Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mini-card with a semiconductor memory device includes the steps of (a) providing an array of substrates including a plurality of individual substrates; (b) mounting a semiconductor memory device on each of the individual substrates forming the substrate array; (c) covering the individual substrates with respective cases; and (d) dividing the substrate array to provide encased individual substrates each completing a mini card having the semiconductor memory device embedded therein.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mini-card with a semiconductor memory device includes the steps of (a) providing an array of substrates including a plurality of individual substrates; (b) mounting a semiconductor memory device on each of the individual substrates forming the substrate array; (c) covering the individual substrates with respective cases; and (d) dividing the substrate array to provide encased individual substrates each completing a mini-card having the semiconductor memory device embedded therein.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mini-card with a semiconductor memory device includes the steps of (a) providing an array of substrates including a plurality of individual substrates; (b) mounting a semiconductor memory device on each of the individual substrates forming the substrate array; (c) covering the individual substrates with respective cases; and (d) dividing the substrate array to provide encased individual substrates each completing a mini-card having the semiconductor memory device embedded therein.

Abstract: An IC memory device and method of determining whether IC memory operation is compatible with a host system are provided such that the host system need not store information for identifying a large number of compatible IC memory chips, the host system need not determine whether IC memory is operationally compatible with the host system, and host system operation can thus be simplified. The manufacturer codes and device codes of compatible IC memory chips are compiled in a device ID table stored in a table storage unit. The IC memory device internally determines whether the manufacturer code and device code supplied by a host system are contained in the device ID table to determine whether the host system can operate the IC memory.

Abstract: An IC card, including a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device which obtain power from an information processing device, includes a switching circuit including (a) a resistor which is coupled between a power supply line and the second semiconductor device so that the power voltage is applied to the second semiconductor device gradually, (b) a voltage detection circuit for monitoring the voltage applied to the second semiconductor device, and (c) a transistor which is turned on by a detection signal produced at the voltage detection circuit when the voltage applied to the second semiconductor device exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A memory card includes data protection circuitry preventing unauthorized reading of data from and writing of data into a memory. Authorized memory access begins when specific data is attempted to be written into a specific address. This step activates a timer for an active time period during which data can be read from or written to the memory card upon receipt of appropriate control signals. When the active period of the timer has elapsed, access to the memory card is denied until the specific data is again attempted to be written into the specific address.

Abstract: An IC Card includes an image input device and an acoustic input device. A transmission controller transmits electrical signals received from the image input device or the acoustic input device to a telephone or communication line, or transmits signals received from the communication line through a first connector to a terminal such as a personal computer. A frame supports the image input device, and the acoustic input device, the transmission controller, while a panel fixed to the frame encloses the image input device, the acoustic input device and the transmission controller. Another type of IC card has a frame with a main body and an extension connected thereto. The extension encloses the image input device and the acoustic input device. In a modified IC card, at least one of the image input device and the acoustic input device includes a rotatable connecting member so that the direction of the device can be set in a wide range.

Abstract: In an IC card made by the construction that fastens a connector housing to an open end of a U-shaped frame, fastens, to a face of the connector housing adjacent to the face into which external connector pins are inserted, a conductive metal member having at least one protrusion formed thereon and used for reducing the impedance of ground terminals, and holds the frame between a pair of metal panels, one of the metal panels has through-holes in its end at the connector housing for inserting the protrusions thereto to make them project therethrough, and the metal panel, in which the protrusions project through the holes, is fastened to the frame, while the metal panel holds the metal member between itself and the connector housing.

Abstract: An IC card according to the present invention includes a lithium cell that, when the IC card is disconnected from a system, supplies power required for retention of data in a volatile static random access memory (SRAM); a first capacitor connected in parallel with the lithium cell in order to accumulate charge, a second capacitor connected in parallel with the lithium cell in order to accumulate charge, and a switch for connecting the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series with each other during replacement of the lithium cell. The series circuit of the first and second capacitors serves as a backup power source during replacement of the lithium cell. As a result, the time available for cell replacement without loss of stored data is increased.

Abstract: An IC card for preventing undesirable writing and falsification of data, the IC card including a second connector for connecting a writing control signal line required to write data disposed on a second side of the IC card body opposite the first side of the IC card body on which a first connector is disposed. When the IC card is connected to the system only through the first connector, writing of data cannot be performed. When data is written, a writing control signal line is directly connected to a data writing control signal line of the second connector by a connection cable.

Abstract: An IC card for outputting attribute information includes ROMs, a connector interfacing with an external unit, transmitting/receiving circuitry for exchanging control signals, address signals, and data, data output buffer for the ROMs mode control circuit for controlling the active or inactive state of each of the storage and data output buffer, and attribute information setting circuit containing the attribute information of the IC card. This card structure results in a reduced number of components, a simplified circuit configuration, and improved reliability.

Abstract: In a memory card according to the present invention, a full CMOS type volatile memory element is employed as a memory for storing attribute data. The full CMOS type volatile memory element has a low data holding voltage, consumes less power, has a short data writing time, and is less expensive than a programmable non-volatile memory element. Further, an internal power source line is provided for the volatile memory element separately from an internal power source line for a volatile memory element for storing data, and a capacitor having a large capacity or a secondary cell is connected to the internal power source line to further increase the data holding time. The volatile memory element for storing attribute data may be combined with a control circuit. Consequently, the production cost of the memory card for storing attribute data and the attribute data writing time can be reduced.

Abstract: An IC card includes a plurality of memory ICs, each of the memory ICs having a data memory portion for storing data and an ID code memory portion in which are stored an ID code and a number of memory ICs mounted on the IC card; an address line and a data line connected to each of the plurality of memory ICs; and an address decoder for selecting one of the plurality of memory ICs according to an address signal on the address line. A method of checking the memory capacity of an IC card includes storing, in each of a plurality of memory ICs mounted on the IC card, an ID code of the memory IC and the number of memory ICs mounted on the IC card; reading out the ID code and the number of memory ICs mounted from any of said plurality of memory ICs; determining the capacity of the single memory IC from the read out ID code; and calculating the memory capacity of the entire IC card by multiplying the determined capacity of the memory IC by the number of the memory ICs mounted on the IC card.

Abstract: An IC card includes a first semiconductor memory, such as a 256K bit RAM, for storing main data; a second semiconductor memory, such as a 64K bit EEPROM, for storing physical information concerning the IC card, e.g., size, capacity, and access time; a control circuit for selectively enabling operation of the first and second semiconductor memories; an address BUS connected to the first and second semiconductor memories; a data BUS connected to the first and second semiconductor memories; and a decoder connected to the address BUS and the second semiconductor memory for decoding a write control signal for the second semiconductor memory using part of an address signal from the address BUS and delivering a decoded write control signal to the second semiconductor memory to control storing of data in the second semiconductor memory.

Abstract: A command input IC card includes a plurality of memory semiconductor elements for electrically storing and batch-erasing data and an address decoder for decoding a card signal in response to an address signal to selectively output a chip enable signal to one of the memory semiconductor elements. The operating mode of each element is determined in response to a command input from outside the IC card. The IC card also includes a command detector and a latch circuit, both of which inhibit an address decoder from decoding in response to a predetermined command. The card enable signal is thereby supplied as the chip enable signal to all the memory semiconductor elements.

Abstract: An IC card has its internal load divided into a plurality of load circuits through which substantially equal currents flow. A power supply switching circuit is provided for each of the load circuits. The switching circuits switch the power supply for the IC card between an internal power supply and an external power supply to avoid excessive voltage losses when the current for the internal load flows through a single switching circuit.