The ST8024 is a complete low cost analog interface for asynchronous 3 V and 5 V smart cards. It can be placed between the card and the microcontroller with few external components to perform all supply protection and control functions. ST8024 is a direct replacement of ST8004.Main applications are: smartcard readers for settop- box, IC card readers for banking, identification, pay TV.Designed to be compatible with the NDS conditional access systemIC card interface3 or 5 V supply for the IC (VDDand GND)Three specifically protected half-duplex bidirectional buffered I/O lines to card contacts C4, C7 and C8DC-DC converter for VCCgeneration separately powered from a 5 V ± 20% supply (VDDP and PGND)3 or 5 V ± 5 % regulated card supply voltage (VCC) with appropriate decoupling has the following capabilities: Icc< 80 mA at VDDP = 4 to 6.5 V Handles current spikes of 40 nA up to 20 MHz Controls rise and fall times Filtered overload detection at approximately 120 mAThermal and short-circuit protection on all card contactsAutomatic activation and deactivation sequences; initiated by software or by hardware in the event of a short-circuit, card take-off, overheating, VDDor VDDPdrop-outEnhanced ESD pr