JPS6335395A - Ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an IC card for writing and reading information.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a technology in this field, there has been a technology as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The configuration will be explained below using figures.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional IC card.

This IC card 1 has a rectangular card body 2 made of plastic or the like and has a thickness of about 1.5 to 2 mm. Inside the card body 2, a memory 3 for storing information,
A microprocessor 4 for controlling writing and reading of information into and from the memory 3 is embedded therein, and an external contact electrode 5 exposed on the surface of the card body 2 is provided.

This electrode 5 is connected to each circuit within the card body 2, and has a device section that inputs power and signals from the outside and outputs internal signals to the outside.

In the following configuration, when the IC card l is inserted into an external device, for example, a reader/writer, the external contact electrode 5 comes into contact with the electrode in the reader/writer, and the power and signals in the reader/writer are transmitted through the electrode 5 into the IC card l. is supplied to Then, the microprocessor 4 in the IC card 1 stores information in the memory 3 or reads out information in the memory 3 based on the signal from the reader/writer. The read information is output to the reader/writer side through the electrode 5.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, since the IC card 1 having the above structure is extremely thin, the structure in which the external contact electrode 5 is provided on the surface of the card body 2 does not allow deformation of the electrode portion. There is a risk that poor contact may occur due to rust on the electrode portion, etc., and the reliability is low.

The present invention provides an IC card that solves the problem of the prior art, which is that the electrodes are of a contact type and therefore have low reliability.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention provides a memory that stores information and a microprocessor that controls reading, reading, and writing of information from the memory, and a card. The IC card housed in the main body includes a solar cell that converts light energy for power supply from the outside into electric power, a light emitting element that converts the electric signal from the microprocessor into an optical signal and outputs it to the outside, and A light receiving element that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal and provides it to the microprocessor is embedded within the card body.

(Function) According to the present invention, since the IC card is configured as described above, the solar center receives power from the outside in the form of optical energy, and the light emitting element receives internal signals in the form of optical signals. The above-mentioned problems are eliminated by outputting to the outside and the light-receiving element receiving external signals in the form of optical signals.The above-mentioned problems are eliminated by supplying power and transmitting and receiving signals using non-contact light. It can be done.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an IC card showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting the IC card.

This IC card 10 has a rectangular card body 11 made of plastic or the like, and a solar cell 12, a light emitting element 13, and a light receiving element 14 are embedded in the card body 11. A microprocessor 1B and a memory 17 are connected to the light receiving element 14 via a communication interface 15, and these are also embedded in the card body 11.

Here, the solar cell 12 is a circuit that converts light energy from the reader/writer into electric power P and supplies it as a power source to each circuit in the card body 11.

The light emitting element 13 converts an internal electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits it to, for example, a reader/writer, and is composed of a light emitting diode or the like. The light-receiving element 14 converts the optical signal from the reader/writer into an electrical signal and inputs it into the interior, and is composed of a photodiode or the like. In order to avoid malfunctions caused by visible light, it is desirable that an infrared filter be attached to the solar cell 12 and the light receiving element 14, and that the reader/writer also be structured to emit infrared rays.

The communication interface 15 is a microprocessor.

16 to the light emitting element 13, and further to the light receiving element 1.
This circuit transfers the signals from 4 to the microprocessor 16, respectively. Microprocessor 1B is memory 1
This is a circuit that controls writing and reading of information to and from 7. The memory 17 is a circuit that stores various information, and includes read-only memory (ROM) and writable ROM.
(PROIII) , electrically erasable and writable ROM (
EEFROM), UV eraseable and writable RO
It is composed of M (EFROM) and the like. Each of the circuits in the card body 11 is composed of, for example, 1G (electronic integrated circuit, which also includes LSI, VLSI, etc.).

Next, the operation will be explained.

When the IC card 10 is attached to, for example, a reader/writer, light is emitted from the reader/writer to the solar cell 12, and the light is converted into electrical energy by the solar cell 12, which is supplied as power to each circuit in the card body 11, and circuit becomes operational. When an optical signal is supplied from the reader/writer to the light receiving element 14, the light receiving element 14 converts the optical signal into an electrical signal and supplies it to the microprocessor 16 through the interface 15. If the signal applied to the microprocessor 16 includes, for example, a read command, the microprocessor 18 decodes the read command from the input signal, reads the stored information at a predetermined location in the memory 17, and
The light emitting element 13 outputs it to the light emitting element 13 through the interface 15. The light emitting element 13 converts the applied electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits it to the reader/writer side. This allows the reader/writer to read information in the memory 17.

In this embodiment, the solar cell 12 is used to supply power, and the light emitting element 13 and light receiving element 14 are used to send and receive signals, so power can be supplied and signals can be sent and received without contacting the reader/writer. Therefore, problems such as poor contact due to deformation or rust of the external contact electrode, which were conventional, are eliminated, and reliability is significantly improved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the microprocessor 16 may be configured with a microcomputer, or the solar cell 1
A stabilizing circuit may be provided on the output side of the card body 11, and the stabilizing circuit may smooth the DC output of the solar cell 12 and supply it to each circuit in the card body 11. The arrangement of the solar cell 12, the light emitting element 13, and the light receiving element 14 embedded therein may be modified to a configuration other than that shown in FIG. 3.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since a solar cell, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element are provided, power can be supplied and signals can be exchanged without contacting an external device. Therefore,
Problems such as poor contact caused by conventional external contact terminals are eliminated, and reliability is significantly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an IC card showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional IC card, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the implementation of FIG. 10...IC card, 11...card body, 12...solar cell, 13...light emitting element, 14...light receiving element, 15...
Interface, 16...Microprocessor, 17...Memory.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an IC card housed in a card body, a memory that stores information and a microprocessor that controls reading and writing of information to the memory convert external light energy into electric power. a light emitting element that converts the electrical signal from the microprocessor into an optical signal and outputs it to the outside; and a light receiving element that converts the optical signal from the outside into an electrical signal and provides it to the microprocessor. An IC card characterized in that the IC card is embedded within the card body.