The devices include an ISO7816-3 interface and integrate both DC/DC converter and LDO functions within the microcontroller, allowing it to support card voltages of 1.8V, 3.0V and 5.0V. The ISO7816-3 interface meets both the international EMV 4.3 certification and the China PBOC 3.0 Contact Level 1 certification allowing it to be used in a wide range of smart card reader microcontroller based applications.

Some of the other special characteristics of these new devices can be seen in their industrial quality specification -40°C~85°C operating temperature range, their 2.2V~5.5V operating voltage range, a 16K/32K word Program Memory capacity, a 3027 byte SRAM Data Memory capacity, a high accuracy internal high speed system oscillator as well as power down and fast wake-up functions. The devices also include a Full-Speed USB interface, dual UART communication interfaces, dual SPI functions, and an I2C Slave function providing users with maximum interfacing flexibility.

It also include a wide range of internal and external high speed and low speed oscillators. The external low speed oscillator is a 32768Hz crystal type. The flexible oscillator and operating mode functions allow the system frequency to be dynamically switched using internal control registers for optimum performance and power. The devices also include a 12-bit resolution A/D converter, dual comparators, up to 36 bidirectional I/O lines, four Timer Modules with PWM outputs, a watchdog timer and low voltage reset function. The low speed 32768Hz crystal oscillator can be used for RTC purposes and has the benefits of a very low standby current. With a typical value of only 1μA at 3V, these devices are extremely suitable for battery powered products.

The devices include Holtek's high precision internal high speed oscillator patented technology, which provides the devices with a 12MHz oscillator frequency. This can provide an accuracy of up to ± 0.25% for the USB mode. Using this patented clock technology has eliminated the need for external oscillator components. In addition, they also contain an internal UDP 1.5kΩ pull-high resistor and an internal regulator with an output of 3.3V. This regulator output can be used by peripheral applications in addition to the internal USB function.

Holtek has also provided the devices with a new ISP online firmware update function. The firmware can be easily updated via the USB interface using the I3000 Writer (Windows-based). Holtek also provides a DLL for user development. All devices also support ICP, ISP and IAP modes and an online update function which can withstand up to 100,000 rewrite cycles.

These smart card reader Flash MCUs provide EMV Level 1 and USB CCID program samples which reduce development times and are suitable for use in many kinds of smart card readers including TOKEN card readers, USB/Bluetooth card readers, POS machines, user authentication cards such as identity cards, social security cards, medicare cards, recognition cards, transportation cards as well as other identification cards etc. These features combine to offer new highly competitive smart card reader MCU devices with superior functions and characteristics as well as competitive pricing.

Holtek also supplies a full suite of excellent hardware and software development tools known as the HT-IDE3000 (Windows-based) which include a hardware In-Circuit Emulator with full trace analysis features as well as many other functions. Used together with the OCDS debug interface, Holtek also offers a range of application guides to ensure developers have their designs up and running in the shortest time possible.