JPH0685191B2 - Free-form information card with capacitive coupling insertion direction - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to office automation (Off-ice Aut).
omation, OA), Factory Automation (Fact
Information cards such as IC cards used in fields such as ory automation (FA), especially non-power supply (no built-in battery) and non-contact type capacitive coupling insertion that does not have contact terminals for power supply and signal input / output. It relates to a directional freestyle information card.

(Prior Art) In a general information card, an integrated circuit such as a semiconductor memory is built in a card body made of plastic or the like, and a contact terminal with an external device is provided on the card surface.

Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, there is one described in the following documents, for example.

Reference 1: Nikkei Mechanical, (1985-10-21) Nikkei McGraw-Hill “IC card” P.167-170 Reference 2: Nikkei Electronics, (1985-12-2) Nikkei McGraw-Hill “IC card avalanche Electronics Manufacturers (above) ”P.275-292 Literature 3; Nikkei Electronics, (1985-12-6) Nikkei McGraw-Hill“ Electronics Manufacturers (Lower) into the IC card market ”P.249-262 Literature 4; Actual JP-A-56-109166, Document 5; JP-A-61-101886, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the conventional information card described in Documents 1 to 4, and Fig. 3 is its mounting. It is a perspective view which shows an example.

In FIG. 2, 1 is an external device for reading and writing information, 2 is an information card, and DC power Vc, E is supplied from the external device 1 to the information card 2 and the external device 1 Input / output signals between information cards 2 I / O _{1 to} I / On
Is given and received. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the information card 2 has a rectangular card body 3 made of plastic or the like, and the card body 3 has a plurality of power sources and signals exposed on its surface. The contact terminal 4 is provided and an integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as IC) 5 is provided inside. The IC 5 has a semiconductor memory 6 and a microprocessor 7 that controls writing and reading of information to and from the memory 6.

When this type of information card 2 is inserted into the external device 1, the terminal 4 on the card 2 side comes into contact with the terminal on the external device 1 side, and the information stored in the memory 6 is passed through these terminals 4 and the like to the external device 1. 1 or read the information on the external device 1 side into the memory 6.

However, in the information card of FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal 4
Is exposed to the outside, so the terminal contact part is
Contact reliability due to oxidation, corrosion, wear, etc., malfunction due to leakage current, and IC5 breakdown due to static electricity and external voltage occur, resulting in reliability problems. In order to eliminate this problem, a battery, an oscillator, a loop antenna, etc. are built in the card body 3 without exposing the terminals 4 to the surface of the card body 3, and a non-contact type that sends a signal from the loop antenna using the battery. Although an information card has been proposed, there is a problem in that the card body 3 becomes thick due to the attachment of the battery and the battery is replaced.

In addition, the direction in which the information card 2 is inserted into the external device 1 is limited to a certain direction because the terminal 4 on the card 2 side and the terminal on the external device 1 side need to be in contact with each other. When it is inserted, it must be inserted again from the correct direction, which is disadvantageous in use.

In view of this, in the technique of Document 5, a coil device for electromagnetic coupling, which is composed of a magnetic material and a coil, is provided in the center of the card body 3, and power and signals are exchanged by this coil device to improve reliability. Also, we are working to improve usability.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the information card of Document 5 has a problem that it is difficult to form an IC because the coil device transmits and receives power and signals. Further, since the coil device is provided in the central portion of the card main body 3 in order to have the degree of freedom in the card inserting direction, when the card main body 3 is bent, the maximum stress is applied to the coil device in the central portion. There was a problem that not only could it be damaged when added, but there was a restriction on the embedded position of the IC5.

The present invention has the following problems with the above-mentioned conventional technology.
(EN) Provided is a capacitive coupling insertion direction free-form information card which solves the problems that it is difficult to make, the coil device is damaged by the maximum bending stress generated in the central part of the card body, and the embedded position of the IC is restricted.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the first and second inventions include:
A power supply / signal transfer means for receiving external AC power and transferring signals to / from the outside, and an AC power input through the power supply / signal transfer means for direct power A transmission / reception circuit that converts into electric power and transmits and receives the signal, a memory that stores information, and a memory control circuit that controls the operation of the memory based on an input signal input through the transmission / reception circuit, The following measures are taken in the provided information card.

That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, the power supply / signal transmitting / receiving means is composed of a pair of capacitive coupling polar plates for receiving and transmitting AC power, and these polar plates are center lines of each side of the card body. They are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other and are arranged on substantially the same plane with respect to the card body.

In the second invention, the power supply / signal transmitting / receiving means is composed of a pair of capacitive coupling polar plates for receiving and transmitting AC power, and these polar plates are connected to a center line of each side of the card body. Are arranged symmetrically and on a substantially parallel plane facing the card body.

(Operation) According to the first and second inventions, since the information card is configured as described above, the pair of capacitive coupling polar plates has a large mechanical and electrical strength against bending, and the thinning thereof is possible. It is easy to make IC by downsizing and miniaturization, and moreover, the flexibility of the embedding position of the internal circuit is increased by considering the formation position. The pair of electrode plates receives and inputs AC power and receives and outputs output signals in a contactless manner with an external device without being restricted in the insertion direction. The transmission / reception circuit converts AC power from the electrode plate into DC power and supplies it to an internal circuit, and also transmits and receives signals. As a result, signals can be exchanged without power supply and without contact, without being restricted in the insertion direction. Therefore, the above problems can be eliminated.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a capacitive coupling insertion direction free type information card showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an external device.
An information card 20 is inserted in the.

The external device 10 includes a transmission / reception circuit 11 and a pair of capacitive coupling electrodes for power transmission and signal transmission, which are power supply / signal transmission / reception means.
12-1 and 12-2. The transmission / reception circuit 11 uses, for example, the alternating current power PS modulated based on the input signal Si as the electrode plate 12-
1 and a demodulation circuit for demodulating a transmission signal given through the electrode plate 12-1 and sending an output signal So. Here, one electrode plate 12-2
Is grounded and forms a return loop.

On the other hand, the information card 20 has a substantially rectangular card body 21 made of plastic or the like, and inside the card body 21, it faces the electrode plates 12-1 and 12-2 on the external device 10 side. A pair of capacitive coupling plates 22-1, 22 for both power transmission and signal transmission
-2 is provided and the IC 23 is stored. IC23
A transmission / reception circuit 24 connected to the electrode plate 22-1, a memory control circuit 25, and a memory 26 are provided therein.

The transmission / reception circuit 24, for example, converts a transmission signal input through the electrode plate 22-1 into a stabilized DC voltage Vdc and supplies it to each circuit in the IC 23 as a power supply circuit, and demodulates the transmission signal. It is provided with a demodulation circuit for generating the original input signal Si and giving it to the memory control circuit 25, and a modulation circuit for converting the output signal So of the memory control circuit 25 into a transmission signal and giving it to the electrode plate 22-1. . Here, the one electrode plate 22-2 is grounded to form a return loop. Memory control circuit 25
Is a circuit configured of, for example, a microprocessor, which controls reading and writing of the memory 26, serial-parallel conversion of data, and the like. The memory 26 is a medium for storing various information, and is a read-only memory (ROM) or a writable ROM.
(PROM), electrically erasable and writable ROM (EEPROM), ultraviolet erasable and writable ROM (EPROM), and the like.

4 and 5 are plan views showing an embodiment of the information card in FIG. In the information card 20 shown in FIG. 4, the center line X in the long side direction and the center line Y in the short side direction of the card body 21.
A pair of pole plates 22-1 and 22-2 having the same rectangular shape are arranged at symmetrical positions on the center line Y with the intersection point of and as a center point. In the information card 20 shown in FIG. 5, the center line of the card body 21
A pair of polar plates 22-1 and 22-2 of the same rectangular shape are arranged at symmetrical positions on the center line X with the intersection of X and Y as the center point.
Corresponding to these electrode plates 22-1 and 22-2, the electrode plates 12-1 and 12-2 on the external device 10 side are also arranged in the same manner.

Next, the operation will be described.

The input signal Si in the external device 10 is an initial set (initial setting) of the memory control circuit 25 on the information card 20 side, a control signal for reading and writing information, and a signal to be written in the memory 26, etc., serially. It has been transformed.

When the information card 20 is inserted into such an external device 10, the AC power PS and the input signal Si on the external device 10 side are transferred to the transmission / reception circuit 11
Is converted into a signal for transmission by the electrode plates 12-1, 12-2, 22-1, 22-
It is transmitted to the transmission / reception circuit 24 on the information card 20 side by capacitive coupling of the two.

The transmission / reception circuit 24 converts the output of the electrode plates 22-1, 22-2 into a stabilized DC voltage Vdc and supplies it to each circuit in the card body 21 as a power source, and at the same time, the electrode plates 22-1, 22-2. Only the signal component is demodulated from the output of -2 and given to the memory control circuit 25. Then, in the memory control circuit 25, after writing the information in the memory 26 by designating an address based on the information contained in the input signal, for example, the write information, the write completion signal is given to the transmitting / receiving circuit 24. The transmitter / receiver circuit 24 modulates the output signal of the memory control circuit 25 into a signal for transmission, which is then transmitted to the electrode plate 22-
It is given to the transmission / reception circuit 11 on the external device 10 side through 1,22-2, 12-1, 12-2.

The transmission / reception circuit 11 demodulates the input transmission signal and outputs an output signal So obtained by serializing the read information of the memory 26, the operation confirmation signal inside the information card, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the information card 20 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the electrode plate and IC in FIG.

In this information card 20, a pair of identical rectangular electrode plates 22-1 and 22-2 are disposed at front and back symmetrical positions on the intersection of the center lines X and Y of the card body 21. These plates 22-
Corresponding to 1,22-2, each electrode plate 12-1, 12-2 on the external device 10 side
Are similarly arranged. Such an information card 20
Even if is inserted into the external device 10, the same operation as in the above embodiment is performed.

The above embodiments have the following advantages.

(A) Since a coil device for electromagnetic coupling composed of a magnetic body and a coil is not used as a power supply / signal transfer means as in the conventional case, it is easy to make an IC. That is, a pair of capacitive coupling plates
22-1 and 22-2 can be thinned by using a conductive film, and can be miniaturized by increasing the frequency of a signal, so that they can be easily integrated into an IC.

(B) Since the polar plates 22-1 and 22-2 on the side of the information card 20 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center lines X and Y of the card body 21, which direction the information card 20 is, The operation can be performed by inserting the external device 10 with the right and left sides reversed. In this way, since the insertion direction of the information card 20 is not restricted, usability is improved.

Further, the pair of electrode plates 22-1 and 22-2 have large mechanical strength against bending, and further, since the number of wirings to the internal circuit is small, disconnection due to bending is unlikely to occur and electrical strength is large. Therefore, even if it is formed in the central portion of the card body 21 where the maximum bending stress occurs, inconvenience such as breakage or disconnection does not occur. Moreover, the pair of electrode plates 22-1, 22-2 are
Since it may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center lines X and Y of the card body 21, it is not always necessary to form it in the central portion of the card body 21, and it may be formed at an appropriate position in consideration of the embedded position of the IC 23 and the like. Good. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the embedded position of the IC 23 is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the electrode plates 22-1 and 22-2 may be formed into another shape such as a circle, the arrangement state thereof may be changed to a configuration other than that shown in the figure, or the circuit configuration in the IC23 may be changed to another type such as a hybrid system. It is also possible to do so.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the first and second inventions, the power supply and the signal are transmitted and received through the pair of capacitive coupling electrode plates. ICs can be easily made by making the plates thinner and smaller. Moreover, since the pair of electrode plates has a large mechanical strength against bending and the number of wirings to the internal circuit is small, there is no inconvenience such as breakage or disconnection due to bending. Further, since the pair of polar plates may be formed symmetrically with respect to the center line of each side of the card body and on substantially the same plane or opposite parallel planes, the embedded position of the internal circuit By forming it at an appropriate position in consideration of the above, the degree of freedom of the embedded position of the internal circuit can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a free-form information card of capacitive coupling insertion direction showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional information card, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mounting example of FIG. FIG. 4, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are plan views showing the mounting example of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another mounting example of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a perspective view of IC. 10 ... External device, 11,24 ... Transceiver circuit, 12-1,12-2,2
2-1, 22-2 ... Pole plate, 20 ... Information card, 21 ... Card body, 23 ... IC, 25 ... Memory control circuit, 26 ... Memory.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A power supply / signal transfer means for receiving and sending external AC power and a signal to / from the outside, and AC power input through the power supply / signal transfer means in a substantially rectangular card body. A transmission / reception circuit for converting the power into DC power for power supply and transmitting and receiving the signal, a memory for storing information, and a memory for controlling the operation of the memory based on an input signal input via the transmission / reception circuit. In the information card provided with the control circuit, the power supply / signal transfer means is composed of a pair of capacitive coupling polar plates for receiving and transmitting AC power, and these polar plates are provided for each of the card body. A capacitive coupling insertion direction free-form information card, which is symmetrical with respect to a center line of a side and is arranged on substantially the same plane with respect to the card body. 2. A power supply / signal transfer means for receiving and sending external AC power and a signal to / from the outside, and AC power input through the power supply / signal transfer means in a substantially rectangular card body. A transmission / reception circuit that converts the power into DC power for power supply and that transmits and receives the signal, a memory that stores information, and a memory that controls the operation of the memory based on an input signal input through the transmission / reception circuit In the information card provided with the control circuit, the power supply / signal transmitting / receiving unit is composed of a pair of capacitive coupling polar plates for receiving and transmitting AC power, and these polar plates are included in each of the card main bodies. A capacitive coupling insertion direction free-form information card, which is arranged on a substantially parallel plane which is symmetrical with respect to a center line of a side and faces the card body.