JPH09212612A - Capacitive data card and its reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a capacitive data card which has its high utility value and reliability and also to provide a reader of the data card by preparing an area where the bits concerning the capacitive data are stored according to the fuse resistance state and an area where the magnetic data are stored. SOLUTION: A card 5 includes a capacitive storage area 12 where the capacitive data are stored and a magnetic storage area 10 where the magnetic data are stored. The fixed information is stored in both areas 10 and 12. A rough calculation remainder storage part 13 is added to the area 12 to show the rough calculation of remainder of a card equivalent. For instance, the part 13 secures 10 fuses (10 bits) concerning the capacitive data when the nominal value of a prepaid card is equal to a thousand yen and then burns out the fuses in a prescribed unit in accordance with the balance reduction confirmed when the card 5 is used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved capacitive data card which incorporates a fuse in the circuit of the card and represents a bit of data according to the state of the fuse, and a reading device for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is convenient for users to use a data card (hereinafter referred to as a prepaid card) that does not require change payments in many applications such as public telephones, parking meters, vending machines, and transportation facilities. In addition, since the device that accepts the card does not handle cash, it is possible to avoid damage such as destruction for the purpose of theft, which has the advantage of prolonging the life of the device.

Among such prepaid cards, as a low-cost and energy-saving data card, a capacitive data card forming a part of a circuit having a capacitor is attracting attention. This capacitive type prepaid card system was registered as US Patent No. 4280119 on July 21, 1981. In addition, in the prepaid card system described in the specification of International Application WO 95/14285 of May 26, 1995, a fuse is built in the circuit of the capacitive data card,
A system is shown in which the resistance state of a fuse represents a bit of data, because if the fuse is in a perfect state, it is in a state where current flows, and if the fuse blows, the resistance increases substantially. ing.

[0004] This capacitive data card is:
As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit 3 having a capacitor can be formed only when the card unit 1 is integrated with the sensor unit 2 formed on the reader side.

The card unit 1 has a resistor R1 and the resistor R1.
1 has electrode portions 1a and 1b forming part of capacitors to be wire-connected to each end, and the sensor portion 2 has electrode portions 2a forming part of capacitors to be wire-connected to each terminal of the power supply 4. , 2b, and when the card unit 1 is set in the sensor unit 2, a circuit is formed having air capacitors 3a, 3b with air sandwiched between the electrode units, as illustrated.

In the circuit 3 formed in this way, when a high current is applied to the resistor R1 to burn it off,
The bit that has been used and has not been burned out is an unused bit, and a one-bit signal is provided by one closed circuit. Therefore, by forming an arbitrary number of closed circuits, it becomes possible to form a data card capable of storing a signal having a required number of digits.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Since the data card burns out the resistor R1 to change the bit from the unused state to the used state, the reverse data cannot be easily reproduced. Therefore, although there is an advantage that tampering is prevented and the reliability is high because the reproduction of the data is not easy, a certain limit is imposed on the update of the data stored in the card, and its utility value is fully demonstrated. There was a problem that I could not.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a capacitive data card having high utility value and high reliability, and a reading device for the same.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A capacitive data card according to the present invention has a built-in fuse in the circuit of the card, and when the fuse is in a perfect state, it is in a state where current flows and the fuse blows. In that case, since the resistance increases substantially, the configuration has a capacitive storage area for storing bits related to the capacitive data and a magnetic storage area for storing magnetic data depending on the state of the resistance of the fuse.

Further, it has a capacitive storage area for storing the capacitive data and a magnetic storage area for storing the magnetic data, and in the capacitive storage area, an approximate remaining amount of the value recorded on the card is calculated as a bit amount. This is a configuration in which the approximate remaining storage means shown in is provided.

The capacitive data card reading device according to the present invention comprises first input / output means for storing data in the capacitive storage area of the capacitive data card or for reading the data stored in the area. ,
A second input / output unit for storing data in the magnetic storage area or reading the data stored in the same area.

Data is stored in the capacitive storage area of the capacitive data card, or
First input / output means for reading data stored in the same area, and second input / output means for storing data in the magnetic storage area or reading data stored in the same area,
When the data read from the approximate remaining storage means is predetermined, the inspection means determines that the card is invalid regardless of the data stored in the magnetic storage area.

In the present invention, the data stored in the magnetic storage area may be stored in a known IC chip.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated and described below.

FIG. 1 shows a capacitive data card 5 according to the embodiment. This card 5
Has a capacitive storage area 12 for storing capacitive data and a magnetic storage area 10 for storing magnetic data, and is normally used as a prepaid card.

In the magnetic storage area 10, magnetic tracks 11 are provided in the reading and writing direction of the card 5. Although the number of the tracks 11 is three in the present embodiment, the number is not limited to three, and a number corresponding to the storage amount is provided depending on the purpose of use of the card 5.

Storage on the track 11 is performed in the order of information characters, and effective data to be recorded is provided with a cyclic redundancy check code (CRC code) for read check. The magnetic characteristics and the information recording mode in the magnetic storage area 10 may be based on, for example, Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS).

The capacity storage area 12 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of first electrodes 31 arranged in a line on one surface side so as to match the electrode arrangement of the input / output unit 6 described later.
Is arranged on the surface, and the elongated second electrodes 32 arranged parallel to the row of the first electrodes 31 are arranged on the surface. Each first electrode 31 is connected to the second electrode 32 by a fuse 33. When the fuse 33 is intact, the first
A current freely flows between the electrode 31 and the second electrode 32, and the resistance is very low. When the fuse 33 is blown, the resistance increases sufficiently to reduce the current flow.

Card information normally recorded on a prepaid card includes fixed information that is not rewritten and variable information that is rewritten when the card is used. As the fixed information, "card issuer number",
"Card issue date", "Card face value", "Card expiry date", "Card usable data (code to be written to indicate card usable at the time of card issuance)",
There is a "personal identification number (a number for the system to recognize that the card user is the registered person)" etc., and variable information includes "balance before payment (balance before payment)" and "new balance for payment (payment)". Subsequent balance) ”,“ used device number (settled device number) ”,“ used store (settled store number) ”and the like. Depending on the purpose of use of the card, the card balance may be an amount or a frequency (telephone card).

In the embodiment, the fixed information is recorded in both the magnetic storage area 10 and the capacitive storage area 12. Further, the capacitive storage area 12 is provided with an approximate remaining storage unit 13 that shows an approximate remaining amount of card consideration. As a usage pattern of the approximate remaining storage unit 13, for example, if the face value of the prepaid card is 1,000 yen, ten fuses (10 bits) related to the capacitive data are secured, and the balance when the card 5 is used. The fuses are blown one after another in a predetermined unit according to the decrease in (burnout). When all 10 fuses 1 are blown, the balance is set to zero and the value of the card 5 is lost.

The field around the fuse becomes hot when the fuse is burned out. Therefore, the approximate balance can be visually confirmed by using a material whose color changes due to the heat in the relevant portion.

On the other hand, in the magnetic storage area 10, the variable information is recorded in addition to the fixed information. Of the variable information, "new card balance (balance after settlement)" is important information indicating the value of the card. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the balance of this "card new balance",
The "approximate balance" in the approximate balance storage unit 13 is linked and updated.

For example, each time the card 5 is used, the new balance of the card is updated in units of one yen, which is the same as the settlement amount. On the other hand, in the rough balance storage unit 13, the fuse is blown in units of hundred yen to lower the rough balance. At this time, if you store an amount equal to or greater than the new card balance as an approximate balance,
For example, if the new card balance and the estimated balance are compared and there is a large new card balance, or if the estimated new balance is zero but the new card balance remains, you can check it as a bad card. .

The approximate balance does not have to be updated for every fixed unit amount of money, and if the unit of the updated amount is made smaller as the balance decreases, when the customer visually confirms the approximate balance. It is convenient.

In the magnetic storage area 10, the fixed information,
In addition to the variable information, it is possible to record various kinds of information according to the purpose of use, for example, information about a boarding section of a transportation facility, a usage section of a highway, and the like.

Here, the reading device of the card 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the input / output unit of the reading device for the card 5 applies a transfer force to the card 5 from above the card feed table 21 for sending the card 5 to a position where the card 5 can be read and written. In addition, a feed roller 22 as a feed device for moving to a readable / writable position, a card take-in motor 23 for supplying rotational power for rotating the feed roller 22, and a magnetic head for reading / writing magnetic data to / from the magnetic storage area 10. 19, a cushion rubber case 8 as a pressing member that is provided directly above the input / output unit 6 provided at the end of the card feed base 21 and presses the card 5, and a pressing means provided on the upper surface of the cushion rubber case 8. Plate 8a as a pressing direction changing member for
And rollers 25, 2 for pressing the tapered plate 8a from above.
Lever 26 as an arm portion of the pressing means to which 5 is attached,
A solenoid 27 as an operating portion of a pressing means for operating the lever 26, and an edging sensor 28 as a detecting means for detecting that a card has come to the end edge portion of the input / output portion 6.
Alternatively, an optical sensor 29 is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The interface pad 41 is provided at the card insertion position,
The interface pad 41 has a first card 5
The first electrodes 42 of the same number as the electrodes 31 are arranged in a line, and the second electrodes 43 are formed to be elongated like the second electrodes 32 of the card 5, and the first electrodes 31 and the second electrodes 32 of the card 5 are respectively formed. Each electrode 3 so that they can be connected
The electrodes 42 and 43 are arranged at positions corresponding to 1 and 32 and arranged on the pad surface. Each of the first electrode 42 and the second electrode 43 is connected to the switch network 44 in parallel. In the switch network 44, the supply destination of the analog voltage to be supplied is selectively switched, and the selected electrode 4
The necessary voltage is supplied to either of the two or the electrode 43.

Further, in the input / output unit 6, in addition to the first electrode 42, the second electrode 43, and the switch network 44, the first electrode 42 or the second electrode 42 via the switch network 44.
A voltage generator 45 that supplies the required voltage to the electrode 43 and detects the output voltage, a read / write driver 48 that controls the magnetic head 19, and a power supply 47 that supplies the required voltage to each device of the input / output unit 6. It is provided.

The input / output unit 6 is controlled by the CPU 46. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 46 has a capacity reading / writing processing unit 51 for controlling reading / writing of capacitive data, a magnetic reading / writing processing unit 52 for controlling reading / writing of magnetic data, and a data checking unit 5 for checking data contents.
3 and a control unit 54 that integrally controls these.

Now, when the card 5 is inserted from the card feed base 21 toward the input / output section 6 side, the card take-in motor 23
The rollers 22, 22 which are rotationally driven by give a transfer force from the back surface of the card 5 and pass through the magnetic head 19, where the magnetic head 19 reads magnetic data from the track 11. This magnetic data is sent to the magnetic reading / writing processing unit 52 via the read / write driver 48. Subsequently, the card is transferred, and when the card 5 reaches the input / output unit 6, the edging sensor 28 or the optical sensor 29 detects that the card 5 is inserted at a predetermined position and energizes the solenoid 27.

When the solenoid 27 is energized, the solenoid 27 moves the lever 26 in the operating direction, rotates the lever 26 around the pin 26a, and rotates the rollers 25, 25 to raise the upper surface of the tapered plate 8a. The cushion rubber case 8 is pressed downward while pressing the tapered surface, and a uniform pressing force is applied to the card 5 via the cushion rubber 7.

When the card 5 reaches the input / output unit 6, the card 5
When it is detected that is inserted in a predetermined position, a signal is output to the switch network 44 and the CPU 46 to notify that it is in a readable / writable state. In this way, a closed circuit having an air condenser is formed between the card 5 and the input / output unit 6, and the input / output unit 6 can read and write data.

At the time of reading the data, the second reading is performed based on the reading control signal from the capacitive reading processor 51.
An electrode for outputting a signal to the pair of first electrodes 42, 42 connected to the electrode 43 and designating an electrode to be energized is energized to read the information of the bit. By repeating this procedure, all the second electrodes 43 and all the pair of first electrodes 42, 42 connected to the second electrode 43 are designated, and the power is supplied.
Read all the recorded contents of the card 5.

When the reading from the card 5 is completed, the data checking section 53 checks the validity of the data content. First, it is confirmed whether or not all the bit data in the approximate remaining storage unit 13 is zero (the fuse is blown). If all the bit data are zero, it is determined that the value of the card 5 has disappeared, and a recovery mechanism (not shown). Thus, the measures for collecting the card 5 are taken. In this case, the contents of the "card new balance" stored in the magnetic storage area 10 are ignored as invalid data.

Further, the "new card balance" in the magnetic storage area 10 is compared with the "approximate balance" in the rough balance storage unit 13, and if the "new card balance" is larger than the "approximate balance", It is determined that the card is invalid, and measures such as card collection are taken. In this case, as described above, it is premised that the card is managed so that the “approximate balance” is always equal to or larger than the “card new balance”.

Further, if necessary, the fixed information stored in the magnetic storage area 10 is compared with the fixed information stored in the corresponding capacity storage area 12, and if they do not match, a predetermined card is determined as a defective card. Take the action of.
In particular, the magnetic data in the magnetic storage area 10 is easily affected by magnetism and may be easily erased.

When it is determined that the card 5 is valid as a result of the inspection, the function as a prepaid card is exerted, the card settlement process is performed, and the new "card new balance" and "approximate balance" are newly written. This is performed for the magnetic storage area 10 and the capacitive storage area 12, respectively.

Data is written to the card 5 together with the settlement, and the second electrode 43 and the second electrode 4 are generated based on the write control signal from the capacitive reading processor 51.
A pair of first electrodes 42, 42 connected to 3 are designated,
Apply a write current to blow a specified fuse.
In this way, when a circuit having a portion in which the fuse 33 is blown is formed, the bit data becomes 0, and in a closed circuit in which the fuse 33 is not blown, the bit data becomes 1 and the desired binary data is stored in the card. Written in.

After that, when the card 5 is returned and returned, the read / write driver 48 supplies write data to the magnetic head 19 based on a write control signal from the magnetic reading / writing processing unit 52, and a new data is added to the magnetic storage area 10. The data is written and the card 5 is returned.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, since the card 5 is provided with the magnetic storage area 10 in addition to the capacitive storage area 12, it is possible to freely rewrite necessary data in the magnetic storage area 10. If the predetermined data is stored in the capacitive storage area 12, it is possible to prevent data tampering because the data cannot be easily reproduced.
The reliability of the card is improved. Further, in the reading device, when the data read from the approximate remaining storage means has zero remaining amount of consideration, the card is determined to be invalid regardless of the data stored in the magnetic storage area. Whether the card is valid or invalid can be accurately determined, and the use of an illegal card can be prevented.

[0041]

As described above, since the capacitive data card according to the present invention has the capacity storage area and the magnetic storage area, the necessary data can be freely rewritten and the utility value can be improved. In addition, since it is difficult to reproduce predetermined data, it is possible to prevent tampering of the data and improve reliability, and it is highly useful when used for a prepaid card or the like.

Further, since the capacity storage area is provided with an approximate remaining storage means for indicating an approximate remaining amount of the value recorded on the card in the amount of bits, necessary data can be rewritten together with the magnetic storage area. However, since the remaining amount of the card price can be displayed with a small number of bits, and the remaining amount data is not easily reproduced, the reliability of the card can be improved.

The capacitive data card reading apparatus according to the present invention has a configuration in which, when the data read from the approximate remaining storage means is predetermined, the card is determined to be invalid regardless of the data stored in the magnetic storage area. Therefore, the validity / invalidity of the card can be accurately determined, and the use of an unauthorized card is prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a capacitive data card according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a capacitive storage area according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an input / output unit of the capacitive data card reading device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a processing unit related to input / output of the capacitive data card reading device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing processing of a CPU.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory view schematically showing a basic capacitive data card system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 card 6 input / output section 8 cushion rubber case (pressing member) 8a taper plate (pressing direction changing section of pressing means) 19 magnetic head 22 roller 23 motor 25 roller 26 lever (arm section of pressing means) 26a pin 27 solenoid (pressing) Operating part of the means 28 Edging sensor (card detecting means) 29 Optical sensor (card detecting means) 31 First electrode 32 Second electrode 33 Fuse 41 Interface pad 42 First electrode 43 Second electrode 44 Switch network 45 Voltage generator 46 CPU 47 Power supply 48 Read / write driver 51 Capacitive reading processing unit 52 Magnetic reading processing unit 53 Data inspection unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A capacitive data card having a capacitive storage area for storing capacitive data and a magnetic storage area for storing magnetic data. 2. A capacitive storage area for storing capacitive data and a magnetic storage area for storing magnetic data, wherein the capacity storage area estimates the remaining amount of consideration recorded on a card as a bit amount. Capacitive
Data card. 3. A first input / output means for storing data in the capacitive storage area of the capacitive data card according to claim 1 or for reading the data stored in the area, and the magnetic storage area. Memorize the data,
Alternatively, a capacitive data card reading device having a second input / output unit for reading the data stored in the same area. 4. A first input / output unit for storing data in the capacitive storage area of the capacitive data card according to claim 2 or for reading the data stored in the area, and the magnetic storage area. Memorize the data,
Alternatively, when the second input / output means for reading the data stored in the same area and the data read from the approximate remaining storage means are predetermined, the card can be read regardless of the data stored in the magnetic storage area. A capacitive data card reading device having an inspection means for judging that the data card is invalid. 5. The capacitive data card according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the magnetic storage area includes a form stored in an IC chip.