IC card with radio interface function, antenna module and data processing apparatus using the IC card

• US 7,290,716 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation (Kioxia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US10/911,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 343/702, 361/737
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

An SD memory card contains an RF circuit, a controller LSI and a flash memory. The RF circuit is connected to an antenna module attached to the SD memory card. The controller LSI executes radio interface control and interface control for the SD memory card. By running a protocol control program and an SD memory card interface control program stored in a ROM, using an MPU, the controller LSI executes upper-protocol control and SD memory card interface control (security data access control, flash memory access control).

Claims

1. An IC card for insertion into a card slot of a host device, comprising:

a radio frequency circuit;

a flash memory chip;

a plurality of signal pins, which are configured for connection to the host device inside the card slot and include a data pin that receives data from the host device;

a controller chip, which (i) is separate from the flash memory chip;

(ii) is configured to control access to the flash memory chip and to control the radio frequency circuit; and

(iii) writes the data received through the data pin in the flash memory chip; and

a connector, which (i) is connected to the radio frequency circuit;

(ii) is attachable to and detachable from an antenna provided in the host device;

(iii) is provided on a side of the IC card where the plurality of signal pins connect to the host device; and

(iv) contacts the antenna inside the card slot if the IC card is inserted into the card slot, the radio frequency circuit being detached from the antenna if the IC card is removed from the card slot.

2. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the controller chip provides a security data access control.

3. The IC card according to claim 2, wherein the security data access control involves a personal identification.

4. The IC card according to claim 3, wherein the personal identification uses an identification data stored in the IC card.

5. The IC card according to claim 4, wherein the controller chip includes an SD card interface.

6. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the connector includes at least one of the plurality of signal pins, which is to be connected to the antenna.