The DS28E30 provides a highly secure and easily deployed turnkey authentication solution based on the FIPS-186 ECDSA standard. The secure authenticator combines ECDSA challenge and response authentication with secured EEPROM for the storage of the keys and user data.

The device provides a core set of cryptographic tools derived from integrated blocks including an asymmetric hardware engine, a true random number generator (TRNG), 3Kb of secure EEPROM, a decrement-only counter, and a unique 64-bit ROM identification number (ROM ID). The ECC public/private key capabilities operate from the NIST-defined P-256 curve to provide a FIPS 186-compliant ECDSA signature generation function to support a bidirectional asymmetric key authentication model. The unique ROM ID is used as a fundamental input parameter for cryptographic operations and serves as an electronic serial number within the application. In addition, authenticity of the chip can be verified with a Maxim-provided public key certificate. The device communicates over the single-contact 1-Wire® bus at overdrive speed. The communication follows the 1-Wire protocol with the ROM ID acting as a node address in the case of a multidevice 1-Wire network.