SECRET INFORMATION MEMORY DEVICE

摘要

PURPOSE:To inhibit a case where the secret information can be read out of a stolen card by storing the entire part of a secret information memory means in a container and providing a photodetector at a place close to the opened/ closed part of the container to destroy the memory contents with photodetection. CONSTITUTION:An operator reads the data on a customer's credit card through a card reader 11 of a transaction device 10 and gives an password number input device 20 to the customer. Thus the customer supplies his/her password number through a keyboard 22 of the device 20. The device 20 stores the input password number into a RAM 26 according to a program of a ROM 25 via a CPU 21 and also coding the number with the coding data stored in the RAM 26 to transmit it to the device 10. A photodetecting part 27 detects the light sent from outside when the container of the device 20 is opened and delivers it to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 clears the data of the RAM 26 with the photodetection signal. As a result, the secret data stored in the RAM 26 is destroyed to disable the reading of the secret information in case a card is stolen.