SMART CARDS TYPES AND PRICES

Contrary to what we think, smart cards have not just entered our lives. They even exist in countless fields since the last century. The formation of usage areas provides security and practical solutions, especially in banking. In line with its purpose, it goes back to the 1970s.

The development of microcontroller single-chip microcontrollers accelerates the technology of smart cards. CPU microcontroller, RAM access memory. EEPROM writitable electronic unit, have gone down to microcircuits,such as basic components like I/O input and out put sources. Thus, almost computers as we know them today. Brand new and capable like many of our electronic devices smart cards have emerged. It may even be possible to compare many smart cards to a computer without a keyboard and monitor.

Although we are widely familiar with banking, smart cards provide access controls at doors and turnstiles in our workplaces. They replace our tickets for our public transportation needs. It can even provide order in our coffee machine. Thus, smart cards have became tools that can solve many of our daily needs. We’ve probably all came to carry one or more cards in our wallets.

WHAT IS A SMART CARD?

Smart cards are made of plastic or similar compositions. They are units that contain chips and carry antennas of some types. You will easily remember its dimensions from our credit cards and new ID cards. It is approximately 86x54mm in size and 0.8mm in thickness. see ISO 7810 and CR80. There may be composition that contain RAM and ROM memories, processors and even operating systems.

These smart cards may have printed features for the plastic card. So this can be done at the printing stage. It can gain key features in different technologies by gaining features such as barcode, QR code. They can even carry magnetic strip applications that are older but still in use. In this way, it can support older technologies. In short, the information in it can be processed and accessed through card readers. They do great work with very basic functions, such as Card ID and Identification.

TYPES OF SMART CARDS

CONTACT CHIP SMART CARDS

It is the type of card we are familiar with from credit cards. It can have all the skills and operating systems from encryption to information retention with the chip mounted on the card. Its most distinctive feature is that it requires contact. It communicates with the reader with the help of metal contacts. It does not contain a power supply. It takes power from the reader as long as it stays connected with the reader during use.

It is still used in some high-security applications. However, we can talk about the rapid developments in contactless cards. Thus, the security levels are greatly improved. In this race, contactless technologies are preferred by millions of card consumption and thousands of businesses.

CONTACTLESS SMART CARDS

This part of smart cards is perhaps the most common type of card that has entered our lives. They can open turnstiles and doors to us in our daily lives. Our personnel card, our identity card, our Istanbul card that we use in public transportation or our transportation card in the city we live in. Our contactless credit card that we often use during the pandemic period. If we have a gym membership, our member card. If we use HGS (Fast Pass System), they can be our fast pass card on highways and bridges. Moreover, we can exemplify the contactless smart cards that we use in many fields. There are different types of contactless smart cards. There are common standards published for these cards. Some of them ISO 7816, ISO 14443 A, ISO 14443 B and ISO 15693.

Proximity Cards

When it comes to proximity cards, 125kHz frequency cards usually come to mind. It is actually a term related to close contact. Although the correct use of the term is indeed contactless, there is a close contactlessness. They should be placed within 2 to 10 cm of the card readers. They usually contain a serial number ID. As a result, this ID is encoded into the chip at the time of manufacture and cannot be changed afterwards. Care is taken not to repeat the same numbers during production. In the systems where it is used, this number acts as a kind of key.

RFID cards

The definition ofRFID cards covers many card types. The term came from the fact that communication with the reader is done by radio frequencies. It is generally used for cards at 13.56mHz frequencies. There are many models of this type of card. RFID smart cards work when they are brought 2-10 cm closer to the readers. Since these work with radio waves, these can also work from wallets and bags Smart cards are one of the most versatile models in use today. The fact that information can be written into them and providing high-security encrypted access to them expands the usage areas.

Magnetic cards

Magnetic cardsare often confused with contactless smart cards. In fact, it is not correct to count it exactly in the contactless category. They contain magnetic strip There is a track on the tape consisting of 3 lines called track1,track2 and track3. The mentioned 3 traces are invisible to the naked eye. We can see it as a single magnetic strip. On this track, it is possible to write, read and change information in the specified standards. They operate in the magnetic field by passing through the magnetic reader head.

UHF smart cards

These smart cards are very high frequency cards. We are used to seeing it in HGS rapid transit and parking systems. It is separated from other cards in terms of frequency. Another very important feature is that it is possible to operate with the reader from much longer distances. It can work at distances from a few meters to 12 meters. Of course, readers also have some special abilities to reach these distances.

NFC smart cards

NFC smart cards are a technology that we hear a little less about, but that is slowly starting to seep into some areas. It is basically a close and contactless technology. It is usually encountered with reading at distances like 2 cm. In fact, maybe you’ve already seen something related to NFC in your phone’s settings. This is a sign that your phone may actually be an NFC reader. Your phone can read most RFID cards at 13.56 mHz. It can even act as a card itself if it has the feature.

QR Code, Barcode cards.

These types of cards are clearly the contactless category. The QR code or barcode printing includes two basic techniques. The first is printing into the plastic material during the production of the card. The other is printing on the surface of the card with systems such as plastic card printers. Prints made during card production show better performance in terms of durability. It is possible to write a lot of information on the card by using barcode or QR code. But of course they cannot be changed. They can be easily read and processed by barcode readers. Even today, it can easily read QR code on mobile phones and applications. See details for QR code card.

CLASSIFICATION OF SMART CARDS ACCORDING TO THEIR FEATURES

Using of ID

This type of card has a UNIC, that is, a non-repeating ID, that is, a serial number. This ID is read by the readers and checked according to the purpose of use in the software, and the necessary action is taken. For example, smart card readers are installed on the doors of production departments and office departments in a facility. Office personnel are only allowed to enter office areas. Entry into production areas is prohibited. IDs for smart cards given to office workers are introduced to the relevant doors.

When the office worker reads her card to the reader at the relevant door. The card reader sends the ID it sees on the card to software. It asks for confirmation from the software. If the ID has the permission to open that door. The software sends the necessary command action to the reader to open the card. As a result, the required access control process of the door is completed. In addition, these processes can be logged by the software and then converted into useful reports. In very rare applications, the ID is not fixed and can be changed by overwriting the current ID of the card. In order to use this feature, the Card chip must support this feature.

Memory-using cards

These smart cards have very useful features, such as UID (UNIC ID). In this way, it also has a memory that can be written to and changed along with other information. For example, let’s take a card you use in the access control system. You are in a large area, such as a campus and it is not easy for the reader to access the software and get permission. Or disconnections are worrying you. Here you had to consider working offline. A memory card might come in handy.

You can set up a simple mechanism like this. You can write on the card which door it can open. You can even enter a time range for this process or code an expiration date. Thus, your card reader, which reads the information in your card, can take the necessary action if it is permissioned for this pass. Consider a similar example when you do a prepaid coffee at a coffee vending machine or in public transportation.

Microprocessor smart cards

This type of smart card uses the UID and memory modules in the previous description. And it also has a microprocessor. In this way, it gains much more advanced application areas. They are perfect solution candidates especially for projects that require high security and flexibility at the same time. Thanks to the processor support, it can run a software inside. It processes the data contained in it and coming from the reader. As a result, it can save its outputs, transform it into various actions and data and publish it to the readers. This ability also gives high encryption ability.

These types of cards can also contain operating systems. See ACOS, AKIS electronic signatures are just one of the uses of these chips. Microprocessors are available in 8, 13 and 32 bit models. Card memories are commonly 256Bytes, 1k, 2k, 4k and 64k. You can find a lot of documentation on the use of 1k products. It is also frequently preferred as a price performance product.

Multi-application smart cards

It provides an invaluable function for smart cards. For example, you have a student ID card. You enter your school by having this card read at the turnstiles at school entrances. (system of school administration) You use it for the barrier in the parking lot. (parking manager’s system) You also use it for your lunch in the cafeteria. (the catering company’s system) In fact, if your school has agreed, you can use it in the public transportation system of your city. These and similar skills are due to the abilities of your card. To put it simply, there are multiple sectors on your card that are different from each other. Each business is programming for these sectors in accordance with its system suitable for its own needs. Similarly, it provides access to these sectors on your card with its own readers. While doing this  it uses an encrypted infrastructure to ensure security.

Contact and Contactless comparison

• In contact, the contact metal ends of the chip must be in contact with the counterparts in the reader. Therefore, the card must be inserted into the reader for processing. You can consider credit cards and sim cards for phones. In contactless RFID cards, there is no need for physical contact with the reader. A few centimetres closer to the reader is sufficient. For instance, contactless credit cards and your public transportation cards.
• Since contactless smart cards work with radio frequencies, they may cause warnings when passing through some detectors.
• Barriers, such as plastic, paper, leather and wood are not restrictive for contactless credit cards. Radio frequencies can pass through these objects. In this way, contactless cards can be easily read from bags and wallets. For example, if a contactless card system is installed on your apartment door. You can easily enter without having to take your key out of your bag. Or you can have your wallet read and get on your public transportation vehicle.
• Contact smart cards must be inserted into the reader and transactions must be made. However, it is sufficient to closer on contactless cards. This can make contactless card use very fast, with read speeds of a few milliseconds. For example, you can do contactless reading in a crowded environment while getting on the public transportation vehicle. You can imagine the difference between inserting the card into the reader and having it read.
• In contact cards, it is possible for the card to be exposed to pollutants such as oil and dirt coming from the outside environment. This may cause both the card origin and the cards to contaminate the reader contacts. A malfunction due to contamination may occur. Thus, it may cause a situation such as the card not responding to the need at the time of use. However, this is not the case with contactless smart cards. Again, mechanical contacts and abrasions can be counted among similar situations.
• While the entire surface is covered with visuals in contactless cards, it is not possible to print instead of chip in contacted cards.

PRINT OPTIONS FOR SMART CARDS

Smart cards are also presented to the market as unprinted blank white cards. There are two reasons for this. First, since the printing processes take some time, it can be supplied quickly from stock in case of emergency. Another reason is that it can be printed by a  plastic card printer. For example, you use it for your personnel ID cards. It may be a good idea to have your staff ID cards printed in bulk with a card company. It will be both economical, fast and high quality. But when you hire a new staff, plastic card manufacturers may not be very willing to produce 1 card. Or you may not want to deal with cargo and similar interaction processes. In this case, a plastic card printer and a blank white smart card are a nice option.

There are many steps from design to sample for a printed smart card. In this process, our expert graphic designers provide the necessary support for the most suitable design for your institution for smart cards. After choosing the right chip and card type. Thus, it will be good both visually and in terms of the chip and technology it contains. A sample is prepared to be tested on your systems. This is usually one or two day process. After you receive the sample and after the necessary examinations, mass production starts with your approval. This production changes within 1 to 4 working days depending on the occupancy of the facility. Generally, the production that starts is completed in one working day, regardless of the order quantity. We know that good design and printing will add value to your project. We support this with the best and quality processes.

CARD READERS

This part of our content about smart card readers is under preparation. Thank you for your patience. Plasis Education Team.