3.1 Mounting of the housing ............................................................................................................................ 5
3.2 Grounding of the reader ............................................................................................................................ 5
3.2.1 Connecting of the plug ........................................................................................................................ 6
3.3 Connecting of the power supply cable ........................................................................................................ 7
3.3.1 Using the pc connection cable ID 1002237 ......................................................................................... 7
3.3.2 Using a self assembled connecting cable .............................................................................................. 7
3.3.2.1 Assembling of the cable pipe ........................................................................................................ 8
3.3.2.2 Mounting of the cable ................................................................................................................. 8
3.3.2.3 Pin assignment of the SAB connectors ....................................................................................... 10
FIGURE 6: PIN ASSIGNMENT OF THE SAB CONNECTORSVISUAL SIGNAL LAMPS ... 10
4 INSTRUCTION SET / STRUCTURE OF THE INSTRUCTION SET ............................... 12
4.1 General ................................................................................................................................................... 12
4.1.2 Output format .................................................................................................................................. 12
4.1.2.1 Instruction specific output ......................................................................................................... 13
4.1.2.2 Output after changing a parameter ............................................................................................ 13
4.1.2.3 Output at parameter query ......................................................................................................... 13
Instructions for the hardware settings ................................................................................................................ 15
8.1 General Instructions ................................................................................................................................ 26
8.2 Special Instructions for Using a Read / Write System .............................................................................. 27
9 FCC INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 29
This document will describe the components of the Compact Reader System ARE i2 / USB and the procedure how to do the first set up of the reader.
The main features of the reader are listed below:
• the antenna is placed inside of the housing
• there are algorithm available to read nearly all 125 kHz-transponders on market
• integrated USB Interface with tunable baud rate are up to 19200 Bit/s
• the allowed supply voltage is 9 to 30V DC
• low power consumption of reader < 1.2 Watt
• high reliability for reading and writing within an industrial environment
• compact housing of the reader with multiple ways for mounting
• the cabling concept of the reader is optimised to service demands
• the protection class of the housing is IP65
• there is a set of external antennas available to meet special application demands ( X-tended version,
follow the mounting instruction in the antenna documentation)
2 System overview
In the base version all electronic components of the reader are placed inside of a small plastic housing.
By means of the integrated antenna the reader generates an alternating magnetic field, which powers the
transponder. Coded signals sent back from the transponder are received and decoded by the reader. The
reader is fully controlled by a master with RS 232 data port, while using the integrated USB 2.0 interface of the reader.
There is a version available without the integrated antenna. On this version it is possible to connect an
external antenna.
To get the specified reading performance it is necessary to do the installation carefully step by step as it
is described in the following Chapters. All the work must be done by well educated people.
3.1 Mounting of the housing
The reader can be mounted to any other mechanic construction. The distance between reader and transponder has to tuned
It is recommended to protect the housing against heavy mechanical interactions and drippy fluids.
Attention!
The side of the housing showing the antenna symbol must not be brought next to a metal surface. This
could lead to a significant change of the properties of the antenna circuit, which in turn reduces the
reading range considerably.
With the help of the plastic bars, the reader can mounted or screwed on to the most fastening elements
without open the housing of the device.
3.2 Grounding of the reader
To get reliable reading results, the reader must be grounded. The connector is placed at the side of the
housing (6.35 mm flat contact).
To avoid EMV-problems, the cable to ground ought to be very short with low impedance.
4 Instruction set / structure of the instruction set
4.1 General
The command set described below defines the transfer of data on the serial interface.
The commands consist of a command code and optionally of a parameter value. Commands are terminated by the control character <CR> (13h). The control character serves as command line terminator.
Command codes and parameters, that means all letters and numerical values, are principally transmitted as a sequence of ASCII characters (the value 255 (decimal) consequently as 32H, 35H, 35H;
the command RST as 52H, 53H, 54H).
4.1.1 Entering instuctions
The protocol format is as follows
Command <SP> parameter <CR>
The space character <SP> separates commands from parameters and the <CR> character acts as
command line terminator.
For commands without parameter values (e.g. GT) the <SP> character and parameter values are
omitted. The command line is as short as this:
Command <CR>
4.1.2 Output format
Generally, every input terminated by <CR> is acknowledged by the reader. The following response
protocols are different:
If a single <CR> is input, the reader answers with a single <CR>. Example:
Command: <CR>
Output: <CR>
Please note: If echo mode is active, a single <CR> forces the reader to output <CR> <CR> (echo plus
output).
4.1.4 Incorrect instruction / error codes
If a command is not entered correctly, the reader sends one of the following error codes:
Wrong command: <NAK> #00 <CR>
Wrong parameter: <NAK> #02 <CR>
Antenna failure: <NAK> #10 <CR>
4.1.5 Upper and lower case
The instruction set isn’t case-sensitiv.
4.1.6 Linefeed
The reader does never send a linefeed. If you use a terminal your terminal programme can add the
linefeed. You have to choose the option “displace CR with CR LF”.
The instruction GT executes one reading and sends back the transponder code of a transponder or the No
Read error code (e.g. „FFFFFFFFFF“ or „XXXXXXXXXX“).
Input format: GT <CR>
Output (example): 0420212E5F <CR>
4.2.2 CID – Suppression of ID Codes
With CID=1 only the first of in succession identical transponder numbers is output on the serial interface. The possibly following identical transponder numbers are suppressed, as long as no new valid
transponder number is received, processed and output. NoReads do not influence the data filtering.
Example: A, B, C are different transponder codes, N is NoRead error code:
Sequence of reading cycles Output sequence
after filtering with
CN=0 und CID=1
N, N, ......,N, A, A, A, ....A, N,N,
.........
N. N, N, A, A, A, N, A, A, B, A,
C, C, C, .......
N, N, ......,N, A, N,
N, .......
N. N, N, A, N, B,
A, C, .....
The settings are directly effective.
Note: The internal reference number is deleted in the following conditions:
• after a cold start
• after a warm start (command line RST <CR>)
• after entering the command line CID <SP> 1 <CR>
This causes that the next transponder code is output definitely.
Output sequence
after filtering with
CN=1 und CID=1
A
A, B, A, C
Note: The filter function CID picks up the results of the complete reading cycles, while the parameter
NID proceeds from the results of single readings! The filter function CID has effect on the serial interface only.
4.2.3 CN – Suppression of No Reads
Through the setting CN=1 all NoRead results are suppressed on the serial interface.
NID specifies the number of identical transponder numbers, which have to appear for the result “successful reading“within a reading cycle. In the setting NID = 1, two successive readings have to show
the same transponder number.
Input format: NID <SP> parameter <CR>
Parameter:
PARAMETER FUNCTION
0 One out of one
1 Two out of two
Output (example): 1 <CR>
Sequence of readings Lenght of the read-
ing cycle
Result of the reading cycle
NoRead 1 reading NoRead
0000125ED1, 0000125ED1 2 readings 0000125ED1
0000125ED1, 0000126ED1 2 readings NoRead
4.2.5 TOR – Maximum reading time
Timeout for the reader. TOR is used in operation mode 2 as maximum gating time for a reading process. The length of the maximum gating time results from the equation gating_time = TOR * TB.
The time constant TB (Time Base) has always the default value 100ms.
• MD 2 - the reading process is triggered by the serial interface
In the next capters can you find a detailed functional description.
The default mode is MD 0.
5.1 MD 2 - Triggered by an Software Command
The master sends the command to read a transponder code. The reader answers with the code or an error
code.
If you use “read- and writable”-transponders you just get the transponder code using the command “Get
Tag” (GT).
You can execute specific commands “Read” (RD) and “Write” (WD) just in mode MD2. (capter 8)
In operating mode 2, the exciter is always turned off. Triggered by the software command (GT; RD ;
WD), the exciter is activated. After successful reading or writing of a transponder number the exciter is
turned off automatically.
exciter
processor
interface
Figure 9: Software triggered reading operation
If the first reading cycle yields no result (NoRead), the on-time of the exciter is limited by the parameter TOR (time out reader): Reading cycles are continuously started until either a transponder is read
successfully or the time span corresponding to the value of the parameter TOR has expired. The reader will not interrupt the last running readout cycle. If no transponder number has been read, a
NoRead is output.
Figure 10: Software triggered reading operation with TOR>0
Please note: The TOR parameter is only active, if the GT-Command is applied. Within the time span
defined by the value of TOR no NoRead will be output on the interface!
5.2 MD 0 - Continuous Reading
When operating continuously the exciter is switched on permanently. The reading cycles are initiated
periodically.
After an accomplished reading cycle the reading information is evaluated. After that data (either transponder number or NoRead code) is output to the serial interface
• Connect the reader via cable with the USB interface (COM) from your notebook or pc.
• Connect the reader with your power supply (9..30V DC). Look after the polarity!
• Switch the power supply on. The yellow LED OP of the reader starts to blink.
• Start your terminal programme. You have to set the following settings: 8 data bits, 1 start bit
und 1 stop bit, no parity check (often called 8N1), baud rate 19200 baud, no flow control(e.g.
XOFF/XON).
• Send the command „VER <CR>“ to the reader. The reader answers with the actual firmware
version (e.g. AEG ID V1.23).
• Send the command “MD <SP> 0 <CR>” to the reader. The reader sends No Read messages
(e.g. „FFFFFFFFFF“ or „XXXXXXXXXX“), while there is no transponder in the antenna field
available. The red LED L3 is active. If there is a transponder in the antenna field available the
reader sends its transponder code. The green LED L2 starts to glow.
The master has to send an software command to start an read or write process of the reader. After doing
all the necessary work at the readers site, the result of the reading or writing process or an failure code
is sent back to the master.
If there is used an read/write transponder, only the serial number of the transponder will be read if the
basic read command „Get Tag“ („GT <CR>“) is applied.
The data exchange of the whole memory can only be done, if the reader is set to the Mode 2 ( „selective
Read (RD) “ and „write (WD)“).
7.1 Selective read RD
• Start the reader with the command RD plus parameters (plus <CR>). You can read out just one
block (with one parameter) or several blocks (with two parameters, first and last block number).
• Wait for the answer
• Analyse the received answer: 8 characters plus <CR>. Allowed characters 0 to F.
The NoRead code is set to ( „XXXXXXXX“).
The result of the reading process may also be seen at the LED’s.
• LED L2 lit, if there was a successful read.
• LED L3 lit, if there was a No Read.
Example: RD <SP> 20 <CR> read block 20
RD <SP> 16 <SP> 33 <CR>read all blocks from 16 to 33
Allowed values (block numbers of the transponder IC):
The memory of the transponder is organised in blocks, containing 32 bits. The data’s of every single
block must be changed separately.
• Start the reader with the command WD plus parameters ( plus <CR>). The sent parameter consists
of the block address and writing data’s (8 ASCII characters).
• Wait for the answer
• Analyse the received answer: 3 characters plus <CR>.
ACK <CR> Writing process was successful
NAK <CR> Writing process was not successful.
NOT <CR> The response of the transponder was not readable.
The result of the writing process may also seen at the LED’s.
• LED L2 lit, if there was a successful write
• LED L3 lit, if there was no successful write.
Example: WD <SP> 20 <SP> < 0 1 2 7 A C D F > <CR> write to block 20
Allowed values (block numbers of the transponder IC):
To avoid any reduction of the reading distance of the reader, the housing must not be brought next to a
metal surface. This could lead to a significant change of the properties of the antenna circuit, which in
turn reduces the reading range considerably!
To get reliable readings, the distance between reader and transponder must be within the specified reading volume.
The reading characteristic in front of the reader is not isotropic. It depends also strongly on the orientation between Reader and Transponder. To get the maximum reading distance, the orientation between
reader and transponder must be well suited. The best orientation depends on the type of antenna inside of
the housing (ferrite – type or plane coil type) and the applied transponder (disc or glass transponder)
To get a reliable readings or writings, the time of transponder while crossing the sensitive area of the
antenna must be co-ordinated to the data transfer characteristics of transponder
In general the time depends on the speed of the transponder, the size of the transponder and the way the
transponder is mounted on the vehicle and must be verified by field tests.
Environmental electromagnetic noise may also reduce the read and write range consid-erably.
Arrangement to eliminate such troubles must be done specific to the application by the help of engineers
of the manufacturer.
8.2 Special Instructions for Using a Read / Write System
To transfer the data to the transponder or to control the selective read process, all standard transponder
types uses a 100%-pulse-gap-modulation technique.
The modulation of the magnetic field comming from the transponder and the write pattern done by the
base station, shows a lot of similarities. Therefore, read write systems may interfere each other.
Because of the antenna cable transfers the energy for the antennafield it radiates also the gap modulation. Therefore they should keep also a minimum distance, and shouldn’t lay parallel.
The minimum distance between two antennas mounted next to each other and the size of the interference
must be determined for each application itself.
Below there are listed several parameters that will influence the size of the interaction:
• size of the antennas
• orientation of the antennas (f.e. parallel or rectangular to each other)
• size of transponder; distance between transponder and antenna
• the chronological orders for reading or writing.
Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) Statement
15.21
You are cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the part responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
15.105(b)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant
to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connect-
ed.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.