Card reader/writer and communication method of card reader writer

• US 6,411,200 B1
• Filed: 03/09/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawagishi, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/265,530
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.51, 340/5.61, 340/5.74, 235/380, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

When a CPU receives a “card read permission” command from a personal computer connected to a connector, through a communication controller, the CPU controls a switching controller to switch interfaces through a card I/F, controls a non-contact card I/F to send through an antenna a carry signal used for non-contact card communication, then waits for a response signal from an IC card C as a non-contact card. When the CPU receives a response signal from the IC card C, the CPU disables a contact card I/F with use of the switching controller, and sends the response signal which is sent from the IC card C to the personal computer through the communication controller.

Claims

1. A card reader/writer comprising:

first means for performing data communication with a non-contact card through an antenna;

second means for performing data communication with a contact card;

switching means for switching the second means and the first means; and

control means for performing data communication with a card by using the switching means to switch one of the first means and the second means,

wherein the control means perform data communication with the non-contact card at A first by using the first means when the control means receive a card read permission signal, and when the data communication with the non-contact card fails to be performed by using the first means, perform data communication with the contact card by using the second means.

2. A card reader/writer connected to a personal computer to perform data communication with a card comprising:

communication means for performing data communication with a non-contact card via an antenna;

processing means for performing data communication with a contact card;

switching means for switching the processing means and the communication means; and

control means for, when an apparatus reader/writer receives a card read permission signal from the personal computer, controlling the switching means to switch the processing means and the communication means, and performing one of the data communication control of controlling data communication with the non-contact card by using the communication means and the data communication control of controlling data communication with the contact card by using the processing means,

wherein the control means perform the data communication with the non-contact card at first by using the communication means when the control means receive a card read permission signal from the personal computer, and when the data communication with the non-contact card fails to be performed by using the communication means, perform the data communication with the contact card by using the processing means.

3. A communication method of a card reader/writer, wherein data communication with one of non-contact card and contact card is performed by switching first means for performing data communication with the non-contact card through an antenna and second means for performing data communication with the contact card,

wherein data communication with the non-contact card is performed at first by using the first means when the card reader/writer receives a card permission signal, and when the data communication with the non-contact card fails to be performed by using the first means.