Patent Description:
Conventionally, electronic components such as IC modules mounted on an electronic substrate are often fixed with solder on a circuit pattern above an electronic substrate unless detachment is necessary for operation. It is difficult to remove or replace the IC module fixed on the electronic substrate. Thus, in a case where IC modules fixed on the electronic substrate fail, it is necessary to take measures, such as replacement of the entire substrate, even if only one IC module fails.

That is, in a terminal device with an IC module or an IC card fixed on an electronic substrate, in a case where a failure occurs only in the IC module or the IC card, even if there is no abnormality in other electronic components or circuits on the electronic substrate, it is difficult to remove the IC module or the IC card. Thus, it is necessary to replace the electronic substrate or the terminal device itself, resulting in considerable waste in terms of cost.

<CIT> describes methods and devices for managing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) modes on a multi-SIM wireless device. The device determines whether all of the replaceable SIMs are in an active state, and identifies each active SIM and each RF resource associated with an inactive SIM if less than all of the SIMs are in the active state.

According to the invention, there is provided a terminal control substrate according to the features of claim <NUM>.

An electronic substrate according to the invention is a terminal control substrate mounted on a terminal device so as to control the terminal device. The terminal device, on which the electronic substrate is mounted, is, for example, a terminal device which performs so-called machine to machine (M2M) communication, and is used for data collection, remote monitoring, remote control, and the like. As a specific example, the terminal device, on which the electronic substrate is mounted, is assumed to perform a smart grid which monitors the amount of power or controls the supply of power, a centralized control of machine tools, a remote monitoring of vending machines, a monitoring of an operation state of an elevator or the like, a monitoring of a traveling state of an automobile, and the like.

In general, the terminal device for M2M application as described above does not need to replace a SIM like a mobile phone, and needs to hold a reliable connection state of each electronic component on a base plate over a long period of time. For this reason, in the electronic substrate mounted on the terminal device, a package type embedded SIM (eSIM) is fixed on a base plate by solder or the like as an electronic component for performing network authentication or the like. For example, an eSIM which is an electronic component of M2M Form Factor <NUM> (MFF2) defined by ETSI TS <NUM> in accordance with ISO/IEC <NUM> is mounted on an electronic substrate mounted on a terminal device of a smart grid.

In each of the following embodiments, an electronic substrate which is mounted on a terminal device for M2M application and on which at least one eSIM conforming to ISO/IEC <NUM> is mounted (fixed) will be described, but each of the following embodiments is not limited thereto. That is, each of the following embodiments may also be applied to an electronic substrate mounted on a terminal device other than the M2M application. For example, each of the following embodiments is not limited to an electronic substrate mounted on a terminal device which communicates with the outside. Further, an electronic substrate to which each of the following embodiments is applied is not limited to an electronic substrate on which an eSIM is mounted, and may be applied to an electronic substrate on which electronic components other than the eSIM are mounted.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic substrate <NUM> which does not comprise all features of claim <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> is mounted on a terminal device <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> is a terminal control substrate which implements a configuration for controlling a part or all of functions realized by the terminal device <NUM>. In the configuration example illustrated in <FIG>, the electronic substrate <NUM> includes a base material (base plate) <NUM>, a control IC (controller) <NUM>, an eSIM (IC module) <NUM>, a connector (external connection terminal) <NUM>, and a switch <NUM>. The control IC <NUM>, the eSIM <NUM>, the connector <NUM>, and the switch <NUM> are mounted on the base plate <NUM>.

The control IC <NUM> is a control unit and performs a control for realizing the function of the electronic substrate <NUM>. For example, the control IC <NUM> is connected to an IC card or an IC module attached to the eSIM <NUM> or the connector <NUM> and performs communication control based on information memorized in the IC card or the IC module attached to the eSIM <NUM> or the connector <NUM>.

The control IC <NUM> includes a CPU (processor) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> realizes various processing functions by executing a program memorized in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> includes a working memory such as a RAM, a program memory such as a ROM, a data memory such as a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and the like. The interface <NUM> is an interface for connecting to one of the eSIM <NUM> and the connector <NUM>. Further, the control IC <NUM> includes an interface for connecting the respective units of the terminal device <NUM> other than the electronic substrate <NUM> of the terminal device <NUM>.

The eSIM <NUM> is a first module and is an IC module mounted (fixed) on the base plate <NUM> by using solder. The eSIM is an IC module conforming to ISO/IEC <NUM>. The eSIM <NUM> performs processing corresponding to a supplied command and returns a command execution result as a response. The eSIM <NUM> performs, for example, communication authentication in a terminal device used for M2M application. Further, the eSIM <NUM> is, for example, an electronic component having an M2M Form Factor <NUM> (MFF2) shape defined by ETSI TS <NUM><NUM>.

The eSIM <NUM> includes a CPU (processor) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> realizes various processing functions by executing a program memorized in the memory <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> has a function of performing processing corresponding to a command from the control IC <NUM> and returning the processing result to the control IC <NUM>. The memory <NUM> includes a working memory such as a RAM, a program memory such as a ROM, a data memory such as a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and the like. The interface <NUM> is an interface for communicating with the control IC <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> is mounted (fixed) on the base plate <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is an external connection terminal to which an IC card or an IC module having the same function as the eSIM <NUM> (a component including a second module) is attached. The IC card or the IC module attached to the connector <NUM> includes an IC module conforming to ISO/IEC <NUM>, performs processing corresponding to a supplied command, and returns a command execution result as a response. For example, when the eSIM <NUM> mounted on the base plate <NUM> fails, an IC card or an IC module having the same function as the eSIM is connected to the connector <NUM> as a substitute for the eSIM <NUM>.

The IC card attached to the connector <NUM> is, for example, a card-shaped medium, such as an ID-<NUM> size defined by ISO/IEC <NUM>:<NUM>, Plug-in Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) or Mini-UICC defined by ETSI TS <NUM><NUM>, 4FF (fourth form factor) of a smaller size, or the like. In addition, any component may be connected to the connector <NUM> as long as the component has the same function as the SIM, and is not limited to and is not limited to a component having the IC card shape. For example, instead of a card having an MFF2 shape, a card having an IC module shape may be connected to the connector <NUM>.

The switch <NUM> is a switch unit for switching a connection destination of the control IC <NUM>. The switch <NUM> connects one of the eSIM <NUM> and the connector <NUM> to the interface <NUM> of the control IC <NUM>. For example, it is assumed that, in an initial state, the switch <NUM> connects the control IC <NUM> and the eSIM <NUM>. When the switch <NUM> connects the control IC <NUM> and the eSIM <NUM>, the control IC <NUM> reads information written in the eSIM <NUM> and controls the terminal device <NUM> based on the information read from the eSIM <NUM>.

For example, when a failure occurs in the eSIM <NUM>, a maintenance worker sets the IC card instead of the eSIM <NUM> to the connector <NUM>, and switches the switch <NUM> to a connection state of the control IC <NUM> and the connector <NUM>. When the control IC <NUM> and the connector <NUM> are connected by the switch <NUM>, the control IC <NUM> can communicate with the IC card set to the connector <NUM>. When the control IC <NUM> and the IC card set to the connector <NUM> are communicatively connected, the control IC <NUM> reads information written in the IC card set to the connector <NUM> and controls the terminal device <NUM> based on the information read from the IC card.

In the electronic substrate <NUM> according to the first embodiment, instead of the connector <NUM>, a second eSIM separate from the eSIM <NUM> may be mounted. That is, in the electronic substrate <NUM>, the eSIM <NUM> and the second eSIM separate from the eSIM <NUM> may be mounted on the base plate <NUM>, and one of the eSIM <NUM> and the second eSIM may be selected by the switch <NUM>.

According to the invention, when a failure occurs in an electronic component such as the eSIM mounted (fixed) on the base plate, it is possible to provide a terminal control substrate capable of continuing the operation of the terminal device by setting a substitute for the failed electronic component to a predetermined location, without removing the failed electronic component from the base plate or replacing the entire electronic substrate or the terminal device itself.

For example, when only the eSIM fixed on the base plate by solder fails, it is not easy to physically replace only the eSIM on the base plate. However, according to the invention, the connector capable of connecting the IC card or the IC module instead of the eSIM is provided on the base plate, and thus, when only the eSIM fails, it is unnecessary to exchange the base plate or the terminal device itself, and it is possible to operate the terminal device by setting the IC card to the connector provided on the base plate. As a result, it is possible to cope with the failure of the eSIM inexpensively and easily and to realize a continuous operation of the terminal device over a long period of time.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic substrate <NUM> which does not comprise all features of claim <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> is a terminal control substrate for controlling a terminal device <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is a configuration example of a case where there are a plurality of connectors to which an IC card is connectable instead of an eSIM. In the configuration example illustrated in <FIG>, the electronic substrate <NUM> includes a base material (base plate) <NUM>, a control IC (controller) <NUM>, an eSIM (IC module) <NUM>, a plurality of connectors (external connection terminals) <NUM> (213a, 213b, 213c), and a switch <NUM>. The control IC <NUM>, the eSIM <NUM>, the plurality of connectors <NUM>, and the switch <NUM> are mounted on the base plate <NUM>.

Since the base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, and the eSIM <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> can be realized by the same elements as the base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, and the eSIM <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> which are described in the first embodiment, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> differs from the electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, in that the plurality of connectors <NUM> are mounted on the base plate <NUM>. In addition, the switch <NUM> of the electronic substrate <NUM> can connect the control IC <NUM> to the eSIM <NUM> or any one of the plurality of connectors <NUM>. Each connector <NUM> may be any connector which conforms to ISO/IEC <NUM> and matches a shape of a device that can be used as a substitute for the eSIM <NUM>. For example, the connector 213a may be configured to correspond to a card shape, and the connector 213b may be configured to correspond to a shape of an electronic component such as an MFF2 smaller than that.

In the electronic substrate <NUM> according to the second embodiment, instead of any one of the plurality of connectors, an eSIM separate from the eSIM <NUM> may be mounted. In the electronic substrate <NUM>, as the plurality of connectors <NUM>, a combination of a connector and a second sSIM separate from the eSIM <NUM> may be mounted on the base plate <NUM>. In this case, the switch <NUM> may be configured to select any one of the eSIM <NUM>, the second eSIM, and the connector.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the eSIM, the plurality of connectors or another eSIM are mounted on the electronic substrate, and thus, various types of components can be used as a substitute for the eSIM by switching them with the switch. As a result, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to provide an electronic substrate capable of coping with various operation modes, coping with the failure of the eSIM inexpensively and easily, and realizing a continuous operation of the terminal device over a long period of time.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic substrate <NUM> which does not comprise all features of claim <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> is a terminal control substrate for controlling a terminal device <NUM>. A detector <NUM> which detects a connection of an IC card is provided in a connector to which an IC card is connectable instead of an eSIM, and the electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> further includes a switch circuit which operates according to a signal from the detector <NUM>.

In the configuration example illustrated in <FIG>, the electronic substrate <NUM> includes a base material (base plate) <NUM>, a control IC <NUM>, an eSIM (IC module) <NUM>, a connector (external connection terminal) <NUM>, and a switch circuit <NUM>. The control IC <NUM>, the eSIM <NUM>, the connector <NUM>, and the switch circuit <NUM> are mounted on the base plate <NUM>. Since the base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, and the eSIM <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> can be realized by the same elements as the base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, and the eSIM <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> which are described in the first embodiment, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> differs from the electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, in that the connector <NUM> includes the detector <NUM> and the switch circuit <NUM> is mounted instead of the switch <NUM>. The detector <NUM> detects that the IC card or the IC module, which is a substitute for the eSIM <NUM>, is connected to the connector <NUM>. When the detector <NUM> detects that the IC card or the IC module is connected to the connector <NUM>, the switch circuit <NUM> connects the connector <NUM> to the control IC <NUM>.

The detector <NUM> may be any detector which detects that the IC card or the IC module is connected to the connector <NUM>. For example, in a case where the IC card is inserted into the connector <NUM>, the detector <NUM> may physically switch a state of the switch circuit <NUM>. In addition, the detector <NUM> may detect a conducting state by the IC card connected to the connector <NUM> and supply the detection signal to the switch circuit <NUM> as a switching signal of a switch. Furthermore, the detector <NUM> may optically detect the insertion of the IC card into the connector <NUM> and supply the detection signal to the switch circuit <NUM> as a switching signal of a switch.

When the detector <NUM> detects that the IC card or the IC module is connected to the connector <NUM>, the switch circuit <NUM> disconnects the eSIM <NUM> from the control IC <NUM> and connects the connector <NUM> to the control IC <NUM>.

According to the example as described above, it is possible to provide an electronic substrate capable of automatically enabling the IC card or the IC module connected to the connector <NUM>. In addition, it is possible to enable the IC card or the IC module connected to the connector <NUM>, regardless of the presence or absence of the failure of the eSIM <NUM>. That is, when the eSIM mounted on the base plate is replaced even if the mounted eSIM does not fail, a substantial replacement of the eSIM can be easily performed by connecting the IC card or the IC module to the connector.

Further, <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic substrate <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is a terminal control substrate for controlling a terminal device <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is a configuration example in which a plurality of connectors <NUM> (413a, 413b, 413c) are mounted on a base plate <NUM>. In the electronic substrate <NUM>, detectors <NUM> (441a, 441b, 441c) are respectively provided in the connectors <NUM> (413a, 413b, 413c). Each of the detectors <NUM> is connected to a switch circuit <NUM>. Since the base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, and the eSIM <NUM> can be realized by the same elements as the base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, and the eSIM <NUM>, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the individual detectors <NUM> (441a, 441b, 441c) can be realized by the same configuration as the detector <NUM> described above. The switch circuit <NUM> can be realized by a circuit having the same function as the switch circuit <NUM> described above, except that a plurality of corresponding detectors are provided. That is, any detector <NUM> may detect that the IC card or the IC module is connected to the connector <NUM>. When any detector 441a (441b, 441c) detects that the IC card or the IC module is connected to the connector 413a (441b, 441c), the switch circuit <NUM> disconnects the eSIM <NUM> from the control IC <NUM> and connects the connector 413a (441b, 441c) to the control IC <NUM>.

According to the example as described above, it is possible to provide an electronic substrate capable of enabling the IC card or the IC module connected to any connector <NUM>. In addition, it is possible to enable the IC card or the IC module connected to any connector <NUM>, regardless of the presence or absence of the failure of the eSIM <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic substrate <NUM> according to the invention. The electronic substrate <NUM> is a terminal control substrate for controlling a terminal device <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> has a configuration that does not include a switching unit such as a switch or a switch circuit. The electronic substrate <NUM> has a configuration in which an eSIM <NUM> and a connector <NUM> are connected to a control IC <NUM>. The control IC <NUM> has a function as a switching unit for selecting and enabling any of the eSIM <NUM> or the connector <NUM> by executing a program memorized in a memory <NUM> by a CPU <NUM>.

In the configuration illustrated in <FIG>, the electronic substrate <NUM> includes a base material (base plate) <NUM>, the control IC <NUM>, the eSIM (IC module) <NUM>, and the connector (external connection terminal) <NUM>. The control IC <NUM>, the eSIM <NUM>, and the connector <NUM> are mounted on the base plate <NUM>, and the control IC <NUM> is connected to the eSIM <NUM> and the connector <NUM>.

Since the eSIM <NUM> is realized by the same as the eSIM <NUM>, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, since a plurality of connectors <NUM> (513a, 513b, 513c) can be realized by the same configuration as the plurality of connectors <NUM> (213a, 213b, 213c), detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, one connector <NUM> may be mounted on the base plate <NUM>. Moreover, a part or all of the plurality of connectors <NUM> may be mounted on the base plate <NUM> by being replaced with an eSIM separate from the eSIM <NUM>.

The control IC <NUM> includes a CPU (processor) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> realizes various processing functions by executing a program memorized in the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> includes a working memory such as a RAM, a program memory such as a ROM, a data memory such as a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and the like. In addition, the memory <NUM> memorizes the program which is executed by the CPU <NUM>. Furthermore, the memory <NUM> memorizes setup information for processing that is performed by the CPU <NUM>. For example, the memory <NUM> memorizes information indicating priority order assigned to each connector. The interface <NUM> is an interface for connecting to the eSIM <NUM> and the connector <NUM>. In addition, the control IC <NUM> includes an interface for connecting to the respective units of the terminal device <NUM> other than the electronic substrate <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> has a function of detecting an available IC module (an IC card or an IC module connected to the eSIM and the connector) by executing a program. For example, the CPU <NUM> transmits a reset signal to the eSIM <NUM> and each connector <NUM> and receives a response (ATR: answer to reset) from the eSIM <NUM> and each connector <NUM>. When the CPU <NUM> can receive the ATR, the CPU <NUM> determines that there is a normal or available IC card, and when there is no ATR, the CPU <NUM> determines that the IC card fails or there is no IC card.

In addition, the electronic substrate according to the the invention is configured to commonly use bus lines, such as I/O, through which the control IC <NUM> is communicatively connected to the eSIM <NUM> and each connector <NUM>. Furthermore, in the electronic substrate according to the invention, bus lines through which the control IC <NUM> is communicatively connected to the eSIM <NUM> and each connector <NUM> are respectively provided.

The CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> confirms a state of the IC card in the eSIM and each connector <NUM> by the control according to the configuration that connects to the eSIM <NUM> and each connector <NUM>. As a method by which the control IC <NUM> confirms the state of the IC card connected to the eSIM <NUM> and each connector <NUM>, there is a method of confirming a response to a reset signal (ATR).

For example, when the bus line communicatively connected to each IC module (the eSIM and each connector) is commonly used, the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> is configured to transmit a reset signal to each IC module and receive ATR from each IC module by securing a communication state with each IC module by using identification information (ID) or the like. In addition, when the bus line is provided for each individual IC module (the eSIM and each connector) (when a dedicated bus line is provided for each IC module), the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> secures a communication state with each IC module through the dedicated bus line and receive ATR from each IC module. Thus, ATR is received and it is made to carry out selection control of CPU511 to either eSIM <NUM> which has checked the state where it could communicate, or a connector.

In addition, the electronic substrate according to the the invention is configured so that, in addition to the eSIM mounted in advance, at least one connector or eSIM is connected to the control IC. Hereinafter, according to the invention, an electronic substrate having a configuration in which a plurality of eSIMs are mounted on a base plate in advance will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic substrate <NUM> according to the invention. The electronic substrate <NUM> is a terminal control substrate for controlling a terminal device <NUM>. The electronic substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> does not include a physical switching unit such as a switch or a switch circuit and has a configuration in which three eSIMs <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") are connected to a control IC <NUM>.

The each of eSIMs <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") have CPU (processor) <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>", memories <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" and interfaces <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>". The interface <NUM>, <NUM>', and <NUM>" are the interfaces for connecting with eSIM <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") and control IC <NUM>. Moreover, control IC <NUM> also has an interface for connecting with each part other than electronic board <NUM> in the terminal unit <NUM>. The control IC <NUM> selects and enables any of the three eSIMs <NUM> by executing a program memorized in a memory <NUM> by a CPU <NUM>. In the configuration example illustrated in <FIG>, the control IC <NUM> is configured to be connected to dedicated bus lines respectively provided in the three eSIMs <NUM>.

Even in the configuration illustrated in <FIG>, the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> transmits a reset signal to each eSIM <NUM> and confirm whether or not each eSIM <NUM> is normal, according to a reception state of ATR from each eSIM <NUM>. In addition, in the configuration illustrated in <FIG>, the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> is connected to each eSIM <NUM> through each dedicated bus line. Therefore, the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> may confirm ATR with respect to each eSIM <NUM> by using the dedicated bus line. In addition, by setting priority order to each eSIM <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>"), the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> can select each eSIM <NUM> (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") to be used, according to the priority order.

Next, the switching control of the IC module (the eSIM or the connector) in the electronic substrate <NUM> or <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a flowchart for describing the switching control of the IC module (the eSIM and the plurality of connectors) in the electronic substrate <NUM> according to the fourth embodiment. Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, it is assumed that an electronic substrate has a configuration in which one eSIM and a plurality of connectors are mounted, and a case where the switching control of the IC module is performed on the eSIM as the top priority will be described. In addition, it is assumed that priority order is set to each connector <NUM>, and the priority order is memorized in the memory <NUM> of the control IC <NUM>.

When power of the terminal device <NUM> is turned on, or when the electronic substrate <NUM> is reset, the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> first calls the eSIM <NUM> by transmitting a reset signal to the eSIM <NUM> (S11). When ATR is received from the eSIM <NUM> with respect to the reset signal, the CPU <NUM> of the control IC <NUM> determines that the eSIM <NUM> is normal (S12, YES). When it is determined that the eSIM <NUM> is normal, the CPU <NUM> enables the eSIM <NUM> and performs control by using the eSIM <NUM>.

In addition, when the ATR from the eSIM <NUM> cannot be received, the CPU <NUM> determines that the eSIM <NUM> is not normal (fails) (S12, NO). When it is determined that the eSIM <NUM> is not normal, the CPU <NUM> checks the presence or absence of an IC card capable of normally operating instead of the eSIM <NUM> with respect to each connector. The CPU <NUM> sets "(number of connectors) + <NUM>" to N (S14) and sets a variable n to <NUM> (n = <NUM>) as an initial value (S15).

When the variable n is set to <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> specifies a <NUM>(n)th connector based on the priority order of the connector set in the memory <NUM>. When an nth connector is specified, the CPU <NUM> calls an IC card connected to the nth connector by transmitting a reset signal to the nth connector (S16).

After transmitting the reset signal to the nth connector, the CPU <NUM> determines the presence or absence of an IC card capable of normally operating in the nth connector, according to whether or not a response (ATR) can be received from the nth connector (S17). When the ATR can be received from the nth connector (S17, YES), the CPU <NUM> enables the IC card connected to the nth connector and performs control by using the IC card (S18).

When the ATR cannot be received from the nth connector (S17, NO), the CPU <NUM> increments the variable n (n = n + <NUM>) (S19) and determines whether or not n is equal to N ( whether or not n = N) (S20). When not n = N (S20, NO), the CPU <NUM> returns to S16 to perform the processing of S16 to S20. In addition, when n = N (S20, YES), the CPU <NUM> determines that a normally available IC module (eSIM or IC card) is not present, and stops the operation.

According to the processing described above, the control IC of the electronic substrate according to the fourth embodiment performs the operation as the function of the electronic substrate by preferentially using the mounted eSIM, and, when the eSIM mounted on the base plate is not normal (when the eSIM does not normally operate, or there is no normal reply including no response), checks whether or not the IC card or the IC module is connected to each connector. When it is detected that the IC card or the IC module capable of normally operating is connected to the connector, the control IC performs control by using the detected IC card or IC module.

In addition, when a plurality of connectors are present, if the mounted eSIM is not normal, the control IC checks each connector in preset priority order. When it is detected that the IC card or the IC module capable of normally operating is connected to the connector, the control IC performs control by using the detected IC card or IC module.

Due to this, even if the IC card connected to the first connector as well as the eSIM mounted on the base plate fails, the control IC can perform control by using the IC card connected to the second connector. Further, even if the IC card connected to the second connector fails, the control IC can perform control by using the IC card connected to the third connector.

Claim 1:
A terminal control substrate comprising:
a base plate (<NUM>) mounted on a terminal device;
a first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) fixed to the base plate (<NUM>);
an external connection terminal (513a to 513c) fixed to the base plate (<NUM>) and to which a component comprising a second module capable of substituting for the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) is attachable; and
a controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the external connection terminal (513a to 513c) through a communication line, wherein, when the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) is normal, the controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) performs control in the terminal device by using the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>), and when the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) is not normal, the controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) performs in the terminal device by using the second module of the component attached to the external connection terminal (513a to 513c);
wherein the controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) detects whether or not the second module of the component attached to the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) or the external connection terminal (513a to 513c) is normal, based on a response to a reset signal supplied to the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) or the external connection terminal (513a to 513c); and
wherein the external connection terminal (513a to 513c) is provided in plurality, and when the first module (<NUM>, <NUM>) is not normal, the controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) detects a presence or absence of attachment of the component comprising the second module to the plurality of external connection terminals (513a to 513c) in a preset order and performs control in the terminal device by using the detectable second module.