IP Library Granted Patent US 7,291,019
Granted Patent B2
US 7,291,019 · App. 11/449,816 · Granted Nov 6, 2007

IC card

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,291,019
App. No.
11/449,816
Granted
Nov 6, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multifunction IC card (MFC) has compatibility with a multimedia card, an SD card, etc. in that connector terminals (# 1 through # 13 ) are disposed on a card substrate ( 1 ) in two rows in a zigzag fashion, and realizes multifunction facilities in that a memory card unit ( 3 ) and an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card unit ( 4 ) are respectively exclusively connected and mounted to predetermined terminals of the connector terminals (# 1 through # 13 ). The memory card unit ( 3 ) and the SIM card unit ( 4 ) are respectively separately provided with areas for storing secrete codes for security. Thus, one IC card is capable of implementing multifunction facilities different in security level. Owing to the adoption of a plural-column layout corresponding to a form typified by the zigzag fashion in an array of the connector terminals, a relatively simple structure can be adopted in a card slot, wherein the amounts of protrusion of slot terminals in a card slot are alternately changed in association with a zigzag section, and the slot terminals are disposed in a row in parallel as a whole.

Claims (64)

1. An integrated circuit card comprising:

a memory card unit having a data storage function,

a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card unit having a security controlling function, and

a plurality of external terminals,

wherein the external terminals include first terminals, second terminals, and third terminals,

wherein the first terminals are coupled to the memory card unit and used only for the memory card unit,

wherein the second terminals are coupled to the SIM card unit and used only for the SIM card unit,

wherein the third terminals include a power supply voltage terminal and a ground voltage terminal, and are coupled to the memory card unit and the SIM card unit, and

wherein the integrated circuit card further comprises test terminals coupled to the memory card unit.

2. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 1 ,

wherein the first terminals include a CMD terminal, a DATA terminal, and a CLK terminal, and

wherein the second terminals include an I/O terminal, a CLK terminal, and a reset terminal.

3. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 2 ,

wherein the first terminals further include DATA terminals for 4 bits and a chip select terminal.

4. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 1 ,

wherein the memory card unit includes a flash memory chip, and

wherein the SIM card unit includes a microcomputer chip.

5. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 4 ,

wherein the microcomputer chip has a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I/O circuit, and a non-volatile memory.

6. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 4 ,

wherein the test terminals are coupled to the flash memory chip of the memory card unit.

7. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 1 ,

wherein the memory card unit includes a flash memory chip and a controller chip for the flash memory chip, and

wherein the SIM card unit includes a microcomputer chip.

8. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 7 ,

wherein the microcomputer chip has a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I/O circuit, and a non-volatile memory.

9. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 7 ,

wherein the test terminals are coupled to the flash memory chip of the memory card unit.

10. An integrated circuit card comprising:

a memory card unit having a data storage function,

a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card unit including having a security controlling function, and

a plurality of external terminals,

wherein the external terminals include first terminals, second terminals, and third terminals,

wherein the first terminals are coupled to the memory card unit and used only for the memory card unit,

wherein the second terminals are coupled to the SIM card unit and used only for the SIM card unit,

wherein the third terminals are coupled to the memory card unit and the SIM card unit,

wherein the integrated circuit card further comprises a signal line coupled to the memory card unit and the SIM card unit and not coupled to the external terminals, and

wherein the integrated circuit card further comprises test terminals coupled to the memory card unit.

11. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 10 ,

wherein the third terminals include a power supply voltage terminal and a ground voltage terminal.

12. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 10 ,

wherein the first terminals include a CMD terminal, a DATA terminal, and a CLK terminal, and

wherein the second terminals include an I/O terminal, a CLK terminal, and a reset terminal.

13. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 12 ,

wherein the first terminals further include DATA terminals for 4 bits and a chip select terminal.

14. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 10 ,

wherein the signal line has a function of transferring information between the memory card unit and the SIM card unit.

15. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 10 ,

wherein the memory card unit includes a flash memory chip, and

wherein the SIM card unit includes a microcomputer chip.

16. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 15 ,

wherein the microcomputer chip has a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I/O circuit, and an non-volatile memory.

17. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 15 ,

wherein the test terminals are coupled to the flash memory chip of the memory card unit.

18. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 10 ,

wherein the memory card unit includes a flash memory chip and a controller chip for the flash memory chip, and

wherein the SIM card unit includes a microcomputer chip.

19. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 18 ,

wherein the microcomputer chip has a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I/O circuit, and a non-volatile memory.

20. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 18 ,

wherein the signal line has a function of transferring information between the memory card unit and the SIM card unit, and

wherein the controller chip of the memory card unit couples to the microcomputer chip of the SIM card unit.

21. An integrated circuit card according to the claim 18 ,

wherein the test terminals are coupled to the flash memory chip of the memory card unit.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2014
From: HITACHI ULSI SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032859/0252 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 13, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024864/0635 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 13, 2010
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024879/0190 →