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

• US 7,395,975 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• 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:
  US11/706,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 361/737, 343/702
• 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. A memory card for insertion into a card slot of a host device, comprising:

a memory device;

a plurality of signal pins 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 configured to control access to the memory device and to write the data received from the data pin in the memory device; and

a connector that is attachable to and detachable from an antenna provided in the host device, the connector provided on a side of the memory card where the plurality of signal pins connect to the host device, wherein the connector contacts the antenna inside the card slot if the memory card is inserted into the card slot and the connector is detached from the antenna if the memory card is removed from the card slot.

2. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the controller provides security data access control.

3. The memory card of claim 2, wherein the security data access control involves personal identification.

4. The memory card of claim 3, wherein the personal identification uses identification data stored in the memory device.

5. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an SD card interface.

6. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the connector includes signal pins that are to be connected to the antenna.

7. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the connector attaches at least one of the plurality of signal pins to the antenna.

8. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the controller provides protocol control of radio communication using the antenna attached to the connector.

9. The memory card of claim 8, wherein the controller performs Bluetooth protocol control.

10. The memory card of claim 1, further comprising an internal antenna, and wherein the controller provides protocol control of radio communication using the antenna contacting the connector and the internal antenna.

11. The memory card of claim 10, wherein the internal antenna is provided on a side of the memory card where the plurality of signal pins are not provided.

12. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the connector is provided on a side of the memory card that is parallel to a direction in which the memory card is inserted into the card slot.