User's Guide
Table Of Contents
- THINGMAGIC M6e User Guide
- Introduction
- Hardware Overview
- Hardware Interfaces
- Digital/Power Connector
- USB Interface
- General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO)
- Power Requirements
- Special RF Power Output Requirements for the M6e-A
- Environmental Specifications
- Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Specification
- Mounting Screw Clearance
- Assembly Information
- Antennas
- M6e Mechanical Drawing
- Authorized Antennas
- M6e-A Authorized Cables
- Firmware Overview
- New Features - Version 1.21.2
- Margin Read Support for Monza6 Tags
- NXP UCODE7 Configuration Support
- Gen2 Parameters in Metadata
- Support for Acura Gen2V2 Tags
- Support for GEN2V2 Embedded Tag Ops
- Gen2V2 Support
- Denatran Tag Support
- Configurable T4 for Gen2 Protocol
- Ability to “Read Data” Immediately After Sending a “Write EPC” or “Write Data” Command
- Decoupling Antenna Selection from AsyncOnTime
- Support for Additional Regions
- Support for Set/get Quantization Value and Minimum Frequency in Open Region
- Operational Notes
- Boot Loader
- Application Firmware
- Custom On-Reader Applications
- New Features - Version 1.21.2
- Communication Protocol
- Functionality
- Specifications
- Compliance and IP Notices
- Error Messages
- Getting Started – Development Kit and Carrier Board
- Environmental Considerations
ThingMagic M6e User Guide 1
www.JADAKtech.com
1 Introduction
This document applies to the ThingMagic M6e high-performance, 4-port Ultra High Frequency (UHF)
RAIN® Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module, as well as the M6e-A, M6e-PRC, and M6e-JIC
modules. All versions are referred to as M6e in this manual, with any exceptions expressly noted.
ThingMagic M6e is a high performance, embedded module that you can integrate with other systems to
create RFID-enabled products. This document is for hardware designers and software developers.
Applications to control the M6e module and derivative products can be written using the high level
MercuryAPI Ver. 1.29.4 and later. The MercuryAPI supports Java, .NET and C programming environments.
The MercuryAPI Software Development Kit (SDK) contains sample applications and source code to help
developers get started demoing and developing functionality. For more information on the MercuryAPI see
the MercuryAPI Programmers Guide and the MercuryAPI SDK, available on www.jadaktech.com. Note that
the M6e-JIC module requires firmware version 1.21.0 or higher.
M6e Variations
There are four hardware variations of this module.
M6e
Designed to operate in the North American (902-928 MHz) and European (865-858 MHz) regulatory
regions. The North American region is limited to a transmit power of +30 dBm to conform to FCC
regulations for unrestricted use of a module of this type.
M6e-A
Operates in the same bands as the M6e module but will transmit at power levels up to +31.5 dBm in the
North American region. There are additional restrictions that a user must adhere to operate a module of this
power level in regions that adhere to FCC regulations.
M6e-PRC
Obsolete. This module was designed for the Chinese market and operates in both the high China band
(920 to 925 MHz) and the low China band (840 to 845 MHz). It has been replaced by the M6e-JIC module.
M6e-JIC
This module is designed to meet the demanding requirements for high power UHF RFID modules in China
(920 to 925 MHz), Japan (916.8 to 920.8 MHz), and Israel (915 to 917 MHz) bands.
Release Notes
The information in this document is relevant to M6e modules with Firmware Ver. 1.21.2 and later. This
firmware is compatible with the M6e, M6e-A and M6e-JIC modules. This firmware is not compatible with
any other ThingMagic modules such as the Micro or Nano modules.
M6e firmware version 1.21.2 has been developed in conjunction with version 1.29.4 of the MercuryAPI and
should be used with that version (or higher) to achieve best results. Previous versions of the API will not
support all the features of this firmware release. See the API release notes and MercuryAPI Programmers
Guide for further information on its features and functions.