Atmel rolls out biometric module for secure apps

Atmel Corp. introduced its AT77SM0101BCB02VKE FingerChip biometric module, a complete biometric system including a processing facility and authentication software, aimed at facilitating the addition of a biometric feature into Physical Access Control, Point of Sales, Locks and Time and Attendance systems or many other secure applications.

The company said that its new biometric module is an excellent choice for system designers and electronic equipment manufacturers wishing to add biometric functionality to their products. "The market for fingerprint-based applications is booming, yet the technology is not always easy to implement if you lack the competency in biometrics,&quot explained David Richard, Atmel Biometrics Worldwide Marketing Manager.

"A complete, off-the-shelf product with everything required to quickly and easily integrate fingerprint functionality is what they need and the great interest customers all around the world have already shown for this product is the proof of it," he added.

All inclusive, the module combines Atmel's AT91RM9200 ARM9 microcontroller, 128Mb of SDRAM and 32Mb of Atmel's DataFlash in a single system, making it easy for customers to add their own application software directly unto the module.

Various interfaces, such as Ethernet, SPI and RS-232, are available through extension connectors, providing flexibility to customers for their product design. The company's FingerChip sensor provides its own benefits, such as its small size and high resistance to shocks, humidity and dirt. The authentication software is preloaded (license is included) for an all-in-one solution.

The Evaluation/Development Kit enables quick development of the final application interface using the Linux preloaded OS and the high-level biometric macros. With intermediate knowledge of Linux programming, integrators will quickly be able to implement the biometric module into their final software application. Along with a full set of technical documentation, the mechanical integration is also detailed in the Evaluation Kit documentation so that final systems can be designed in record time.

Suggested resell price for the AT77SM0101BCB02VKE biometric module is $89 per unit (minimum order quantity of 40 units), while the evaluation kit is priced at $599.