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The chips used in all cards fall into two categories: microcontrollers and memory cards chips. The memory chip is similar to a tiny floppy disk with an optional security facility. Memory chips are usually less costly in comparison to microcontrollers, but they have a matching decrease in the security of data management. The cards that now use memory chips are dependent of the security posed by the card reader, when it comes to processing, and they make ideal options for moments when a low or even medium security level is needed. Part of the features that a microcontroller chip has is the fact that it can add, erase and manipulate in any way the information stored in its memory. With this in mind, a microcontroller can be easily compared to a miniature computer, having input and output ports, an operating system and hard disk unit. The small cards with microcontrollers embedded in their structure pose the one of a kind ability to store immense quantities of data, interact in an intelligent manner with smart card-readers and complete functions on-card, such as digital signatures and encryptions. Memory cards do not have the ability to manage files on their own and pose no processing power when it comes to data management. All the memory cards available on the market communicate to card readers with the use of synchronous protocols and also all of them allow users to read and write in fixed addresses situated on the card. As for the types of cards that exist now, there are three main ones: protected, straight and stored value cards. The straight memory cards simply store data on their space and contain no processing options. This type of memory card chips cannot identify themselves in front of the reader, therefore your operating system has to understand their nature and know what category of card is inserted into the unit’s reader. The straight memory cards are easy to duplicate and lack the ability to be tracked by identifiers. Segmented cards, also known as protected memory cards, contain a built in logic that controls the access and connection to the memory of the card itself. These tiny pieces of technology are sometimes called intelligent memory cards, because they can be programmed to the write-protect mode for some or the entire items on the card. The segmented memory cards have the ability to be divided or separated into different logical sections that have multi-functional purposes. They can be usually tracked with the help of on card identifiers, but they are not easily copied by average persons, although expert hackers have been known to duplicate the content if they wanted. The memory cards with stored value are created with the sole purpose to store something valuable or a token. They can be either rechargeable or simply disposable and most of them incorporate permanent security features implemented at the point of production. A memory cell is used every time a certain unit of the system starts functioning. Once all the units in the memory are used, the entire card turns into a useless piece of technology and needs to be thrown in the trash. In the case of rechargeable cards, this process has the function of reversing. For more resources about microcontrollers or about memory cards chips, please review this link http://mikron-semi.com/.
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