Advantages

 
• Shorter Processing Time
• Up Front Cash with assured collection
• Eliminates the inconvenience of handling bills and coins
• Greater security and memory capacity (8 KB is typical)
• Low maintenance -- no need to clean card or machine; reader has no moving parts

Micrologic's newest innovation is the use of contactless stored-value smart cards in a pre-paid toll collection system. The motorist simply slows down and waves the card on the reader installed at the toll booth. The corresponding toll fee is automatically deducted from the card and the balance is displayed on the reader's LCD. It also works the same way even when the card is still inside one's wallet. The smart card can be used for multiple trips until the stored value is exhausted. This shortens the processing time and eliminates the need for handling bills and coins. 

Affordable Innovation. Micrologic's Computerized Toll Collection for cash transactions is easily upgradable to a pre-paid system using a especially designed Smart Card Reader. This system is actually a type of non-stop electronic toll collection (ETC), where the motorist does not really have to stop at the toll booth. Even while in motion, the card can be read as long as it is within the 10 cm maximum reading range. It is not as fast as a tag-based vehicle-mounted system but is suitable for highly congested tollways. In such situations, setting up a high speed ETC is an overkill in both price and application. The ETC reader is 20 times more expensive than Micrologic's Smart Card Reader, while its corresponding vehicle transponder is 10 times more expensive than a contactless smart card.

Contactless Smart Card System. A contactless smart card is similar in appearance to plastic credit or ATM cards, except that instead of a magnetic strip, it uses an electronic chip to store data. This data can be read or written to through a built-in radio frequency antenna. 

Besides providing a greater memory capacity than a magnetic card, storing data in a chip makes it extremely difficult and costly to duplicate. This is ideal for stored value applications. 

Using the contactless smart card as payment mode for toll applications helps speed up transactions to even less than a second. Card wear and tear is very minimal because it does not have to be in contact with any part of the reader. The reader unit does not have moving parts, thus requires low maintenance. In addition, there are no magnetic heads to replace and there is no need to clean the card nor the reader. The smart card technology is now widely used in Asia and Europe.

Smart cards can be purchased with pre-stored cash values or recharged at the operator's designated outlets. Recharging requires the use of an encoding device that is interfaced to a PC. Designated outlets may include a special lane located at the main toll plazas, strategically located gasoline stations, offices of homeowners' associations in major residential communities or selected supermarkets near tollway interchanges.

Simple Operation. A smart card configuration requires a Smart Card Reader, signal lights, automatic barrier and a vehicle loop at both the entrance and exit lanes. As the motorist approaches the toll booth, the card is simply waved at the reading area. When sensed by the reader, one of the three signal lights on the island turns on. Green for go and the barrier opens. Yellow to warn the motorist of low card balance and the barrier opens. Red for insufficient, zero balance or defective card and the barrier remains closed. The LCD display on the reader will show the balance on the card. 

At the entrance lane, the reader validates the card, reads the balance and writes the entry point on the card if it is valid. In addition, it debits the maximum toll fee, which is correspondingly adjusted to the actual amount at the exit point. This assures toll fee collection even if the motorist does not use the smart card at the exit lane.

At the exit lane, the motorist again waves the smart card on the reader. One of the three lights turns on. All transactions are recorded on the toll terminal disk, including manual cash collections and operation of the barrier. 

For a normal transaction (i.e., when the green or yellow signal lights) the toll fee is computed based on the encoded entry point and the vehicle type. It is deducted from the card's stored value and a new balance is available to the motorist.

For an irregular transaction (i.e., when the red signal lights at the entrance), the motorist is issued a magnetic card and pays in cash at the exit lane. In this case, it is not necessary to wave the smart card on the reader upon exit.

Specifications

Smart Card

Size: ISO Standard

Thickness: 0.76mm

Memory: 8 Kbits

Operating Frequency: 13.56 Mhz

Write Endurance: 100,000 cycles (68 yrs. at 4 transactions/day)

Finish: Matt with 4-color printing both sides

Reader Unit

Typical Operating Distance: 65mm

LCD Display: 1x16 alphanumeric with backlighting

Enclosure: Stainless Steel

Mounting: Wall

Encoding Unit: (PC-controlled)

Dispenser: 100 card capacity

Encoding Speed: 30 cards per minute

Interface: RS232

Dimensions: 250mm (h) x 300mm (l) x 100mm (w)

Enclosure: Painted Galvanized Steel

Alarm: Audio Buzzer

Dimensions: 34mm (w) x 22mm (h) x 8mm (d)