Modular designs emphasized

	Shenzhen Jieshun’s JYT-IV model supports IC and ID cards and bar-coded tickets.

Makers are improving product performance and introducing scalable subsystems.

China suppliers of car park management systems are focusing production on modular designs that can be incorporated into current setups or expanded to match users’ diverse requirements. Companies offer flexible subsystems that facilitate integration and scalability, from basic card readers to interlocked CCTV surveillance equipment. The line also consists of barriers and intercoms, hardware and solutions for license plate recognition, parking guidance and automatic payment.

Modules can be configured according to buyers’ requirements and as such, makers are stepping up customization capability.

Upscale releases this year have ARM processors and embedded Linux instead of the traditional MCU architecture. The more powerful chips result in faster response speed and accommodate additional functions. Companies have also upgraded the system bus from RS-485 to CAN or TCP/IP.

Integrated variants, which are mostly targeted at the export market, consist of card or ticket dispensers, readers and retrievers, and portal or entrance/exit controllers.

Functions can be extended via Wiegand, RS-485, RS-232 or CAN bus.

New models are being introduced this year to broaden the range in preparation for a surge in overseas demand. To ensure quality and curb the rise of substandard units, the China government has implemented the GA/T 761-2008 Safety Technical requirements.

	Shenzhen Tenet’s model TUS-100 vehicle detector is installed on a car park ceiling and has a 15-degree detection range.

Basic car park management products consist of portal/exit controllers and barriers that can be supplemented with other subsystems.

Add-ons include vehicle detectors, card/ticket dispensers, readers and retrievers, and surveillance, image-capture and identification analysis devices. Parking guidance and payment equipment are optional.

Releases are designed to accommodate diverse grades, scale, entrance and exit requirements, and automation setups. Some can work online or off.

Development efforts revolve around functional and aesthetic enhancements. The first covers automation, man-machine interface and identification technologies. Network topology and transmission bandwidth have likewise been R&D priorities in recent years.

Several mainstream models allow various programmable configurations for different user or operator groups. The system can distinguish among these and execute preset instructions accordingly such as indicating relative fixed or random available spaces as vehicles enter the parking area.

In a typical setup, the entry barrier can be raised or lowered automatically or manually after the car’s distinguishing marks have been verified. Advanced models integrate surveillance subsystems that record on-site images of the vehicle prior to entry.

Some even take note of plate numbers and store them for future reference as an added security measure.

A summary indicating the parking time, period of validity, and fees and balances can be generated on demand. The data is then transmitted to a toll collector’s terminal or an automatic payment equipment.

User-friendly and interactive operation is emphasized in releases, many of which feature voice prompts, light indicators and text tips or help menus. A number of units can detect and indicate space occupancy and guide drivers to empty lots.

Automated payment devices, meanwhile, are designed to accommodate a variety of credit cards, bills and coins. Improved system reliability and adjusted technical specifications have resulted in compatibility with a wider range of currencies.

For identification methods, suppliers are using RFID cards running on LF or HF such as EM or Mifare and bar-coded tickets.

Long-range RFID, however, is increasingly utilized as the primary car recognition technology as it facilitates access. This means vehicles do not need to stop at the parking lot exit or entrance for a manual tally. Besides adopting private protocols, such solutions have up to 20m operating range.

Put together, the enhanced subsystems reduce the operating cost and increase the efficiency of parking lots.

	The model CHD-DX-L013 vehicle barrier from Shenzhen Newabel has a processing speed of 1.5 to 6s.

Complementing functional enhancements are efforts to bolster product durability through the external design. Recent releases boast water and dust resistance, and protection against EMC, surge and lightning. Card and ticket machines are optimized to avoid jamming or overdispensing, and barriers upgraded to ensure seamless raising or lowering and secure locking.

Road blockers are equipped with more sensitive infrared sensors to ensure stability. Most have a manual override to avoid hitting and damaging cars accidentally, specifically during a power failure. Offline or networked operation is likewise supported.

Rollouts also feature cosmetic upgrades. Shenzhen Jieshun Science & Technology Industry Co. Ltd, for instance, offers the Lingtong IV and Jiesiyi III models with novel Z- and K-shaped parking kiosk and control box, respectively. These have a 32-bit ARM processor and optional long-distance RFID reader.

Vehicle detectors from Shenzhen Tenet Technology Co. Ltd, meanwhile, can withstand harsh environments. These come in single or double-loop and ultrasonic series.

Prices are influenced by the subsystems incorporated, configuration and order volume. Quotes dropped significantly in the past three years due to fierce competition, leading to sharp declines in profit margins. Makers will keep prices at current levels throughout 2010, concentrating instead on reducing overhead.

Barriers are typically $100 to $400 depending on the design and dimensions. Portal/exit controllers range from $200 for basic models with EM or Mifare card readers to $800 for upscale versions that integrate long-range sensors.

Standard single-loop vehicle detectors are $30, while double-loop types start at $100. Card dispensers and retrievers go for $150.

RFID modules are largely sourced from professional providers, although some suppliers use generic solutions such as ZigBee and Bluetooth for entry-level variants.

Manufacturers in general prefer inputs capable of long-range detection but for now these are reserved for the upscale market.

Most China vendors started shipping the line overseas no more than five years ago, with the maximum export share pegged at 20 percent. Southeast Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East are currently the major destinations.

Growth was hampered by the financial slump in 2009 but revenue was still higher than 2008 figures and prospects are brighter this year, according to interviewed companies. To bolster foreign trade, large enterprises are tapping into North America and Western Europe, and smaller manufacturers are expected to follow suit.

Makers are likewise targeting products at destinations where orders have been rising. Bar-code ticket dispensers and readers, for example, are shipped to North America and Europe, while RFID versions go to Asia.

Of the 200 to 300 suppliers, about 100 offer complete solutions. The rest specializes in subsystems, barriers and RFID modules.

Few enterprises conduct the entire manufacturing process in-house due to its complexity. Players such as Shenzhen Jieshun work with third parties on R&D and private mold making. The company, together with Hangzhou Reformer and Shenzhen Peak, is one of a handful of suppliers with the capability to create access controller and management software.

Many midsize operations concentrate on one aspect of product development, usually long-distance RFID technology. Some can provide total solutions but the selections are small because of the limited R&D capability. Small enterprises typically handle only the assembly.

Guangdong province is the main hub, hosting about 80 percent of companies. Other factories can be found in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, and the cities of Beijing and Shanghai.

Shenzhen has the most comprehensive supply chain and the strongest industrial and export infrastructure, specifically for RFID devices.

With its mature electronics industry, the city is a rich source of contract manufacturing service providers as well.