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Hitachi Releases Smart Card Microcontroller
AE45X series Equipped with Contact/Contactless Dual Interface in a Single Chip |
Suitable for multi-purpose multi-application smart
cards in the fields such as finance with advanced security in contact type and high-speed communication in contactless type |
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Tokyo, April 22, 2002 Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) today announced a smart card microcontroller "AE45X series" that is equipped with contact and contactless dual interface in a single chip. The microcontroller is also equipped with large capacity memory that enables multi-applications. As the first product, "AE45X-B" is developed and sample shipments will begin in July 2002 in Japan. This product is equipped with built-in 16-bit CPU core "AE-4" that was developed for smart cards and a high security function that prevents illegal read operation etc.. As the external interface, this product incorporates the contact type interface complying with "ISO/IEC 7816*1" and the contactless type interface complying with "ISO/IEC 14443 Type-B*2". "AE45X-B" is suitable for multi-purpose smart cards, including those in a financial field with its firm security function and contact/contactless interfaces, and enabling reduce the cost of smart card. Recently, smart cards equipped with a microcontroller are used in many fields including GSM-SIM*3 and W-CDMA-UIM*4 cards in mobile phones, credit cards and cash cards in the financial field and electronic tickets and ETC*5 cards in the transportation field. Previously, single function cards each of which achieve a single function only have been the main stream. However, since smart cards are now used in many fields, development of multi-application cards that each achieve multiple functions is progressing. Moreover popularity of non-contact type is increasing in the distribution fields that require high-speed communication such as the transportation field and pursue convenience such as the distribution field, as opposed to the existing contact type cards. For multi-application cards that are shared by multiple fields, a dual mode that can handle both a contact type and a contactless type has become necessary. In the general method, two chips are incorporated in one card to achieve a dual mode, one IC chip for a contact intrface and one IC chip for a contactless interface. However, this method has problems such as the necessity for sharing of data between each IC chips, increasing development cost, and no possibility for reduction of card prices. Therefore, a device that can actualize a dual mode in a single chip and handle multi-applications has come into strong demand. To respond to the demand, Hitachi developed "AE45X series" that is equipped with built-in 16-bit CPU core "AE-4" for smart card microcontroller and also contact and contactless interfaces in a single chip. As the first product, Hitachi releases "AE45X-B" and its features are as follows. [Product features]
As the development environment, the emulator that includes the functions of supporting for "AE45X series" in addition to conventional " E6000 emulator " can be used. Since the software of the microcontrollers are compatible with the conventional mircrocontrollers "AE-4 Series", existing software resources such as OS and application programs can be used. As the shipment forms, "wafer" and "COT (Chip On Tape)" are available. Hitachi will develop the smart card controller incorporating other contact/contactless interfaces. Also Hitachi continue the enhancement of the product lineup of the "AE Series" and development of products handling a wide range of application fields.
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Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice. |
WRITTEN BY Corporate Communications Division |