HCS301
The crypt key, serial number and configuration data are
stored in an EEPROM array which is not accessible via
any external connection. The EEPROM data is pro-
grammable but read-protected. The data can be veri-
fied only after an automatic erase and programming
operation. This protects against attempts to gain
access to keys or manipulate synchronization values.
The HCS301 provides an easy-to-use serial interface
for programming the necessary keys, system parame-
ters and configuration data.
• Learn – Learning involves the receiver calculating
the transmitter’s appropriate crypt key, decrypting
the received hopping code and storing the serial
number, synchronization counter value and crypt
key in EEPROM. The KEELOQ product family facil-
itates several learning strategies to be imple-
mented on the decoder. The following are
examples of what can be done.
- Simple Learning
The receiver uses a fixed crypt key, common
to all components of all systems by the same
manufacturer, to decrypt the received code
word’s encrypted portion.
1.0
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Key Terms
- Normal Learning
The receiver uses information transmitted
during normal operation to derive the crypt
key and decrypt the received code word’s
encrypted portion.
The following is a list of key terms used throughout this
data sheet. For additional information on KEELOQ and
Code Hopping, refer to Technical Brief 3 (TB003).
• RKE - Remote Keyless Entry
- Secure Learn
• Button Status - Indicates what button input(s)
activated the transmission. Encompasses the 4
button status bits S3, S2, S1 and S0 (Figure 4-2).
The transmitter is activated through a special
button combination to transmit a stored 60-bit
seed value used to generate the transmitter’s
crypt key. The receiver uses this seed value
to derive the same crypt key and decrypt the
received code word’s encrypted portion.
• Code Hopping - A method by which a code,
viewed externally to the system, appears to
change unpredictably each time it is transmitted.
• Code word - A block of data that is repeatedly
transmitted upon button activation (Figure 4-1).
• Manufacturer’s code – A unique and secret 64-
bit number used to generate unique encoder crypt
keys. Each encoder is programmed with a crypt
key that is a function of the manufacturer’s code.
Each decoder is programmed with the manufac-
turer code itself.
• Transmission - A data stream consisting of
repeating code words (Figure 8-2).
• Crypt key - A unique and secret 64-bit number
used to encrypt and decrypt data. In a symmetri-
cal block cipher such as the KEELOQ algorithm,
the encryption and decryption keys are equal and
will therefore be referred to generally as the crypt
key.
The HCS301 code hopping encoder is designed specif-
ically for keyless entry systems; primarily vehicles and
home garage door openers. The encoder portion of a
keyless entry system is integrated into a transmitter,
carried by the user and operated to gain access to a
vehicle or restricted area. The HCS301 is meant to be
a cost-effective yet secure solution to such systems,
requiring very few external components (Figure 2-1).
• Encoder - A device that generates and encodes
data.
• Encryption Algorithm - A recipe whereby data is
scrambled using a crypt key. The data can only be
interpreted by the respective decryption algorithm
using the same crypt key.
Most low-end keyless entry transmitters are given a
fixed identification code that is transmitted every time a
button is pushed. The number of unique identification
codes in a low-end system is usually a relatively small
number. These shortcomings provide an opportunity
for a sophisticated thief to create a device that ‘grabs’
a transmission and retransmits it later, or a device that
quickly ‘scans’ all possible identification codes until the
correct one is found.
• Decoder - A device that decodes data received
from an encoder.
• Decryption algorithm - A recipe whereby data
scrambled by an encryption algorithm can be
unscrambled using the same crypt key.
The HCS301, on the other hand, employs the KEELOQ
code hopping technology coupled with a transmission
length of 66 bits to virtually eliminate the use of code
‘grabbing’ or code ‘scanning’. The high security level of
the HCS301 is based on the patented KEELOQ technol-
ogy. A block cipher based on a block length of 32 bits
and a key length of 64 bits is used. The algorithm
obscures the information in such a way that even if the
transmission information (before coding) differs by only
one bit from that of the previous transmission, the next
DS21143B-page 2
2001 Microchip Technology Inc.
MICROCHIP [ MICROCHIP ]
