Dual Smart Card Interface Housed In Tiny Package

Housed in a single, QFN-32 package measuring just 5 x 5 x 0.75 mm, the LTC1955 chip provides all of the necessary supervisory, level shifting and power control functions needed for two smart cards. The dual smart card interface can also interface with two security access module (SAM) cards or a combination of one SAM card and one smart card. Compliant with the provisions of ISO7816-3, the IC is EMV compatible and provides greater than 10 kV of ESD protection on all of its pins. Other LTC1955 features include an integrated control/status serial port, an operating current of 250 mA, and a shutdown current of less than 1 mA. An integrated buck-boost charge pump generates independently set card voltages of 5V, 3V and 1.8V from an input voltage of 2.7V to 5.5V. The cards interface with the microcontroller via a four-wire serial interface, and multiple devices can be daisy-chained to accommodate a larger number of smart cards. Pricing starts at $2.45 each /1,000. LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORP., Milpitas, CA. (800) 454-6327.