Smart Cards

Types of Smart Cards

What is a Smart Card?

Smart Card is a smart electronic device embedding integrated circuits. Hence it is also known as Integrated Circuit Chip (ICC).  Size similar to the size of credit cards is its unique specialty. Common smart cards are made using polyvinyl chloride. The major functions of smart card technology are in the area of storage, processing of applications, transaction, authentication, and identification of documents etc.

       

Characteristics of a Smart Card

1. Size of the smart card is defined by the standard ISO/IEC 7810. The general size is (85.6 x 53.98) mm.
2. It is managed by an administrating system which helps to interchange the information and the settings within the card.
3. Smart card technology consists of a security system which cannot be tampered thereby ensuring high security.
4. Provision to communicate with the outside services using card readers.

Types of Smart Cards

1. Contact Smart Cards

Contact Smart cards are easy to identify because of the gold plated contact pads at its end. Due to the presence of gold plated contact pads, it is known by the name Contact Smart Card. These are most commonly used types of smart cards. The gold plated contact pad provides the energy to communicate via electric contacts with the card reader. When the card is being inserted to the card reader, the electrical contacts of the card will get in contact with the reader. Transmission of data, commands, card status etc. will be taking place with these cards.

The pin configurations of the gold plated contact pads.

• Vcc: It specifies the supply voltage required, to run the chip. Generally 5volts is given.
• Reset: After the power is turned ON, the state of the integrated circuit has to be initialized. This process is done by the help of the reset signal.
• Clock Signal: Helps in driving the logic of the integrated circuit present in the smart card. This signal acts as the reference for providing the serial communication.
• I/O: It is the serial input or output for providing the required data transmission.
• Gnd: It is the ground terminal.
• Vpp: This pin helps in programming the input voltage required.

Application: For security applications, contact smart cards are used commonly.

2. Contactless Smart Card

These types of smart cards do not have any contact pads on them. Communication between the reader and the card is done by using the radio waves or by using the radio frequency induction technology. Due to the presence of the antenna, the contactless smart card communicates when it comes in proximity.

In the contactless card, there is a presence of a wire loop for providing an internal power. This wire loop acts as the inductor, providing the energy to the card to do the necessary communication with the card reader.

Application: Can be used in door locks, transportation purposes etc.

      

3. Dual Interface Smart Cards

Dual Interface smart cards consist of both the contact and contactless smart cards on the same single card. It consists of a single Integrated circuit chip. Here we can access the chip either by the contactless or contact cards.

Example: Andante Tickets

4. Cash Card

It is a plastic card. The card consists of a personal number to do the necessary payment services.

5. Debit Cards

Debit cards are another type of smart card that provides access to the account details of the bank.

6. Memory Cards

Memory cards have no processing power and they cannot manage files. They communicate with the readers through protocols. Here reading and writing is done on the address fixed to the card. Memory cards can be of three types. Stored, Protected and Straight.

Operating Systems

JavaCard operating system is a smart card OS developed by Sun Microsystems. It is one of the popular and common smart card OS giving the independency to work over the architecture. Some of the advantages of JavaCard OS are that it can upgrade the applications of a smart card.

MULTOS (Multi-application OS) is another type of OS supporting multiple applications. It is specifically designed for the purpose of high security.

Smart Card Standards

There are many smart card standards.

1. ISO/IEC 15693

This standard is to define vicinity cards. It establishes standards for characteristics defining radio frequency, transmission and anti-collision protocol which operate within 1 meter.

2. ISO/IEC 14443

This international standard defines cards which are at close proximity. The cards operate at 13.56 MHz and has an operational range is 10 cm.

3. ISO/IEC 7816

It is a standard that deals with contact smart cards and this standard will be defining the various aspects of the card like the dimensions and the electrical interfaces with the protocols.

4. PC/SC

It is used for CPU contact cards.

5. CEN and ETSI Standards

These standards are defined for the telecommunication purpose.

6. IC communication Standards

They are existed for non-volatile memory.

Applications of Smart Cards

1. Smart cards are useful for mobile phones, ATM cards and bank applications.
2. Also, it is useful for security applications.
3. Health care applications etc.