Data carrier module having indication means for indicating the result of a test operation

• US 20020000812A1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Cernusca, Michael, Burger, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,721,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/500
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2884 using dedicated test connectors, test elements or test circuits on the IC under test G01R31/2855 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3025 Wireless interface with the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/303 of integrated circuits G01R31/305 - G01R31/315 take precedence

Abstract

A module (2) for a data carrier (1) includes an integrated circuit device (9) and transmission means (10), and the module (2) can be tested with the aid of test means (19) during a test operation, which test means (19) can generate a test-result signal (TRS2, TRS3) in dependence on a test result thus determined, indication means (22), which are electrically switchable to a given indication mode (“1”, “0”) in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS2, TRS3), which indication means (22) are advantageously arranged directly on the module (2).

Claims

1. A module (2) for a data carrier (1) adapted to communicate with a communication station (3), which module (2) includes an integrated circuit device (9) and transmission means (10), which are connected to the integrated circuit device (9) in an electrically conductive manner, and which module (2) can be tested with the aid of test means (19, 23) during a test operation, which test means (19, 23) can generate a test-result signal (TRS1;

TRS2, TRS3;

TRS4) in dependence on a test result thus determined, indication means (20;

22;

24), which are electrically switchable between at least two indication modes (“

1”

, “

0”

), being switchable to a given indication mode in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS1;

TRS2, TRS3;

TRS4), characterized in that the indication means (20;

22;

24) are arranged on the module (2).

2. A module (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the indication means (20) are formed by display means (20) which are switchable to a given display mode in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS1).

3. A module (2) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the display means (20) include an electrochemical substance and this substance is switchable to a given color mode in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS1).

4. A module (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the indication means (22) are formed by a memory area of memory means (22) of the module (2).

5. A module (2) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the memory means (22) are formed by a semiconductor memory (22).

6. A module (2) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the semiconductor memory (22) is incorporated in the integrated circuit device (9) of the module (2).

7. A module (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the integrated circuit device (9) of the module (2) is adapted to carry out a self-test operation with the aid of self-test means (19) included in the integrated circuit device (9), and the self-test means (19) are connected to the indication means (20;

22) so as to apply the relevant self-test result signal (TRS1;

TRS2, TRS3) to the indication means (20;

22).

8. A data carrier (1) adapted to communicate with a communication station (3) and including a module (2), which module (2) includes an integrated circuit device (9) and transmission means (10), which are connected to the integrated circuit device (9) in an electrically conductive manner, and which module (2) can be tested with the aid of test means (19, 23) during a test operation, which test means (19, 23) can generate a test-result signal (TRS1;

TRS2, TRS3;

TRS4) in dependence on a test result thus determined, indication means (20;

22;

24), which are electrically switchable between at least two indication modes (“

1”

, “

0”

), being switchable to a given indication mode in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS1;

TRS2, TRS3;

TRS4), characterized in that the indication means (20;

22;

24) are arranged on the module (2).

9. A data carrier (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the indication means (20) are formed by display means (20) which are switchable to a given display mode in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS1).

10. A data carrier (1) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the display means (20) include an electrochemical substance and this substance is switchable to a given color mode in dependence on the test-result signal (TRS1).

11. A data carrier (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the indication means (22) are formed by a memory area of memory means (22) of the module (2).

12. A data carrier (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the memory means (22) are formed by a semiconductor memory (22).

13. A data carrier (1) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the semiconductor memory (22) is incorporated in the integrated circuit device (9) of the module (2).

14. A data carrier (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the integrated circuit device (9) of the module (2) is adapted to carry out a self-test operation with the aid of self-test means (19) included in the integrated circuit device (9), and the self-test means (19) are connected to the indication means (20;

22) so as to apply the relevant self-test result signal (TRS1;

TRS2, TRS3) to the indication means (20;

22).