Smartcard OS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Smart Card Chip Module Handling
 
 
With the PPI234 CM, IMASYS offers a flexible automatic handler for Smart Card Chip Modules on 35mm tape. This cost-effective platform is suitable for testing, counting and execution of multifarious encoding tasks of IC modules such as initialization, pre personalization, OS flashing or JAVA applet loading as an example.
 
One of many applications is Smart Card OS life cycle management:
 
 
1. What is a secure Smartcard chip and where are those being used?
 
 
It¡®s an micro controller providing either a :
 
ISO/IEC 7816 conform contact interface or
   
ISO/IEC 14443 A/B conform contactless interface (HF, 13.56 MHz)
   
Or a combination of both
   
 
Contains a CPU, RAM, EEROM, ROM as well as cryptographic coprocessors (DES/AES, PKC) and security sensors
 
The new generation of controllers may include Flash memory
 
It has an operating system (OS)
 
Applications
 
ePassports and EID cards
   
Electronic driving licences
   
Health and other ID cards
   
High-security access control cards
   
Digital signature and other secure micro controller applications
   
 
 
2. What are the Smartcard life cycles and how to switch from one stage to the next?
 
 
 

Life cycles describes the series of stages, a Smart Card passes during its lifetime

 
Switching from one state to the next stage typically is an one-way street and it‘s not possible to go backwards
 
The processes to switch the life cycles are:
 
1. Birth  →  2. OS Ready  = 
 
Processes during wafer manufacturing (classic design)
   
OS Flash loading
   
2. OS Ready  →  3. Initialized  =  Initialization (or Java Applet Loading)
 
3. Initialized  →  4. Personalized  =  Personalization
 
After Personalization, the OS switches to 5. Normal Operation, where it stays until Death
 
Some OS implement an additional state Death, in which can be switched from any stage via an specific KILL command.
 
Death stage ultimately can be reached by physically destroying the chip.
 
 
 
 
 

3. Example eID card: Typical Smartcard life cycle management process

 
 
 
 
 

4. Example eID card: Streamlined Smartcard life cycle management process

 
 
 
 
 
 
Classic design vs. OS Flash loading
 
Specific Wafer mask for each Smartcard controller platform, OS and OS version  →  unflexible & high cost
   
Often project specific Smartcard controller and OS combination  →  Made to order & high lead time
   
Complex product management and vast number of different product codes
   
Time consuming development
   
OS loading decoupled from Wafer manufacturing process  →  Drastically increased flexibility
   
OS Flash loading can be done on module, inlay or even card level  →  Keeping stock probably is economical  →  Reduced lead time
   
Simplification of product and order management processes
   
Reduced time to market
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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