A RISC microprocessor for contactless smart cards

We have studied a RISC approach for smart card microprocessors (Cordonnier et al., 1995). We reconsider this research to answer the question of the new technology of smart cards: the contactless ones. Weak power dissipation is the main constraint of this technology. The basic principles of the first study are still suitable. Therefore some of them are developed and new features are proposed. We achieve a more powerful set of instructions and a smaller and more simple architecture than previously. We think that simplicity is one of the ways to reduce power dissipation. Future applications of smart cards need more security, so, the exchanges with memory are easily secured in the Pi-coRisc.