Research and Development on Suica Cards with a Display Function

JR East is undertaking research and development efforts to add information display functions to Suica integrated circuit (IC) cards. This reflects increased Suica IC card value and is in keeping with information display functions provided with Mobile Suica mobile phone service. JR East has developed a prototype display model to check basic functions (initial stage prototype) separate from the card in efforts until now. A prototype IC card with a display was created as a second-stage prototype. The aforementioned display was enlarged so that, in comparison with the initial stage prototype, it was approximately 2.5 times larger. This same display saw an approximately 50% reduction in maximum power consumption for display data rewriting. Rewriting speed was increased successfully by shortening the display data rewriting time to approximately 4.3 seconds - less than half that of the initial stage prototype. JR East found that unfavorable Suica function effects were produced by adding a display function to the card, especially in terms of communication distance. The authors provide a detailed overview of the study.