JPH04367993A - Memory ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a memory IC card which has the capacity enough to accumulate (store) the necessary attribute information and is equipped with a function to be able to rewrite the attribute information. CONSTITUTION:The title card is constituted of an annular resin-made case main body 4, a wiring circuit plate 5 arranged in the case main body 4, a semiconductor memory element 6a to accumulate (store) main information and primary information and peripheral circuit parts, a connector 7 in which one edge is connected electrically to the wiring circuit plate 5 and other edge is derived from the annular resin-made case main body 4, and a pair of metallic plates 8a and 8b to seal both opening surfaces of the annular resin-made case main body 4, and besides the semiconductor memory element 6a, an auxiliary semiconductor memory element 6b to accumulate the secondary information (attribute information) is provided and built in, and an addressing for input and output shapes the connector 7. By the sharing of the connector 7, without reducing the storing capacity at the primary information side, the storing capacity at the secondary information side can be increased and the rewriting of the accumulated (stored) secondary information can be arbitrarily performed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory IC card, and more particularly to a memory IC card equipped with an auxiliary semiconductor memory element for storing secondary information.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Memory IC cards can be used in the same way as magnetic disks and optical disks as auxiliary storage devices for microcomputer applications, such as notebook computers. Moreover, when compared to magnetic disks, memory IC cards have the advantage of not requiring a dedicated drive device when accessing data, making them smaller and lighter, and also shortening access time. be done.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram schematically showing how a memory IC card is used as the auxiliary storage device.
The memory IC card 1 is connected to a processing device equipped with a central processing means 2 and an input/output means 3 to write and read required information or data (main information/primary information), and to write/read card attribute information. It writes and reads (read-only data and secondary information such as card type and memory capacity). Here, the memory IC card 1 is a semiconductor memory element 1 that stores main information or primary information.
It has a configuration that includes a built-in card attribute information circuit 1b and a card attribute information circuit 1b. The card attribute information circuit 1b side is configured to pull up the power and ground potentials using a resistor, and use a connector pin 1d independent (separate) from the connector pins 1c on the semiconductor memory element 1a side. ing.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The memory IC card 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 has the following problems. That is, when trying to increase the amount of stored information (attribute information) in the card attribute information circuit 1b, the number of connector pins 1d increases as the number of bits inevitably increases. The number of connector pins 1c involved in transmitting address signals and the like to the element 1a is reduced.

Furthermore, as attribute information, in addition to information that does not physically change, there is also software information that corresponds to the content of information that is stored and accumulated as primary information. For this reason, a large storage capacity is desired in the attribute information circuit 1b, and it is sometimes necessary to be able to rewrite the attribute information depending on the content of the software. However, the attribute information circuit 1b built in and attached to the conventional memory IC card 1 not only has a limited storage capacity but also does not have an attribute information rewriting function, and cannot meet the above requirements. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a memory IC card that has sufficient capacity to store (memorize) required attribute information and is also equipped with a function that allows the attribute information to be rewritten. For the purpose of providing.

[0007]

[Means for solving the problems] Memory I according to the present invention
The C card includes a ring-shaped resin case body, a printed circuit board placed inside the ring-shaped resin case main body, and a semiconductor memory element mounted on the printed circuit board that stores (memorizes) main information and primary information. and a peripheral circuit component, a connector whose one end is electrically connected to the printed circuit board side and whose other end is led out from the annular resin case body, and a pair of connectors that seal both opening surfaces of the annular resin case body. In a memory IC card consisting of a metal plate, in addition to the semiconductor memory element, an auxiliary semiconductor memory element for storing secondary information (attribute information) is attached/built-in, and the input/output addressing thereof shares the connector. It is characterized by

[0008]

[Operation] According to the present invention, primary information (main information) is stored (
In addition to the semiconductor memory element for storage), an auxiliary semiconductor memory element for storing secondary information (attribute information) is attached/built-in, and input/output thereof is performed by sharing a connector. Therefore, by sharing the connector, the storage capacity of the secondary information side can be increased without reducing the storage capacity of the primary information side, and the storage capacity (
The stored secondary information can also be rewritten as desired.

[0009]

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the main structure of a memory IC card according to the present invention, in which 4 is a ring-shaped resin case body, and 5 is a wiring arranged inside the ring-shaped resin case body 4. A circuit board 6a is a semiconductor memory element and peripheral circuit components that accumulate (memorize) main information/primary information mounted on the printed circuit board 5, and 6b is also the printed circuit board 5.
A rewritable, read-only semiconductor memory element 7 that stores secondary information (attribute information) is mounted on the board, one end of which is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 5 side, and the other end of which is connected to the annular resin case body. Connector (pin) derived from 4, 8a,
8b is a pair of metal plates that seal both opening surfaces of the annular resin case body 4, and the semiconductor memory element 6
In addition to a, an auxiliary semiconductor memory element 6b for storing secondary information (attribute information) is attached and built-in, and the connector 7 is commonly used for input/output addressing.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically showing how the memory IC card having the above configuration is used. Semiconductor memory element 6
It is connected to the central processing means 12 via a control bus 10b for switching/reading/writing data between the semiconductor memory element 6b and the semiconductor memory element 6b for storing secondary information, and a data bus 10c for transmitting data. Here, in the memory IC card according to the present invention, the built-in semiconductor memory element 6a for storing primary information and the semiconductor memory element 6b for storing secondary information are the address bus 10a and the control bus 10b. and a data bus 10c are commonly connected, and therefore connection with the central processing means 11 is made by commonly using a connector 12.

According to the above configuration, even if the number of connector pins is constant, the data bus for the semiconductor memory device 6a that stores primary information and the data bus for the semiconductor memory device 6b that stores secondary information are common. Since the semiconductor memory devices 6a and 6b are used as a bus, they can function satisfactorily without reducing the storage capacity of these semiconductor memory devices 6a, 6b. In particular, when a rewritable read-only semiconductor memory element 6b is used as the auxiliary semiconductor memory element 6b as described above, for example, whether writing is possible or not,
Alternatively, it is possible to record hardware information such as card revision, and it is also possible to record software information in the latest state, such as input month and date, software changes, software name, or information required to access information. . Moreover, in this case, the data (information) stored in the auxiliary semiconductor memory element 6b will not disappear due to an emergency, for example, a power outage. It is also possible to easily check the deleted contents, such as when the contents of the memory disappear.

[0013] In the above example, a rewritable read-only semiconductor memory element 6b is used as an auxiliary semiconductor memory element, but it is also possible to use a random access memory element equipped with a dedicated backup power supply. Similar effects can be obtained even if the

[0014]

As explained above, the memory IC card according to the present invention has a configuration in which the connector (pin) for electrical connection with an external processing device is shared. In other words, since dedicated connectors (pins) are not required for the semiconductor memory element side that stores primary information and the auxiliary semiconductor memory element side, for example, a data bus to the semiconductor memory element side that stores primary information is not required. This makes it possible to enhance the functionality of the auxiliary semiconductor memory element without reducing the number or number of address buses (while retaining the original functionality). In particular, if a rewritable read-only semiconductor memory element is used as an auxiliary semiconductor memory element, various hardware and software information related to the primary information can be rewritten as desired. Therefore, it is possible to always store and maintain the latest information.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of main parts of a memory IC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically showing how the memory IC card according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram schematically showing how a conventional memory IC card is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 9...Memory IC cards 1a, 6a...Semiconductor memory element 1b for storing primary information...Card attribute information circuits 1c, 1d, 12...Connectors 2, 11...Central processing means 3...Input/output means 4 ...Annular resin case body 5 ...Circuit board 6b ...Auxiliary semiconductor memory element 7 ...Connector (pin) 8a, 8b ...Metal plate 10a ...Address bus 10b ...Control bus 10c …data bus

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An annular resin case body, a printed circuit board disposed within the annular resin case main body, a semiconductor memory element and peripheral circuit components mounted on the printed circuit board, and one end of which is attached to the printed circuit board. In the memory IC card, the memory IC card includes a connector that is electrically connected to one side and has the other end led out from the annular resin case body, and a pair of metal plates that seal both opening surfaces of the annular resin case body. A memory IC card characterized in that an auxiliary semiconductor memory element for storing secondary information is attached to and built in in addition to the semiconductor memory element, and its input/output leads share the connector.