Self Ticketing: Self-Service Car Wash Auto-Pay Kiosk

Quatech Products Used: ESU-100 8 Port USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter

The self-service car wash is becoming increasingly popular. This system enables a customer to select the types of wash service she desires, and then drive through the automated car wash. The system pictured above provides the customer with all the functionality she would receive from a live person.

At the core of the system is an embedded PC or single board computer that provides USB expansion ports. (Like most contemporary computers, the only expansion option on this system is USB.) In order to complete the transactions, the kiosk requires that the computer be connected to a number of RS-232 serial peripherals. As shown in the diagram above, 8 serial devices are employed in the kiosk:

• A motion sensor that recognizes a customer and triggers a short introductory message
• An IR reader that recognizes a transmitted signal from a contract customer
• A keypad that enables the customer to select desired services
• A credit card reader
• A pin pad
• A currency slot
• A change slot
• A receipt printer

With Quatech's ESU-100 USB serial adapter all of these devices can be connected to the embedded PC via one USB port. In addition, the ESU-100 is port powered, which means it doesn't require a separate power supply. And, serial ports on the ESU-100 not only function exactly like native COM ports, they provide data rates up to 460.8 kbps--faster than a standard serial port--so that customers waiting for a car wash can be assured of a fast, smooth transaction.

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