Falcon® 5500 RFID Mobile Hybrid Computer Addendum
PSC Inc 959 Terry Street Eugene, Oregon 97402 Telephone: (541) 683-5700 Fax: (541) 345-7140 An Unpublished Work - All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this documentation or the procedures described therein may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of PSC Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries ("PSC").
Table of Contents Overview ......................................................................................................................1 Getting Started ..............................................................................................................2 Enabling RFID .........................................................................................................2 Reading RFID Tags .................................................................................................
Table of Contents NOTES ii Falcon® 5500 RFID Mobile Hybrid Computer
Falcon® 5500 RFID Mobile Hybrid Computer Overview This document covers the following topics: Getting Started • Enabling RFID on page 2 • Reading RFID Tags on page 3 Configuration Settings • Audio on page 7 • RFID Settings on page 8 Further Information • About RFID Tags on page 12 • Configuration Parameters on page 14 • Safety Information on page 17 The Falcon 5500 is a Falcon 4420 Win CE .NET Color Mobile Computer mounted with a special RFID unit.
Getting Started Getting Started You must charge the Falcon in the RFID-compatible dock prior to first use. The initial charge time is approximately 12 hours. See “Charging the Batteries” in the Falcon 4400 Series Quick Reference Guide (QRG) for more information. CAUTION Enabling RFID Before using your PSC RFID Tag Reader, you must enable the unit for RFID. 1. Power on the unit. Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate the touchscreen. See the Falcon 4400 Series PRG for more information. 2.
Getting Started Reading RFID Tags For tag read demo purposes: Once you have enabled the Falcon to read RFID tags, complete the following steps: 1. Open an application that accepts keyboard wedge data such as Microsoft WordPad (double-tap the icon on the screen, or go to Start > Programs > Microsoft WordPad). Failure to open an application will inhibit the effective display of tag data. 2. Aim the device toward the tag you want to read. 3. Press the trigger.
RFID Electrical Considerations See Configuration Settings on page 7 for information about modifying the default settings. For more details about RFID tags, see About RFID Tags on page 12. Painting The paint operation gives the operator the ability to cover an area with RF energy to gather more than one tag with a single trigger pull. Painting is achieved by holding down the trigger and sweeping the area containing tags.
RFID Electrical Considerations LEDs/Indicators RFID Battery Charge LEDs These indicators are visible on the back of the RFID pod. The red LED is on when the unit is in a dock and the RFID battery is charging. The green LED is on when the unit is in the dock and the RFID battery has reached full charge. When the unit is out of the dock, neither LED will be on. Figure 2.
RFID Electrical Considerations Figure 3. Falcon 5500 Dock Falcon 5500 Dock Use only the correct battery chargers and docks with the Falcon 5500 RFID. The technology used for this model is incompatible with other PSC Falcon chargers and docks, including the Falcon 4410/4420 color and monochrome models. Go to the PSC website at www.psc.com for information about models and part numbers.
Configuration Settings Configuration Settings See Configuration Examples on page 11 for samples of optimized settings for different usages. Refer to the Falcon 4400 Series PRG for information about setting other configuration items. Audio 1. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel. Double-tap the Decoding icon. 2. Select Configure > General > Audio. 3. Choose from the following options: • Volume: Move the slider to raise or lower the audio volume.
Configuration Settings RFID Settings 1. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel. Double-tap the Decoding icon. 2. Select Configure > RFID. 3. Choose one of the available options. Report Settings In the RFID Decoding Properties, do the following to view or modify Report Settings: 1. Under Decoding Properties, go to Configure > RFID > Report Settings. 2. Report Frequency controls how often RFID tag data is reported to an application.
Configuration Settings Power 1. Under Decoding Properties, go to Configure > RFID > Power 2. Enable/disable Growing Power by selecting the checkbox. When disabled, a constant level of RF power is output when reading tags. When enabled, the level of RF power starts at a minimum level, and then increases to a maximum level, where it will remain for the duration of the painting operation. 3. Set Minimum/Maximum Read using the sliders. • Minimum Power: The minimum RF power level to use for reading tags.
Configuration Settings • New Tag Timeout: The amount of time to wait between tags before painting will automatically stop. This is the maximum amount of time spent waiting for new tags after a tag has been read. If set to Infinite, then painting will stop only when the trigger is released, a Total Read Timeout occurs, or the minimum number of tags have been read. • Minimum Tag Count: This the minimum number of tags to attempt to read.
Configuration Settings Configuration Examples The following examples illustrate ways to optimize RFID settings for specific situations. Reading tagged items from an entire shelf Configuration Item Setting Report Frequency 1 tag Total Read Timeout Infinite Minimum Tag Count Infinite New Tag Timeout Something longer than the time required to move the RFID antenna over all of the tags (for example 10 seconds) 1. Press the trigger and move across the items on the shelf.
About RFID Tags About RFID Tags RFID Antenna When attempting to utilize the RFID read functionality of the Falcon 5500 RFID unit it is important to note that the antenna is linearly polarized. This feature requires the tags to be similarly aligned in a planar field to optimize read range and efficiency. Read Range The Falcon 5500 RFID has a functional range of two to six feet.
About RFID Tags Tag Orientation Single Dipole Antenna Tag Tags that have a single dipole antenna should be vertically positioned for optimal read performance. Dual Dipole Antenna Tag Tags with dual dipole antennas are less susceptible to polarization and can be read in either horizontal or vertical alignments to the read plane. Factors Affecting Performance Addendum • Water or water-based products will inhibit (absorb) the signal. • Metal surfaces near the tags may affect performance.
Configuration Parameters Configuration Parameters The following table lists the configuration parameters which have been added to support RFID. For instructions on how to set these parameters, as well as information on all other configuration parameters, consult the Falcon 4400 Series Product Reference Guide (PRG). Defaults Code Parameter/ Description I.D. # Type Acceptable Input Min Other Controls Label Separator Indicates the label separator. Max Factory Enter 1 for On and 0 for Off.
Configuration Parameters Defaults Code Parameter/ Description I.D. # Type Acceptable Input Min Max Factory 00 = 0.07 sec Tag Read Determines the duration Beep of a tag read beep. Duration 0D21 Value 01 = 0.13 sec 02 = 0.18 sec 00 User ID Minimum Read Power Sets the minimum RF power setting to start with when reading tags using Read Power Mode (Index 0D09) set to Growing Power (On). 0D29 Maximum Read Power Sets the maximum RF power setting to use when reading tags.
Configuration Parameters Defaults Code Parameter/ Description I.D. # Type Acceptable Input Min Max Factory Sets the minimum numMinimum 00 - 250 ber of tags which will trigTag Read 0D2E Value ger the stop of a read (00 = infinite) Count operation. 00 00 00 Read Report Frequency 01 01 01 16 Sets the minimum number of new tags which must be seen before a report is sent.
Safety Information Safety Information FCC Statement This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. 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 that may cause undesired operation. FCC Interference Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Safety Information NOTES 18 Falcon® 5500 RFID Mobile Hybrid Computer
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