Zebra Technologies TFF 1000 00AA Users manual

WiData Firefly
Real Time Locating System Tag

User’s Guide

TFF-1000-00AA
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.

Model: TFF-1000-00AA

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules and RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
which may cause undesired operation.

FCC ID: NSQTFF-1000-00AA
CANADIAN ID:

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.

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.

The principal components of the system are shown in the following figure.

WiData Firefly Real Time Location System Tag User’s Guide