13.56 MHz RFID Reference Design Offers a True 64-bit Encryption Engine and Lower Host-side BOM

San Jose, California (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Royalty-free ISO/IEC 14443-B protocol for passive tags

Atmel(R) Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), today announced its Keen+
reference design for the development of secure, 13.56 MHz
logic-based, passive RFID, close proximity applications.

The AT88SC-ADK2 Keen+ development kit includes Atmel's Crypto
Evaluation Studio tool suite, an application development board,
CryptoRF(R) samples in both tag and smart card form, a USB cable, and
a quick start guide.

The Crypto Evaluation Studio tool suite has a menu-driven,
graphical user interface for CryptoRF configuration and testing, plus
development libraries and code examples for host-side cryptographic
operations required for secure communication. The application
development board includes Atmel's ISO/IEC 14443-B-compliant,
AT88RF1354 host-reader chip; an Atmel AVR flash microcontroller; and
USB connectivity to PC and power. Schematics and PCB layout are also
included.

AT88RF1354 Cuts Host Reader BOM. The AT88RF1354 host reader
performs RF communication, packet formatting, decoding, and
communication error checking and is based on the royalty-free,
ISO/IEC 14443-2 Type B signal modulation scheme and ISO/IEC 14443-3
Type B frame format, used by 60% of the vendors of RFID host readers.
Data is exchanged half duplex at a 106k bit per second rate. A
two-byte CRC_B provides communication error detection capability. The
AT88RF1354 can be used with both RFID transponders or contactless
smart cards and is compatible with 3.3V and 5V host microcontrollers
with two-wire or SPI serial interfaces.

The highly integrated reader IC requires fewer external
components than competing RFID reader chips, resulting in a BOM in
the US$2.00 range for a host reader based on this reference design.
This is significantly lower than designs using competing RFID reader
ICs.

The AT88RF1354 is available in the smallest package option
obtainable today -- a 6mm x 6mm, 36-pin QFN.

CryptoRF Devices Offer 64-bit Encryption Engine. Atmel's CryptoRF
family is the only 13.56 MHz RFID logic-based transponder with a
64-bit embedded cryptographic engine; four sets of non-readable,
64-bit authentication keys; four sets of non-readable, 64-bit session
encryption keys; and up to 64 Kbits of memory. Sixteen individually
configurable sectors can be customized to allow different levels of
access, including read and write, read-only, and
one-time-programmable.

Atmel's CryptoRF transponders have both mutual authentication
and, uniquely, a dual authentication capability that allows two
completely independent users with separate authentication keys to
access the same section of the memory. Because these transponders
generate a unique identity for each individual transaction they are
an exceptional choice for:

1) multi-use cash transactions (bus passes, vending programs, loyalty
cards)
2) secure building access
3) authenticating consumables for medical, printing and consumer
electronics (glucose strips, cartridges/toner, batteries, headsets and
game accessories)

Other RFID solutions use passwords that are easily captured
during contactless transactions, allowing them to be hacked, cloned
and tampered with using an inexpensive reader. In contrast, each
CryptoRF device gets its own unique set of diversified authentication
and encryption keys. Fuse bits are blown to permanently lock the
security information in the device, guaranteeing it cannot be read.
Because the keys are diversified, an authentication key learned from
one CryptoRF device will be useless with any other CryptoRF device.

Package options include RFID tags, thinned wafers and modules for
smart card applications.

CryptoStudio Development Environment Offers GUI Driven
Development.

The Keen+ kit includes a free library of simple API calls that
execute the most complex host operations; including building a
software model of the host-side cryptographic engine, computing
challenges, performing data encryption and decryption, computing
encrypted passwords and message authentication codes, and keeping the
host model of the cryptographic engine in synchrony with that in the
device. The development library is delivered as a highly decoupled
binary cryptographic core and a source code interface for easy
integration. A two-wire interface connects the daughter board to any
existing embedded development environment.

Atmel offers a comprehensive range of CryptoRF reference designs,
demonstration kits and application software that facilitate the
implementation of CryptoRF into existing products in applications
such as contactless payment, product authentication, patient safety,
and patron management.

Pricing. Please contact your local Atmel sales office,
http://www.atmel.com/contacts/. Atmel's Keen+ RFID Development Kit,
including reference designs and software is available now for
US$99.95.

Atmel's AT88RF1354 host RFID reader ICs are available in QFN
packages now for US$1.07 in quantities of 25,000 units.

Atmel's CryptoRF RFID transponders are available in tag form with
prices for the smallest density starting at US$0.40 in quantities of
25,000 units.

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.

(C) 2008 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo
and combinations thereof, CryptoRF(R), and others are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Atmel Corporation. Other terms and
product names may be the trademarks of others.

Information

Atmel's CryptoRF product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/products/secureRF/

Press Contacts
Sharon Harnisch, Marketing Communications Manager - Atmel Corporation
Phone: +1-719-540-1723, Email: sharnisch@cso.atmel.com
Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
Phone: +1-408-487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com

Web site: http://www.atmel.com

ots Originaltext: Atmel Corporation
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Contact:
Sharon Harnisch, Marketing Communications Manager, +1-719-540-1723,
sharnisch@cso.atmel.com, or Helen Perlegos, Public Relations,
+1-408-487-2963, hperlegos@atmel.com, both of Atmel Corporation