ACS AET65 User Manual

AET65

Smart Card Reader

Reference Manual

Subject to change without prior notice

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Table of Contents

1.0. ...............................................................................................................4 Introduction

.......................................................................................5 AET65 Smart Card Reader

2.0.

3.0.

.....................................................................................................................6 Features

4.0.

..................................................................................................7 Smart Card Support

4.1. ............................................................................................................................7 MCU Cards

5.0. .................................................................................................8 Smart Card Interface

5.1. ....................................................................................8 Smart Card Power Supply VCC (C1)

............................................................................................8 Programming Voltage VPP (C6)

5.2.

..............................................................................................................8 Card Type Selection

5.3.

.............................................................................8 Interface for Microcontroller-based Cards

5.4.

.........................................................................................................8 Card Tearing Protection

5.5.

6.0. ............................................................................................................9 Power Supply

6.1. .............................................................................................................................9 Status LED

7.0. ...........................................................................................................10 USB Interface

7.1. ................................................................................................10 Communication Parameters

.............................................................................................................................10 Endpoints

7.2.

8.0. .......................................................................................11 Communication Protocol

8.1. .........................................................................................11 AET65 Communication Protocol

....................................................................................................11 Command to AET65

8.1.1.

................................................................................................11 Response from AET65

8.1.2.

..................................................................................................12 Card Status Message

8.1.3.

9.0. ..................................................................................................13 AET65 Commands

9.1. ..............................................................................................................13 Control Commands

........................................................................................................13 GET_ACR_STAT

9.1.1.

..............................................................................................14 SELECT_CARD_TYPE

9.1.2.

.............................................................................................................14 SET_OPTION

9.1.3.

........................................................................................................15 SET_CARD_PPS

9.1.4.

...................................................................................................15 SET_READER_PPS

9.1.5.

........................................................................................................16 MCU Card Commands

9.2.

.........................................................................16 RESET_WITH_5_VOLTS_DEFAULT

9.2.1.

.......................................................................16 RESET_WITH_SPECIFIC_VOLTAGE

9.2.2.

.............................................................................................................17 POWER_OFF

9.2.3.

..............................................................................................17 EXCHANGE_TPDU_T0

9.2.4.

..............................................................................................18 EXCHANGE_TPDU_T1

9.2.5.

Appendix A. ..........................................................................................................19 AET65

Appendix A.1.
Appendix A.2.

............................................................................19 Supported Card Types

.........................................................................19 Response Status Codes

Figures

Figure 1. ..........................................................................................4AET65 System Block Diagram

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Tables

Table 1. ..........................................................................................................10USB Interface Wiring

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1.0. Introduction

The AET65 is a composite device, consisting of the core of ACS’ ACR38-SAM smart card reader and
UPEK’s swipe fingerprint sensor. The smart card reader and the fingerprint sensor can be used
independently, but combining the two technologies provide a higher level of security in applications.
The AET65’s system diagram is shown below:

Figure 1. AET65 System Block Diagram

The purpose of this document is to describe the architecture and interface of AET65’s smart card
reader module, which is based on the ACR38-SAM core. For information on the architecture and
programming interface of the fingerprint module, please refer to the AET65 Fingerprint Reader
Application Programming Interface document (API_AET65_v1.0).

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2.0. AET65 Smart Card Reader

The AET65 Smart Card Reader acts as an interface for the communication between a computer (for
example, a PC) and a smart card. Different types of smart cards have different commands and
different communication protocols which prevents, in most cases the direct communication between a
smart card and a computer. The AET65 Smart Card Reader is based on the ACR38-SAM core which
establishes a uniform interface from the computer to the smart card for a wide variety of cards. By
taking care of the card specific particulars, it releases the computer software programmer from getting
involved with the technical details of the smart card operation, which are not relevant in many cases of
the implementation of smart card system.

Note: Although the AET65 Smart Card Reader is a true card reader/writer as it can read and write
data from and to smart cards. The terms card reader or reader will be used indifferently to refer to
the AET65. These designations are commonly used for this kind of devices.

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3.0. Features

The following are the features of the AET65 Smart Card Reader:

1. PS/SC

2. WHQL Certified Drivers

3. CE and FCC

4. RoHS

5. ISO 7816 (Class A, B, C)

6. MCU Card Support (T=0, T=1)

7. USB Full-Speed

8. Short Circuit Protection

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4.0. Smart Card Support

4.1. MCU Cards

The AET65 Smart Card Reader is a PC/SC compliant smart card reader that supports ISO 7816 5 V,
3 V and 1.8 V (Class A, B, and C) smart cards. The AET65 also works with MCU cards following
either the T=0 and T=1 protocol.

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5.0. Smart Card Interface

The interface between the AET65 and the inserted smart card follows the specifications of ISO7816-3
with certain restrictions or enhancements to increase the practical functionality of the AET65.

5.1. Smart Card Power Supply VCC (C1)

The current consumption of the inserted card must not be higher than 50 mA.

5.2. Programming Voltage VPP (C6)

According to ISO 7816-3, the smart card contact C6 (VPP) supplies the programming voltage to the
smart card. Since all common smart cards in the market are EEPROM-based and do not require the
provision of an external programming voltage, the contact C6 (VPP) has been implemented as a
normal control signal in the AET65. The electrical specifications of this contact are identical to those of
the signal RST (at contact C2).

5.3. Card Type Selection

The controlling PC has to always select the card type through the proper command sent to the AET65
prior to activating the inserted card. .

For MCU-based cards, the reader allows to select the preferred protocol, T=0 or T=1. However, this
selection is only accepted and carried out by the reader through the PPS when the card inserted in
the reader supports both protocol types. Whenever an MCU-based card supports only one protocol
type, T=0 or
selected by the application.

T=1, the reader automatically uses that protocol type, regardless of the protocol type

5.4. Interface for Microcontroller-based Cards

For microcontroller-based smart cards, only the contacts C1 (VCC), C2 (RST), C3 (CLK), C5 (GND)
and C7 (I/O) are used. A frequency of 4 MHz is applied to the CLK signal (C3).

5.5. Card Tearing Protection

The AET65 provides a mechanism to protect the inserted card when it is suddenly withdrawn while it
is powered up. The power supply to the card and the signal lines between the AET65 and the card is
immediately deactivated when the card is being removed. As a general rule however, to avoid any
electrical damage, a card should only be removed from the reader while it is powered down.

Note: The AET65 does never by itself switch on the power supply to the inserted card. This must
explicitly be done by the controlling computer through the proper command sent to the reader.

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6.0. Power Supply

The AET65 requires a voltage of 5 V DC, 100 mA regulated power supply. The AET65 Smart Card
Reader gets power supply from a PC (through the cable supplied along with each type of reader).

6.1. Status LED

The Green LED around the card slot indicates the activation status of the smart card interface:

 ON

Indicates that the power supply to the smart card is switched on, i.e., the smart card is
activated.

 OFF

Indicates that the power supply to the smart card is switched off, i.e. the smart card has not
been inserted, or the smart card has not been powered up (if it is inserted)

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7.0. USB Interface

The AET65 is connected to a computer through a USB following the USB standard.

7.1. Communication Parameters

The AET65 is connected to a computer through USB as specified in the USB Specification 2.0. The
AET65 is working in full speed mode, i.e. 12 Mbps.

Pin Signal Function

1 V
2 D­3 D+
4 GND

Note: In order for the AET65 to function properly through USB interface, the ACS PC/SC

Device Driver has to be installed.

BUS

+5 V power supply for the reader
Differential signal transmits data between AET65 and PC.
Differential signal transmits data between AET65 and PC.
Reference voltage level for power supply

Table 1. USB Interface Wiring

7.2. Endpoints

The AET65 uses the following endpoints to communicate with the host computer:

Control Endpoint For setup and control purposes
Bulk OUT For command to be sent from host to AET65 (data packet size is 64 bytes)
Bulk IN For response to be sent from AET65 to host (data packet size is 64 bytes)

Interrupt IN For card status message to be sent from AET65 to host (data packet size is 8

bytes)

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8.0. Communication Protocol

8.1. AET65 Communication Protocol

During normal operation, the AET65 acts as a slave device with regard to the communication between
a computer and the reader. The communication is carried out in the form of successive command­response exchanges. The computer transmits a command to the reader and receives a response
from the reader after the command has been executed. A new command can be transmitted to the
AET65 only after the response to the previous command has been received.

There are two cases where the reader transmits data without having received a command from the
computer namely, the Reset Message and the Card Status Message.

8.1.1. Command to AET65

A command consists of six protocol bytes and a variable number of data bytes with the following
structure:

Byte 1 2 3 4 5 ... N+4 (N>0)

Header Instruction Data Length = N Data

01H

Header Always 01H to indicate the start of a command.
Instruction The instruction code of the command to be carried out by the AET65.
Data Length Number of subsequent data bytes, and is encoded in 2 bytes. The first byte

(MSB) and second byte (LSB) represent data length N.

Data Data contents of the command.

For a READ command, for example, the data bytes would specify the start
address and the number of bytes to be read. For a WRITE command, the
data bytes would specify the start address and the data to be written to the
card.

The data bytes can represent values to be written to a card and/or command
parameters such as an address, a counter, etc.

Note: Commands are sent from host computer to AET65 through the BULK OUT endpoint.

Data

Length N

8.1.2. Response from AET65

The response from the AET65 to any command depends on whether the command has been
received by the reader without error (e.g., checksum error).

The response by the AET65 to a correctly received command consists of three protocol bytes, two
status bytes and a variable number of data bytes with the following structure:

Header Always 01H to indicate the start of the response.
Status Indicates the command execution status:

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Byte 1 2 3 4 5 ... N+4 (N>0)

Header Status Data Length = N Data

01H

Data Length

N

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00H = command successfully executed
Otherwise = error in command data, or command cannot be executed
A table listing the possible values of the status byte and the corresponding

meaning is given in Appendix B.2.

Data Length Number of subsequent data bytes, and is encoded in 2 bytes. The first byte

(MSB) and second byte (LSB) represent data length N.

Data Data contents of the command.

For a READ_DATA command, for example, the data bytes would contain the
contents of the memory addresses read from the card. The data bytes can
represent values read from the card and/or status information.

Note: Responses are sent from AET65 to the host computer through BULK IN endpoint.

8.1.3. Card Status Message

When a card is being inserted into the reader or an inserted card is being removed from the reader
while the reader is idle, i.e., not executing a command, the reader transmits a Card Status Message to
notify the host computer of the change in the card insertion status.

The Card Status Messages have the following structure and conten ts:
Card Status Message for Card Insertion

Byte 1 2 3 4

Header Status Data Length

01 H C1 H 00 H 00 H

Card Status Message for Card Removal

Byte 1 2 3 4

Header Status Data Length

01 H C0 H 00 H 00 H

A card status message is transmitted only once for every card insertion or removal event. The reader
does not expect an acknowledge signal from the computer. After transmitting a status message, the
reader waits for the next command from the computer.

Note: Card status messages are sent from AET65 to the host computer through INTERRUPT IN
endpoint.

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9.0. AET65 Commands

The commands executed by the AET65 can generally be divided into two categories, namely, Control
Commands and Card Commands.

Control Commands are in charge of the internal operation of the AET65. They do not directly affect
the card inserted in the reader and are therefore independent of the selected card type.

Card Commands are directed toward the card inserted in the AET65. The structure of these
commands and the data transmitted in the commands and responses depend on the selected card
type.

9.1. Control Commands

9.1.1. GET_ACR_STAT

This command returns relevant information about the particular AET65 model and the current
operating status such as the firmware revision number, the maximum data length of a command and
response, the supported card types, and whether a card is inserted and powered up or not.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length

01 H 01 H 00 H 00 H

Response data format

Header Status Data length INTERNAL

LEN

01 H

INTERNAL 10 bytes data for internal use only
MAX_C The maximum number of command data bytes.
MAX_R The maximum number of data bytes that can be requested to be transmitted

C_TYPE The card types supported by the AET65. This data field is a bitmap with each

MAX_C MAX_R C_TYPE C_SEL C_ST

AT

in a response.

bit representing a particular card type. A bit set to '1' means the
corresponding card type is supported by the reader and can be selected with
the SELECT_CARD_TYPE command. The bit assignment is as follows:

Byte 1 2

card type 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

C_SEL The currently selected card type as specified in a previous

C_STAT Indicates whether a card is physically inserted in the reader and whether the

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See Appendix B.1 for the correspondence between these bits and the
respective card types.

SELECT_CARD_TYPE command. A value of 00H means that no card type has
been selected.

card is powered up:
00H: no card inserted

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01H: card inserted, not powered up
03H: card powered up

9.1.2. SELECT_CARD_TYPE

This command sets the required card type. The firmware in the AET65 adjusts the communication
protocol between reader and the inserted card according to the selected card type.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length Data

LEN TYPE

01 H 02 H 00 H 01 H

TYPE See Appendix B.1 for the value to be specified in this command for a

particular card to be used.

Response data format

Header Status Data length

LEN

01

9.1.3. SET_OPTION

This command selects the options for the reader.
Command format

Header Instruction Data length Data

LEN Option

01 H 07 H 00 H 01 H

Option Bit 4: Select for EMV mode

Specifies whether the reader is in EMV mode

0: Reader not in EMV mode (default)
1: Reader in EMV mode

Bit 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7: Reserved

Response data format

Header Status Data length

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LEN

01 H

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9.1.4. SET_CARD_PPS

This command sends PPS Request to the smart card. This command should work in pair with
SET_READER_PPS.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length Data

LEN PPS Request

01 H 0A H MSB LSB

LEN Length of PPS request. Typical value is “4”
PPS Request PPS Request to send to the card (Please refer to ISO/IEC 7816-3:1997

Section 7 for details of PPS request)
A typical PPS request to select T=1 protocol and FD=0x94 (62500 baud at

4MHz) is: 0xFF 0x11 0x94 0x7A

Response data format

Header Status Data length Data

LEN

01 H …

9.1.5. SET_READER_PPS

This command sends PPS Response to the reader and asks the reader to switch its protocol and/or
speed to communication with the smart card. This command should work in pair with
SET_CARD_PPS.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length Data

LEN PPS Response

01 H 0B H MSB LSB

LEN Length of PPS response. Typical value is “4”.
PPS Response PPS Response received from the card (Please refer to ISO/IEC 7816-3:1997

Section 7 for details of PPS response). After the driver or the application
validates the PPS Response, it should send the PPS Response to the
reader. The reader can then switch the protocol and/or speed.

A typical PPS response should be the same as PPS Request.

Response data format

Header Status Data length

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01 H

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9.2. MCU Card Commands

9.2.1. RESET_WITH_5_VOLTS_DEFAULT

This command powers up the card inserted in the card reader and performs a card reset. If the card is
powered up when the command is being issued, only a reset of the card is carried out. The power
supply to the card is not switched off.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length

LEN

01 H 80 H 00 H 00 H

Response data format

Header Status

LEN

Data

length

ATR

01 H ………

ATR Answer-To-Reset as transmitted by the card according to ISO7816-3.
NOTE: The ATR is only returned in the AET65 response if the communication protocol of the

card is compatible with the reader, i.e., if the card can be processed by the AET65.
Otherwise, the AET65 returns an error status and deactivates the smart card interface.

9.2.2. RESET_WITH_SPECIFIC_VOLTAGE

This command powers up the card inserted in the card reader and performs a card reset. If the card is
powered up when the command is being issued, only a reset of the card is carried out. The power
supply to the card is not switched off.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length Data

LEN

01 H 80 H 00 H 01 H

Data = 00 H for automatic voltage detection
= 01 H for 5-volt card
= 02 H for 3-volt card
= 03 H for 1.8-volt card

Response data format

Header Status

01 H ………

ATR Answer-To-Reset as transmitted by the card according to ISO7816-3.
NOTE: The ATR is only returned in the AET65 response if the communication protocol of the

card is compatible with the reader, i.e., if the card can be processed by the AET65.
Otherwise, the AET65 returns an error status and deactivates the smart card interface.

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Data

length

LEN

ATR

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9.2.3. POWER_OFF

This command powers off the card inserted in the card reader.
Command format

Header Instruction Data length

LEN

01 H 81 H 00 H 00 H

Response data format

Header Status Data length

LEN

01 H

9.2.4. EXCHANGE_TPDU_T0

To exchange an APDU (Application Protocol Data Unit) command/response pair, between the MCU
card inserted in the AET65 and the host computer.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length LEN Data

MSB LSB T0 TPDU

01 H A0 H

LEN Length of APDU command data, N
Data T0 TPDU to be sent to the card

Case 1: CLA INS P1 P2
Case 2: CLA INS P1 P2 Le
Case 3: CLA INS P1 P2 Lc Data

Case 4: Not supported. The driver/application should break case 4 command into
case 3 + case 2 commands.

Response data format

………

Header Status Data

LEN

01 H

BYTE x Response data from card (if any).
SW1, SW2 Status code returne d by the card.

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BYTE 1 … … BYTE N SW1 SW2

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9.2.5. EXCHANGE_TPDU_T1

To exchange an APDU (Application Protocol Data Unit) command/response pair, between the MCU
card inserted in the AET65 and the host computer using T1 protocol.

Command format

Header Instruction Data length LEN Data

MSB LSB T1 TPDU Frame

01 H A1 H MSB LSB

LEN Length of APDU command data, N
Data T1 TPDU frame to be sent to the card. It should include NAD, PCB, LEN,

Response data format

Header Status

LEN

01 H

BYTE x Response T1 Block from card (if any). The response should include NAD,

………

INF and EDC fields. Please refer to ISO/IEC 7816:3:1997(E) Section 9.4 for
detailed information.

Data

length

BYTE

1

… …

BYTE

N

PCB, LEN, INF and EDC fields. Please refer to ISO/IEC 7816:3:1997(E)
Section 9.4 for detailed information.

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Appendix A. AET65

Appendix A.1. Supported Card Types

The following table shows the values that must be specified in the SET_CARD_TYPE command for a
particular card type to be used, and how the bits in the response to the GET_ACR_STAT command
correspond with the respective card types.

Card Type Card Type

00H

0CH

0DH

Auto-select T=0 or T=1 communication protocol
MCU-based cards with T=0 communication protocol
MCU-based cards with T=1 communication protocol

Appendix A.2. Response Status Codes

The following table is a list of the possible status code returned by the AET65:

Status Code Status

00

F4 SLOTERROT_PROCEDURE_BYTE_CONFLICT
F6 SLOTERROR_BAD_LENGTH
F7 SLOTERROR_BAD_FIDI
F8 SLOTERROR_BAD_ATR_TS
F9 SLOTERROR_ICC_NOT_POWERED_UP
FA SLOTERROR_ICC_NOT_INSERTED

OK – command successfully executed

FB SLOTERROR_HW_ERROR
FC SLOTERROR_XFE_OVERRUN
FD SLOTERROR_XFE_PARITY_ERROR
FE SLOTERROR_ICC_MUTE
FF SLOTERROR_CMD_ABORTED

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