Cross-Sectional Mapping Analysis of Contactless Type IC Cards

User Benefits

- The EPMA enables visualization of the structural elements in the wiring of IC chips and their connection to the antenna. - The EPMA is effective for evaluating the reliability of material and the structure of products and is valuable for defect analysis, quality improvement, and research and development.

Introduction

Contactless type IC cards, such as transit cards, have no terminals, and their internal structure is covered completely with plastic, making them highly resistant to weather and wear. They are also commonly used as electronic money because they can be used without removing them from a bag or case. Contactless type IC cards contain an IC to control data communication and a loop antenna to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. When the card is placed close to a special reader/writer, electromagnetic induction supplies power via the loop antenna to the IC, causing it to operate. If the metal wiring of the IC or the loop antenna is broken or makes poor contact, the cards will not function. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate the reliability of the materials and the manufacturing process. This paper introduces an example of mapping analysis of a cross-section of a contactless type IC card and the wiring pattern of the IC chip using the Shimadzu EPMA-8050G (EPMA^TM) electron probe microanalyzer.

April 5, 2022 GMT