JPS62164598A - Card-shaped electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a technology that is effective when applied to a card-shaped electronic device incorporating a microcomputer that is detachable from an input/output terminal device of a central processing unit. 6 [Prior Art] Cards such as cash cards and telephone cards that are detachable from input/output terminal devices of central processing units are frequently used. This card generally has a read-only, non-volatile storage function with a magnetic surface layer for magnetic recording. This type of card has a small amount of information because there are limits to the area of the magnetic surface layer and to the high density of the magnetic material.

Therefore, progress is being made in the practical development of card-shaped electronic devices (card microcomputers) that incorporate microcomputers, electrically erasable nonvolatile memory functions, and the like.

In this card-shaped electronic device, the amount of information can be increased because the semiconductor chips constituting the microcomputer and the nonvolatile memory function can be highly integrated. Further, since the card-shaped electronic device can perform information processing independently, it has the feature that the number of communication lines between the central processing unit and the input/output terminal device can be reduced.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the results of considerations in such technology.

The present inventor discovered that the following problems occur.

The microcomputer of the card-shaped electronic device adopts a system in which it is driven by supplying Wlg from a mercury battery, lithium battery, or the like, or by supplying power from an input/output terminal device. Power is supplied from the built-in battery or the input/output terminal device through contact-type electrodes. For this reason, when the card-shaped electronic device is handled by the user, the electrodes are coated with rust or oil, resulting in poor contact.

Furthermore, as the frequency of card-shaped electronic devices increases, the power supply electrode side of the input/output terminal device wears out, resulting in poor contact. Therefore, the electrical reliability and lifespan of the card-like electronic device is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can improve the electrical reliability of a card-shaped electronic device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can extend the life of a card-shaped electronic device.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means for solving problems]

A brief overview of typical inventions disclosed in this application is as follows.

That is, a card-shaped electronic device is provided with a solar cell that drives its microcomputer.

[Effect]

According to the above-described means, power for driving the microcomputer can be supplied without contact, and contact failures can be eliminated, so that electrical reliability can be improved.

The configuration of the present invention will be described below along with one embodiment.

In addition, in all the episodes, parts having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof will be omitted.

〔Example〕

A card-shaped electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 (perspective view), and FIG. 2 (partial cross-sectional view) shows a state in which the card-shaped electronic device is attached to an input/output terminal device of a central processing unit. show.

As shown in FIG. 1, the card-shaped electronic device 1 is provided with a solar cell IA and an information input/output section IB exposed through a slit on one surface of a cover covering the inside of the device. As shown in FIG. 2, this card-shaped electronic device is designed to be removably inserted into a card insertion slot 2A of an input/output terminal device 2 of a central processing unit. Card-shaped electronic device 1
The loader 2 of the input/output terminal device 2 is inserted into the insertion slot 2A.
It is configured to be controlled by B.

The solar cell IA of the card-shaped electronic device 1 is made of, for example, gallium arsenide (GaAs), single crystal silicon, or the like. This solar cell IA is shown in Figure 3 (equivalent circuit diagram)
As shown in , it is configured to generate electric power (power supply voltage Vcc and reference voltage Vss) to drive the microcomputer IC.

As this electric power, direct current is preferable so as not to cause ripples or the like. Solar cell IA is an input/output terminal device! Electric power is generated by the light from the second light source 2C. When the card-shaped electronic device 1 is inserted into the insertion slot 2A, the solar cell IA is installed at a predetermined position of the card-shaped electronic device 1 so as to coincide with the position of the light source 2C through a slit provided in the insertion slot 2A. It is being Further, the solar cell IA may generate electric power using a light source other than the light source 2C of the input/output terminal device 2, for example, sunlight.

In this way, by providing the solar cell IA in the card-shaped electronic device 1, power for driving the microcomputer LC can be supplied from the input/output terminal device 2 without contact, and contact failures can be eliminated. Electrical reliability can be improved.

The information input/output unit IB includes a photosensor 1b1゜lb2 that inputs the output optical signal of the photodiode 2dt+2d2 of the information input/output unit 2D of the input/output terminal device 2, and a photosensor 1b1゜lb2 that outputs the output optical signal to the photosensors 2d3 and 2d4. It is composed of diodes 1bs and 1b4. The photosensors 1b+ and lb2 receive the input output optical signal as an input electrical signal II.

It is configured to be inputted to the microcomputer IC as I2. The photodiodes 1b3゜1b4 are
It is configured to output the output electrical signals 01 and 02 of the microcomputer IC as output optical signals.

In this way, the photo sensor 1b+ is attached to the card-like electronic device 1.
, 1b2 and a photodiode tbsttb4, information input/output signals of the microcomputer IC can be input/output to/from the input/output terminal device 2 without contact. Since defects can be eliminated, electrical reliability can be improved.

Note that the microcomputer IC of this embodiment is as follows.

Although it has a built-in non-volatile memory function such as a mask ROM and an EEPROM, the present invention allows the card-like electronic device [1 to be provided with a semiconductor chip having a non-volatile memory function other than the microcomputer IC.

Further, according to the present invention, the card-shaped electronic device 1 may be provided with an input key and a display section so that it can be used as a calculator or a watch.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the novel techniques disclosed in five pieces in order, the effects described below can be obtained.

(1) By providing a card-shaped electronic device with a solar cell that drives a microcomputer, power can be supplied without contact, eliminating contact failures and improving electrical reliability. can.

(2) By providing the card-shaped electronic device with an information input/output section consisting of a photosensor and a photodiode, input/output signals from the microcomputer can be input/output to/from the input/output terminal device without contact. This makes it possible to eliminate poor contact.

Electrical reliability can be improved.

(3) According to (1) or (2) above, the lifespan of the card-shaped electronic device can be extended.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically explained above based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Of course.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card-like electronic device that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state HA in which the card-like electronic device is attached to an input/output terminal device of a central processing unit. , FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the card-shaped electronic device and the input/output terminal device. In the figure, 1... card-like electronic device, IA... solar cell. IB, 2D...information input/output unit, IC...microcomputer, 2...input/output terminal device, 2A...card insertion 0.2B...loader, 2C...light source, 2dz,
2d2, lbs, lb4...Photodiode, 1b
＋. lb2, 2ds, 2d4...photo sensors. No. IFl! J Fig. 2/---Car)-4r 918;! /A-person ryo address 3 tomoe 3rd figure/C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A card-shaped electronic device incorporating a microcomputer that is detachable from an input/output terminal device of a central processing unit,
A card-shaped electronic device comprising a solar cell for driving the microcomputer. 2. 2. The card-shaped electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell generates electric power by receiving light from a light source provided in the input/output terminal device. 3. The information input/output section of the microcomputer is composed of a photosensor that inputs an optical signal from a photodiode of the input/output terminal device, and a photodiode that outputs an optical signal to the photosensor of the input/output terminal device. A card-shaped electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the card-shaped electronic device comprises: 4. The card-like electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the card-like electronic device is provided with a non-volatile storage function.