Hi folks- Does anybody know what memory devices are embedded in the Datakey memory tokens? For example, this part: http://datakey.com/downloads/SST_Series_DS_REVD.pdf which is from datakey.com. I'm pretty sure these devices are just embedded serial EEPROMs but Datakey doesn't reveal the part inside. Thanks - John
Datakey silicon inside
Started by ●July 19, 2017
Reply by ●July 19, 20172017-07-19
On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:35:40 -0700, John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> wrote:>Hi folks- > >Does anybody know what memory devices are embedded in the Datakey memory >tokens? > >For example, this part: > >http://datakey.com/downloads/SST_Series_DS_REVD.pdf > >which is from datakey.com. > >I'm pretty sure these devices are just embedded serial EEPROMs but >Datakey doesn't reveal the part inside.They say it's an SPI EEPROM, and the interface exposes the usual set of signals. Why wouldn't you believe them? I mean it's possible they have some sort of SPI interface device and some other sort of ROM behind that, but if they do, it'll still look like an SPI EEPROM to you.
Reply by ●July 19, 20172017-07-19
On 7/19/2017 4:51 PM, Robert Wessel wrote:> On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:35:40 -0700, John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> > wrote: > >> Hi folks- >> >> Does anybody know what memory devices are embedded in the Datakey memory >> tokens? >> >> For example, this part: >> >> http://datakey.com/downloads/SST_Series_DS_REVD.pdf >> >> which is from datakey.com. >> >> I'm pretty sure these devices are just embedded serial EEPROMs but >> Datakey doesn't reveal the part inside. > > > They say it's an SPI EEPROM, and the interface exposes the usual set > of signals. Why wouldn't you believe them? I mean it's possible they > have some sort of SPI interface device and some other sort of ROM > behind that, but if they do, it'll still look like an SPI EEPROM to > you.I want to replicate the token in a new circuit design that embeds a token within. I need to know the exact EEPROM part number so I don't have to embed the whole datakey token. My plan has size and cost advantages. You could be right about extra chips inside but the data sheets don't give any hints about any additional chips. The interface specs are suspiciously similar to the famous 25LC320A EEPROM but there are enough differences that excludes the 25LC320A. John
Reply by ●July 22, 20172017-07-22
On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:34:43 -0700, John Speth wrote:> On 7/19/2017 4:51 PM, Robert Wessel wrote: >> On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:35:40 -0700, John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi folks- >>> >>> Does anybody know what memory devices are embedded in the Datakey >>> memory tokens? >>> >>> For example, this part: >>> >>> http://datakey.com/downloads/SST_Series_DS_REVD.pdf >>> >>> which is from datakey.com. >>> >>> I'm pretty sure these devices are just embedded serial EEPROMs but >>> Datakey doesn't reveal the part inside. >> >> >> They say it's an SPI EEPROM, and the interface exposes the usual set of >> signals. Why wouldn't you believe them? I mean it's possible they >> have some sort of SPI interface device and some other sort of ROM >> behind that, but if they do, it'll still look like an SPI EEPROM to >> you. > > I want to replicate the token in a new circuit design that embeds a > token within. I need to know the exact EEPROM part number so I don't > have to embed the whole datakey token. My plan has size and cost > advantages. > > You could be right about extra chips inside but the data sheets don't > give any hints about any additional chips. The interface specs are > suspiciously similar to the famous 25LC320A EEPROM but there are enough > differences that excludes the 25LC320A. > > JohnIs the 25LC320A customizable? Could they be buyin' and bashin'? Alternately (and horribly, from your point of view), could they have enough business that they buy semi-custom parts? -- Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com
Reply by ●July 23, 20172017-07-23
John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> wrote:> You could be right about extra chips inside but the data sheets don't > give any hints about any additional chips. The interface specs are > suspiciously similar to the famous 25LC320A EEPROM but there are enough > differences that excludes the 25LC320A.http://datakey.com/uploads/site_images/datakey-hero-cutout.png looks rather like it's a standard SOIC-8 part on a PCB. It could be 'artist's concept' or CGI or something, but it seems like there's nothing smart inside. I rather doubt they would be fabbing their own EEPROM chips - they don't advertise anything special about them beyond the plastic case. Theo
Reply by ●July 24, 20172017-07-24
On 7/22/2017 2:28 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:> On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:34:43 -0700, John Speth wrote: > >> On 7/19/2017 4:51 PM, Robert Wessel wrote: >>> On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:35:40 -0700, John Speth <johnspeth@yahoo.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi folks- >>>> >>>> Does anybody know what memory devices are embedded in the Datakey >>>> memory tokens? >>>> >>>> For example, this part: >>>> >>>> http://datakey.com/downloads/SST_Series_DS_REVD.pdf >>>> >>>> which is from datakey.com. >>>> >>>> I'm pretty sure these devices are just embedded serial EEPROMs but >>>> Datakey doesn't reveal the part inside. >>> >>> >>> They say it's an SPI EEPROM, and the interface exposes the usual set of >>> signals. Why wouldn't you believe them? I mean it's possible they >>> have some sort of SPI interface device and some other sort of ROM >>> behind that, but if they do, it'll still look like an SPI EEPROM to >>> you. >> >> I want to replicate the token in a new circuit design that embeds a >> token within. I need to know the exact EEPROM part number so I don't >> have to embed the whole datakey token. My plan has size and cost >> advantages. >> >> You could be right about extra chips inside but the data sheets don't >> give any hints about any additional chips. The interface specs are >> suspiciously similar to the famous 25LC320A EEPROM but there are enough >> differences that excludes the 25LC320A. >> >> John > > Is the 25LC320A customizable? Could they be buyin' and bashin'? > > Alternately (and horribly, from your point of view), could they have > enough business that they buy semi-custom parts?It's like you're reading my mind, Tim. It's a risk. JJS
Reply by ●July 25, 20172017-07-25
On 7/19/2017 4:35 PM, John Speth wrote:> Does anybody know what memory devices are embedded in the Datakey memory > tokens? > > For example, this part: > > http://datakey.com/downloads/SST_Series_DS_REVD.pdf > > which is from datakey.com. > > I'm pretty sure these devices are just embedded serial EEPROMs but > Datakey doesn't reveal the part inside.I have information from a trusted source that the part inside is a single off-the-shelf Atmel AT25256B SPI EEPROM. JJS
