Integrated-circuit card equipped with a single chip data processor automatically entering low-power consumption mode

摘要

A semiconductor integrated-circuit card including a microprocessor having an active mode of operation capable of processing data and a low power consumption mode of operation disabled from processing data, the microprocessor being operative to (1) establish the low power consumption mode of operation in the IC card when the microprocessor is initially activated to start operation, (2) make a shift from the low power consumption mode of operation to the active mode of operation responsive to an interrupt signal from an external signal source, and (3) make a shift from the active mode of operation back to the low power consumption mode of operation upon termination of the data processing in the active mode of operation.