Sharp Microelectronics Previews Next Generation Monolithic Smart Card Chip at CardTech/SecurTech 2002.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

CardTech/SecurTech 2002

CAMAS, Wash. & NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2002

LSI Module Features 1MB of Flash Memory for Applications and Data

At the CardTech/SecurTech annual conference in New Orleans, Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA) will preview an LSI Module for Smart Cards with 1MB of Flash memory designed for use in the next generation of smart card applications.

Sharp's Smart Card Module is targeted at the needs of OEMs and system integrators developing government and private sector smart card systems, including transportation, healthcare, insurance, banking and corporate identification.

Sharp's Smart Card Module offers significant advantages over existing integrated circuits currently found in smart cards. For example, Sharp's LSI Module offers a high-speed 16 bit core processor and a dedicated cryptoprocessing unit. In addition, with 1MB of non-volatile and rewritable Flash memory integrated in the LSI Module, Sharp allows more than 125 times the memory capacity found in typical IC cards (8kB), and hence, the ability to support multiple applications within one card.

"Existing smart card technologies are mostly dependent on ROM and EEPROM combinations," said Robert Stuart, product manager at SMA. "Therefore, most of the applications must be inserted into ROM at early manufacturing stages, limiting flexibility and increasing time to market.

"Smart cards based on Sharp's flash memory technology can be fully programmed at the latest stages of the issuance process, providing smart card manufacturers and system integrators with unprecedented flexibility," Stuart continued. "The technology is also fully geared to support open operating systems and post issuance frameworks."

Anticipating needs for biometric identification, Sharp's Smart Card module can store both vector data and full image data of fingerprints, as well as the required recognition algorithms. For facial recognition, Sharp's chip can store a series of facial pictures, can easily renew the picture data and can also integrate portions of the recognition algorithm in the card.

Sharp's integrated cryptographic coprocessor is optimized for acceleration of a wide range of asymmetric algorithms including elliptic curves.

"This module is currently being used to enable daily full PKI transactions by ISO14443 Type B under 180ms in contactless transportation applications in Japan," Stuart said. "This is one of our most remarkable achievements with the Sharp Smart Card Module."

      Specifications:

              Contact Type                Combination Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Power         Input: 5V, Internal: 2V     Input: 5V, Internal: 2V
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU           Sharp 16-bit CPU            Sharp 16-bit CPU
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU Speed     Up to 24 MHz                Contact:  15 MHz,
                                          Contactless: 13.56 MHz
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Flash Memory  1 MB (8 Mb)                 1 MB (8 Mb)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RAM           8 kB                        8 kB
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ROM           4 kB                        8 kB
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Co Processor  RSA 1024 to 1152 bit        RSA 1024 to 1152 bit
              ESIGN 1152 bit              ESIGN 1152 bit
              Elliptic curve cryptography Elliptic curve cryptography
              160 to 256 bit              160 to 256 bit
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Co Processor  30 MHz                      Contact: 15 MHz,
Speed                                     Contactless: 13.56 MHz
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PLL           External clock: 3 MHz to    External clock: 3 MHz to
              5 MHz, 30 MHz               5 MHz, 30 MHz
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RF            -                           ISO/IEC 14443-2 Type B
                                          ASK10%)
                                          Frequency: 13.56 MHz
                                          NRZ/BPSK-NRZ
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Transmission  9.6 kbps to 75.8 kbps (x8)  Contact: 9.6 kbit/s to
Speed                                     75.8 kbit/s (x8)
                                          Contactless: 106 kbit/s to
                                          424 kbit/s (x4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

About Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas

Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA), Camas, Wash., is a U.S. based company and a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation which is a subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Sharp is a worldwide developer of core digital technologies that are playing an integral role in shaping the next generation of electronic products for consumer and business needs. SMA offers breakthrough memory, LCD, Opto, CCD, RF/IR, microcontroller and system-on-chip components, along with packaging and integration skills that help design engineers throughout North and South America bring their ambitious ideas to market. SMA is dedicated to improving people's lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value and design. More information regarding SMA's products can be found at www.sharpsma.com or by calling 800/642-0261.