JPH0571995B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention provides an IC card, which is formed by mounting an integrated circuit on a card-shaped substrate, and is used in certain devices such as public telephones by combining with the IC card. It relates to a method of connecting the IC card to an external device that provides services or uses the IC card as a memory.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, such IC cards have been connected using a so-called connector. That is, the connector is provided with contacts, and by mechanically pressing the contacts of both the IC card and the external device, the contact is guaranteed, and power is supplied and information is sent and received.

However, the contact deteriorates due to deterioration of the environment in which it is used, resulting in increased contact resistance and reduced reliability. Furthermore, since the connector is pressed mechanically, positional accuracy is required for insertion and removal, resulting in poor operability. Furthermore, the number of insertions and removals is limited, making it unsuitable for services that require frequent insertion and removal.

On the other hand, if contactless connection is used, all of the above-mentioned problems will be solved. However, although contactless transmission and reception of information can be easily performed using, for example, a photocoupler, there is a problem in supplying the necessary power on the IC card side.

The first option to consider as a means of securing power is to use a built-in battery, but batteries have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced, and if the memory is volatile, the IC card may need to be replaced when it is replaced. There is also a risk that information may be destroyed.

Therefore, it is necessary to supply it from the external device side. In this case, there is a view that the deterioration of the contacts is not so much of a problem when it comes to power supply, but for example, when it is used as a bill payment method for outdoor public telephones, or in service systems that are frequently used by an unspecified number of people, etc. Since there are concerns about the reliability of the contacts on the device side, it is desirable to use a non-contact connection.

A conceivable non-contact power transmission means is, for example, a method in which one device emits light energy and the other device converts this into electrical energy using a photovoltaic element such as a solar cell to obtain the necessary power. However, small and thin devices such as IC cards cannot receive enough power.For example, when storing and rewriting information using non-volatile memory such as so-called EEPROM as a memory element, the power consumption is low. There are restrictions on the configuration of IC cards, such as a lack of. In addition, there are problems in terms of mechanical strength, and it is difficult to say that it is sufficient in terms of ease of handling.

[Object and structure of the invention]

The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a device without any electrical contact.
Provides an IC card combination method that allows IC cards to be completely connected to external devices and also allows the removal of built-in batteries from IC cards to create an IC card usage system with high operability and reliability. It's about doing.

In order to achieve such an objective, the present invention
As a means for supplying power from an external device to an IC card, the external device side includes an AC power supply, a core which is connected to an AC power source in a freely openable/closable manner and forms one magnetic path, and an AC power source wrapped around this core. The IC card is equipped with a drive coil that generates magnetic flux using a power source, and a sheet-shaped coil is embedded in the IC card, and a hole is provided in the center of the coil that passes through the front and back. A part of the core that forms the magnetic path when connected to the IC card passes through the hole of the IC card. Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using Examples.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the technology on which the present invention is based. In the figure, 1 is a service providing device such as a public telephone, and 2 is an IC card. Reference numerals 10 to 19 denote internal elements constituting the service providing apparatus 1, in which 10 is a control section of the apparatus, 11 is an energy supply section, 12 is an information transmitting/receiving section, 13 is a transmitting/receiving control section, and 14 is a power source of the apparatus. Further, 15 is a memory, 16 is a display section for providing input/output guidance to the user, 17 is an operation section for the user, 18 is a transmission control section, and 19 is a communication line. On the other hand, 20
24 is the inside of the IC card 2, 20 is an IC card control section, 21 is a power conversion section, 22 is an information transmission/reception section, 23 is a transmission/reception control section, and 24 is an IC card memory.

In the above configuration, the service providing device 1 is operated by the power supply 14. Therefore, the user inserts the IC card 2 into a predetermined receiving part of the service providing device 1 and connects it in a non-contact state (that is, in a state of complete electrical isolation).
When the controller 10 operates the energy supply unit 11
is driven to supply energy to the power conversion unit 21 inside the IC card 2 as described later. The power conversion unit 21 converts the energy into DC voltage and supplies it to each part within the IC card 2. As a result, the IC card 2 is activated and becomes operational.

On the other hand, the information transmitting and receiving sections 12 and 22 each include, for example, a photodiode as a light emitting element facing the other phototransistor, and a phototransistor as a light receiving element facing the other photodiode, and the control section 10 on the device 1 side , input by the user from the operation unit 17 or communication with the outside via the transmission control unit 18 and the communication line 19;
Alternatively, when transmitting information to the IC card 2 based on information stored in the memory 15, the information transmitting/receiving section 12 is driven via the transmitting/receiving control section 13, and the information is sent to the information receiving section 22 on the IC card 2 side. can be sent. Conversely, when the information sent from the information transmitting/receiving section 22 via the transmitting/receiving control section 23 of the IC card 2 is received by the information transmitting/receiving section 12 on the device 1 side, it is taken into the control section 10 via the transmitting/receiving control section 13. In this way, the device 1 and the IC card 2 can exchange information with each other. Furthermore, the display section 16 displays guidance etc. when the user performs an input operation. For example, the user performs a predetermined operation while communicating with the outside, and stores necessary information in the IC card memory 24 in the IC card 2. It is possible to do so. IC card memory 24
is a program that controls the operation and control of the IC card, as well as stores user data.
Electrically rewritable non-volatile memory elements such as EEPROM and read-only memory (ROM)
The IC card 2 is composed of an element, a random access memory (RAM) element, etc., and its specific configuration differs depending on the form of service provision, but in any case, the IC card 2 uses the DC voltage obtained from the power converter 21. It operates with no internal power source such as a battery.

Here, the coupling portion for supplying power from the device 1 to the IC card 2 is configured as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, for example.

First, FIG. 2a is a front view showing a specific example of the structure of the IC card 2, and FIG. 2b is a side view. In the figure, 21A is a thin coil wound into a sheet (sheet coil), 21B is an AC-DC exchange circuit, and 21C is a magnetic material embedded in the center of the sheet coil as shown. The conversion unit 21 is configured. Further, the IC chip 25 includes a control section 20, a transmission/reception control section 23, and a memory 24.
is chipped as an IC module.
It is installed in IC card 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which such an IC card 2 is connected to the service providing device 1 in a non-contact manner. With power,
These constitute the energy supply section 11. That is, the AC power supply 11C supplies AC power to the drive coil 11A. The drive coil 11A is the core 11
A magnetic field is generated in the gap from both ends of the core 11B. On the other hand, since the magnetic body 21C is configured to be located in the gap of the core 11B as shown in the figure when the IC card 2 is coupled to the device 1, a closed magnetic path is formed by the core 11B and the magnetic body 21C. can do. As a result, power can be efficiently supplied to the sheet coil 21A by electromagnetic induction, and an alternating current voltage can be generated within the sheet coil 21A. This AC voltage is rectified and smoothed to a constant voltage by a rectification/smoothing circuit and a constant voltage circuit that constitute the power conversion section 21 (not shown in the figure), thereby obtaining the DC voltage necessary for the IC card 2.

Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a hole 21D passing through the front and back is provided in the center of the sheet coil 21A of the IC card 2 instead of embedding the magnetic material 21C. On the other hand, on the device 1 side, first and second cores 11B1 and 11B2 each made of a magnetic material are provided. These cores 11B1, 11B2
Normally, the two ends are open as shown in the figure, but after inserting the IC card 2, they move as shown by the arrows and connect to each other, and the IC card 2 is opened as shown in Figure 5.
One closed magnetic path passing through the hole 21D of the card 2 is formed. In this case, since a continuous magnetic path is formed almost completely by the magnetic material, the sheet coil 21
Power can be supplied to A very efficiently.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, an AC power source for generating magnetic flux is connected to an external device, a core that is connected to the external device in a freely openable and closable manner and forms one magnetic path, and a coil connected to this core. A drive coil that generates magnetic flux by the above AC power source is provided, and a coil wound into a sheet is embedded in the IC card side, and a hole is provided in the center of the coil that passes through the front and back. By allowing a portion of the core forming the magnetic path to pass through the hole in the IC card while coupled to the receiving portion of the device, power can be efficiently supplied from the external device to the IC card. Therefore, there is no need for any electrical contact between the IC card and the external device, making it possible to eliminate so-called connectors. Therefore, even in systems that require frequent insertion and removal, or systems that are used in adverse environments, there is no need to consider the reduction in reliability caused by the connector, and there is an advantage in that the structure can be handled roughly.

Furthermore, since IC cards are supplied with sufficient energy from an external device, they do not need to have a built-in battery, and if an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory such as EEPROM is used as the memory, the data can be saved. It can also be used for storage, and has the advantage of safely retaining data without having to worry about data being destroyed due to battery replacement due to battery life.

Furthermore, by using sheet coils, as mentioned above, unlike solar cells, IC cards can be made thinner and still obtain sufficient power, making them compact, lightweight, and maintenance-free. It has the advantage of being able to form an ideal IC card.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the technology that is the premise of the present invention, Fig. 2a is a front view showing an example of the configuration of an IC card, Fig. 2b is a side view, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an IC card. FIGS. 4 and 5, which show the combined state, are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Service providing device (external device), 2...
IC card, 11...Energy supply unit, 11A...
...Drive coil, 11B, 11B1, 11B2...
Core, 11C...AC power supply, 21...Power converter, 21A...Sheet coil, 21B...AC-
DC exchange circuit, 21C...Magnetic material, 21D...Through hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a system consisting of an IC card with an integrated circuit mounted on a card-shaped substrate and an external device that sends and receives information to and from the IC card when the IC card is connected to a predetermined receiver, As a means of supplying power from the device to the IC card,
On the external device side, an AC power source and a core that is openably and closably connected to form one magnetic path;
A driving coil that is wound around the core and generates magnetic flux by the AC power source is provided, and the IC card is embedded with the coil wound in a sheet shape, and a hole is provided in the center of the coil that passes through the front and back sides, I C
An IC card coupling method characterized in that a part of the core forming the magnetic path passes through a hole in the IC card when the card is coupled to a receiving portion of an external device.