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Contactless Smart Cards
In addition to the features and functions found in
contact smart cards, contactless smart cards contain
an embedded antenna instead of contact pads attached
to the chip for reading and writing information contained
in the chip's memory. Contactless cards do not have
to be inserted into a card acceptor device. Instead,
they need only be passed within range of a radio frequency
acceptor to read and store information in the chip.
The range of operation is typically from about 2.5"
to 3.9" (63.5mm to 99.06mm) depending on the acceptor.
Contactless smart cards are used in many applications,
especially where the added convenience and speed of
not having to insert the card into a reader is desirable.
There is a growing acceptance of this type of card for
both physical and logical access control applications.
Student identification, electronic passport, vending,
parking and tolls are common applications for contactless
cards.
Contact Smart Cards
Contact smart cards are the size of a conventional
credit or debit card with a single embedded integrated
circuit chip that contains just memory or memory plus
a microprocessor. Memory-only chips are less expensive
than microprocessor chips, but they also offer less
security so they should not be used to store sensitive
or valuable information.
Chips that contain both memory and a microprocessor
contain an "intelligent" controller used to
securely add, delete, change, and update information
contained in memory. More sophisticated microprocessor
chips have state-of-the-art security features built
in to protect the contents of memory from unauthorized
access.
Contact smart cards must be inserted into a card acceptor
device where pins attached to the reader make "contact"
with pads on the surface of the card to read and store
information in the chip. This type of e-card is used
in a wide variety of applications including network
security, vending, meal plans, loyalty, electronic cash,
government IDs, campus IDs, e-commerce, health cards,
and many more.
If
you would like to know more about our Smart Card Solutions,
or to schedule a demonstration please call Toll-Free
at 1.800.263.4258.
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