WJ Communications SR320 Users manual

Cover sheet

RFID Fixed IBeam Reader User’s Manual

Copyright© 2006 by Intelleflex Corp. Subject to change without notice. This information is provided “as is,” and Intelleflex makes no claims of fit for purposes intended, merchantability or other. All trademarks, service marks, trade names and logos are used in good faith and remain the property of their rightful owners.

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Table of Contents

1.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1.1 Contents of this Document ......................................................................................................... 3

1.1.2 Audience..................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1.3 Product Description.................................................................................................................... 3

1.1.4 Unpacking and Inspection .......................................................................................................... 3

1.1.5 Product Installation..................................................................................................................... 4

1.2 Installation and Operation of demonstration Graphical User Interface..................................... 4

1.2.1 Minimum System Requirements ................................................................................................ 4

1.2.2 Software Installation................................................................................................................... 5

1.2.3 Starting the Apache server.......................................................................................................... 6

1.2.4 Reader Administrator Console (TagHunterTM)......................................................................... 6

1. Find Tags (Button) ............................................................................................................................. 8

2. Air Protocol (Radio Button)............................................................................................................... 8

3. Setting a Configuration (drop down list box)..................................................................................... 9

4. Antenna selection (checkboxes)......................................................................................................... 9

5. Tag Inventory (operation)................................................................................................................... 9

6. Refresh (Button)................................................................................................................................. 9

1. Manage Tag Memory....................................................................................................................... 11

2. Raw Memory Read Write................................................................................................................. 12

3. EM_Data .......................................................................................................................................... 13

1. New config ....................................................................................................................................... 20

1.3 Host-Reader Interface.................................................................................................................... 22

1.4 Troubleshooting / technical support ............................................................................................. 22

1.5 Technical specifications.................................................................................................................. 22

1.6 Notices.............................................................................................................................................. 22

1.6.1 RFID limitations....................................................................................................................... 22

1.6.2 Safety........................................................................................................................................ 22

1.6.3 Limitation of liability................................................................................................................ 23

1.6.4 Patents....................................................................................................................................... 23

1.6.5 Copyright notice....................................................................................................................... 23

1.6.6 Comments and feedback........................................................................................................... 23

1.7 Regulatory Compliance.................................................................................................................. 23

1.7.1 FCC Statement.......................................................................................................................... 23

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1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Contents of this Document

This manual describes installation and operation of the Intelleflex Corporation’s UHF RFID Stationary IBeam Readers. A description of the installation and use of the demonstration Graphical User Interface is also provided. The Application Programmer’s Interface to the IBeam Reader using SLRPP protocol and communicating over the Ethernet port is described in a separate API document.

1.1.2 Audience

This manual assumes that the reader is generally familiar with RFID technology and Windows personal computers. The primary audience are the users and professional installers of the RFID system. It is highly recommended that the RFID system with the Intelleflex Reader and the antennas be installed by professionals qualified for such installations..

1.1.3 Product Description

The Stationary reader is a self-contained RFID reader configured for use at 902-928 MHz. Eigh t antenna connections using Reverse Polarity TNC connectors, normally configured as four pairs of (transmit – receive), are provided on the back of the unit. Each pair can be connected to an Intelleflex model IA-411 antenna pair, or to other approved antennas. Configuration related communications with a host controller is achieved through a conventional RS232 serial port or over the Ethernet port. Optically-isolated direct I/O, and an Ethernet interface using a conventional RJ45 connector, are also available.

1.1.4 Unpacking and Inspection

Box Contents:

• IBeam Stationary Reader

• A CD containing this User’s Manual and Demonstration Software

• AC power adaptor

• RS232 Serial Cable

• USB-to-serial adaptor

• Ethernet cable

• 50 ohm R-TNC terminators (6)

• I/O port terminator

• Mounting hardware

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• Cross-over cable

Contents may vary slightly depending on the model number and options purchased.

1.1.5 Product Installation

The Stationary reader should be installed in a location protected from physical impact. The reader may support up to 4 transmit-receive antenna pairs. The antennas should not be located more than 5 meters (15 feet) from the reader. The reader should be securely mounted using the four mounting holes provided, preferably in a vertical orientation allowing air to flow along the length of the cooling fins. At least 12 cm (5 inches) of clearance should be provided in all directions from the reader. The reader and antennas should not be located close to a strong source of RF interference such as a cordless telephone or 900 -MHz wireless local area network (WLAN) base station. The antennas should not have any conductive (metallic) obstructions within 50 cm in the direction in which tag reading is to be performed.

A possible installation sequence is as follows:

1. Mount the reader to a secure, stable surface, with adequate clearance and air flow.

2. Attach the antenna cables to the relevant R-TNC connectors at the reader, and N-type connectors

at the antenna. Terminate unused R-TNC connectors with 50 ohm loads.

3. Connect the 24 VDC power supply cable to the reader.

4. Place one or more C1G2 RFID tags in front of one of the antenna pairs, within 1-2 meters. If

using C3 tags, the recommended distance is 3-5 meters.

It is important to note that transmit and receive antennas must be connected in pairs to corresponding connectors. Thus, if only one antenna pair is employed, the transmit antenna may be connected to any of the transmit connectors (e.g. TX1), but the receiving antenna must then be connected to the corresponding receive connection (RX1 in this case). Antenna ports not used should be terminated with the 50 ohm terminations provided. If separate transmit and receive antennas are employed, it is important that they be oriented so as to view the same illuminated area, and preferably be coplanar so as to minimize coupling between the antennas.

At this point the reader should be ready for operation using the demonstration graphical interface software, or other custom control software.

1.2 Installation and Operation of demonstration Graphical User Interface

The following description assumes the host computer is operating under Microsoft Windows XP Professional; slightly different screens will be visible if another operating system is employed.

1.2.1 Minimum System Requirements

This software requires a host computer, with the following requirements:

o PC running Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional o 128 MB of RAM o 50MB of hard disk space o Ethernet port o RS232 port desirable but not essent i a l o CD-ROM

Note that if the host computer is connected directly to the Reader Ethernet/RS232 interface, Ethernet cable must be of the crossover type.

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the associated

1.2.2 Software Installation

The software consists of 3 different tools, all of which are required to run simultaneously for the software to be functional.

These are:

1) Apache web-server,

2) Virtual Reader and

3) TagHunter PHP Pages

To install the complete package, follow the instructions below:

1. Insert the software CD and to auto-install the software on the PC.

2. The installer should display the startup-screen:

Click “Install”.

3. The installer asks where you would like to install the program. The default location is on the local

C disk in the Program folder.

If you change the location of the program it is important to note where it is installed, as you will need to access this folder to make modifications to the reader configuration.

4. The installer next provides you with an option to install XAMPP. We strongly recommend that

you select the default location to install the software, changing this may cause the demo software to not work properly.

Note that a system that has mySQL server installed may not be able to run

the application simultaneously with the XAMPP application.

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5. The installer copies the requisite files; progress is displayed in the installer window. This process

may take a few minutes. When the installer is finished the Installation Complete screen appears. Click ‘Finish’ to exit the installer.

1.2.3 Starting the Apache server

Run the Apache web server program xamp_start

Apache web server is required to display any results such as number of tags found. It uses the web server / PHP console to show any of the results. If a middleware uses another method of displaying the output – for example, a command line interface, the Apache web server program may not be required.

Note that the “X” over the Apache icon on the windows taskbar must be used to terminate the Apache program properly.

This is a mandatory step when shutting down the application.

1.2.4 Reader Administrator Console (TagHunterTM)

Run Firefox Internet Explorer, and go to URL http://localhost

Ensure that cookies are enabled; the program writes cookies to save settings. At this point, you will see the following window:

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Click on “Find Reader” button, and the application will discover the reader the PC is connected to. Select the reader (verify the serial number on the reader matches with the serial number displayed on the page: IB500-US-000xxx, where xxx is the serial number).

You will now see the following screen to select the appropriate application:

TagHunter GUI

The GUI consists of user selectable tabs, clickable feature buttons and selectable parameters. These are explained in the following sections.

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1.2.4.1 Asset tracking

In long range applications, asset tracking tool is used to locate the tags and write in to the tag memory or read from them.

The TagHunter PHP uses application-specific protocols. Asset tracking is one such protocol which is generally used for long range tests or finding tags where the distance between tags and the antenna maybe more than as in a typical warehouse portal entry way. For example, in a large hospital, if expensive assets need to be tracked with their location being unknown, asset tracking would be the recommended mode.

The default “settings” for Asset tracking is the AT1.ifx config file. However users can modify or create any config from the custom window to reflect a different environment (e.g. a warehouse or an outdoor car parking lot etc.) as explained later in this document.

1. Find Tags (Button)

This button is used to initiate the tag detection protocol / algorithm when clicked. If the config file is not loaded, it will not detect any tags. While in operation, clicking on Find tags again will result in unknown results.

2. Air Protocol (Radio Button)

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WJ Communications SR320 Users manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual