Apparatus having a smart card accomodated by a diskette frame containing processor memory and battery power for interfacing with a standard diskette drive

An element which can be plugged into an EDP device, having a card which is equipped with components, including a processor and data memory, a frame having an exterior form, which is designed to accommodate the card, a first interface for transferring data between the element and the EDP device, and a second interface formed by contacts on the card and on the frame, for transferring data to and from the card. The exterior form of the frame is that of a diskette so that it can be inserted into a diskette station of an EDP device. The first interface between the element and the EDP device is designed in a standard fashion, so that data can be transferred using a standard read/write device already present in the diskette station of the EDP device. The frame carries a battery for supplying current via the interface to the components located on the card, and carries an additional processor and data memory for providing the element with additional processor and storage capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention. 
The invention relates to an element for insertion into diskette drive. 
2. Background Information 
From the earlier German patent registration P 39 03 454 A1 a component 
(Smartdiskette) is known which can be inserted into an EDP installation. 
This component is designed as a diskette and equipped with a special 
interface. The interface is designed in such a manner that a data transfer 
can be performed between a processor located in the diskette and the EDP 
installation via the already existing read/write device. The particular 
advantages affiliated with this feature are based on the fact that data 
can be transferred between the processor of the diskette and the EDP 
installation without any additional interfaces being required. One 
characteristic of the interface section, the converter, is known from the 
German Patent registration P 40 36 336.83-53. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The undelying task of the present invention is to realize a multitude of 
application possibilities of the component. 
This task is fulfilled in that the element (diskette), which can be plugged 
into an EDP installation, consists of two components which can be plugged 
together. One component possesses the external shape of a diskette and 
serves as a frame to accomodate the second component, which contains all 
or some of the electronic units. 
Some of the electronic components can also be located inside the frame. 
The advantages of this measure are that the dimensions of the second 
component are smaller than the dimensions of the diskette. The second 
component has the dimensions of a mini-chip card, a chip card (0.8 mm or 2 
mm thick) or a card with the dimensions 55 mm .times.60 mm.times.3 mm. 
These cards can be transported without difficulty in a purse or wallet. 
Consequently the advantages of the element as stated in the German patent 
registration P 39 03 454 A1, are combined with the advantages of a chip 
card. The disadvantages of a chip card, such as limited memory and 
processor capacity as well as the fact that it requires a special 
read/write device, are eliminated by this invention. The functions of the 
Smartdiskette, as stated in the German patent registration P 39 03 454 A1, 
can also be performed using this invention. 
An additional function is described here as an example. Here we are 
referring to a patient's data card as set down in the German disclosure 
provision DE 35 34 638 A1. The disadvantage of the patient data card in 
the specified form of a standard commercial diskette is that the personal 
data related to the patient can be read at any time as the data stored on 
commercially available diskettes are uncoded. A further disadvantage lies 
in the dimensions of a standard diskette. It cannot be transported 
comfortably like a chip card in a purse or wallet. 
As is also stated in the above-mentioned disclosure provision, patient data 
can be stored on magnetic strip cards or chip cards. The magnetic strip 
cards have the advantage of small dimensions, but the same disadvantage as 
standard commercial diskettes with respect to the easy reading of personal 
data. The chip card does not have this disadvantage. Confidential data can 
be safely stored on this medium. They can only be accessed when the 
correct secret code has been previously entered. The disadvantages of a 
chip card are that an insufficient amount patient data can be stored on 
this medium and that special read/write devices are required. 
With this invention the disadvantages stated are completely eliminated. The 
diskette drive of any personal computer and the magnetic interface located 
in the element itself serve as the interface for the reading and writing 
of the patients data. Depending on the model of the pluggable board in the 
frame several megabytes can be stored there. Reading and writing of the 
data is only then permitted by the processor--also integrated into the 
frame once a secret access code has been entered and this has been 
identified as correct by the processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
The Smartdiskette depicted in FIG. 1a and 1b contains a recess of 2 
millimeters to accomodate a processor/memory card 10 as well as plugs 8 in 
order to supply the processor/memory card 10 with current from the battery 
2 and to produce a data link from the processor 6 of board 10 to the 
magnetic interface 5 of the Smartdiskette 1. Furthermore, the 
Smartdiskette 1 contains a recess 9 on the bottom side where normally the 
drive for a magnetic disk is located. The 2 millimeter thick 
processor/memory card depicted in FIGS. 1c and 1d contains in addition to 
the processor 6, a data memory 7 as well as plugs 8, in order to supply 
the Smartdiskette with current from battery 2 and to produce a data link 
from the processor 6 to the magnetic interface 5 of the Smartdiskette 1. 
Alongside the processor 6, the 2-millimeter thick processor/memory card 
contains a data memory 7 and plugs 8 for the current supply from the 
battery 2 of the SmartDiskette and for establishing a data link from 
processor 6 to the magnetic interface 5 of the SmartDiskette 1. The wide 
sides are tapered to 1 millimeter so that the card 10 can be plugged into 
the recess of the SmartDiskette 1. 
The SmartDiskette 11 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b has a cutout with a 
1-millimeter wide groove to accommodate a 3-millimeter wide 
processor/memory card 12 alongside plugs 8 for supplying the 
processor/memory card 12 with current from the battery 2 and establishing 
a data link from processor 6 of card 12 to the magnetic interface 5 of the 
SmartDiskette 11. Alongside the processor 6, the 3-millimeter thick 
processor/memory card shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d contains a data memory 7 
and plugs 8 for the current supply from the battery 2 of the SmartDiskette 
and for establishing a data link from processor 6 to the magnetic 
interface 5 of the SmartDiskette 1. The long sides contain a 1-millimeter 
thick spring which enables card 12 to be plugged into the cutout and the 
groove of the SmartDiskette 11. Further, card 12 contains a recess 9 on 
the bottom. The drive for a magnetic disk is normally located here. 
The SmartDiskette 13 shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b contains a 2-millimeter 
recess for the accommodation of a processor/memory card with integrated 
magnetic interface 14 alongside plugs 8 for supplying card 14 with current 
from the battery 2. Further, SmartDiskette 13 contains a recess 9 on the 
bottom. The drive for a magnetic disk is normally located here. Alongside 
the processor 6, the 2-millimeter thick processor/memory card shown in 
FIGS. 3c and 3d contains a data memory 7, converter 3 and controller for 
magnetic interface 5, alongside plugs 8 for the current supply from the 
battery 2 of the SmartDiskette. The long sides are tapered to a width of 1 
millimeter so that card 14 can be plugged into the recess of the 
SmartDiskette 13. 
The SmartDiskette 15 shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b contains a 2-millimeter 
recess, in which a chip card 16 can be plugged in from the side alongside 
a contact device 19 which supplies the chip card 16 with current from the 
battery 2 and establishes a data link from the processor of the chip card 
16 to the processor (6) of the SmartDiskette 15. Further, the 
SmartDiskette 15 contains a recess 9 on the bottom. The drive for a 
magnetic disk is normally located here. There is a recessed grip 23 for 
pulling out the chip card 16 at the right hand edge of the SmartDiskette 
15. The chip card 16 shown in FIG. 4c is a standard 0.8-millimeter thick 
chip card with processor and a data memory. It also has contacts for 
supplying current from battery 2 of the SmartDiskette 15 and for 
establishing a data link from the processor of the chip card to processor 
6 of the SmartDiskette 15. 
The SmartDiskette 17 shown in FIG. 5a contains a 1-millimeter recess, in 
which a chip card 18 can be plugged in from the side, and a contact device 
19 for supplying the chip card 18 with current from the battery 2 and for 
establishing a data link from the processor of the chip card 18 to the 
processor (6) of the SmartDiskette 17. Further, the SmartDiskette 17 
contains a recess 9 on the bottom. The drive for a magnetic disk is 
normally located here. There is a recessed grip 23 for pulling out the 
mini-chip card 18 at the right hand edge of the SmartDiskette 17. The chip 
card shown in FIG. 5b is a standard 0.8-millimeter thick mini-chip card 
with processor and a data memory. It also has contacts for supplying 
current from battery 2 of the SmartDiskette 17 and for establishing a data 
link from the processor of the mini-chip card to processor 6 of the 
SmartDiskette 17. In this embodiment, the SmartDiskette includes battery 2 
connected to a current generator comprised of rotor 20, stator 21, and 
current regulator 22. 
A SmartDiskette, as described in this invention, with plug-in 
processor/memory card and all its associated advantages offers a wide 
range of possible applications, as can be seen from the following list: 
Application Possibilities 
Read/write device for chip cards and mini-chip cards 
Communication of a chip card and mini-chip card with a PC 
Memory card with several megabytes storage capacity 
Memory card with integrated processor for checking an access code. The 
memory is enabled only if the access code is recognized as being correct 
A portable safe data carder, which can be carried comfortably in a purse or 
wallet, and which can communicate with any standard PC when it is plugged 
into the SmartDiskette. 
Advantages 
Can be used in conjunction with any PC or workstation with 31/2 inch drive 
Can be used with Laptops and Notebooks 
Is independent of the PC operating system capacity 
Is independent of the available interfaces and plug-in locations of the PC 
No normalization problems. Normalized interlaces are already available 
There are no hardware installation costs 
Higher data rate (up to 500 kbit/sec) 
Space-saving and portable 
High storage capacity (several megabytes)