JPH0664636B2 - Information card - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to office automation.
mation, OA), factory automation (Facto
Information cards such as IC cards used in fields such as ry automation, FA, etc., especially non-powered (no built-in battery) / non-contact type information cards that do not have contact terminals for power supply and signal input / output It is a thing.

(Prior Art) In a general information card, an integrated circuit such as a semiconductor memory is built in a card body made of plastic or the like, and a contact terminal with an external device is provided on the card surface.

Conventionally, as the technology in this field, Nikkei Mechanical, (1985-10-21) Nikkei McGraw-Hill "IC card"
P.167-170, Nikkei Electronics, (1985-12-2)
Nikkei McGraw-Hill "Electronics manufacturer that sinks into the IC card market (above)" P.275-292, Nikkei Electronics, (1985-12-6) Nikkei McGraw-Hill "Electronics manufacturer that sinks into the IC card market (below)" P. Some were described in 249-262. Less than,
The configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional information card, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the embodiment.

In FIG. 2, 1 is an external device for reading and writing information, 2 is an information card, and DC power VC, E is supplied from the external device 1 to the information card 2 and the external device 1 Input / output signals I / 01 to I between the information cards 2
/ 0n is given and received.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the information card 2 has a rectangular card body 3 made of plastic or the like, and the card body 3 has a plurality of power sources and signals exposed on its surface. The contact type terminal 4 is provided, and an electronic integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as IC) 5 is provided inside.
The IC 5 has a semiconductor memory 6 and a microprocessor 7 that controls writing and reading of information to and from the memory 6.

When this type of information card 2 is inserted into the external device 1, the terminal 4 on the card 2 side comes into contact with the terminal on the external device 1 side, and the information stored in the memory 6 is passed through these terminals 4 and the like to the external device 1. 1 or read the information on the external device 1 side into the memory 6.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the information card having the above configuration, since the terminal 4 is exposed to the outside, contact failure due to dirt, oxidation, corrosion, friction, etc. of the terminal contact portion, and leakage current. There was a problem in reliability due to malfunctions caused by, and damage to IC6 due to static electricity and external voltage.

In order to eliminate this problem, a battery, an oscillator, a loop antenna, etc. are built in the card body 3 without exposing the terminal 4 to the surface of the card body 3, and a non-contact type that sends out a signal from the loop antenna using the battery. Although an information card has been proposed, there is a problem in that the card body 3 becomes thick due to the attachment of the battery and the battery is replaced.

In addition, the direction in which the information card 2 is inserted into the external device 1 is limited to a certain direction because the terminal 4 on the card 2 side and the terminal on the external device 1 side need to be in contact with each other. When it was inserted, it had to be inserted again from the correct direction, which was disadvantageous in use.

The present invention has the problems that the above-mentioned conventional technology has, such as low reliability, thick card due to battery attachment,
(EN) An information card which solves the problems of inconvenience such as battery replacement and the restriction of insertion direction.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention reads information,
Alternatively, in an information card for reading and writing, it is arranged in a substantially rectangular card body and symmetrically on the center line with respect to each side of the card body, and receives external AC power and exchanges signals with the outside. First and second magnetic coupling coils to be performed, a switch circuit for switching paths of input and output signals transmitted and received through the first and second magnetic coupling coils, and input through the first or second magnetic coupling coils A switch switching circuit for controlling the switching operation of the switch circuit based on the input signal,
A memory that records information, a memory control circuit that controls the operation of the memory based on an input signal that is input through the switch circuit, and AC power that is input through the first or second magnetic coupling coil is converted into DC power. And a power supply circuit for supplying a power supply voltage to the switch switching circuit, the memory and the memory control circuit, the first and second magnetic coupling coils, the switch circuit, the switch switching circuit, the memory,
A memory control circuit and a power supply circuit are housed in the card body.

(Operation) According to the present invention, since the information card is configured as described above, the first and second magnetic coupling coils can supply and receive electric power and exchange output signals without contact with an external device. The switch circuit, which has the function of performing the operation, is switched by the switch control circuit appropriately switches the signal distribution path in accordance with the insertion direction, and operates so that the internal circuit operates constantly even when the insertion direction is different. The power supply circuit serves to supply the electric power supplied through the first and second magnetic coupling coils to the internal circuit. As a result, signals can be exchanged without power supply and without contact, without being restricted in the insertion direction. Therefore, the above problems can be eliminated.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 1 (1) and 1 (2) are configuration block diagrams of an information card showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 1 (1) and 2 (2), the inserting direction of the information card is reversed. It shows the state.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an external device.
An information card 20 is inserted in the.

External device 10 includes a modulation circuit 11 for outputting a power supply AC power V _a the input signal S _i as the modulation input, the modulation circuit
A first magnetic coupling coil 13 is connected to 11 via an amplifier circuit 12. Further, a second magnetic coupling coil 14 is provided corresponding to the first magnetic coupling coil 13, and a demodulation circuit 15 that demodulates a signal and outputs an output signal So is provided to the second magnetic coupling coil 14. It is provided.

On the other hand, the information card 20 has a substantially rectangular card body 21 made of plastic or the like. Inside the card body 21, the first and second magnetic coupling coils 13 and 14 on the external device 10 side are provided. First and second magnetic coupling coils 23 and 24 are provided facing each other, and an IC 25 is housed.

In the IC 25, a power supply circuit 26 connected to the first and second electromagnetic coupling coils 23 and 24, a demodulation circuit 27, and a switch circuit 28 are provided. The power supply circuit 26 converts the AC power Va into _a stabilized DC voltage _Vb and supplies it to each circuit in the IC 25 as a power supply. The demodulation circuit 27 has a function as a switch switching circuit. 2 is a circuit that demodulates an input signal S _i input through the second electromagnetic coupling coil 24 and generates a switch switching signal. The switch circuit 28 has electrodes 28-1 to 28-
4, the electrode 28-1 of which has a first electromagnetic coupling coil 23.
, The electrodes 23-3 are connected to the second electromagnetic coupling coil 24, respectively. In the case of FIG. 1 (1), the electrodes 28-1 and 28-
2. The electrodes 28-3 and 28-4 are electrically connected, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2 (2).
In the case of, the conduction state is switched by the switch switching signal output from the demodulation circuit 27, and the electrodes 28-3 and 28-2
28-1 and 28-4 are conductive.

Further, in the IC 25, a demodulation circuit 29 sequentially connected to the electrode 28-2 of the switch circuit 28, an input side of the microprocessor 30, and a memory 31 are provided, and the output side of the microprocessor 30 is sequentially modulated. Circuit 32, amplifier circuit 33,
And the electrode 28-4 of the switch circuit 28 is connected. The demodulation circuit 29 is a circuit that demodulates the input signal S _i input through the switch circuit 28 and supplies it to the microprocessor 30. The microprocessor 30 has a function as a memory control circuit, has functions of a central processing unit (CPU), an input / output device, and the like, and controls reading and writing of the memory 31. The memory 31 is a circuit that stores various kinds of information, and includes a read-only memory (ROM) and a writable ROM (PR
OM), an electrically erasable and writable ROM (EEPROM), an ultraviolet erasable and writable ROM, and the like. The modulation circuit 32 is a circuit for modulating the information in the memory 31 read through the microprocessor 30, and the amplification circuit 33 is a modulation circuit 32.
Of the output of the switch circuit 33 and the electrode 28-4 of the switch circuit 33.
Magnetic coupling coil through 28-3 or 28-4 and 28-1
It is a circuit that outputs to the 24 or 23 side.

Next, the operation of FIGS. 1A and 1B will be described.

(i) Operation of FIG. 1 (1) In FIG. 1 (1), the first electromagnetic coupling coil 2 of the information card 20 is used.
The information card 20 is inserted into the external device 10 so that 3 is opposed to the first electromagnetic coupling coil 13 on the side of the external device 10 and similarly the second electromagnetic coupling coil 24 is opposed to 14. The first magnetic coupling coils 13 and 23 are commonly used for power supply and transmission of the input signal S _i .

The input signal S _i in the external device 10 is an initial set (initial setting) of the microprocessor 30 on the information card 20 side, a control signal for reading and writing information, and a signal to be written in the memory 31 serially. It has been transformed. This input signal S _i is applied to the modulation circuit 11 of the external device 10.
After being converted to a signal for transmission by and amplified by the amplifier circuit 12,
It is input to the information card 20 side by magnetic coupling of the first magnetic coupling coils 13 and 23.

In the information card 20, the input signal input through the first magnetic coupling coil 23 is converted into the original signal by the demodulation circuit 29 via the electrodes 28-1 and 28-2 of the switch circuit 28, and then the microprocessor 30 Is supplied to. In the microprocessor 30, based on the output signal of the demodulation circuit 29, if the output signal contains read information, for example, an address is designated and the stored information is read from the memory 31. The stored information is converted into a transmission signal by the modulation circuit 32, amplified by the amplification circuit 33, and magnetically coupled to the second magnetic coupling coils 24 and 14 via the electrodes 28-4 and 28-3 of the switch circuit 28. It is sent to the external device 10 side.

The demodulation circuit 15 of the external device 10 demodulates the signal of the second magnetic coupling coil 14 and outputs the read information of the memory 31 and the output signal So obtained by serializing the operation confirmation signal inside the information card 20.

(ii) Operation of FIG. 1 (2) In FIG. 1 (2), the insertion direction of the information card 20 is upside down, and the second magnetic coupling coil 24 of the information card 20 is an external device.
The first magnetic coupling coil 13 and the first magnetic coupling coil 23 of 10 are respectively opposed to the second magnetic coupling coil 14. The first magnetic coupling coil 13 and the second magnetic coupling coil 24 are commonly used for power supply and transmission of the input signal S _i .

The input signal S _i of the external device 10 is transmitted through the modulation circuit 11, the amplification circuit 12, and the first and second magnetic coupling coils 13 and 24 to the information card 2
When sent to the 0 side, the demodulation circuit 27 does not detect the input signal in the case of FIG. 1 (1), but detects the input signal in the case of FIG. Generate and switch the switch circuit 28, electrodes 28-3 and 28-2, electrodes
Conduct 28-1 and 28-4 respectively. As a result, the input signal input through the electrodes 28-3 and 28-2 is shown in FIG.
After the same processing is performed through the same path as in (1), it is sent to the external device 10 side through the electrodes 28-4, 28-1 and the first and second magnetic coupling coils 23, 14.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounting example of the information card in FIGS. 1 (1) and 1 (2), and FIG. 5 is a main part configuration diagram of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second magnetic coupling coils 23 and 24 built in the information card 20 are on the center line Y in the long side direction of the card body 21 and on the short side of the card body 21. It is provided at a position symmetrical with respect to the center line X in the direction. Here, A is the length of the long side / 2, a is the length from the center line X to the first and second magnetic coupling coils 23 and 24, and B is the length of the short side / 2. The first and second magnetic coupling coils 1 on the external device 10 side are opposed to the arrangement of the first and second magnetic coupling coils 23 and 24.
3,14 are also arranged. In addition, IC25 on the information card 20 side
Is placed on the center line X in order to equalize the wiring lengths from the first and second magnetic coupling coils 23 and 24 and equalize the electrical characteristics on both sides of the first and second magnetic coupling coils 23 and 24. It is arranged. An example of arrangement of each electronic circuit in the IC 25 is shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the insertion direction of the information card 20 in FIG. 4 into the external device 10. In the figure, 20-1 to 20
-4 indicates an information card inserted in different directions.

The information cards 20-1 and 20-4 correspond to FIG. 1 (1), of which the information card 20-4 is upside down with respect to 20-1. Information cards 20-2 and 20-3 are shown in Fig. 1 (2).
Corresponding to, the information cards 20-2 and 20-3 are turned upside down.

As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, information cards 20, 20-1 to 2
Even if the insertion direction of 0-4 is different, the switch circuit 28 is switched accordingly, so that operations such as reading can be equally performed.

This embodiment has the following advantages.

It is possible to perform power supply and signal input / output in a contactless manner without exposing the internal circuit terminals to the outside as in the conventional case.
There is no influence of poor contact due to wear. In addition, there is no failure or malfunction due to leakage current, and there is no need to protect the internal circuit due to static electricity on the external voltage. Therefore, high reliability can be obtained.

The completely sealed structure improves explosion-proof and waterproof properties. Therefore, it can be applied not only to ordinary OA equipment and FA equipment, but also to equipment in a bad environment or a place where explosion-proof measures are required.

Since it does not have a built-in battery, there is no need to replace the battery,
Further, the card body 21 can be thinned by the space for installing the battery. Further, it can be expected to have a longer life as compared with a conventional solar cell having a built-in solar cell.

Since the insertion directions of the information cards 20, 20-1 to 20-4 are not restricted, the usability is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the switch switching circuit is a demodulation circuit 27
However, the function of the demodulation circuit 27 may be provided to the microprocessor 30 and the changeover switch 28 may be switched via a driver. Similarly, the demodulation circuit 29, the modulation circuit 32, etc. are omitted, and those functions are performed by the microprocessor 30.
You may make it execute in. Further, although the memory control circuit is configured by the microprocessor 30, it is also possible to configure them by other circuits.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the input of power source power and the input / output of signals are performed through the magnetic coupling coil that is not exposed to the outside. It is also possible to prevent malfunction due to leak current and further damage to internal circuits due to static electricity or external voltage. Moreover,
The first and second magnetic coupling coils are provided at symmetrical positions in the center of the card body, and the signal distribution path is appropriately switched by the switch circuit according to the insertion direction. Therefore, there is no restriction on the insertion direction of the information card. Usability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 (1) and 1 (2) are block diagrams of an information card showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional information card, and FIG. 3 is an implementation example of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting example of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a main part of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a view showing different insertion directions of FIG. 10 ... External device, 13,14 ... First and second magnetic coupling coils, 20,20-1 to 20-4 ... Information card, 21 ... Card body, 23,24 ... First and first 2 magnetic coupling coils, 25 …… I
C, 26 ... power supply circuit, 27 ... demodulation circuit, 28 ... switch circuit, 30 ... microprocessor, 31 ... memory.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A substantially rectangular card main body, and first and second card main bodies arranged at symmetrical positions on a center line with respect to each side of the card main body, for receiving external AC power and exchanging signals with the outside. A second magnetic coupling coil; a switch circuit for switching the paths of input and output signals transmitted and received through the first and second magnetic coupling coils; and an input signal input through the first or second magnetic coupling coil. A switch switching circuit for controlling a switching operation of the switch circuit based on the memory; a memory for storing information; a memory control circuit for controlling the operation of the memory based on an input signal input through the switch circuit; The AC power input through the magnetic coupling coil 2 is converted into DC power to supply power to the switch switching circuit, the memory and the memory control circuit. And a power supply circuit for supplying said first and second magnetic coupling coil, the switching circuit, switching circuit, memory, information card, characterized in that the memory control circuit and a power supply circuit housed in the card body. 2. The information card according to claim 1, wherein the switch circuit, the switch switching circuit, the memory, the memory control circuit, and the power supply circuit are integrated circuits.