JPH061510B2 - IC card proper insertion detection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a detection mechanism for detecting a proper insertion state of an IC card into a reader / writer, and particularly to an IC card which is electrically connected to the IC card. The present invention relates to an IC card proper insertion detection mechanism for detecting and holding an IC card by detecting an appropriate position with respect to a reader / writer that exchanges signals.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, IC cards in which an IC having the functions of a memory and a CPU is built in and configured into a card shape are widely used. Generally, in this IC card, as means for reading and writing data, electric contacts of the IC are provided on the outer surface of the card, and electric power is supplied to the IC card and data signals are exchanged by contacting these electric contacts. A reader / writer configured as described above is used.

The use of this type of IC card is expanded with the increase in memory capacity, and it can be easily and effectively used not only as various business cards for personal use but also as a memory medium for program control systems in various industries. It's being used. Since the frequency of use of such versatile IC cards is increased and the environment in which they are used is also susceptible to external contamination and damage, it is necessary to deteriorate the electrical contacts and exchange appropriate data signals. There is a difficulty that you cannot do it.

From such a viewpoint, a field for vibration energy due to a high-frequency electromagnetic field or ultrasonic waves is provided in the space, and the energy of this field is absorbed,
By rectifying and using it as a DC power supply, a built-in battery or a power supply contact point in an IC card becomes unnecessary, and a coupler such as an antenna or a coil is used for exchanging various data signals with a reader / writer. An IC card system has been proposed in which all the electrical contacts exposed to the outside of the IC card are omitted by embedding this coupler in an appropriate place of the IC card, and the electrical connection between the IC card and the reader / writer is non-contact. (For example, JP-A-58-154082).

In order to efficiently perform the power supply to the IC card and the input of the data signal when the IC card adopting such a non-contact coupling method and the reader / writer are coupled, the coupler and the reader / writer provided in the IC card are required. It is desired that the position alignment with the coupler provided at the position is performed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Therefore, when the IC card adopting such a non-contact coupling method and the reader / writer are coupled, the IC card is inserted into the reader / writer in an appropriate state, so that the front and back of the IC card and the insertion direction can be discriminated. Can be printed on an IC card, while a reader / writer side can be provided with an insertion position defining frame for properly positioning the IC card.

However, as described above, even if the IC card has a printed display for proper insertion into the reader / writer, the improper insertion may be performed due to a mistake by the operator. In such a case, It is necessary for the reader / writer to have means for discriminating the proper positioning state of the IC card.

Further, the reader / writer is provided with means for determining the state of the IC card only when the IC card is in an appropriate positioning state and fixing and holding the IC card immovably, thereby supplying electric power to the IC card. It is necessary to exchange data signals.

Therefore, these discriminating means and fixed holding means have to have a complicated structure using electrical, mechanical or optical means, respectively, and as a result, the manufacturing cost of the reader / writer is significantly increased. .

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to further simplify the identification for the IC card reader / writer to always insert the IC card in an appropriate fixed direction, and to position the IC card at an appropriate insertion position. Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure of an IC card and a combination of the IC card and a reader / writer that can smoothly and easily achieve the fixing and holding.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, an IC card proper insertion detection mechanism according to the present invention inserts an IC card into a predetermined position, and inserts the IC card into a reader / writer that receives power and exchanges signals. In an IC card detection mechanism provided with a means for detecting, an IC card having notches at both edges in the longitudinal direction and a coupler for exchanging signals with the IC card are provided in the coupler. On the other hand, it is composed of a substrate for guiding and inserting the IC card to a predetermined position, and a protective cover plate fixed on the substrate, and is engaged with the front end of the IC card on the upper surface of the cover plate to advance to the predetermined position together with the IC card. A slide plate having a restoring elasticity is also provided, and when the IC card reaches a predetermined position on one edge of the lid plate and the slide plate, the IC card
A lever member which is provided with a cutout portion and a cutout step portion at a position corresponding to the cutout portion of the card, and which is provided with a lock pin at a position corresponding to the cutout portion so as to be elastically fitted into the cutout portion of the cover plate and which is capable of returning operation. Is provided to configure an IC card mounting portion.

In this case, the reversible lever member is a lock that pivotally supports the intermediate portion and elastically fits into the cutout portion of the protective cover plate at a position corresponding to the cutout portion of the IC card inserted at one end. A lock lever having a pin and an operating portion at the other end, and the lock lever is urged in one direction to elastically press the lock pin of the lock lever against one side edge of the slide plate in the restored state. It is preferable to use an elastic member.

Further, preferably, when the IC card reaches a predetermined position on the substrate, a signal for detecting the pivoting operation of the lever pivotally mounted on the lid plate so as to interlock with the movement of the slide plate to start the operation of the reader / writer. It is also possible to provide a switch for outputting.

[Action]

According to the IC card proper insertion detection mechanism of the present invention,
By the insertion operation of the IC card having the notch at the one edge in the longitudinal direction, the front end of the IC card engages with the slide plate and moves forward together with the slide plate to a predetermined position.

In this case, since the slide plate corresponding to the cutout portion provided on one side edge of the IC card and the cutout portion and the cutout step portion are provided on the lid plate, respectively, when the slide plate advances to a predetermined position, the resilience is restored. The lock pin of the lock lever, which constantly presses one side edge of the slide plate, has entered the notch step and fits into one notch of the IC card at the same time.

As a result, the IC card in an improper state cannot be inserted because the notches do not fit together, and the IC card can be inserted into the predetermined position only in the proper state, so that the IC card can be mechanically detected, and Positioning and fixed holding in that state can be achieved simply and reliably.

〔Example〕

Next, regarding this embodiment of the detection mechanism according to the present invention, this IC
In relation to a reader / writer suitable for card use,
The following is a detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of an IC card proper insertion detecting mechanism according to the present invention. As the IC card used in the present invention, the one configured as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is applied.

First, in FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 10 is I.
A C card is shown, and a printed circuit 12 constituted by a memory / arithmetic element composed of a single or a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits is provided inside. Further, the IC card 10 has an air-core input coil 14 for receiving a power supply from the outside and for inputting a required data signal, and an empty coil for outputting a required data signal from the printed circuit 12 to the outside. The core output coils 16 are incorporated at appropriate positions separated from the printed circuit. The input coil 14 and the output coil 16 are connected to the printed circuit 12 by lead wires 18, respectively. In the IC card 10 configured in this way, spaces that can accommodate the printed circuit 12, the input coil 14, the output coil 16, and the lead wire 18 are provided in advance on the synthetic resin substrate, and the above-mentioned respective spaces corresponding to these spaces are provided. After the components are mounted, they can be easily molded by coating with a synthetic resin coating material by a known laminating method or joining method.

However, in the present invention, the I
The C card 10 is characterized in that a notch 20 is formed on the side edge in the longitudinal direction. The notch portion 20 is provided with a detection mechanism capable of being mechanically fitted into the notch portion 20 in the IC card mounting portion of the reader / writer, thereby performing position detection for determining the proper state of the IC card 10 and IC. Achieving a mechanical fixed hold of the card 10. That is, in the IC card 10 of this embodiment,
Input coil 14 and output coil 1 having different functions
6 and 6 are built asymmetrically and are adapted to the corresponding input / output means provided in the reader / writer only in a fixed state (the front side of the IC card and the insertion direction into the reader / writer are determined). Therefore, for example, the IC card 10
When the IC card 10 is inserted into the reader / writer with the back side being the front surface or in the reverse direction, the notch 20 and the detection mechanism do not match at the final mounting position of the IC card 10, The IC card 10 is returned to the insertion start position without discriminating the improper state of the card and holding and fixing it.

Next, a reader / writer provided with a detection mechanism adapted to the IC card of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

First, as a basic configuration of the reader / writer, as shown in FIG. 6, a head core 30 for supplying electric power and a data signal to the input coil 14 of the IC card 10, and an IC
The head core 30 includes a receiving coil 32 for reading data from the output coil 16 of the card 10, and the head core 30 has a driving circuit 36 via a coil 34 wound around a part thereof.
, And the receiving coil 32 is connected to the receiving circuit 38. Therefore, the reader / writer configured as described above is provided in the IC card 10 when the head core 30 and the input coil 14 of the IC card are properly opposed to each other and the receiving coil 32 and the output coil 16 of the IC card are properly opposed to each other. By providing the detection mechanism so as to correspond to the cutout portion 20, it is possible to smoothly and reliably determine the proper state of the IC card and fix and hold the IC card.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show the IC card 1 described above.
1 shows an embodiment of a reader / writer equipped with a detection mechanism suitable for use with 0. That is, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a planar structure of an essential part of an IC card mounting portion of a reader / writer, and reference numeral 40 denotes an insertion opening portion for storing and holding the IC card 10 at a predetermined position. The lower side thereof is provided with a substrate 44 having guide side plates 42, 42 configured as shown in FIG. 3, and the upper side is provided with a protective lid plate 46. Fixedly placed through. The cover plate 46 is provided with two notches 48 and 50 at its tip end, the head core 30 is arranged in one notch 48, and the other notch 50 is provided in a tip catching portion 52 of a slide plate described later. It is formed as a guide groove.

Therefore, the slide plate 54 is arranged on the upper surface of the lid plate 46, and a plurality of guide grooves 56 are formed in the same direction as the IC card 10 insertion direction.
The stopper pin 58 fixed to 6 is fitted to be slidable.

In this case, one end of the coil spring 60 is locked to a part of the slide plate 54 and a part of the cover plate 46 to cause the slide plate 54 to retain the return elasticity. Further, the one side edge of the slide plate 54 is set so as to substantially coincide with the one side edge of the lid plate 46. In this case, a cutout portion 62 is provided at a portion where the cutout portion 20 is located at one side edge portion of the cover plate 46 when the IC card 10 is completely inserted (see FIG. 2). Against the spring 64
A lock lever 90 having a lock pin 66 that is fitted inward (inside the notch 20 of the IC card 10) by the elasticity of the lock lever 90 is provided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the lock pin 66 provided on the lock lever 90 is set so as to contact one side edge of the slide plate 54 when the IC card 10 is inserted, and the IC card 10 is notched. At the position corresponding to the portion 20, the notch step portion 70 is formed on the side edge portion of the slide plate 54.
To provide. With this configuration, the tip of the IC card 10 engages with the locking portion 52 of the slide plate 54 and I
When the slide plate 54 moves forward together with the C card 10 and the IC card 10 reaches a predetermined tip position, the lock pin 66 fits into the notch step portion 70 of the slide plate 54 and, at the same time, enters into the notch portion 20 of the IC card 10. The IC card 10 can be fixed and held by being inserted (see FIG. 3).

In FIG. 3, the board 44 is provided with a head core installation space 72 and a reception air installation space 74 at positions corresponding to the input coil 14 and the output coil 16 built in the IC card 10, respectively. One end of a switch operating lever 76 is pivotally attached to the other edge of the slide plate 54.
The other end of the switch is brought into contact with the actuator 80 of the limit switch 78, and when the IC card 10 is fixed and held as shown in FIG. 80
Then, the limit switch 78 is turned on to start the operation of the reader / writer. Further, when the IC card 10 fixedly held as shown in FIG. 2 is taken out, an eject lever 82 is provided as shown in FIG. 2, and the eject lever 82 is pressed in the direction of the arrow to lock the lock lever 90. Can be released outward to release the lock pin 66 from the notch 20 of the IC card 10 and the notch step 70 of the slide plate 54, and the slide plate 54 is shown in FIG. 2 by the elastic action of the coil spring 60. It is possible to return to the state.

As described above, the detection of the IC card mounting state by the limit switch should be started after the IC card 10 is completely mounted at the proper position of the reader / writer after the mechanical detection of the notch 20 of the IC card. It becomes possible to detect electrically, the reader light of the IC card becomes more reliable than before, and the IC is
An interlock prevents the card from being removed, preventing erroneous operation.

Next, the IC card take-out device and its take-out prevention device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the IC card ejecting device returns the lock lever 90 to the outside by pressing the eject lever 82 in the arrow direction when ejecting the IC card 10 fixedly held in the IC card mounting portion. Then, the lock pin 66 is released from the notch 20 of the IC card 10 and the slide plate 54 from the notch step 70, and the slide plate 54 is engaged with the IC card 10 by the elastic action of the coil spring 60 as shown in FIG. It is configured to return the stopped slide plate 54.

More specifically, an eject lever 82 is provided in parallel with the side surface of the substrate 44 in the arrow direction so as to be able to move forward and backward while being guided by the guide groove 110 by the pin 112. Further, a spring 116 is stretched over the head of the stop pin 112 and a locking piece 114 provided at one end of the guide groove 110, and urges the eject lever 82 outward. Further, a locking piece 118 is formed at the leading end of the eject lever 82 on the entry side, and a long groove 120 is bored inside thereof.

Then, the operating portion 1 of the lock lever 90 is inserted into the long groove 120.
24, the pin 122 planted below is engaged. The long groove 120 prevents the eject lever 82 from exerting a force even when the lock lever 90 pivots due to the movement of the slide plate 54 when the IC card 10 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 2, when the IC card 10 is in the mounted state, the pin 122 of the lock lever 90 has the long groove 120.
Is in contact with one end of the.

Therefore, when the eject lever 82 is pressed in the direction of the arrow, the lock lever 90 pivots counterclockwise, and the pivot pin 66 separates the lock pin 66 from the notch 20 of the IC card 10 and the notch step 70 of the slide plate 54. . By this unlocking operation, the IC card together with the slide plate 54
The C card insertion side is returned to the insertion start position by the action of the spring 60, and is ready to be taken out.

Next, in relation to the eject lever described above, I
The C card removal prevention device will be described.

Now, even if the IC card 10 is mounted in the IC card mounting portion of the reader / writer in an appropriate state and is mechanically fixed and held, the IC card 10 is not electrically connected to the IC card and is not read during the reading or writing of information. If the eject lever 82 is pressed easily, the IC card may move, the electrical connection may be cut off, the memory in the IC card may be lost, or the system may be destroyed.

Therefore, the movement of the eject lever 82 is locked by the interlock means during the execution of the reader / write of the IC card.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a drive source 126, which is operated by the excitation of a solenoid, which is an interlock means, is provided at a position facing the locking piece 118 at the tip of the eject lever 82. A lock lever 128 swingable between the drive source 126 and the eject lever 82.
To provide. The lock lever 128 has a pin 130 at the center.
And a stopper pin 13 at the other end.
4 are planted. Further, the other end of the lock lever 128 is urged by a spring 136 toward the substrate 44 (in a direction away from the locking piece 118).

Therefore, when the IC card 10 is mounted at a predetermined position, as described above, the lock lever 90 pivots by mechanical interlocking with the forward movement of the slide plate 54, whereby the limit switch 78 operates and this signal As a result, the execution of the reader light is started, and at the same time, the actuation rod 132 is retracted by the excitation of the solenoid of the drive source 126. By this backward movement, the lock lever 128 swings, and the stopper pin 134 is positioned at the position immediately adjacent to the locking piece 118 of the eject lever 82 (the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1).

As a result, the forward movement of the eject lever 82 is blocked by the stopper pin 134 to be in the locked state, and the malfunction of the reader / writer can be reliably prevented.

Next, a pop-out prevention device for ejecting an IC card will be described with reference to FIG. That is, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 showing AA disconnection in FIG. 2, when the reading / writing of the IC card 10 is completed, when the eject lever 82 is pressed to take out the IC card 10, the slide plate 54 is pressed. And the lock of the IC card 10 is released. By this release, the IC card 10 is returned to the card insertion position by the elastic force of the spring urging the slide plate 54. However, since the IC card 10 and the slide plate 54 are rapidly released by the operation of the eject lever 82, there is a problem that the IC card 10 is ejected to the outside by inertial force and is damaged.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, a through-angle hole 140 is formed substantially in the center of the cover plate 46 of the substrate 44, and one end of the through hole 140 can be inserted into the hole 140 so that the cover plate 46 has a back surface (on the IC card side). The leaf spring 142, which is an urging means, is fixed. This leaf spring 1
The tip of 42 is urged inward and gently presses the upper surface of the IC card 10. Further, since the tip of the leaf spring is formed in an arc shape, the surface of the IC card is not damaged.

Therefore, the leaf spring 142 prevents the IC card from jumping out, and the IC card is safely protected even when it is ejected.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is apparent from the above-mentioned embodiments, according to the present invention,
By providing a notch at an appropriate position on one side edge in the longitudinal direction of the IC card, when the IC card is inserted into the IC card mounting portion of the reader / writer, the IC card is moved forward together with the slide plate having a restoring elasticity to a predetermined position. By configuring the lock pin to fit into the cutout portion of the IC card, insertion of the IC card and fixing and holding thereof can be achieved easily and reliably. Further, the notch portion of the IC card can prohibit the insertion of the IC card before it reaches the predetermined mounting position when the IC card is erroneously inserted, thereby reliably preventing the erroneous operation of the reader / writer.

Further, the reader / writer suitable for use of the IC card according to the present invention, particularly in the IC card mounting portion, is provided with a lever interlocking with a slide plate to manufacture a detection mechanism with stable operation and stable operation at low cost. can do.

The shape of the cutout portion of the IC card in the present invention is not particularly limited, and is generally a curved or rectangular recessed portion, for example. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to an IC card having various configurations without being limited to the internal configuration of the IC card.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the configuration of a proper insertion detection mechanism for an IC card according to the present invention, and is a plan view of the essential parts showing a state before the IC card is mounted. FIG. 2 is a proper insertion detection mechanism for an IC card. 2 is an example of a configuration arrangement relating to
The principal part top view which shows the state after mounting a card. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an IC card mounting operation for the reader / writer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the IC card according to the present invention, and FIG. IC shown in Fig. 4
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the card, FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a basic configuration of an IC card according to the present invention and a reader / writer corresponding to the IC card, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 10 …… IC card 12 …… Printed circuit 14 …… Input coil 16 …… Output coil 18 …… Lead wire 20 …… Notch 30 …… Head core 32 …… Reception coil 34 …… Coil 36 …… Drive circuit 38… … Reception circuit 40 …… Insertion port 42 …… Guide side plate 44 …… Board 46 …… Protective lid plate 48,50 …… Notch 52 …… Locking part 54 …… Slide plate 56 …… Guide groove 58 …… Stop Pin 60 …… Coil spring 62 …… Cutout 64 …… Spring 66 …… Lock pin 70 …… Notch step 72, 74 …… Space 76 …… Switch operating lever 78 …… Limit switch 80 …… Actuator 82… … Eject lever 90 …… Lock lever 100 …… Stopping pin 102 …… Projection 104 …… Incision 110 …… Guide groove 112 …… Stopping pin 114 …… Locking piece 118 …… Locking piece 120 …… Long groove 116 ...... Spring 118 …… Locking piece 120 …… Long groove 122 …… Pin 124 …… Operating part 126 …… Driving source 128 …… Rockle Over 130 ...... pin 132 ...... actuating rod 134 ...... stopper pin 136 ...... spring 140 ...... through rectangular hole 142 ...... plate spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A detection mechanism for an IC card, comprising: a reader / writer which inserts an IC card at a predetermined position and receives and supplies electric power and a signal; and a means for detecting an appropriate insertion state of the IC card. An IC card having a notch at one side edge, a board having a coupler for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the IC card and guiding and inserting the IC card to a predetermined position in the coupler, and the board. A protective lid plate fixed to the lid plate, and a slide plate that engages with the tip of the IC card to advance to a predetermined position together with the IC card and has a return elasticity is provided on the upper surface of the lid plate. When the IC card reaches a predetermined position at one side edge, a cutout portion and a cutout step portion are provided at a position corresponding to the cutout portion of the IC card, and the cutout portion is elastically fitted into the cutout portion of the lid plate. To the position corresponding to An IC card proper insertion detecting mechanism, characterized in that an IC card mounting portion is constituted by providing a lever member having a lock pin capable of returning operation. 2. The recoverable lever member is elastically fitted into a cutout portion of the protective cover plate at a position corresponding to a cutout portion of an IC card inserted at one end and pivotally supporting an intermediate portion. Lock lever having a lock pin and an operating portion at the other end, and the lock lever is pivoted in one direction to elastically press the lock pin of the lock lever against one side edge of the slide plate in the returned state. The proper insertion detection mechanism for an IC card according to claim 1, wherein the proper insertion detection mechanism comprises an elastic member for biasing. 3. When the IC card reaches a predetermined position on the board,
The suitability of the IC card according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for detecting a pivotal movement of a lever pivotally mounted on the lid plate so as to interlock with the movement of the slide plate and outputting a signal for starting the operation of the reader / writer. Insertion detection mechanism.