Smart Cards

Contact smart cards are CR-80 sized PVC/PET cards with an array of gold metallic contacts connected to a silicon chip embedded inside the card.

The chip usually includes a control microprocessor an encryption/decryption engine, a Read Only Memory containing the operating program, and up to 64 K bytes of reusable memory (EEPROM).

Smart cards are now widely used in credit card applications (especially in Europe) where their increased security can help to defeat criminals.

They are also finding many new roles in biometric access and ID systems, and in multi-function transaction applications, such as Campus Cards. These applications frequently require dye sub-printing for personalisation, and combining the initial data programming of the card with the printing process is very efficient.

The Magicard Rio and Tango printers can both be supplied with an optional smart card contact station (/S) and will execute the encode-and-verify function while the card image is being downloaded for printing.

Smart Card Printers & Encoding

Because of the wide variety of Smart card chip functions, Magicard printers position the card, lower the contact array, and provide direct electrical connection to the chip via a 9 pin connector on the rear panel. The interface electronics and encoding can therefore be external, and customer specified to suit the application.

The eight chip contacts will normally be supplied in the "low" format which is now the preferred ISO 7816 position. If specified at the time of ordering, the older "high" format can be supplied as an alternative.

The uses to which Smart cards can be put are boundless, but some examples include:

Campus

Card Electronic purse payments for vending machines, refectory/canteen, photocopying, and exam fees. Access control for laboratories, protected databases, and student voting rights. Personal bio data including age home address, medical history and blood group. Printed with a strong University corporate identity and a large student portrait. Protected by custom HoloKote™ and HoloPatch™. Biometric Access Control Encrypted biometric fingerprint and/or retinal scan data.

Digitized portrait

Personal data including access authorizations and bio data. Duplex printed with a large portrait and corporate data on the front, and personal data and "If found" information on the reverse.

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