Elatec TWN4F1 User Manual

Transponder Reader

TWN4

Technical Handbook

Rev. 2.1

Elatec GmbH

Content

Content ............................................................................................... 2

1. Introduction ............................................................................. 3

2. Getting Started ......................................................................... 3

2.1 Cable Connection ......................................................................... 3

2.2 Enumeration ................................................................................. 3

2.3 Initialization.................................................................................. 3

2.4 Normal Operation ........................................................................ 4

Detection of a Transponder ................................................................... 4

2.5 Suspend Mode .............................................................................. 4

3. Firmware and App programming ........................................... 6

3.1 How to Blast ................................................................................. 7

3.2 System Requirements ................................................................ 15

4. Service Address ...................................................................... 16

5. Regulatory Information ......................................................... 17

5.1 CE Declaration of Conformity .................................................. 17

5.2 FCC Statement ........................................................................... 18

5.3 IC (Industry Canada) Statement .............................................. 19

6. Trademarks ............................................................................ 20

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1. Introduction

The transponder reader TWN4 is a device for reading and writing RFID
transponders. There are different versions of TWN4 devices available,
which cover a large range of transponder types both in the frequency range
of 125kHz and 13.56MHz.

2. Getting Started

2.1 Cable Connection

In order to start operating a TWN4 transponder reader, it simply has to be
connected to a host.

2.2 Enumeration

Once the device has been powered up, it is waiting for completion of the
enumeration by the USB host. As long as the device is not enumerated, it is
entering a minimum power consumption mode, where both LEDs are
turned off.

2.3 Initialization

After powering up and enumeration, the device is turning on the built-in
transponder reader logic. The green LED is turned on permanently. Some
transponder readers need some kind of initialization, which is performed in

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this step. After successful initialization, the device sounds a short sequence,
which consists of a lower tone followed by a higher tone.

2.4 Normal Operation

As soon as the device has completed the initialization, it is entering normal
operation. During normal operation the device is searching for a
transponder continuously.

Detection of a Transponder

If a transponder is detected by the reader, following actions are performed

 Send the ID to the host. By default, the USB device sends by

emulating keystrokes of a keyboard.

 Sound a beep
 Turn off the green LED
 Blink the red LED for two seconds
 Turn on the green LED

Within the two seconds timeout, where the red LED is blinking, the
transponder, which just has been recognized will not be accepted again.
This prevents the reader from sending identical IDs more than one time to
the host.

If during the two seconds timeout of the red LED a different transponder is
detected, the complete sequence restarts immediately.

2.5 Suspend Mode

The transponder reader supports the USB suspend mode. If the USB host
is signaling suspend via the USB bus, the transponder reader is turning off

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most of its power consuming peripherals. During this operation mode, no
detection of transponders is possible and all LEDs are turned off.

Once the host is resuming to normal operation mode, this is also signaled
via the USB bus. Therefore, the transponder reader will resume to normal
operation, too.

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3. Firmware and App programming

AppBlaster provides many features to configure the multi-frequency reader
TWN4 for your own special application. This is done in an easy and fast
way: Easy and fast = Blast
The developer pack contains sample source codes (App), Windows driver
for serial communication (CDC Driver), firmware for serial communication
and for keyboard communication.

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