Smart card readers are becoming an important technology for reading data from smart cards. Their use has influenced many things, from identification and payment to access control.
With its functions, a smart card reader provides many conveniences. In use, card readers are divided into three types: contact, contactless, and dual interface.
This article will inform you about smart card readers, from definitions, working mechanisms, types, functions, to the global regulatory and homologation standards that govern their hardware deployment.
What is a Smart Card Reader?
A smart card reader is a device used to read data from a smart card. This device allows the data from the smart card to be connected to a computer or network system so that it can process or verify the data sent.
The reader is commonly used for authentication, transaction authorization, and access control. This tool is commonly found in digital attendance systems for authentication, stores for payment authorization, and transportation gates for access control.
How Does it Work?
The way a smart card reader works is by reading the chip that is on the smart card. There are two main ways the readers read the data:
- Contact: The card is inserted directly into the reader and comes into direct contact with the connector in the reader.
- Contactless: The reader is equipped with RFID or NFC technology, so the card is simply brought closer to the reader within a few centimeters.
Once the chip connects with the connector on the reader, the data on the card will be sent to the system for verification. All the reader processing is done in just a few seconds.
The Types
The types of smart card readers are divided into three, namely contact reader, contactless reader, and dual interface reader. The following is an explanation of these types of card readers:
Contact smart card reader
This reader requires physical contact between the chip on the card and the connector on the reader. This type of reader is often used for transactions that use chip cards, such as ATMs or EDC machines.
Contactless smart card reader
Because it uses radio waves with RFID or NFC technology, this reader is able to read data simply by bringing the card closer to the reader within a few centimeters. This type of reader is often found in public transportation and office buildings for access control.
Dual interface smart card reader
As the name suggests, this reader combines the capabilities of a contact reader and a contactless reader in one device. Usually, this reader is often found on employee IDs for attendance and room access.
The Functions
Authenticating
One of the functions of the reader is authentication. The reader is used to perform the authentication process in identifying users or granting access to certain systems.
Data reading
Data reading is another function of the reader. Data stored on the chip in the smart card, such as personal information, transaction data, or authentication data, can be read by the connector in the reader.
Data storage
Another function of the reader is to store data. This can only be done on some readers that are capable of writing or changing the data on the smart card.
Regulatory Compliance and Radio Frequency Homologation
Advanced contactless smart card readers with dual interfaces have been commercially deployed in compliance with global regulatory frameworks and hardware compliance standards. This is because the devices operate by transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals (typically at 13.56 MHz).
Regulatory bodies worldwide enforce strict technical evaluations before devices can be legally marketed or integrated into public infrastructure. The legality of the devices must be ensured through type approval certification.
Compliance requirements generally focus on radio frequency (RF) spectrum allocation, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and specific absorption rate (SAR) limits. Manufacturers are required to undergo testing to ensure that devices meet international safety standards and national regulations.
This global regulatory certification serves as your tool for entering international markets. Additionally, smart card readers are guaranteed to be safe without compromising the integrity of the public spectrum and to operate reliably in the presence of other electronic devices.
