IC card reader/writer and its control method
First Claim
1. An IC card reader/writer having a contact section which is brought into contact with terminals of an integrated circuit mounted on an IC card, for reading data from and writing data to the integrated circuit through the contact section, characterized in that the IC card reader/writer comprises:
- contact error detection means for controlling a reset signal supplied to a reset terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to a low level, for controlling a clock signal for the integrated circuit supplied to a clock terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to a low level, thereafter, for supplying power for the integrated circuit to a power supply terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section and for detecting a contact error with respect to the contact section, when a voltage outputted from an input/output terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section is lower than a predetermined reference voltage.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The contact error of a contact section which is brought into contact with an IC card is detected reliably. The level of a reset signal which is supplied to a reset terminal (RST) of an integrated circuit (21) mounted on an IC card (20) through a contact section (11) is controlled to be low and also, the level of a clock signal which is supplied to a clock terminal (CLK) of the integrated circuit through the contact section is controlled to be low. After that, power for the integrated circuit (21) is supplied to a power supply terminal (Vcc) of the integrated circuit (21) through the contact section (11). At that time, the voltage which is outputted from an I/O terminal (I/O) of the integrated circuit (21) through the contact section (11) is compared with a predetermined reference level by a comparator (16). When the voltage is lower than the predetermined reference level, it is judged to be contact error of the contact section.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An IC card reader/writer having a contact section which is brought into contact with terminals of an integrated circuit mounted on an IC card, for reading data from and writing data to the integrated circuit through the contact section, characterized in that the IC card reader/writer comprises:
contact error detection means for controlling a reset signal supplied to a reset terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to a low level, for controlling a clock signal for the integrated circuit supplied to a clock terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to a low level, thereafter, for supplying power for the integrated circuit to a power supply terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section and for detecting a contact error with respect to the contact section, when a voltage outputted from an input/output terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section is lower than a predetermined reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling an IC card reader/writer having a contact section which is brought into contact with terminals of an integrated circuit mounted on an IC card, for reading data from and writing data to the integrated circuit through the contact section, characterized in that the method comprises:
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a first step of controlling a reset signal supplied to a reset terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to a low level; a second step of controlling a clock signal for the integrated circuit supplied to a clock terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to a low level, under a condition wherein the reset signal supplied to the reset terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section is controlled to be the low level in the first step; a third step of supplying power for the integrated circuit to a power supply terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section, after controlling the clock signal for the integrated circuit supplied to the clock terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section to the low level in the second step; and a fourth step of detecting a contact error with respect to the contact section, if a voltage outputted from an input/output terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section is lower than a predetermined reference voltage when the power for the integrated circuit is supplied to the power supply terminal of the integrated circuit through the contact section in the third step. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification