Applied Wireless Identifications Group M26EA RFID Reader 2.6e Module User Manual

Applied Wireless Identifications Group Inc. RFID Reader 2.6e Module Users Manual

Users Manual

2.6 EA - 1 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYSENTINEL-SENSE 2.6 EAInstallation & Operation Manual-041320
2.6 EA - 2 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYCOPYRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe contents of this document are the property of Applied Wireless Identifications Group, Inc.(AWID) and are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, isstrictly prohibited. For additional copies of this document please contact:AWID18300 Sutter BlvdMorgan Hill, CA 95037www.sales-ast@AWID.comThe information contained herein has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate,no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies. AWID reserves the right to make changeswithout prior notice. This document is not covered by any warranty either expressed orimplied. Any comments, corrections or additions to the contents of this document should bedirected to AWID at the above address.Copyright 2006 AWID, Printed in USA.All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.FCC COMPLIANCEThis equipment has been tested and found to be in compliance with the limits for FCC Part 15,Class A digital device. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection againstharmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Thisequipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed andused in accordance with instruction manual, may cause harmful interference with radiocommunications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmfulinterference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his ownexpense.The users are prohibited from making any change or modification to this product, anymodification to this product shall voids the users authority to operate under FCC Part 15Subpart A Section 15.21 regulations.This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the followingtwo conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference and, (2) this device mustaccept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesiredoperation.INDUSTRY C ANADA C OMPLIANCEOperation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not causeinterference and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference thatmay cause undesired operation of the device.
2.6 EA - 3 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYC AUTION:Reader should be positioned so that personnel in the area for prolonged periods maysafely remain at least 23 cm (9 in) in an uncontrolled environment from the readers surface.Observe FCC OET Bulletin 56 Hazards of radio frequency and electromagnetic fields andBulletin 65 Human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields.
2.6 EA - 4 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARY Table of Contents1INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................51.1 General Description & Theory of Operation .......................................................51.2 Special Features ................................................................................................72SPECIFICATIONS ....................................................................................................82.1 Channel Frequency Table..................................................................................82.2 Input and Output Interfaces & Connector Pin Assignment.................................82.3 Measuring Read Distance..................................................................................93INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDELINES .....................................................103.1 General Wiring Requirements..........................................................................103.2 Wiring Diagrams ..............................................................................................104INSTALLATION PROCEDURE ..............................................................................114.1 Parts List.......................................................................................................... 114.2 Preparation for Installation ...............................................................................114.2.1 Bench Top Verification..............................................................................115SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING AND SYSTEM OPERATION NOTES...................125.1 System Operation ............................................................................................125.1.1 Running a Custom Software Application or the AWID Demo Program.....125.1.2 Operating Modes ......................................................................................125.2 Users Note....................................................................................................... 126MPR SERIAL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL.....................................................13NOTE: READ AND USE THIS MANUAL.NOTE: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION GUIDE MAY RESULT INPOOR PERFORMANCE OR EVEN CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THEREADER, THUS VOIDS THE PRODUCT WARRANTY.
2.6 EA - 5 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARY1 INTRODUCTIONAWID's Sentinel-Sense 2.6 EA is a long-range (12 to 15 feet) Radio FrequencyIDentification (RFID) reader module with RS-232 I/O interface that works with mostleading passive UHF passive tags. The reader module comes with a unique combinationof long read range, small size, and low power consumption. The reader module has aninternal power converter, allowing it to work with a wide range of supply inputs withoutaffecting its performance. Its primary applications are asset management and tracking,and fleet management applications.qThe 2.6 EA reader modules are delivered with firmware version 2.xxMIn order to operate an 2.6 EA you will need the following:qPC running Windows1 98 or higher, CD-ROM drive and one RS-232 serial port.qHost software (AWIDs demo software or your own custom software)1.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION & THEORY OF OPERATIONThis reader module uses radio frequency to identify, locate and track pallets and/oritems that carry the appropriate RFID transponders. It works in non-line-of-sightsituations and in darkness, bright sun-light, or through dirt, grime and smudges.A typical RFID system consists of three components  a reader (interrogator), atransponder (card or tag), and a data processing controller. The reader consists of amodule such as 2.6 EA (that has an internal micro-controller section, a transmittersection, a receiver section) and a circular polarized transmit/receive antenna. Passivetransponders (tags or labels) consist of an antenna and an RFID ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuits). During operation, the transmitter sends out anelectromagnetic wave to establish a zone of surveillance. When a transponder entersthis zone, the electromagnetic energy from the reader begins to energize the IC in thetransponder. Once the IC is energized, it goes through an initialization process and isready to accept further commands. Upon receiving a command that queries its identity,the RFID ASIC begins to broadcast its identity through a low-energy back-scatteringprocess, which selectively reflects or back-scatters the electromagnetic energy to theinterrogator. The receiving circuits in the reader sense and decode this back-scatteredsignal and determine the identity of the transponder.Passive tags are beam powered, which is the electromagnetic energy radiated by thetransmitter section of the reader. Upon receiving a legitimated command, the tags willcause the matching of the tags antenna to vary from match to mismatch, therebycausing the tags to either absorb the RF energy or to reflect the RF energy. Thisabsorption or reflection sequence is commanded by the tags internal memory and thisis how the tags internal data are conveyed to the reader. The reader in turn monitors·1 Though 2.6 EA can also be controlled from a non-Windows programming platform, AWID demo and FWupgrade programs are applications to run in Windows.
2.6 EA - 6 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYthe perturbation of the RF energy field, and thereby receives the varying degree ofsignal reflected from the tags.One of the unique design features for an RFID reader is that it must simultaneouslytransmit a strong CW signal and at the same time, receive a weak reflected signal withlittle frequency separation. In a traditional design, such functions are implementedthrough the use of a circulator. As shown in Figure 1, there is a 3-port device betweenthe Coupler and the band pass filter, which is called a circulator. A circulator isphysically constructed by a permanent magnet, a Y junction on a high-dielectricferromagnetic substrate, and a ferromagnetic enclosure to complete the flux field. Acirculator permits flow of RF energy in one direction only, e.g. from port 1 to 2, 2 to 3,and 3 to 1. When one of the ports is terminated (matched condition), the other two areisolated in the reverse direction. Many fixed-site RFID readers use circulators to ensurethat the power amplifier output flows from the amplifier (port 1) to the antenna (port 2),and the received signal flows from the antenna (port 2) to the receiver (port 3). Whenproperly matched, a circulator can provide typically 15 to 18 dB of isolation between thepower amplifier output (port 1) and the receiver input (port 3), thereby reducing any in-band interference from transmitter output to receiver input. AWIDs reader consisting of2.6 EA uses a similar circuit to accomplish the same function, but in a much smallerphysical size.Figure 1 Block Diagram, Single-Antenna RFID ReaderIt should be noted that some fixed-site reader designs use separate transmit and receiveantennas to resolve this T/R signal isolation problem. Figure 2 is a block diagram of adual-antenna RFID reader. On the surface, this design has the advantage of allowing alow-level design on the receive chain, which means lower compression point for mixers,lower saturation point for amplifiers, and the possibility of using a front-end amplifier toenhance receiver sensitivity. Such dual-antenna design becomes problematic in amobile environment, where signal strength is not easily controlled. A well-designed dual-antenna reader can usually provide 25 to 30 dB of isolation between the two signalFREQUENCYSYNTHESIZER1.1.31.1.4I/QDEMODDriverAMPPowerAMPCOUPLERXMIT/RCVEA/DCPUI/OXMTRCIRCULATORBPFRCVIQRFIQIQFREQ AMPL1 23
2.6 EA - 7 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYpaths, reducing the unwanted signal in the receive chain to 20 dBm. However, whenthe RFID reader antenna is facing a tag placed on a large metallic object at a distance of12 inches, the reflected transmitter signal at the receiver input can be as high as 13dBm,thereby eliminating any advantage of the dual-antenna design.In actual circuit implementation, AWID developed a proprietary circuit to duplicate thefunctions of the circulator, with improved directivity and isolation.Figure 2 Block Diagram, Dual-Antenna RFID Reader1.2 SPECIAL FEATURES· Multi-Protocol: ISO-18000-6 Type B, EPC Class 12 Gen 1 & 2, EM Micro, EPCClass 03, EPC V1.19 Rev.2· Thin passive tags with long-range performance· RS-232 outputs·2 Both 64- and 96-bit3 Both 64- and 96-bitRCVEXMITRFQQRCVRFREQUENCYSYNTHESIZERDriverAMPPowerAMPCOUPLERBPFBPFA/DCPUI/OII/Q DEMODIQIFREQ AMPLXMTR
2.6 EA - 8 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARY2 SPECIFICATIONSInput voltage +7.0 VDC to +15 VDCInput current 1.0 A (7.0 V) to 0.40 A (15 V) typicalProtocol language ISO Type B, EPC Class 1 Gen 1 & 2, EM Micro,EPC Class 0, EPC V1.19 Rev.2Read range Depends on type & size of labels usedOutput power +30 dBm maxTransmit frequency 903.14-927.26 MHzReceiver frequency 903.14-927.26 MHz (Amplitude Modulated)Hopping channels 50 ChannelsChannel spacing 500 kHzHopping sequence Pseudo randomOperating temperature range -30° C to +65° C (-22° F to 149° F)Output data formats RS-232I/O Connector DB-9 connectorDimension x5x0.252.1 CHANNEL FREQUENCY TABLEFrequency range: 903.14 ~ 927.26 MHzMinimum number of frequency channels: 50CH 902~928 MHz CH 902~928 MHz CH 902~928 MHz CH 902~928 MHz CH 902~928 MHz0 903.14 MHz 20 908.06 MHz 40 912.98 MHz 60 917.91 MHz 80 922.83 MHz2 903.63 MHz 22 908.55 MHz 42 913.48 MHz 62 918.40 MHz 82 923.32 MHz4 904.12 MHz 24 909.05 MHz 44 913.97 MHz 64 918.89 MHz 84 923.82 MHz6 904.62 MHz 26 909.54 MHz 46 914.46 MHz 66 919.38 MHz 86 924.31 MHz8 905.11 MHz 28 910.03 MHz 48 914.95 MHz 68 919.88 MHz 88 924.80 MHz10 905.60 MHz 30 910.52 MHz 50 915.45 MHz 70 920.37 MHz 90 925.29 MHz12 906.09 MHz 32 911.02 MHz 52 915.94 MHz 72 920.86 MHz 92 925.78 MHz14 906.58 MHz 34 911.51 MHz 54 916.43 MHz 74 921.35 MHz 94 926.28 MHz16 907.08 MHz 36 912.00 MHz 56 916.92 MHz 76 921.85 MHz 96 926.77 MHz18 907.57 MHz 38 912.49 MHz 58 917.42 MHz 78 922.34 MHz 98 927.26 MHzTable 1 Channel Frequency Table for 2.6 EA2.2 INPUT AND OUTPUT INTERFACES & CONNECTOR PINASSIGNMENT
2.6 EA - 9 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYPin Function Pin Function1 Ground 6 +7V/+15V2 RS232 Tx 7 +7V/+15V3 RS232 Rx 8 Data 04 Enable RFID 9 Data 15 Ground 10 Ext Data in2.3 MEASURING READ DISTANCEMake sure you know the tag types. For certain readers and tags, user must also bemindful of the tags orientation and the readers antenna orientation, what mountingsurface the tags are designed for and how the tags are supposed to be mounted. Anydeparture from its intended purpose will drastically affect the readers ability to energizethe tag and its read range.When measuring the readers read range, make sure that the tag is properly oriented tothe reader antenna, and for optimum performance, be sure the operators finger is notwithin three (3) inches of the tags antenna surface.
2.6 EA - 10 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARY3 INSTALLATION & OPERATION GUIDELINES3.1 GENERAL WIRING REQUIREMENTSAll the MPR reader wiring should be continuously shielded. AWID recommends using#24 AWG up to #22 AWG, longer distances and higher current consumption on thepower supply line will require larger gauge wires.TABLE 3.4-1: Data Lines Wiring RequirementWIRE SIZE #22 AWG (0.6 mm Dia.) #24 AWG (0.5 mm Dia.)RS-232 50 ft (15 meters) 50 ft (15 meters)3.2 WIRING DIAGRAMSSee section 2.1 for pin assignment for the RS-232 connector of a 2.6 EA.The MPR RS-232 interface is a short distance serial interface, a full command set forthe standard serial interface is not necessary, therefore only transmit, receive andground wires are used. Sense input is an enable input, which is traditionally used toactivate the RF energy of the reader and to start the read functions.
2.6 EA - 11 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARY4 INSTALLATION PROCEDUREThis section provides installation and operation information for 2.6 EA reader modules.4.1 PARTS LISTVerify that all items listed below are present before starting the installation.o Sentinel-Sense 2.6 EA Qty=1o Documentation and command demo program CD Qty=14.2 PREPARATION FOR INSTALLATIONFamiliarize yourself with the connectors and pin out assignment of each I/O connectors.4.2.1 Bench Top VerificationIt is always a good idea to verify system operation before committing to a full-scaleinstallation. The following are the necessary steps to test the readers operation in astatic environment.qConnect 2.6 EA to the RS-232 port of a PCqConnect the power jack from the wall plug power supply to reader moduleqPower up PCqInstall demo software on PCqActivate demo software and verify performance of the reader.qSelect COM port 1 on top page then click Connect. Follow with some systemcommands.
2.6 EA - 12 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARY5 SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING AND SYSTEM OPERATION NOTES5.1 SYSTEM OPERATION5.1.1 Running a Custom Software Application or the AWID Demo ProgramIf AWID Demo Program is not used, it is expected user will launch a Custom SoftwareApplication developed using the MPR Serial Communication Protocol to issuecommands to the MPR reader/module as specified.5.1.2 Operating ModesTypical operating modes for MPR readers can be grouped into the following modes:Search ModeThis mode is used when operator or user is not certain what family of tags is placed onthe items to be tracked. Since most tags are deterministic in nature, MPR reader mustcycle through each and every protocol, issue a protocol specific inquiry, to hail and towait for a response from tags of that specific protocol. Therefore, if there are manydifferent protocols, for an untrained observer, the reader response will appear sluggish.Mixed ModeThis mode assumes the user is aware of the types of protocol in use, and furthermore, theuser made a determined effort to operate the reader in a mixed protocol mode. In thismode, the user can decide how many and which specific protocols to be selected. OnceMix Protocol Mode is selected, the reader will routinely cycle through each protocol, dwelllong enough for the reader to wait for a response and then move on to the next protocol. Itshould be noted that in a mixed protocol mode, the tag must have sufficient time torespond to the reader, and therefore, it can only be used on a conveyor belt arrangement,with specific speed restrictions.Single Protocol ModeSingle protocol is the normal mode of operation, where the protocol type is known andmany tags are expected to pass through the readers.5.2 USERS NOTEFor System Integrators and/or Software DevelopersSystem Integrators and/or software developers should get familiar with the MPR SerialCommunication Protocol specifications for developing applications that control a 2.6 EA.For Custom System UsersFor custom system user, please refer to your host software user guide for informationregarding system and software operationsFor Demo Software Users
2.6 EA - 13 - Doc# 041320AWID PROPRIETARYIf you are using the AWID RFID demonstration software application which is .NET basedwith easy-to-follow GUI operations, simply select the COM port for which the 2.6 EA isconfigured then click Connect should get you started.6 MPR SERIAL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLSee MPR Serial Communication Protocol Manual - 041304

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