Portable storage medium

• US 4,931,623 A
• Filed: 11/09/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Yoshinori, Nakamura, Koichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US07/268,856
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 235/488, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07728 the record carrier comprising means for protection against impact or bending, e.g. protective shells or stress-absorbing layers around the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means

Abstract

A portable storage medium having an electronic component therein, includes a card-shape case for housing the electronic component. The card-shape case includes a metallic plate substantially surrounding the electronic component for withstanding substantial external forces. The card-shape case includes a cushioning member which has a greater flexibility than that of the metallic plate. The cushioning member is attached to the metallic plate for cushioning a portion of the card-shape case against external forces. A magnetic stripe is flexibly supported on the card-shape case for deforming a limited amount under the application of external forces to the magnetic stripe in response to the flexibility of the cushioning member.

Claims

1. A portable storage medium including an electronic component therein, comprising:

card-shape housing means for housing the electronic component, including metallic means substantially surrounding the component for withstanding substantial external forces, and means having a greater flexibility than the metallic means attached to the metallic means for cushioning a portion of the housing means against external forces; and

magnetic stripe means flexibly supported on the housing means for deforming a limited amount under the application of external forces to the stripe in response to the flexibility of the cushioning means.

2. The portable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the metallic means includes a metal case.

3. The portable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the metal case has a maximum permeability of about 1.005.

4. The portable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the metal case includes an outer frame and a pair of outer plates bonded to the outer frame.

5. The portable storage medium of claim 4 wherein the outer plates includes stainless steel.

6. The portable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the cushioning means includes a synthetic resin supporting plate, the supporting plate being integrally bonded to the metal case.

7. The portable storage medium of claim 6 wherein the supporting plate has a modulus of longitudinal elasticity of 10,000-50,000 kg/cm².

8. The portable storage medium of claim 2 further including a wiring board for mounting the electronic component, the wiring board having an extended portion, and wherein the cushioning means includes a supporting plate integrally bonded to the extended portion of the wiring board.

9. The portable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the metal case includes a groove formed thereon for receiving the cushioning means, the magnetic stripe being attached directly to the cushioning means.

10. The portable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the cushioning means is inside the metal case at a position corresponding to the location of the magnetic stripe on the housing means.

11. The portable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the metal case includes a recess formed therein for receiving the cushioning means, the magnetic stripe being attached to the cushioning means.

12. A portable storage medium including an electronic component therein, comprising:

metal means having an outer surface, and a maximum permeability of about 1.005 for housing the electronic component and limiting influence on the applied external magnetic flux; and

a magnetic recording region on the outer surface of the metal means for magnetically storing the data thereon.

13. The portable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the metal means includes a metal outer plate, an under layer on the metal outer plate, and a printed layer on the under layer.