Abstract:
The present invention provides a contact/noncontact type data carrier module applicable to a wide variety of purposes, and capable of satisfactorily meeting conditions on security. The contact/noncontact type data carrier module includes a base member; a semiconductor chip mounted on the base member; a coil connected to the semiconductor chip adapted to be electromagnetically coupled with an external booster antenna for noncontact communication; and contact terminals connected to the semiconductor chip and adapted to be brought into contact with external contacts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a data carrier module to be incorporated into an IC card or the like and, more particularly, to a contact/noncontact type data carrier module capable of exchanging information with an external reader-writer in either a contact information transfer mode or a noncontact information transfer mode.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    IC cards have gradually become prevalently used owing to their capability of keeping information confidential. Recently, there have been proposed noncontact type IC cards capable of exchanging information with an external reader-writer in a noncontact information transfer mode.  
           [0005]    Generally, the noncontact type IC card uses electromagnetic waves to achieve signal exchange with an external reader-writer or to achieve both signal exchange with an external reader-writer and power supply from an external reader-writer. The noncontact type IC card and the reader-writer are provided with built-in antennas, respectively, to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves. The noncontact type IC card converts the electromagnetic waves received from the reader-writer into operating power through electromagnetic induction and exchanges signals with the reader-writer by means of electromagnetic waves.  
           [0006]    Since such a noncontact type IC card does not need any contacts to be brought into contact with those of the reader-writer, it prevents any chance of causing contact failure. In addition, such a noncontact type IC card is capable of interacting with the reader-writer at a position spaced a distance in the range of several centimeters to several tens centimeters, and is resistant to soiling, rain and static electricity. Thus, demand for such noncontact type IC cards is expected to increase further in the future.  
           [0007]    Various sheet- or label-shaped noncontact IC tags formed by connecting an IC chip (semiconductor chip) storing data, to an antenna coil have been proposed in recent years. Noncontact IC tags have been attached to commercial articles and packages in recent years to prevent shoplifting and to improve physical distribution management systems.  
           [0008]    Recently, a test coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module has been proposed. The coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module is an IC chip provided with an antenna and serving as a data carrier that stores data. Studies of a noncontact type IC card or IC tag employing the test coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module are in progress.  
           [0009]    Usually, the noncontact type data carrier device, such as the noncontact type IC card or IC tag, is provided with a data carrier module, such as a coil-on-chip semiconductor chip including a booster antenna coil, i.e., a primary coil, for signal exchange with an external device, and a secondary coil electromagnetically coupled with the booster antenna coil. In this specification, the term “data carrier module” is used as a general designation of modules having a minute coil serving as a secondary coil and formed by connecting the minute coil to a data carrier, such as a semiconductor chip.  
           [0010]    The booster antenna coil, i.e., the primary coil, and the secondary coil of the data carrier module are not connected and are located properly relative to each other. More specifically, a coil-building part is formed in the booster antenna coil (the primary coil) and the data carrier module is mounted on the noncontact type data carrier device so that the secondary coil is superposed on the coil-building part of the booster antenna coil (the primary coil). The coil-building part of the booster antenna coil (the primary coil) and the secondary coil of the data carrier module are formed in substantially the same shape to enhance the efficiency of electromagnetic coupling.  
           [0011]    Terminal devices, such as portable telephones for the PHS (the personal handyphone system), wireless portable telephones, such as mobile telephones, and hand-held computers, have rapidly come into wide use in recent years and many persons carry such terminal devices. Various attempts have been made to add various additional values to portable telephones or the like.  
           [0012]    For instance, JP-A 87655/1996 discloses an information processing system, in which, when an IC card bearer, i.e., a portable telephone possessor, purchases an article or demands for a pay service by inserting the IC card in a portable telephone, an article providing apparatus obtains information recorded on the IC card through the portable telephone and makes electrical settlement of transactions automatically by using the information read from the IC card. Generally, the IC card to be used by this information processing system is a contact type IC card, and the portable telephone is provided with a contact type reader-writer provided with electrical contacts.  
           [0013]    Although noncontact type IC cards have been widely diffused, contact type IC cards provided with electrical contacts are used prevalently for practical purposes, because contact type IC cards are superior to noncontact type IC cards in security when IC cards are used as electronic settlement cards for electric commerce and identification cards which must be reliable in security. Generally, contact type IC cards operate stably because those cards are connected electrically to the reader-writer through the contacts.  
           [0014]    The noncontact type IC card as mentioned above is formed by embedding a data carrier module (noncontact type IC module), such as a coil-on-chip semiconductor chip, in a card-shaped medium. Uses of such noncontact type IC mediums provided with a data carrier module are not limited to conventional uses, and such noncontact type IC mediums are expected to be used generally not only in specific fields, but also in various fields in which information transmission is necessary.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing circumstances and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a contact/noncontact type data carrier module applicable to a wide variety of purposes, and capable of satisfactorily meeting conditions on security.  
           [0016]    According to the present invention, a contact/noncontact type data carrier module includes a base member; a semiconductor chip mounted on the base member; a coil connected to the semiconductor chip and adapted to be electromagnetically coupled with an external booster antenna for noncontact communication; and a contact terminal connected to the semiconductor chip and adapted to be brought into contact with an external contact.  
           [0017]    In the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to a first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the semiconductor chip is disposed on a first major surface of the base member such that its terminal surface provided with terminals faces out; the contact terminal is formed on a second major surface on the opposite side of the first major surface of the base member; and the semiconductor chip and the contact terminal are connected through a contact terminal connecting hole formed in the base member by a contact terminal connecting part. Preferably, the contact terminal connecting part includes a bonding wire connecting a terminal of the semiconductor chip and the contact terminal. Preferably, the contact terminal connecting part includes a connecting wiring part formed on the first major surface of the base member, a bonding wire connecting a terminal of the semiconductor chip and the connecting wiring part, and a via part formed in the contact terminal connecting hole of the base member and connecting the connecting wiring part and the contact terminal.  
           [0018]    In the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the coil is formed on the terminal surface of the semiconductor chip; and the coil and the semiconductor chip are connected by a coil connecting part. Preferably, the coil connecting part includes a bonding wire connecting a terminal of the semiconductor chip and a terminal of the coil.  
           [0019]    In the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the coil is formed on the first major surface of the base member; and the semiconductor chip and the coil are connected by a coil connecting part. Preferably, the coil connecting part includes a bonding wire connecting a terminal of the semiconductor chip and a terminal of the coil. Preferably, the coil is disposed near the semiconductor chip on the first major surface of the base member.  
           [0020]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the semiconductor chip is disposed on a first major surface of the base member such that its terminal surface provided with terminals faces the base member; the contact terminal is formed on a second major surface on the opposite side of the first major surface of the base member; and the semiconductor chip and the contact terminal are connected through a contact terminal connecting hole formed in the base member by a contact terminal connecting part. Preferably, the contact terminal connecting part includes a connecting wiring part formed on the first major surface of the base member, and a via part formed in the contact terminal connecting hole and connecting the connecting wiring part and the contact terminal; and a terminal of the semiconductor chip is connected to the connecting wiring part by flip-chip solder bonding.  
           [0021]    In the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the coil is formed on the terminal surface of the semiconductor chip; and the coil and the semiconductor chip are connected by a coil connecting part. Preferably, the coil is formed on an insulting layer covering a wiring layer formed on the terminal surface of the semiconductor chip; the wiring layer is connected to a terminal of the semiconductor chip; and the coil connecting part includes the wiring layer, and a via part formed in the insulating layer and connecting the wiring layer and the terminal of the coil.  
           [0022]    In the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the coil is formed on the first major surface of the base member; and the semiconductor chip and the coil are connected by a coil connecting part through a pair of coil connecting holes formed in the base member. Preferably, the coil connecting part includes a connecting wiring part formed on the second major surface of the base member, a connecting terminal formed on the first major surface of the base member, and a pair of via parts respectively formed in the pair of coil connecting holes of the base member and respectively connecting one terminal of the coil and the connecting wiring part, and the connecting wiring part and the connecting terminal; and terminals of the semiconductor chip are connected to the connecting terminal, connected to one terminal of the coil, and the other terminal of the coil by flip-chip solder bonding.  
           [0023]    According to the present invention, it is preferable that the contact/noncontact type data carrier module further includes a sealing resin layer sealing the semiconductor chip, the coil and the wiring part therein.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the present invention is used as a SIM (scriber identity module) for use in combination with a booster card or a portable telephone.  
           [0025]    Preferably, the semiconductor chip of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the present invention is provided with a user authentication circuit for authenticating the user, and a noncontact type communication circuit for downloading various pieces of information through the Internet by using a communication device adapted to be connected to the Internet.  
           [0026]    The contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the present invention is capable of communicating with an external device, provided with a booster antenna coil, or an external medium in a noncontact communication mode and is capable of exchanging signals by connecting the contact terminals with the contacts of an external device or an external medium. Thus, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module can be used for a wide variety of purposes, and is capable of satisfactorily meeting conditions on security. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4A is a schematic sectional view of a contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a part IVB in FIG. 4A;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 6A to  6 C are schematic views of assistance in explaining modes of use of a contact/noncontact type data carrier module according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    First Embodiment  
         [0035]    A contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 1, a contact/noncontact type data carrier module  101  in a first embodiment of the present invention has a base member  120  and a semiconductor chip  101  mounted on a first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120 . The semiconductor chip  110  is disposed on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120  such that its terminal surface  110   a  provided with terminals  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c  and  111   d  faces out. A coil  115  is formed on the terminal surface  110   a  of the semiconductor chip  110 . The semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  constitute a coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106 .  
         [0037]    Contact terminals  131  and  132  are formed on a second major surface  120   b  of the base member  120  on the opposite side of the first major surface  120   a.    
         [0038]    The semiconductor chip  110  and the contact terminals  131  and  122  are interconnected by connecting the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  and the contact terminals  131  and  132  with bonding wires (contact terminal connecting parts)  145  and  146 . The base member  120  is provided with holes (contact terminal connecting holes)  125 . The bonding wires  145  and  146  are extended from the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  through the holes  125  to the contact terminals  131  and  132  on the base member  120 , respectively.  
         [0039]    The semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  are interconnected by connecting the terminals  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  and terminals  115   a  and  115   b  of the coil  115  with bonding wires (coil connecting parts)  141  and  142 , respectively.  
         [0040]    The semiconductor chip  110  exchanges data with an external reader-writer, not shown, through the coil  115  electrically connected thereto. The semiconductor chip  110  is provided with a control circuit, a storage device, a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit.  
         [0041]    The coil  115  is a secondary coil to be electromagnetically coupled with the booster antenna coil (primary coil) of an external device or an external medium for noncontact communication. Generally, the coil  115  is a densely coiled coil formed by densely coiling a fine line. The coil  115  is electromagnetically exposed so as to be able to exchange electromagnetic waves with the booster antenna coil, i.e., the primary coil, and forms a resonance circuit together with the primary coil.  
         [0042]    The alignment of the booster antenna coil, i.e., the primary coil, and the secondary coil will be described with reference to FIG. 6A. A booster antenna coil  621  included in a booster card  620 , i.e., an external medium, has a densely coiled part  650 . A data carrier module  610  is placed on the booster card  620  such that a coil  611 , which corresponds to the coil  115  in FIG. 1, overlies the densely coiled part  650 .  
         [0043]    Although the width of the line forming the coil  115  and density of loops forming the coil  115  do not necessarily coincide with those of the booster antenna coil, highly efficient electromagnetic coupling of the coil  115  and the booster antenna coil can be achieved when the respective widths of the lines forming the coil  115  and the booster antenna coil and the respective densities of the loops forming the coil  115  and the booster antenna coil are as equal to each other as possible.  
         [0044]    There have bee proposed various coil-on-chip semiconductor chip modules formed by processing a wafer and dicing the wafer, and similar to the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  including the semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115 . In view of conductivity and cost, a copper layer, or a laminated layer consisting of a copper layer, as a primary layer, and a nickel layer (Ni layer) or a gold layer (Au layer) may be used for forming the coil  115 .  
         [0045]    The base member  120  holding the semiconductor chip  110  and the contact terminals  131  and  132  thereon may be formed of an electromagnetic-wave-transmitting insulating material generally used as a material for forming communication devices. Such an insulating material is an epoxy resin, a polyimide resin, a fluorocarbon resin or the like.  
         [0046]    The contact terminals  131  and  132  electrically connected to the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the contacts of an external device or an external medium. Preferably, the morphology of the contact terminals  131  and  132  is basically the same as that of contact terminals generally used by IC cards or the like. A copper layer, or a copper layer coated with a nickel layer (Ni layer) or a gold layer (Au layer) may be used for forming the contact terminals  131  and  132 .  
         [0047]    A method of fabricating the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  101  will be described.  
         [0048]    First, the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  including the semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  is fabricated.  
         [0049]    The semiconductor chip  110  is formed by processing a wafer. A conductive layer for electroplating is formed over the entire terminal surface  110   a  of the semiconductor chip  110 . Then, a photosensitive insulating layer is formed over the conductive layer. Subsequently, the photosensitive insulating layer is exposed to light to form a plating resist layer having an opening of a shape corresponding to the coil  115 . A coil-forming layer (the coil  115 ) is deposited on parts of the conductive layer exposed through the opening formed in the plating resist layer by an electroplating process, and then the plating resist layer is removed. Then, the conductive layer exposed after the removal of the plating resist layer is removed by a soft etching process so that the coil-forming layer may not be damaged. Thus, the coil-forming layer (the coil  115 ) is formed on the terminal surface  110   a  of the semiconductor chip  110 . The wafer is diced into semiconductor chips  110  to provide coil-on-chip semiconductor chip modules  106  each provided with the coil  115  on its terminal surface  110   a.    
         [0050]    The holes  125  are formed in the base member  120 , and the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  is attached to the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120  with, when necessary, an adhesive layer, not shown.  
         [0051]    The terminals  131  and  132  are attached to the second major surface  120   b  of the base member  120  by crimping or with, when necessary, an adhesive layer, not shown.  
         [0052]    Then, the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected through the holes  125  to the contact terminals  131  and  132  with the bonding wires  145  and  146  by wire bonding, and the terminals  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the terminals  115   a  and  115   b  of the coil  115  with the bonding wires  141  and  142 , respectively. Thus, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  101  shown in FIG. 1 is completed.  
         [0053]    In the first embodiment, a sealing resin layer  190  may be formed over the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  101  so as to cover the semiconductor chip  110 , the coil  115  and the bonding wires  141 ,  142 ,  145  and  146 .  
         [0054]    Second Embodiment  
         [0055]    A contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2, in which parts like or corresponding to those of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the second embodiment is substantially the same as the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment, except that terminals of a semiconductor chip and contact terminals of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the second embodiment are connected by a connecting method different from that of connecting those of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 2, a contact/noncontact type data carrier module  102  in a second embodiment of the present invention has a base member  120  provided with connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  formed on a first major surface  120   a  thereof. A semiconductor chip  110  is disposed on the connecting wiring part  152 . Contact terminals  131  and  132  are formed on a second major surface  120   b  of the base member  120 .  
         [0057]    The base member  120  is provided with holes (contact terminal connecting holes)  126 . Via parts (contact parts)  155  and  156  are formed in the holes  126  so as to connect the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  to the contact terminals  131  and  132 , respectively. Terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  with bonding wires  145  and  146 , respectively. Thus, the semiconductor chip  110  is connected electrically to the contact terminals  131  and  132  by connecting the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  to the contact terminals  131  and  132  through the bonding wires  145  and  146 , the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  and the via parts  155  and  156 . The bonding wires  145  and  146 , the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  and the via parts  155  and  156  constitute contact terminal connecting parts.  
         [0058]    A method of fabricating this contact/noncontact type data carrier module  102  will be described hereinafter.  
         [0059]    First, the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  including the semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  formed on the terminal surface  110   a  of the semiconductor chip  110  is fabricated by the same method as that by which the first embodiment is fabricated.  
         [0060]    A copper-clad laminated plate having opposite surfaces coated with copper is prepared as the base member  120 . The connecting wiring parts  151  and  152 , and the contact terminals  131  and  132  are formed on the first major surface  120   a  and the second major surface  120   b , respectively, of the base member  120  by a photolithographic etching process. The holes  126  are formed in the base member  120  before or after the photolithographic etching process.  
         [0061]    A conductive material is deposited in the holes  126  of the base member  120  by an electroless plating process and an electroplating process to form the via parts  155  and  156 . Then, the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  is placed on the connecting wiring part  152  formed on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120 . When necessary, it is preferable to coat the surfaces of the contact terminals  131  and  132  with gold (Au) or the like by a plating process before the electroless plating process or the electroplating process.  
         [0062]    Subsequently, the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  with bonding wires  145  and  146 , respectively by wire bonding, and the terminals  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the terminals  115   a  and  115   b  of the coil  115  with bonding wires  141  and  142 , respectively. Thus, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  102  shown in FIG. 2 is completed.  
         [0063]    The contact/noncontact type data carrier module  102  may be fabricated by the following method instead of by the foregoing method.  
         [0064]    After the holes  126  are formed in the base member  120 , plating resist layers are formed on the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  of the base member  120  by photolithography. Then, after the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  of the base member  120  and the holes  126  are activated, the base member  120  is subjected to an electroless plating process. Then, the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152 , the contact terminals  131  and  132  and the via parts  155  and  156  are formed by an electroplating process.  
         [0065]    Subsequently, the base member  120  is processed by a soft etching process, and then the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  is placed on the connecting wiring part  152  formed on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120 . When necessary, it is preferable to coat the surfaces of the contact terminals  131  and  132  with gold (Au) or the like by a plating process before the soft etching process.  
         [0066]    Then, the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  with the bonding wires  145  and  146 , respectively, by wire bonding, and the terminals  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the terminals  115   a  and  115   b  of the coil  115  with the bonding wires  141  and  142 , respectively. Thus, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  102  shown in FIG. 2 is completed.  
         [0067]    In the second embodiment, a sealing resin layer may be formed, similarly to the sealing resin layer  190  of the first embodiment, over the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  106  of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  102  so as to cover the semiconductor chip  110 , the coil  115 , the bonding wires  141 ,  142 ,  145  and  146 , and the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152 .  
         [0068]    Third Embodiment  
         [0069]    A contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3, in which parts like or corresponding to those of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the third embodiment is substantially the same as the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment, except that the arrangement of a coil in the third embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment.  
         [0070]    Referring to FIG. 3, in a contact/noncontact type data carrier module  103  in a third embodiment of the present invention, a coil  160 , i.e., a secondary coil, is formed on a first major surface  120   a  of a base member  120  instead of on a terminal surface  110   a  of a semiconductor chip  110 . Terminals  111   c  and  111   d  included in the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the terminals  160   a  and  160   b  of the coil  160  with bonding wires (coil connecting parts)  141  and  142 , respectively. The coil  160  is disposed around the semiconductor chip  110  on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0071]    A method of fabricating this contact/noncontact type data carrier module  103  will be described hereinafter.  
         [0072]    A copper-clad laminated plate having a surface corresponding to the first major surface  120   a  and coated with a copper layer is prepared as the base member  120 . The copper layer coating the first major surface  120   a  is subjected to a photolithographic etching process to form the coil  160  on the first major surface  120   a . Holes  125  are formed in the base member  120  before or after the photolithographic etching process.  
         [0073]    Then, a semiconductor chip  110  is disposed on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120 . When necessary, the semiconductor chip  110  is bonded to the first major surface  120   a  with an adhesive layer, not shown.  
         [0074]    Terminals  131  and  132  are attached to a second major surface  120   b  of the base member  120  by crimping or with, when necessary, an adhesive layer, not shown.  
         [0075]    Then, terminals  111   a  and  111   b  included in the semiconductor chip  110  are connected through the holes  125  to the contact terminals  131  and  132  with bonding wires  145  and  146  by wire bonding, and terminals  111   c  and  111   d  included in the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the terminals  160   a  and  160   b  of the coil  160  with bonding wires  141  and  142 , respectively. Thus, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  103  shown in FIG. 3 is completed.  
         [0076]    In the third embodiment, a sealing resin layer may be formed, similarly to the sealing resin layer  190  of the first embodiment, over the semiconductor chip  110  of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  103  so as to cover the semiconductor chip  110 , the coil  160 , and the bonding wires  141 ,  142 ,  145  and  146 .  
         [0077]    Fourth Embodiment  
         [0078]    A contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4, in which parts like or corresponding to those of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the first embodiment, except that the arrangement of a semiconductor chip, a method of connecting the terminals of a semiconductor chip and contact terminals, and a method of connecting the terminals of the semiconductor chip and a coil in the fourth embodiment are different from those in the first embodiment.  
         [0079]    Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B showing a contact/noncontact type data carrier module  104  in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor chip  110  is disposed on a first major surface  120   a  of a base member  120  such that its terminal surface  110   a  provided with terminals  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c  and  111   d  faces the base member  120 .  
         [0080]    As shown in FIG. 4B, wiring layers  171  and  172  are formed on the terminal surface  110   a  of the semiconductor chip  110  and are connected to the terminals  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110 , respectively. The wiring layers  171  and  172  are covered with an insulating layer  180 . A coil  115  is formed on the surface  180   a  of the insulting layer  180 . The semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  constitute a coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  107 .  
         [0081]    Via parts  157   a  and  157   b  are formed in the insulating layer  180  to connect the wiring layers  171  and  172  to the terminals  115   a  and  115   b  of the coil  115 , respectively. Thus, the semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  are interconnected through the wiring layers  171  and  172  and the via parts  157   a  and  157   b . The wiring layers  171  and  172  and the via parts  157   a  and  157   b  constitute coil connecting parts.  
         [0082]    Via parts  158   a  and  158   b  are formed in the insulating layer  180 . The terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected through the via parts  158   a  and  158   b  to protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  formed on the surface  180   a  of the insulating layer  180 , respectively.  
         [0083]    As shown in FIG. 4A, connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  are formed on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120 .  
         [0084]    Holes (contact terminal connecting holes)  126  are formed in the base member  120 . Via parts  155  and  156  are formed in the holes  126  to connect the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  to contact terminals  131  and  132 , respectively. The protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  connected to the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  by flip-chip solder bonding. Thus, the semiconductor chip  110  and the contact terminals  131  and  132  are interconnected through the via parts  158   a  and  158   b , the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b , the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  and the via parts  155  and  156 . The via parts  158   a  and  158   b , the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b , the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  and the via parts  155  and  156  constitute contact terminal connecting parts.  
         [0085]    A method of fabricating the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  104  will be described hereinafter.  
         [0086]    The coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  107  including the semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  115  is fabricated.  
         [0087]    A wafer is processed to form semiconductor chips  110 . A conductive layer for electroplating is formed over the terminal surfaces  110   a  of the semiconductor chips  110 , and a photosensitive insulating layer is formed over the conductive layer. The photosensitive insulating layer is exposed to light and a plating resist layer having openings of shapes corresponding to those of the wiring layers  171  and  172  is formed by photolithography. Conductive layers are deposited on parts of the conductive layer exposed in the openings of the plating resist layer by an electroplating process to form the wiring layers  171  and  172  on the conductive layer, and then the plating resist layer is removed. Then, remaining parts of the conductive layer exposed after the removal of the plating resist layer are removed by a soft etching process so that the wiring layers  171  and  172  may not be damaged. Thus, the wiring layers  171  and  172  are formed on the terminal surfaces  110   a  of the semiconductor chips  110 .  
         [0088]    A photosensitive polyimide resin film is formed over the entire terminal surfaces  110   a  of the semiconductor chips  110 , openings are formed in parts corresponding to the via parts  157  and  158  are formed in the photosensitive polyimide resin film by photolithography, and the photosensitive polyimide resin film including the openings is activated, and a conductive layer is formed on the photosensitive polyimide resin film by an electroless plating process.  
         [0089]    Then, a photosensitive insulating layer is formed over the entire conductive layer, and a plating resist layer having openings of shapes corresponding to those of the coils  115 , via parts  157   a  and  157   b , via parts  158   a  and  158   b  and the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  is formed by processing the photosensitive insulating layer by photolithography. Then, the wiring layers  171  and  172  are formed by subjecting parts of the conductive layer exposed in the openings of the plating resist layer to an electroplating process. Then, the plating resist layer is removed. Parts of the conductive layer exposed after the plating resist layer has been removed is removed by a soft etching process so that the coils  115 , the via parts  157   a  and  157   b , the via parts  158   a  and  158   b  and the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  may not be damaged. Thus, the wiring layers  171  and  172  are formed on the terminal surfaces  110   a  of the semiconductor chips  110 .  
         [0090]    The wafer is divided into individual semiconductor chips  110  by dicing to provide coil-on-chip semiconductor chip modules  107  each having the coil  115  formed on the surface  180   a  of the insulating layer  180 .  
         [0091]    A copper-clad laminated plate having surfaces corresponding to the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  and coated respectively with copper layers is prepared as the base member  120 . The copper layers coating the first major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  are subjected to a photolithographic etching process to form the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  on the first major surface  120   a  and to form the contact terminals  131  and  132  on the second major surface  120   b . Holes  126  are formed in the base member  120  before or after the photolithographic etching process.  
         [0092]    Then, the via parts  155  and  156  are formed in the holes  126  of the base member  120  by an electroless plating process and an electroplating process, and the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  connected to the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  by flip-chip solder bonding. When necessary, parts of the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  corresponding to the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  may be provided with bumps. Thus, the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  104  shown in FIG. 4 is completed.  
         [0093]    The contact/noncontact type data carrier module  104  may be fabricated by the following method instead of by the foregoing method.  
         [0094]    After the holes  126  are formed in the base member  120 , plating resist layers are formed on the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  of the base member  120  by photolithography. Then, after the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  of the base member  120  and the holes  126  are activated, the base member  120  is subjected to an electroless plating process. Then, the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152 , the contact terminals  131  and  132  and the via parts  155  and  156  are formed by an electroplating process.  
         [0095]    Subsequently, the base member  120  is processed by a soft etching process, and then the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  connected to the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  by flip-chip solder bonding. When necessary, bumps may be formed in parts of the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152  corresponding to the protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b . Thus, the contact/noncontact data carrier module  104  is completed.  
         [0096]    In the fourth embodiment, a sealing resin layer may be formed, similarly to the sealing resin layer  190  of the first embodiment, over the coil-on-chip semiconductor chip module  107  of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  104  so as to cover the semiconductor chip  110 , the coil  115 , and the connecting wiring parts  151  and  152 .  
         [0097]    Fifth Embodiment  
         [0098]    A contact/noncontact type data carrier module in a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5, in which parts like or corresponding to those of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the fifth embodiment is substantially the same as the contact/noncontact type data carrier module in the fourth embodiment, except that the arrangement of a coil, and a method of connecting the terminals of a semiconductor chip and the coil in the fifth embodiment are different from those in the fourth embodiment.  
         [0099]    Referring to FIG. 5, in a contact/noncontact type data carrier module  105  in a fifth embodiment of the present invention, a coil  160 , i.e., a secondary coil, is formed on a first major surface  120   a  of a base member  120  instead of on the terminal surface  110   a  of a semiconductor chip  110 .  
         [0100]    Connecting terminals (rounds)  165 ,  166  and  167  to be connected to terminals  111   a ,  111   b  and  111   c  are formed on the first major surface  120   a  of the base member  120 . Contact terminals  131  and  132  and a connecting wiring part  159  are formed on a second major surface  120   b  of the base member  120 .  
         [0101]    Holes (coil connecting holes)  127  are formed in the base member  120 . A pair of via parts  157   a  and  157   b  for connecting a terminal  160   a  of the coil  160  and the connecting wiring part  159  and for connecting the connecting wiring part  159  and the connecting terminal  167  are formed in the holes  127 . Protruding terminals  112   c  and  112   d  connected to the terminals  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting terminal  167 , electrically connected to the terminal  160   a  of the coil  160 , and the other terminal  160   b  of the coil  160 , respectively, by flip-chip solder bonding. Thus, the semiconductor chip  110  and the coil  160  are electrically connected by connecting the terminal  111   c  of the semiconductor chip  110  and the terminal  160   a  of the coil  160  through the protruding terminal  112   c  connected to the terminal  111   c  of the semiconductor chip  110 , the connecting terminal  167 , the via part  157   b , the connecting wiring part  159  and the via part  157   a , and by connecting the terminal  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  and the other terminal  160   b  of the coil  160  through the protruding terminal  112   d . The protruding terminals  112   c  and  112   d , the connecting terminal  167 , the via parts  157   a  and  157   b  and the connecting wiring part  159  constitute coil connecting parts.  
         [0102]    The base member  120  is provided with holes (contact terminal connecting holes)  126 . Via parts  155  and  156  are formed in the holes  126  to connect the connecting terminals  165  and  166  to the contact terminals  131  and  132 , respectively. The protruding terminals  112   a  and  112   b  connected to the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting terminals  165  and  166 , respectively, by flip-chip solder bonding. Thus, the semiconductor chip  110  is connected to the contact terminals  131  and  132  by connecting the terminals  111   a  and  111   b  of the semiconductor chip  110  to the contact terminals  131  and  132  through the connecting terminals  165  and  166  and the via parts  155  and  156 . The connecting terminals  165  and  166  and the via parts  155  and  156  constitute contact terminal connecting parts.  
         [0103]    A method of fabricating this contact/noncontact type data carrier module  105  will be described hereinafter.  
         [0104]    A copper-clad laminated plate having surfaces corresponding to the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  and coated respectively with copper layers is prepared as the base member  120 . The first major surface  120   a  is subjected to a photolithographic etching process to form the coil  160  and the connecting terminals  165 ,  166  and  167 . The second major surface  120   b  is subjected to a photolithographic etching process to form the contact terminals  131  and  132  and the connecting wiring part  159 . The holes  126  and  127  are formed in the base member  120  before or after processing the base member  120  by the photolithographic etching processes.  
         [0105]    The via parts  155 ,  156 ,  157   a  and  157   b  are formed in the holes  126  and  127  of the base member  120  by an electroless plating process and an electroplating process. The protruding terminals  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  and  112   d  connected respectively to the terminals  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c  and  111   d  of the semiconductor chip  110  are connected to the connecting terminals  165 ,  166  and  167  and the terminal  160   b  of the coil  160 , respectively, by flip-chip solder bonding. Thus, the contact/noncontact data carrier module  105  shown in FIG. 5 is completed.  
         [0106]    The contact/noncontact data carrier module  105  can be fabricated by methods other than the foregoing method.  
         [0107]    Another method of fabricating the contact/noncontact data carrier module  105  includes the steps of forming the holes  126  and  127  in the base member  120 , forming plating resist layers on the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  of the base member  120  by photolithography, activating the major surfaces  120   a  and  120   b  and the holes  126  and  127  of the base member  120 , subjecting the base member  120  to electroless plating, and forming the coil  160 , the connecting terminals  165 ,  166  and  167 , the contact terminals  131  and  132 , the connecting wiring part  159  and the via parts  155 ,  156 ,  157   a  and  157   b  by electroplating. Thus, the contact/noncontact data carrier module  105  is completed.  
         [0108]    In the fifth embodiment, a sealing resin layer may be formed, similarly to the sealing resin layer  190  of the first embodiment, over the semiconductor chip  110  so as to cover the semiconductor chip  110 , the coil  160 , and the connecting terminals  165 ,  166  and  167 .  
         [0109]    Modes of Usage  
         [0110]    Modes of usage of the contact/noncontact data carrier modules in the first to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to  6 C.  
         [0111]    A data carrier module  610 , which represents the contact/noncontact data carrier modules  101  to  105  shown in FIGS.  1  to  5 , can be used as a SIM (scriber identity module) for a booster card or a SIM for a portable telephone as shown in FIG. 6A.  
         [0112]    When using the data carrier module  610  having a coil (secondary coil)  611  as a SIM for a booster card  620  as shown in FIG. 6A, the data carrier module  610  is inserted in a slot  650  formed in the booster card  620 .  
         [0113]    The booster card  620  is provided with a booster antenna coil (primary coil)  621  having a densely coiled part formed in a part corresponding to the slot  650 . The data carrier module  610  is inserted in the slot  650  so that the coil  611  overlies the densely coiled part of the booster antenna coil  621 . The densely coiled part of the booster antenna coil  621  and the coil  611  of the data carrier module  610  are formed in substantially the same shape to enhance electromagnetic coupling efficiency.  
         [0114]    When the data carrier module  610  is thus inserted in the slot of the booster card  620 , an external reader-writer is able to access the semiconductor chip of the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610  through the booster antenna coil  621  in a noncontact access mode.  
         [0115]    The semiconductor chip of the data carrier module  610  has a controller, a storage device, a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit. An input signal received by the coil  611  is transferred through the receiving circuit and the controller to the storage device. A signal provided by the storage device is transferred through the controller to the transmitting circuit, and then the transmitting circuit transmits the signal through the booster antenna coil  621  of the booster card  620  to the external reader-writer. The storage device of the semiconductor chip holds various pieces of information required of a data carrier.  
         [0116]    A wave of 125 kHz (medium wave), 13.56 MHz or 2.45 GHz (microwave) is used for communication between the booster card  620  and the external reader-writer. Possible communication distance is on the order of 2 cm when a wave of 125 kHz is used and is on the order of 20 cm when a wave of 13.56 MHz is used. However, actual communication distance is greatly dependent on the area of the antenna and the output capacity of the reader-writer.  
         [0117]    The booster card  620  may be provided with a plurality of slots to receive a plurality of data carrier modules  610 , and the data carrier module  610  inserted in each slot may communicate with an external reader-writer.  
         [0118]    When using a data carrier module  610  having a coil (secondary coil)  611  as a SIM for a portable telephone  630  as shown in FIG. 6B, the data carrier module  610  is inserted in a slot  650  formed in the portable telephone  630 .  
         [0119]    The portable telephone  630  is provided with a booster antenna coil (primary coil), not shown having a densely coiled part formed in a part corresponding to the slot  650 . The data carrier module  610  is inserted in the slot  650  so that the coil  611  overlies the densely coiled part of the booster antenna coil. The densely coiled part of the booster antenna coil and the coil  611  of the data carrier module  610  are formed in substantially the same shape to enhance electromagnetic coupling efficiency. Preferably, the booster antenna coil is formed in a part on the back side of the portable telephone  630 .  
         [0120]    When the data carrier module  610  is thus inserted in the slot  650  of the portable telephone  630 , the contact/noncontact data carrier module  610  is able to exchange information with the portable telephone  630  through the booster antenna coil. The contact/noncontact data carrier module  610  can communicate through the portable telephone  630  with the Internet as shown in FIG. 6B or with a personal computer  640  as shown in FIG. 6C. Shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C are a display  631  included in the portable telephone  630 , a communication antenna  632 , an electromagnetic wave  634  emitted by the communication antenna  632 , a display  641  included in the personal computer  640 .  
         [0121]    Preferably, the semiconductor chips of the contact/noncontact data carrier modules in the first to the fifth embodiment are provided with a user authentication circuit for authenticating the user, and a noncontact communication circuit for downloading various pieces of information through the Internet by a communication apparatus adapted to be connected to the Internet.  
         [0122]    When the semiconductor chip of the contact/noncontact data carrier module  610  is provided with a user authentication circuit and a noncontact communication circuit, the user is able to download various pieces of information through the Internet and can be charged for the downloaded information by inserting the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610  in the slot of the communication apparatus, such as a portable telephone  630  adapted to be connected to the Internet as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C.  
         [0123]    After writing information through the Internet to the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610 , (1) the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610  can be used as a noncontact IC module for noncontact communication with an external reader-writer; (2) the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610  can be used for noncontact communication through the antenna booster coil of the portable telephone  630  holding the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610 ; and (3) the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610  can exchange signals in a contact mode with a storage device, such as the storage device of the personal computer  640 , through the portable telephone  630  holding the contact/noncontact type data carrier module  610 .