WiData Firefly
Hand Held Communicator
PCMCIA Card
User’s Guide
HPC-2000-00AA
March 1999
WiData Corporation
2855 Bowers Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95051
408-845-8500
FCC Requirements
This device must operate in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and Regulations Parts
15. See FCC registration label, located on the bottom of the equipment for the FCC, registration.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for both Class A and Class B devices, pursuant to Part
15 of the FCC Rules.
RF Notice
Any changes or modifications to WiData Corporation equipment not expressly approved by WiData Corporation could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1
WiData Firefly System................................................................................................... 1
Hand Held Communicator.............................................................................................. 1
Power Management........................................................................................................ 1
System Block Diagram................................................................................................... 2
Card and Socket Services............................................................................................... 3
Package Contents............................................................................................................ 3
Requirements.................................................................................................................. 3
Operation............................................................................................................................ 4
Configuration and Setup................................................................................................. 4
Operation........................................................................................................................4
Specification ....................................................................................................................... 5
PC Card .......................................................................................................................... 5
DSSS RF Performance................................................................................................... 5
OOK/FSK RF Performance............................................................................................ 5
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
Introduction
WiData Firefly System
The Firefly RF Location System is designed to permit users to determine the position of tagged assets in both indoor and
outdoor facilities such as factories and freight yards. The system locates tagged assets by a process involving redundant
triangulation. Each tag autonomously emits a 2.4 GHz direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) radio signal at
predetermined blink rate. Each tag’s blink rate is randomized around its predetermined value to minimize the number of
collisions between transmissions made by different tags. The signal emitted by the tag is received by a minimum of four
DSSS receivers each of which are capable of decoding that tag’s transmission. A typical transmission contains a preamble
which is used to synchronize the receiver, the tag’s serial number which identifies the tag, a status word which monitors
various tag functions, data stored in the tag’s memory and finally a CRC used to assure that the tag’s message is correct as
received.
Tag configuration parameters such as blink rate and user data to be stored in memory are loaded into the tag using a
device called a Hand Held Communicator (HHC). The HHC consists of a Type II PCMCIA card inserted into a laptop or
handheld PC. The PCMCIA card contains a short range (2 to 10 feet) radio transmitter and receiver which communicates
with a very low power transmitter and receiver contained in each tag. This short range communication link operates at 2.4
GHz. The modulation scheme used by the PCMCIA card was chosen to minimize power consumption by the battery
operated tag receiver. The DSSS transmitter allows the system to locate users of the HHC anywhere in the service area
covered by the system.
Hand Held Communicator
The WiData Corporation Communicator PCMCIA card allows the handheld computer, laptop computer, or any other
computer with a PCMCIA slot to operate as a Firefly Communicator. Tag-to-Communicator bi-directional data transfers
are accomplished using the OOK/FSK RF modulation link. The Communicator-to-RF Processor DSSS RF modulation
link is one-way only. Figure 1 shows a typical WiData Firefly System. The handheld computer can also include standard
WLAN and Bar Code Scanners to further enhance system capabilities.
Power Management
The Hand Held Communicator PCMCIA power consumption is handled by the application software installed on the
handheld computer. The software will power down the card during periods of in-activity. Any time the Hand Held
Communicator is not in use, the handheld computer should be installed into its battery charging cradle.
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
1
Firefly System
N
Block Diagram
GUI
Client
Indigenous
etwork(s)
Reader
Reader
1-way spread
spectrum RF
(Blink S/N & telem)
Tag with
GUI
Client
Front End
Processor
Reader
1-way spread
spectrum RF for
sending tag I D
association with
2-way OOK
modulated RF
(Who?, Where?, Memory)memory
bar code read
Comunctr Bar
PCMCIA
Code
Scanner
RF
Client
and
WiData
Server
Laser bar code scanner
FireFly
DBMS
Indigenous
MIS
DBMS
Dimensions:
* reader - reader = 200 ft
Reader
HPC
* tag - reader = 200 ft
* tag - interrogator = 1-20 ft
* WLAN - WLAN = 200 - 500 ft
Figure 1
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
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Card and Socket Services
WiData Corporation has developed CLB library files, INI configuration setting files, INF setup information files, VXD
virtual drivers, and CFG configuration files that enable the card to be recognized by a range of card and socket servers.
Package Contents
The hardware package consists of:
• WiData Firefly Hand Held Communicator PCMCIA card (HPC-2000-00AA)
• Software installa tion d isk ett e
Requirements
Handheld computer or PC with Type II PC Card slot.
Card and socket services for PC card
External antenna cable and antenna (usually provided with handheld computer)
I/O ports 0210-0217
2k x 8-bit RAM Memory block for PC card
Up to 384k byte conventional memory depending on specific application software
Most handheld computers require special software that allows the disk drive to be flashed. Verify that the appropriate
handheld computer companion software the allows files to be flashed or loaded to the internal disk is available and that all
docking station and cable equipment is also available. This is required if the software is to be loaded.
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
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Installation
Installation
PC Card
Installation and removal methods vary for different host computers. Refer to host computer documentation of more
detailed information.
Arrows on the top of the PC Card indicate FRONT with arrows. This is the end of the card that is to be inserted into the
computer.. To support hot insertion and removal of the card, verify that the proper library and configuration files as well
as socket and card services are loaded onto the host computer.
After the card has been seated into the host computer, connect the antenna cable to the special RF connector on the PC
Card. Some host computers do not have an antenna, or already use the antenna for a WLAN. Special cards with
integrated antennas are available upon request from WiData Corporation, although for optimum RF performance, it is
recommended that the antenna integrated into the handheld computer be used.
Software (DOS)
The diskette has the Firefly Communicator application software as well as the library and configuration files required by
card and socket services in order to recognize the PC Card and allocate the needed resources. Since most handheld
computers require special software to download files to the hard disk, the PC Card files should be copied to a directory on
the host computer that will be used to flash the handheld computer.
The handheld computer should be flashed with the WiData Firefly software. Consult handheld computer documentation
for procedures on downloading files.
Software (Windows 95)
The diskette has the installation shield required to install all the software required to run the Firefly Communicator PC
Card. From WINDOWS, select run a:\setup.exe. The install software will create a directory path on the root named
\INTERROGATOR\GUI. The file TAGCONF.EXE is the application software.
Sounds
When the software and the hardware are correctly installed, the computer will produce two tones (medium pitch followed
by higher pitch) when the PC Card is inserted or upon power up.
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
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Operation
Operation
Configuration and Setup
The WiData Firefly Hand Held Communicator does not require any special configuration or setup to operate with the
Firefly application software loaded on the handheld computer.
Operation
The WiData Firefly Hand Held Communicator application software should automatically run on power up of the handheld
computer. Most applications allow the user perform one or more of the following functions:
• Read data from tag memory
• Write data to tag memory
• Turn tag DSSS blink on and set the blink rate
• Turn tag DSSS blink off
• List Ids of tags within the OOK/FSK range of the Hand Held Communicator
• Locate a specific tag by report the signal tag’s OOK/FSK signal strength
• Upload data to the Firefly Data Base using DSSS transmit mode.
All application software is pre-configured to individual system requirements before system installation. All available
functions are menu selectable through easy on screen instructions.
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
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Specifications
Specifications
PC Card
Dimensions 3.3 x 2.1 x 0.2 inches
85 x 54 x 5 mm
Weight 1.6 oz
Operation Temperature 0 to +55 °C
Storage Temperature -20 to +85 °C
Humidity 95% non condensing
PCMCIA Compliance Type II, Version 2.01
Card and Socket Services 2.1
DSSS RF Performance
Frequency 2441.750 MHz
Spreading (PN Code) 511 chips/bit
Chip Rate 30.521875 MHz
Power <1mW
Range (to DSSS reader) up to 200 feet
OOK/FSK RF Performance
Frequency 2446.520 MHz
OOK/FSK Rates 375 kHz (Logic 0)
535 kHz (Logic 1)
Power <1mW
Range (to tag) 0 to 6 feet
WiData Firefly System Hand Held Communicator User’s Guide
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