JPH0726769Y2 - Compatible IC card identification device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention is provided in an IC card reader / writer mounted on various IC card utilizing devices such as game machines, and the IC
The present invention relates to a conforming IC card discriminating device for discriminating an IC card conforming to a card using device from an IC card not conforming to it.

<Prior Art> FIG. 7 shows a conventional IC card, (a) of which is a plan view,
(B) is a side sectional view and (c) is a front view.

The IC card 21 includes a printed circuit board 22 and an IC chip 23 such as a static RAM (S-RAM) mounted on the printed circuit board 22.
And the IC chip depending on the wiring pattern on the printed circuit board 22
The basic structure is a connector 24 that is electrically connected to 23 and is mounted on the end portion of the printed board 22, and a casing 25 that covers the entire connector.

IC cards have different specifications for each manufacturer, and even the same manufacturer provides IC cards with different specifications.
On the other hand, IC card readers installed in game consoles,
The IC card writer only accepts IC cards that match it.

In the illustrated IC card 21, the outer shape of the casing 25 is devised so that it can be distinguished from other IC cards.
In the illustrated example, triangular notches 26 are formed in the left and right edge portions on the bottom side of the casing 25 over the entire width.

Conventional compatible IC equipped in IC card reader / writer
The card identification device detects the IC card holder that stores the inserted IC card 21 and the IC card 21 that is provided at the back of the IC card holder and detects the IC card reader /
A mechanical power switch that supplies power to the writer and also supplies power to the IC card 21, and a connector for connecting the connector 24 on the IC card 21 side with the opposite male and female are provided.

The inner shape of the IC card holder corresponds to the outer shape of the IC card 21 in order to identify the IC card 21 compatible with this IC card reader / writer. The IC card 21 shown in the drawing has an inner corner having a shape corresponding to the notch 26.

In the conventional compatible IC card discriminating device, the IC card can be inserted into the IC card holder because it fits in shape, and if it can be set, it will be discriminated as a conforming card and the mechanical power switch will be turned on. It has become. However, if the IC card is inserted at an angle due to an insertion error, the mechanical power switch will not turn on even if it is a compatible card.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, there are various types of IC cards,
Even an incompatible IC card may be set in the IC card holder if it fits in shape. When the mechanical power switch is turned on and power is supplied to the IC card reader / writer and IC card, the data written in the static RAM-IC in the IC card will be destroyed or accidentally modified. There is a risk. In addition, even if the IC card reader / writer side does not match, the setting of an incompatible IC card may destroy the data or program in the internal memory or may be accidentally modified.

In addition, depending on the type of IC card or IC card reader / writer model, the mechanical power switch may turn ON even when the connector is not completely connected and only part of the connector pins are connected. Similar problems arise.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to clearly distinguish a conforming card from a nonconforming card, and when the nonconforming card is set, the power supply is prohibited to destroy the data of the nonconforming card. It is an object of the present invention to provide a compatible IC card discriminating device that can be protected from accidental modification.

<Means for Solving the Problem> In order to achieve such an object, the present invention has the following configuration.

The adaptive IC card discrimination device according to the present invention includes a light emitting element that emits light toward the entrance opening of an IC card having an optical path that is branched on the way from the entrance exit to a plurality of exit openings, and a light exit element that exits the exit opening. A plurality of light receiving elements for receiving light, and a control circuit for supplying a power supply line activated by a power switch to an input circuit of an IC card reader / writer based on the operation of the light receiving elements. .

<Operation> In the compatible IC card discrimination device of the above configuration according to the present invention, power is not supplied to the input circuit of the IC card reader / writer only by setting the IC card, and light from the light emitting element is incident on the optical path of the IC card. Power is supplied to the input circuit only when light entering the mouth, propagating in the optical path, and emerging from the plurality of exits is detected by the plurality of light receiving elements.

That is, the conforming card having an optical path and the nonconforming card having no optical path are clearly identified, and the nonconforming card is protected from data destruction or accidental modification.

Moreover, since the light from the multiple emission ports is detected by the multiple light receiving elements by branching the optical path, the light is received by the multiple light receiving elements only when the compatible IC card is correctly set. It will be possible to detect whether or not the card is set correctly.

<Embodiment> An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an IC card according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a plan sectional view, (b) is a side sectional view, and (c) is a front sectional view.

The IC card 1 has an IC chip 3 such as a static RAM mounted on a printed circuit board 2 and a connector 4 electrically connected to the IC chip 3 by a wiring pattern on the printed circuit board 2 mounted on an end portion of the printed circuit board 2. At the same time, a T-shaped optical path 5 is provided on the back surface of the printed circuit board 2, and the whole is covered with a casing 6.

The optical path 5 is composed of an optical fiber or a molded product of transparent plastic, the light entrance port 5a is located at the center of the back end face of the IC card 1, and the two light exit ports 5b and 5c are left and right of the IC card 1. It is located on both end faces. It should be noted that there is no notch or the like that gives the outer shape a peculiarity as in the conventional example.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the mechanical structure of the compatible IC card discrimination device according to the first embodiment.

This compatible IC card discriminating device is equipped in an IC card reader / writer, has an IC card holder 7 for storing the inserted IC card 1, and the IC card holder 7 has an IC A connector 8 having a male and a female opposite to the connector 4 of the card 1 and a mechanical power switch 9 that is pushed and closed by the edge of the IC card 1 when the IC card 1 is set in the IC card holder 7 are arranged. ing.

Further, a light emitting diode LED ₁ as a light emitting element is arranged in the center of the back side of the IC card holder 7,
Phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr ₂ as light receiving elements are arranged on both left and right sides near the card insertion slot. In addition, 10
Is a cabinet in an IC card reader / writer.

Light emitting diode LED ₁ and a pair of phototransistors PT
r ₁ and PTr ₂ are respectively set when the IC card 1 is set in the IC card holder 7 in the correct posture and position.
It is provided in such a positional relationship that it corresponds to the entrance 5a and the left and right exits 5b and 5c.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical configuration of the compatible IC card discrimination device.

One end of the mechanical power switch 9 has a DC power source Vcc.
Connected to the control circuit 12 through the power line 11 at the other end.
Are connected. The control circuit 12 is configured as follows.

The anode of the light emitting diode LED ₁ is connected to the power supply line 11, and the cathode thereof is grounded via the current limiting resistor R ₁ . The pair of phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr
₂ are connected in cascade to form an AND circuit, and together with the light emitting diode LED ₁ form a photocoupler. One collector of the phototransistor PTr ₁ is connected to the power supply line 11 via a resistor R _2, the emitter is connected to the collector of the other of the phototransistor PTr _2, the emitter of the phototransistor PTr ₂ is grounded.

Further, one end of the relay coil RY ₁ is connected to the power supply line 11, and the other end is connected to the emitter of the PNP type driving transistor Tr ₁ . The base of the driving transistor Tr ₁ is connected to the connection point between the resistor R ₂ and the collector of the phototransistor PTr ₁ , and the collector is grounded. Relay coil
One end of the relay contact ry ₁ which is closed by the excitation of RY ₁ is connected to the power supply line 11 and the other end connected to an input circuit 13 of IC card reader / writer.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

When the IC card 1 is inserted from the card insertion opening of the IC card holder 7 and pushed in, the connector 4 of the IC card 1 is coupled to the connector 8 of the IC card reader / writer, and
The edge of the IC card 1 pushes the mechanical power switch 9 to close it. When the mechanical power switch 9 is closed, the control circuit 12 controls the DC power supply Vcc via the power supply line 11.
Connected to. As a result, the light emitting diode LED ₁ lights up.

When the IC card set in the IC card holder 7 is a compatible card having the optical path 5, the light emitting diode
The light emitted from the LED ₁ enters the optical path 5 through the entrance 5a, propagates while being totally reflected in the optical path 5, and exits through the left and right exits 5b and 5c.

When the IC card 1 is set in the IC card holder 7 in a correct posture and position without tilting, the left and right emission ports 5b, 5c correspond to the pair of phototransistors PTr ₁ , PTr ₂ and therefore the emission port 5b, The light emitted from 5c is incident on both phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr ₂ that form an AND circuit, and both phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr ₂ become conductive. As a result, the base of the PNP type driving transistor Tr ₁ is grounded via both phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr ₂ ,
A current flows between the emitter and base, and a drive transistor
Tr ₁ becomes conductive.

Relay coil RY ₁ by conduction of the driving transistor Tr ₁
Is excited and the relay contact ry ₁ is closed, so the DC power supply V
cc is supplied to the input circuit 13 of the IC card reader / writer via the mechanical power switch 9 and the relay contact ry ₁ . When power is supplied to the input circuit 13, the IC card reader / writer is activated, and the IC is connected via the connectors 8 and 4.
Power is supplied to the card 1, and data is exchanged with the IC chip 3 of the IC card 1.

Even if the IC card set in the IC card holder 7 is a compatible card having the optical path 5, if the IC card holder 7 is not set in the correct posture and position, the left and right exit ports
Either or both of 5b and 5c are phototransistors P
Since the position does not correspond to Tr ₁ and PTr ₂ , no current flows in the AND circuit formed by the pair of phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr ₂ .

Therefore, even if the mechanical power switch 9 is closed by setting the IC card, the drive transistor Tr
_Since a high voltage dropped from the DC power supply Vcc by the resistor R ₂ is applied to the base of ₁ , the driving transistor Tr ₁ does not conduct. That is, the relay coil RY ₁ is not excited,
Relay contact ry ₁ is not closed, so IC card reader /
No power is supplied to the input circuit 13 of the writer.

Even if the IC card is not compatible with the optical path 5 and has the same outer shape as the compatible card and is set in the IC card holder 7, the light emitted from the light emitting diode LED ₁ is not compatible with the card. Since it is blocked by itself, it does not enter the phototransistors PTr ₁ and PTr ₂ . Therefore, power is not supplied to the input circuit 13.

As described above, when the nonconforming card is set, the power supply to the input circuit 13 is prohibited even if the both connectors 4 and 8 are completely coupled and the mechanical power switch 9 is closed. , It is possible to protect the data of the nonconforming card and the data and programs of the internal memory of the IC card reader / writer from destruction or accidental modification.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, when there are a plurality of types of compatible cards for the same IC card reader / writer, they can be identified. For example, the difference in static RAM capacity (eg 64Kbit, 128Kbit, 256Kbit, 1Mbi
t) is to be identified.

4A to 4D show four types of compatible cards. Each of the IC cards 1a to 1d has a T-shaped optical path 5 for detecting a compatible card and correct setting as in the first embodiment.

The IC card 1a shown in FIG. 3A is the same card as in the first embodiment. The IC card 1b shown in FIG. 2B has a first branching optical path 5 ′ along the first specific position, and an exit port 5c of the T-shaped optical path 5c.
It has an exit 5d on the same side as. IC card of figure (c)
1c has a second branch optical path 5 ″ along a second specific position, and has an exit 5e on the same side as the exit 5c of the T-shaped optical path 5. The IC card of FIG. 1d is the first branch optical path 5'and the second branch along the first specific position and the second specific position.
With a branching optical path 5 ″ of the exit port 5c on the same side as the exit port 5c.
It has d, 5e.

The other configurations of each of the IC cards 1a to 1d are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of the compatible IC card discrimination device according to the second embodiment.

DC power supply Vcc, mechanical power switch 9, power line 1
1, control circuit 12, light emitting diode LED ₁ , current limiting resistor
R ₁ , resistance R ₂ , phototransistors PTr ₁ , PTr ₂ , drive transistor Tr ₁ , relay coil RY ₁ , relay contact ry ₁ , IC
The configuration of the input circuit 13 of the card reader / writer is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In addition to this, when the IC cards 1a to 1d are set in the IC card holder 7 in the correct posture and position, the ICs are positioned so as to correspond to the first branch optical path 5'and the second branch optical path 5 ". phototransistor PTr for the card type determination provided along the card holder 7 _3, PTr ₄ is located (see FIG. 4), these phototransistor PTr _3, PTr
₄ and the light emitting diode LED ₁ constitute a photo coupler.

The collector of the phototransistor PTr ₃ is a pull-up resistor R ₃
Is connected to the power supply line 11 and the card type discriminating circuit 14 via, and the emitter is grounded. Similarly, the collector of the phototransistor PTr ₄ is connected to the power supply line 11 and the card type determination circuit 14 via the pull-up resistor R ₄ ,
The emitter is grounded.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

The operation controlled by the portion of the circuit configuration similar to that of the first embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, and any of the four types of IC cards 1a to 1d which are compatible cards are stored in the IC card holder 7. Only when set correctly, the drive transistor Tr ₁ will conduct and will be connected via relay contact ry _1.
DC power supply Vcc is supplied to the input circuit 13 of the IC card reader / writer. Power is not supplied to the input circuit 13 when the IC cards 1a to 1d are not set correctly and when the nonconforming card is set. In the case of a nonconforming card, the data of the nonconforming card and the data and programs in the internal memory of the IC card reader / writer can be protected from destruction or accidental modification.

When properly setting has been adapted card is an IC card 1a, the first and second branch light path 5 ', because there is no 5', the phototransistor PTr ₃ for the card type determination, PTr
None of ₄ is conductive, and the two inputs to the card type discrimination circuit 14 are “H” and “H” given by the DC power supply Vcc through the pull-up resistors R ₃ and R _4, and it is a 64Kbit IC card. It is determined that there is.

In the case of the IC card 1b, since there is the first branch optical path 5 ',
Phototransistor PTr ₃ is conducting, phototransistor PT
r ₄ becomes non-conductive, the two inputs to the card type discrimination circuit 14 become “L” and “H”, and it is discriminated that the card is a 128 Kbit IC card.

In the case of the IC card 1c, since there is the second branch optical path 5 ″,
Phototransistor PTr ₃ is non-conductive, phototransistor
The PTr ₄ becomes conductive, the two inputs to the card type discrimination circuit 14 become "H" and "L", and it is discriminated that the card is a 256 Kbit IC card.

In the case of the IC card 1d, the first and second branch optical paths 5 ',
Since there is 5 ″, both phototransistors PTr ₃ and PTr ₄ become conductive, the two inputs to the card type discrimination circuit 14 become “L” and “L”, and it is discriminated that it is a 1 Mbit IC card.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but instead of providing the optical path 5 (branching optical paths 5 ', 5 ") in the IC card 1 inside the casing 6, as shown in FIG. Wedge-shaped groove is formed on the surface of the
The optical fibers forming the (branch optical paths 5 ', 5 ") may be adhered. Further, the circuit configuration of the compatible IC card discrimination device may be arbitrarily changed as long as it exhibits the same function. Is possible, for example a driving transistor Tr ₁ ,
Power line instead of relay coil RY ₁ and relay contact ry ₁
A power transistor inserted directly in 11 may be used.

<Effect of device> According to the compatible IC card discriminating device of the present invention, power is not supplied to the input circuit of the IC card reader / writer simply by setting the IC card, and light from the light emitting element enters the optical path of the IC card. It is configured to supply power to the input circuit only when the light that enters from the mouth, propagates in the optical path, and exits from multiple exit ports is detected by multiple light receiving elements. It was a card and was set correctly
The IC card and the non-conforming card can be clearly identified, the data of the non-conforming card can be protected from destruction and accidental modification, and the data and programs in the internal memory of the IC card reader / writer can be protected. You can Moreover, the optical path is branched so that the light from multiple emission ports is received by multiple light receiving elements.
Even if the IC card is not set correctly, it is difficult for all the light receiving elements of the plurality of light receiving elements to receive light. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether or not the compatible IC card is set correctly. It can be detected with accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, (a) is a plan sectional view of the IC card, (b) is a side sectional view thereof, (c) is a front sectional view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing a mechanical structure of the compatible IC card discrimination device, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical configuration of the compatible IC card discrimination device.
4 and 5 relate to the second embodiment, (a) to (d) of FIG. 4 are schematic plan views of IC cards of different types, and FIG. 5 is an electrical diagram of a compatible IC card discrimination device. It is a circuit diagram which shows a dynamic structure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the optical path. FIG. 7 shows a conventional IC card,
(A) is a plan view, (b) is a side sectional view, and (c) is a front view. 1 ... IC card, 4 ... Connector, 5 ... Optical path, 5a ...
Inlet, 5b, 5c …… Ejector, 7 …… IC card holder, 8
...... Connector, 9 ...... Mechanical power switch, 11 ......
Power line, 12 ... control circuit, 13 ... input circuit, LED ₁ ...
… Light emitting diode (light emitting element), PTr ₁ , PTr ₂ …… Photo transistor (light receiving element), Tr ₁ …… Driving transistor

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A light emitting element which emits light toward the entrance of an IC card having an optical path branched on the way from the entrance to a plurality of exits, and a plurality of which receives the light emitted from the exit. 2. A compatible IC card discriminating apparatus comprising: the light receiving element of, and a control circuit that supplies a power line activated by a power switch to an input circuit of an IC card reader / writer based on the operation of the light receiving element.