JPS63298586A - Portable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To expand the utilization range of a card by providing a magnetic connecting means for transmitting information between an electric storage medium which is contained in a card base and stores necessary information, and a magnetic card reader of the outside. CONSTITUTION:The titled medium is provided with electric storage media (RAM3, ROM4) which are contained in a card base and store electrically necessary information, and a magnetic connecting means 8 which is provided with an electromagnetic transducing function and transmits information between the electric storage media 3, 4 and a magnetic card reader 12 of the outside. That is, by the magnetic connecting means 8 having the electromagnetic transducing function, the necessary information stored in the electric storage media 3, 4 is converted to a magnetic signal and read by the magnetic card reader 12. Accordingly, the electric storage media 3, 4 whose recording capacity is much larger than a magnetic stripe re used as a recording element for the magnetic card reader 12. In such a way, the utilization range of the card functioning as a portable storage medium is further expanded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a portable storage medium such as an IC card.

(Prior Art) In recent years, magnetic cards have been widely used in the fields of financial institutions and distribution institutions, such as bank cash dispensers and payment machines. The magnetic card has a plastic card base with a 0.5 to 1.
A magnetic stripe with a recording capacity of about a bit is attached to the magnetic stripe, and if the magnetic card is used as a bank cash card, for example, the magnetic stripe has the user's account number, Information such as codes and names are magnetically recorded.

When in use, when a magnetic card is inserted into a magnetic card reader, the information recorded on the magnetic stripe is read out by an online connected PC, its contents are confirmed, and the necessary decisions and decisions are made. A calculation is made.

Magnetic cards are convenient because deposits and withdrawals can be made automatically, but as mentioned above, their recording capacity is relatively small, so their function is to operate computers. It only serves as a “key” for
The scope of application is limited. For this reason, for the purpose of expanding the application area of cards, cards with higher storage capacity,
Alternatively, there is a need for a card that can make necessary decisions and plans on its own, and to meet this demand, IC cards as portable storage media, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, have been developed. .

The IC card has a card base 1 made of plastic similar to the above-mentioned magnetic card, and a semiconductor chip constituting a CPU 1 and RAM 3 and ROM 4 as electrical storage media is embedded therein.
A required number of electrical connection terminals 5 are provided for connecting the M4 and the like to an external device such as a reader/writer (not shown). The IC card has RAM3 and RO as recording elements.
Since it is equipped with an electric storage medium consisting of M4, the recording capacity is much increased compared to a magnetic card, and the storage capacity is much larger than that of a magnetic card.
Information can be freely written and read using approximately 4 bits. Furthermore, since the card has a computer function, the card itself can make necessary judgments and calculations.

Current IC cards and cards were designed to be used in combination with the above-mentioned magnetic cards, which are already in practical use, and the dimensions and shape of the card base 1 are almost the same as those of the magnetic cards, and A magnetic stripe 6 almost similar to that on a magnetic card is pasted on the magnetic stripe 6 completely independently of electrical storage media such as RAM 3 and ROM 4 .

When used as an IC card, the electrical connection terminal 5
The IC card is inserted into a dedicated reader/writer for IC cards, which is equipped with a contact section that contacts and connects to the IC card, reads and writes information, and performs necessary judgments and calculations inside the card.

Furthermore, when inserted into a magnetic card reading device, information recorded only on the magnetic stripe 6 is read out, and C1 functions in exactly the same way as the aforementioned magnetic card.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, when an IC card is inserted into a magnetic card reader, an electric storage medium such as RAM3 or ROM4, which has a much larger recording capacity than the magnetic stripe 6, is used as a recording element. If it can be used, it can be used as a magnetic card and the range of use can be expected to be further expanded.

However, conventional IC cards only have a magnetic stripe similar to that on magnetic cards, completely independent of electrical storage media such as RAM and ROM. It was not possible to read the information recorded on the electrical storage medium.

This invention was made based on the circumstances of the article "-", and the magnetic card reading device is capable of using electrical memory such as RAM, ROM, etc.
To provide a portable storage medium that can read information recorded on the medium and further expand the range of use of one card.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses an electric storage medium built into a card base to electrically store required information, and an electric/magnetic The gist of the present invention is to include a magnetic connection means having a conversion function and for transmitting information between the electrical storage medium and an external magnetic card reading device.

(Operation) When a portable storage medium is inserted into a magnetic card reading/taking device, the required information stored in the electric storage medium is converted into a magnetic signal by a magnetic connection means having an electric/magnetic conversion function. and is read by a magnetic card reader.

Therefore, since an electrical storage medium with a much larger storage capacity than a magnetic stripe is used as a recording element for a magnetic card reader, the scope of use of the card as a portable storage medium is further expanded.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5. This embodiment is applied to an IC card. 1 to 3 that are the same as or equivalent to the equipment or members in FIGS. 6 and 7 are designated by the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

First, the structure of the IC card 10, which is a portable storage medium, will be explained. In this embodiment, the magnetic stripe of the conventional IC card is removed, and instead, the magnetic stripe as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is used. Magnetic connection means 8 equipped with a pressure sensor 7 as a head detection means are disposed at required locations on the card base 1.

The magnetic connection means 8 has an electric/magnetic conversion function.
, the required information read from the RAM 3 or ROM 4 via the CPU 2 is converted into a magnetic signal and transmitted via the head 11 to the magnetic card reading device 12.

The magnetic connection means 8 is composed of, for example, a thin film head. Further, the pressure sensor 7 is used to detect that the magnetic connecting means 8 is accurately positioned below the head when the IC card 10 is inserted into the magnetic card reading device 12, and the sensor signal is The line is connected to the CPU 2, and the output signal line from CPtJ2 is connected to the magnetic connection means 8.

9 is a display section; 1. When the C card 10 is inserted into the magnetic card reader 12, the display section 9 is exposed to the outside so that the user can see the displayed contents.

Next, the usage and operation of the IC card 10 configured as described above will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

When used as an IC card, it is inserted into a reader/writer dedicated to IC cards, and the contacts on the reader/writer side are connected to the electrical connection terminals 5 by contact. And C.P.
Information is read and stored in the RAM 3 and ROM 4 via U2, and necessary judgments and calculations are made within the card, thereby functioning as a regular IC card.

On the other hand, when the IC card 10 is used as a magnetic card, it is inserted into the magnetic card reader 12 (step 14 in FIG. 5). When the magnetic connecting means 8 is aligned with the head 11 on the side of the magnetic card reader 12 (step 15) and is accurately aligned to a readable position, step 16 becomes both legs (Yes), and the head detecting means The head 11 is detected by the pressure sensor 7,
The detection signal is sent to CPU2. The CPU 2 controls the display section 9 according to the input of the detection number 13, and the display section 9
For example, O indicates that the alignment was done correctly.
The contents of K etc. are displayed. At the same time, RAM3
Alternatively, required information is read out from the ROM 4, and this information is converted into a magnetic signal 13 sent to the magnetic connection means 8 and sent to the head 1.
CF through 1! It is read by the 1-ki card reader 12 (step 17).

When the reading of the required information from the RAM 3 or ROM 4 is completed, the judgment in step 18 becomes YES, and under the control of the CPU 2, an END mark, for example, indicating the end of output is displayed on the display section 9. is displayed (step 19). After recognizing this display, the user reads the IC card 10 as a magnetic card! :r! 1 place to the right ＼ Gotoba Inn h M Tateriichi Hashi 17 Finish the small oil field (Step 20
).

And when used as such a magnetic card,
Electrical storage media such as RAM3, RO, M4, etc. can record information in winter more than conventional magnetic stripes, so the range of their use is significantly expanded.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when a portable storage medium is inserted into a magnetic card reader, the magnetic connection means having an electric/magnetic conversion function converts the portable storage medium into an electric storage medium. Since the required stored information is converted into a magnetic signal and read by the magnetic card reader, an electrical storage medium with a much larger recording capacity e than a magnetic stripe is used as a recording element for the magnetic card reader. This has the advantage that the scope of use of the card, which is a portable storage medium, can be significantly expanded.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of a portable storage medium according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration inside the medium, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration inside the medium. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same portion, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional portable storage medium. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the conventional example. 1: Card base, 2: CPLJ. 3: RAM (electrical storage medium), 4: ROM (electrical storage medium), 5: electrical connection terminal, 7: pressure sensor (head detection means), 8: magnetic connection means, 11: head, 12: la ki card reader.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An electric storage medium built into the card base that electrically stores required information, and an electric/magnetic conversion function capable of transmitting information between the electric storage medium and an external magnetic card reading device. 1. A portable storage medium characterized in that it has a magnetic connection means for performing the operation. (2) The magnetic connection means is equipped with a head detection means for detecting contact of the head in the magnetic card reading device, and a detection signal from the head detection means is used to detect the required information stored in the electrical storage medium. 2. A portable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the information is output to a magnetic card reader/device.