Date: 14/07/2009

Atmel's cryptographic battery authentication IC for portable gadgets

Atmel's new AT88SA100S is a low-cost, cryptographic battery authentication IC for mobile phones, cameras, portable power tools, and other battery-powered applications.

Atmel claims, the AT88SA100S CrytpoAuthentication IC is the only battery authentication IC that uses a SHA-256 cryptographic engine and a 256-bit key that cannot be cracked using brute force methods.

This device is targeted to eliminate counterfeit batteries. It's estimated that 75% of the replacement batteries sold are clones.

The AT88SA100S has 256-bits of SRAM for key storage, a guaranteed unique 48-bit serial number stored permanently inside the chip and 88 one-time, user-programmable fuses that can be used for the storage of battery parameters or status information. The 256-bit key is stored in the on-chip SRAM at the battery manufacturer's site and is powered by the battery pack itself. Physical attacks to retrieve the key are very difficult to effect because removing the CryptoAuthentication chip from the battery erases the SRAM memory, rendering the chip useless.

The AT88SA100S battery authentication IC is available now in production quantities in a 1.3mm x 3mm, green-compliant (exceeds RoHS) 3-pin SOT-23 package. Priced at $0.65 in quantities of 1K units.

For further details visit http://www.atmel.com/products/cryptoauthentication