IC CARD AND IC CARD SOCKET

1 . An IC card mounted with a flash memory chip,

wherein the IC card can be inserted into a Plug-in SIM adaptor and/or a mini UICC adaptor,

the IC card is inserted into the Plug-in SIM adaptor or the mini UICC adaptor, so that the Plug-in SIM adaptor or the mini UICC adaptor and the IC card are integrated to operate as a SIM attached with an expansion memory or a mini UICC attached with an expansion memory, and

the IC card can be physically removed from the Plug-in SIM adaptor or the mini UICC adaptor.

2 . The IC card according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of connecter terminals; and

the flash memory chip,

wherein, when inserted into the Plug-in SIM adaptor or the mini UICC adaptor, the connecter terminals are electrically connected to the SIM adaptor or the mini UICC adaptor.

3 . The IC card according to claim 2 further comprising:

a controller chip for controlling the flash memory chip.

4 . The IC card according to claim 3 ,

wherein the Plug-in SIM adaptor and the mini UICC adaptor include secure IC chips having a security microcomputer function.

5 . The IC card according to claim 4 ,

wherein the secure IC chips are embedded in substrates of the Plug-in SIM adaptor and the mini UICC adaptor.

6 . The IC card according to claim 3 ,

wherein the flash memory chip and the controller chip are covered with a mold.

7 . The IC card according to claim 2 further comprising:

a secure IC chip having a security microcomputer function.

8 . The IC card according to claim 1 ,

wherein a thickness of the IC card is smaller than that of the SIM adaptor.

9 . The IC card according to claim 8 ,

wherein a thickness of the IC card is 0.84 mm or smaller.

10 . The IC card according to claim 1 ,

wherein planar dimensions of the SIM adaptor are 15 mm×25 mm, and planar dimensions of the mini UICC adaptor are 15 mm×12 mm.

11 . The IC card according to claim 1 ,

wherein the IC card can be converted into an interface of a memory stick PRO, a SD card, a multimedia card, a USB, a TCP/IP, an I 2 C or a serial interface communication (SCI).

12 . The IC card according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of first connecter terminals and a plurality of second connecter terminals,

wherein the first connecter terminals are terminals used for a first interface with the Plug-in SIM or the mini UICC, and

the second connecter terminals are terminals used for a second interface with a memory stick PRO, a SD card, a multimedia card, a USB, a TCP/IP, an I 2 C or a serial interface communication (SCI).

13 . The IC card according to claim 12 ,

wherein protocols of the first interface and the second interface are different in whole or in part.

14 . The IC card according to claim 1 ,

wherein the IC card and the Plug-in SIM adaptor or the mini UICC adaptor perform mutual device authentication, and only when the authentication is completed, the IC card functions as an additional memory of the Plug-in SIM or the mini UICC.

15 . The IC card according to claim 14 ,

wherein the authentication of the IC card conforms to use of a memory stick PRO, a MMC or a SD card.

16 . The IC card according to claim 14 ,

wherein an APDU conforming to an ISO/IEC7816 of a smart card is used in the authentication of the IC card.

17 . An IC card which is mounted with a secure IC chip having a security microcomputer function and operates as a SIM,

wherein a flash memory card mounted with a flash memory chip can be inserted into the IC card, and

the flash memory card can be physically removed from the IC card.

18 . The IC card according to claim 17 ,

wherein the flash memory card is inserted into the IC card, so that the flash memory card and the IC card are integrated to operate as a SIM attached with an expansion memory.

19 . The IC card according to claim 17 further comprising:

a substrate mounted with the secure IC chip;

a module area in which the secure IC chip on the substrate is sealed; and

a slot for inserting the flash memory card,

wherein a plurality of connecter terminals for electrically connecting to the flash memory card are arranged in the slot.

20 . The IC card according to claim 19 ,

wherein the secure IC chip is arranged on a chamfered part side with respect to a position of the slot.

21 . The IC card according to claim 17 ,

wherein planar dimensions of the IC card are 15 mm×25 mm.

22 . The IC card according to claim 21 ,

wherein a thickness of the IC card is 0.84 mm or smaller.

23 . An IC card which is mounted with a secure IC chip having a security microcomputer function and operates as a mini UICC,

wherein a flash memory card mounted with a flash memory chip can be inserted into the IC card, and

the flash memory card can be physically removed from the IC card.

24 . The IC card according to claim 23 ,

wherein the flash memory card is inserted into the IC card, so that the flash memory card and the IC card are integrated to operate as a mini UICC attached with an expansion memory.

25 . The IC card according to claim 24 further comprising:

a substrate in which the secure IC chip is incorporated; and

a slot for inserting the flash memory card,

wherein a plurality of connecter terminals for electrically connecting with the flash memory card are arranged in the slot.

26 . The IC card according to claim 23 ,

wherein planar dimensions of the IC card are 15 mm×12 mm.

27 . The IC card according to claim 26 ,

wherein a thickness of the IC card is 0.84 mm or smaller.

28 . An IC card which is mounted with a secure IC chip having a security microcomputer function and operates as a SIM, comprising:

a first part having a first thickness; and

a second part thicker than the first thickness provided on an inner side of the first part.

29 . The IC card according to claim 28 ,

wherein the first thickness is 0.76 mm.

30 . The IC card according to claim 28 ,

wherein a crystal oscillator is mounted inside the second part.

31 . The IC card according to claim 28 ,

wherein stacked memory chips are mounted inside the second part.

32 . The IC card according to claim 28 ,

wherein the IC card has a slot inside the second part, and a memory card mounted with a memory chip can be inserted into the slot, and

the memory card can be physically removed from the IC card.

33 . The IC card according to claim 32 ,

wherein the memory card is inserted into the IC card, so that the memory card and the IC card are integrated to operate as a SIM attached with an expansion memory.

34 . The IC card according to claim 33 ,

wherein the memory card is a micro SD card or a M2 memory card.

35 . An IC card socket into which a first IC card including a first part having a first thickness and a second part thicker than the first thickness provided on an inner side of the first part and a second IC card including a third part having the first thickness and a fourth part having the first thickness provided on an inner side of the third part can be inserted in common,

wherein the IC card socket includes a card retainer having a height capable of fixing the first IC card and the second IC card by retaining the first part and the third part and having a width not in contact with the second part.

36 . The IC card socket according to claim 35 , wherein the first thickness is 0.76 mm.