Atmel AT88SC153 Secure Memory Smart Card

The Atmel AT88SC153 secure memory card provides 2,048 bits of serial EEPROM memory organized as one configuration zone of 64 bytes and three user zones of 64 bytes each. This device is optimized as a “secure memory” for multiapplication smart card markets, secure identification for electronic data transfer, or components in a system without the requirement of an internal microprocessor. The embedded authentication protocol allows the memory and the host to authenticate each other. When this device is used with a host that incorporates a microcontroller (e.g., AT89C51, AT89C2051, AT90S1200), the system provides an “anti-wiretapping” configuration. The device and the host exchange “challenges” issued from a random generator and verify their values through a specific cryptographic function included in each part. When both agree on the same result, the access to the memory is permitted.

Memory Access

Depending on the device configuration, the host might carry out the authentication protocol and/or present different passwords for each operation, read or write. Each user zone may be configured for free access for read and write or for password-restricted access. To insure security between the different user zones (multiapplication card), each zone can use a different set of passwords. A specific attempts counter for each password and for the authentication provides protection against “systematic attacks.” When the memory is unlocked, the two-wire serial protocol is effective, using SDA and SCL. The memory includes a specific register providing a 32-bit data stream conforming to the ISO 7816-10 synchronous answer-to-reset.

Software Development Kit

Program the Atmel AT88SC153 Memory Card with CardLogix’ Smart Toolz™ software development kit (SDK) featuring the user-friendly Card Configuration Utility (CCU), Winplex™ API, and CardAppz™ application software.