Chip card capable of both contact and contactless operation including a contact block

• US 5,773,812 A
• Filed: 08/08/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Angewandte Digital Elektronik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Angewandte Digital Elektronik GmbH
• Inventors: Kreft, Hans-Diedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/712,061
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/375, 235/441, 235/439, 235/451, 235/487, 235/380, 902/26, 902/4
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07745 Mounting details of integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A chip card capable of selectively transmitting and receiving data via contact members or in a contactless manner (i.e., transmission coils). The chip card includes a contact block which represents and additional protection for the embedded integrated circuits and can also be used as a sensitive switching element for electronic purposes. In particular, based on the function as a switching element, the electronics can be switched on and off by the card user for purposes of the remote transmission. In addition, the contact block can be exchanged and thus assures also the contact card functions, in case the contacts are worn out.

Claims

1. A chip card to be inserted into a connection apparatus comprising

a first integrated circuit formed as a microprocessor;

a connection contact connected to the first integrated circuit for furnishing a galvanic connection of the first integrated circuit;

a second integrated circuit connected to the first integrated circuit and formed as a contactless coupling device for furnishing a contactless connection of the first integrated circuit to the connection apparatus through contact-free elements;

a contact block surrounding the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit for protection against mechanical effects with the contact block structured as a sensor, sensitive to physical interaction, wherein an output signal of the sensor switches the first integrated circuit to a contact or contactless coupling.

2. Chip card according to claim 1, further comprising contact faces disposed on the contact block for connecting the connection contact to the first integrated circuit for furnishing a selective coupling of the first integrated circuit to the connection apparatus through contacts.

3. Chip card according to claim 2, wherein the contact block is formed out of a stable core material, wherein the contact faces are galvanically conductive, and wherein the contact faces are disposed at a top side of the contact block, wherein the contact faces reach from said top side of the contact block up to locations on an oppositely disposed bottom side of the contact block, further comprising

a support foil defining openings in the support foil;

a conductor path structure disposed on the foil and disposed oppositely to the contact block;

a galvanic connection disposed through the openings in the support foil and connecting the contact faces to the conductor path structure.

4. Chip card according to claim 3, wherein the contact block has a bottom side and contains a recess at the bottom side, which recess serves for receiving the first integrated circuit.

5. Chip card according to claim 4, wherein the contact block is disposed on the support foil separately from the first integrated circuit and separately from the second integrated circuit, and wherein the contact block serves for a production of a galvanic connection between the connection apparatus and the first integrated circuit.

6. Chip card according to claim 3, further comprising a mechanically stable amplifier platelet disposed on that side of the support foil disposed opposite to the contact block for serving as a protection against mechanical outside influences onto the integrated circuits.

7. Chip card according to claim 3, wherein the contact block is constructed mechanically exchangeable, further comprising

a strengthening platelet;

connection pieces furnishing a mechanical connection to the stable strengthening platelet through the connection pieces and through second openings in the support foil, whereby these connection pieces furnish a galvanic connection between the contact faces of the contact block and the stable amplifier platelets, and wherein the stable strengthening platelet contains second conductor path structures, wherein a properly coordinated connection between the contact faces and the first conductor path structures of the support foil are produced with said second conductor path structures, wherein a mechanical release and attachment of the contact block to the connection pieces is performable by a manual actuation such that the contact block is renewable upon wear of the contact faces and a functioning of the integrated circuits is assured after exchanging the contact block.

8. Chip card according to claim 1, wherein the physical interaction is provided by pressure.

9. Chip card according to claim 1, wherein the physical interaction is provided by electrical field.

10. Chip card with a contact block for the selective coupling of a first integrated circuit (μ

C), formed as a microprocessor, with a connection apparatus through contacts (according to ISO

     7816) or contact-free elements (according to ISO

     10536), wherein a contact block (10,

     8)

exhibits a connection contact (2) for a galvanic connection of the first integrated circuit (μ

C) to the connection apparatus,

contains a second integrated circuit (CCI), formed as a contactless coupling device, for a contactless connection of the first integrated circuit (μ

C) to the connection apparatus,

includes the two integrated circuits (μ

C+CCI) for protection against mechanical effects, and

is structured as a sensor, sensitive to physical interaction, wherein an output signal of the sensor switches the first integrated circuit (μ

C) to a contact or contactless coupling.

11. Chip card according to claim 10, wherein the contact block (10, 8) is formed out of a stable core material (10), which comprises galvanically conductive contact faces (8) at a top side, wherein the contact faces (8) reach from said top side of the contact block up to locations on an oppositely disposed bottom side, wherein additional openings (9, 13) are present in a support foil (4), wherein a galvanic connection exists through the additional openings (9, 13) in the support foil (4) to a conductor path structure (6) on a foil-side, disposed oppositely to the contact block (10, 8).

12. Chip card according to claim 11, wherein the contact block (10, 8) contains a recess (12) at its bottom side, which serves for a reception of integrated circuits.

13. Chip card according to claim 12, wherein the contact block is disposed on the foil (4) separately from the integrated circuits and serves for producing a galvanic connection between the connection apparatus and the first integrated circuit (μ

C).

14. Chip card according to claim 11, wherein a mechanically stable amplifier platelet (14), serves as a protection against mechanical outside influences onto the integrated circuits (μ

C and CCI), and is disposed on a side of the foil (4), which side is disposed opposite to the contact block (10,

     8).

15. Chip card according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact block (10, 8) is mechanically exchangeable, wherein a mechanical connection is present to a stable amplifier platelet (14) through connection pieces (15) and through openings (9) in the foil (4), whereby these connection pieces (15) furnish a galvanic connection between the contact faces (8) of the contact block and the stable amplifier platelets (14), and wherein the stable amplifier-platelet (14) contains the conductor path structures (6), wherein a properly coordinated connection between the contact faces (8) and the conductor path structures (6) of the foil (4) are produced with said conductor path structures (6), wherein a mechanical release and attachment of the contact block to the connection pieces can be performed by a manual actuation such that, upon wear of the contact faces (8), the contact block can be renewed and a function of the integrated circuits is assured after exchange of the contact block.

16. A chip card for a selective coupling of a first integrated circuit (μ

C), formed as a microprocessor, for a galvanic connection through connection contacts (8) to a card connection apparatus, and of a second integrated circuit (CCI) for a contact-free connection with the card connection apparatus, wherein

the connection contacts (8) are disposed on a contact block (10,

     8), wherein the contact block (10,

     8) exhibits at its bottom side a recess (12), which recess (12) serves for receiving at least one of the two integrated circuits (μ

C, CCI) for protection against mechanical interactions, and wherein the contact block (10,

     8) is placed onto a support foil (4), wherein the support foil (4) exhibits on its bottom side, disposed oppositely to the contact block (10,

     8), a conductor path structure (6) made of coil windings (5) or of capacitor plates for a contact-free coupling of the second integrated circuit (CCI) to the card connection apparatus, whereby the connection contacts (8) are formed at a top side of the contact block (10,

     8) as galvanically conductive contact faces (8) for the galvanic connection of the contact block (10,

     8) to the card connection apparatus, and wherein the contact faces (8) reach from said top side of the contact block (10,

     8) up to locations on an oppositely disposed bottom side of the contact block (10,

     8), and wherein openings (3,

     9) are provided in the support foil (4) at locations, where the connection contacts (2) of the integrated circuits and of the contact faces (8) come to rest on the bottom side of the contact block (10,

     8) upon bringing together the support foil (4) and the integrated circuits as well as the contact block (10,

     8), wherein said openings (3,

     9) are provided for contacting the integrated circuits (μ

C, CCI) over galvanic connections of the conductor path structure (6) through the openings (3,

     9) in the support foil (4).

17. Chip card according to claim 16, wherein

the contact block (10, 8) comprises a stable core material (10).

18. Chip card according to claim 16, wherein

on the side of the support foil (4), onto which side of the support foil (4) the conductor path structure (6) is applied, there is disposed a mechanically stable amplifier platelet (14) for protection against mechanical outside influences, which amplifier platelet (14) is disposed opposite to the contact block (10).

19. Chip card according to claim 18, wherein

connection pieces (15) are disposed between the contact block (10, 8) and the amplifier platelet (14) for a mechanical exchange of the contact block (10, 8), wherein the connection pieces (15) form a galvanic connection between the contact faces (8) of the contact block (10, 8) and the amplifier platelets (14) through the opening (9) in the support foil (4).

20. Chip card according to claim 19, wherein

the amplifier platelet (14) contains conductor path structures (6), which conductor path structures (6) form a properly coordinated connection between the contact faces (8) of the contact block (10, 8) and the conductor path structures (6) of the support foil (4).

21. Chip card according to claim 18, wherein

the contact block (10, 8) is formed as a sensor, sensitive to physical interactions such as pressure, electrical fields, etc., wherein an output signal of the sensor switches the first integrated circuit (μ

C) to a desired coupling.

22. Chip card according to claim 18, wherein the two integrated circuits (μ

C, CCI) are integrated into a single chip.

23. Chip card for the selective coupling of a first integrated circuit (μ

C), formed as a microprocessor, for a galvanic connection through connection contacts (8) with a card connection apparatus, and of a second integrated circuit (CCI) for a contact-free connection with the card connection apparatus, wherein

the connection contacts (8) are disposed on a contact block (10,

     8), wherein the contact block (10,

     8) exhibits a recess (12) on its bottom side, and wherein the contact block (10,

     8) is placed onto a support foil (4), wherein the support foil (4) exhibits on its bottom side, disposed oppositely to the contact block (10,

     8), a conductor path structure (6) made of coil windings (5) or of capacitor plates for a contact-free coupling of the second integrated circuit (CCI) to the card connection apparatus, and wherein the contact block (10,

     8) is placed separate from the integrated circuits (μ

C, CCI) on the support foil (4), wherein the connection contacts (8) on a top side of the contact block (10,

     9) are formed as galvanically conducting contact faces (8) for the galvanic connection of the contact block (10,

     8) to the card connection apparatus, and wherein the contact faces (8) reach from said top side of the contact block (10,

     8) up to locations on the oppositely disposed bottom side of the contact block (10,

     8), and wherein openings (3,

     9) are provided in the support foil (4) at those locations, where the connection contacts (2) of the integrated circuits and of the contact faces (8) come to rest on the bottom side of the contact block (10,

     8) upon bringing together the support foil (4) and the integrated circuits as well as the contact block (10,

     8), wherein said openings (3,

     9) are provided for contacting the integrated circuits (μ

C, CCI) over galvanic connections through the openings (3,

     9) in the support foil (4).