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Paytec’s PIT Key: How the Technology Behind Your Purchase Works
In the world of vending, the “key” is a simple but essential tool for thousands of users. Behind this small device lies an advanced and refined technology, the result of years of development in the field of electronic identification and payment systems. In this article, we focus on the technical functioning of Paytec’s PIT key, exploring the physical and electronic principles that make it so reliable and efficient.
The heart of the PIT key: the transponder
The PIT key, as its name Programmable Identification Transponder suggests, is a transponder. But what does that mean exactly? A transponder is a device that not only receives a signal, but also transmits it, as a response. In the case of the PIT key, this signal is used to transmit crucial information, such as credits, serial numbers, and identification codes, between the key itself and the reader. In the past, the PIT key contained a passive chip, today inside it there is an electronic system that manages the communication and data transmission process more efficiently.
Communication between key and reader
When the PIT key is inserted into the reader, a well-defined technological process begins. First, the reader detects the presence of the key thanks to an optical barrier. At this point, a high-frequency magnetic field is activated, produced by a coil inside the reader. This magnetic field is used to transfer energy to the transponder.
Inside the PIT key, another coil intercepts the magnetic field of the reader and powers the transponder electronics, allowing the key to function. This energy is also used to manage the data transmission between the key and the reader.
The key communicates with the reader through an exchange of pulses, which allow new information to be written on the key, to update the credit balance, modify identification data or perform other system operations.
It is important to note that the data transmitted is always encrypted to ensure the security of the transaction. In this way, even if someone were to intercept the signal, they would not be able to decipher the information without the correct cryptographic key.
Consistency and reliability check
A data consistency check is performed for each transaction, both reading and writing, to ensure that the integrity of the information is maintained. This process ensures that the data stored on the key is correct and not corrupted, preserving the functionality and reliability of the system.
Conclusions
The Paytec PIT key is much more than a simple physical medium for paying for coffee: it is a sophisticated device that uses advanced electronics and communication principles to provide a safe, reliable and smooth user experience. Its operation, based on the modulation of an electromagnetic field, allows the transmission of critical data between the key and the reader, ensuring that each operation is performed accurately and safely.
Paytec, with its focus on innovation and security, continues to develop advanced solutions to meet the needs of the vending industry, improving the daily experience of consumers and simplifying management for operators.
Review the second part of the guide here: Euro 1, Tipo 98 or self-programmable
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