The SLE4442 is a very common type of contact smart card chip, originally developed by Infineon (though compatible versions, like Fudan FM4442, are now widely available as the original Infineon chip has been discontinued). It’s classified as a memory card with basic security logic, rather than a full-fledged microprocessor card.
Key Features
- Contact Interface: As the name suggests, it’s a contact chip card. This means it requires direct physical contact with a compatible smart card reader (an ISO 7816 reader) to communicate and exchange data. You’ll see a gold-colored contact pad on the surface of the card.
- Memory Size: It has a relatively small 256-byte EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). This memory is organized into 4-byte pages. While small compared to modern smart cards, it’s sufficient for many basic applications.
- Programmable Security Code (PSC): This is a key security feature. The chip has a 3-byte user password (PSC) that protects write access to its memory.
- You can read all data from the card without the password.
- To write or modify data in the main memory area, you must successfully authenticate with the correct 3-byte password.
- There’s a limited number of incorrect password attempts (typically 3). After three failed attempts, the card’s write function is permanently blocked, preventing brute-force password guessing.
- Write Protection: The SLE4442 allows for irreversible byte-wise write protection for the lowest 32 addresses (bytes 0-31). This means once data is written to these specific bytes, they can be permanently locked and can never be altered again, even with the correct password.
- Data Retention and Write Cycles:
- Data is typically retained for a minimum of 10 years.
- The chip supports a high number of write/erase cycles, usually at least 100,000 cycles, ensuring durability for repeated use.
- ISO 7816 Compliance: The contact configuration and communication protocol adhere to the ISO/IEC 7816 standard (specifically, synchronous transmission), ensuring compatibility with standard contact smart card readers.
- Working Voltage: Operates at 5V.
Common Applications in Lahore (and globally):
Given its features, the SLE4442 chip card is widely used for applications that require a balance of security (for writing data) and affordability:
- Loyalty Cards: Storing customer points or rewards that can be securely updated.
- Gift Cards / Stored Value Cards: Used in retail or for specific services where a balance is stored on the card and deducted with each use.
- Library Cards: Tracking borrowed items.
- Vending Machine Cards: For cashless payments in vending machines.
- Basic Access Control: For doors or systems where a simple, secure credential is needed, but not the advanced multi-application capabilities of a microprocessor card.
- Healthcare Cards: Storing basic patient information, though more advanced chips are often used for sensitive medical records.
- Smart Card Vendors / Security System Integrators: Companies specializing in smart card solutions, access control, and ID card systems will carry these. You might find suppliers who are partners of HID Global or other smart card manufacturers.
The smart card sle4442 contact chip remains a popular choice for straightforward applications where a basic level of write protection and secure data storage is required, without the higher cost and complexity of a full-fledged microprocessor smart card.