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Technology Cards |
Today's Feature-Rich ID Cards
Beyond PVC or composite plastic cards,
there is now a variety of technology card types to choose from –
one of which may be helpful in constructing a card printing/encoding
solution. Below are descriptions of the most significant technology
cards being used today.
If you would like
additional information about HID technology cards, please
click HERE.
If you have any questions
about these cards, or how you might use these in an IDW solution,
contact us. You may also chat
with us live by selecting this ‘Chat Live'
link.
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
functionally similar to a small floppy disk. They are less expensive
than microprocessor chips, but they also offer less security and
should therefore not be used to store sensitive or valuable information.
Chips that contain both memory and
a microprocessor are also similar to a small floppy disk, except
they contain an "intelligent" controller used to securely
add, delete, change and update information contained in memory.
The 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.
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" (63.5 mm to 99.06 mm) depending on the acceptor.
Contactless smart cards are used in many of the same applications as contact smart cards, 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.
Proximity Cards
Proximity cards or simply
"prox cards" communicate through an antenna similar to
contactless smart cards except that they are read-only devices that
generally have a greater range of operation. The range of operation
for prox cards is typically from 2.5" to 20" (63.5 mm
to 508 mm) depending on the reader. It is possible to read a small
amount of information with prox cards such as an identification
code that is usually verified by a remote computer; however, it
is not possible to write information back to the card. Prox cards
are available from several sources in both ISO thickness cards from
0.027" to 0.033" (0.6858 mm to 0.8382 mm) and "clamshell"
cards from 0.060" to over 0.070" thick (1.524 mm to over
1.778 mm).
Prox cards continue to
grow in popularity because of the convenience they offer in security,
identification and access control applications, especially door
access where fast, hands-free operation is preferred.
Hybrid Cards
Hybrid card is the term
given to e-cards that contain two or more embedded chip technologies
such as a contactless smart chip with its antenna, a contact smart
chip with its contact pads, and/or a proximity chip with its antenna
– all in a single card. The contactless chip is typically
used for applications demanding fast transaction times, like mass
transit. The contact chip can be used in applications requiring
higher levels of security. The individual electronic components
are not connected to each other even though they share space in
a single card.
Hybrid cards offer a unique solution
for updating your existing badging system. This e-card allows you
to accommodate the infrastructure and card technology of a legacy
system while adding new applications and e-card technologies –
all in a single ID card.
Combi Cards
The combi card –
also known as a dual-interface card – has one smart chip embedded
in the card that can be accessed through either contact pads or
an embedded antenna. This form of smart card is growing in popularity
because it provides ease-of-use and high security in a single card
product.
Mass transit is expected to be one of the more popular applications for the combi card. In the mass transit application, a contact-type acceptor can be used to place a cash value in the chip's memory and the contactless interface can be used to deduct a fare from the card.
Contact us if we may answer any questions
about these technology card types at 800-321-4405, Monday - Friday,
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CT. You may also chat with us live by selecting
this ‘Chat Live' link.
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