SAN JOSE, California, October 13 /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