Patent Description:
Many types of card-type media have been developed, such as credit cards, cash cards, prepaid cards, membership cards, gift cards, membership certificates, and the like. Further, card-type media (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "IC cards") in which an IC (Integrated Circuit) module or the like having a communication function is embedded to implement various functions are increasingly used in recent years. Such IC cards having a communication function are configured to perform contactless communication with a reader/writer by using an electromagnetic induction communication technology such as RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier), for example.

IC cards include a card body, in which a circuit board and elements, such as an IC module and an antenna, mounted on the circuit board are embedded. For example, PTL <NUM> discloses a configuration including a secure element and a fingerprint processing unit which are connected to a flexible circuit board, and a contact pad electrically connected to the secure element.

In a configuration described in PTL <NUM>, the contact pad is supported by a spacer (extension block) such that the contact pad is exposed on a surface (front surface) of the card body. The spacer is sandwiched between the flexible circuit board and the contact pad. The spacer is electrically coupled to both the flexible circuit board and the contact pad via respective contacts. Therefore, when mounting the contact pad, it is necessary to bond one surface of the spacer to the flexible circuit board and bond the other surface of the spacer to the contact pad. As a result, supporting the component with the spacer increases the number of bonding points. This may cause an increase in time and effort of bonding and an increase in the manufacturing cost when manufacturing IC cards. Further, as the bonding points increase, the risk of occurrence of connection failure may also increase.

PTL <NUM> describes a configuration in which the contact pad is exposed on a surface (front surface) of the card body. The contact pad is accommodated in the aperture formed in the front surface of the card body.

Furthermore, there are some credit cards using metal for a card body in order to provide a luxurious appearance. For example, PTL <NUM> discloses a configuration in which a metal sheet is used for a card body and a back panel.

In such a configuration, a gap between an exposed component such as a contact pad exposed on a surface of the card body and an aperture formed in the card body is desired to be as small as possible in terms of appearance. However, when metal is used for the card body and the gap between the exposed component and the aperture is made small, there is a risk that solder or the like, for example, that electrically couples the exposed component to the circuit board may come into contact with the inner wall of the aperture. In such a case, a short circuit may occur if a portion of the aperture formed in the card body is made of metal.

PTL <NUM> describes a smart card module having an elongated circuit substrate; a card-reader contact element on one side of the substrate for connection to a smart card reader; an integrated circuit connection element on another side of the substrate connected to the card-reader contact element and to which an integrated circuit is mountable; and an antenna on the substrate connected to the integrated circuit connection element for receiving radio frequency signals from the smart card reader.

PTL <NUM> describes that an ID card has a number of laminate sheets froming a card body in which a carrier foil for an IC component is embedded. Coupling elelents on the other side of the foil form contacts on the card surface.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a card-type medium capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

Furthermore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a card-type medium capable of preventing an electrical short circuit from occurring between a card body and a component mounted on the card body even when a metal material is used for the card body.

This object is accomplished by the card-type medium of claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, a card-type medium capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, a card-type medium capable of preventing an electrical short circuit from occurring between a card body and a component mounted on the card body can be provided even when a metal material is used for the card body.

With reference to <FIG>, an IC card according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is an external view of an IC card according to the present embodiment as seen from the front. <FIG> is a plan view illustrating an exposed component, an internal component and a circuit board provided in the IC card shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, an IC card (card-type medium) <NUM> is a dual interface IC card including a contact terminal <NUM> as a contact interface and an antenna <NUM> as a contactless interface. Further, the IC card <NUM> has a biometric authentication function using a fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The IC card <NUM> includes a card body <NUM>, an internal component <NUM>, an exposed component <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>.

The card body <NUM> is plate-shaped and formed in a rectangular shape as viewed in a card thickness direction Dt perpendicular to a front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>. The card thickness direction Dt herein is a direction penetrating the card body <NUM> from the front surface 10f to a rear surface <NUM>. The card body <NUM> may have a thickness of, for example, approximately <NUM> to <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt (for example, when the IC card <NUM> is a credit card, the card body <NUM> has a thickness of <NUM>).

The card body <NUM> is made of a polyester-based material such as amorphous polyester, a vinyl chloride-based material such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a polycarbonate-based material, or an insulating plastic substrate such as PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate copolymer). Further, the card body <NUM> may be formed of a metal sheet, a magnetic material, or the like. The card body <NUM> may be formed into a card shape using a plastic material having high fluidity and insulation, such as a UV curing type or a mixed solution reaction-curing type.

The exposed component <NUM> is partially exposed on the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the IC card <NUM> includes the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> as the exposed components <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are respectively accommodated in apertures (recesses) <NUM> formed on the front surface 10f side of the card body <NUM>.

The contact terminal <NUM> has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The contact terminal <NUM> is configured to be in contact with and electrically coupled to external contact terminals of contact type external devices such as an automatic teller machine. The contact terminal <NUM> is formed by etching a surface of an insulating substrate such as glass epoxy or polyimide (PI) to form a conductive pattern, and plating it with nickel, palladium, gold, or the like. In the present embodiment, the contact terminal <NUM> is located offset to a first side (LH side) in a long side direction D1 of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM> relative to a center part of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> is plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> has a configuration in which a plurality of electrodes are covered with a protective film. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> is located offset to a second side (RH side) in the long side direction D1 of the card body <NUM> relative to the center part of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the internal component <NUM> is embedded in the card body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the IC card <NUM> includes an IC chip <NUM> as the internal component <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> is electrically coupled to the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> (described later) via wiring formed on the circuit board <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> is a secure IC microcomputer, and has functions of external communication via the contact terminal <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>, fingerprint authentication using the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and the like. A chip with a known configuration having a contact communication function and a contactless communication function can be used as the IC chip <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The IC chip <NUM> is disposed between the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in the long side direction D1. The IC chip <NUM> is located offset to a first side (LW side) relative to the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in a short side direction D2 perpendicular to the long side direction D1 in a plane in which the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM> extends.

The circuit board <NUM> is embedded in the card body <NUM>. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the circuit board <NUM> is located inside the outer edge of the card body <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> has a rectangular outer shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The circuit board <NUM> may have a thickness of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

The circuit board <NUM> is formed of a flexible circuit board. The circuit board <NUM> includes a base substrate made of an insulating material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC) or polyimide (PI). A predetermined wiring pattern made of a conductive thin film, such as aluminum or copper, formed by etching or the like is disposed on a surface of the base substrate of the circuit board <NUM>.

In the card thickness direction Dt, the circuit board <NUM> is located on the rear surface <NUM> side of the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> in the card body <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> are mounted on a substrate surface 40f on the front surface 10f side of the card body <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> are mounted on the substrate surface 40f of the circuit board <NUM> by soldering, conductive adhesive, thermal pressure welding, or the like.

The antenna <NUM> extends on the peripheral portion of the circuit board <NUM> in a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. One or multiple turns of the antenna <NUM> are formed on the peripheral portion of the circuit board <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> may be formed, for example, as a part of the wiring pattern formed on the circuit board <NUM>. Alternatively, the antenna <NUM> may be formed separately from the circuit board <NUM>. When the antenna <NUM> is formed separately from the circuit board <NUM>, the antenna <NUM> can be formed by, for example, providing a metal plate, a metal foil or a metal wire formed in a predetermined antenna shape. In this case, the antenna <NUM> is bonded to the wiring pattern of the circuit board <NUM> by soldering, welding, pressure welding, or the like.

The circuit board <NUM> includes a contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, a fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and an antenna wiring portion <NUM>.

The contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples (connects) the IC chip <NUM> and the contact terminal <NUM> to each other. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> includes a first connection portion <NUM>, a second connection portion 41t and a connection wiring portion 41u. The first connection portion <NUM> is bonded to the IC chip <NUM>. The second connection portion 41t is bonded to the contact terminal <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 41u connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t to each other. The connection wiring portion 41u includes a chip-side wiring portion 41a, a turn-back portion 41b and a terminal-side wiring portion 41c. The chip-side wiring portion 41a extends from the first connection portion <NUM> toward a second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the turn-back portion 41b is turned back in a U-shape on the second side in the short side direction D2 of the circuit board <NUM>. The terminal-side wiring portion 41c extends from the turn-back portion 41b toward the first side (LW side) in the short side direction D2, and is continuous with the second connection portion 41t.

The fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples the IC chip <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to each other. As shown in <FIG>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> includes a first connection portion <NUM>, a second connection portion 42t and a connection wiring portion 42u. The first connection portion <NUM> is bonded to the IC chip <NUM>. The second connection portion 42t is bonded to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 42u connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t to each other. The connection wiring portion 42u includes a chip-side wiring portion 42a, a bent portion 42b and a sensor-side wiring portion 42c. The chip-side wiring portion 42a extends, along with the chip-side wiring portion 41a, from the first connection portion <NUM> toward the second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the bent portion 42b is bent in an L-shape at an intermediate portion in the short side direction D2 of the circuit board <NUM>. The sensor-side wiring portion 42c extends from the bent portion 42b toward the second side (RH side) in the long side direction D1, and is continuous with the second connection portion 42t.

The antenna wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples the IC chip <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> to each other. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the antenna wiring portion <NUM> is located on the opposite side of the IC chip <NUM> to the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> in the short side direction D2. The antenna wiring portion <NUM> extends from the IC chip <NUM> toward the first side in the short side direction D2, and is connected to a long side portion 50a of the antenna <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> includes a cutout portion <NUM>. The cutout portion <NUM> is an aperture formed by cutting out the circuit board <NUM> along the outer edge of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM>. Thus, the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM> are each formed in a band shape extending in an extending direction of each portion.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, in the card thickness direction Dt, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are located offset to the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM> relative to the IC chip <NUM>. Accordingly, the second connection portion 41t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> to which the contact terminal <NUM> is bonded is located at a different position in the card thickness direction Dt from the first connection portion <NUM>. The second connection portion 42t of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is bonded is located at a different position in the card thickness direction Dt from the first connection portion <NUM>. The second connection portions 41t and 42t are located closer to the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt than the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> are. The first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are located at the same position in the card thickness direction Dt (i.e. in the same plane) as the antenna <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the chip-side wiring portion (first inclined portion) 41a of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> extends from the first connection portion <NUM> toward the second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2 while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt, and is connected to the turn-back portion 41b. As shown in <FIG>, the terminal-side wiring portion (second inclined portion) 41c of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> extends from the turn-back portion 41b toward the first side (LW side) in the short side direction D2 while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt, and is connected to the second connection portion 41t. Thus, the connection wiring portion 41u that connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t to each other extends in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt. The term "direction including the card thickness direction Dt" as used herein refers to a direction inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt, such as the directions in which each of the chip-side wiring portion 41a and the terminal-side wiring portion 41c of the connection wiring portion 41u extends. The direction including the card thickness direction Dt may also be the card thickness direction Dt. In other words, the chip-side wiring portion 41a and the terminal-side wiring portion 41c may also extend in the card thickness direction Dt between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t.

As shown in <FIG>, the chip-side wiring portion 41a as the first inclined portion extends toward the second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2 which is perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt. The direction in which the chip-side wiring portion 41a extends is defined as a first direction C1. As shown in <FIG>, the terminal-side wiring portion 41c as the second inclined portion extends toward the first side (LW side) in the short side direction D2 different from the second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2 which is perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt. The direction in which the terminal-side wiring portion 41c extends is defined as a second direction C2. The first direction C1 and the second direction C2 are directions different from each other, and the chip-side wiring portion 41a as the first inclined portion and the terminal-side wiring portion 41c as the second inclined portion are inclined in directions different from each other relative to the card thickness direction Dt. The directions in which the chip-side wiring portion 41a and the terminal-side wiring portion 41c extend are not limited to the above-mentioned directions. For example, the chip-side wiring portion 41a as the first inclined portion may extend while being inclined toward the short side direction D2, and the terminal-side wiring portion 41c as the second inclined portion may extend while being inclined toward the long side direction D1. Further, the first direction C1 and the second direction C2 may be the same direction.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sensor-side wiring portion 42c of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extends from the bent portion 42b toward the second side (RH side) in the long side direction D1 while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt, and is connected to the second connection portion 42t. Thus, the connection wiring portion 42u that connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t to each other extends in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt. The connection wiring portion 42u may extend in the card thickness direction Dt between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the second connection portion 41t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> is formed to be large and protrudes outward from the contact terminal <NUM>. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the second connection portion 42t of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> is formed to be large and protrudes outward from the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The second connection portions 41t and 42t are positioned to cover (close) the apertures <NUM> of the card body <NUM>, in which the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are respectively accommodated, from the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a manufacturing process in which an IC card according to the present embodiment is manufactured by laminating a plurality of card substrates. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an IC card manufactured by laminating the plurality of card substrates shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the card body <NUM> of the IC card <NUM> described above can be configured by laminating a plurality of sheet-shaped card substrates <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt. In this case, the card substrate <NUM> disposed on a front surface 10f side of the card body <NUM> has the apertures <NUM> that accommodate the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. The apertures <NUM> penetrates through the card substrate <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt. The apertures <NUM> are closed by the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, from the rear surface <NUM> side.

The card substrate <NUM>, which is located between the card substrate <NUM> disposed on a rear surface <NUM> side and the card substrate <NUM> disposed on a front surface 10f side in the card thickness direction Dt, has an internal aperture <NUM>. The internal aperture <NUM> accommodates the IC chip <NUM> which is the internal component <NUM>.

The card substrates <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are integrated by a converting process such as heat press lamination or adhesive lamination to form an IC card <NUM> having the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a manufacturing process in which an IC card according to the present embodiment is manufactured by injecting a resin material into a mold, followed by curing. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an IC card formed by using the mold shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the card body <NUM> of the IC card <NUM> described above can be formed by resin molding using a mold <NUM>. In this case, the card substrate <NUM> disposed on the front surface 10f side and the card substrate <NUM> disposed on a rear surface <NUM> side are placed in the mold <NUM> in advance. The card substrate <NUM> has the apertures <NUM> that accommodate the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. The apertures <NUM> penetrates through the card substrate <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt. The apertures <NUM> are closed by the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, from the rear surface <NUM> side. The IC chip <NUM> is fixed on the card substrate <NUM> in advance.

A resin material <NUM> such as thermosetting, UV curing or mixed solution reaction-curing resin is injected into a space between the card substrate <NUM> and the card substrate <NUM> in the mold <NUM>, and cured to form an IC card <NUM> having the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM>. In this step, since the apertures <NUM> are closed by the second connection portions 41t and 42t from the rear surface <NUM> side, the resin material <NUM> injected into the mold <NUM> is prevented from entering the apertures <NUM>.

The IC card <NUM> of the present embodiment includes the exposed components <NUM> partially exposed on the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>, and the internal component <NUM> embedded in the card body <NUM>. Accordingly, the internal component <NUM> is located at a different position in the card thickness direction Dt from the exposed components <NUM>. In this configuration, the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the internal component <NUM> is bonded are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt from the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively bonded. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u that connect the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connection portions 41t and 42t to each other, respectively, extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt. Accordingly, the internal component <NUM> can be directly connected to the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and the exposed components <NUM> can be directly connected to the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, without using a spacer. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card <NUM> capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

According to the IC card <NUM> of the present embodiment, the circuit board <NUM> includes the cutout portion <NUM> cut out along the outer edge of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM>, including the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, the second connection portions 41t and 42t, and the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. Accordingly, the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are each formed in a band shape extending in an extending direction of each portion. Therefore, it becomes easy to arrange the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u so that they extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt.

According to the IC card <NUM> of the present embodiment, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u extend while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt, in the extending directions of the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. Accordingly, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u can be disposed in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt between the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively. As a result, the internal component <NUM> and the exposed components <NUM> can be supported at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt without using a spacer.

According to the IC card <NUM> of the present embodiment, the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> includes the chip-side wiring portion 41a extending toward the second side (first direction) in the short side direction D2 while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt, and the terminal-side wiring portion 41c extending toward the first side (direction different from the first direction) in the short side direction D2 while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt. Accordingly, the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t can be disposed at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt in a limited space.

According to the IC card <NUM> of the present embodiment, the card body <NUM> includes the apertures <NUM> on the front surface 10f in which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively accommodated. Each of the second connection portions 41t and 42t covers the entire aperture <NUM>, in which the exposed component <NUM> is accommodated, from the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt. Since the apertures <NUM> are thus covered with the second connection portions 41t and 42t from the rear surface <NUM> side, the resin material is prevented from entering the apertures <NUM> in manufacturing of the card body <NUM> by resin molding.

A second embodiment of the card-type medium of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components that are common to those described above are denoted by the same reference signs, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted. Each of the following embodiments differs from the first embodiment in a circuit board 40B. Therefore, the following description will be given focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, an IC card 1B includes the card body <NUM>, the internal component <NUM>, the exposed component <NUM>, the circuit board 40B and the antenna <NUM>.

The internal component <NUM> (IC chip <NUM>), and the first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the internal component <NUM> is bonded are located on the first side (LW side) in the short side direction D2 of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>. The exposed components <NUM> (contact terminal <NUM> and fingerprint sensor <NUM>), and the second connection portion 41t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively bonded are located on the second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2 of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>. Further, in the present embodiment, the antenna wiring portion <NUM> extends from the IC chip <NUM> toward the second side (RH side) in the short side direction D2, and is connected to the antenna <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extend, along with the antenna wiring portion <NUM>, from the IC chip <NUM> in the short side direction D2 of the front surface 10f.

In the present embodiment, the cutout portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) is not provided in the circuit board 40B. The circuit board 40B has a folded portion <NUM> bent in a crank shape when viewed in the long side direction D1 between the first side and the second side in the short side direction D2 of the front surface 10f. Accordingly, the circuit board 40B includes a portion 44a in which the internal component <NUM> (IC chip <NUM>) is disposed on the first side in the short side direction D2 and a portion 44b in which the exposed components <NUM> (contact terminal <NUM> and fingerprint sensor <NUM>) are disposed on the second side in the short side direction D2, and the portion 44a and the portion 44b are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt. In the folded portion <NUM>, the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt.

In the IC card 1B of the present embodiment, the internal component <NUM> is located at a different position in the card thickness direction Dt from the exposed components <NUM>. The first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the internal component <NUM> is bonded are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt from the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively bonded. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u that connect the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connection portions 41t and 42t to each other, respectively, extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt in the folded portion <NUM> of the circuit board 40B. Accordingly, the internal component <NUM> can be directly connected to the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and the exposed components <NUM> can be directly connected to the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, without using a spacer. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card 1B capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

A third embodiment of the card-type medium of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, an IC card 1C includes the card body <NUM>, the internal component <NUM>, the exposed component <NUM>, a circuit board 40C and the antenna <NUM>.

In the circuit board 40C of the present embodiment, the second connection portion 41t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are located at the same position in the card thickness direction Dt (i.e. in the same plane) as the antenna <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM>. The circuit board 40C has a slit <NUM>. The slit <NUM> penetrates through the circuit board 40C in the card thickness direction Dt. The slit <NUM> extends continuously on the substrate surface 40f of the circuit board <NUM>. The slit <NUM> surrounds the first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the IC chip <NUM> is bonded. The slit <NUM> extends along three sides of the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, except for a portion where the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u are connected to the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. A part of the slit <NUM> is formed around the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. A part of the slit <NUM> extends continuously in the extending direction of the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u on both sides of the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u.

The above circuit board 40C is bent along a line L1 connecting a first slit end 46a and a second slit end 46b of the slit <NUM>. Accordingly, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u are bent in the vicinity of the IC chip <NUM> at positions intersecting with the line L1. As a result, the first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the IC chip <NUM> are bonded are located at different positions from the second connection portions 41t and 42t in the card thickness direction Dt.

The circuit board 40C is bent along the line L1 connecting the first slit end 46a and the second slit end 46b of the slit <NUM>. Therefore, it is preferred to set the positions of the first slit end 46a and the second slit end 46b of the slit <NUM> so that the line L1 does not interfere with the IC chip <NUM> and is positioned away from the IC chip <NUM> toward the outer periphery of the circuit board 40C.

In the IC card 1C of the present embodiment, the internal component <NUM> is located at a different position in the card thickness direction Dt from the exposed components <NUM>. The first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the internal component <NUM> is bonded are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt from the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively bonded. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u that connect the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connection portions 41t and 42t to each other, respectively, extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt. Accordingly, the internal component <NUM> can be directly connected to the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and the exposed components <NUM> can be directly connected to the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, without using a spacer. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card 1C capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

According to the IC card 1C of the present embodiment, the circuit board <NUM> includes the slit <NUM> formed around the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. The slit <NUM> facilitates bending a part of the circuit board 40C and arranging the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u so that they extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt.

In the third embodiment described above, the slit <NUM> extends along three sides of the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, in an IC card 1D as a modified example of the IC card 1C, a slit <NUM> formed in a circuit board 40D has an L-shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The slit <NUM> includes a portion <NUM> extending in the short side direction D2 on a side of the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and a portion 47t extending in the long side direction D1 on the first side in the short side direction D2 of the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

The circuit board 40D is bent along a line L2 connecting a first slit end 47a and a second slit end 47b of the slit <NUM>. Accordingly, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u are bent in the vicinity of the IC chip <NUM> at positions intersecting with the line L2. As a result, the first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the IC chip <NUM> are bonded are located at different positions from the second connection portions 41t and 42t in the card thickness direction Dt.

The circuit board 40D is thus bent along the line L2 connecting the first slit end 47a and the second slit end 47b of the slit <NUM>. Therefore, it is preferred to set the positions of the first slit end 47a and the second slit end 47b of the slit <NUM> so that the line L2 does not interfere with the IC chip <NUM> and is positioned away from the IC chip <NUM> toward the outer periphery of the circuit board 40D.

As shown in <FIG>, in an IC card 1E as a modified example of the IC card 1C, the IC chip <NUM> is located between the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in the long side direction D1. In a circuit board 40E, the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are located on both sides of the IC chip <NUM> (first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>) in the long side direction D1. Both the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extend in the long side direction D1.

The circuit board 40E has slits 48A and 48B. The slits 48A and 48B are formed around the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the IC chip <NUM> is bonded and the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. The slits 48A and 48B are located on both sides of the IC chip <NUM> in the short side direction D2. Each of the slits 48A and 48B extends in the long side direction D1 between both sides of the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the IC chip <NUM> is bonded.

The circuit board 40E is bent along lines L3 each connecting a slit end 48a and a slit end 48b at both ends of the respective slits 48A and 48B in the long side direction D1. Accordingly, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u are bent in the vicinity of the IC chip <NUM> at positions intersecting with the lines L3. As a result, the first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the IC chip <NUM> are bonded are located at different positions from the second connection portions 41t and 42t in the card thickness direction Dt. In this case, it is preferred to set the lengths of the slits 48A and 48B so that the lines L3 do not interfere with the IC chip <NUM> and are positioned away from the IC chip <NUM> toward the outer periphery of the circuit board 40E.

A fourth embodiment of the card-type medium of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, an IC card 1F includes the card body <NUM>, the internal component <NUM>, the exposed component <NUM>, a circuit board 40F and the antenna <NUM>.

In the IC card 1F, the IC chip <NUM> is disposed between the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in the long side direction D1. The contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are located on both sides of the IC chip <NUM> (first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>) in the long side direction D1. Both the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extend in the long side direction D1.

The circuit board 40F includes a cutout portion <NUM> cut out along the outer edge of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM>, including the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, the second connection portions 41t and 42t, and the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. The cutout portion <NUM> continuously surrounds the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM>, including the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, the second connection portions 41t and 42t, and the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u, except for a portion where the antenna wiring portion <NUM> is connected to the IC chip <NUM>. Accordingly, the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are each formed in a band shape extending in an extending direction of each portion.

In the circuit board 40F, the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> extends between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portion 41u (toward the first side (LH side) in the long side direction D1) while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt. The connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extends between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portion 42u (toward the second side (RH side) in the long side direction D1) while being inclined toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt.

In the IC card 1F of the present embodiment, the internal component <NUM> is located at a different position in the card thickness direction Dt from the exposed components <NUM>. The first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the internal component <NUM> is bonded are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt from the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively bonded. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u that connect the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connection portions 41t and 42t to each other, respectively, extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt. Accordingly, the internal component <NUM> can be directly connected to the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and the exposed components <NUM> can be directly connected to the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, without using a spacer. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card 1F capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

According to the IC card 1F of the present embodiment, the circuit board 40F includes the cutout portion <NUM> cut out along outside the outer edge of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM>, including the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM>, the second connection portions 41t and 42t, and the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u. Accordingly, the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are each formed in a band shape extending in an extending direction of each portion. Therefore, it becomes easy to arrange the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u so that they extend in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt.

In the above embodiments, the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> to which the internal component <NUM> is bonded are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt from the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the exposed components <NUM> are respectively bonded. In this configuration, as shown in <FIG>, each of the exposed components <NUM> of an IC card <NUM> may be supported by a spacer <NUM> provided on the card substrate <NUM> constituting the rear surface <NUM> of a card body <NUM>.

The spacer <NUM> is located on the opposite side of the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM>, to which the exposed components <NUM> (contact terminal <NUM> and fingerprint sensor <NUM>) are respectively bonded, to the exposed components <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

Accordingly, the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> of a circuit board <NUM> are directly bonded to the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card <NUM> capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure. Further, due to the spacer <NUM> supporting the exposed component <NUM>, the exposed component <NUM> can be stably supported during the manufacturing process.

As shown in <FIG>, in a card body <NUM> of an IC card <NUM>, a card substrate <NUM> disposed on a front surface 10f side may be made of metal, for example.

The card body <NUM> is configured by laminating a plurality of sheet-shaped card substrates <NUM> and <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt. The card substrate <NUM> disposed on a front surface 10f side of the card body <NUM> has apertures <NUM> that accommodate the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. On a surface of the card substrate <NUM> facing the rear surface <NUM>, a recess <NUM> that is recessed toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt is formed. The recess <NUM> accommodates the IC chip <NUM>.

The card substrate <NUM> disposed on a rear surface <NUM> side of the card body <NUM> may be made of a resin, for example. A circuit board <NUM> is disposed between the card substrate <NUM> and the card substrate <NUM>. The card substrate <NUM> and the card substrate <NUM> are bonded to each other via a bonding layer <NUM> made of a ferrite layer or the like.

Each of the exposed components <NUM> of the IC card <NUM> is supported by the spacer <NUM> provided on the card substrate <NUM> constituting the rear surface <NUM> of the card body <NUM>. The spacer <NUM> is located on the opposite side of the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM>, to which the exposed components <NUM> (contact terminal <NUM> and fingerprint sensor <NUM>) are respectively bonded, to the exposed components <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

In the circuit board <NUM>, the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> extends between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portion 41u (long side direction D1) while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt. The connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extends between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portion 42u (long side direction D1) while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt.

The aperture <NUM> formed in the card substrate <NUM> has an enlarged diameter portion <NUM> on the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt. The enlarged diameter portion <NUM> has an aperture size in a direction perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt (long side direction D1 or short side direction D2) larger than an aperture size on the front surface 10f of the aperture <NUM>. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u extending between the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt, are accommodated between the spacer <NUM> and an inner wall of the enlarged diameter portion <NUM>.

Accordingly, the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> are directly bonded to the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card <NUM> capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

With reference to <FIG>, an IC card according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is an external view of an IC card according to the present embodiment as seen from the front. <FIG> is a plan view illustrating components and a circuit board provided on the IC card of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line J-J of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, an IC card (card-type medium) 1J is a dual interface IC card including the contact terminal <NUM> as a contact interface and the antenna <NUM> as a contactless interface. Further, the IC card 1J has a biometric authentication function using the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The IC card 1J includes a card body 10J, the internal component <NUM>, the exposed component <NUM>, a circuit board 40J and the antenna <NUM>.

The card body 10J is plate-shaped and formed in a rectangular shape as viewed in the card thickness direction Dt perpendicular to the front surface 10f of the card body 10J. The card thickness direction Dt herein is a direction penetrating the card body 10J from the front surface 10f to the rear surface <NUM>. The card body 10J may have a thickness of, for example, approximately <NUM> to <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt (for example, when the IC card 1J is a credit card, the card body 10J has a thickness of <NUM>).

As shown in <FIG>, the card body 10J includes a frame member <NUM>, a front surface member <NUM> and a rear surface member <NUM>.

The frame member <NUM> is formed in a frame shape extending along the outer edge of the card body 10J. Inside the frame member <NUM> is a space <NUM>. The frame member <NUM> has a predetermined thickness in the card thickness direction Dt. The space <NUM> inside the frame member <NUM> accommodates the internal component <NUM> (see <FIG>), the exposed components <NUM> and the circuit board 40J. The frame member <NUM> may be made of, for example, a polyester-based material such as amorphous polyester, a vinyl chloride-based material such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a polycarbonate-based material, or an insulating plastic substrate such as PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate copolymer).

The front surface member <NUM> constitutes the front surface 10f of the card body 10J. The front surface member <NUM> closes the space <NUM> inside the frame member <NUM> by covering the front surface 10f side of the frame member <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt. The front surface member <NUM> has apertures <NUM> that accommodate the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, which will be described later. The rear surface member <NUM> constitutes the rear surface <NUM> of the card body 10J. The rear surface member <NUM> closes the space <NUM> inside the frame member <NUM> by covering the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt of the frame member <NUM>. The front surface member <NUM> and the rear surface member <NUM> are sheet materials made of, for example, resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), metal materials such as an aluminum alloy and stainless steel, and the like.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the exposed components <NUM> are partially exposed on the front surface 10f of the card body 10J. In the present embodiment, the IC card 1J includes the contact terminal (component) <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor (component) <NUM> as the exposed components <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are exposed through the apertures <NUM> formed on the front surface member <NUM> of the card body 10J.

As shown in <FIG>, the contact terminal <NUM> has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The contact terminal <NUM> has a contact surface 21a configured to be in contact with and electrically coupled to external contact terminals of contact type external devices such as an automatic teller machine. The contact surface 21a of the contact terminal <NUM> is formed by etching a surface of an insulating substrate such as glass epoxy or polyimide (PI) to form a conductive pattern, and plating it with nickel, palladium, gold, or the like. In the present embodiment, the contact terminal <NUM> is located offset to a first side (LH side) in a long side direction D1 of the front surface 10f of the card body 10J relative to a center part of the front surface 10f of the card body 10J.

The fingerprint sensor <NUM> is plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> has a configuration in which a plurality of electrodes are covered with a protective film. The fingerprint sensor <NUM> is located offset to a second side (RH side) in the long side direction D1 of the card body 10J relative to the center part of the front surface 10f of the card body 10J.

The internal component <NUM> is embedded in the card body 10J by being accommodated in the space <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the IC card 1J includes the IC chip <NUM> as the internal component <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> is electrically coupled to the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> (described later) via wiring formed on the circuit board 40J. The IC chip <NUM> is a secure IC microcomputer, and has functions of external communication via the contact terminal <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>, fingerprint authentication using the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and the like. A chip with a known configuration having a contact communication function and a contactless communication function can be used as the IC chip <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The IC chip <NUM> is disposed between the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in the long side direction D1. The IC chip <NUM> is located offset to a first side (LW side) relative to the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in the short side direction D2 perpendicular to the long side direction D1 in a plane in which the front surface 10f of the card body 10J extends.

The circuit board 40J is embedded in the card body 10J. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the circuit board 40J is disposed in the space <NUM> inside the frame member <NUM> of the card body 10J. The circuit board 40J has a rectangular outer shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The circuit board 40J may have a thickness of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

The circuit board 40J is formed of a flexible circuit board. The circuit board 40J includes a base substrate made of an insulating material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC) or polyimide (PI). A predetermined wiring pattern made of a conductive thin film, such as aluminum or copper, formed by etching or the like is disposed on a surface of the base substrate of the circuit board 40J.

In the card thickness direction Dt, the circuit board 40J is located on the rear surface <NUM> side of the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> in the card body 10J. The contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> are mounted on the substrate surface 40f facing the front surface 10f of the card body 10J. The contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> are mounted on the substrate surface 40f of the circuit board 40J by soldering, conductive adhesive, thermal pressure welding, or the like.

The antenna <NUM> extends on the peripheral portion of the circuit board 40J in a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. One or multiple turns of the antenna <NUM> are formed on the peripheral portion of the circuit board 40J. The antenna <NUM> may be formed, for example, as a part of the wiring pattern formed on the circuit board 40J. Alternatively, the antenna <NUM> may be formed separately from the circuit board 40J. When the antenna <NUM> is formed separately from the circuit board 40J, the antenna <NUM> can be formed by, for example, providing a metal plate, a metal foil or a metal wire formed in a predetermined antenna shape. In this case, the antenna <NUM> is bonded to the wiring pattern of the circuit board 40J by soldering, welding, pressure welding, or the like.

The circuit board 40J includes the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM>.

The contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples (connects) the IC chip <NUM> and the contact terminal <NUM> to each other. The contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> includes the first connection portion <NUM>, the second connection portion (component connection portion) 41t, and the connection wiring portion 41u. The first connection portion <NUM> is bonded to the IC chip <NUM>. The second connection portion 41t is bonded to the contact terminal <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 41u connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t to each other. The connection wiring portion 41u includes a chip-side wiring portion 41a, a turn-back portion 41b and a terminal-side wiring portion 41c. The chip-side wiring portion 41a extends from the first connection portion <NUM> toward a second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the turn-back portion 41b is turned back in a U-shape on the second side in the short side direction D2 of the circuit board 40J. The terminal-side wiring portion 41c extends from the turn-back portion 41b toward the first side (LW side) in the short side direction D2, and is continuous with the second connection portion 41t.

The fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples the IC chip <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to each other. The fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> includes the first connection portion <NUM>, the second connection portion (component connection portion) 42t, and the connection wiring portion 42u. The first connection portion <NUM> is bonded to the IC chip <NUM>. The second connection portion 42t is bonded to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 42u connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t to each other. The connection wiring portion 42u includes a chip-side wiring portion 42a, a bent portion 42b and a sensor-side wiring portion 42c. The chip-side wiring portion 42a extends, along with the chip-side wiring portion 41a, from the first connection portion <NUM> toward the second side (UP side) in the short side direction D2. When viewed in the card thickness direction Dt, the bent portion 42b is bent in an L-shape at an intermediate portion in the short side direction D2 of the circuit board 40J. The sensor-side wiring portion 42c extends from the bent portion 42b toward the second side (RH side) in the long side direction D1, and is continuous with the second connection portion 42t.

The antenna wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples the IC chip <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> to each other. The antenna wiring portion <NUM> is located on the opposite side of the IC chip <NUM> to the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> in the short side direction D2. The antenna wiring portion <NUM> extends from the IC chip <NUM> toward the first side in the short side direction D2, and is connected to a long side portion 50a of the antenna <NUM>.

The circuit board 40J includes the cutout portion <NUM>. The cutout portion <NUM> is an aperture formed by cutting out the circuit board 40J along the outer edge of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM>. Thus, the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion <NUM> are each formed in a band shape extending in an extending direction of each portion.

As shown in <FIG>, in the card thickness direction Dt, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are located offset to the front surface 10f of the card body 10J relative to the IC chip <NUM>. The contact surface 21a of the contact terminal <NUM> and a touch surface 22a of the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are located at the same position as the front surface 10f of the card body 10J in the card thickness direction Dt. A component thickness T1 of the contact terminal <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt and a component thickness T2 of the fingerprint sensor <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt are different from each other. In the present embodiment, the component thickness T1 of the contact terminal <NUM> is smaller than the component thickness T2 of the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. In this configuration, a bonding surface 21b of the contact terminal <NUM> to which the second connection portion 41t is bonded and a bonding surface 22b of the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to which the second connection portion 42t is bonded are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt. Accordingly, the second connection portion 41t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> bonded to the bonding surface 21b of the contact terminal <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> bonded to the bonding surface 22b of the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt. The second connection portion 41t is located closer to the front surface 10f of the card body 10J in the card thickness direction Dt than the second connection portion 42t is.

Spacers 70J1 and 70J2 are disposed on the opposite side of the second connection portions 41t and 42t to the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. In the present embodiment, the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 are individually provided for the contact terminal <NUM> and corresponding second connection portion 41t and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and corresponding second connection portion 42t, respectively. The spacer 70J1 and the contact terminal <NUM> are disposed with the second connection portion 41t interposed therebetween. The spacer 70J1 is sandwiched between the second connection portion 41t and the rear surface member <NUM>. The spacer 70J2 and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are disposed with the second connection portion 42t interposed therebetween. The spacer 70J2 is sandwiched between the second connection portion 42t and the rear surface member <NUM>. The spacers 70J1 and 70J2 may simply be in contact with the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively, or may be bonded to the second connection portions 41t and 42t by adhesion, welding, or the like.

In this configuration, the spacer 70J1 disposed in contact with the second connection portion 41t and the spacer 70J2 disposed in contact with the second connection portion 42t have different thicknesses in the card thickness direction Dt. A spacer thickness S1 of the spacer 70J1 disposed in contact with the second connection portion 41t is larger than a spacer thickness S2 of the spacer 70J2 disposed in contact with the second connection portion 42t.

Thus, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> as the exposed components <NUM> are supported by the spacers 70J1 and 70J2, respectively.

The second connection portion 41t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> to which the contact terminal <NUM> is bonded and the second connection portion 42t of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is bonded are mechanically (physically) connected via the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u, respectively. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u extend between the second connection portion 41t and the second connection portion 42t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portions while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt.

The IC card 1J of the present embodiment includes the card body 10J, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> which are at least partially embedded in the card body 10J, the circuit board 40J embedded in the card body 10J, the circuit board 40J having the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are bonded, respectively, and the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 embedded in the card body 10J, the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 being located on the opposite side of the second connection portions 41t and 42t to the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. With this configuration, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> can be directly connected to the second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to provide an IC card 1J capable of preventing an increase in time, effort and cost of manufacturing, and reducing the risk of occurrence of connection failure.

According to the IC card 1J of the present embodiment, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> partially exposed on the front surface 10f of the card body 10J can be stably supported by the spacers 70J1 and 70J2, respectively.

The IC card 1J of the present embodiment includes the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> having different component thicknesses T1 and T2, the second connection portions 41t and 42t to which the contact terminals <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are respectively bonded, and the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 disposed in contact with the second connection portions 41t and 42t, the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 having different spacer thicknesses S1 and S2. In this configuration, the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 are individually provided for the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> having different component thicknesses T1 and T2. Therefore, by providing the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 corresponding to the component thicknesses T1 and T2 of the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> having different component thicknesses T1 and T2 can be accurately positioned in the card thickness direction Dt.

The IC card 1J of the present embodiment includes the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u extending between the second connection portions 41t and 42t in a direction including the card thickness direction Dt to connect the second connection portions 41t and 42t. Accordingly, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u can be appropriately positioned between the second connection portions 41t and 42t located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt.

In the embodiments described above, the spacers 70J1 and 70J2 are individually provided for the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. However, the form of the spacers is not limited thereto.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, a single spacer 70J3 may be provided for the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The spacer 70J3 extends continuously in a direction perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt (long side direction D1 or short side direction D2). The spacer 70J includes a plurality of support surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> in contact with a plurality of second connection portions 41t and 42t, respectively. The support surface <NUM> is formed to be in contact with the second connection portion 41t to which the contact terminal <NUM> is bonded. The support surface <NUM> is formed to be in contact with the second connection portion 42t to which the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is bonded. The support surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are located at different positions in the card thickness direction Dt.

The spacer 70J3 includes a slanted surface <NUM> extending along the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u between the support surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to the configuration of the modified example, the number of spacers 70J3 can be reduced, reducing the time and effort in manufacturing. Further, the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u can be stably supported by the slanted surface <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a spacer member <NUM> described below, for example, may be used as the spacers 70J1 to 70J3 of the above embodiments and modified examples thereof. The spacer member <NUM> includes a recess <NUM> on a support surface 75f in contact with the second connection portions 41t and 42t. The recess <NUM> is recessed in the card thickness direction Dt from the support surface 75f. When components such as the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> bonded to the second connection portions 41t and 42t have a projection <NUM>, the projection <NUM> can be accommodated in the recess <NUM>. In this case, a hole <NUM> through which the projection <NUM> is inserted is formed in the second connection portions 41t and 42t.

As shown in <FIG>, a spacer member 78A, for example, may be used as the spacers 70J1 to 70J3 described in the above embodiments and modified examples thereof. The spacer member 78A has an outer dimension in a direction perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt larger than that of each of the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The spacer member 78A has a curved surface 78x at the periphery of a surface 78f in contact with the second connection portions 41t and 42t. The curved surface 78x provided on the spacer member 78A can prevent stress from being concentrated on the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> when the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> in contact with the spacer member 78A are curved or bent in the card thickness direction Dt.

As shown in <FIG>, a spacer member 78B having a slanted curved surface 78y, instead of the curved surface 78x, at the periphery may be used as the spacers 70J1 to 70J3.

With reference to <FIG>, an IC card according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is an external view of an IC card according to the present embodiment as seen from the front. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an IC card according to the present embodiment.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an IC card (card-type medium) <NUM> is a dual interface IC card including the contact terminal <NUM> as a contact interface and the antenna <NUM> (see <FIG>) as a contactless interface. Further, the IC card <NUM> has a biometric authentication function using the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The IC card <NUM> includes a card body <NUM>, the internal component <NUM>, the exposed components <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>.

The card body <NUM> is plate-shaped and formed in a rectangular shape as viewed in the card thickness direction Dt (see <FIG>) perpendicular to the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>. The card thickness direction Dt herein is a direction penetrating the card body <NUM> from the front surface 10f to the rear surface <NUM>. The card body <NUM> may have a thickness of, for example, approximately <NUM> to <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt (for example, when the IC card <NUM> is a credit card, the card body <NUM> has a thickness of <NUM>).

As shown in <FIG>, the card body <NUM> is configured by laminating a plurality of sheet-shaped card substrates <NUM> and <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

The card substrate <NUM> disposed on a front surface 10f side of the card body <NUM> has apertures <NUM> that accommodate the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively. The apertures <NUM> penetrates through the card substrate <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

In the card substrate <NUM>, an internal aperture <NUM> is formed in a substrate rear surface <NUM> facing the rear surface <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt. The internal aperture <NUM> is recessed toward the front surface 10f in the card thickness direction Dt from the substrate rear surface <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> accommodates the internal component <NUM> (IC chip <NUM> described later). The aperture <NUM> and the internal aperture <NUM> is formed by laser processing or cutting.

The card substrate <NUM> disposed on a rear surface <NUM> side of the card body <NUM> may be made of, for example, a polyester-based material such as amorphous polyester, a vinyl chloride-based material such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a polycarbonate-based material, or an insulating plastic substrate such as PET-G (polyethylene terephthalate copolymer).

The card substrate <NUM> is made of a conductive metallic material, such as a stainless steel or a titanium alloy. The card substrate <NUM> may have a thickness of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

Exterior resin layers <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed on the front surface 10f and the rear surface <NUM> of the card body <NUM>, respectively. The exterior resin layer <NUM> constituting the front surface 10f covers the card substrate <NUM> except for the apertures <NUM>. The exterior resin layer <NUM> constituting the rear surface <NUM> covers the entire card substrate <NUM>. The exterior resin layers <NUM> and <NUM> may be made of, for example, a laminate (film).

The card substrate <NUM> and the card substrate <NUM> are integrated by a conversion process such as hot press lamination or adhesive lamination. The card substrate <NUM> and the card substrate <NUM> may be integrated by cold press lamination using a two-part curing resin, a room temperature curing resin, or a UV curing resin. Further, a ferrite layer <NUM> may be disposed between the card substrate <NUM> and the card substrate <NUM>.

The aperture <NUM> includes a front side aperture <NUM> and a rear side aperture <NUM>. The front side aperture <NUM> is located on the front surface 10f side in the card thickness direction Dt. The rear side aperture <NUM>, continuous with the front side aperture <NUM>, is located on the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt. An aperture size Z2 of the rear side aperture <NUM> in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt is larger than an aperture size Z1 of the front side aperture <NUM> in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt. That is, the rear side aperture <NUM> is an enlarged diameter portion having an aperture size larger than that of the front side aperture <NUM>.

The exposed components <NUM> are partially exposed on the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the IC card <NUM> includes the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> as the exposed components <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are respectively accommodated in the apertures <NUM> formed on the front surface 10f side of the card body <NUM>.

The contact terminal <NUM> has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt. The contact terminal <NUM> is configured to be in contact with and electrically coupled to external contact terminals of contact type external devices such as an automatic teller machine. The contact terminal <NUM> is formed by etching a surface of an insulating substrate such as glass epoxy or polyimide (PI) to form a conductive pattern, and plating it with nickel, palladium, gold, or the like. In the present embodiment, the contact terminal <NUM> is located offset to a first side (LH side) in the long side direction D1 of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM> relative to a center part of the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>.

The contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are each bonded to the circuit board <NUM> by a conductive bonding material <NUM> such as solder or silver paste. In this configuration, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are disposed with a gap G1 between each of them and an inner wall of the front side aperture <NUM> of the aperture <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are disposed with a gap G2 between each of them and an inner wall of the rear side aperture <NUM> of the aperture <NUM>. The aperture size Z2 of the rear side aperture <NUM> is larger than the aperture size Z1 of the front side aperture <NUM>. Accordingly, the gaps G2 from each of the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to the inner wall of the rear side aperture <NUM> are larger than the gaps G1 from each of the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to the inner wall of the front side aperture <NUM>. Therefore, even if the conductive bonding material <NUM> bonding the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to the circuit board <NUM> protrudes outward from a region where each of the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is bonded to the circuit board <NUM>, the conductive bonding material <NUM> is prevented from contacting the card substrate <NUM> made of a metal.

The internal component <NUM> is embedded in the card body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the IC card <NUM> includes the IC chip <NUM> as the internal component <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> is electrically coupled to the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> (described later) via wiring formed on the circuit board <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> is a secure IC microcomputer, and has functions of external communication via the contact terminal <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>, fingerprint authentication using the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and the like. A chip with a known configuration having a contact communication function and a contactless communication function can be used as the IC chip <NUM>. The IC chip <NUM> has a rectangular shape when viewed in the card thickness direction Dt.

The circuit board <NUM> is formed of a flexible circuit board. The circuit board <NUM> includes a base substrate made of an insulating material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI) or glass epoxy. A predetermined wiring pattern made of a conductive thin film, such as aluminum or copper, formed by etching or the like is disposed on a surface of the base substrate of the circuit board <NUM>.

In the card thickness direction Dt, the circuit board <NUM> is located on the rear surface <NUM> side of the contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> in the card body <NUM>. The contact terminal <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the IC chip <NUM> are mounted on the substrate surface 40f facing the front surface 10f of the card body <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> includes the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> and the antenna wiring portion (not shown). In the present embodiment, the circuit board <NUM> is disposed on the card substrate <NUM> located on a rear surface <NUM> side of the card body <NUM> in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt.

The contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples (connects) the IC chip <NUM> and the contact terminal <NUM> to each other. The contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> includes the first connection portion <NUM>, the second connection portion 41t, and the connection wiring portion 41u. The first connection portion <NUM> is bonded to the IC chip <NUM>. The second connection portion 41t is bonded to the contact terminal <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 41u connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t to each other.

The fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> electrically couples the IC chip <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> to each other. The fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> includes the first connection portion <NUM>, the second connection portion 42t, and the connection wiring portion 42u. The first connection portion <NUM> is bonded to the IC chip <NUM>. The second connection portion 42t is bonded to the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The connection wiring portion 42u connects the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t to each other.

The antenna wiring portion (not shown) electrically couples the IC chip <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> to each other.

In the IC card <NUM> of the present embodiment, the aperture <NUM> formed in the card body <NUM> includes the front side aperture <NUM> located on the front surface 10f side in the card thickness direction Dt, and the rear side aperture <NUM> continuous with the front side aperture <NUM> and located on the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt. The rear side aperture <NUM> has an aperture size in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt larger than that of the front side aperture <NUM>. Therefore, the gap G2 is formed between the exposed component <NUM> accommodated in the aperture <NUM> and the inner wall of the aperture <NUM>. With this configuration, even when a metal material is used for the card body <NUM>, an electrical short circuit is prevented from occurring between the card body <NUM> and the exposed component <NUM> mounted on the card body <NUM>.

In the sixth embodiment described above, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are directly bonded to the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the circuit board <NUM>, respectively. However, the bonding manner of the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> is not limited thereto.

For example, as shown in <FIG> illustrating an IC card <NUM>, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be bonded to the second connection portions 41t and 42t of a circuit board <NUM> via intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM> are sandwiched between the respective exposed components <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>. The intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM> are accommodated in the rear side apertures <NUM> of the apertures <NUM> formed in the card body <NUM>.

In the intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM>, connection electrodes (not shown) made of a copper foil or the like are formed on both sides of the insulating base substrate such as glass epoxy. The connection electrodes on both sides of the intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM> are electrically connected to each other by through holes or vias formed by copper plating or the like. The intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM> are electrically connected to the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the circuit board <NUM>, and the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, respectively.

With such intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM>, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> can be positioned at the same level in the card thickness direction Dt by varying the height of the intermediate spacers <NUM> and <NUM>, even when the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> have different component thicknesses in the card thickness direction Dt.

According to the above IC card <NUM>, the rear side aperture <NUM> has an aperture size in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt larger than that of the front side aperture <NUM>. Accordingly, a gap G3 is formed between the intermediate spacer <NUM> accommodated in the aperture <NUM> and the inner wall of the rear side aperture <NUM>. With this configuration, even when a metal material is used for the card body <NUM>, an electrical short circuit is prevented from occurring between the card body <NUM> and the exposed component <NUM> mounted on the card body <NUM>.

In the sixth embodiment and the first modified example thereof, the circuit boards <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed on the card substrate <NUM> in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt. However, the form of the circuit board is not limited thereto.

For example, as shown in <FIG> illustrating an IC card <NUM>, in the circuit board <NUM>, the first connection portion <NUM> of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the first connection portion <NUM> of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> may be located at different positions from the second connection portions (component connection portions) 41t and 42t in the card thickness direction Dt.

Each of the exposed components <NUM> of the IC card <NUM> is supported by a spacer <NUM> provided on the card substrate <NUM> constituting the rear surface <NUM> of the card body <NUM>. The spacer <NUM> is located on the opposite side of the second connection portions 41t and 42t of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> to which the exposed components <NUM> (contact terminal <NUM> and fingerprint sensor <NUM>) are respectively bonded to the exposed components <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt.

In the circuit board <NUM>, the connection wiring portion 41u of the contact terminal wiring portion <NUM> extends between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 41t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portion 41u while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt. The connection wiring portion 42u of the fingerprint sensor wiring portion <NUM> extends between the first connection portion <NUM> and the second connection portion 42t in the extending direction of the connection wiring portion 42u while being inclined relative to the card thickness direction Dt. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u may extend in the card thickness direction Dt.

The aperture <NUM> formed in the card substrate <NUM> has a rear side aperture <NUM> on the rear surface <NUM> side in the card thickness direction Dt. Each of the connection wiring portions 41u and 42u is extends between the spacer <NUM> and the inner wall of the rear side aperture <NUM>. The connection wiring portions 41u and 42u are disposed inside the rear side aperture <NUM> with a gap G4 between each of them and the inner wall of the rear side aperture <NUM>.

According to the above IC card <NUM>, the rear side aperture <NUM> has an aperture size in the plane perpendicular to the card thickness direction Dt larger than that of the front side aperture <NUM>. Therefore, the gap G4 can also be formed between the spacer <NUM> accommodated in the aperture <NUM> and the inner wall of the aperture <NUM>. With this configuration, even when a metal material is used for the card body <NUM>, an electrical short circuit is prevented from occurring between the card body <NUM> and the exposed component <NUM> mounted on the card body <NUM>.

Although some embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings, specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and combinations of the configurations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the components mounted as the internal component <NUM> and the exposed component <NUM> are not limited to the IC chip <NUM>, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM>. Other components may also be mounted as appropriate. Further, in the embodiments described above, the contact terminal <NUM> and the fingerprint sensor <NUM> are provided as two types of (two) exposed components <NUM>, but these are merely examples. The type and number of the exposed component <NUM> and the internal component <NUM> can be changed as appropriate.

In addition, although the second connection portions 41t and 42t are disposed at different positions from the first connection portions <NUM> and <NUM> in the card thickness direction Dt, the positions the plurality of second connection portions in the card thickness direction Dt may also be different from each other.

Claim 1:
A card-type medium (<NUM>) comprising:
a card body (<NUM>):
an internal component (<NUM>) embedded in the card body;
an exposed component (<NUM>) partially exposed on a front surface of the card body; and
a circuit board (<NUM>) to which the internal component and the exposed component are bonded, wherein
the circuit board (<NUM>) includes
a first connection portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) to which the internal component is bonded,
a second connection portion (41t, 42t) to which the exposed component is bonded, the second connection portion being located at a position different from the first connection portion in a card thickness direction connecting the front surface of the card body and a rear surface on an opposite side of the card body to the front surface, and
a connection wiring portion (41u, 42u) that connects the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the connection wiring portion extending in a direction including the card thickness direction, characterized in that
the circuit board (<NUM>) includes a slit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed around the connection wiring portion and one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion.