Application: Public Transport Ticketing System Kiosk

Quatech Products Used: QSU-100 4 Port USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter

Public transport systems are largely turning to auto-pay and smart card solutions for their fare systems. These public transport ticketing systems are typically based on a kiosk enclosure that contains an embedded or single board PC to which a variety of peripheral devices are attached. More and more frequently the only ports available on these embedded PCs are USB ports, yet a large percentage of the peripheral devices used in these systems are only available with a serial interface, or are far more economically purchased with a serial interface. Quatech USB serial adapters are the perfect solution for these systems because they provide up to 8 standard serial ports via a single USB port, and at the same time they enhance the functionality of the serial devices themselves, for example by providing faster data rates.

Quatech USB serial adapters are currently being used in public transportation fare systems throughout the world. The above application drawing depicts a typical system in which Quatech's QSU-100, a 4 port RS-232 to USB serial adapter is connected via USB to the embedded PC in the Kiosk. The 4 serial ports are attached to the systems 4 RS-232 peripheral devices--a cash slot, a coin slot, a keypad, and a ticket printer/dispenser.

Application: Public Transportation Turnstile Monitoring and Control

Quatech Products Used: DSU-100 2 Port USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter

In addition to farecard kiosks, public transportation systems also include turnstiles that can read the farecards generated by the kiosks. These turnstiles also typically contain an embedded computer, as show in the above drawing, that provides USB expansion ports. They also contain a card reader/writer that can read and update paper farecards as well as Smartcards (fare cards that are typically work across a wide range of transportation systems and that are "filled" with funds by the consumer via phone or e-mail and linked to a bank account or credit card account). The embedded computer is linked via Ethernet to a back office server that validates the cards and records starting point on entry and deducts the appropriate fare on exit. Once the card is validated and charged, the turnstile receives a signal to open the gate, which is accomplished with a gate-release mechanism that is connected to the embedded PC via the DSU-100's second serial port.

Application: Self-service Car Wash

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.

Application: Point of Sale Event Ticket Machine

Quatech Products Used: QSU-100 4 Port USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter

Point of sale event ticket kiosks are becoming increasingly popular in movie theaters, amusement parks, sporting events, and many other entertainment venues. These ticketing system kiosks enable customers to select an event, choose seating, remit payment, receive a printed ticket and receipt, and even to have points credited to their loyalty program cards. As shown in the system diagram above, this interactive kiosk has an embedded PC at its core, and uses a Quatech QSU-100 to provide the four serial ports required to connect to the kiosk hardware peripherals. In this example, a motion detector is used to alert the kiosk to a customer's approach, a touch-panel display is used to enable the customer to select purchase options, an integrated 3-track magnetic stripe reader (MSR) is used to read credit cards, loyalty cards, and identification cards, and finally a fan-fold ticket printer dispenses tickets and receipts.

Application: Network-Enabled POS Kiosk

Quatech Products Used: QSE-100 4 Port RS-232 Ethernet Serial Device Server

Application: S.A.M., Self Service Automated Machine

Quatech Products Used: ESC-100M eight port RS-232 serial PCI board with Modular connectors

S.A.M. (Self-service Automated Machine) was designed by Singapore Post to enable customers to conduct a wide variety of consumer transactions at any one of 90 convenient 24-hour KIOSK locations throughout Singapore. From paying bills, to weighing and properly posting packages, to paying taxes and even settling traffic fines, S.A.M can do it..

To accomplish these varied transactions the S.A.M. Kiosk must utilize a robust network of serial I/O devices in order to interact successfully with the customer. Each S.A.M. is equipped with the following serial devices:

1. A TouchScreen through which users enter information (such as a pin number or transaction amount) and make menu selections 2. A scale upon which letters and packages can be weighed so that S.A.M can sell the required postage 3. A magnetic card reader to process debit card transactions and phone card transactions 4. A bar-code scanner through which an identifying code is scanned from utility bills, telephone bills, cable bills, etc. 5. A Label Printing Controller (LPC) that prints stamps and postage labels 6. A receipt printer to provide a record of all transactions for the customer

Quatech's ESC-100M eight port RS-232 serial PCI board provides SAM's vital serial connectivity link. It was chosen for a number of important reasons. First and foremost it provided the fastest data transfer rate of all cards tested. It also provided convenient RJ11 modular connectors, which were an ideal solution for the small amount of space available in the S.A.M. Kiosk. (Most eight-port cards use a large cable with eight separate pigtails and bulky DB-9 connectors.) It also provided the added bonus of easier maintenance and lower cabling costs. In addition, Quatech's ESC-100M was ideal because it allowed for S.A.M. to be upgraded without replacing its serial board. Currently, S.A.M. uses only six of the eight available serial ports, leaving two open for future devices. Quatech also offers extensive OS support options for its boards making software upgrades an easy task. In this case, Singapore Post is planning a migration from Windows NT to Windows XP, and the ESC-100M has drivers for both.

For more information on the SAM Kiosk see www.singpost.com/02_consumer_svcs/sam.htm