JPH01121989A - Memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save power consumption by modulating a signal modulated by an inherent code by the modulator of a transmitting part by an output from a control part and after that, outputting it from an antenna. CONSTITUTION:A photocell 7 supplies power E to respective parts in accordance with irradiation Le of an external light source and operates them. In a receiving part 11, a receiving element 8 receives a signal Li modulated by a specific code from the outside and a control part 12 sends the inherent code from a code generating part 13 in accordance with the specific code shown by an output from the receiving part 11. The signal from the control part 12 is modulated by a modulator 15 of a transmitting part 14 and after that, irradiated as a radio waves E0 from an antenna 9 to the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a memory card used in automated cash transfers, etc., and particularly relates to a memory card with low power consumption.

[Prior art]

For example, in this type of memory card, a photovoltaic cell supplies power to each part in response to irradiation from an external light source to operate it, and a light receiving element in the receiving part receives a signal modulated by a specific code from the outside. The control unit sends out a unique code from the code generation unit in accordance with the specific code indicated by the output from the reception unit, and a signal modulated by the unique code is sent to the light emitting diode of the transmission unit depending on how it is output from the control unit. Some devices have light emitting elements that emit light to the outside.

This device uses a photovoltaic cell and does not require the use of contact terminals for power supply, so it is highly reliable in operation. The light beam modulated by −
Since the code is not emitted, it is impossible to obtain the unique code without using proper means, which has the advantage of effectively preventing forgery.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional device, power for each part is supplied by photovoltaic cells, and it is not possible to obtain large amounts of power from photovoltaic cells. However, a light emitting diode is used as a light emitting element constituting the transmitter, and this light emitting diode consumes more power than other circuit parts. For this reason, there is a possibility that the amount of power supplied to other circuit parts will be insufficient due to the amount of power consumed by the light emitting diode.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned circumstances and aims to eliminate these problems, and provides a memory card with low power consumption.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a photovoltaic battery that supplies power to various parts according to irradiation from an external light source, a code generator that generates a unique code, and a light beam that receives a light beam modulated by a specific code from the outside. a receiving section equipped with a light receiving element;
a control unit that sends out a unique code from the code generation unit in accordance with the specific code indicated by the output of the light receiving unit; and a modulator that modulates a signal modulated by the unique code in accordance with the output of the control unit. and a transmitter equipped with an antenna that outputs the signal modulated by the modulator to the outside.

[Effect]

According to the configuration of the present invention, the photovoltaic cell supplies power to each part in response to irradiation from an external light source to operate it, and in the receiving part, the light-receiving element receives a signal modulated by a specific code from the outside. The control unit sends out a unique code from the code generation unit in accordance with the specific code indicated by the output from the control unit, and the signal modulated by the unique code based on the output from the control unit is modulated by the m transformer of the transmission unit. After that, it is output to the outside from the antenna.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 is the overall circuit configuration diagram, Figure 2 is the overall plan view of the exterior,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line m--m in FIG. 2.

The case 1 is composed of a flat substrate 2 and a concave cover plate 3 that fits over the substrate 2, and a gap is formed between the cover plate 3 and the substrate 2 via a collar 1a. . A printed circuit board 4 is placed above the substrate 2 within this gap. The substrate 2, cover plate 3, collar 1a, and printed circuit board 4 are integrally fixed by bolts 5 disposed through them. The head of the bolt 50 is sealed with a sealant 6, making it impossible to manipulate the inside.

The printed circuit board 4 includes a photovoltaic cell 7, a light receiving element 8 such as a phototransistor, an antenna 9, an integrated circuit component 10, and an input terminal 1 of a code generating section 13 to be described later.
3a is placed. Of these, the photovoltaic cell 6, the light receiving element 7, and the antenna 9 are exposed to the outside. In addition, the input terminal 13a is connected to the code generating section 1 before being sealed with the sealing material 6.
It is used when storing a unique code in 3.

The overall circuit configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. The photovoltaic cell 7 generates electric power using the irradiated lights I and e from an external light source, and supplies electric power E to each part. Reference numeral 11 denotes a receiving section, and this receiving section 11 is composed of an amplifier, a waveform shaping circuit, etc. 11a in addition to the light receiving element 8, and the light receiving element 8 receives a light beam Li modulated by a specific code given from the outside. Then, after performing predetermined processing on the signal, the control unit 1
It is designed to output to 2. The control unit 12 is configured by a microprocessor or a combination of various logic circuits, and decodes a specific code according to the reception of the light beam Li, and if it is a preset code,
A unique code is output from a code generating section 13 using a memory or the like to a transmitting section 14. In addition to the drive circuit 14a, the transmitter 14 includes a modulator 1 that modulates the signal from the code generator 13 with a carrier wave Fi such as AM or FM.
5, an amplifier 16 and an antenna 9, from which a radio wave EO modulated by a unique code is transmitted.
radiates to the outside. Although not shown in the drawings, a receiving section for receiving radio waves EO from the antenna 9 is disposed in the insertion section of the memory card insertion device.
.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the insertion section of the memory card insertion device is provided with a light source such as a lamp in correspondence with the photovoltaic cell 6, and is also provided with a light emitting section in correspondence with the light receiving element 8.

In such a configuration, the photovoltaic cell 7 receives the irradiation Le from the external light source.
The receiving section 11 is operated by supplying power E to each section according to the
Then, the receiving element 8 receives a signal Li modulated by a specific code from the outside, and the control unit 12 sends out a unique code from the code generating unit 13 in accordance with the specific code indicated by the output from the receiving unit 11. This control section 12
The signal is modulated by the modulator 15 of the transmitter 14 and then radiated to the outside from the antenna 9 as a radio wave Eo.

In this way, the transmitter 14 is configured with the modulator 15 and the antenna 9, and can emit radio waves EO without consuming large amounts of power. This can be done satisfactorily without compromising supply.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the transmitting section is configured with a modulator and an antenna, and can output a signal without consuming a large amount of power, thereby saving power. Even if photovoltaic batteries are used, sufficient power supply to each part can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the memory card according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall circuit configuration diagram, FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of the external appearance, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line m-■ in FIG. 2. It is. (Brief explanation of drawings showing main parts) 7. Photovoltaic cell 8. Light receiving element 9. Antenna 10. Circuit component 11. Receiving section
12...Control unit 13...Code generation unit 14...Transmission unit 15...Modulator

Claims (1)

[Claims] A photovoltaic cell that supplies power to each part in response to irradiation from an external light source, a code generator that generates a unique code, a receiver that includes a light-receiving element that receives light modulated by a specific code from the outside; a control unit that sends out a unique code from the code generation unit in accordance with the specific code indicated by the output of the light receiving unit; a modulator that modulates a signal modulated by the unique code in accordance with the output of the control unit; 1. A memory card comprising: a transmitting section equipped with an antenna that outputs a signal modulated by a modulator to the outside.