JP2000059260A - Storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the transmission and reception sensitivity of the loop antenna of a noncontact type memory card. SOLUTION: On a film sheet 16 on the front surface of the noncontact memory card 1, an IC chip 13 (sealed with epoxy resin after wire bonding) for storing and processing information and capacitor electrode 11 are mounted and at their peripheral part, an antenna pattern 15 for transmission and reception is formed in a coiled shape. The antenna pattern 15 is connected to an antenna pattern 23 on the reverse side through a through-hole 14. To increase the transmission and reception sensitivity of the loop antenna, a magnetic body 12 is applied and formed inside the antenna pattern 15 (on the left side of the capacitor electrode 11). A film sheet 24 is arranged on the reverse side of the film sheet 16 opposite it and on the film sheet 24, the antenna pattern 23 is formed. The antenna pattern 23 is arranged without overlapping the antenna pattern 15 so as 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 111 is basically composed of two film sheets. FIG. 10 shows the structure of the film sheet as viewed from the surface.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a configuration on a film sheet when the non-contact type memory card 111 is viewed from the back.

As shown in FIG. 10, on a film sheet 125 on the surface of the non-contact type memory card 111, an IC chip 122 for storing and processing information (sealed with epoxy resin after wire bonding), a capacitor electrode 12
1 is mounted, and a transmitting / receiving antenna pattern 124 is formed in a peripheral portion thereof. Further, the antenna pattern 124 is connected to the capacitor electrode 131 on the back surface through the through hole 123.

As shown in FIG. 11, a capacitor electrode 131 is mounted on a film sheet 132 on the back surface of the non-contact type memory card 111. Capacitor electrode 13
A dielectric (not shown) is disposed between the capacitor electrode 1 and the above-mentioned capacitor electrode 121, and these functions integrally as a capacitor. That is, it is used as a power source for the non-contact type memory card 111.

By the way, the transmission / reception sensitivity of the non-contact type memory card 111 having the above configuration is determined by the impedance and the opening area of the coil functioning as an antenna.
The lower the impedance and the larger the aperture area, the better the transmission / reception sensitivity.

Therefore, the aforementioned non-contact type memory card 11
In No. 1, in order to lower the impedance by forming the transmitting and receiving coil-shaped antenna pattern 124 with a width of several hundreds of micrometers and a pitch of several hundreds of micrometers in order to lower the impedance, the antenna pattern 124 is formed on the film sheet 12.
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 111 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 and receives information to and from an external device. Insulating means of the structure, information processing means mounted on the insulating means, and performs information storage and processing, respectively formed in a loop on the insulating means of a multilayer structure, to receive radio waves from external devices, or It is characterized by comprising a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting a signal from the information processing means by radio waves, and a magnetic flux concentrating means for concentrating a magnetic flux formed on the insulating means and inside the loop-shaped transmitting / receiving means.

In the storage device according to the first aspect, the insulating means having a multilayer structure has an electrical insulating function, the information processing means is mounted on the insulating means, and stores and processes information. The transmitting / receiving means is formed in a loop on the insulating means having a multilayer structure, and receives a radio wave from an external device or transmits a signal from the information processing means by a radio wave. Thus, it is formed inside the loop-shaped transmitting / receiving means and concentrates magnetic flux.

[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. (For example, the film sheets 16 and 24 shown in FIG. 1), information processing means (for example, the IC chip 13 shown in FIG. 1) mounted on the insulating means for storing and processing information, and a multilayer insulating means. Transmitting / receiving means (for example, antenna patterns 15 and 23 shown in FIG. 1) for receiving radio waves from an external device or transmitting signals from an information processing means by radio waves, respectively; And a magnetic flux concentrating means (for example, magnetic bodies 12 and 22 shown in FIG. 1) for concentrating the magnetic flux formed inside the loop-shaped transmitting / receiving means. To.

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

FIG. 1A shows an example of the structure of a non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention on a film sheet 16 as viewed from the surface. As shown in FIG. 1A, on a film sheet 16 on the surface of the non-contact type memory card 1, an IC chip 13 for storing and processing information (sealed with epoxy resin after wire bonding), a capacitor electrode 11 are mounted, and a transmission / reception antenna pattern 15 is formed in a coil shape in a peripheral portion thereof. Further, the antenna pattern 15 is connected to the antenna pattern 23 on the back surface through the through hole 14. Antenna pattern 1
5 is formed, for example, by selectively etching a copper foil formed on the film sheet 16.

Further, in order to enhance the transmission / reception sensitivity of the loop antenna, a magnetic body 12 is applied and formed inside the antenna pattern 15 (left side of the capacitor electrode 11). With this magnetic body 12, the magnetic flux generated by the coil-shaped antenna pattern 15 can be concentrated, and the sensitivity can be increased.

FIG. 1B shows an example of the structure of a non-contact type memory card 1 on a film sheet 24 as viewed from the back. This film sheet 24 is arranged opposite to the film sheet 16 and on the back side thereof. As shown in FIG. 1B, an antenna pattern 23 is formed on the film sheet 24 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. The antenna pattern 23 is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the antenna pattern 15 in order to efficiently pick up magnetic flux.

On the film sheet 24, a capacitor electrode 21 is mounted. 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 Further, in order to enhance the transmission / reception sensitivity of the loop antenna, the magnetic material 2
2 is applied and formed at a position facing the magnetic body 12.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show another configuration example of the film sheet when the non-contact type memory card 1 is viewed from the surface. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the shapes and arrangements of the capacitor electrodes and the magnetic material are shown in FIG.
It is different from (A). As shown in FIG. 2A, the magnetic body 31 has an inverted "U" shape, and the capacitor electrode 32 is disposed inside the magnetic body. The back surface is not shown, but the magnetic material 31 and the capacitor electrode 32 are not shown.
The magnetic material and the capacitor electrode are respectively arranged at the positions facing each other.

In FIG. 2B, the capacitor electrode 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes an inverted "U" shape, on which a magnetic body 41 is formed. Also in this example, the back surface is not shown, but the magnetic material and the capacitor electrode are arranged at positions facing the magnetic material 41 and the capacitor electrode 42, respectively.

FIGS. 1 and 2 described above are examples, and the shapes and arrangements of the magnetic material and the capacitor electrode are as follows.
The present invention is not limited to this as long as it is inside the antenna pattern.

Next, the reason why the transmission and reception sensitivity of the antenna is improved by applying a magnetic substance to the inside of the loop antenna will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 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. 3
(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. 3B). Holds. This is Ampere's right-hand rule.

FIG. 4 shows the state of propagation of an electromagnetic wave when a current flows through a conductor. As shown in FIG. 4, the 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. 5 is a diagram for explaining the law of Ampere's circuit integration. As shown in FIG. 5, 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 a 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).

[0027]

(Equation 1)

However, the sign of I _i is determined according to Ampere's right-hand rule.

Therefore, by forming a magnetic material in a closed circuit through which a current flows, magnetic induction occurs, and the magnetic flux density in the closed circuit can be improved. That is, antenna sensitivity 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. 6 shows a state where the non-contact type memory card 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the non-contact type memory card 1 is mounted in concave portions 52 and 53 provided in a casing of the cassette 51, respectively.

FIG. 7 shows a case where a reader / writer 62 is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a personal computer) 61 to read data from the non-contact type memory card 1 mounted on the cassette 51 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 62 is controlled by the personal computer 61 and reads data stored in the non-contact type memory card 1 in accordance with a command from the personal computer 61,
Data can be written to the non-contact type memory card 1.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the non-contact type memory card 1. As shown in FIG. The antenna 15 constituting the non-contact type memory card 1 receives a radio wave from a reader / writer 62 described later and supplies a signal corresponding to the received radio wave to the tuning circuit 71 and the power supply circuit 80. The tuning circuit 71 extracts a carrier frequency used for communication between the non-contact type memory card 1 and the reader / writer 62 from a signal supplied from the antenna 15.

The amplifying circuit 72 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined level and then outputs the amplified signal. The demodulation circuit 73 demodulates the signal modulated to the carrier frequency and converts the signal into corresponding predetermined data. The communication control circuit 74 switches between transmission and reception of data. The microcomputer (microcomputer) 75 controls each unit according to a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 76. Further, of the data supplied via the communication control circuit 74, data that needs to be stored is appropriately replaced by EE.
PROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read O
nly Memory) 77.

The EEPROM 77 stores data supplied from the microcomputer 75. Modulation circuit 78
Is adapted to modulate the data supplied from the communication control circuit 74 into a signal having a carrier frequency and output the signal. The amplification circuit 79 amplifies the signal modulated to the carrier frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 78 to a level necessary for communication. The antenna 15 transmits the carrier frequency signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 79 by radio waves.

Next, the operation will be described. First,
Receives the radio wave transmitted from reader / writer 62 and
A processing procedure when storing in the EEPROM 77 will be described. Reader / writer 62 received by antenna 15
Is converted into a corresponding electric signal and supplied to the tuning circuit 71. The tuning circuit 71 extracts only a signal corresponding to a predetermined carrier frequency from the signals supplied from the antenna 15 and supplies the extracted signal to the amplifier circuit 72. The amplification circuit 72 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 71 to a predetermined signal level, and then supplies the signal to the demodulation circuit 73.

The demodulation circuit 73 demodulates the signal supplied from the amplification circuit 72 and supplies the signal to the communication control circuit 74. In this case, the communication control circuit 74 has been switched to the reception mode, converts the signal supplied from the demodulation circuit 73 into digital data, and supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 75. The data supplied from the communication control circuit 74 to the microcomputer 75 is determined by the microcomputer 75 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 77 and stored as appropriate.

The electric signal supplied from the antenna 15 is
The power is also supplied to the power supply circuit 80. Here, energy is extracted by electromagnetic coupling with a carrier transmitted from the reader / writer 62, 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 62 supplied from the communication control circuit 74 is transmitted to the EEPROM 7.
The operation in the case of a request to transmit the data stored in 7 will be described. The microcomputer 75 includes a communication control circuit 74
When the data (command) corresponding to the data transmission request is received via the EEPROM 77, the data stored therein is read from the EEPROM 77, and the read data is supplied to the communication control circuit 74. The communication control circuit 74 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode, and supplies the data supplied from the microcomputer 75 to the modulation circuit 78.

The modulation circuit 78 modulates the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 74 to a carrier frequency and supplies the signal to the amplifier circuit 79. The amplification circuit 79 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 78 to a level required for communication. The signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 79 is transmitted via the antenna 15.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the reader / writer 62 of FIG. The antenna 91 transmits and receives a predetermined carrier wave 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 92 extracts a carrier wave frequency used for communication between the non-contact type memory card 1 and the reader / writer 62 from a signal supplied from the antenna 91. The amplifying circuit 93 amplifies the input signal to a predetermined level and then outputs the signal. The demodulation circuit 94 demodulates a signal modulated to a carrier frequency and converts the signal into predetermined data. The communication control circuit 95 switches between transmission and reception of data and controls communication. The microcomputer 96 controls each section according to a control program stored in the ROM 97. Also, of the data supplied via the communication control circuit 95, data that needs to be stored is appropriately stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory).
ry) 98.

The RAM 98 stores the data supplied from the microcomputer 96. Modulation circuit 99
Is adapted to modulate the data supplied from the communication control circuit 95 into a signal of a carrier frequency and output the signal. The amplification circuit 100 amplifies the signal modulated to the carrier frequency supplied from the modulation circuit 99 to a level necessary for communication. And the antenna 91 is
The signal of the carrier frequency amplified by the amplifier circuit 100 is transmitted by radio waves.

Next, the operation of the reader / writer 62 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 91 is converted into a corresponding electric signal and then supplied to the tuning circuit 92. The tuning circuit 92 extracts a signal having a predetermined carrier frequency from the signal supplied from the antenna 91 and supplies the signal to the amplifier circuit 93. The amplification circuit 93 amplifies the signal supplied from the tuning circuit 92 to a predetermined signal level, and supplies the signal to a demodulation circuit 94.

The demodulation circuit 94 demodulates the signal modulated to the carrier frequency and supplies it to the communication control circuit 95. The communication control circuit 95 is switched to the reception mode and the demodulation circuit 9
After converting the signal supplied from 4 into digital data,
It is supplied to the microcomputer 96. The microcomputer 96 temporarily stores the data supplied from the communication control circuit 95 in the RAM 98. Thereafter, the signal is transmitted to an external circuit (not shown) via a communication line.

Next, the operation when a data transmission request is generated and predetermined data is transmitted from the reader / writer 62 to the non-contact type memory card 1 will be described. In this 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 96 via the communication line as needed. The microcomputer 96 supplies the data supplied via the communication line or the data stored in the RAM 98 to the communication control circuit 95.

The communication control circuit 95 converts the data supplied from the microcomputer 96 into an analog signal, and supplies the analog signal to the modulation circuit 99. The modulation circuit 99 modulates the signal supplied from the communication control circuit 95 into a signal having a predetermined carrier frequency and supplies the signal to the amplifier circuit 100. The amplification circuit 100 amplifies the signal supplied from the modulation circuit 99 to a level required for communication, and transmits the signal via the antenna 91.

The signal transmitted via the antenna 91 is
It is received by the antenna 15 of the non-contact type memory card 1 and written in the EEPROM 77 as described above.

As described above, data can be transmitted and received between the non-contact type memory card 1 and the reader / writer 62.

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.

[0051]

As described above, according to the storage device of the first aspect, the loop-shaped transmission / reception means has a multilayer structure and the magnetic flux concentration means is formed inside the transmission / reception means, thereby improving the magnetic flux density. It becomes possible. 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 non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing another configuration example of the non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining Ampere's right-handed screw rule.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state of propagation of an electromagnetic wave.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the law of Ampere's circuit integration;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of mounting a non-contact type memory card 1 on a cassette 51;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a usage example of the non-contact type memory card 1 mounted on the cassette 51.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of the non-contact type memory card 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a reader / writer 62;

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a configuration of a conventional non-contact type memory card 111.

FIG. 11 is a rear view showing a configuration of a conventional non-contact type memory card 111.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,111 Non-contact type memory card, 11, 21, 3
2, 42, 121, 131 capacitor electrode, 12,
22, 31, 41 Magnetic material, 13, 33, 43, 12
2,122 IC chip, 14,34,44,123
Through hole, 15, 23, 35, 45, 124
Antenna pattern, 16, 24, 36, 46, 12
5,132 film sheets, 51 cassettes, 5
2,53 recess, 61 personal computer, 62 reader / writer, 71,92 tuning circuit, 72,79,93,10
0 amplifying circuit, 73, 94 demodulating circuit, 74, 95
Communication control circuit, 75, 96 microcomputer, 76, 97
ROM, 77 EEPROM, 78, 99 modulation circuit,
80 power supply circuit, 91 antenna, 98 RAM

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage device that stores and processes information and transmits and receives information to and from an external device, comprising: a multi-layer insulating unit having an electrical insulating function; Information processing means for storing and processing information; and a loop formed on the insulating means having a multilayer structure, respectively, for receiving a radio wave from the external device or transmitting a signal from the information processing means by a radio wave And a magnetic flux concentrating means for concentrating a magnetic flux formed inside the loop-shaped transmitting / receiving means on the insulating means. 2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said insulating means has two layers, and said transmitting / receiving means is arranged at a position not overlapping. 3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic flux concentration means is formed on the same plane as said information processing means and said transmission / reception means. 4. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic flux concentration means is formed in an inverted U-shape.