JP2007189628A - Portable electronic apparatus and communication wave blocking tool - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a non-contact IC medium 37 mounted on a portable telephone 1 from skimming. <P>SOLUTION: The portable telephone 1 incorporating the non-contact IC medium 37 comprising an IC chip 38 and a loop antenna 39 is provided with an external cover 25 as a fixed blocking body for partially blocking the passing of a communication wave by the loop antenna 39 at a fixed position, a movable blocking plate 30 movable in the direction of coming close to a communication allowable hole 26 being a part where the communication wave is not blocked and in the direction of separating from the communication allowable hole 26, and a guide cover 27 for movably holding the movable blocking plate 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device and a communication wave blocking device that prevent skimming of the non-contact IC medium for a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) mounted with a non-contact IC medium. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, magnetic storage media such as cash cards, credit cards, and debit cards have been used as media for identifying individuals and handling money electronically. In such a magnetic storage medium, information such as an ID for identifying an individual and a charged amount is stored in the magnetic tape portion. Cat terminals, ATMs, and the like that receive magnetic storage media execute transactions based on information such as IDs and amounts.

  In recent years, skimming crimes that illegally read information from these magnetic storage media with a skimming device have become a problem. This skimming crime is a fraudulent duplication of a magnetic storage medium such as a cash card, credit card, or debit card based on information read from the magnetic storage medium. It is to make a deposit withdrawal.

  On the other hand, contact-type and non-contact-type IC media are beginning to be used as media that replace magnetic storage media. In this IC medium, a control unit and a storage unit are provided in an IC chip, and a large amount of information can be stored in the storage unit as compared with a magnetic storage medium. For this reason, information can be encrypted and stored, and a higher security level than that of a magnetic storage medium can be secured.

  Among such IC media, non-contact type IC media can communicate with the reading device in a wallet or a card case without inserting a card into the reading device, unlike the contact type IC medium. Is attracting attention because of its high convenience. As portable electronic devices equipped with this non-contact IC medium, mobile phones equipped with a non-contact IC medium have also been proposed (see Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

  However, since communication can be performed in a non-contact manner, there is a problem in that the number of scenes where fraudulent acts such as skimming are performed increases. That is, in the case of a magnetic storage medium, the scene where skimming is performed is, for example, when a skimming device is illegally incorporated in a magnetic storage medium reader and the magnetic storage medium is read by the reader. Is limited to some extent, such as illegally obtaining information.

  On the other hand, non-contact type IC media that can communicate in a non-contact manner theoretically means that communication and skimming are performed in various situations, such as passing on a train, passing by a person, and passing through an entrance of a restaurant or the like. It becomes possible. Moreover, the holder of the non-contact IC medium has no expectation when it is skimmed.

  For these reasons, no skimming cases for non-contact IC media have been reported at present, but it is desired to prevent skimming for non-contact IC media.

JP 2003-60748 A JP 2004-38657 A JP 2004-280193 A

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to protect a noncontact IC medium mounted on a portable electronic device from skimming.

  The present invention relates to a fixed blocking body that partially blocks the passage of communication waves by an antenna of a non-contact IC medium at a fixed position, and a direction in the vicinity of a communication permission section that is a portion where the communication waves are not blocked by the fixed blocking body. A movement blocking body that is movable in a direction away from the communication permission section, and a holding section that holds the movement blocking body in a movable manner are provided.

  According to the present invention, a non-contact IC medium mounted on a portable electronic device can be protected from skimming.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the folding mobile phone 1 in an open state.
In the mobile phone 1, a lid side unit 2 and a main body side unit 5 are connected by a hinge 4 so as to be opened and closed.

A speaker 11 and a liquid crystal display 12 are disposed on the inner surface of the lid side unit 2.
On the inner surface of the main unit 5, a plurality of input buttons 17 such as function keys and character input keys, and a microphone 19 are arranged.

  The cover 15 on the inner surface of the lid unit 2 and the main unit 5 has a substantially constant thickness by a communication wave blocking member that blocks communication waves (waves used for non-contact communication such as radio waves and electromagnetic waves). Is formed. This communication wave blocking member is a member in which a resin such as a metal such as aluminum, copper, or silver, or an absorber such as carbon or silicon is contained, and has a function of blocking or suppressing the passage of radio waves and electromagnetic waves. Since the housing cover 15 is provided with holes for the speaker 11, the liquid crystal display 12, and the microphone 19, the entirety other than the speaker 11, the liquid crystal display 12, and the microphone 19 is formed of a communication wave blocking member. it can.

  This communication wave blocking member prevents the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the antenna 3 or the like from affecting the human body when the user talks with the speaker 11 portion of the mobile phone 1 close to the ear.

  In addition, instead of forming the housing cover 15 itself by the communication wave blocking member, a metal such as aluminum, copper, or silver is formed on the front or back surface of the housing cover that is formed of a normal resin that allows passage of communication waves. Alternatively, a paint containing an absorbent such as carbon or silicon may be applied and used as a communication wave blocking member. Further, the communication wave blocking member may be formed by performing metal plating on the front surface or the back surface of a housing cover formed of ordinary resin.

  2A is a perspective view of the cellular phone 1 in the closed state as viewed from the lid side unit 2 side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the cellular phone 1 in the closed state as viewed from the main unit side unit 5 side. The figure is shown.

A digital camera 21 and a liquid crystal display 22 are provided on the outer surface of the lid side unit 2 (the upper surface in FIG. 2A).
The outer cover 25 (upper surface in FIG. 2B) on the outer surface side of the main unit 5 is provided with a communication permitting hole 26 that is a substantially square hole on the hinge 4 side slightly from the center to block communication waves. The movement blocking plate 30 is disposed so as to overlap the communication permission hole 26. The movement blocking plate 30 has a substantially square plate shape having a width that is slightly smaller than the width of the outer cover 25, and the communication permission hole 26 is a substantially square hole that is slightly smaller than the movement blocking plate 30. Is formed.

  3A shows an exploded perspective view in which the outer cover 25 and the movement blocking plate 30 of the main unit 5 are disassembled, and FIG. 3B is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the outer cover 25 of the main unit 5. The figure is shown. 4A shows a partially enlarged perspective view in the communication cut-off state, and FIG. 4B shows a partially enlarged perspective view in the communication allowed state. FIG. 5A shows a partially enlarged plan view in a communication cut-off state, and FIG. 5B shows a partially enlarged plan view in a communication allowed state.

  On the back side of the outer cover 25, a guide cover 27 having a U-shaped cross section is provided so as to sufficiently cover the communication permissible hole 26 as shown in FIG. The guide cover 27 is formed of a normal resin so as to pass communication waves. Further, the guide cover 27 accommodates the movement blocking plate 30 so that the movement blocking plate 30 can slide stably in a straight line in a direction toward and away from the hinge 4. The storage space 24 has a width that is approximately the same as the width of the movable blocking body 39 in terms of thickness. The storage space 24 is formed to be longer than the length of the movement blocking plate 30 in the front-rear direction of the drawing, and the movement blocking plate 30 is configured to move back and forth in the drawing by a sufficient distance within the storage space 24. Protruding retaining projections 23 and 23 are provided at the front and rear end portions of the guide cover 27 on the back surface of the outer cover 25 so that the movement blocking plate 30 does not fall out.

  The outer cover 25 is formed to have a substantially constant thickness by a communication wave blocking member in which an absorbent such as a metal such as aluminum, copper, or silver, or carbon or silicon is contained in a resin. Thereby, the outer cover 25 functions as a fixed blocking body that blocks communication waves at a fixed position.

  In addition, the outer cover 25 itself is not formed by the communication wave blocking member, but a metal such as aluminum, copper, or silver, or carbon is formed on the front or back surface of the outer cover formed of a normal resin that allows passage of communication waves. Alternatively, a paint containing an absorbent such as silicon may be applied and used as a communication wave blocking member. Alternatively, the front or back surface of the outer cover made of ordinary resin may be plated with metal to form a communication wave blocking member.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the movement blocking plate 30 is formed in a plate shape with a constant thickness by the communication wave blocking member described above.

  Further, as shown in the partially enlarged perspective view of FIG. 4A, the mobile phone 1 includes a non-contact IC medium 37 composed of an IC chip 38 and a loop antenna 39, the outer cover 25 and the movement blocking plate 30. It is provided more inside the apparatus. The non-contact IC medium 37 is generally called an RF-ID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, and has a function of performing non-contact communication using radio waves or electromagnetic waves and a function of storing information.

  As shown in the partial enlarged plan view of FIG. 5B, the relationship between the non-contact IC medium 37 and the communication permissible hole 26 is that the IC chip 38 is located in the communication permissible hole 26 and the periphery of the IC chip 38 is A communication permissible hole 26 continuously exists from the inner side L1 to the outer side L2 of the loop antenna 39.

  The loop antenna 39 is configured to be larger than both the communication permissible hole 26 and the movement blocking plate 30. Therefore, from the state in which the movement blocking plate 30 is overlapped with the communication allowable hole 26, the movement blocking plate 30 in the portion visible from the communication allowable hole 26 is operated to move the movement blocking plate 30, and the movement blocking plate 30 is moved. When a part or all of the communication permissive hole 26 is opened by shifting from the communication permissible hole 26, a part of the loop antenna 39 is opened, and the movement blocking plate 30 becomes in a state capable of non-contact data communication. By adopting a configuration in which only a part is opened as described above, the moving distance of the moving blocking plate 30 is shortened, and the configuration is configured to efficiently switch between permitting and blocking the communication wave.

  With the above configuration, the movement blocking plate 30 is slid and moved between the communication cut-off state shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 5 (A) and the communication allowed state shown in FIGS. 4 (B) and 5 (B). Just switch easily.

  FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the mobile phone 1. The mobile phone 1 is connected to the control unit 50, and is provided with a photographing unit 51, a storage unit 52, an input unit 53, a display unit 54, a call unit 55, a communication unit 56, and a non-contact IC medium 37.

  The control unit 50 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU executes various control operations using the RAM as a temporary storage area according to programs and data stored in the ROM.

The photographing unit 51 includes the digital camera 21 (see FIG. 2), and transmits the photographed photographed image to the control unit 50.
The storage unit 52 includes a storage medium such as a nonvolatile memory, and stores various data and programs.

The input unit 53 includes the input button 17 (see FIG. 1), and transmits an operation signal pressed by the user to the control unit 50.
The display unit 54 includes the liquid crystal display 12 (see FIG. 1) and the liquid crystal display 22 (see FIG. 2), and displays images such as characters, diagrams, and photographs according to the image signal received from the control unit 50.

The call unit 55 includes a speaker 11 (see FIG. 1) and a microphone 19 (see FIG. 1). The voice received from a remote telephone is output by the speaker 11 under the control of the control unit 50 and collected by the microphone 19. The audible sound is transmitted to the control unit 50.
The communication unit 56 performs data communication such as transmission of an e-mail and browsing of an Internet home page under the control of the control unit 50.

  The non-contact IC medium 37 is composed of an IC chip 38 and a loop antenna 39 connected to the control unit 50, and is provided in an appropriate device such as an ATM or a cat terminal by the loop antenna 39 by the control operation of the IC chip 38. The data communication is performed without contact with the interrogator 60. The contents of the data communication are transmitted from the IC chip 38 to the control unit 50 as appropriate. As shown in the figure, the non-contact IC medium 37 can communicate with the interrogator 60 in a non-contact manner when the movement blocking plate 30 is in a communication-permitted state. The interrogator 60 and other interrogators (for example, an illegal interrogator) cannot physically communicate.

  Note that the non-contact IC medium 37 may be completely separated from the control unit 50. In addition, the control unit 50 and the IC chip 38 are not directly connected, but a separate antenna is provided in the control unit 50, and the IC chip 38 and the control unit 50 perform data communication by non-contact communication with the loop antenna 39 using the antenna. It may be.

  With the above configuration, the user can make a call or data communication using the mobile phone 1. In addition, various transactions such as purchase of goods can be performed using the non-contact IC medium 37 mounted on the mobile phone 1. Since the mobile phone 1 also has a data communication function, the non-contact IC medium 37 can be used in electronic commerce using the Internet.

  When the non-contact IC medium 37 is not used, the moving blocking plate 30 and the outer cover can be separated by operating the visual recognition portion of the moving blocking plate 30 to overlap the communication blocking hole 26 with the communication blocking hole 26. 25 (fixed blocking body) blocks the magnetic field necessary for non-contact communication of the non-contact IC medium 37 (complete blocking, attenuation, and efficiency reduction due to interference with the loop antenna 39), so that non-contact communication is physically performed. This cannot be performed, and unauthorized data communication such as skimming can be prevented.

  When the non-contact IC medium 37 is used, if the movement blocking plate 30 is slid in the separation direction from the communication permissible hole 26 by operating the visible portion of the movement blocking plate 30, the non-contact is possible. Since the passage of the magnetic field required for non-contact communication of the IC medium 37 is allowed, data communication with the interrogator 60 can be executed without any problem.

  As described above, whether or not non-contact communication of the non-contact IC medium 37 can be reliably switched by a simple operation of operating the movement blocking plate 30 is easy to operate, easy to operate, and highly convenient skimming. The non-contact IC medium 37-equipped mobile phone 1 with the prevention function can be provided.

  Since the setting of whether or not non-contact communication is possible is a physical operation, it can be easily understood by visually checking whether the current state is a communication permitted state or a communication cut-off state, and a simple and highly reliable skimming prevention measure can be realized.

  Further, since the housing cover 15 on the inner surface side of the mobile phone 1 is also formed of a communication wave blocking member, electromagnetic waves emitted from the mobile phone 1 when the user is talking with the mobile phone 1 placed on the ear are used. Can be prevented or reduced. Therefore, even when the mobile phone 1 is used for a long time, the concern of health damage due to electromagnetic waves can be eliminated.

  In the communication cut-off state, the movement cut-off plate 30 completely covers the communication permissible hole 26 and the outer cover 25 and the movement cut-off plate 30 completely cover the loop antenna 39. The loop antenna 39 may be covered to some extent (for example, 2/3 or more). Even in this case, the communication wave can be prevented from passing, and the communication wave can be blocked in such a way that the strength of the communication wave that is allowed to pass does not reach the strength necessary for realizing non-contact communication. Further, if the range in which the loop antenna 39 is covered with the outer cover 25 and the movement blocking plate 30 in the communication cut-off state is set to a range near the critical point where communication is possible, communication is possible even if the movement distance of the movement blocking plate 30 is reduced. The convenience of operation is improved.

  The outer cover 25 may be formed of a normal resin, and a normal mobile phone may be used as a configuration that does not include the communication permissible hole 26 and the movement blocking plate 30. In this case, the seal-like communication wave blocking seal and the movement blocking sheet housed in the bag may be attached to the mobile phone as a communication wave blocking tool. The communication wave blocking seal has an adhesive layer on one side of a sheet containing an absorbent such as a metal such as aluminum, copper, or silver, or carbon or silicon, and moves and blocks at a position corresponding to the affixing portion of the bag. What is necessary is just to form in the shape which has a hole part of a grade slightly smaller than a sheet | seat. The bag body may be formed in a thin shape that allows the movement blocking sheet to slide in one direction, and may be attached to the mobile phone so as to overlap the hole of the seal. Even in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, as shown in a perspective view of another embodiment of FIG. 7, the outer cover 25 may be configured as a dressing cover (portable electronic device cover) 70 that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the mobile phone 1. In this case, it is preferable to provide the attachment / detachment recesses 72, 72 on the main body side of the mobile phone 1 and the attachment / detachment projections 71, 71 on the dressing cover 70. Thereby, the attaching / detaching convex portion 71 is fitted into the attaching / detaching concave portion 72 so that the dressing cover 70 can be attached to the main body of the mobile phone 1 and can be easily removed. Since other components are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  According to this embodiment, a skimming prevention function can be provided by the dressing cover 70. Therefore, the user uses the outer cover 25 (fixed blocking body) and the dressing cover 70 having the moving blocking plate 30 when the skimming preventing function is desired, and the outer cover 25 (fixed blocking body) when the skimming preventing function is unnecessary. ) And a normal dressing cover that does not have the movement blocking plate 30 can be used according to preference. Further, when the mobile phone 1 is sold, the dressing cover 70 can be provided as an option without providing a skimming prevention function.

  Further, as shown in a partially enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of FIG. 8A, the communication allowance hole 26 of the outer cover 25 is formed in a vertically long shape, and an operation portion 31 is projected from the movement blocking plate 30, You may make it the structure which accept | permits the sliding movement of the movement interruption | blocking board 30 by operation of this operation part 31. FIG. In this case, by configuring the height of the operation unit 31 to be higher than the thickness of the outer cover 25, the operation unit 31 can be easily caught by the user's finger and the operation can be facilitated. Further, in this case, the outer cover 25 may be formed of a normal resin that allows passage of communication waves, and the surface may be painted with a communication wave blocking member. At this time, the position corresponding to the movement blocking plate 30 at the communication wave blocking position It is advisable to provide a communication allowable area 28 in the network. That is, by painting the communication wave blocking member except for the communication allowable region 28, this painted portion becomes the communication wave blocking portion 29 (hatched portion in the figure). Thereby, the same effect as the above-mentioned Example is acquired.

In addition, as shown in an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of FIG. 8B, a movable blocking member 80 that can be rotated may be provided instead of the moving blocking plate 30. In this case, the movement blocking body 80 may be formed in a shape in which the disk is partially cut out in a fan shape by the communication wave blocking member, and the movement blocking body 80 may be held by pivotally supporting the center of the disk with the shaft support portion 81. .
Further, in this case, the outer cover 25 is formed of a normal resin that allows passage of communication waves, and the surface of the outer cover 25 is painted with a communication wave blocking member except for the movement blocking plate 30 in the communication wave blocking state shown in the figure, This painted portion may be the communication wave blocking unit 29. In this case, a portion that is not painted as the communication wave blocking unit 29 becomes the communication allowable region 28. Thereby, the same effect as the above-mentioned Example is acquired.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The portable electronic device of the present invention corresponds to the mobile phone 1 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The fixed blocker corresponds to the outer cover 25,
The communication permission portion corresponds to the communication permission hole 26,
The holding part corresponds to the guide cover 27,
The movement blocking body corresponds to the movement blocking plate 30;
The non-contact IC medium corresponds to the non-contact IC medium 37,
The antenna corresponds to the loop antenna 39,
The communication wave blocking device corresponds to the communication wave blocking seal, the moving blocking sheet, and the dressing cover 70,
The mounting part corresponds to the detachable convex part 71 and the detachable concave part 72,
The present invention is not limited only to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

The perspective view of the mobile phone of an open state. Explanatory drawing by the perspective view of the mobile phone of a closed state. Explanatory drawing of an outer cover and a movement blocking plate. Explanatory drawing of a communication interruption | blocking state and a communication permissible state. Explanatory drawing of a communication interruption | blocking state and a communication permissible state. The perspective view of a mobile telephone. The perspective view of another Example. Explanatory drawing of another Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cellular phone, 25 ... Outer cover, 26 ... Communication permission hole, 27 ... Guide cover, 30 ... Movement blocking plate, 37 ... Non-contact IC medium, 38 ... IC chip, 39 ... Loop antenna, 70 ... Dress-up cover, 71 ... Detachable convex part, 72 ... Detachable concave part

Claims (5)

A portable electronic device incorporating a non-contact IC medium comprising an IC chip and an antenna,
A fixed blocking body that partially blocks the passage of communication waves by the antenna at a fixed position;
A movable blocker that is movable in a direction close to a communication permission unit that is a portion where communication waves are not blocked by the fixed blocker, and a direction away from the communication permission unit;
A portable electronic device comprising: a holding unit that holds the movement blocking body in a movable manner. Forming the antenna with a loop antenna;
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the communication permission unit is provided continuously or on the inner side and the outer side of the loop antenna. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed blocking body and the moving blocking body are formed in a predetermined planar shape by a member containing a metal material. A communication wave breaker used in a portable electronic device incorporating a non-contact IC medium comprising an IC chip and an antenna,
A fixed blocking body that partially blocks the passage of communication waves by the antenna at a fixed position;
A movable blocker that is movable in a direction close to a communication permission unit that is a portion where communication waves are not blocked by the fixed blocker, and a direction away from the communication permission unit;
A communication wave blocking device comprising: a holding unit that holds the moving blocking body movably. The communication wave blocking device according to claim 4, further comprising a mounting portion that is detachably mounted on the portable electronic device.

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