ISO/IEC 14443 Type A is one of the variations of the ISO/IEC 14443 standard for contactless smart card communication. It specifies the physical characteristics, transmission protocol, and anti-collision mechanism for contactless smart cards and readers operating at 13.56 MHz frequency. ISO/IEC 14443 Type A is commonly used in various applications, including contactless payment systems, access control, public transportation fare collection, and electronic ticketing.
See the typicaly ISO 14443 Type modulation pattern (100% Amplitude Modulation):
Here are some key characteristics and features of ISO/IEC 14443 Type A:
1. Operating Frequency
ISO/IEC 14443 Type A operates at 13.56 MHz, which is a commonly used frequency band for contactless smart card communication.
2. Communication Protocol
ISO/IEC 14443 Type A defines the communication protocol between the contactless smart card and the reader. This includes procedures for card activation, data transfer, and error detection.
3. Modulation Scheme
ISO/IEC 14443 Type A specifies the modulation scheme used for communication, which is typically either load modulation or amplitude shift keying (ASK). Load modulation is the most commonly used modulation scheme in ISO/IEC 14443 Type A systems.
4. Frame Structure
The standard defines the frame structure for data transmission between the card and the reader. Frames consist of a header, data field, and error detection code.
5. Anti-Collision Mechanism
ISO/IEC 14443 Type A incorporates an anti-collision mechanism known as the "collision avoidance" protocol. This protocol allows multiple cards to be in the field of the reader simultaneously without interfering with each other, ensuring efficient communication in environments with multiple cards.
6. Data Transfer Rate
ISO/IEC 14443 Type A supports data transfer rates of up to 106 kbit/s, allowing for relatively fast communication between the card and the reader.
7. Security Features
The standard includes provisions for security features such as authentication, encryption, and data integrity verification. These features help protect the data stored on the card and prevent unauthorized access.
8. Application Areas
ISO/IEC 14443 Type A is widely used in various applications, including contactless payment systems (e.g., credit cards, mobile payments), access control (e.g., building security, employee identification), public transportation fare collection (e.g., metro cards, bus passes), and electronic ticketing (e.g., event tickets, airline boarding passes).
Overall, ISO/IEC 14443 Type A is a widely adopted standard for contactless smart card communication, providing interoperability between different vendors' products and enabling secure and efficient communication between smart cards and readers in various applications.