JPH04268687A - Ic card driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exchange signals even when the insertion direction is mistaken when it is used in a dark place or in a hurry by starting an IC card reader/ writer intervening between the IC card and the terminal equipment even when the IC card is inserted in the opposite direction. CONSTITUTION:In the internal circuit of the IC card reader/writer, A11 to A18 and B11 to B18 are contact parts to be connected to the contact terminal of the IC card. In the IC card 6, contact terminals A1 to A8 are provided. When the IC card 6 is inserted into the IC card reader/writer in the A direction, the contact terminals A1 to A8 are matched with the contact parts A11 to A18 of the IC card reader/writer. On the other hand, when the IC card 6 is inserted into the IC card reader/writer in the B direction, the contact terminals A1 to A8 are matched with contact parts B11 to B18. This opposite direction B is the opposite direction to the existing insertion direction.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card drive device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art An IC card is known in which an IC module consisting of two ICs, a microcomputer and a memory, is mounted inside a plastic card. There are two types of IC cards: IC memory cards in which memories such as RAM and ROM are installed inside the IC card, and IC smart cards in which not only memory but also a CPU is installed. Data and programs are read and written to the IC card from a terminal device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). The IC card is provided with six or eight contact terminals for external contact. These contact terminals are an interface between the IC card and the terminal device.

[0003] An IC card drive device, a so-called IC card reader/writer, is required to exchange information signals between the IC card and the terminal device. The basic functions of the IC card reader/writer include controlling insertion/ejection of the IC card, supplying power, clock, and reset signals to the IC card, controlling data transmission/reception with the IC card, and controlling data transmission/reception with the terminal device. In addition, the form of IC card reader/writer is as follows:
There are two types: stand-alone type, which is independent from the terminal device, and device-integrated type, which is built into the terminal device.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When transmitting and receiving information signals between a terminal device and an IC card using an IC card reader/writer, if the contact terminal of the IC card and the contact part of the IC card reader/writer do not match, No information signals are exchanged. That is, if the IC card is inserted in the wrong direction, the IC card will not be installed in the IC card reader/writer due to ejection control of the IC card reader/writer even if the IC card is inserted. Therefore, for example, when the IC card is used in a dark place, in a hurry, or by a child or elderly person, the IC card may be inserted in the wrong direction, and information signals will not be exchanged between the terminal device and the IC card.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader/writer capable of reading and writing regardless of the direction in which the IC card is inserted.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In an IC card drive device that sends and receives information signals by bringing contact terminals into contact with the contacts of an IC card with a predetermined contact pressure, contact terminals are provided at multiple locations on the opposing surface of the IC card. This is an IC card drive device characterized by:

[0007]

[Operation] Regardless of the direction in which the IC card is inserted, the contact terminals of the IC card and the contact portion of the IC card reader/writer can come into contact with each other.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an internal circuit diagram of a stand-alone or device-embedded IC card reader/writer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, A11 to A18 and B11
~B18 is a contact portion that comes into contact with the contact terminal of the IC card. A11 and B11, A12 and B12, A1
3 and B13... are commonly connected to each other. In addition, A1
4, A18, B14, B18 are IC cards 6 to be described later.
The spare terminals A4 and A8 are not used.

[0009] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, an IC card will first be explained. FIG. 2 shows an internal circuit of, for example, an ISO standard IC card. Terminal A1 is the CPU
1 and nonvolatile memory 2, and supplies voltage Vcc for driving the circuit. The CPU 1 is provided with a RAM for data processing by the CPU and a ROM as a program memory. Nonvolatile memory 2 is a data memory. Terminal A2 is connected to CPU1 and supplies a reset signal. Terminal A3 is connected to CPU1 and supplies a clock signal. Terminals A4 and A8 are spare terminals and are not normally used. Terminal A5 is grounded. Terminal A6 is connected to nonvolatile memory 2. The memory of terminal A6 is EPROM.
This is used when the write voltage Vpp is different from the circuit voltage Vcc, as in the case shown in FIG. Terminal A7 is connected to CPU1,
The input data signal from the terminal device is supplied as a serial input data signal. The CPU 1 and the nonvolatile memory 2 are connected by a control bus 3, an address bus 4, and a data bus 5.

FIG. 3 shows the ISO standard IC shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the appearance of the card 6. FIG. The IC card 6 is provided with contact terminals A1 to A8 as shown in the figure. When the IC card 6 is inserted into the IC card reader/writer in the direction indicated by A in FIG. ~A18 is matched. This forward direction A corresponds to the conventionally defined insertion direction. Moreover, when the IC card 6 is inserted into the IC card reader/writer in the direction shown by B in FIG. 2 (hereinafter referred to as the opposite direction), the contact terminals A1 to A
8 is the contact part B11 of the IC card reader/writer
Matches B18. This reverse direction B is a direction opposite to the conventionally determined insertion direction.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a system using the IC card reader/writer of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a personal computer 11 is connected to a connector 13 via a connector 12. At the same time, a stabilized power source 14 is connected to the connector 13. Connector 13 is connected to connector 16 of IC card read/write controller 15 . The IC card reader/writer 17 is controlled by the IC card read/write controller 15 . The IC card reader/writer 17 is provided with an IC card insertion slot 18.
The C card 6 is inserted into this insertion slot 18. I at this time
The direction in which the IC card 6 is inserted into the C card reader/writer 17 may be either forward direction A or reverse direction B. Note that the present invention is not limited to IC cards of the ISO standard, but is applicable to all IC cards.

0012

[Effects of the Invention] Even when the IC card is inserted in the opposite direction, the IC card interposed between the IC card and the terminal device can
The card reader/writer can be operated. Therefore, even if the IC card is inserted in the wrong direction due to use in a dark place, in a hurry, or by a child or elderly person, information signals can be exchanged between the terminal device and the IC card. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an internal circuit diagram of an IC card reader/writer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal circuit diagram of the IC card.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the IC card.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram using the IC card reader/writer of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

A11-A18 Contact part B11-B18 Contact part

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] In an IC card drive device that sends and receives information signals by bringing contact terminals into contact with the contacts of an IC card with a predetermined contact pressure, the contact terminals are provided at a plurality of locations on the opposing surface of the IC card. An IC card drive device characterized by: