JPH11120312A - IC card - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To not only make display contents updatable according to use of a card, but also enhance the reliability of display contents and simplify data rewriting. A liquid crystal display device using a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal is fixed to a card base of an IC card. The IC chip 17, which is a single-chip microcontroller unit of the IC module 11 disposed inside the card base 10a, includes a data memory and a CPU for updating data in the data memory based on transmission from an external device. Is provided. The CPU stores information corresponding to data recorded in the data memory on the LCD 1.
2 is provided with a function of an LCD controller to be displayed. The display content on the LCD 12 is also updated in conjunction with rewriting or additional writing of data in the data memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card whose stored contents can be visually recognized on a display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art IC cards are widely used as data carriers such as ID cards and prepaid cards. In particular, non-contact IC cards are becoming more widespread because they have less contact resistance than contact IC cards, so they are not affected by the external environment in reading and writing, have few operation procedures, and are easy to read and write. . Generally non-contact IC
Many cards and contact IC cards have been developed for the purpose of cash transfer. Therefore, each card has an excellent security function.

[0003] In some cases, it is convenient for the IC card to allow the card owner to visually recognize the stored contents. For example, in the case of a prepaid card, a train coupon, and the like, it is necessary to display the balance frequency and the use frequency, and in the case of a commuter pass, it is necessary to display the use section and the validity period. Conventionally, such a display is provided on a card surface by a low-molecular / polymer method, a magnetic microcapsule method, a magnetic powder method, leuco-rewrit (leuco-rewrit).
e) This is done by providing a medium such as a system.

[0004]

Incidentally, it is preferable that such display contents be updated in accordance with the use of the card. That is, it is preferable that the IC card be of a rewritable type whose display content is rewritable. But in this case,
In the conventional display method, a rewrite device dedicated to a display medium provided on a card is required in addition to a read / write device for an IC card, and the display medium must be rewritten separately from reading and writing data. For example, low-molecular-weight / high-molecular-weight media or leucolite-type media have a rewriting device by heat, magnetic microcapsule media have a magnetic or magnetic and heating rewriting device, and magnetic powder media have a magnetic rewriting device. Rewriting device is required. Because of these rewrites, additional writing or rewriting of data requires a long time.
In addition, since the rewriting of these displays is performed in a contact manner, in the case of a non-contact type IC card, the advantage that the reading and writing as described above is simple and quick cannot be obtained.

[0005] Further, since reading and writing of data and rewriting of the display medium are performed separately, it is possible for an unauthorized user or the like to rewrite only the display contents of the display medium. For example, when an unauthorized user rewrites the display content, it is not possible for only human eyes to determine whether the display content of the IC card is correct. That is, the displayed contents are not reliable.

Incidentally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-23818.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-11064 discloses a card having a liquid crystal display function. However, the liquid crystal display unit described in this publication updates the display content by applying a voltage from the outside. Therefore, even if this technology is diverted to an IC card, an updating device dedicated to the liquid crystal display unit provided on the card is required in addition to the reading and writing device for the IC card. Will have to be updated. For this reason, there are various problems exactly the same as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card whose display contents can be updated, the display contents have high reliability, and data can be easily rewritten. Aim.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an IC card according to the present invention comprises a flat card base, an IC module disposed inside the card base, and an IC module. In an IC card having transmission / reception mediation means for mediating transmission / reception to / from an external device, a display device is fixed to the card base material, and the IC module comprises a storage device for storing data, Control means for performing data arithmetic processing based on transmission and / or recording data in the storage means; and display device control means for displaying information corresponding to data recorded in the storage means on the display device. It is characterized by having.

According to the IC card, the control means records data in the storage means based on the transmission from the external device,
The display device control means causes the display device to display information corresponding to the data recorded in the storage means. Therefore, the display content can be updated. In addition, since the display content of the display device is updated in conjunction with the additional writing or rewriting of data, a device dedicated to updating the display content of the display device is unnecessary, and the time required for this is added to the additional writing or rewriting of data. Not even. Furthermore, since the display contents of the display device completely correspond to the recorded data of the storage means, it is almost impossible for an unauthorized user to change the display contents separately from the stored data. That is, the reliability of display contents can be improved.

Preferably, the storage means, the control means, and the display device control means are provided in a single-chip microcontroller unit. In this case, it is more difficult to change the display content of the display device separately from the storage content of the storage means, and it is possible to further enhance the reliability of the display content.

Further, it is preferable that the single-chip microcontroller unit is mounted on a substrate of the display device. According to this, the number of components does not increase, and the process of connecting the display device and the single-chip microcontroller unit can be omitted, and the manufacturing can be simplified.

It is preferable that the display device has a memory effect that allows the display contents to be visually recognized for at least 10 seconds after the application of the electric field. According to this, not only when the electric field is applied but also after the application is completed (after the use of the IC card), at least for a predetermined period, the owner of the IC card or the manager of the place where the IC card is used is stored in the storage means. It is possible to visually recognize information corresponding to the recorded data.

Further, it is preferable that the display device has a memory effect in which display contents can be visually recognized after an electric field is applied and until an electric field is next applied. According to this, the owner of the IC card or the manager of the place where the IC card is used,
It is possible to always visually recognize information corresponding to data recorded in the storage means. In this case, it is convenient to be able to check the recorded data without using a reading device or a personal portable reading terminal at a fixed place.

The transmission / reception mediation means includes a contact type external terminal for transmission / reception exposed on the surface of the card base material,
Any of non-contact type transmitting and receiving antennas embedded in the card base material may be used. However, as the transmission / reception mediating means, the IC card includes an external terminal exposed on the surface of the card base material, and an antenna embedded inside the card base material. Preferably, transmission and reception with the external device can be selectively performed via the external terminal or the antenna. In this case, it is convenient that the data of the IC card can be read and written by the contact type read / write device and the non-contact type read / write device.

Preferably, the antenna is formed on a surface of a substrate of the display device. According to this, it is possible to adopt a manufacturing process that can simplify the manufacturing, and it is not necessary to increase the number of components.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1. First Embodiment (Contact IC Card) A. First Embodiment Configuration FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an IC card 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This IC card 10 has a substantially rectangular flat card base material 10a and a liquid crystal display device (LCD, display) embedded and fixed in the card base material 10a and having only a display surface exposed on one side of the card base material 10a. Device 12). Further, the IC module 1 is provided on the card base 10a.
1 is buried and fixed. The IC module 11 has a plurality of external terminals 13, through which signals are transmitted / received to / from a data read / write device and power is supplied from the data read / write device in a contact manner. Will be The external terminal 13 is an IC module 1
1 is formed in a flat pattern on the card substrate 1
0a is exposed on one side.

A-1. LCD As the LCD 12, a reflection type monochrome liquid crystal panel type using a plastic film substrate is preferable. This is 重量 in weight and ／ in thickness as compared with a conventional panel using a glass substrate. Moreover, the LCD 12 using the film-shaped plastic substrate has good impact resistance and does not break even when dropped, and has high flexibility so that it does not easily break when bent. As described above, it is suitable for a portable IC card because it is lightweight and small and has little damage.

The structure of the LCD 12 is shown in FIG. The LCD 12 comprises two parallel opposing plastic substrates 2, 2 'and a liquid crystal 7 provided between them.
And a sealing material 5 for sealing the edges of the substrates 2 and 2 ′ and enclosing the liquid crystal 7 in cooperation with the substrates 2 and 2 ′. Transparent conductive films 3, 3 'are provided on the surfaces of the substrates 2, 2' facing each other. The lower transparent conductive film 3 ′ is a common electrode layer, and the upper transparent conductive film 3 is a pattern electrode layer that forms a display. Orientation films 4, 4 'are formed on the surfaces of the substrates 2, 2' facing each other so as to cover the transparent conductive films 3, 3 '. Further, between the substrates 2 and 2 ′, a particle-like spacer 6 for uniformizing the distance between the two is arranged. Further, an upper polarizing plate 1 and a lower polarizing plate 1 'are fixed to the outer surfaces of the substrates 2 and 2', respectively.
A reflector 8 for illuminating the liquid crystal display is fixed to the lower surface of the lower polarizing plate 1 '.

As the substrates 2 and 2 ', those having low optical anisotropy and high heat resistance are preferable. Materials for realizing this include allyl diglycol carbonate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, PES (polyether sulfone), and acrylic plastic (modified acrylic P).
DA). The substrates 2, 2 'have been subjected to a hard coat treatment for preventing scratches. Further, the substrates 2, 2 '
The transparent conductive film 3 is formed on the hard coat surfaces facing each other.
Inorganic oxide (SiN _x + Si) to be an undercoat of
O _X) it is provided by sputtering.

The transparent conductive films 3, 3 'are made of ITO. The transparent conductive films 3, 3 'are made of a plastic substrate 2,
In consideration of the heat resistance of 2 ′, it is provided by a sputtering method while controlling the temperature so that the heat treatment temperature of the substrates 2 and 2 ′ is maintained at about 150 ° C. or less.

The alignment films 4 and 4 'are printed by known thin-film printing such as offset printing using an ink obtained by dissolving a polymer which has already been polymerized in a high boiling point solvent, and heated at a temperature near the solvent boiling point to form a film. It is formed by doing.
In a conventional LCD having a glass substrate, a polyimide-based material is mainly used.
It is baked at 50 ° C., and is formed into a polyamic polyimide film. However, since the plastic substrates 2 and 2 ′ have lower heat resistance than glass, it is difficult to form films under the same baking conditions. Therefore, the orientation films 4 and 4 ′ are formed by printing and heating as described above. You.

The sealing material 5 is made of a low-temperature sintering type epoxy resin which is thermoset at 140 ° C. in consideration of the heat resistance of the substrates 2 and 2 ′ similarly to the material of the alignment films 4 and 4 ′. When the substrates 2 and 2 'are bonded together, high pressure and heat are simultaneously applied, so that the curing temperature of the sealing material 5 is preferably as low as possible. Furthermore, the sealing material 5 is required to have appropriate flexibility, adhesion, electrical insulation, and moisture resistance.
This sealing material 5 is provided by a known printing method such as screen printing.

The dimensional accuracy of the spacer 6 is higher than that of a glass LCD. This is because uniform cell spacing is required to obtain high-quality display on a plastic LCD. It is desirable that the grain shape of the spacer 6 is a pearl-shaped particle that does not easily damage the in-cell alignment film 4. As the material, plastic, silica, and glass fiber can be used. In the case of plastic, divinylbenzene, benzoguanamine, and styrene are preferable because they are spherical particles. Further, it is preferable that the spacers 6 are fixed to the substrates 2 and 2 ′ with an adhesive so that the spacers 6 are dispersed and arranged at appropriate intervals and the intervals between the substrates 2 and 2 ′ are uniform. In particular, with respect to the plastic spacer 6, a polyolefin resin is coated around the spacer 6 as an adhesive, and if these are disposed between the substrates 2, 2 ', the adhesion to the substrates 2, 2' is good. is there.

It is preferable that the liquid crystal 7 has a memory effect that allows display contents to be visually recognized for at least 10 seconds after the application of the electric field. According to this, the owner of the IC card 10 or the manager of the place where the IC card 10 is used can visually check the display contents of the liquid crystal 7 at least for a predetermined period after the application of the electric field and after the application of the electric field. It is possible to From this viewpoint, it is preferable to use a ferroelectric liquid crystal material as the material of the liquid crystal 7. The ferroelectric liquid crystal material includes a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal or a composition containing the same. According to these materials, the strength and durability against external forces such as impact and bending can be improved, and the memory effect due to the bistability of the ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal can be used.

The ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal includes, for example, acrylate main chain liquid crystal polymer, methacrylate main chain liquid crystal polymer, chloroacrylate main chain liquid crystal polymer, oxirane main chain liquid crystal polymer, siloxane main chain liquid crystal polymer, There are a siloxane-olefin main chain type liquid crystal polymer and an ester main chain type liquid crystal polymer. By using these ferroelectric polymer liquid crystals, the owner of the IC card 10 or the manager of the place where the IC card 10 is used can be operated at least for a predetermined period after the application of the electric field.
Can be visually recognized. For example, IC
This is convenient because the display contents of the liquid crystal 7 can be checked immediately after the use of the card is finished.

Further, by further selecting these materials of the ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal, the liquid crystal 7 is kept in the alignment state not only for a short time after the application of the electric field but also until the next electric field is applied. Is preferably maintained so that the display content can be visually recognized.

A-2. IC Module The IC module 11 embedded in the card base 10a has an IC substrate (film substrate) 16 made of glass epoxy, polyimide resin, or the like. On the surface of the film substrate 16, eight surface terminals (external terminals) 13 formed of a metal thin film and divided into a substantially rectangular shape are formed. As shown in FIG. Exposed on the surface.

The IC chip 1 is provided on the back of the film substrate 16.
7 is implemented. A circuit pattern 14 is formed on the back surface of the film substrate 16, and the IC chip 1 is connected to the circuit pattern 14 via a bonding wire 18.
7 terminals are connected. Alternatively, the connection may be performed by a face-down method in which the terminals of the IC chip 17 are brought into contact with the circuit pattern so as to face each other. External terminal 1
3, a through hole 15 penetrating the film substrate 16 and the circuit pattern 14 is provided;
5, a metal thin film layer is formed on the inner peripheral surface by plating, whereby conduction between the external terminal 13 on the front side of the external terminal 13 and the circuit pattern 14 on the back side is established.

Further, on the back side of the film substrate 16, a resin sealing portion (resin molding portion) 19 made of, for example, epoxy resin and protecting the IC chip 17 and the bonding wires 18 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the IC chip 17
PU (control means) 30 and data memory (storage means) 3
1 are integrated to form a single-chip MCU (microcontroller unit). The CPU 30
It controls the exchange of data with the data read / write device and controls the processing based on the received signal. Also, the CPU 30
RO is a program memory for these control processes.
It also has a function of M32 and a RAM 33 which is a data processing memory as a working area for control processing. Further, the CPU 30 also has a function of an LCD controller (LCD driver, display device control means) 34 for controlling display contents of the LCD 12.

The data memory 31 stores the IC card 10
In addition to unique data indicating the issue date, initial issue frequency, owner name, validity period, etc., operation data indicating usage history, balance frequency, etc. are recorded. Of these data, for example, unique data and usage history are additionally recorded based on the signal received by the CPU 30. For example, the balance frequency is recorded by the CPU 30 performing arithmetic processing based on the received signal. It should be noted that the unique data cannot be erased once stored in the data memory 31.

The data memory 31 includes an LCD 1
There is an area for storing image data (display data) for determining the energization state of the transparent conductive film 3 (see FIG. 2) on the upper side of the LCD 2, that is, the display content of the LCD 12. This area is referred to as a display data memory 35. The LCD controller 34 has a CPU
From the data on 30 address and data buses,
Data to be displayed on the LCD 12 is selected, the data is converted into image data, and stored in the display data memory 35. Further, the LCD controller 34 calls up display data from the display data memory 35 and transfers the display data to the LCD 12. The data to be displayed may be any of the above-described unique data and operation data, or may be a plurality of data. In the examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
12 is displayed. This display data is L
When transferred to the CD 12, the transparent conductive film 3,
A voltage is applied during 3 ′. As a result, the alignment state of the liquid crystal 7, which is a ferroelectric liquid crystal, is changed, and the display content is updated.

A-3. Connection of LCD and IC Module As shown in FIG.
The C module 11 is connected by a TAB (tape automated bonding) method using a TCP (tape carrier package). Specifically, a flexible tape 22 is adhered to the lower surface of one end of the substrate 2 of the LCD 12 and the lower surface of one end of the film substrate 16 of the IC module 11,
Thus, the LCD 12 and the IC module 11 are connected. A plurality of connection lines 21 made of copper foil are fixed to the upper surface of the flexible tape 22, and the flexible tape 22 and the connection lines 21 constitute a TCP.

Each connection line 21 connects a connection terminal 24 of the transparent conductive film 3 of the LCD 12 and a connection terminal 25 of the circuit pattern 14 of the IC module 11. According to this connection method, the flexible tape 22 is bent while the connection between the IC module 11 and the LCD 12 is maintained.
IC module 11 and LCD 12 in C card 10
Can be easily adjusted.

A-4. Card Manufacturing Process The connected LCD 12 and IC module 11 are
The LCD 12 is embedded in the card base 10a so that one surface of the LCD 12 and the external terminals 13 are exposed. As this step, LC
D12 and a portion corresponding to the external terminal 13 are cut out in the same area and the same shape as these, and one or a plurality of vinyl chloride sheets are laminated with a core sheet made of vinyl chloride having no concave portion and forming a lower portion of the card base material 10a. Then, a method of fixing the sheets by heating can be adopted (thermal lamination method). Similarly, one sheet of polyethylene terephthalate sheet in which portions corresponding to the LCD 12 and the external terminals 13 are cut out to have the same area and the same shape, and a card base material 10
It is also possible to laminate a polyethylene terephthalate sheet having no concave portion which forms the lower part of a and fill the gap with a heat-resistant resin such as a reactive hot melt and fix them. Alternatively, the LCD 12 and the IC module 11 may be arranged inside a mold, and the mold may be filled with resin (injection molding method).

B. Usage method B-1. Electronic Wallet and the Like The above IC card 10 can be used as an electronic wallet. Generally, an electronic wallet using an IC card is
Electronically encoded money value data or transaction (use history) data is recorded in the data memory. Current,
The following types of electronic wallets are known.

(I) Like the prepaid card, it is possible to buy money value by credit or cash, and the data itself indicating the money value is recorded in the data memory (debit system type). . This type can be classified into a disposable type in which the balance is disposable when the balance runs out or becomes low, and a reloadable type in which the monetary value is replenished, for example, from a bank cash dispenser. When classified according to the presence or absence of a bank account, there are a type irrelevant to the presence or absence of a bank account and a type in which a part of the deposit in the bank account is transferred as money value data. (ii) Similar to the credit cart, when an IC card is presented to a seller at the time of product purchase, cash is withdrawn from a bank account (credit system type). In this type, normally, data indicating a monetary value or a usage history is not recorded in the data memory, and only unique data such as ID information is recorded in the data memory.

In the former type, it is necessary for the user to check the balance and self-limit the use of the money value or replenish the money value. In particular, when the balance is significantly increased or decreased due to repeated replenishment, it is desirable that the balance can always be confirmed. I use a reader at a fixed location such as a bank
It is inconvenient to be forced to check the recorded contents of the C card.

In view of the above, there has been proposed a key folder type personal reading terminal which reads the recorded contents of the data memory of the IC card and notifies the user of the read contents. When an IC card is inserted into the personal terminal, the balance frequency is displayed on a liquid crystal panel provided in the terminal. However, the balance cannot be known unless the personal terminal is at hand, but the user must always carry the personal terminal to check the balance, which is troublesome.

On the other hand, in the above-described IC card 10, the liquid crystal 7 remains in the liquid crystal 7 after the application of the electric field until the next electric field is applied (the data to be displayed in the data stored in the data memory 31). Until is updated), the alignment state is maintained. Therefore, the display content of the LCD 12 is always visible. In other words, it is convenient to be able to check the recorded data even without a reading device or a personal portable reading terminal at a fixed place.

The display contents of the LCD 12 completely correspond to the data recorded in the data memory 31. Therefore,
Unless the unauthorized user changes the recorded contents of the data memory 31, the displayed contents on the LCD 12 cannot be changed. Thus, the reliability of the displayed content can be improved.

Further, the data memory 31 and the CPU
30 is an IC chip 1 constituting a single-chip MCU
7 and the LCD controller 34 has a CPU
Since it is provided on the LCD 30, it is almost impossible to change the display content of the LCD 12 separately from the recorded content of the data memory 31. Therefore, it is possible to further enhance the reliability of the display contents.

It is assumed that an unauthorized user or an unauthorized acquirer uses the LCD 12
If you want to change the display content of the IC chip 1
7 by driving the built-in LCD controller 34 or
The LCD 12 needs to be driven by a driver different from the CD controller 34. However, such an operation involves destruction of the card base material 10a, and a trace of the operation is clearly left. Therefore, if such an operation is performed, the manager of the place where the IC card 10 is used immediately finds out. It is possible.

Further, in the above IC card 10,
Based on the transmission from the external device, in conjunction with the additional writing or rewriting of the data in the data memory 31 by the CPU 30,
Since the CD controller 34 updates the display contents of the LCD 12, a device dedicated to updating the display contents is not required, and the time for the update is not added to the additional writing or rewriting of data in the data memory 31.

In a conventional display medium of a low molecular / polymer type or a display medium of a leucolite type, a rewriting device by heat,
A magnetic microcapsule type display medium requires a magnetic type or magnetic and heating type rewriting device, and a magnetic powder type display medium requires a magnetic type rewriting device. In addition, it took time to add or rewrite data for this rewriting. The IC card 10 can solve these problems.

The above-mentioned IC card 10 can be used not only for an electronic wallet but also for a prepaid card, a train coupon, and the like, and in these cases, the balance frequency or the frequency of use can always be confirmed. .

B-2. Commuter Pass The above-mentioned IC card 10 can also be used as a commuter pass for a train or the like. In this case, the display content of the LCD 12 needs to display the use section and the validity period. At present, automatic ticket gates are becoming widespread, but ticket inspectors often visually check these display contents. Fraud often involves altering the display of the validity period.

Conventionally, the use section and the validity period are set on the surface of the card by a low-molecular / polymer method, a magnetic microcapsule method,
It is displayed in a medium such as a magnetic powder system or a leuco lyte system. These indications on the commuter pass are written when the ticket is issued and rewritten when the ticket is updated. Therefore, when the recorded content of the card is read by the automatic ticket gate, the displayed content is not updated, and the user rarely feels inconvenience.

However, the display contents of the conventional display medium are not reliable. That is, the stored contents of the card and the displayed contents do not always match, and it is impossible for human eyes alone to determine whether the displayed contents are correct. Also, temporarily
If a memory independent of the IC chip or an independent LCD controller is provided, for example, an unauthorized user may
When physically destroying the C chip and rewriting the display contents,
Again, human eyes alone cannot judge whether the display content of the IC card is correct.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned IC card 10, the display content of the LCD 12 is the data memory 31.
Fully compatible with recorded data. Data memory 3
1 and the CPU 30 are provided on the IC chip 17 constituting the single-chip MCU, and the LCD controller 34 is provided on the CPU 30.
It is almost impossible to change the display contents of the data separately from the recorded contents of the data memory 31. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the reliability of the display contents.

It is assumed that an unauthorized user or an unauthorized acquirer uses the LCD 12
If you want to change the display content of the IC chip 1
7 by driving the built-in LCD controller 34 or
The LCD 12 needs to be driven by a driver different from the CD controller 34. However, such an operation involves destruction of the card base material 10a, and a trace of the operation is clearly left. Therefore, if such an operation is performed, the manager of the place where the IC card 10 is used immediately finds out. It is possible.

Further, in the above IC card 10,
Even after the application of the electric field, the liquid crystal 7 is maintained in the alignment state until the next electric field is applied (until the data to be displayed in the data stored in the data memory 31 is updated). Therefore, the display content of the LCD 12 is always visible, and the recorded data (for example, the validity period) can be easily checked without a reading device or a personal portable reading terminal at a fixed place. .

C. Modification example C-1. First Modification FIG. 4 shows a modification of the connection method between the IC module 11 and the LCD 12. In this modified example, the substrate 2 on the upper side of the LCD 12 is also used as the substrate of the IC module 11, and the IC chip 17 is mounted on the substrate 2 by a COB (chip on board) method. Therefore, the flexible tape 22 and the film substrate 16 dedicated to the IC module 11 shown in FIG. 3 are not used.

The transparent conductive film 3 functions not only as a pattern electrode layer of the LCD 12 but also as a circuit pattern 14 on the film substrate 16 shown in FIG. Specifically, the transparent conductive film 3 is formed up to the part of the IC module 11, and the external terminals 1 of the IC module 11 are formed.
3 is connected to the transparent conductive film 3 via a metal thin film layer on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 15, and each electrode of the IC chip 17 is connected to the transparent conductive film 3.

The connection between the electrodes of the IC chip 17 and the transparent conductive film 3 is performed by a wire bonding method. That is, each electrode of the IC chip 17 is connected to the wiring pattern of the transparent conductive film 3 via the bonding wire 18. The bonding wire 18 is made of the conductive adhesive 2
3 adheres to the wiring pattern of the transparent conductive film 3. In this modification, since the upper substrate of the LCD 12 is also used as the IC module 11, the number of components is reduced and the manufacturing process is simplified.

C-2. Modification Example 2 FIG. 5 shows another modification example of the connection method between the IC module 11 and the LCD 12. In this modified example, the LCD 1
The substrate 2 on the upper side of the IC module 2 is also used as the substrate of the IC module 11, and the IC chip 17 is mounted on the substrate 2 by the COB method. Then, similarly to the first modification, the transparent conductive film 3
It not only functions as the pattern electrode layer of the CD 12 but also functions as the circuit pattern 14 on the film substrate 16 shown in FIG.

The connection between the electrodes of the IC chip 17 and the transparent conductive film 3 is performed by a face-down method. That is,
Each electrode of the IC chip 17 is connected to a wiring pattern of the transparent conductive film 3 via an anisotropic conductive film 20. In addition,
The anisotropic conductive film 20 and the transparent conductive film 3 and the anisotropic conductive film 20 and the electrode of the IC chip 17 may be bonded with a conductive adhesive. Also in this modified example, since the upper substrate of the LCD 12 is also used as the IC module 11, the number of components is reduced and the manufacturing process is simplified.

2. Second Embodiment (Non-contact IC Card) Configuration FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an IC card 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the IC card 10, the entire IC module 11 'is embedded in a substantially rectangular flat card base material 10a. That is, the IC module 11 ′ has no external terminals 13 and no portion exposed on the card base 10 a. Instead of the external terminal 13, an antenna coil (transmission / reception mediating means) 33 is buried in the card base 10a, and through this antenna coil 33, transmission and reception of signals between the data read / write device and the IC module 11 'are performed. Power is supplied from a data read / write device in a non-contact manner using electromagnetic waves.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the LCD 12 is embedded and fixed in the card base 10a, and only the display surface of the LCD 12 is exposed on one side of the card base 10a. As shown in FIG.
2 is completely the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, the IC module 11 ′ is not provided with the external terminal 13, and
No through hole 15 for connection between the back side and the front side of 6 is formed. The IC chip 17 of the IC module 11 'is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3).

A-1. Connection Between LCD and IC Module In this embodiment shown in FIG. 7, terminals of an IC chip 17 are connected to circuit patterns 14 formed on the back surface of a film substrate 16 via bonding wires 18.
Alternatively, the connection may be performed by a face-down method in which the terminals of the IC chip 17 are brought into contact with the circuit pattern so as to face each other.

Then, the LCD 12 and the IC module 1
1 'is connected by a TAB method using TCP. The connection of the TAB method is the same as that of FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a modification. In this modification, IC
The module 11 ′ is not provided with the film substrate 16, and the flexible tape 22 is directly attached to the IC chip 17.
Is attached, and the connection line 2 on the flexible tape 22 is attached.
1 connects the terminal of the IC chip 17 to the connection terminal 24 of the transparent conductive film 3 on the upper side of the LCD 12. Note that portions other than the terminal surfaces of the IC chip 17 are protected by the resin sealing portion 19.
According to this connection method, the IC module 11 'and the LCD
12 while maintaining the connection with the flexible tape 22.
Of the IC module 1 in the IC card 10
The distance between 1 'and LCD 12 can be easily adjusted.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, L
The substrate 2 above the CD 12 may also be used as a substrate for the IC module 11 ′, and the IC chip 17 may be mounted on the substrate 2 by the COB method. This reduces the number of parts and simplifies the manufacturing process.

A-2. Antenna FIGS. 9 and 10 show external data read / write devices and I
5 shows an antenna coil 33 that mediates transmission / reception with the C module 11 ′ and power supply from the read / write device to the IC module 11 ′. In each of the figures, the antenna coil 33 is formed directly on the lower surface of the substrate 2 above the LCD 12. Although not shown, both ends of the antenna coil 33 are connected to terminals of the IC chip 17. In addition,
Reference numeral 32 denotes a pattern electrode formed by the upper transparent conductive film 3.

The antenna coil 33 is formed in a coil or spiral pattern. Note that a pattern other than that illustrated may be used as long as the antenna functions as an antenna. The antenna coil 33 may be formed by any of etching, plating, and printing. Since the antenna formed by these is small in thickness, the aspect ratio of the cross section is good. Further, since the substrate 2 is made of plastic, the coil pattern may be formed by, for example, copper by sputtering while the substrate temperature is suppressed to 150 ° C. or lower. In the LCD manufacturing technology, a technology has been established in which ITO transparent conductive films 3, 3 'are provided at a fine pitch by sputtering.
This technique may be applied to the sputtering formation of No. 3.
Thereby, there is a possibility that simplification of the operation process and reduction of the cost can be achieved. Regardless of which step is adopted for manufacturing the antenna coil 33, the step is different from the formation of the pattern electrode 32 of the transparent conductive film 3 made of ITO.

The material of the antenna coil 33 is not particularly limited as long as it has sufficient conductivity. However, copper is preferable because it is inexpensive, and gold, silver, aluminum, carbon and the like can also be used. If the DC resistance is large, the communication characteristics are degraded. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the material in consideration of the resistance value. If provided by printing,
What mixed the conductive powder with the paste-like ink can also be used.

The antenna coil 33 is formed in a loop, and its specific shape is changed according to the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave used for communication. In order to efficiently input and output electromagnetic waves, a larger loop is more advantageous. However, the size and arrangement of the loops vary depending on the arrangement of other components of the IC card 10 and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, to reinforce the LCD 12, an antenna coil 33 may be provided so as to surround the liquid crystal 7 at a position close to the liquid crystal 7, or as shown in FIG. The antenna coil 33 may be provided near the outer edge of the IC card 10 with the same shape.

As described above, by forming the antenna coil 33 directly on the surface of the substrate 2 of the LCD 12, it is possible to adopt a manufacturing process capable of simplifying manufacturing such as sputtering and printing, and to reduce the number of parts. You don't have to rise. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
It is preferable to use the substrate 2 on the upper side of the IC module 2 as the substrate of the IC module 11 'without further increasing the number of components.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the antenna coil 33.
The following shows an example of changing the arrangement of. In these modified examples, the antenna coil 33 is provided as a coil coil wound in a coil shape or a spiral shape separately from the substrate 2 of the LCD 12. It should be noted that any winding method other than that shown may be used as long as the antenna functions as an antenna. If the antenna coil 33 is formed using a flat conducting wire having a rectangular cross section, the aspect ratio of the cross section is good even if the antenna coil 33 is curved in a coil shape or a spiral shape.

The material of the antenna coil 33 is not particularly limited as long as it has sufficient conductivity. However, copper is preferable because it is inexpensive, and gold, silver, aluminum, carbon and the like can also be used. The copper wire forming the antenna coil 33 is preferably provided with an insulating coating to prevent a short circuit.

Both ends of the antenna coil 33 are connected to the LCD 12
Are connected to terminals of the IC module 11. The size and arrangement of the loop of the antenna coil 33 vary depending on the efficiency and performance of the antenna coil 33, the arrangement of other components of the IC card 10, and the like. For example,
As shown in FIG.
Antenna coil 3 so as to surround liquid crystal 7 at a position close to
3 or an IC card 1 as shown in FIG.
The antenna coil 33 may be provided near the outer edge of the zero.

As described above, the substrates 2 and 2 ′ of the LCD 12
Is good in impact resistance and high in flexibility. However, when the antenna coil 33 is provided so as to surround the liquid crystal 7 near the liquid crystal 7 as shown in FIG. 9 or 11, the mechanical strength of the LCD 12 can be further increased.

A-3. Card manufacturing process The above connected LCD 12 and IC module 11 '
Is embedded in the card base 10a such that one surface of the LCD 12 and the external terminals 13 are exposed. The embedding process is essentially the same as the manufacturing process of the first embodiment except that the connection between the IC module 11 'and the antenna coil 33 needs to be maintained.

B. Usage Method The IC card 10 according to the second embodiment is also used for an electronic wallet, a prepaid card, a commuter pass, and the like. The transmission and reception accompanying the reading and writing of data in the data memory 31 are different from the first embodiment in that the transmission and reception are performed via the antenna coil 33.

By applying the present invention to such an IC card that performs non-contact transmission and reception, the following excellent effects can be achieved. For example, for a card such as an electronic wallet or a prepaid card that rewrites or adds data to the data memory each time it is used, the display content should be updated each time data is rewritten or added. In such a case, in the conventional medium, I
It took time to add or rewrite the data of C. This disadvantage impairs the convenience of the non-contact IC card in which reading and writing are easy and quick.

On the other hand, in the IC card 10, the LCD controller 34 updates the display contents of the LCD 12 in conjunction with the additional writing or rewriting of the data in the data memory 31 by the CPU 30 based on the transmission from the external device. Therefore, a device dedicated to updating the display content is not required, and the time for the update is not added to the additional writing or rewriting of data in the data memory 31. Therefore, non-contact I
The convenience of the C card can be maximized.

3. Third embodiment (contact and non-contact IC
Card) Although not shown, the IC card 1 according to the first embodiment described above.
The antenna coil 33 may be buried in the inside of the card base 10a, or the external terminal 13 exposed on the surface of the card base 10a of the IC card 10 according to the second embodiment may be provided. As a result, the antenna coil 3 is used as a means for mediating transmission / reception with an external read / write device in the IC card.
3 and the external terminal 13 are provided, and transmission and reception with the read / write device can be selectively performed via the antenna coil 33 or the external terminal 13 from both the contact type and the non-contact type. In this case, it is convenient that the data of the IC card can be read and written by the contact type read / write device and the non-contact type read / write device.

4. Other Modifications In the second and third embodiments, the IC module 1
Transmission and reception of data between 1 ′ and an external non-contact type read / write device are performed by electromagnetic waves via the antenna 33,
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be performed by light using optical mediating means. For example, reception from the read / write device may be performed by an optical sensor, and transmission to the read / write device may be performed by a light emitting element such as an LED.

In the above embodiment, the display device is the LCD 1
However, it is also possible to employ an electroluminescent display or a plasma display. In these cases, the display contents cannot be visually recognized unless an electric field is applied by a reading device or a personal portable reading terminal at a fixed place.
A device dedicated to updating the display content of the display device is not required, and the time for that is not added to the additional writing or rewriting of data. Further, the display contents of the display device completely correspond to the recording data of the storage means, and the reliability of the display contents can be improved.

[0081]

As described above, the IC according to the present invention is
According to the card, not only the display content can be updated in accordance with the use of the card, but also the reliability of the display content can be improved, and data rewriting and the like can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an IC card according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the IC card shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a single-chip microcontroller unit used for the IC card shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an IC card according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an IC card according to another modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an IC card according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the IC card shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an IC card according to a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an antenna coil which is a transmission / reception mediating means used in the IC card of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modification of the antenna coil.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing another modification of the antenna coil.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing still another modification of the antenna coil.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... substrate, 7 ... liquid crystal, 21 ... connection line, 33 ... antenna coil (transmission / reception mediating means), 10 ... IC card, 10
a: Card base material, 11, 11 ': IC module, 12
... Liquid crystal display device (LCD, display device), 13 ... External terminal (transmission / reception mediating means), 17 ... IC chip (single chip microcontroller unit), 30 ... CPU (control means), 31 ... Data memory (storage means) , 34 ...
LCD controller (display device control means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An IC card comprising: a flat card base material; an IC module disposed inside the card base material; and transmission / reception mediation means for mediating transmission / reception between the IC module and an external device. A display device is fixed to the card base material, and the IC module includes a storage unit that stores data,
Control means for performing data arithmetic processing and / or recording data in the storage means based on transmission from the external device, and a display for displaying information corresponding to the data recorded in the storage means on the display device An IC card comprising device control means. 2. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein said storage means, said control means, and said display device control means are provided in a single-chip microcontroller unit. 3. The IC card according to claim 2, wherein the single-chip microcontroller unit is mounted on a substrate of the display device. 4. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a memory effect that allows display contents to be visually recognized for at least 10 seconds after the application of the electric field is completed. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a memory effect in which display contents can be visually recognized after an electric field is applied and until an electric field is next applied. The described IC card. 6. The IC card, as the transmission / reception mediating means, includes an external terminal exposed on the surface of the card base material, and an antenna embedded inside the card base material. 2. A transmission / reception with the external device via the external terminal or the antenna can be selectively performed from both of the methods.
6. The IC card according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The I antenna according to claim 6, wherein the antenna is formed on a surface of a substrate of the display device.
C card. 8. As the transmission / reception mediating means, the IC card includes an external terminal exposed on a surface of the card base, and an antenna embedded inside the card base, wherein the antenna is provided with the display. 8. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the IC card is formed on a surface of a substrate of the device.