Enhanced function smartcard controllers

DSP, Micros & Memory

24 January 2001 DSP, Micros & Memory

Hitachi's two new smartcard controllers, the AE45C and AE450, incorporate high memory and functional integration with a new 16 bit CPU core. The AE45C features a 1024 bit coprocessor and is targeted at high end banking applications and GSM SIM cards with PKI-based functions. The AE450 is suitable for GSM SIM cards, particularly JavaCard and multiapplication cards. Both new devices are made more secure with an Integrated Security Concept (ISC) including a firewall management unit and a DES engine.

The AE45C and AE450 both include 32 KB EEPROM, with 96 and 128 KB ROM respectively. These large memory capacities allow for enhanced functionality of GSM SIM cards, enabling operators to differentiate their product range by offering new value added services to the end-user. These could include stock market information, e-commerce applications or online gaming. The high memory integration also offers support for sophisticated Operating Systems (OS) like Multos, JavaCard, and high end GSM OS based on JavaCard 2.1, as well as providing a smartcard with the ability to host JavaCard OS and Java applets in ROM.

The new functional integration of the controllers, including DES Engine, UART and interval timer, allows for the migration in mobile communications from GSM SIM cards to UMTS USIM cards. The coprocessor function of the AE45C enables e-commerce and WAP applications to be implemented with enhanced security for the end-user. This element of protection is further increased with the Integrated Security Concept, which secures the on-chip hardware and maximises the overall security of the smartcard from design to shipment.

Both controllers form part of the new AE series from Hitachi, which provides for all smartcard requirements from 8 to 32 bit CPU with AE-3, AE-4, or AE-5 cores available. The series also offers code compatibility between cores, allowing customers to consolidate the investment already made in smartcard software when moving from the AE-3 (8 bit) to AE-4 (16 bit) CPU.

Both the AE45C and AE450 offer 32 KB EEPROM, 4 KB RAM, Firewall Management Unit, DES engine, timer and PLL (phase-lock-loop). The AE45C also includes 96 KB ROM and a crypto coprocessor for RSA and ECC, while the AE450 offers 128 KB ROM and UART. Other on-chip functions include a fast I/O, random number generator and a watchdog timer.

Avnet Kopp

(011) 444 2333

[email protected]

www.avnetkopp.co.za

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Enhanced function smartcard controllers

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