A new line of RFID keys and cards has been introduced by, Maxim Integrated Products. The solution is designed for the automatic identification, access control, and electronic cash (e-cash) markets. The contactless RFID product family integrates the company’s 1-Wire secure authentication ICs, which protect intellectual property in embedded systems.
The devices have a 13.56MHz interface, which is becoming the standard for access control and e-payment applications. Some regions of the world have already begun deploying this RFID technology for passport and national ID cards.
As the critical data found inside many of these RF credentials becomes more and more valuable, efforts to crack, counterfeit, and duplicate cards and credentials will increase. System integrators are already looking for increased security and authentication techniques to protect those assets.
The RF devices are packaged in a laminated plastic key fob or ISO thin card format.
Two devices in the family employ the secure hash algorithm (SHA-1), for protecting a system’s critical data without using expensive encryption techniques or an untested, proprietary protocol.
The RF keys and cards are custom programmable to match the requirements of new and existing tag populations. They work with most 13.56MHz readers on the market, thus providing an alternative tag source for existing systems.
