User Manual

4200-46001, Rev. B.00 September 25, 2003
User Manual for the Cubic Tri-Reader 2 1-1
CHAPTER 1 Cubic Tri-Reader 2
1.1 Introduction
The Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. (Cubic) Tri-Reader
®
2 will serve as a front
end for a remote ticketing device used for automatic fare collection (AFC) in public
transportation systems (e.g., bus, rail, subway, etc.). It can be used in ticket
validators, ticket vending machines, gates, and other AFC equipment. This
equipment can be onboard vehicles or in fixed ground locations. The Tri-Reader 2
will be responsible for direct communication with a Contactless Smart Card (CSC),
which is a type of radio frequency (RF) tag. The design caters for at least three
types of CSC, namely Type A, Type B, and GO CARD
®
.
Interpretation of the information stored on the CSC, as well as the processing of the
revenue collection transaction, will be done by the Tri-Reader 2 itself, based on
faretables and hot-lists provided by the host computer.
The firmware on the Tri-Reader 2 is designed to be updated in-system using
FLASH-based technology. It will therefore be possible to cater, within limits, for
different CSC types and configurations — if so required for the future.
In broad terms, the communication task will therefore proceed as follows:
1. The Tri-Reader 2 will power the CSC through radiation by an induced RF
field.
2. By sequencing through the communication protocols for the different
cards, it will detect the card type by checking for the associated
response.
3. Once the card type and therefore its communication mechanism is
known, the Tri-Reader 2 will read and write data on the card according to
the fare rules in the faretables.
4. The Tri-Reader 2 will pass data to and from the CSC by using the
appropriate protocol for modulation and demodulation of the signal.