IC card and IC chip module

Details IC card and IC chip module IC card and IC chip module

1999-11-05

2004-10-05

Moise, Emmanuel L. (Department: 2136)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support

Multiple computer communication using cryptography

Protection at a particular protocol layer

C902S002000, C902S026000, C902S028000, C705S064000, C235S375000, C235S487000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06802008

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to IC cards and IC chip modules and in particular to IC cards and IC chip modules with enhanced security.
BACKGROUND ART
A communication system employing a non-contact IC card is used for automatic ticket-gates of ski lifts, railroads and the like, automatic freight-sorting, and the like.
FIG. 15
is a perspective view showing one example of a conventional non-contact IC card. An IC card
2
shown in
FIG. 15
is a 1-coil IC card comprised of a coil
4
used as an antenna, capacitors C
1
and C
2
, and an IC chip
8
.
Capacitors C
1
, C
2
and IC chip
8
are mounted to a synthetic resin substrate in the form of a film. The substrate with capacitors C
1
, C
2
and IC chip
8
mounted thereto is referred to as a tape automated bonding (tab)
10
.
FIG. 16A
is a cross section of the
FIG. 15
IC card
2
taken along line S
1
—S
1
. In the figure, a core member
12
of synthetic resin is sandwiched by paired surface members
14
and
16
. Tab
10
with capacitors C
1
, C
2
and IC chip
8
mounted thereto is fixed to surface member
14
exposed in a cavity
18
provided in core member
12
. A joint of tab
10
and IC chip
8
is covered with a sealing agent
9
such as epoxy resin. Coil
4
is arranged between surface member
14
and core member
12
. Coil
4
and tab
10
are connected together via a wire
20
.
FIG. 16B
is a circuit diagram of IC card
2
. Referring to the figure, in IC card
2
an electromagnetic wave sent from a reader/writer (an interrogator (not shown)) is received at a resonator circuit
22
configured of coil
4
and capacitor C
1
and it is used as a power supply. It should be noted that capacitor C
2
is a power smoothing capacitor.
Furthermore, information superimposed on the electromagnetic wave and thus sent therewith is decrypted by a control unit (not shown) provided in IC chip
8
. The control unit then rewrites a content of a non-volatile memory (not shown) provided in IC chip
8
, makes a response to the reader/writer, and the like. The response is made by varying an impedance of resonator circuit
22
. The reader/write obtains the content of the response by detecting an impedance variation (an impedance reflection) of its resonator circuit (not shown) that is associated with the impedance variation of IC card
2
resonator circuit
22
.
As such, IC card
2
does not require an internal power supply and also allows non-contact communication of data.
However, conventional IC card
2
has the following disadvantage: in conventional IC card
2
, a pad (or a terminal) (not shown) used for checking the performance of a mounted non-volatile memory or the like in the process for manufacturing the same is provided on a surface of IC chip
8
. As such, the pad is exposed when surface members
14
,
16
are removed. By applying a probe (an inspecting needle) on the exposed pad, the data in the non-volatile memory can readily be read and IC chip
8
can be operated. That is, the conventional IC card does not have high data security. Furthermore, as shown in
FIG. 17
, there is also an IC card which mounts to tab
10
two IC chips, i.e., an IC chip
6
with a control unit (not shown) and an IC chip
7
with a non-volatile memory (not shown). In such a type of IC card, in addition to the pad mentioned above a wire
24
connecting two IC chips
6
and
7
together is also exposed, which further facilitates reading the data stored in the non-volatile memory.
The present invention has been made to overcome the above disadvantages and contemplates an IC card and IC chip module with enhanced data security.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, in one aspect of the present invention an IC card is comprised of an IC chip provided with an IC circuit, a housing body disposed to house the IC chip, and an exposure detection unit disposed to detect opened condition of the housing body, characterized in that when the exposure detection unit detects that the housing body has been opened the IC chip at least partially fails to normally operate.
As such, when the housing body housing the IC card is opened the IC circuit does not operate normally. Thus, if the IC card is improperly obtained and opened, it is extremely difficult to find the function of the IC card. Thus the IC card can obtain an enhanced data security.
Preferably the IC circuit includes a data storage unit disposed to store data wherein once the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition the data storage unit has the data at least partially rendered non-extractable.
As such, once the IC card has been opened the data storage unit has the data at least partially rendered non-extractable. Thus it is extremely difficult to obtain important data when the IC card is improperly opened.
Still preferably, the data storage unit has the data at least partially prohibited from being read once the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition.
As such, the data in the data storage unit cannot be read ones the housing body housing the IC card has been opened. The IC card may also be conveniently configured to allow the data to be read through a particular process if a party concerned does not want a third party to obtain the data but wants to keep the data.
Still preferably in the IC card the data storage unit has the data at least partially erased once the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition.
As such, once the housing body housing the IC card has been opened the data storage unit has the data at least partially erased. Thus, once the housing body has been opened no one can obtain the data. Thus the IC card can be provided with an extremely enhanced data security.
Still preferably, the IC card is comprised of a data processing unit disposed to process data wherein the data processing unit has a function at least partially stopped once the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition.
As such, the data processing unit has a function at least partially failing to function once the housing body housing the IC card has been opened. Thus, it is extremely difficult to know the function of the data processing unit if the IC card is improperly obtained and opened.
Preferably the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition by detecting external light entering when the housing body is opened.
As such, the opened condition can readily be detected, e.g., via a light receiving element arranged in the housing body.
Still preferably, as the exposure detection unit a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged in parallel.
For example, a plurality of small light-receiving elements may be arranged in the housing body to less noticeably arrange the elements. The plurality of light receiving elements can also be dispersedly arranged to detect the opened condition over a wide range of area.
Still preferably, the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition by detecting a variation in electrostatic capacitance that is introduced when the housing body is opened.
As such, the opened condition can be detected, e.g., if a capacitor defined by at least a portion of the housing body has an electrostatic capacitance varying when the housing body is opened.
Still preferably, the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition by detecting a variation in resistance that is introduced when the housing body is opened.
As such, the opened condition can be detected, e.g., if a resistor defined by at least a portion of the housing body has a value of resistance that varies when the housing body is opened.
Still preferably, the exposure detection unit detects the opened condition by detecting disconnection of a predetermined interconnection that is caused when the housing body is opened.
As such, the opened condition can be detected, e.g., if an interconnection arranged at at least a portion of the housing body is adapted to be disconnected when the housing body is opened.
In another aspect of the present invention, an IC chip module with at least two members integrally formed is comprised of an IC circuit provided at at l

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