阅读说明：本技术 读卡器 (Card reader ) 是由 相吉寛之 于 2020-02-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种对经由IC触点块获取的信息进行加密的读卡器。读卡器1包括：IC触点块21,具备能够与卡2的IC芯片2b的外部连接端子部17接触的触点弹簧27；柔性印刷基板22,连接有触点弹簧27的弹簧端部31；加密电路23,安装于柔性印刷基板22上且与触点弹簧27电连接,对经由IC触点块21从IC芯片2b获取的信息进行加密；以及树脂密封部件24,将弹簧端部31及加密电路23一体覆盖。(The invention provides a card reader for encrypting information acquired through an IC contact block. The card reader 1 includes: an IC contact block 21 having contact springs 27 capable of contacting with external connection terminal portions 17 of an IC chip 2b of a card 2; a flexible printed board 22 to which a spring end 31 of the contact spring 27 is connected; an encryption circuit 23 mounted on the flexible printed circuit board 22 and electrically connected to the contact spring 27, and encrypting information acquired from the IC chip 2b via the IC contact block 21; and a resin sealing member 24 integrally covering the spring end 31 and the encryption circuit 23.)

1. A card reader, comprising:

an integrated circuit contact block, the integrated circuit contact block comprising: a contact spring capable of contacting with an external connection terminal part of an integrated circuit chip built in the card;

a flexible printed substrate connected with a spring end of the contact spring;

an encryption circuit mounted on the flexible printed circuit board and electrically connected to the contact spring, for encrypting information obtained from the integrated circuit chip via the integrated circuit contact block; and

and a resin sealing member that integrally covers the spring end and the encryption circuit.

2. The card reader of claim 1,

the integrated circuit contact block is provided with: a holder that holds the contact spring,

the holder is in contact with a first surface of the flexible printed substrate,

the spring end portion protrudes from a contact surface of the holder which is in contact with the flexible printed board,

the spring end is connected to the flexible printed circuit board in a state of penetrating the flexible printed circuit board from the side of the first surface to the side of the second surface opposite to the first surface,

the encryption circuit is mounted on the second surface of the flexible printed substrate,

the resin sealing member is provided on the side of the second surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

3. The card reader of claim 2,

the flexible printed circuit board includes: a first substrate portion having the first surface contacting the integrated circuit contact block and extending, a second substrate portion facing the first substrate portion with a gap therebetween on the side of the second surface of the first substrate portion, and a connection substrate portion connecting the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion,

the spring end portion penetrates the first base plate portion,

the encryption circuit includes: a first circuit portion mounted to the second side of the first substrate portion, and a second circuit portion mounted to the second side of the second substrate portion.

4. The card reader of claim 3,

the second substrate portion overlaps the spring end portion when viewed from an opposing direction in which the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion oppose each other.

5. The card reader according to claim 3 or 4,

the resin sealing member seals between the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, and covers the first surface side of the second substrate portion and the connection substrate portion.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a card reader for processing a card having an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip.

Background

Patent document 1 describes a card reader that performs processing for a card provided with an IC chip. The card reader of said document is provided with a card channel extending via a reading position for reading information of the IC chip. An IC contact block capable of contacting with an IC chip of a card on the channel is arranged at the reading position. The card reader can contact the IC chip and the IC contact block at a reading position to communicate, and acquire information stored in the IC chip. In addition, the card reader transmits the acquired information to the upper device.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2016-91107

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

There are cases where the information transmitted from the card reader to the host device is acquired irregularly. As a countermeasure against such an irregular behavior, it is considered to encrypt information transmitted from the card reader to the host device.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader capable of encrypting information acquired via an IC contact block.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

In order to solve the above problem, a card reader according to the present invention includes: an Integrated Circuit (IC) contact block, the IC contact block comprising: a contact spring which can contact with an external connection terminal part of an IC chip built in the card; a flexible printed substrate connected to a spring end of the contact spring; an encryption circuit mounted on the flexible printed circuit board and electrically connected to the contact spring, for encrypting information acquired from the IC chip via the IC contact block; and a resin sealing member that integrally covers the spring end and the encryption circuit.

In the present invention, the contact springs of the IC contact block are connected to the flexible printed board on which the encryption circuit is mounted. Therefore, information acquired from the IC chip of the card via the IC contact block can be encrypted by the encryption circuit. Further, the spring end portion of the contact spring and the encryption circuit are integrally covered with a resin sealing member. Thereby, the spring end of the contact spring, the wiring pattern of the flexible printed board connecting the spring end and the encryption circuit, and the encryption circuit are sealed by the resin sealing member. Therefore, it is difficult to physically access the spring end of the contact spring, the wiring pattern of the flexible printed board connecting the spring end and the encryption circuit, and the encryption circuit from the outside. This can prevent a person who wants to perform an irregular act from acquiring information before encryption. In addition, since the encryption circuit is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board, the encryption circuit including the substrate can be reduced as compared with a case where the encryption circuit is formed on a rigid substrate.

In the present invention, the IC contact block may include: and a holder that holds the contact spring, the holder being in contact with a first surface of the flexible printed board, a spring end portion protruding from a contact surface of the holder that is in contact with the flexible printed board, the spring end portion being connected to the flexible printed board in a state where the flexible printed board is penetrated from a side of the first surface to a side of a second surface opposite to the first surface, the encryption circuit being mounted on the second surface of the flexible printed board, and the resin sealing member being provided on a side of the second surface of the flexible printed board. In this way, a flexible printed board on which an encryption circuit is mounted can be stacked on the IC contact block. Further, since the spring end of the IC contact block penetrates the flexible printed board, the strength of connection between the IC contact block and the flexible printed board is higher than that in the case where the spring end of the IC contact block is connected to one surface of the flexible printed board.

The flexible printed board may include: a first substrate portion having a first surface contacting the IC contact block and extending therefrom, a second substrate portion facing the first substrate portion with a gap therebetween on the side of the second surface of the first substrate portion, and a connection substrate portion connecting the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, wherein the spring end portion penetrates the first substrate portion, and the encryption circuit includes: a first circuit portion mounted to the second side of the first substrate portion, and a second circuit portion mounted to the second side of the second substrate portion. Accordingly, it is easy to secure an area for mounting the encryption circuit on the flexible printed board. In addition, since the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion overlap, the encryption circuit can be made compact even in the case where an area for mounting the encryption circuit on the flexible printed substrate is secured.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the second substrate portion overlap with the spring end portion as viewed from an opposing direction in which the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion oppose each other. Accordingly, it is less likely that a person who intends to perform an irregular act will physically access the spring end.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the resin sealing member seals between the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, and covers the side of the first face of the second substrate portion and the connection substrate portion. Accordingly, the first substrate portion, the second substrate portion, the connection substrate portion, the first circuit portion, the second circuit portion, and the spring end portion are covered with the resin sealing member. Therefore, it is impossible to determine what is sealed inside the resin sealing member. Therefore, it is less likely that a person who wants to perform an irregular act will acquire information before encryption.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, information acquired from the IC chip of the card via the IC contact block can be encrypted by the encryption circuit in the encryption circuit. Further, since the spring end portion of the contact spring and the encryption circuit are integrally covered with the resin sealing member, it is difficult to physically access the spring end portion, the wiring pattern connecting the spring end portion and the encryption circuit, and the encryption circuit. Thus, it is difficult to acquire information before encryption. In addition, since the encryption circuit is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board, the encryption circuit including the substrate can be reduced as compared with a case where the encryption circuit is formed on a rigid substrate.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a card being processed by the card reader.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the card reader.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the substrate, the fixing frame, and the front cover detached from the card reader.

Fig. 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views of the IC contact block unit.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit with the resin sealing member removed.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit when the flexible printed board is unfolded.

Detailed Description

Next, a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Structure)

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a top view of a card being processed by the card reader. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the card reader. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the card reader with the substrate, the fixing frame, and the front cover removed. Fig. 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views of the IC contact block unit. Fig. 5(a) is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit as viewed from the resin sealing member side, and fig. 5(b) is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit as viewed from the IC contact block side. The card reader 1 is connected to a predetermined host device so as to be able to communicate with the host device.

The card reader 1 reads information from a magnetic stripe 2a provided in the card 2. The card reader 1 reads information held on the IC chip 2b incorporated in the card 2.

The card reader 1 records information in an IC chip 2b incorporated in the card 2.

As shown in fig. 1, the card reader 1 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The card reader 1 includes a front cover 5 at one end in the longitudinal direction. A card insertion port 6 is provided in the front face cover 5. As shown in fig. 3, the card reader 1 includes a card channel 7 through which the card 2 inserted into the card insertion slot 6 passes. The card path 7 extends linearly in the longitudinal direction of the card reader 1 from the card insertion slot 6 via the first reading position R1 and the second reading position R2 (reading position). In the first reading position R1, reading of information from the magnetic stripe 2a is performed. In the second reading position R2, reading of information from the IC chip 2b and writing of information to the IC chip 2b are performed. In this example, the user manually inserts the card 2 into the card insertion slot 6. The card 2 thus passes through the first reading position R1. In addition, the card 2 is disposed at the second reading position R2.

The card reader 1 includes: a frame 4 provided with an end face defining a card passage 7; a magnetic head 10 disposed at a first reading position R1; and an IC contact block unit 11 disposed at the second reading position R2. The magnetic head 10 and the IC contact block unit 11 are located on opposite sides sandwiching the card passage 7. Further, the card reader 1 includes: a substrate 13 and a substrate 14 on which various electronic components and the like are mounted; and a fixing frame 15 (see fig. 1) for fixing the card reader 1 to a host device on which the card reader 1 is mounted.

In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the card reader 1 in which the card path 7 extends is referred to as the X direction.

In the X direction, the side of the card insertion slot 6 is set as the-X direction, and the opposite direction is set as the + X direction. The short side direction of the card reader 1 orthogonal to the X direction is set as the Y direction. One side in the Y direction is set as the-Y direction, and the opposite direction is set as the + Y direction. In addition, a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is a Z direction. The Z direction is a vertical direction when the card reader 1 is fixed to a host device.

One side in the Z direction is defined as the-Z direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the + Z direction. The Z direction is relative to the card channel 7, and the side where the magnetic head 10 is located is below when the card reader 1 is fixed to an upper apparatus. The + Z direction is a side of the card path 7 where the IC contact block unit 11 is located, and is an upper side when the card reader 1 is fixed to a higher-level device.

As shown in fig. 2, the card 2 inserted into the card reader 1 is made of vinyl chloride. The planar shape of the card 2 is substantially rectangular. The thickness of the card 2 is about 0.7-0.8 mm. A magnetic stripe 2a for recording magnetic data is provided on the back surface of the card 2.

Further, the card 2 incorporates an IC chip 2 b. An external connection terminal portion 17 of the IC chip 2b is provided on the surface of the card 2. The card 2 is a card 2 according to international standard or JIS standard, and the magnetic stripe 2a is formed along the longitudinal direction of the card 2 formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The external connection terminal portion 17 is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the card 2. The card 2 is inserted into the card insertion slot 6 from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the card 2 in a posture in which the surface provided with the external connection terminal portion 17 faces upward (+ Z direction).

As shown in fig. 3, the magnetic head 10 is disposed in the vicinity of the card insertion port 6. As shown in fig. 4, the magnetic head 10 is disposed at a position facing the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 inserted into the card insertion slot 6. In the case of the magnetic head 10, the sensor face of the magnetic head 10 faces the card path 7 from the-Z direction side.

Here, as shown in fig. 3, the magnetic head 10 is supported by a plate spring 18 fixed to the frame 4. The magnetic head 10 is biased in the + Z direction by the biasing force of the plate spring 18. The magnetic head 10 is thus in contact with the magnetic strip 2a of the card 2 passing through the first reading position R1.

The IC contact block unit 11 is disposed on the + X direction side of the card reader 1.

As shown in fig. 4, the IC contact block unit 11 includes: an IC contact block 21, a flexible printed board 22, an encryption circuit 23 mounted on the flexible printed board 22, and a resin sealing member 24.

As shown in fig. 5(b), the IC contact block 21 includes: a contact spring 27 capable of contacting with the external connection terminal portion 17 of the IC chip 2b of the card 2, and a holder 28 holding the contact spring 27. The IC contact block 21 and the encryption circuit 23 are electrically connected via the flexible printed board 22. As shown in fig. 5(a), the front end portion of the flexible printed board 22 is placed along the + Z direction of the holder 28. Therefore, the first surface 22a of the flexible printed board 22 in the-Z direction is in contact with the holder 28. The holder 28 includes: a contact surface 28a that contacts the first surface 22a of the flexible printed substrate 22. The retainer 28 includes, at an end portion in the + X direction: and a card engaging portion 29 projecting downward. The rear end of the flexible printed board 22 is connected to the substrate 13.

The encryption circuit 23 is mounted on a second surface 22b opposite to the first surface 22a at the distal end portion of the flexible printed board 22. The resin sealing member 24 integrally covers a portion of the flexible printed board 22 at the leading end portion thereof to which the contact spring 27 is connected (the spring end 31 of the contact spring 27) and a portion to which the encryption circuit 23 is mounted, from the + Z direction.

As shown in fig. 3, the IC contact block unit 11 is arranged such that the contact spring 27 faces the card passage 7 from the + Z direction side. The holder 28 is supported at the + Z-direction end portion of the frame 4 via a parallel link mechanism 35. The holder 28 is biased in the-X direction by the tension coil spring 19. The IC contact block unit 11 moves downward when moving in the + X direction and moves upward when moving in the-X direction by the parallel link mechanism 35.

The substrate 13 and the substrate 14 are rigid substrates. The planar shapes of the substrate 13 and the substrate 14 are both rectangular. The substrate 13 is larger than the substrate 14. The substrate 13 is fixed to the frame 4, and covers a portion in the + X direction from the front surface cover 5 of the frame 4 in the + Z direction. The board 13 is a main board on which a control circuit of the card reader 1 and the like are mounted. The encryption circuit 23 and the contact spring 27 are connected to the main substrate via the flexible printed board 22.

(operation of card reader)

If the card 2 is inserted into the card insertion slot 6, the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 passes through the first reading position R1. At this time, the card reader 1 drives the magnetic head 10 to read information from the magnetic stripe 2 a.

Thereafter, if the card 2 is further pushed in the + X direction, the leading end 2c of the card 2 abuts on the card engaging portion 29 of the IC contact block 21. In this state, if the card 2 is further pushed in the + X direction, the card 2 pushes the card engagement portion 29 in the + X direction, and therefore, the IC contact block unit 11 moves in the + X direction. Thereby, the IC contact block unit 11 is lowered, and the contact spring 27 is brought into contact with the external connection terminal portion 17 of the card 2 disposed at the second reading position R2. Here, the card reader 1 reads information from the IC chip 2b or writes information to the IC chip 2b via the IC contact block 21. The encryption circuit 23 encrypts information acquired from the IC chip 2b via the IC contact block 21, transmits the information from a higher-level device, and decodes information written in the IC chip 2b via the IC contact block 21.

Information read by the card reader 1 from the magnetic stripe 2a and information read by the card reader 1 from the IC chip 2b and encrypted by the encryption circuit 23 are transmitted to a host device via the control circuit of the substrate 13. The card reader 1 writes information of the IC chip 2b and supplies the information from the higher-level device to the card reader 1.

(details of IC contact Block Unit)

Next, the IC contact block unit 11 will be described in detail. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit 11 with the resin sealing member 24 removed. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the IC contact block unit 11 when the flexible printed board 22 is unfolded.

As shown in fig. 5(a) and 5(b), the IC contact block 21 includes a contact spring 27 and a holder 28. As shown in fig. 3, 5(a) and 5(b), the contact spring 27 includes: a contact portion 32 protruding from the holder 28 in the-Z direction, and a spring end portion 31 protruding from the contact surface 28a of the holder 28 contacting the flexible printed board 22 in the + Z direction. The contact portion 32 is bent in a V shape along the X direction. The contact portion 32 elastically contacts the external connection terminal portion 17 of the card 2 when the IC contact block unit 11 is lowered. The spring end 31 is connected to the flexible printed circuit board 22 in a state where the flexible printed circuit board 22 penetrates from the first surface 22a side to the second surface 22b side.

As shown in fig. 6, the flexible printed circuit board 22 includes: a rectangular first substrate portion 41 having a first surface 22a contacting the IC contact block 21 and extending, a square second substrate portion 42 facing the first substrate portion 41 with a gap therebetween on the side of the second surface 22b of the first substrate portion 41, and a connection substrate portion 43 connecting the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42. The connection substrate portion 43 extends in the Z direction, connecting the + Y direction end portion of the first substrate portion 41 and the + Y direction end portion of the second substrate portion 42. Here, when the flexible printed circuit board 22 is transferred to a flat surface, as shown in fig. 7, the flexible printed circuit board includes, in order along the Y direction: a first substrate portion 41, a connecting substrate portion 43, and a second substrate portion 42. Therefore, the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42 are opposed to each other in the Z direction by bending the connection substrate portion 43 and folding the second substrate portion 42 in the + Z direction of the first substrate portion 41. The spring end 31 of the contact spring 27 penetrates the first substrate portion 41 in the Z direction. The spring end 31 and the second substrate portion 42 overlap when viewed from the Z direction (the opposing direction in which the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42 correspond).

The encryption circuit 23 is mounted on the second surface 22b of the flexible printed board 22 and electrically connected to the contact spring 27. The encryption circuit 23 includes: a first circuit portion 45 mounted to the second face 22b of the first substrate portion 41, and a second circuit portion 46 mounted to the second face 22b of the second substrate portion 42. In a state where the second substrate portion 42 is folded to the first substrate portion 41, the first circuit portion 45 and the second circuit portion 46 are located between the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42 in the Z direction.

Here, as shown in fig. 5(a), the resin sealing member 24 integrally covers the spring end 31 and the encryption circuit 23. In addition, the resin sealing member 24 seals between the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42. The resin sealing member 24 covers the first surface 22a side of the second substrate portion 42 and the connection substrate portion 43. Thereby, the spring end 31 of the contact spring 27, the wiring pattern of the flexible printed board 22 connecting the spring end 31 and the encryption circuit 23, and the encryption circuit 23 are sealed by the resin sealing member 24.

(Effect)

In this example, the contact springs 27 of the IC contact block 21 are connected to the flexible printed board 22 on which the encryption circuit 23 is mounted. Therefore, the information acquired from the IC chip 2b of the card 2 via the IC contact block 21 can be encrypted by the encryption circuit 23 in the encryption circuit 23. Further, the spring end 31 of the contact spring 27 and the encryption circuit 23 are integrally covered with the resin sealing member 24. Thereby, the spring end 31 of the contact spring 27, the wiring pattern of the flexible printed board 22 connecting the spring end 31 and the encryption circuit 23, and the encryption circuit 23 are sealed by the resin sealing member 24. Therefore, it is difficult to physically access the spring end 31 of the contact spring 27, the wiring pattern of the flexible printed board 22 connecting the spring end 31 and the encryption circuit 23, and the encryption circuit 23 from the outside. This can prevent a person who wants to perform an irregular act from acquiring information before encryption.

Further, since the encryption circuit 23 is mounted on the flexible printed board 22, the encryption circuit 23 including a substrate can be reduced as compared with a case where the encryption circuit 23 is formed on a rigid substrate.

In this example, the holder 28 of the IC contact block 21 is in contact with the first surface 22a of the flexible printed board 22, the spring end 31 protrudes from the contact surface 28a of the holder 28 in contact with the flexible printed board 22, and the spring end 31 is connected to the flexible printed board 22 in a state where the flexible printed board 22 penetrates from the first surface 22a side to the second surface 22b side opposite to the first surface 22a side. The encryption circuit 23 is mounted on the second surface 22b of the flexible printed board 22, and the resin sealing member 24 is provided on the second surface 22b side of the flexible printed board 22. Therefore, the flexible printed board 22 on which the encryption circuit 23 is mounted can be superimposed on the IC contact block 21. Further, since the spring end 31 penetrates the flexible printed board 22, the strength of connection between the IC contact block 21 and the flexible printed board 22 is higher than that in the case where the spring end 31 is connected to one surface of the flexible printed board 22.

The flexible printed board 22 further includes: a first substrate portion 41 having a first surface 22a contacting the IC contact block 21 and extending, a second substrate portion 42 facing the first substrate portion 41 with a gap therebetween on the side of the second surface 22b of the first substrate portion 41, and a connection substrate portion 43 connecting the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42. Therefore, it is easy to secure an area for mounting the encryption circuit 23 on the flexible printed board 22. In addition, since the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42 overlap, the encryption circuit 23 can be made compact even in the case where an area for mounting the encryption circuit 23 on the flexible printed substrate 22 is secured.

In addition, the second substrate portion 42 of the flexible printed substrate 22 overlaps the spring end 31 when viewed from the Z direction. Therefore, it is more difficult for a person who wants to perform an irregular act to physically access the spring end 31 of the contact spring 27.

The resin sealing member 24 seals between the first substrate portion 41 and the second substrate portion 42, and covers the first surface 22a side of the second substrate portion 42 and the connection substrate portion 43. Accordingly, the first substrate portion 41, the second substrate portion 42, the connection substrate portion 43, the first circuit portion 45, the second circuit portion 46, and the spring end portion 31 are covered with the resin sealing member 24, and therefore, it is not possible to determine what is sealed inside the resin sealing member 24. Therefore, it is more difficult for a person who wants to perform an irregular act to acquire information before encryption. In addition, with this configuration, the rigidity of the relatively flexible printed board 22 is increased, and the encryption circuit 23 and the spring end 31 can be stably mounted on the flexible printed board.

Here, the card reader 1 may write information to the magnetic stripe 2a at the first reading position R1. In this case, the information written in the magnetic stripe 2a by the card reader 1 is supplied from a higher-level device to the card reader 1.

The present invention can be applied to a card reader that includes a card conveying mechanism using a motor or the like as a drive source and moves the card 2 along the card path 7 by the card conveying mechanism.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … card reader; 2 … card; 2a … magnetic strip; 2b … IC chip; 2c … front end; 4 … frame; 5 … front face mask; 6 … card insertion slot; 7 … card channel; 10 … magnetic head; 11 … IC contact block unit; 13. 14 … a substrate; 15 … fixing frame; 17 … external connection terminal part; 18 … leaf springs; 19 … extending the coil spring; 21 … IC contact block; 22 … flexible printed substrate; 22a … first face; 22b … second face; 23 … encryption circuitry; 24 … resin sealing member; 27 … contact spring; 28 … a holder; 28a … contact surface; 29 … card engaging part; 31 … spring ends; a 32 … contact portion; 35 … parallel linkage; 41 … a first substrate portion; 42 … a second substrate portion; 43 … connecting the substrate portions; 45 … a first circuit portion; 46 … a second circuit portion; r1 … first reading position; r2 … second reading position (reading position).