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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to data cards, and more particularly, to
inductive signal transfer devices of data cards.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been developed data cards which are carried on the person for
use as a credit card or the like, and which include information data
record mediums such as magnetic stripes or memory mediums such as
semiconductor memories, adapted to interact with circuitry in a receptor
in which the data card is placed so as to operate on information data
stored in the data record mediums or the memory mediums of the data card.
Recently, the there has been a demand for data cards with a capacity to
store a greater and greater amount of information data. For responding to
the increasing demand, there have been developed data cards which include
a semiconductor device such as the semiconductor memory instead of the
magnetic stripe. The data cards of such type are usually provided with
another semiconductor device such as a micropcomputer adapted to process
information data, together with the semiconductor memory. As is well
known, the semiconductor devices are generally fabricated in the form of
an integrated circuit (referred to as an IC hereafter). The data cards
which comprise the semiconductor devices are referred to as IC cards.
Conventionally, the IC cards are equipped with connectors (referred to as
card-connectors hereafter) made of conductive material for transferring an
information data and/or a drive signal for activating circuits in the IC
cards. The card-connectors are adapted for electrically coupling with
other connectors (referred to as reader-connectors hereafter) provided in
an information data reading/writing apparatus for processing the
information data. The apparatus is generally called a card reader. Thus,
the work "card reader" is used in this specification for meaning an
apparatus which is provided for writing information data into the data
cards such as the IC cards or cards with magnetic stripes (referred to as
magnetic cards hereafter) and/or reading out information data therefrom.
The card-connectors of the IC cards mechanically contact the
reader-connectors equipped in the card reader.
The conventional IC cards have a drawback in which the mechanical contacts
between the connectors of the IC cards and the card readers, i.e., the
card-connectors and the reader-connectors are inferior in reliability. For
example, the card-connectors, which come into mechanical contact with the
reader-connectors in the card readers, may eventually become worn away.
Thus, contact errors are sometimes caused between the card-connectors and
the reader-connectors. If the top surface of the card-connector is made
somewhat lower in level than other parts of the IC card, a contact error
can be caused by dust which may gather on the lowered surface of the
card-connector.
Furthermore, the conventional IC cards have another drawback. That is, the
the conventional IC cards cannot be used with the card readers which are
adapted for use with the conventional magnetic cards.
The conventional IC cards of such type have still another drawback as
follows. If the card-connectors of the IC card come into contact with any
substance, such as clothes made of synthetic fibers, which is charged with
a lot of static electricities, the semiconductor devices such as the
microcomputor and the memory are liable to be damaged by the static
electricities.
Then, there has been proposed another signal transfer system due to an
electro-magnetic coupling. In the system, both the IC card and the card
reader are equipped with electro-magnetic transducers, respectively, which
are provided for electro-magnetically coupling between each other. Thus,
information data are transferred between the IC cards and the card
readers, without relying upon the mechanical contacts between connectors.
The IC cards equipped with such an electro-magnetic transducer are free
from the drawbacks of the prior art IC cards.
The conventional electro-magnetic transducer for the IC cards is formed to
a coil configuration by a thin film conductor or a sheet conductor. A card
reader adapted for the IC cards also is equipped with a similar
electro-magnetic transducer, i.e., a type of the coil configuration. For
the conventional data cards and the card readers equipped with
electro-magnetic transducers of such type, a reference is made to the U.S.
Pat. No. 4,605,844.
The IC cards equipped with the electro-magnetic transducers are desired to
be compatibly available for conventional card readers adapted for magnetic
cards. The card readers for the magnetic cards (referred to as magnetic
card readers hereafter) are equipped with an electro-magnetic transducer
of another type, e.g., a magnetic head. As is well known, the magnetic
head is comprised of a ring-shape core with a gas and a coil wound on the
core.
The conventional IC cards equipped with the coil type electro-magnetic
transducer are insufficient for being in conformity with the conventional
magnetic card readers. That is, the coil type electro-magnetic transducer
fails to transfer a sufficient amount of magnetic flux between the
magnetic head type electro-magnetic transducer of the conventional
magnetic card readers.
Furthermore, the conventional IC cards equipped with the coil type
electro-magnetic transducer still have a drawback. That is, the
electric-magnetic transducer used in the conventional IC cards is easily
affected by a noisy magnetic flux other thant he magnetic flux applied
from the card readers adapted for the IC cards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an
electro-magnetic transducer for a data card, which is compatibly available
for conventional magnetic card readers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electro-magnetic
transducer for a data card, which is able to transfer a sufficient amount
of magnetic flux between electro-magnetic transducers of the conventional
magnetic card readers and the data card.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
electro-magnetic transducer for a data card, which is hardly affected by a
noisy magnetic flux other than magnetic flux applied from a card reader
adapted for the data card.
In order to achieve the above objects, a data card according to one aspect
of the present invention includes a laminated structure member having at
least a top synthetic resin protective layer and a ferromagnetic material,
an electric circuit device embedded in the laminated structure member and
an electro-magnetic transducer having a pair of coils which are formed on
the laminated structure member, the pair of coils being coupled to the
electric circuit device for generating magnetic fluxes of opposite
directions with each other according to information signal applied from
the electric circuit device. A data card according to one aspect of the
present invention includes a laminated structure member having at least a
top synthetic resin protective layer and a ferromagnetic material, an
electric circuit device embedded in the laminated structure member and an
electro-magnetic transducer having a pair of coils which are formed on the
laminated structure member, the pair of coils being provided for receiving
magnetic fluxes of opposite directions with each other and coupled to the
electric circuit device for applying an electric signal generated by the
magnetic fluxes of opposite directions thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic partially-broken away perspective view of a data card
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagramatic plan view of the first example of the
electro-magnetic transducer according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagramatic plan view of the second example of the
electric-magnetic transducer according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagramatic plan view of the third example of the
electro-magnetic transducer according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagramatic plan view of the fourth example of the
electro-magnetic transducer according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagramatic plan view of the fifth example of the
electro-magnetic transducer according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a diagramatic plan view of the sixth example of the
electro-magnetic transducer according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a diagramatic side view showing a state in which the IC card
according to the present invention is applied into an IC card reader
adapted for the IC card; and
FIG. 9 is a diagramatic side view showing a state in which the IC card
according to the present invention is applied into a conventional magnetic
card reader.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention will be described in detail with the reference to the
accompanying drawings, namely, FIGS. 1 to 9. Throughout the drawings, like
references and letters are used to designate like or equivalent elements
for the sake of simplicity of explanation.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the data card or the IC card,
according to the present invention, will be described in detail. As shown
in FIG. 1, the IC card 10 can be resiliently flexed to a degree and has a
laminated structure comprising a top synthetic resin protective layer 11,
a central layer 12 of a ferromagnetic material and a bottom synthetic
resin layer 13. Electric circuit devices such as a semiconductor memory
chip 14a, a microprocessor chip 14b or the like are embedded in the bottom
synthetic resin layer 13. The semiconductor memory chip 14a is
electrically connected to the microprocessor 14b in the bottom synthetic
resin layer 13. The semiconductor memory chip 14a and the microprocessor
14b are usually fabricated to the IC configuration.
A plurality of inductive signal transfer devices, i.e., first, second and
third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c are formed on a
surface of the top synthetic resin protective layer 11. The first, second
and third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c are
electrically coupled to the microprocessor 14b, respectively. Each of the
first, second and third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c
is formed into the coil configuration by any conventional technique such
as a print circuit technique, as identical with the coil type
electro-magnetic transducer or the conventional IC cards. That is, the
first, second and third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c
are formed by a thin film conductor or a sheet conductor. The first
inductive signal transfer device 15a is adapted for transmitting
information data stored in the semiconductor memory chip 14a to a card
reader (not shown). The second inductive signal transfer device 15b is
adapted for receiving information data from the card reader. The third
inductive signal transfer device 15c is adapted for receiving a driving
signal or a power signal from the card reader. The first, second and third
inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c have an identical
construction with each other, as described in detail below. When the IC
card 10 is provided with a cell for activating the semiconductor memory
chip 14a and the microprocessor 14b, the third inductive signal transfer
device 15c can be eliminated.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 7, some typical examples of the construction of
the first, second and third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and
15c, e.g., the first inductive signal transfer device 15a will be
described. FIGS. 2 to 7 diagramatically show the examples, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, first example of the first inductive signal transfer
device 15a is comprised of a pair of coils, i.e., a first and second coils
16, 17. The first and second coils 16, 17 are each comprised of a
plurality of turns so that the first and second coils 16, 17 are wound
spirally in the same directions. For example, the first and second coils
16, 17 are wound outward in the clockwise direction. The first and second
coils 16, 17 of the spiral coil configuration have first ends 16a, 17a and
second ends 16b, 17b, respectively. The first ends 16a, 17a are the start
ends of coil winding for the first and second coils 16, 17 in the
clockwise direction, respectively. The second ends 16b, 17b are the finish
ends of coil winding for the first and second coils 16, 17 in the
clockwise direction, respectively. Thus, the respective first ends 16a,
17a, of the first and second coils 16, 17 make the inner ends of the
spiral coils. While, the respective second ends 16b, 17b of the first and
second coils 16, 17 make the outer ends of the spiral coils. However, the
first and second coils 16, 17 can be comprised of one turn of coil,
respectively, as described later.
The first ends 16a, 17a of the first and second coils 16, 17 are coupled to
a pair of connecting terminals, i.e., first and second connecting
terminals 18, 19 through jumper wires 20, 21 cross parts of the first and
second coils 16, 17, but are insulated from the turns by a conventional
manner. For example, the jumper wires 20, 21 are formed across the parts
of the first and second coils 16, 17 in a conventional laminated print
circuit technique.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a second example of the first, second and third
inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c, e.g., the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a will be described. In this second
example, the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is comprised of a
first and second coils 16, 17 in a manner similar to that of the first
example of the first inductive signal transfer device 15a (see FIG. 2).
The first and second coils 16, 17 are each comprised of a plurality of
turns so that the first and second coils 16, 17 are wound spirally outward
in the clockwise direction. The first and second coils 16, 17 of the
spiral coil configuration have first ends 16a, 17a and second ends 16b,
17b, respectively. The first ends 16a, 17a are the start ends of coil
winding for the first and second coils 16, 17 in the clockwise direction,
respectively. The second ends 16b, 17b are the finish ends of coil winding
for the first and second coils 16, 17 in the clockwise direction,
respectively. Thus, the respective first ends 16a, 17a of the first and
second coils 16, 17 make the inner ends of the spiral coils. While, the
respective second ends 16b, 17b of the first and second coils 16, 17 make
the outer ends of the spiral coils.
The first ends 16a, 17a of the first and second coils 16, 17 are coupled to
a pair of connecting terminals, i.e., first and second connecting
terminals 18, 19 through jumper wires 20, 21, respectively in a manner
similar to that of the first example of the first inductive signal
transfer device 15a. However, the second end 16b of the first coil 16 is
coupled to the second connecting terminal 19. While, the second end 17b of
the second coil 17 is coupled to the first connecting terminal 18. Thus,
the first and second coils 16, 17 are connected in parallel between the
first and second connecting terminals 18, 19. The jumper wires 20, 21
cross parts of the first and second coils 16, 17, but are insulated from
the turns in a manner similar to that of the first example of first
inductive signal transfer device 15a.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a third example of the first, second and third
inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c, e.g., the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a will be described. In this third
example, the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is comprised of
first and second coils 16, 17 in similar to the first example of the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a (see FIG. 2). The first and second
coils 16, 17 are each comprised of a plurality of turns so that the first
and second coils 16, 17 are wound spirally similar to the first example of
first inductive signal transfer device 15a. However, the first and second
coils 16, 17 are wound outward in the opposite direction with each other.
For example, the first coil 16 is wound outward in the clockwise
direction. But the second coil 17 is wound outward in the counter
clockwise direction. The first and second coils 16, 17 of the spiral coil
configuration have first ends 16a, 17a and second ends 16b, 17b,
respectively. The first ends 16a, 17a are the start ends of coil winding
for the first and second coils 16, 17 in the clockwise direction or the
anti-clockwise direction, respectively. The second ends 16b, 17b are the
finish ends of coil winding for the first and second coils 16, 17 in the
clockwise direction or the anti-clockwise direction, respectively. Thus,
the respective first ends 16a, 17a of the first and second coils 16, 17
make the inner ends of the spiral coils. While, the respective second ends
16b, 17b of the first and second coils 16, 17 make the outer ends of the
spiral coils.
The first end 16a of the first coil 16 is coupled to a first connecting
terminal 18 through a jumper wire 20 similar to the first example of the
first inductive signal transfer device 15a. However, the first end 17a of
the second coil 17 is coupled to the second end 16b of the first coil 16
through a second jumper wire 21. Then, the second end 17b of the second
coil 17 is coupled to a second connecting terminals 19. Thus, the first
and second coils 16, 17 are connected in series between the first and
second connecting terminals 18, 19 similar to the first example The jumper
wires 20, 21 cross parts of the first and second coils 16, 17, but are
insulated from the turns similar to the first example of first inductive
signal transfer device 15a.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a fourth example of the first, second and third
inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c, e.g., the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a will be described. In this fourth
example, the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is comprised of a
pair of coils, first and second coils 16, 17 similar to the first example
of the first inductive signal transfer device 15a (see FIG. 2). The first
and second coils 16, 17 are each comprised of a plurality of turns so that
the first and second coils 16, 17 are wound spirally similar to the first
example of first inductive signal transfer device 15a. However, the first
and second coils 16, 17 are wound outward in the opposite direction with
each other in a manner similar to that of the third example. That is, the
first coil 16 is wound outward in the clockwise direction. The second coil
17 is wound outward in the counter clockwise direction. The first and
second coils 16, 17 of the spiral coil configuration have first ends 16a,
17a and second ends 16b, 17b, respectively. The first ends 16a, 17a are
the start ends of coil winding for the first and second coils 16, 17 in
the clockwise direction or the counter-clockwise direction, respectively.
The second ends 16b, 17b are the finish ends of coil winding for the first
and second coils 16, 17 in the clockwise direction or the
counter-clockwise direction, respectively. Thus, the respective first ends
16a, 17a of the first and second coils 16, 17 make the inner ends of the
spiral coils. While, the respective second ends second ends 16b, 17b of
the first and second coils 16, 17 make the outer ends of the spiral coils.
The first end 16a of the first coil 16 is coupled to a first connecting
terminal 18 through a jumper wire 20 similar to the first example of the
first inductive signal transfer device 15a. However, the first end 17a of
the second coil 17 is coupled to the first connecting terminal 18 through
a second jumper wire 21. The second ends 16b, 17b of the first and second
coils 16, 17 are coupled to a second connecting terminal 18 together.
Thus, the first and second coils 16, 17 are connected in parallel between
the first and second connecting terminals 18, 19 similar to the second
example. The jumper wires 20, 21 cross parts of the first and second coils
16, 17, but are insulated from the turns similar to the first example of
first inductive signal transfer device 15a.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a fifth example of the first, second and third
inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c, e.g., the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a will be described. In this fifth
example, the first inductive signal transfer device 15a, is comprised of a
pair of coils, i.e., first and second coils 16, 17 similar to the first
example of the first inductive signal transfer device 15a (see FIG. 2).
The first and second coils 16, 17 are each, however, comprised of a single
turn of coil. The first and second coils 16, 17 of the single turn coil
configuration have first ends 16a, 17a and second ends second ends 16b,
17b, respectively. The first ends 16a, 17a are the start ends of coil
winding in the clockwise direction for the first and second coils 16, 17.
The second ens 16b, 17b are the finish ends of coil winding in the
clockwise direction for the first and second coils 16, 17.
The first ends 16a, 17a of the first and second coils 16, 17 are coupled to
a pair of connecting terminals, i.e., first and second connecting
terminals 18, 19, respectively. The second ens 16b, 17b of the first and
second coils 16, 17 are coupled to each other. Thus, the first and second
coils 16, 17 are connected in series between the first and second
connecting terminals 18, 19.
Referring now to FIG. 7, a sixth example of the first, second and third
inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c, e.g., the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a will be described. In this sixth
example, the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is also comprised
of a pair of coils first and second coils 16, 17, which are comprised of a
single turn of coil, similar to the fifth example of the first inductive
signal transfer device 15a. The first and second coils 16, 17 of the
single turn coil configuration have first ends 16a, 17a and second ends
16b, 17b, respectively. The first ends 16a, 17a are the start ends of coil
winding in the clockwise direction for the first and second coils 16, 17.
The second ends 16b, 17b are the finish ends of coil winding in the
clockwise direction for the first and second coils 16, 17.
The first ends 16a, 17a of the first and second coils 16, 17 are coupled to
a pair of connecting terminals, i.e., first and second connecting
terminals 18, 19 respectively, similar to the first example of the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a. However, the second end 16b of the
first coil 16 is coupled to the second connecting terminal 19. While, the
second end 17b of the second coil 17 is coupled to the first connecting
terminal 18. Thus, the first and second coils 16, 17 are connected in
parallel between the first and second connecting terminals 18, 19.
The first to sixth examples of the construction for the first, second and
third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c, as shown in
FIGS. 2 to 7, have a common feature as described below. As will be easily
understood from FIGS. 2 to 7, the first and second coils 16, 17 are
provided for always generating magnetic fluxes 16m, 17m in opposite
directions with each other, in accordance with a current applied thereto
through the first and second connecting terminals 18, 19. For example,
when the first coil 16 generates the magnetic flux 16m which flow upward
in the drawings from the top surface of the IC card 10 at the center of
the first coil 16, the second coil 17 generates the magnetic flux 17m
which flows downward in the drawing to the top surface of the IC card at
the center of the second coil 17. Thus, the magnetic fluxes 16m, 17m make
a loop of magnetic flux 15m.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the operations of the first, second and
third inductive signal transfer devices 15a, 15b and 15c of the IC card 10
will be described. The first inductive signal transfer device 15a operates
to apply information data stored in the semiconductor memory chip 14a
through the microprocessor 14b to card readers, e.g., the IC card reader
adapted for the IC card 10 and also the conventional magnetic card reader
as described above. The second inductive signal transfer device 15b
operates to receive information data from the card readers, e.g., the IC
card reader and also the conventional magnetic card reader. The third
inductive signal transfer device 15c operates to receive a drive signal or
a power signal for activating circuits such as the semiconductor memory
chip 14a and the microprocessor 14b in the IC card 10 from the card
readers, e.g., the IC card reader and also the conventional magnetic card
reader.
FIG. 8 diagramatically shows a state in which the IC card 10 is applied
into a card reader (referred to as an IC card reader hereafter, not shown)
adapted for the IC cards. The IC card reader is provided with first,
second and third electro-magnetic transducers 22a, 22b and 22c. These
electro-magnetic transducers 22a, 22b and 22c are adapted for facing
toward the first, second and third inductive signal transfer device 15a,
15b and 15c of the IC card 10 when the IC card 10 is inserted in the IC
card reader.
FIG. 9 diagramatically shows a state in which the IC card 10 is applied
into the conventional magnetic card reader (not shown). The magnetic card
reader is provided with first, second and third magnetic heads 25a, 25b
and 25c. These magnetic heads 25a, 25b and 25c are adapted for facing
toward the first, second and third inductive signal transfer device 15a,
15b and 15c of the IC card 10 when the IC card 10 is inserted in the
magnetic card reader.
Referring now to FIG. 8, the operation of the first inductive signal
transfer device 15a of the IC card 10 will be described when the IC card
10 is applied to the IC card reader. In the IC card reader, the first
inductive signal transfer device 15a faces toward the corresponding first
electromagentic transducer 22a provided in the IC card reader. Typically,
the first electro-magnetic transducer 22a has a construction identical
with the first inductive signal transfer device 15a (or 15b, 15c), i.e.,
the coil configuration. For example, the first electro-magentic transducer
22a preferably takes the coil construction the same as the first inductive
signal transfer device 15a. That is, the first electro-magnetic transducer
22a is comprised of a pair of coils, i.e., first and second coils 23, 24
are connected together in a manner identical with any of the constructions
shown in FIGS. 2 to 7. However, the first and second coils 23, 24 of the
first electro-magentic transducer 22a are wound in the direction opposite
to the first and second coils 16, 17 of the first inductive signal
transfer device 15a, respectively. For example, the first and second coils
23, 24 of the first electro-magentic transducer 22a are wound outward in
the counter-clockwise direction, when the first and second coils 16, 17 of
the first inductive signal transfer device 15a are wound outward in the
clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2. In the state as described above,
the first and second coils 16, 17 of the first inductive signal transfer
device 15a are positioned so that the first and second coils 16, 17 of the
first inductive signal transfer device 15a fact toward the first and
second coils 23, 24 of the first electro-magentic transducer 22a,
respectively.
When the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is activated by a
signal applied from the microprocessor 14b, the first and second coils 16,
17 generate the magnetic fluxes 16m, 17m which flow in opposite directions
with each other. For example, when the magnetic flux 16m flow upward in
the drawing from the surface of the IC card 10, at the center of the first
coil 16, the magnetic flux 17m flows downward in the drawing to the
surface of the IC card 10, at the center of the second coil 17. The
magnetic fluxes 16m, 17m flow through the first and second coils 23, 24 of
the first electro-magnetic transducer 22a and the central ferromagnetic
material layer 12 of the IC card 10 so that the magnetic fluxes 16m, 17m
make a loop of magnetic flux 15am. Thus, the magnetic flux 15am generated
by the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is detected by the first
electro-magentic transducer 22a. A a result, the signal applied from the
microprocessor 14b, i.e., the information data stored in the semiconductor
memory chip 14a is effectively transferred to the IC card reader and read
thereby.
Referring now to FIG. 9, the operation of the first inductive signal
transfer device 15a of the IC card 10 will be described when the IC card
10 is applied to the magnetic card reader. In the magnetic card reader,
the first inductive signal transfer device 15a faces toward the first
magnetic head 25a provided in the magnetic card reader. The first magnetic
head 25a is comprised of a ring-shape core 26 with a gap 27 and a coil 28
wound on the core 26. The core 26 is formed by a pair of iron yokes 26a,
26b. In the state as described above, the first and second coils 16, 17 of
the first inductive signal transfer device 15a are positioned so that the
center between the first and second coils 16, 17 faces toward the gap 27
of the first magnetic head 25a.
When the first inductive signal transfer device 15a is activated by a
signal applied form the microprocessor 14b, the first and second coils 16,
17 generate the magnetic fluxes 16m, 17m which flow in opposite directions
with each other. When the magnetic flux 16m flows upward in the drawing
from the surface of the Ic card 10, at the center of the first coil 16,
the magnetic flux 17m flows downward in the drawing to the surface of the
IC card 10, at the center of the second coil 17, so that the magnetic
fluxes 16m, 17m make a loop of magnetic flux 15am of the first inductive
signal transfer device 15a. Thus, the magnetic flux 15am generated by the
first inductive signal transfer device 15a is detected by the first
magnetic head 25a. A a result, the signal applied from the microprocessor
14b, i.e., the information data stored in the semiconductor memory chip
14a is effectively transferred to the magnetic card reader and read
thereby.
The second inductive signal transfer device 15b of the IC card 10 operates
to receive information data of card readers, e.g., the IC card reader
adapted for the IC card and also the conventional magnetic card reader as
described above. The second inductive signal transfer device 15b has a
construction identical with the first inductive signal transfer device
15a, e.g., any of the constructions shown in FIG. 2 to 7. The operation of
the second inductive signal transfer device 15b will now be described in
reference to the drawings, i.e., FIGS. 8 and 9.
Referring now to FIG. 8, the operation of the second inductive signal
transfer device 15b of the IC card 10 will be described when the IC card
10 is applied to the IC card reader. In the IC card reader, the second
inductive signal transfer device 15b faces toward the corresponding second
electro-magentic transducer 22b provided in the IC card reader. Typically,
the second inductive signal transfer device 15b has a construction
identical with the first electro-magnetic transducer 22a. That is, the
second electro-magnetic transducer 22b is comprised of a pair of coils,
i.e., first and second coils 23, 24. In the state as described above, the
first and second coils 16, 17 of the second inductive signal transfer
device 15b are positioned so that the first and second coils 16, 17 of the
second inductive signal transfer device 15b face toward the first and
second coils 23, 24 of the second electro-magentic transducer 22b,
respectively. When the second inductive signal transfer device 15b is
activated by a signal of the IC card reader, the first coil 23 of the
second electro-magnetic transducer 22b generates a magnetic flux 23m which
flows, for example, downward in the drawing from the first coil 23 to the
IC card 10. On the other hand, the second coil 24 of the second
electro-magnetic transducer 22b generates a magnetic flux 24m which flow
upward in the drawing from the IC card 10 to the second coil 24, opposite
to the first coil 23. The magnetic fluxes 23m, 24m flow through the first
and second coils 23, 24 of the second electro-magentic transducer 22b and
the central ferromagnetic material layer 12 of the IC card 10 so that the
magnetic fluxes 23m, 24m make a loop of magnetic flux 22bm. Thus, the
magnetic flux 22bm generated by the second electro-magentic transducer 22b
is detected by the second inductive signal transfer device 15b. A a
result, the signal applied from the IC card reader, i.e., the information
data for writing into the semiconductor memory chip 14a of the IC card 10
is effectively transfered to the IC card 10 and written into the
semiconductor memory chip 14a. The second inductive signal transfer device
15b of the IC card 10 effectively detects the magnetic fluxes applied from
the second inductive signal transfer device 15b of the IC card reader, as
described above. However, the second inductive signal transfer device 15b
is hardly affected by a noisy magnetic flux other than the magnetic fluxes
of the second inductive signal transfer device 15b because the noisy
magnetic flux generally flows through both the first and second coils 16,
17 in the same direction, not the opposite direction. The first and second
coils 16, 17, then generate detected signals of opposite direction
according to the noisy magnetic flux. As a result, the detected signals of
opposite direction cancel each other.
Referring now to FIG. 9, the operation of the second inductive signal
transfer device 15b of the IC card 10 will be described when the IC card
10 is applied to the magnetic card reader. In the magnetic card reader,
the second inductive signal transfer device 15b faces toward the second
magnetic head 25b provided in the magnetic card reader. When the second
magnetic head 25b is activated by a signal of the magnetic card reader,
the second magnetic head 25b generates a magnetic flux 25bm. The magnetic
flux 25bm leaks outside from the gap 27. Then, the magnetic flux 25bm
flows, for example, downward in the drawing from the iron yoke 26a of the
second magnetic head 25b to the IC card 10 through the first coil 16 of
the second inductive signal transfer device 15b. The magnetic flux 25bm
further flows through the central ferromagnetic material layer 12 of the
IC card 10 and then returns into the iron yoke 26b of the second magnetic
head 25b through the second coil 17 of the second inductive signal
transfer device 15b. Thus, the magnetic flux 25bm generated by the second
magnetic head 25b is detected by the second inductive signal transfer
device 15b. As a result, the signal applied from the magnetic card reader,
i.e., the information data for writing into the semiconductor memory chip
14a of the IC card 10 is effectively transferred to the IC card 10 and
written into the semiconductor memory chip 14a. The second inductive
signal transfer device 15b is also hardly affected by a noisy magnetic
flux other than the magnetic flux 25bm of the second magnetic head 25b,
because the noisy magnetic flux generally flow through both the first and
second coils 16, 17 of the second inductive signal transfer device 15b in
the same direction, not but the opposite direction. The first and second
coils 16, 17 of the second inductive signal transfer device 15b, then
generate detected signals of opposite direction according to the noisy
magnetic flux. As a result, the detected signals of opposite direction
cancel each other.
Referring now also to FIG. 9, the operation of the third inductive signal
transfer device 15c of the IC card 10 will be described when the IC card
10 is applied to the magnetic card reader. In the magnetic card reader,
the third inductive signal transfer device 15c faces the third magnetic
head 25c provided in the magnetic card reader. When the third magnetic
head 25c is activated by the drive signal applied from the magnetic card
reader, the third magnetic head 25c generates a magnetic flux 25cm. The
magnetic flux 25cm leaks outside from the gap 27. Then, the magnetic flux
25cm flows, for example, downward in the drawing from the iron yoke 26a of
the third magnetic head 25c to the IC card 10 through the first coil 16 of
the third inductive signal transfer device 15c. The magnetic flux 25cm
further flows through the central ferromagnetic material layer 12 of the
IC card 10 and then returns into the iron yoke 26b of the third magnetic
head 25c through the second coil 17 of the third inductive signal
transfer device 15c. Thus, the magnetic flux 25cm generated by the third
magnetic head 25c is detected by the third inductive signal transfer
device 15c. A a result, the drive signal for activating the circuits such
as the semiconductor memory chip 14a and the microprocessor 14b is
effectively transferred to the IC card 10. The third inductive signal
transfer device 15c is also hardly affected by a noisy magnetic flux other
than the magnetic fluxes of the third magnetic head 25c because the noisy
magnetic flux generally flows through both the first and second coils 16,
17 of the third inductive signal transfer device 15c in the same
direction, not but the opposite direction. The first and second coils 16,
17 of the third inductive signal transfer device 15c, then generate
detected signals of opposite direction according to the noisy magnetic
flux. As a result, the detected signals of opposite direction cancel each
other.
As described above, the present invention can provide an extremely
preferable data card with a induct | | |
