JP2000057283A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To improve the transmission / reception sensitivity of a loop antenna in a non-contact type memory card. An IC for storing and processing information is provided on a film sheet on a surface of a non-contact type memory card.
A chip 12 and a capacitor electrode 11 are mounted, and a transmitting / receiving antenna pattern 14 is formed in a coil shape in a peripheral portion thereof. Further, the antenna pattern 14 is connected to the antenna pattern 22 on the back surface via the through hole 13. An antenna pattern 22 is formed on the film sheet on the back surface of the non-contact type memory card 1. Antenna pattern 14 and antenna pattern 22
Are arranged in non-overlapping positions in order to efficiently pick up magnetic flux.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a storage device capable of increasing the transmission / reception sensitivity of a loop antenna in a memory card capable of reading and writing data without contact.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoints of improving the efficiency of information processing and maintaining confidentiality, semiconductor elements such as IC chips for storing and processing information (data) are mounted to dramatically increase the storage capacity. Memory cards are widely used as data cards.

Recently, a data transmission / reception antenna circuit (coil) for transmitting / receiving an input / output radio signal has been incorporated.
Read and write data to and from external processing devices
A non-contact type memory card configured to perform non-contact by a so-called wireless system has also been developed.

[0004] The non-contact type memory card 101 is basically composed of two film sheets. FIG. 11 shows the structure of the film sheet as viewed from the surface.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a configuration on the film sheet when the non-contact type memory card 101 is viewed from the back.

As shown in FIG. 11, on a film sheet 115 on a surface of the non-contact type memory card 101, an IC chip 112 for storing and processing information (sealed with epoxy resin after wire bonding), a capacitor electrode 11
1 is mounted, and a transmitting / receiving antenna pattern 114 is formed in a peripheral portion thereof. Further, the antenna pattern 114 is connected to the capacitor electrode 121 on the back surface via the through hole 113.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 12, a capacitor electrode 121 is mounted on a film sheet 122 on the back surface of the non-contact type memory card 101. Capacitor electrode 12
A dielectric (not shown) is arranged between the capacitor electrode 1 and the above-mentioned capacitor electrode 111, and functions integrally as a capacitor. That is, it is used as a power source for the non-contact type memory card 101.

The transmission / reception sensitivity of the non-contact type memory card 101 having the above-described configuration is determined by the impedance of the coil functioning as an antenna and the opening area (effective area). It will be good.

Therefore, the aforementioned non-contact type memory card 10
1, generally, tens of transmission / reception coil-shaped antenna patterns 114 are formed with a width of several hundred μm and a pitch of several hundred μm to reduce the impedance, and the antenna patterns 114 are formed on the film sheet 11.
5 is formed in a spiral shape along the outer peripheral edge to increase the opening area.

[0009]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when data is read or written between the non-contact type memory card 101 and the information processing device, the transmission and reception sensitivity of the antenna is not yet sufficient ( Due to the small opening area), there is a problem that communication can be performed only in a very close state.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a non-contact type memory card, the communication distance with an information processing apparatus can be increased by increasing the transmission / reception sensitivity of a loop antenna. Things.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage device which stores and processes information and transmits / receives information to / from an external device. Means, information processing means mounted on the insulating means to store and process information, charge storage means formed on the insulating means via a dielectric, and accumulating electric charge, and overlapped on both sides of the insulating means, respectively. And a transmission / reception unit that receives a radio wave from an external device or transmits a signal from an information processing unit by a radio wave.

In the storage device according to the first aspect, the insulating means has an electrical insulating function, and the information processing means has
Mounted on insulating means to store and process information,
The charge storage means is formed on the insulating means via a dielectric, accumulates electric charges, and the transmitting / receiving means is formed in a loop shape so as not to overlap each of the front and back of the insulating means, and receives radio waves from an external device. Alternatively, a signal from the information processing means is transmitted by radio waves.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In order to clarify the correspondence between each means of the invention described in the claims and the following embodiments, When the features of the present invention are described by adding the corresponding embodiments (however, examples) in parentheses after the means, the following is obtained.
However, of course, this description does not mean that each means is limited to those described.

That is, the storage device according to the first aspect is a storage device that stores and processes information and transmits and receives information to and from an external device. Film sheet 15 shown in FIG. 3)
And information processing means (for example, the IC chip 12 shown in FIG. 3) mounted on the insulating means and storing and processing information.
A charge accumulating means (for example, a capacitor electrode 11 shown in FIG. 3) formed on the insulating means via a dielectric and accumulating electric charges, and formed in a loop shape so as not to overlap each other on the front and back of the insulating means; A transmission / reception means (for example, antenna patterns 14 and 22 shown in FIG. 3) for receiving a radio wave from an external device or transmitting a signal from an information processing means by a radio wave is provided.

The configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a non-contact type memory card 1 according to the present invention.
Is shown on the film sheet 15 when viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 1, on a film sheet 15 on the surface of the non-contact type memory card 1, an IC chip 12 for storing and processing information (sealed with epoxy resin after wire bonding) and a capacitor electrode 11 are mounted. A transmitting / receiving antenna pattern 14 is formed in a coil shape in a peripheral portion thereof. Also, the antenna pattern 14
Are connected to the antenna pattern 22 on the back surface through the through holes 13. The antenna pattern 14 is formed, for example, by selectively etching a copper foil formed on the film sheet 15.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the non-contact type memory card 1 on the film sheet 23 as viewed from the back. This film sheet 23 is arranged opposite to the film sheet 15 and on the back side thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, an antenna pattern 22 is formed on a film sheet 23 on the back surface of the non-contact type memory card 1. As described above, by forming the antenna pattern on the front surface and the back surface, the effective area of the antenna can be increased. That is, the transmission / reception sensitivity of the antenna can be increased.

The capacitor electrode 21 is mounted on the film sheet 23. A dielectric (not shown) is arranged between the capacitor electrode 21 and the above-mentioned capacitor electrode 11, and these functions integrally as a capacitor. Used as

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the front antenna pattern 14 and the rear antenna pattern 22 do not overlap. As shown in FIG.
The antenna pattern 22 and the antenna pattern 22 are arranged at non-overlapping positions in order to efficiently pick up magnetic flux.

Here, the antenna pattern is formed in a loop shape and a rectangular shape as an antenna pattern, but this is merely an example, and other shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a square may be used.

Next, the reason why the transmission and reception sensitivity of the antenna is improved by forming the loop antenna on the front surface and the back surface will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the rule of Ampere's right-hand thread. It is known that an electric field always appears in a space where a charge exists, and a magnetic field always appears when a current exists. The lines of magnetic force of the magnetic field generated by the current are always closed curves around the current. Regarding the directions of the current and the magnetic field, "(1) When the direction of the current is the direction of the right-handed screw, the magnetic field is the direction of the screw-turn. (FIG. 4
(A)). (2) When the direction of the ring current is the direction in which the right-hand screw rotates, the magnetic field inside the ring becomes the direction in which the screw advances (FIG. 4B). Holds. This is Ampere's right-hand rule.

FIG. 5 shows the state of propagation of an electromagnetic wave when a current flows through a conductor. As shown in FIG. 5, a magnetic field H is generated by the current I flowing through the conductor. Then, as the electric field E and the magnetic field H change with time, they propagate as electromagnetic wave energy. The direction in which the electromagnetic wave propagates and the directions of the electric field E and the magnetic field H are always perpendicular.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the law of Ampere's circuit integration. As shown in FIG. 6, it is known that, when the strength H of the magnetic field is linearly integrated (circularly integrated) with respect to the closed curve C, an algebraic sum of the current I passing through the surface surrounded by the closed curve C is known. This is Ampere's orbital integration law. Ampere's orbital integration law is expressed by the following equation (1).

[0025]

(Equation 1)

However, the sign of I _i is determined in accordance with Ampere's right-hand rule.

Therefore, by forming the antenna pattern on the front surface and the back surface and increasing the number of windings, the algebraic sum of the current is increased (formula (1)), and the magnetic flux density can be improved.
That is, the transmission and reception sensitivity of the antenna can be improved.

Next, an example of use of the non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows a state where the non-contact type memory card 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the non-contact type memory card 1 is mounted in concave portions 42 and 43 provided in the casing of the cassette 41, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows a case where a reader / writer 52 is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) 51 to read data from the non-contact type memory card 1 mounted on the cassette 41 or to read out data from the non-contact type memory card. 1
2 shows how data is written to the memory. In the case of this example, the reader / writer 52 is controlled by the personal computer 51 and reads data stored in the non-contact type memory card 1 in accordance with a command from the personal computer 51,
Data can be written to the non-contact type memory card 1.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the non-contact type memory card 1. As shown in FIG. The antenna 14 constituting the non-contact type memory card 1 receives a radio wave from a reader / writer 52 to be described later and supplies a signal corresponding to the received radio wave to the tuning circuit 61 and the power supply circuit 70. The tuning circuit 61 extracts a carrier frequency used for communication between the non-contact type memory card 1 and the reader / writer 52 from a signal supplied from the antenna 14.

The amplifying circuit 62 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined level and then outputs the amplified signal. The demodulation circuit 63 demodulates the signal modulated to the carrier wave frequency and converts the signal into corresponding predetermined data. The communication control circuit 64 switches between transmission and reception of data. A microcomputer (microcomputer) 65 controls each unit according to a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 66. Further, of the data supplied through the communication control circuit 64, data that needs to be stored is appropriately replaced by EE.
PROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read O
nly Memory) 67.

The EEPROM 67 stores data supplied from the microcomputer 65. Modulation circuit 68
Is adapted to modulate the data supplied from the communication control circuit 64 into a signal of a carrier frequency and output the signal. The amplification circuit 69 amplifies the signal modulated to the carrier frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 68 to a level necessary for communication. The antenna 14 transmits the signal of the carrier frequency amplified by the amplifier circuit 69 by radio waves.

Next, the operation will be described. First,
It receives the radio wave transmitted from the reader / writer 52 and
A processing procedure for storing the data in the EEPROM 67 will be described. Reader / writer 52 received by antenna 14
Is converted into a corresponding electric signal and supplied to the tuning circuit 61. The tuning circuit 61 extracts only a signal corresponding to a predetermined carrier frequency from the signals supplied from the antenna 14 and supplies the extracted signal to the amplifier circuit 62. The amplification circuit 62 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 61 to a predetermined signal level, and supplies the signal to the demodulation circuit 63.

The demodulation circuit 63 demodulates the signal supplied from the amplification circuit 62 and supplies it to the communication control circuit 64. In this case, the communication control circuit 64 is switched to the reception mode, converts the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 63 into digital data, and supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 65. The data supplied from the communication control circuit 64 to the microcomputer 65 is determined by the microcomputer 65 as to whether or not the data is to be stored. Based on the result of the determination, the data is supplied to the EEPROM 67 and stored as appropriate.

The electric signal supplied from the antenna 14 is
The power is also supplied to the power supply circuit 70. Here, energy is extracted by electromagnetic coupling with a carrier transmitted from the reader / writer 52, and necessary power is supplied to each unit. As described above, power is supplied to the non-contact type memory card 1 from the outside.

Next, the data (command) from the reader / writer 52 supplied from the communication control circuit 64 is transmitted to the EEPROM 6.
The operation in the case of a request to transmit the data stored in 7 will be described. The microcomputer 65 includes a communication control circuit 64
When the data (command) corresponding to the data transmission request is received via the EEPROM 67, the data stored therein is read from the EEPROM 67, and the read data is supplied to the communication control circuit 64. The communication control circuit 64 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode, and supplies the data supplied from the microcomputer 65 to the modulation circuit 68.

The modulation circuit 68 modulates the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 64 to a carrier frequency and supplies the signal to the amplifier circuit 69. The amplification circuit 69 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 68 to a level necessary for communication. The signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 69 is transmitted via the antenna 14.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the reader / writer 52 of FIG. The antenna 81 is configured to transmit and receive a predetermined carrier to transmit a predetermined signal to the non-contact type memory card 1 and to perform communication with the non-contact type memory card 1. Further, a magnetic field for supplying power to the non-contact type memory card 1 is generated.

The tuning circuit 82 extracts a carrier wave frequency used for communication between the non-contact type memory card 1 and the reader / writer 52 from a signal supplied from the antenna 81. The amplifying circuit 83 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined level and then outputs the signal. The demodulation circuit 84 demodulates the signal modulated to the carrier frequency and converts it into predetermined data. The communication control circuit 85 switches between transmission and reception of data and controls communication. The microcomputer 86 controls each unit according to a control program stored in the ROM 87. Also, of the data supplied via the communication control circuit 85, data that needs to be stored is appropriately stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory).
ry) 88.

The RAM 88 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 86. Modulation circuit 89
Is adapted to modulate the data supplied from the communication control circuit 85 into a signal of a carrier frequency and output the modulated signal. The amplification circuit 90 amplifies the signal modulated to the carrier frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 89 to a level necessary for communication. The antenna 81 transmits the signal of the carrier frequency amplified by the amplifier circuit 90 by radio waves.

Next, the operation of the reader / writer 52 will be described. First, an operation when receiving data transmitted from the non-contact type memory card 1 will be described. The carrier wave received from the non-contact type memory card 1 by the antenna 81 is converted into a corresponding electric signal and then supplied to the tuning circuit 82. The tuning circuit 82 extracts a signal of a predetermined carrier frequency from the signal supplied from the antenna 81 and supplies the signal to the amplifier circuit 83. The amplification circuit 83 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 82 to a predetermined signal level, and supplies the signal to a demodulation circuit 84.

The demodulation circuit 84 demodulates the signal modulated to the carrier frequency and supplies it to the communication control circuit 85. The communication control circuit 85 is switched to the reception mode, and the demodulation circuit 8
After converting the signal supplied from 4 into digital data,
It is supplied to the microcomputer 86. The microcomputer 86 temporarily stores the data supplied from the communication control circuit 85 in the RAM 88. Thereafter, the signal is transmitted to an external circuit (not shown) via a communication line.

Next, an operation in the case where a data transmission request is generated and predetermined data is transmitted from the reader / writer 52 to the non-contact type memory card 1 will be described. In that case, data and the like to be stored in the non-contact type memory card 1 are transmitted from the external circuit to the microcomputer 86 via the communication line as necessary. The microcomputer 86 supplies the data supplied via the communication line or the data stored in the RAM 88 to the communication control circuit 85.

The communication control circuit 85 converts the data supplied from the microcomputer 86 into an analog signal, and then supplies the analog signal to the modulation circuit 89. The modulation circuit 89 modulates the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 85 into a signal having a predetermined carrier frequency and supplies the signal to the amplification circuit 90. The amplification circuit 90 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 89 to a level required for communication, and then transmits the signal via the antenna 81.

The signal transmitted via the antenna 81 is
It is received by the antenna 14 of the non-contact type memory card 1 and written in the EEPROM 67 as described above.

As described above, data can be transmitted and received between the non-contact type memory card 1 and the reader / writer 52.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0049]

As described above, according to the storage device of the first aspect, since the loop-shaped transmitting / receiving means is formed so as not to overlap the front surface and the back surface, the magnetic flux density can be improved. Becomes That is, the antenna sensitivity can be improved. Therefore, the communication distance between the storage device and the external device can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a front surface of a non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the back surface of the non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between antenna patterns 14 and 22;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining Ampere's right-handed screw rule.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a state of propagation of an electromagnetic wave.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the law of Ampere's circuit integration.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of mounting a non-contact type memory card 1 on a cassette 41;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a usage example of the non-contact type memory card 1 mounted on the cassette 41.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of a non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a reader / writer 52;

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a configuration of a conventional non-contact type memory card 101.

FIG. 12 is a rear view showing the configuration of a conventional non-contact type memory card 101.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,101 Non-contact type memory card, 11, 21, 1
11,121 capacitor electrode, 12,112 IC
Chip, 13,113 Through hole, 14,2
2,114 antenna pattern, 15,23,11
5,122 film sheets, 41 cassettes, 4
2,43 recess, 51 personal computer, 52 reader / writer, 61,82 tuning circuit, 62,69,83,9
0 amplifying circuit, 63, 84 demodulating circuit, 64, 85
Communication control circuit, 65, 86 microcomputer, 66, 8
7 ROM, 67 EEPROM, 68, 89 modulation circuit,
70 power supply circuit, 81 antenna, 88 RAM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage device for storing and processing information and transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device, comprising: an insulating unit having an electrical insulating function; and an information storage device mounted on the insulating unit and storing the information. And an information processing unit for performing processing, a charge storage unit formed on the insulating unit via a dielectric, and storing a charge, and a loop shape formed on both sides of the insulating unit so as not to overlap with each other. Receive radio waves from the device,
Or a transmission / reception means for transmitting a signal from the information processing means by radio waves. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission / reception means is formed on the same plane as said information processing means and said charge storage means. 3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting / receiving means is formed along an outer peripheral edge of said insulating means.