JPH01255596A - Ic cartridge and reading/writing system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to discriminate the insertion of an IC cartridge and the secure contact of electrodes with contact pins, by detecting the electrical conduction between a positional deviation-detecting electrode provided on the IC card and a contact pin of a connector. CONSTITUTION:Where an IC cartridge 1 inserted into a connector is positionally deviated in a direction orthogonal to an inserting direction, a positional deviation-detecting electrode 4 does not make contact with a contact pin 4' of the connector when electrodes 5 narrowly make contact with contact pins 5' of the connector or when the electrodes 5 fail to be in contact with the contact pins 5'. On the other hand, when the electrode 4 is in insufficient contact but not poor contact with the contact pin 4' of the connector, the electrodes 5 of the IC cartridge 1 securely are in contact with the contact pins 5', with some allowance. Thus, it is judged whether the electrode 4 is in contact with the contact pin 4', and when normal mounting is not achieved, access to the IC cartridge 1 by an external electric apparatus is inhibited by an electronic circuit, a microcomputer or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an IC cartridge and its read/write system.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, an IC cartridge has a built-in circuit board on which an integrated circuit such as a microcomputer or a random access memory is mounted, and a part of the circuit board has many electrodes for connecting to a connector of an external electronic device. Proposed.

The electrical connection between the IC cartridge and external electronic equipment is
This is generally done by inserting the IC cartridge into the connector and bringing them into contact with electrodes provided on the IC cartridge and contact pins built into a connector attached to an external electronic device.

The technology for detecting the connection state and non-connection state between the contact pins of the connector and the electrodes of the memory card is as follows:
A connector for a memory card is disclosed in which a through hole is formed in the inner part of the connector, and the connection state or non-connection state between the connector pin and the electrode of the memory card is optically detected. 62-107376.

The above-described conventional technology only detects whether or not a memory card is inserted into the connector, and cannot detect contact between the contact pins of the connector and the electrodes of the memory card. However, even if the memory card is inserted into the connector in an ideal state in the insertion direction, misalignment in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the connector and memory card may cause the contact pins of the connector and the electrodes of the memory card to There may be cases where there is no contact. In other words, any power supply line, ground line, signal line, control line, etc. are not connected. Forcibly accessing data in such a state may result in operations such as writing or reading data being performed incorrectly, or even if correct operations are performed, data may be damaged or malfunction may occur, such as loss of access. Data corruption may occur.

Furthermore, the method of optically detecting the connected state and non-connected state between the contact pins with many connections and the electrodes of the memory card requires processing such as drilling holes in the connector, and also requires a light emitting device for the detection light. Since it is necessary to separately provide a light receiving device, a detection device, etc., the system has the disadvantage that the system becomes large and complicated.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and to solve the previously unknown I.
The purpose is to provide a new C cartridge and its read/write system.

[Means for Solving the Problems] (“1) Display of Configuration The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes a large number of electrodes for connection to connectors provided on external electronic equipment. The present invention provides an IC cartridge, characterized in that at least one of the electrodes is an electrode for detecting displacement when the IC cartridge is inserted into the connector.

(2) Detailed description of the configuration Hereinafter, a description will be given according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the basic configuration of the present invention, where l is an IC cartridge, 2 is a case of the IC cartridge l, 3 is a circuit board, 4 is a displacement detection electrode, and 5 is for communication with external electronic equipment. 6 is the normal electrode for the IC cartridge 1, and 6 is the electrode 4 for the IC cartridge 1.
This is an opening for exposing 5. Figures 2 and 3 show the relationship between the contact pins of the connector and the electrodes of the IC cartridge 1 when the IC cartridge 1 is inserted into the connector and the connector and IC cartridge 1 are misaligned in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an electrode portion perpendicular to the direction of the electrodes showing the positional relationship; FIG. 2 shows a case where the deviation is large, and FIG. 3 shows a case where the deviation is small. In both figures, 4' and 5' indicate contact pins of a connector of an external electronic device.

The contact pins 4', s'' of the connector have approximately the same shape and correspond in position to the electrodes 4.5 of the IC cartridge 1, respectively.

Each of the electrodes 5 of the IC cartridge 1 has approximately the same shape, and the electrode 4 for detecting displacement is smaller than them. It is necessary that the pitches of the contact pins of the connector and the electrodes of the IC cartridge 1 be approximately equal. When the IC cartridge 1 is inserted into the connector and a positional displacement occurs in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, the electrodes 4 for detecting displacement are connected to the contact pins 5'' of the connector as shown in FIG. If the contact pin 4' of the connector is at the very limit that does not cause a contact failure, or the contact pin 4' of the connector is not in contact with the third
As shown in the figure, reverse electrode 4 and contact pin 4' of the connector.
If the condition is as close as possible without causing contact failure, the IC
Electrode 5 of cartridge 1 and contact pin 5 of connector
′ is structured so that there is a certain margin of contact between them.

The number of electrodes 4 may be one, but a plurality of electrodes 4 may be provided at the above-described constant pitch, or may be provided at both ends of the row of electrodes 5 of the IC cartridge 1. However, if the space of the opening 6 of the IC cartridge 1 cannot be widened, it is desirable to use one or two. In addition, the material of the electrode 4 is such that the shape of the electrode 4 is the same as that of the electrode 5.
In view of the smaller size, it is preferable to use gold plating on a pattern of copper or the like to ensure continuity. Also, IC cartridge 1. The external electronic device is equipped with an electronic circuit, a microcomputer, etc. that performs the judgments described below.

As mentioned above, the electrode 4 and the contact pin 4' of the connector
By determining whether the IC is in contact with
It can be seen whether the cartridge l is properly attached to the connector.

A specific method for making the above judgment will be described below.

First, if there is only one electrode 4, you can set the electrode 4 to a constant potential on the IC cartridge L side and read the value of that potential with an external device, or you can oscillate a constant frequency from the electrode 4 of the IC cartridge L. , you can read this with an external device.

Next, if there are multiple electrodes 4, all of the multiple electrodes 4 are connected to one wire within the IC cartridge, and a certain signal is sent to one of the multiple electrodes 4 from the external device side. , a method of reading the signal from other electrodes 4 can be considered.

In these methods, the division of read and write functions may be reversed. Furthermore, the method described above is merely an example, and
The method is not limited to these methods.

Furthermore, using the method described above, it is determined whether the IC cartridge 1 is properly installed in the connector, and if it is not installed normally, access between the IC cartridge 1 and the external electronic device is controlled. Electronic circuits, microcomputers, etc. installed in devices, etc. are prohibited.The contact detection and judgment function between the electrode 4 and the contact pin 4'' described above is prohibited by the IC cartridge 1, the external electronic device, and the external electronic device. It may be built in one of the other electronic devices connected to the electronic device, or it may be built in two or all of the other electronic devices.

IC cartridges having the functions described above and/or
Alternatively, the external electronic device and/or the above-mentioned other electronic device is referred to as a read/write system for the IC cartridge 1.

In the above embodiment, the shapes of the contact pins 4' and 5' are approximately equal, and the shape of the electrode 4 is made smaller than the shape of the electrode 5. The shape of the contact pin 4' may be made smaller than the shape of the contact pin 5'.

[Function] In the present invention, when an IC cartridge is inserted into a connector and the connector and IC cartridge are relatively misaligned in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, poor contact occurs between the electrodes and the contact pins of the respective connectors. In a state where it is at the limit that does not occur, or in a state where there is poor contact, the electrode for detecting J's deviation will not come into contact with the contact pin of the connector. On the other hand, if the displacement detection electrode and the contact pin of the connector are in contact with each other in any state, the connection electrode of the IC cartridge and the contact pin of the connector are surely in contact with each other with a margin.

The presence or absence of electrical continuity between the electrode for detecting displacement of the IC cartridge and the contact pin of the connector is detected by an electronic circuit or microcomputer built into the IC cartridge or external electronic device, and the connection between the IC cartridge and the external electronic device is detected. Decide whether to allow or prohibit access.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention detects electrical continuity between a displacement detection electrode provided on an IC cartridge and a contact pin of a connector, thereby determining whether an IC cartridge is inserted or not, and detecting whether the IC cartridge is inserted or not and other electrodes and connectors. In order to determine whether the contact pins of the connector are in contact with each other with sufficient margin, the electrical continuity detection section between the electrode for detecting displacement provided on the IC cartridge and the contact pin of the connector is connected to an electronic circuit, etc. Since it is constructed of , no mechanical mechanism is required, and there is no need for processing such as drilling holes in the connector. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a light emitting device, a light receiving device, a detecting device, etc. for the detection light, and this has excellent effects such as preventing the system from becoming large and complicated.

Furthermore, if it is detected that there is no electrical continuity between the electrode for detecting displacement provided on the IC cartridge and the contact pin of the connector, the electronic circuit built in the IC cartridge or external electronic device, etc. Since access between the IC cartridge and external electronic equipment is prohibited, there is no forcible access when any power line, ground line, signal line, control line, etc. are not connected. Therefore, operations such as writing or reading data may be performed incorrectly, or even if correct operations are performed, the data may be damaged, become inaccessible, or otherwise malfunction, or data may be stored in the IC cartridge or external electronic device. It is also possible to prevent the data stored in the system from being destroyed. Furthermore, it is also recognized that there is no adverse electrical effect on either device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the basic configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2: An enlarged sectional view of the electrode portion perpendicular to the electrode direction when the IC cartridge is inserted into the connector with a large deviation. FIG. 3: An enlarged sectional view of the electrode portion perpendicular to the electrode direction when the IC cartridge is inserted into the connector with a small deviation. 4: Electrode for detecting misalignment 4': Connector contact pin Fig. 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In an IC cartridge provided with a large number of electrodes for connection to a connector provided on an external electronic device, at least one of the electrodes is connected to the IC.
An IC cartridge characterized in that it is an electrode for detecting displacement when the cartridge is inserted into the connector. 2. Continuity is detected between the electrode for detecting displacement of the IC cartridge and the contact pin of the connector provided on the external electronic device, and if conduction is established, access between the IC cartridge and the external electronic device is permitted, and continuity is established. 2. The IC cartridge read/write system according to claim 1, wherein the IC cartridge read/write system does not permit access if the IC cartridge is not accessed.