Let's look at the important features and benefits that contactless cards have. Since they are an integral part of smart cards, we will start the discussion with them.
Smart cards
This is the name of plastic cards with a built-in microcircuit. The prevailing number of them contains an OS and a microprocessor that protect access to the card, in other words, carry out cryptographic operations: storing operations using keys, user authentication, operations in a trusted environment.
Smart cards are debit and credit cards, travel cards, passes of various organizations, student cards, SIM cards, etc.
Types of smart cards
The first classification of smart cards is based on the method of exchange with the reader:
- Contact (ISO 7816): well-known cards with chips that do not contain batteries - the energy of the readers is taken. These include payment cards, SIM cards, payphone subscriptions.
- USB contact: a more "advanced" version of the first type, in which the microcircuit is integrated with a USB reader in a small package.
- Contactless smart cards:a variety in which to read the information you need to bring the card closer to the reader. "Communication" with the reader occurs with the participation of RFID technology. These cards also do not have a battery, energy is stored in them with the help of an inductor, which "feeds" the operation of the device. Examples: e-passes, passes, biometric passports.
The second classification is based on the functional:
- Memory cards: they store any amount of information and mechanisms for restricting access to it - passwords, unique numbers, etc. The most common group is travel cards, electronic tickets, payphone cards.
- Intellectual: distinguished by the presence of a microprocessor and the ability to download algorithms for it, operate under the operating system, contain a set of certificates. These are SIM cards, electronic visas and passports.
Contactless cards and their features
To paraphrase the above, we can add that this is the general name for contactless mechanisms used in payment systems and access control points.
Their main advantages are as follows:
- virtually zero possibility of forgery;
- long storage period of information - up to 10 years;
- data transfer rate to the reader - fractions of seconds;
- economical - you can overwrite information within 100 thousand times;
- possibility of long-term operation - the card is less subject to wear due to the lack of contacts with the reader.
A standard reader "sees" contactless cards at a distance of up to 15 cm, which allows you not to get the device for payment or control from your bag, pocket or purse. This noticeably speeds up standard checkout and turnstile operations (estimated up to 40%).
Also, bank contactless cards are the most versatile, because they are additionally equipped with both a chip and a magnetic stripe. At the same time, their price is quite acceptable, which explains such a wide occurrence of contactless cards in our everyday life.
Varieties of contactless cards
Contactless cards also have their own classification:
- Em-marine: the most common contactless access cards (tags). An antenna and a proximity chip are placed inside the plastic base. Their distinguishing feature is the ability to read at a distance of up to 70 cm. They are used as passes to parking lots, parking lots, fitness centers, schools, universities, medical institutions, etc. They take into account the time spent by employees within the walls of the organization, the routes of movement of drivers, sales representatives etc.
- MIFARE®: its "core" consists of an antenna, a microchip with protected memory, a transmitter and a receiver. Data in the card can be stored up to 10 years. Another feature is a unique individual number that fits into one of the memory sectors - it can be used as an identifier code.
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HID PROXIMITY: a kind of contactless pass cards that work over a wide range of temperatures. Reading time from them - no more than 0, 1 sec. They have a buzzer and a three-color LED for sound and visual informing about the result of contact with the reader.
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HID ICLASS: they have more complex algorithms for contacting the reader and data encryption - information transfer begins only when the card and the reader exchange special keys. Their difference is that they can store biometric data, such as a fingerprint, in their memory. This allows you to embed the device on closed objects, since the reader compares the information about the fingerprint on the card with the HID ICLASS owner's finger leaning against it.
contactless smart cards
Contactless card reader
Readers of contactless cards - devices used to recognize information from contactless cards, key fobs, badges, bracelets, stickers. The vast majority of them only receive the signal, but there are also species that record data.
Readers are divided into near - recognizing a card at a distance of up to 10 cm, and far - up to 100 m. The first are used mainly on access control systems, at control points. Far, which, by the way, can receive a signal from several cards at once, are operated at large enterprises, in logistics.
