Low-Power Battery-Authentication IC Secures Portable Devices

The AT88SA100S cryptographic battery-authentication IC protects mobile phones, cameras, portable power tools, and other battery-powered applications from counterfeit battery packs. It uses an SHA-256 cryptographic engine and a 256-bit key that cannot be cracked using brute force methods. The AT88SA100S ensures replacement batteries meet the product manufacturer's standards by providing secure, reliable authentication that can be used to prevent product operation and/or charging with a counterfeit product. A total of 256 bits of SRAM are used 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. ARM- and AVR-compatible source code libraries implement all necessary cryptographic modules for performing the host-side authentication capability. The AT88SA100S requires one GPIO pin on the host processor, three wires on the connector to the battery, and a standard bypass capacitor. The AT88SA100S battery authentication IC is available now in a 1.3-mm x 3-mm 3-pin SOT-23 package that exceeds RoHS standards. Pricing is $0.65 each in quantities of 1k units. ATMEL CORP., San Jose, CA. (408) 441-0311.