December 09, 2006 — Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the release of the AT83C22OK106, a smart card reader product targeting USB smart card keyboard. The AT83C22OK106 was developed in partnership with OMNIKEY®, a major smart card reader manufacturer.

The new AT83C22OK106 is an updated and optimized version of the previous AT83C22OK. It includes 8051 core, USB interface, and ISO7816 UART smart card interface, as well as a high-efficiency DC/DC converter. Therefore, it is compliant with the major smart card standards such as EMV & PC/SC. It supports 5 V, 3 V and 1.8 V cards regardless of the input voltage. The AT83C22OK106 is designed to provide a solution for a reader system with only a few additional external components mounted on a single sided PCB.

Arnaud Ruchon, Product Marketing Manager for Smart Card Reader ICs at Atmel stated, “The AT83C22OK106, combined with the state-of-the-art firmware developed by OMNIKEY, is a unique solution for keyboard manufacturers. It allows them to implement a keyboard with smart card functionality in less than two weeks.” He added, “Thanks to its optimized size, the AT83C22OK106 allows us to be even more price competitive.”

The firmware supports all types of smart cards with high baud rates up to 433 kbits/s with full CCID compatibility and includes BIOS support. Keyboards up to 160 keys using any OEM specific keyboard matrix are supported. Furthermore, the firmware features a common criteria certified secure PIN-entry functionality

According to Kurt Schmid, Chief Executive Officer from OMNIKEY, “Thanks to its complete set of features and its reduced price, the new version of the AT83C22OK will help to win new smart card reader businesses in the keyboard area. Atmel and OMNIKEY partnership offers the best solutions for the keyboard OEM market.”

Pricing and Availability

The AT89RFD-02 reference design kit is available, for US$250, to facilitate a PCB design. Included is a reference board, software, and all required documentation.

The AT83C22OK is available now in QFP64 and QFN64 packages. Pricing in 10k unit-quantities is US$ 2.60 USD.

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry’s broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions. Focused on consumer, industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets, Atmel ICs can be found Everywhere You Are(R).

About OMNIKEY AG

OMNIKEY AG, also based in Wiesbaden, is a leading manufacturer of smartcard readers used primarily for IT applications such as PC/network secure log-on and authentication. By concentrating on developing reading systems with international standards interfaces, the products can integrate globally and simply into every application. OMNIKEY represents a natural extension of ASSA ABLOY‘s strength in reader technology through the addition of IT applications.

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