AN2284

6 SC ISO7816: Protocol Overview

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6

SC ISO7816: Protocol Overview

6.1

Introduction

"ISO7816: Identification Cards Integrated Circuit(s) Cards with Contacts" provides the basis to

transition the relatively simple identification card from a token that can be compromised through

forgery, theft, or loss into a tamper-resistant and "intelligent" integrated circuit card (ICC), more

popularly known as a smart card. ISO 7816 includes at least six approved parts and has

several additional parts under review:

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Part 1, Physical characteristics

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Part 2, Dimensions and location of the contacts

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Part 3, Electronic signals and transmission protocols

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Part 3, Amendment 2-Revision of protocol type selection

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Part 4, Inter-industry commands for interchange

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Part 5, Numbering system and registration procedure for application identifiers

6.2

ISO 7816-2 - Pins Location

ISO 7816-2 specifies an ICC with eight electrical contacts present in a standardized position on

the front face of the card. These are referred to as C1 through C8. Some of these contacts are

electrically connected to the microprocessor chip embedded within the card; some are not,

having been defined to allow for enhancements but unused at the present time. The picture

below depicts the contacts positions.

Figure 3.

Contact Definitions for Smart Cards