Contact Smart Cards

Contact smart cards - cards with a memory chip that has a contact group. A chip with a contact group can be visually distinguished from a contactless one. The contact card receives energy and exchanges data by touching the contact area with the reader's contacts. The dimensions and position of such cards are described in the standards ISO 7816, ISO 7810.

Smart memory cards can be divided into three types:

- Memory cards

- Microprocessor cards

- Cryptographic cards

Memory cards are usually used to restrict hardware access.

Application fields - telephone devices, gas stations, workplace security and access control, student cards, etc.

Microprocessor cards have a processor and a data management unit.

Most often they are used as keys for signing documents, software access, such as CRM and ERP systems.

Crypto cards have an encryption algorithm to protect data. These cards are used by mobile network operators (SIM), banking institutions.

Just like contactless cards, memory cards can be combined in a hybrid one.

A card can have both a memory chip and a contactless one. For example SLE4428 + Mifare 1k. Combinations with magnetic stripe are also possible.

If you print on these types of cards with a thermal printer, you should be aware that it is difficult for manufacturers to achieve an ideal surface. This is due to the fact that the chip is mounted at a high temperature, and the thin layer of plastic under the chip overheats at that time.