Semiconductor integrated circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit module and information apparatus

• US 7,121,472 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Kenji, Watanabe, Hiroshi, Shimizu, Hideo, Umesawa, Kentaro, Matsushita, Tatsuyuki, Miyake, Hideyuki, Tomoeda, Yuuki
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/720,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/487, 235/375, 235/493, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A semiconductor integrated circuit driven by an external power, comprises a change unit whose state changes with lapse of time without the external power, an output unit configured to output a signal in response to an instruction issued when the external power is supplied, the signal indicating a change of the state of the change unit, and an execution unit configured to execute a process in response to the signal. Therefore, the circuit is capable of utilizing time-point/time-period information even if they are not supplied with power.

Claims

1. A semiconductor integrated circuit driven by an external power, comprising:

a change unit whose state changes with lapse of time without the external power, wherein the change unit includes a plurality of change elements, each of the change elements whose state changes with lapse of time without the external power;

an output unit configured to output a signal in response to an instruction issued when the external power is supplied, the signal indicating a change of the state of the change unit; and

an execution unit configured to execute a process in response to the signal.

2. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction.

3. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction.

4. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to acquire time information based on the signal when the external power is supplied, and control the execution unit to execute the process using the time information.

5. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 4, wherein the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction.

6. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 4, wherein the change unit includes a plurality of change elements, each of the change elements whose state changes with lapse of time without the external power.

7. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 6, wherein the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction.

8. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 4, further comprising:

an antenna connection unit connected to an antenna and configured to acquire a current induced in the antenna by electromagnetic induction; and

a power supply connected to the antenna connection unit, the power supply acquiring the current, rectifying and smoothing a acquired current, and supplying a rectified and smoothed current to an interior of the semiconductor integrated circuit.

9. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 8, wherein

the change unit includes a plurality of change elements, each of the change elements whose state changes with lapse of time without the external power, and

the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction issued when the external power is supplied.

10. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 8, further comprising:

a demodulation unit configured to demodulate a command superposed on the acquired current and output the command to the control unit, the demodulation unit being connected to the antenna connection unit; and

a modulation unit configured to modulate a result of the process and output a modulated result to the antenna.

11. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna connection unit connected to an antenna and configured to acquire a current induced in the antenna by electromagnetic induction; and

a power supply connected to the antenna connection unit, the power supply acquiring the current, rectifying and smoothing a acquired current, and supplying a rectified and smoothed current to an interior of the semiconductor integrated circuit.

12. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 11, wherein

the change unit includes a plurality of change elements, each of the change elements whose state changes with lapse of time without the external power, and

the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction.

13. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 11, further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the execution unit to execute the process based on the signal;

a demodulation unit configured to demodulate a command superposed on the acquired current and output the command to the control unit, the demodulation unit being connected to the antenna connection unit; and

a modulation unit configured to modulate a result of the process and output a modulated result to the antenna.

14. A semiconductor integrated circuit module comprising:

a semiconductor integrated unit including;

a power supply which acquires a current from an antenna, and rectifies and smoothes a acquired current, and supplying, as a power, a rectified and smoothed current to an interior of the semiconductor integrated unit;

a change unit whose state changes with lapse of time without the power;

an output unit configured to output a signal in response to an instruction issued when the power supply supplies the power, the signal indicating a change of the state of the change unit; and

an execution unit configured to execute a process in response to the signal;

a sealing material which seals the semiconductor integrated unit; and

an antenna terminal which connects the power supply to the antenna, the antenna terminal being exposed on an outer surface of the sealing material.

15. The semiconductor integrated circuit module according to claim 14, wherein the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction when the power is supplied.

16. The semiconductor integrated circuit module according to claim 14, wherein the semiconductor integrated unit further includes:

a control unit configured to control the execution unit to execute the process based on the signal;

a demodulation unit configured to demodulate a command superposed on the acquired current and output the command to the control unit, the demodulation unit being connected to the antenna terminal; and

a modulation unit configured to modulate a result of the process and output a modulated result to the antenna.

17. The semiconductor integrated circuit module according to claim 14, further comprising a control unit configured to acquire time information based on the signal, and control the execution unit to execute the process using the time information.

18. The semiconductor integrated circuit module according to claim 17, wherein the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction when the power is supplied.

19. The semiconductor integrated circuit module according to claim 17, wherein the semiconductor integrated unit further includes:

a control unit configured to control the execution unit to execute the process based on the signal;

a demodulation unit configured to demodulate a command superposed on the acquired current and output the command to the control unit, the demodulation unit being connected to the antenna terminal; and

a modulation unit configured to modulate a result of the process and output a modulated result to the antenna.

20. An information apparatus comprising:

an antenna which acquires a current induced by electromagnetic induction;

a power supply connected to the antenna, the power supply acquiring a current, rectifying and smoothing the acquired current, and supplying, as a power, a rectified and smoothed current to an interior of the information apparatus;

a change unit whose state changes with lapse of time without the power from the power supply, wherein the change unit includes a plurality of change elements, each of the change elements whose state changes with lapse of time without power;

an output unit configured to output a signal in response to an instruction issued when the power supply supplies the power, the signal indicating a change of the state of the change unit; and

an execution unit configured to execute a process in response to the signal.

21. The information apparatus according to claim 20, wherein

the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction when the power is supplied.

22. The information apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the execution unit to execute the process based on the signal;

a demodulation unit configured to demodulate a command superposed on the acquired current and output the command to the control unit, the demodulation unit being connected to the antenna; and

a modulation unit configured to modulate a result of the process and output a modulated result to the antenna.

23. The information apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a control unit configured to acquire time information based on the signal, and control the execution unit to execute the process using the time information.

24. The information apparatus according to claim 23, wherein

the change unit includes a plurality of change elements, each of the change elements whose state changes with lapse of time without the power, and

the output unit includes a plurality of output elements, each of the output elements outputting the signal in response to the instruction issued when the power is supplied.

25. The information apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the execution unit to execute the process based on the signal;

a demodulation unit configured to demodulate a command superposed on the acquired current and output the command to the control unit, the demodulation unit being connected to the antenna; and

a modulation unit configured to modulate a result of the process and output a modulated result to the antenna.