Alr9800 Rfid
Alr9800 Rfid
Alr9800 Rfid
HARDWARE
SETUP GUIDE
ALR-9800
February 2008
ALR-9800
Legal Notices
Copyright 2008 Alien Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
Alien Technology Corporation has intellectual property rights relating to technology embodied in the products
described in this document, including without limitation certain patents or patent pending applications in the U.S. or
other countries.
This document and the products to which it pertains are distributed under licenses restricting their use, copying,
distribution and decompilation. No part of this product documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any
means without the prior written consent of Alien Technology Corporation and its licensors, if any. Third party software
is copyrighted and licensed from Licensors. Alien, Alien Technology, the Alien logo, Nanoblock, FSA, Gen2Ready,
Squiggle, the Squiggle logo, Nanoscanner and other graphics, logos, and service names used in this document are
trademarks of Alien Technology Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners. U.S. Government approval required when exporting the product described in this
documentation.
Federal Acquisitions: Commercial Software -- Government Users Subject to Standard License Terms and Conditions.
U.S. Government: If this Software is being acquired by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or by a U.S. Government
prime contractor or subcontractor (at any tier), then the Government's rights in the Software and accompanying
documentation shall be only as set forth in this license; this is in accordance with 48 C.F.R. 227.7201 through
227.7202-4 (for Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions) and with 48 C.F.R. 2.101 and 12.212 (for non-DoD
acquisitions).
FCC Compliance
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference with radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Any change or modification to this product voids the user s authority to operate per FCC Part 15 Subpart A. Section
15.21 regulations.
Caution
Reader antennas should be positioned so that personnel in the area for prolonged periods may safely remain at least
23 cm (9 in) in an uncontrolled environment from the antenna s surface. See FCC OET Bulletin 56 Hazards of radio
frequency and electromagnetic fields and Bulletin 65 Human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Alien Technology
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................1
Audience .................................................................................................................................................... 1
RFID Reader Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2
EPC Class 1 UHF RFID Tags ....................................................................................................................2
Requirements .............................................................................................................................................2
Specifications .............................................................................................................................................3
RFID Reader........................................................................................................................................3
RFID Reader External Circular Polarized Antenna............................................................................... 4
RFID Reader External Linear Polarized Antenna .................................................................................4
Mechanical: Reader Physical Size ......................................................................................................5
I/O Port Terminal Interface................................................................................................................... 5
I/O Port Screw Terminal (Female) Looking at Reader ................................................................ 6
Protecting the Input circuit .............................................................................................................7
Example I/O Port Hookup ..............................................................................................................7
RS-232 Port Pinouts ............................................................................................................................8
RS-232 Connector (Female) Looking at Reader......................................................................... 8
System Architecture............................................................................................................................. 8
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION ............................................... 9
Receiving the RFID Reader........................................................................................................................9
Reader I/O Panel ............................................................................................................................... 10
Antenna Panel.......................................................................................................................................... 11
System Assembly and Bench Test ........................................................................................................... 12
Bench Test Configuration................................................................................................................... 12
Bench Test Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 15
Installation ................................................................................................................................................ 15
Requirements..................................................................................................................................... 15
Hardware Installation Procedure ........................................................................................................ 16
System Operation: Software Control ........................................................................................................ 18
Reader Interface Guide...................................................................................................................... 18
Demonstration Software Guide .......................................................................................................... 18
Alien RFID Academy.......................................................................................................................... 18
APPENDIX A CLAUSE 6.2 OF SJT/11364.............................................................................................. 20
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
This Hardware Setup Guide provides instructions for installing and operating the
ALR-9800 RFID Readers.
This document is designed for use by RFID system integrators and software
developers - those who wish to develop software products and extended systems
that take full advantage of the RFID Reader's capabilities.
Included with each reader or developer kit is the Alien RFID Fixed Reader
Software Developer s Kit and User Documentation CD-ROM. This CD contains
additional information about RFID and the ALR-9800 including the following:
To access these guides, please insert the CD that came with your reader and
follow the on-screen prompts.
Audience
For the purposes of this document, we assume the readers of the Hardware
Setup Guide:
Are competent PC users
Have minimal previous knowledge of Radio-Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology
Are experienced in software development and/or hardware systems
integration
The Alien ALR-9800 RFID reader is designed to read and program any EPC
Class 1 Generation 1 or 2 tag (see below) and issue event reports to a host
computer system. The host computer can be locally connected to the reader via
RS-232, or at a remote network location.
The RFID Reader is delivered with the following components and accessories:
One (1) RFID Reader
One (1) RS-232 serial cable (to connect to host computer)
One (1) power supply and cord
Alien RFID Fixed Reader Software Developer s Kit and User
Documentation CD-ROM
Alien RFID Gateway Application
Class 1 tags are passive devices meaning they do not have a battery or other
onboard power source. They are powered solely by the RF energy transmitted by
an RFID reader.
Tags communicate with the reader through backscatter modulation in which the
tags do not transmit RF energy. Instead, they change their reflective
characteristics in a controlled way and reflect RF energy back to the reader. An
analogy to this is the way you can use a mirror to signal someone by reflecting
light from the Sun.
For more information about RFID tags from Alien Technology, please visit our
website at http://www.alientechnology.com.
Requirements
To interface with the RFID Reader you will need the following:
A PC running Windows 98 or higher, with CD-ROM drive, an available
RS-232 serial port and/or Ethernet connectivity
Standard 120/220 VAC 50/60 Hz
Power supply and cord (included with reader)
Host software (Alien Gateway demo software or your own custom
software)
Specifications
Specifications for key components of the RFID Reader system are provided in
the tables below:
RFID Reader
Name Alien Multi-Port General Purpose RFID Reader
Model Number ALR 9800
Architecture Point-to-multipoint reader network, multi-static
Operating Frequency 902.75 MHz 927.25 MHz
Hopping Channels 50
Channel Spacing 500 KHz
Channel Dwell Time < 0.4 seconds
RF Transmitter < 30 dBm at the end of 6 m LMR-195 cable.
Modulation Method Phase Reversal Amplitude Shift Keying (PR-ASK)
20 db Modulation Bandwidth < 400 KHz
RF Receiver 2 Channels
Power Consumption 45 Watts (120 VAC at 600 mA)
Communications Interface RS-232 (DB-9 F), TCPI/IP (RJ-45)
Inputs/Outputs 2 or 4 coax antenna, 4 inputs/8 outputs (optically isolated), RS-232
com port, LAN, power
Dimensions (L) 9.0 (22.9 cm) x (W) 11 (28 cm) x (D) 2.22 (5.6 cm)
Weight Approximately 1.8 kg (4 lb)
Operating Temperature 0 C to 50 C ( 32 F to 122 F)
LED Indicators Power, Link, Active, Ant0-3, CPU, Read, Sniff, Fault (red)
Software Support APIs, sample code, executable demo app (Alien Gateway)
Compliance Certifications FCC Part 15; FCCID: P65ALR9800
IOC: 4370A-ALR9800
cTUVus
UL: 60950-1:3004
CAN/CSA: C22.2 No.60950-1-03
This protects the circuitry inside the reader from damaging ground loops (when
the external device is at a different ground potential than the reader), and voltage
spikes.
V+
Output n
Input
V- V-
Vin R1
5 N/A
9 820
12 1500
24 3900
+24VDC
Yellow
Green
Red
+24VDC
24VDC Power
supply DC Return
Brown (+)
Photo Black (Source)
eye Blue (-)
White (NC)
5 4 3 2 1
9 8 7 6
System Architecture
A0
A1
Host Digital
RF Antenna
Communication Control
Receiver Switch
Interface Circuitry
A2
RF A3
RF Source
Modulator
CHAPTER 2
Reader Hardware Installation and Operation
This chapter describes the RFID Reader and provides installation and operation
information.
RFID Reader
Power supply and cables (two sections: one attached, one detached)
RS-232 reader-to-PC cable
CD-ROM containing demonstration software, user guides and
documentation
The RFID Reader Developer's Kit includes the following additional items:
Diagnostic LEDs
The ALR-9800 includes diagnostic LEDs on the face of the reader to provide
easy and convenient external indication for various operating conditions:
POWER (green) - indicates power is applied to the reader
LINK (green) indicates that the reader is connected to the network
ACTIVE (green) indicates reader is transmitting on the network
ANT 0 ANT 3 (green) indicates that the reader is transmitting power
on the specified antenna port
CPU (green) indicates that the CPU has booted successfully and is
running normally.
READ (green) indicates that the reader is receiving data from a tag
SNIFF (green) indicates a tag signal has been detected, though it may
not be strong enough yet to complete a transaction.
FAULT (red) indicates a fault condition with the reader.
Antenna Panel
The antenna panel (opposite the reader s I/O panel) contains four coax antenna
connector ports as shown below. These are reverse-polarity TNC connectors.
Also included on this panel is the Listen Before Talk (LBT) connector which will
be available in future models.
Sufficient space is available on the tabletop for the reader and antenna.
8. Plug the power supply cable into the wall outlet and verify power.
The green POWER LED will illuminate when power is on.
9. Observe the reader's bootup trace, and determine the network settings.
The RS-232 port displays useful information while the reader boots, including
network settings. Toward the end of the trace, the reader displays a block of
text similar to the following:
---------------------------------------------
Network Settings:
MAC Address : 00:80:66:10:2D:12
DHCP : 1
IP Address : 10.9.8.10
Netmask : 255.255.255.0
Gateway : 10.9.8.2
DNS : 10.9.8.1
TimeServer : time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov
TimeZone : -7
---------------------------------------------
Once the reader boots and you see the "Boot>Ready!" prompt, pressing
return will bring up the "Alien>" prompt.
You are now ready to bench test or demonstrate the RFID Reader system.
4. Verify the SNIFF LED illuminates when the tag approaches the read
window.
SNIFF should be illuminated green.
5. Verify the READ LED illuminates when the tag is inside the read
window.
READ should be illuminated green.
NOTE: To perform a hard reboot of the system, simply cycle power on the reader.
Installation
This section provides guidance for configuring components in your RFID system.
You should consider the overall design of your specific system before
permanently mounting the equipment.
Installation involves all the same connection steps required for bench test.
However, instead of placing equipment on a tabletop, the reader, antenna, and
their accessories are mounted in your application environment.
Requirements
Before installing your RFID Reader system, you will need the following:
A PC running Windows 98 or higher, with Ethernet connectivity and,
optionally, one available RS-232 serial port.
Standard 120 or 220 VAC power for the reader
3. Install reader.
Secure the reader through the two mounting holes on either flange to its
mounting location (wall, post, mounting bracket) using appropriate
hardware.
If desired, position the reader so that the LEDs are easily observed.
4. Install antennas.
Secure each antenna through the mounting holes on either flange to its
mounting location using appropriate hardware.
9. You are now ready to use the reader. If using the Alien Gateway
software, please refer to the Demonstration Software Guide included on
your CD.
You may operate the reader from your own application code, using the example
code provided on the Developer s Kit CD, or using the Alien RFID Gateway
application which is a demonstration program also included on your CD.
For more details, refer to either the Reader Interface Guide or the Demonstration
Software Guide described briefly below.
Tag data acquired in response to these triggers can be transmitted to the host in
a number of formats (e.g., text, XML or custom) and under a number of
conditions (e.g., on a new tag being observed, or a tag disappearing from view).
If you are a software developer, the Reader Interface Guide provides the
information you will need to connect to the reader from a host computer,
communicate with it, and customize its performance.
Using the Gateway, the various operating modes of the reader can be controlled
and custom interactive demos can be constructed using sounds, images, and
text.
The Alien RFID Academy is a hands-on immersion into the workings, uses, and
challenges of RFID technology. Rather than a product pitch, we put products to
the test in the classroom, provide students with hands-on exposure in our RFID
Solutions Center, and short-cut the learning curve by sharing practical solutions
to real-world challenges. You'll learn best industry practice tag placement
techniques for packaging and pallets alike.
Upon completion of the training, you will learn how to implement, avoid common
costly mistakes, know how to make the correct decisions for your business, how
to select the right RFID options for your requirements, and where to find RFID
answers.
Appendix A
Clause 6.2 of SJT/11364
TUV : 30850412.001
:
SJT/11364: . :
: XRF RoHS