Select site:
- English
MIFARE Ultralight
Today, approximately two thirds of journeys on public transport systems are paid for and completed by passengers using a multiple journey pass. The remaining third are concluded through traditional forms of payment, including coins, tokens and paper magnetic-stripe tickets. This split has traditionally meant that transport service providers have had to rely on machinery capable of handling a variety of payment methods and ticket types.
The latest technology development, MIFARE ultralight, bridges this gap and is particularly suited for applications requiring low-cost, contactless ticketing solutions. Typical applications include single trip tickets in public transport systems, loyalty cards or event tickets for exhibitions, stadiums and leisure parks.
Technical features
MIFARE ultralight has a 512-bit EEPROM read/write memory and is compatible with existing MIFARE infrastructures. Operating in accordance with ISO 14443A, MIFARE ultralight functions at a distance of up to 10 cm with true anti-collision properties and without the need for a battery. It enables the development of a complete electronic, contactless payment system for use in public transport systems and other applications.
MIFARE ultralight was designed after intensive specification discussions with transport service providers, system integrators and paper manufacturers. Smart paper tickets based on MIFARE ultralight are already available from high volume ticket suppliers for transportation systems. The smart paper tickets can be printed by standard Edmonson/Eurosize ticket printer terminals fitted with a simple contactless reader upgrade for ticket initialization.
Applications
The shift from the use of coin or magnetic-stripe ticket operated machines to a single contactless electronic payment method significantly decreases operating costs and reduces the amount of cash circulating in a transport system, minimizing the chance of cash crime against passengers, transport staff and machines.
Once a passenger has purchased a smart contactless ticket they can easily enter their chosen bus, underground or train station without stopping to insert their ticket into an electronic access barrier. By keeping their ticket in their pocket and walking past a reader barrier that scans their card using RF technology, the passenger is given automatic access to their choice of transport without creating a queue. Depending on the system installation and the specific application there are options to reload the MIFARE ultralight at designated payment terminals or, in high volume applications, to dispose of it after usage.
The use of a 100 % contactless automatic fare payment system also significantly reduces maintenance costs for transport providers. As no mechanical parts are required for contactless ticketing terminals, machinery is much less vulnerable to mechanical failures or acts of destruction, resulting in the eradication of problems commonly associated with slot-operated machines including paper ticket jams and vandalism.
Customer Benefits
- 100% contactless fare payment systems / one single ticketing media
- Reduction of mechanical failures caused by ticket jams
- Terminal are less vulnerable
- Reduction of cash and fraud
- Reduction of system installation and maintenance costs
- Most advanced statistical data collection
- Easy expansion to other services
- Standard paper ticket vending equipment can be used
- Easy and fast integration into existing schemes
Related links
Indicates Confidential Documents.
You need to download and fill in the Password Request Form.
MIFARE request form for confidential documents (106kB)
MF0ICU1 Functional specification contactless single-trip ticket IC (358kB)
Mifare ultralight MF0 IC U10 01 MF0 IC U11 01 "Bumped sawn wafer on UV-tape" contactless single-trip ticket ICs (265kB)
Application Note Mifare Ultralight Features and Hints (342kB)
MF0 IC U10 01 "120µm Bumped unsawn Wafer on UV tape" contactless single-trip ticket ICs (384kB)
AMifare Ultralight MF0 IC U10 01 "120µm bumped sawn wafer on UV tape" contactless single-trip ticket ICs (252kB)