IC card and an adapter for the same

An IC card of a first standard comprising:

• (a) a plurality of external terminals;
• (b) a detector which detects the voltage level of a predetermined terminal among said external terminals;
• (c) a mode controller which is connected to said detector;
• and
• (d) a first-mode interface controller corresponding to the first standard, a second-mode interface controller corresponding to a second IC card standard, and a third-mode interface controller corresponding to a third standard as a terminal standard, with said interface controllers being connected to said mode controller,
• (e) said mode controller including means of selecting said first-mode interface controller, second-mode interface controller or third-mode interface controller in accordance with the output signal of said detector.

A card adapter having an interior space which fits the profile of an IC card of a first standard and having a profile of an IC card of a second standard, said adapter comprising:

• (a) a plurality of first external terminals;
• (b) a plurality of internal terminals which are disposed at positions to be in contact with a plurality of second external terminals of an IC card of the first standard when said IC card is set in said adapter interior space;
• (c) wiring lines which connect between said first external terminals and said internal terminals;
• and
• (d) a resistor which is connected between a first external terminal, with a supply voltage or ground voltage being applied thereto, among said first external terminals and an internal terminal.

A card adapter having an interior space which fits the profile of an IC card of a first standard, said adapter comprising:

• (a) a plurality of first external terminals which are conformable to the USB standard;
• (b) a plurality of internal terminals which are disposed at positions to be in contact with a plurality of second external terminals of an IC card of the first standard when said IC card is set in said adapter interior space;
• (c) wiring lines which connect between said first external terminals and said internal terminals;
• and
• (d) a resistor which is connected between a first external terminal, with a supply voltage or ground voltage being applied thereto, among said first external terminals and an internal terminal.

(a) An IC card of a first standard comprising:

• (a1) a plurality of first external terminals;
• (a2) a detector which detects the voltage level of a predetermined terminal among said first external terminals;
• (a3) a mode controller which is connected to said detector;
• and
• (a4) a first-mode interface controller corresponding to the first standard, a second-mode interface controller corresponding to a second IC card standard, and a third-mode interface controller corresponding to a third standard as a terminal standard, with said mode interface controllers being connected to said mode controller,
• said IC card being adapted to be set in:
• (b) a card adapter which has an interior space which fits the profile of an IC card of the first standard and has a profile of an IC card of the second standard, said adapter comprising:
• (b1) a plurality of second external terminals disposed in said terminal section;
• (b2) a plurality of internal terminals which are disposed at positions to be in contact with the first external terminals of an IC card of the first standard when said IC card is set in said adapter interior space;
• (b3) wiring lines which connect between said second external terminals and said internal terminals;
• and
• (b4) a resistor which is connected between a second external terminal, with a supply voltage or ground voltage being applied thereto, among said second external terminals and an internal terminal,
• said IC card having:
• (c) said detector connected to said second external terminal, with said resistor being connected thereto, and detecting a varied voltage caused by said resistor;
• and
• (d) said mode controller selecting the second-mode interface controller based on the result of detection by said detector.

An IC card of a first standard comprising:

• (a1) a plurality of first external terminals;
• (a2) a detector which detects the voltage level of a predetermined terminal among said first external terminals;
• (a3) a mode controller which is connected to said detector;
• and
• (a4) a first-mode interface controller corresponding to the first standard, a second-mode interface controller corresponding to a second IC card standard, and a third-mode interface controller corresponding to a third standard as a terminal standard, with said mode interface controllers being connected to said mode controller,
• said IC card being adapted to be set in:
• (b) a card adapter which has an interior space which fits the profile of an IC card of the first standard and has a terminal section of the third standard, said adapter comprising:
• (b1) a plurality of second external terminals disposed in said terminal section;
• (b2) a plurality of internal terminals which are disposed at positions to be in contact with the first external terminals of an IC card of the first standard when said IC card is set in said interior space of adapter;
• (b3) wiring lines which connect between said second external terminals and said internal terminals;
• and
• (b4) a resistor which is connected between a second external terminal, with a supply voltage or ground voltage being applied thereto, among said second external terminals and an internal terminal,
• said IC card having:
• (c) said detector connected to said second external terminal, with said resistor being connected thereto, and detecting a varied voltage caused by said resistor;
• and
• (d) said mode controller selecting the third-mode interface controller based on the result of detection by said detector.