above configuration, since the secret information Is is invisible on the surface of the card 10 except when the owner needs the secret information Is, the secret information Is is seen by a person other than the owner of the card 10. Being suppressed.

Further, since the dimming sheet 30 is switched from the opaque state to the transparent state on condition that the authentication is established, it is possible to prevent a person other than the owner from illegally operating the card 10 to obtain the secret information Is. In particular, since biometric authentication is adopted as the authentication, it is preferably suppressed that a person other than the owner impersonates the owner to obtain the confidential information Is. In addition, since the owner does not need to remember the information for authentication, the load on the owner required for authentication is reduced.

The switching from the transmissive state to the non-transmissive state in the light control sheet 30 is realized by, for example, the following configuration. That is, the drive unit 42 generates the drive voltage and applies it to the dimming sheet 30 so that the drive voltage is applied to the dimming sheet 30 only for a preset period. As a result, when the above period elapses after the application of the drive voltage is started, the dimming sheet 30 switches from the transmissive state to the non-transmissive state.

Alternatively, a stop signal instructing the stop of power supply to the dimming sheet 30 is input from the control unit 41 to the drive unit 42, and the drive unit 42 receives the stop signal and the drive unit 42 receives the drive voltage dimming sheet 30. The application to may be stopped. When the application of the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30 is stopped, the dimming sheet 30 switches from the transmissive state to the opaque state.

The stop signal may be output, for example, after a lapse of a predetermined period from the output of the control signal, or may be output based on the operation of the owner. For example, the authentication information input unit 21 detects that the owner's finger has been separated from the authentication information input unit 21, and when this detection result is input to the control unit 41, the control unit 41 outputs a stop signal. .. According to such a configuration, the secret information Is can be visually recognized only during the period when the owner's finger is in contact with the authentication information input unit 21. Further, for example, when a switch unit for instructing switching from the transparent state to the opaque state is provided on the surface of the card body 20 and a signal indicating that the switch unit is pressed is input to the control unit 41, control is performed. The unit 41 may output a stop signal.

In the card 10 of the first embodiment, by using the dimming sheet 30 having an opaque state and a transmissive state, it is possible to switch between a state in which the secret information Is is invisible and a state in which the secret information Is is visible. Configuration has been realized. According to such a configuration, the configuration of the card 10 is simpler than, for example, a form in which a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel or electronic paper is provided and confidential information is displayed on the display unit only when necessary.

Further, according to the card 10, it is possible to switch between the opaque state and the transmissive state of the dimming sheet 30 only by the card 10 without communicating with an external device or the like. Therefore, the owner can confirm the confidential information Is without being subject to environmental restrictions such as location and equipment. Therefore, it is highly convenient for confirming the confidential information Is.

[Modification example]
The card 10 of the first embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows.
-Authentication may be performed by a method different from biometric authentication. For example, the card body 20 has a number key as an authentication information input unit 21 on the front surface or the back surface thereof, and is composed of numbers having a predetermined number of digits as authentication information based on the owner pressing the number key. The passcode may be input to the authentication information input unit 21. In this case, the control unit 41 stores the preset passcode data and performs authentication by determining whether or not the input passcode and the stored data match. That is, the fact that the authentication information is generated by the authentication information input unit 21 based on the operation on the authentication information input unit 21 is the input of the authentication information to the authentication information input unit 21, and the authentication information for which the authentication is established is input. The operation input to the unit 21 is a switching operation.

-In the above embodiment, the configuration in which electric power is supplied from the battery to the control unit 41 and the drive unit 42 as the power supply unit 43 is illustrated, but the form of electric power supply is not limited to this. For example, a power receiving unit including a terminal for receiving power may be exposed on the surface of the card body 20, and power may be supplied from the external device through contact between the terminal of the power receiving unit and the power supply terminal of the external device, or the card body may be supplied with power. A power receiving unit including an antenna or the like may be provided inside the 20 and power may be supplied to the control unit 41 and the driving unit 42 by non-contact power supply through the power receiving unit. When the card 10 is an IC card having a contact type or non-contact type communication function, the above-mentioned contact-based power supply or non-contact power supply may be performed through the terminals or antennas for these communications.

-In the above embodiment, the switching operation is an operation of inputting the authentication information for which authentication is established to the authentication information input unit 21, but the switching operation is not limited to this operation. For example, when a switch unit for instructing switching from the opaque state to the transparent state is provided on the surface of the card body 20 and a signal indicating that the switch unit is pressed is input to the control unit 41, the control unit 41 may output a control signal to the drive unit 42. In this case, the operation of pressing the switch unit is the switching operation. In such a case, the control unit 41 does not perform authentication, and the switching unit 44 does not have to include the authentication information input unit 21.

Further, the switching operation may be an operation for supplying electric power to the switching unit 44. For example, the operation for starting the above-mentioned contact-based power supply or non-contact power supply, that is, the operation of arranging the card 10 at a predetermined position with respect to the external device that performs such power supply may be the switching operation. In this case, the control unit 41 outputs a control signal to the drive unit 42 based on the fact that the power supply to the switching unit including the power receiving unit is started by the power supply from the external device. In such a case, the control unit 41 does not perform authentication, and the card 10 does not have to include the authentication information input unit 21. Further, the drive unit 42 may be supplied with electric power sent from an external device, or may be supplied with electric power from the power supply unit 43. Further, when the switching operation is an operation for supplying power to the switching unit, the card 10 does not include the control unit 41 and drives the power supply from the power receiving unit based on the power supply from the external device. When the 42 receives, the drive unit 42 may generate a drive voltage and apply it to the dimming sheet 30.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the secret information Is is covered with a dimming sheet 30 having an opaque state and a transmissive state, when the surface of the card 10 is viewed, the secret information is obtained when the dimming sheet 30 is in the opaque state. Is is invisible, and the secret information Is is visible when the dimming sheet 30 is in a transparent state. Therefore, the confidentiality of the secret information Is can be enhanced as compared with the configuration in which the secret information Is is always visible on the surface of the card.

(2) In a configuration in which the switching operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet 30 from the opaque state to the transparent state is an operation of inputting the authentication information for which authentication is established to the authentication information input unit 21, other than the owner. It is possible to prevent the person in question from illegally manipulating the card 10 to obtain confidential information Is.

(3) In a configuration in which the switching operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet 30 from the opaque state to the transmissive state is an operation for supplying electric power to the switching unit 44, switching from the opaque state to the transmissive state is performed. It is possible to simplify the configuration of the card 10 as compared with the case where the configuration of the switch or the like for the card 10 is provided on the card 10.

(4) The control unit 41 and the drive unit 42 are located inside the card body 20. That is, since the switching unit 44 includes a circuit located inside the card body 20, it is possible to protect the circuit included in the switching unit 44 from the impact received by the card 10.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the card will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same configurations as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[Card appearance configuration]
As shown in FIG. 5, the card 11 of the second embodiment includes a circuit unit 50 including a circuit constituting the switching unit on the surface of the card body 20. The circuit unit 50 has a sheet shape, and in addition to the above circuit, includes a base material on which the circuit is formed, a support that sandwiches the circuit and the base material, and the like. Further, the circuit unit 50 may include a print layer that constitutes a pattern or the like for suppressing the circuit from being visually recognized and enhancing the decorativeness of the card 11.

The circuit included in the circuit unit 50 is electrically connected to the power receiving terminal of the dimming sheet 30. The circuit unit 50 preferably constitutes a sheet member 51, which is one sheet-like member, together with the dimming sheet 30.

The sheet member 51 including the dimming sheet 30 and the circuit unit 50 is fixed to the surface of the card body 20 by adhesion or the like. Similar to the first embodiment, the dimming sheet 30 covers the secret information Is.

The card 11 may be shipped after the sheet member 51 is fixed to the card body 20, or the sheet member 51 to the card body 20 may be shipped by the person in charge of distributing the card 11 or the owner who has received the distribution of the card 11. It may be fixed. In such a case, for example, the owner himself can select whether or not to hide the secret information Is with the dimming sheet 30 according to the content of the secret information Is.
[Electrical configuration of card]
As shown in FIG. 6, the card 11 includes a switching unit 46 including a driving unit 42 and a power receiving unit 45.

The power receiving unit 45 receives electric power from an external device by non-contact power supply, and supplies electric power to the driving unit 42 based on the electric power supplied from the external device. The non-contact power supply method is not particularly limited, and may be selected in consideration of the transmission distance, the amount of power required to be supplied, the circuit configuration required for power supply, and the like. The power receiving unit 45 is composed of elements necessary for receiving power, such as an antenna and a coil, depending on the non-contact power feeding method. When the drive unit 42 receives electric power as a control signal from the power receiving unit 45, the drive unit 42 uses the electric power to generate a drive voltage and applies the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30.

In the second embodiment, the switching operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet 30 from the opaque state to the transmissive state is an operation for supplying electric power to the switching unit 44, and the switching unit 44 is caused by the switching operation. The application of the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30 is started based on the supply of the generated electric power.

When the card 11 is an IC card having a contact type or non-contact type communication function, a circuit including an IC, an antenna for communication, and the like is located inside the card body 20, but the switching unit 46 is , It does not have to be connected to the circuit inside the card body 20.

[Card operation]
The operation of the card 11 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for switching the dimming sheet 30 from the opaque state to the transmissive state. Also in the card 11 of the second embodiment, the dimming sheet 30 is made opaque in the normal state when the visibility of the secret information Is is not required, and is switched to the transparent state when the visibility of the secret information Is is required. Be done.

When the owner needs to confirm the confidential information Is when using the card 11, the process according to the flow shown in FIG. 7 is performed. That is, the owner arranges the card 11 in the vicinity of the external device that performs non-contact power supply as a switching operation. As a result, as the process of step S20, power is supplied from the external device to the power receiving unit 45, and in response to this, power is supplied from the power receiving unit 45 to the drive unit 42. The drive unit 42, which has received the power supply, generates a drive voltage and starts applying the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30 as the process of step S21.

As a result, a driving voltage is applied to the dimming sheet 30, and the dimming sheet 30 is switched from the opaque state to the transmissive state. As a result, the secret information Is covered by the dimming sheet 30 becomes visible.

Even with the above configuration, as in the first embodiment, since the secret information Is is invisible on the surface of the card 10 except when the owner needs the secret information Is, other than the owner of the card 10. It is possible to prevent a person from seeing the secret information Is.

The switching from the transmissive state to the non-transmissive state in the light control sheet 30 may be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the drive unit 42 generates the drive voltage and applies it to the dimming sheet 30 so that the drive voltage is applied to the dimming sheet 30 only for a preset period. As a result, after the elapse of the preset period, the application of the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30 is stopped, and the dimming sheet 30 switches from the transmissive state to the opaque state.

Alternatively, when the supply of electric power from the external device to the power receiving unit 45 is stopped due to the operation of moving the card 11 away from the external device, the drive unit 42 stops applying the drive voltage to the dimming sheet 30. May be good.

According to the card 11 of the second embodiment, an external device for power supply is required to confirm the confidential information Is, but the configuration of the card body 20 and the switching unit 46 is simplified as compared with the first embodiment. can do. Therefore, the size of the card 11 can be easily reduced.

[Modification example]
The card 11 of the second embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows.
-In the above embodiment, power is supplied to the switching unit 46 by non-contact power supply, but instead, power may be supplied to the switching unit 46 through contact between the terminals. That is, the power receiving unit 45 has a terminal that is brought into contact with the power supply terminal of the external device, and this terminal is exposed on the surface of the card 11, that is, the surface of the sheet member 51, and the terminal of the power receiving unit 45 and the power supply terminal of the external device. Power may be supplied to the switching unit 46 through contact with the switching unit 46.

The switching unit 46 may include a control unit that controls the generation of the drive voltage by the drive unit 42. The control unit receives power input from the external device to the power receiving unit 45, outputs a control signal instructing the supply of power to the dimming sheet 30 to the drive unit 42, receives the control signal, and drives the control unit. The unit 42 generates a driving voltage and supplies the light control sheet 30.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1) and (3) of the first embodiment.
(5) Since the switching unit 46 is located on the surface of the card body 20, even for a card having a configuration in which it is difficult to arrange an electronic circuit inside the card body 20, the dimming sheet 30 has a opaque state and a transparent state. It is possible to apply a configuration that enhances the confidentiality of the confidential information Is by switching between. Further, the configuration for hiding the secret information Is, that is, the sheet member 51 including the dimming sheet 30 and the circuit unit 50 is fixed to the card body 20 at a time different from the manufacturing process of the card body 20, and the card 11 is used. It is also possible to configure. Therefore, there is a high degree of freedom regarding the application target of the above configuration that enhances the confidentiality of the confidential information Is by using the dimming sheet 30.

(6) In a configuration in which power is input to the switching unit 46 by non-contact power supply, it is not necessary to connect terminals between the card 11 and an external device for power supply, which is convenient for confirming confidential information Is. Is enhanced.

[Modification example]
The cards of each of the above embodiments and comparative examples can be modified and implemented as follows.
-In the first embodiment, the light control sheet 30 may cover the entire surface of the card body 20 and the electrode layer 32 may be arranged only in the region overlapping with the secret information Is. According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the surface of the card 10 from forming irregularities due to the dimming sheet 30, so that the card 10 can be easily stored and handled. In the region other than the region where the secret information Is is located, the dimming sheet 30 is high when the dimming layer 31 is not energized by arranging the alignment layer sandwiching the dimming layer 31 between the dimming layer 31 and the support 33. It has light transmission and can make the image of the surface of the card body 20 visible through the dimming sheet 30. The alignment layer is a layer that orients the long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules along the thickness direction of the light control sheet 30.

Further, also in the second embodiment, the light control sheet 30 covers the entire surface of the card body 20 in a portion other than the circuit unit 50, and the electrode layer 32 is arranged only in the region overlapping with the secret information Is. May be good.

-The secret information Is and the dimming sheet 30 may be located on both sides of the card body 20. When the secret information Is and the dimming sheet 30 are located on only one surface of the card body 20, the surface on which the secret information Is and the dimming sheet 30 are located is the surface of the card body 20 in the above embodiment and the modification. It is a surface defined as.

-At least one of the dimming sheet 30 or the card body 20 may have an ultraviolet barrier function. The ultraviolet barrier function is a function of suppressing ultraviolet rays from being incident on the liquid crystal composition contained in the dimming layer 31. Since the liquid crystal composition contained in the light control layer 31 having a PNLC structure contains an ionizing radiation curable resin which is a photopolymerizable compound, deterioration due to the incident of ultraviolet rays is likely to occur. If at least one of the dimming sheet 30 or the card body 20 has an ultraviolet barrier function, the dimming layer 31 can be protected from ultraviolet rays, so that the weather resistance of the dimming sheet 30 is improved. Is possible.

If a weathering agent such as an ultraviolet absorber or a light stabilizer is included in the liquid crystal composition in order to suppress deterioration of the liquid crystal composition, the ultraviolet rays required for curing are emitted when the light control layer 31 is cured and molded. It is absorbed by the weather resistant agent and the curing reaction is hindered. Therefore, it is preferable that the members other than the dimming layer 31 have an ultraviolet barrier function. For example, the dimming sheet 30 may include a barrier layer having an ultraviolet barrier function. The barrier layer contains, for example, a photopolymerization initiator, a compound having an unsaturated double bond, and an ultraviolet absorber. The ultraviolet absorber is, for example, a salicylic acid type, a benzophenone type, a benzotriazole type, a cyanoacrylate type, or a triazine type. Further, the electrode layer 32 and the support 33 may have an ultraviolet barrier function. Alternatively, the card body 20 may be provided with the barrier layer, or the base material constituting the card body 20 may be provided with an ultraviolet barrier function.

The card may have a security structure portion on the front surface or the back surface of the card body 20, which is a region that develops color when irradiated with ultraviolet rays by a black light or the like, as a configuration for preventing forgery of the card. The security structure portion is formed by applying ink that develops color when exposed to ultraviolet rays so as to form a predetermined character or pattern. When the card has a security structure portion, the secret information Is and the dimming sheet 30 covering the secret information Is are arranged on the surface of the card body 20 opposite to the surface on which the security structure portion is provided. Is preferable. According to such a configuration, the dimming sheet 30 is protected from ultraviolet rays emitted for confirmation of the security structure portion as compared with a configuration in which the dimming sheet 30 is arranged on the same surface as the security structure portion. Can be done.

The dimming layer 31 may contain a dye having a predetermined color and does not interfere with the movement of the liquid crystal molecules according to the magnitude of the voltage applied to the dimming layer 31. According to such a configuration, the dimming sheet 30 having a predetermined color is realized, so that the design of the card can be improved.

The dimming sheet 30 may be configured to have an opaque state and a transmissive state, that is, to be opaque when not energized and to increase light transmission when energized, and the dimming layer 31 may be configured. It may have a structure different from the PNLC structure. For example, when the light control sheet 30 is a liquid crystal type light control sheet, the type of liquid crystal included in the light control layer 31 includes a polymer network type liquid crystal having a PNLC structure and a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal (PDLC: Examples thereof include Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) and capsule-type nematic liquid crystal (NCAP: Nematic Curvelined Phase). Further, the light control sheet 30 may be an electrochromic type or a polarizing plate type light control sheet.

Is ... Confidential information, 10, 11 ... Card, 20 ... Card body, 21 ... Authentication information input unit, 30 ... Dimming sheet, 31 ... Dimming layer, 32 ... Electrode layer, 33 ... Support, 41 ... Control unit, 42 ... drive unit, 43 ... power supply unit, 44, 46 ... switching unit, 45 ... power receiving unit, 50 ... circuit unit, 51 ... seat member.

Claims (6)

The card body that contains the information to be kept secret on the surface,
A dimming sheet that is located on the surface and covers the information, and is in an opaque state in which the dimming sheet makes the information invisible during the period when the driving voltage is not applied, and the driving voltage is applied. During the period, the dimming sheet is in a transparent state so that the information can be visually recognized.
A switching unit that starts applying the drive voltage in response to an operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transmissive state.
Equipped with a,
The card body has a security structure portion, which is a region that develops color when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, on the back surface, which is a surface opposite to the front surface on which the dimming sheet is located.
The dimming sheet includes a layer having an ultraviolet barrier function.
card. The switching unit is
An authentication information input unit that accepts the input of authentication information,
A control unit in which the authentication information is input from the authentication information input unit, and a control unit.
Includes a drive unit that generates the drive voltage based on receiving a control signal from the control unit and applies it to the dimming sheet.
The control unit performs authentication using the data stored in the control unit and the authentication information, and when the authentication is established, outputs the control signal to the drive unit.
The operation according to claim 1, wherein the operation of inputting the authentication information for which the authentication is established to the authentication information input unit is an operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transparent state. card. The operation for changing the state of the dimming sheet from the opaque state to the transmissive state is an operation for supplying electric power to the switching unit.
The card according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit starts applying the drive voltage based on receiving the supply of the electric power. The card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switching unit includes a circuit located inside the card body. The card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switching unit is located on the surface of the card body. The card according to claim 5, wherein electric power is supplied to the switching unit by non-contact power supply.

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