Patent · US Expired

IC card

US6431456B1 · kind B1 · utility

59Cited by
7References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 19, 2001
Grant dateAug 13, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S257/922
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An IC card capable of reinforcing the prevention of the electrostatic damage without causing a rise in the cost of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip. The semiconductor integrated circuit chip (2) is mounted on a card substrate (1), and plural connection terminals (3) are exposed. The connection terminals are connected to predetermined external terminals (4) of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, first overvoltage protection elements (7, 8, 9) connected to the external terminals are integrated in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, and second overvoltage protection elements such as surface-mount type varistors (11) connected to the connection terminals are mounted on the card substrate. The varistors are variable resistor elements having a current tolerating ability greater than that of the first overvoltage protection elements. The varistors have been selected by taking into consideration a relationship between the characteristics and the ability of the first overvoltage protection elements contained in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, and exhibit the effect for preventing the electrostatic damage.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.