What is a Smart Card

A smart card is a flexible Plastic Card, usually made of PVC, that contains one or more
embedded integrated circuits. The integrated circuit in a smart card is often referred as ICC,
Smart Card Chip, Smart Chip Modules or Secure Microcontroller (Secure MCU) while the
smart cards are often also referred as smartcards, chip cards, IC cards, ICC or CPU cards.

Smart cards.

The physical characteristic of a Smart Card are specified by the ISO/IEC 7816-1
(Identification cards Integrated circuit cards Part 1: Cards with contacts Physical
characteristics) while the locations and dimensions for the contacts are specified by
the ISO/IEC 7816-2 (Identification cards Integrated circuit cards Part 2: Cards with
contacts Dimensions and location of the contacts).
Location of the contacts on a smart card

Contact smart cards does not normally contain any battery and the power necessary to operate
is supplied by the Smart Card Reader that act as the communication medium between the
smart card and the host (e.g. smartphone, computer, POS). Contact Smart Card Readers
interface with the Smart Cards by means of up to eight contact PINs while Contactless Smart
Card Readers do not require physical contact with the card. The contact pads on the card are
gold-plated and two of them (RFU) are normally not used.
Smartcard contact pad pinout.

While the position, minimum and maximum dimensions and location of the contact pad are
standardized, the layout of the contact pad can be freely designed by the chip manufacturer or
by the card vendors.

Contact smart card pads layouts.

The contact pads are connected to the chip by means of extremely thin bonding wires that are
buried into the encapsulation resin.
Cross section view of the structure and packaging of a smart card chip

Smart cards can be classified according the type of chip implanted within the card and how
the card interchange data with the Card Reader. The illustration below clarify the
classification:

Types of smart cards

MCU Cards / Microprocessor Cards

Microprocessor Cards embeds a micromodule containing one or more silicon integrated
circuit chips with memory and microprocessor. Microprocessor Cards have data processing
capabilities and are conceptually equivalent to a computer with their own OS called Card
Operating System (COS), a File System and applications. Multiple applications can be loaded
on a MCU Card.

Memory Cards
The chip of a Memory Card hold and store data into EEPROM or Flash Memory but there no
processor and therefore there is no processing capabilities. Memory Cards are a secure and
popular alternative to magnetic stripe cards.

Display Cards
Display Cards are smart cards that in addition to the standard chip embeds at least a battery,
an additional chip and a LCD display that is used to display secret keys or One Time
Passwords.

Contactless Smart Cards

A contactless smart card embeds integrated circuits and at least an antenna that communicate
with the terminal via radio waves.

Hybrid Cards
An hybrid card is a type of smartcard that embeds two chips, one that communication via the
contact interface and a second one that is used to communicate via the contactless interface.
Hybrid Cards are sometime called Twin Cards. Altough still on the market their use is in
steady decline.

Dual Interface Smart Cards

A Dual Interface Smart Card, also known as Combi Card) is a type of smartcard that embed a
single chip able to manage both the contact and the contactless interface.
Exploded view of a dual interface smartcard.

Multi Component Cards

Multi Component Cards are smart cards that in addition to the standard chip embeds one or
more electronic components, e.g. battery, LCD display, fingerprint sensor.

A multi-component card from Oberthur Technologies with a LCD display on the back side.

The smart cards contain unique features that bring many benefits to both consumers and
issuing organizations:

Portability

Tamper-resistant chip

Weather-resistant

A single smart card can be programmed with multiple banking credentials, drivers
license entitlement, loyalty programs, medical entitlement and club membership just
to name a few

Relatively cheap to manufacture

Capable of performing encryption

 Capable of execute relatively complex computational scripts and to execure pre-
loaded applications

Each smart card has its own, unique serial number

Information and applications on a card can be updated without having to issue new
cards

Reliability that is virtually unaffected by electrical and electromagnetic fields

A smart card can be easily replaced if lost.

Despite the many advantages there are still few disadvantages:

Because smart cards are small and lightweight can be easily lost

Need a smart card reader (contact or contactless) to be used

Might give a sense of false security.

The Smart Cards are used in hundreds of different applications that can be grouped into the
following macro categories:

Sim Cards

Financial Cards

Access Control Cards

Company ID Badges

National ID Cards

Healthcare Cards

PKI Cards

Encryption Key Store Cards

Loyalty & Membership Cards

The chips used in smart cards are also used in used to store secret keys or to perform security-
related computations in ePassports, wearables, IoT devices.