ARM Based Secure Microcontroller - Atmel AT91SC192192CT-USB

Atmel has released its new AT91SC192192CT-USB, an ARM SC100-based secure microcontroller, designed for embedded system applications requiring connectivity and high level of security, for example, to store secure data, provide authentication services, prevent hardware counterfeiting and process digital rights management.

Eric Le Cocquen, Atmel,  stated:

Our new AT91SC192192CT-USB combines Atmel's recognized Smart Card Chip Security, state of the art crypto and ARM SC100 computing power with FLASH flexibility on a versatile platform designed to address a wide spectrum of security applications. Thanks to its rich set of interfaces and FLASH, our product can quickly be added to virtually any embedded system…

The new secure microcontroller features 192 Kbytes of FLASH program memory, 192 Kbytes of fast and high endurance EEPROM, and 24 Kbytes of RAM. AT91SC192192CT-USB also include a Full Speed USB 2.0 interface with 5 Endpoints, an SPI interface to communicate in an Embedded System environment or to connect to a NOR Flash and dedicated hardware to connect to a NAND Flash.

The new AT91SC192192CT-USB secure microcontroller is fully compatible with the AT91SC512384RCT (ROM-based). It also incorporates the standard ISO 7816 Smart Card and the emerging Single Wire Protocol (SWP) interfaces. This makes the AT91SC192192CT-USB a flexible FLASH alternative to its ROM sibling for Smart Card applications such as next-gen (U)SIM cards.

The Universal SIM (USIM) is a SIM built for 3G. It provides the high level of security required in wireless applications. The (U)SIM card identifies and authenticates individual subscribers and lets wireless carriers have a one-to-one relationship with subscribers.  (U)SIM also acts as a means to ensure continuity of service when migrating to 3G and enable a new range of data services. (from  Gemalto - USIM for Cingular 3G migration)

The cryptographic accelerator featured in the AT91SC series is the AdvX, an N-bit multiplier-accumulator dedicated to performing fast encryption and authentication functions. AdvX is based on a custom 32-bit co-processor, thus enabling fast computation and low power operation. The AdvX in conjuction with controlling firmware running within the SC100 core, supports standard finite arithmetic functions (including RSA, DSA, DH and ECC) and GF(2N).

Other security features include logical scrambling on program data and addresses, power and frequency protection logic, memory access controlled by a supervisor mode, and power analysis countermeasures.

Unique hardware features significantly accelerate the execution of Java Card Byte Code by removing the common software bottlenecks encountered during the implementation of a Java Virtual Machine.

AT90SC192192CT-USB Secure Microcontroller is packed in a LQFP64 package. Pricing starts at $8.84 for 10K units qty.

Atmel AT91SC192192CT-USB Secure Microcontroller Block Diagram

Features of Atmel AT91SC192192CT-USB Secure Microcontroller

• General
  • Based on the ARM SC100 SecureCore 32-bit RISC Processor
  • Two Instruction Sets
    • ARM High-performance 32-bit Instruction Set
    • Thumb High-code-density 16-bit Instruction Set
  • 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit Data Types
  • 3-stage Pipeline Architecture
    •  Fetch, Decode, and Execute Stages
  • Von Neumann Load/Store Architecture
    • Single 32-bit Data Bus for Instructions and Data
  • On-chip Programmable System Clock up to 50MHz
  • Bond Pad Locations Confirming to ISO7816-2
  • ESD Protection to ±6000V
  • Very Low Power Consumption
    • Industry Leader in MIPS/Watt
    • Low power Idle and Power down Modes
  • Operating ranges: 1.62V to 5.5V, PC Industry Compatible, GSM/3G Compliant, EMV
• Memory
  • 192K Bytes of Flash Program Memory and 192K Bytes of Eeprom
    • 10 Years Data Retention EEPROM Erase Only Mode
    • Typically More than 500,000 Write/Erase Cycles at a Temperature of 25oC
  • Write EEPROM With or Without Autoerase
  • 24K Bytes of RAM (2K Bytes shared with AdvX  crypto processor) 32K Bytes of ROM dedicated to Atmel’s crypto Library
• Security
  • Secure Memory Management/ Access Protection/ MPU
  • Dedicated Hardware for Protection Against SPA/DPA Attacks
  • Voltage, Frequency, Light, and Temperature Protection Systems
  • Protection Against Physical Attack
  • Environmental Protection Systems
• Peripherals
  • USB Interface (5 Endpoints)
    • USB V2.0 Full-speed (12Mbps), Suspend/Resume Modes Supported
    • 4 Configurable Endpoints in Addition to Endpoint EP0 Dynamic Pull-up Attachment
  • USB_IC (Inter Chip) 0.8e Interface
  • Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Controller (up to 20MHz)
  • One ISO 7816 Controller
    • Up to 625kbps at 5 MHz
  • Single Wire Interface (Digital Interface to RF front end chip)
  • Interface for External NAND Flash Memory
  • Random Number Generator (RNG)
  • Two 16-bit Timers
  • 2-level, 15-vector Interrupt Controller
  • Hardware DES and Triple DES (DPA Resistant)
  • 32-bit Cryptographic Accelerator for Public Key Operations
    • RSA, DSA, ECC, Diffie-Hellman
  • CRC 16/32 Engine
  • Checksum Accelerator
  • High performance Hardware Java Card Accelerator

ARM SC100 Processor Architecture

The SC100 processor is a 32-bit RISC processor with 3 stage pipeline. The processor employs a unique architectural strategy known as Thumb, a super reduced instruction set that is ideally suited for high volume applications with memory restrictions, and applications where code density is an important factor. Essentially, the SC100 processor has two instruction sets which operate on 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit data types:

• The standard ARM instruction set using 32-bit instructions and offering maximum performance
• The Thumb instruction set using 16-bit instructions and offering maximum code density

The Thumb’s 16-bit instruction length allows it to achieve almost twice the density of standard ARM code, whilst retaining most of the ARM performance advantage over a traditional 16-bit processor using 16-bit registers. This is possible because the 16-bit Thumb instructions operate on the same 32-bit register set as the 32-bit ARM instruction set.

Related news on Feb 13, 2006

AT91SC512384RCT Secure Microcontroller for Next-Gen (U)SIM Cards 

Atmel introduced of its new ARM- based Secure Microcontroller, the AT91SC512384RCT, designed for the next gen of (U)SIM cards which required large storage capacity,  high-speed interfaces with handsets, and the capability of supporting concurrent applications.

The new Secure Microcontroller employs AdvX cryptographic accelerator and its high-level of security. Make it suitable for secure embedded applications, especially in e-Token system and next-gen (U)SIM cards.

The AT91SC512384RCT Secure Microcontroller is based on ARM SC100 CPU. This high-performance 32-bit RISC crypto-controller features 512 Kbytes of ROM program memory, 384 Kbytes of high-performance EEPROM and 24 Kbytes of RAM. This secure microcontroller provides Full Speed USB 2.0 and USB Interchip ports, allowing high speed data rate.

The ARM-based Secure Microcontroller also includes external Flash memories interfaces: SPI port for NOR Flash and dedicated hardware for NAND Flash. Interconnection to mobile handset can be done via a Single Wire Protocol (SWP) to support the requirements of contactless applications.

More info: Atmel AT91SC192192CT-USB ARM Based Secure Microcontroller