Operations Manual DRAFT INSTASCAN© SCANNER MODEL S512-C SCS Corporation 10905 Technology Place, San Diego, CA 92127 Phone: 858-485-9196 • Fax: 858-485-0561 www.scs-corp.com • info@scs-corp.
DRAFT lic e n s e d p r o d u c ts o f S C S . T h is O p e r a tio n s M a n u a l c o n ta in s p r o p rie ta r y in fo r m a tio n p r o te c te d b y c o p y rig h t a n d th is O p e r a tio n s M a n u a l a n d a ll a c c o m p a n y in g h a rd w a r e , s o ftw a re , a n d d o c u m e n ta tio n a r e c o p y rig h te d .
Contents C h a p te r 1 — DRAFT In tro d u c tio n ....................................................... 1 A d v a n ta g e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S 5 1 2 - C In s ta S c a n S c a n n e r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W h a t E ls e Y o u N e e d .........................................................
DRAFT C h a p te r 4 — T r o u b le s h o o tin g .............................................. 2 8 S o lv in g P ro b le m s ........................................................... 2 8 C o n ta c tin g C u s to m e r S e rv ic e ......................................... 3 1 R e tu rn in g Y o u r S y s te m .................................................... 3 1 C h a p te r 5 — S p e c ific a tio n s ................................................. 3 3 S C S P a te n ts . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1 Introduction DRAFT T he S512-C InstaScan scanner and the Dura-label radio frequency (RF) tags developed by SCS are state-of-the-art data gathering and inspection systems that combine sophisticated Interactive Identification technology in a compact form factor. This unique synergy allows our system to integrate seamlessly into — and significantly increase productivity for — a wide range of applications and environments.
DRAFT Advantages Data-gathering systems such as bar code readers use one-way communication: a sensor reads information from a device, without any interaction between the two devices. Moreover, bar code systems are subject to line-of-sight limitations. As a result, airborne contaminants such as dust, dirt, oil, and mist, as well as label damage and objects residing outside the line of sight, result in inefficient and erroneous results.
DRAFT This unique capability allows: • Collective or selective data to be read from a single tag. • Collective or selective data to be read from multiple tags without requiring sorting or unpacking. • Classes of tags to be filtered according to user-defined criteria. This technology employs a superior interrogation feature that enables applications to uniquely identify all tags in the scan field, without misidentification or identifying the same tag multiple times.
DRAFT S512-C InstaScan Scanner The S512-C scanner is designed for applications or configurations that require the scanner to be a considerable distance from the tags, or where numerous tags are required to be read simultaneously. The scanner provides two coaxial connectors for supporting up to two external antenna pairs. Each antenna plugs into its own connector on the rear panel of the scanner. Warning -- RF cable connections should be tightened to 8 inch pounds.
DRAFT What Else You Need To complete your system, you need an IBM or compatible personal computer with the following minimum system requirements: • 486 processor or better • Compatible screen and keyboard • 9-pin RS-232 port • Windows 95 or 98 • 16 MB of RAM (32+ MB recommended) The applications you use to interface with this system may have additional hardware and software requirements. For more information, consult the manual that came with your applications.
DRAFT Summary of Chapters Besides Chapter 1, this Operations Manual contains the following additional chapters: • Chapter 2, Installation – describes how to install the scanner and tag(s) • Chapter 3, RF Communication - provides information on radio frequency (RF) communications • Chapter 4, Troubleshooting – describes how to identify, resolve, and avoid problems when using the scanner and tag.
Chapter 2 Installation DRAFT T his chapter provides instructions for installing the S512-C scanner and tag(s). LEDs and Connectors The scanner provides the connectors and LEDs described in the following sections and shown in Figure 3. Figure 3.
DRAFT Front Panel The scanner front panel has three LEDs (as shown in Figure 4) indicating power, activity, and transmitter On/Off status (see Table 1 which describes the meanings of the LEDs). The front panel has two coaxial connectors for connecting external antennas. Either one or two antennas can be connected to the scanner. For instructions on connecting antennas to the scanner, refer to page 12. Figure 4. S512-C InstaScan Scanner Warning -- Attempting to transmit power to open scanner ports (i.e.
DRAFT Table 1.. S512-C Scanner LED Meanings LED Color Status Power ON Red ON = scanner is turned on and receiving power from external power supply Activity/Error Yellow Flicker = scanner detects tag information Constant flickering with no tag in the scanning field = (a) Noisy environment or possible interference, resulting in diminished tag reading.
DRAFT Rear Panel The scanner rear panel has an On/Off switch. In the ON (up) position, the scanner is turned on. The red Power ON LED should go ON, indicating that the scanner is receiving power. In the OFF (down) position, the scanner is turned off and not receiving power, even if connected to a power outlet. The rear panel also contains three connectors. The small round connector is a standard DC power receptacle.
DRAFT Scanner Installation Steps The scanner installation consists of the following steps: 1. Position the scanner — locate near desired antenna locations. 2. Connect external antennas — see page 12. 3. Place the antenna for optimum read/write operation — see page 13. 4. Connect the scanner to PC serial port or RS-232— see page 14. 5. Connecting to an AC outlet — see page 15. 6. Testing the Scanner Setup — see page 16. 7. Aligning the antenna — see page 19.
DRAFT Connecting External Antennas The front panel has two coaxial antenna connectors. Each connector accommodates a single external antenna. Figure 5 shows the external antenna connections to the scanner. The S512-C scanner uses one or two antennas. When looking at the front panel, from left to right, the antenna ports are numbered “2” and “1” (see Figure 5). If using one antenna, it should be connected to antenna port “1”, and antenna port “2” should be terminated with a 50 ohm load. Figure 5.
DRAFT Placing the Antenna Antenna placement is critical to ensuring that information is written to and read from tags accurately. Observe the following guidelines when placing the antenna: Locate the antennas away from metal objects, microwave ovens, and other devices that may induce radio frequency interference. In addition, make sure there are no metallic surfaces between, or in relative proximity to, the scanner and tag. For additional placement considerations, refer to “RF Communications” on page 24.
DRAFT Connecting to a PC Serial Port or RS-232 The scanner has a 9-pin female RS-232 connector that connects to a serial port or RS-232 connector on an IBM or compatible personal computer. The serial port can operate up to 57,600 bps. To make this connection, you need: An appropriately configured serial cable. One of the following adapters, if your computer’s serial port does not have a 9-pin connector: - A 15-pin to 9-pin adapter, if your computer has a 15-pin serial port connector.
DRAFT Connecting to an AC Outlet The following procedure describes how to connect the scanner to an AC Outlet. 1. Verify that the On/Off switch on the scanner front panel is in the OFF (down) position. 2. Connect the power cord of the power supply to the AC receptacle in the scanner front panel. 3. Connect the other end of the power supply to the wall outlet. 4. Set the On/Off switch to the ON (up) position. The Power ON LED light will illuminate.
DRAFT Testing the Scanner Setup The following procedure will verify that the RS-232 link between the scanner and the computer is functioning correctly, and test the fill functionality (read, write, multiread) of the scanner in the surrounding environment. 1. Insert the supplied Series 5 Development and Demo Tools, Disk 1, into an available floppy disk drive. 2. Open the “My Computer” icon on the desktop. 3. Open the floppy disk drive (typically A:). 4. Run the application “Series 5 Tools Install.exe” 5.
DRAFT 10. Look for the text “Scanner type = XXXX” in the application dialog. If “XXXX” is not “S512-C”, select “S512-C” from the Scanner menu of the Series 5 Test Tool application. 11. Look for the text “Mode = ...” in the application dialog. If the mode is not “Basic Function Test”, select “Basic Function Test” from the Mode menu of the Series 5 Test Tool application. 12. There are three tests you must run in order to confirm that the scanner is working correctly.
DRAFT “- Check List –“ “List Start: OK” “List Stop: OK” “List Report: OK” “Found 0 tags:” “Place 1 tag in the field and run test again.” 17. Each List Test is composed of three commands given to the scanner. If the test is successful, all these tests should say “OK” after the test name. The application will ask you to repeat the List Test with 1) A single tag, and 2) two tags in front of the antenna. The test is complete when the application successfully detects two tags. 18.
DRAFT Aligning the Antenna After verifying that the scanner is operating properly, use the following procedure to align the antenna pairs. Aligning the antennas ensures optimal performance. 1. Connect the scanner to COM1 or COM2 and turn the power on. 2. Run the application “Series 5 Test Tool” in the “Series 5 Tools” folder in the start menu. 3. From the “mode” menu, select antenna alignment. From the scanners menu, select S512-C if this choice has not been selected previously. 4.
DRAFT Installing Dura-labels Dura-label RF tags have a diminutive form factor that allows them to be installed in areas that cannot accommodate conventional RF tags. In addition, Dura-labels can communicate with the scanner without having to be in the line-of-sight. This unique combination provides tremendous flexibility when determining a location for placing tags.
DRAFT Reading Information from your Dura-labels Once you have installed your tags, and have setup your scanner system, you are ready to begin. 1. Run the “Series 5 Demo” application in the “Series 5 Tools” folder in the start menu. 2. The connect dialog box will appear, set COM Port to the port where the scanner is connected, Baud Rate to the highest value supported by your computer and cable length. Set “# of Antenna” to the appropriate value then click the “Connect” button. 3.
DRAFT W ritin g In fo r m a tio n to Y o u r D u r a - la b e l R e a d / w is w rite s p e c ific m o re d in c lu d e T h is b it th e b its rite ta o n c e , b it, it a ta to d w ith a llo w h a v e g s c a n b e w ritte n to re a d m a n y (W O R M is p e rm a n e n t a n d c th e ta g y o u m u s t w e a c h u s e r - w rita b le s y o u to p ro te c t a n b e e n w ritte n . u s in g ). M e a n n o t rite to w o rd e n tire th e s c a a n in g a b e o v e r a d iffe o f m e m w o rd (1 n n e r.
DRAFT 7 . T o w rite s e c tio n w in d o w T h e e n “ T o :” w d a ta in to a b lo c k o f m e m o r y lo c a tio n s , u s e o f th e w in d o w . E n te r th e s ta rtin g m e . E n te r n u m b e r o f m e m o r y lo c a tio d in g m e m o r y lo c a tio n w ill b e a u to in d o w . C lic k th e b o x to th e le ft o f th th e w in d o w b e lo w th e “ W rite ” c o m th e c o m m m o ry lo c a n s in th e “ m a tic a lly e “ W rite ” m a n d .
Chapter 3 DRAFT RF Communications I n general, devices that communicate using radio frequency, such as your system, can be sensitive to signal interference and signal attenuation. This chapter provides tips for optimizing radiofrequency (RF) communications with your InstaScan and Dura-label. Topics in this chapter include: • Signal interference — see page 25. • Signal attenuation — see page 26. • Optimizing performance — see page 27.
DRAFT S ig n a l In te rfe r e n c e S ig n a l in te rfe re n c e x c h a n g e d b e tw e s e v e re ly d im in is h T h e A c tiv ity L E D in te rfe re n c e . e is e n th e o n R F th e s c a th e s ig n ta g n n e s c a a ls a n r’s a n n e th a t in d th e b ility r flic k te rfe re s c a n n e to re a d e rs c o n w ith th e r. S ig n a in fo rm a s ta n tly in fo l in tio n if it r m a tio n b e in g te rfe r e n c e c a n fro m th e ta g s .
DRAFT S ig n a l A tte n u a tio n / R e fle ctio n s S ig n a l a tte n u a tio n is th e lo s s o f s ig n a l s tre n g th th a t o c c u r s n a tu r a lly o v e r d is ta n c e s , b u t w h ic h c a n a ls o b e c a u s e d b y R F b a rrie r s in th e s ig n a l p a th . E x a m p le s o f s u c h b a rrie r s in c lu d e : • E n c lo s e d lo c a tio n s th a t h a v e c o n c r e te w a lls , f l o o r s , a n d c e ilin g s .
DRAFT O p tim iz in g P e rfo r m a n c e W h ile it is n o t p o s s ib le to p r e d ic t h o w y o u r s y s te m w ill p e rfo r m in a n y g iv e n e n v iro n m e n t, o b s e r v in g th e fo llo w in g g u id e lin e s w ill h e lp o p tim iz e p e rfo r m a n c e in y o u r e n v iro n m e n ts a n d a p p lic a tio n s : C a r e fu lly c a n b e e x o n c a b le re q u ire s lo c a tio n .
Chapter 4 DRAFT Troubleshooting T his chapter provides troubleshooting information you can use in the unlikely event you have a problem with your system. Customer Service information and merchandise return instructions are included in this chapter. Solving Problems The following table identifies scanner and tag problems and provides suggestions for resolving the problem. Table 2..
DRAFT Problem Probable Cause Solution The Activity/Error LED does not light hen you configure the scanner. You may have a faulty tag. Try another tag. The scanner may be faulty. Use the Series 5 Test utilities to verify scanner operation (see "Test the Scanner Setup" on page 16) The antenna cable may be faulty. Contact SCS Customer Service (see page 31). The scanner may not be turned on. Verify that the Power ON LED is lit. The scanner’s serial port connection to your computer may not be secure.
DRAFT Problem Probable Cause Solution Information could not be read from the tag. The tag may be outside of the scanning area. Make sure thw tag is no more than 20 inches from the scanner The tag may have passed too quickly past the scanner Make sure the tag is in the scanning area for at least 3 milliseconds No RF Power The supplied SCS Diagnostic tag may be used to verify that the scanner is transmitting RF power.
DRAFT C o n ta ctin g C u s t o m e r S e r v ic e If y o u e n c o u n te r a p ro b le m c o n ta c t C u s to m e r S e rv ic e : u s in g y o u r s y s te m th a t y o u c a n n o t re s o lv e , Before c o n t a c t i n g C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E , p l e a s e h a v e t h e f o l l o w i n g in fo r m a tio n a v a ila b le : 1.
DRAFT R e tu r n in g Y o u r S y s te m If S C S C u s to m e r S s e rv ic e , th e S e rv ic A u th o r i z a tio n (R M A th e re tu rn e d s y s te m c a n b e p ro c e sse d e rv ic e d e te e R e p re se n ). W rite th is , a n d o n a q u ic k ly.
DRAFT Chapter 5 Specifications SCS PPatents atents SCS Corporation is currently holding the following patents. Other patents outstanding.
DRAFT LEDs: O n e P o w e r O N L E D , o n e T r a n s m it O N L E D , a n d o n e A c tiv ity / E r r o r L E D Communication Method: R S -2 3 2 Serial transmission rate: U p to 5 7 ,6 0 0 b p s Connector: F e m a le D B - 9 F fo r R S - 2 3 2 c o m m u n ic a tio n s Pin assignments: (DB9F) P i n P in P in P in P in P in P in P in P in 1 – 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - N o t u se d T r a n s m it D R e c e iv e D In te r n a lly P r o te c tiv e In te r n a lly In te r n a lly In te r n a lly P r o te c t
DRAFT Ambient operating temperature: 0 ° to 5 0 ° C Approved Standards: F C C P a rt 1 5 Maximum serial cable length: 1 0 m e te rs (3 2 ° to 1 2 2 ° F ) (3 0 F e e t) Dimensions: 5 .1 c m x 1 7 .8 c m x 2 0 .3 c m (2 in x 7 in x 8 in ) Weight: 1 .2 K g (2 .6 lb s .
DRAFT Chapter 6 DB-25 Connector Function Table 3..
DRAFT Pin # Name Function 1 6 P E R _ IN 3 P e rip h e r a l in p u t b it 3 1 7 P E R _ IN 1 P e rip h e r a l in p u t b it 1 1 8 B L A N K D ig ita l te s t s ig n a l: b la n k in g s ig n a l 1 9 P E R _ O U T 5 P e rip h e r a l o u tp u t b it 5 2 0 P E R _ O U T 3 P e rip h e r a l o u tp u t b it 3 2 1 T X _ A S E L 4 T ra n s m it a n te n n a s e le c t b it 4 2 2 T X _ A S E L 2 T ra n s m it a n te n n a s e le c t b it 2 2 3 G N D G ro u n d 2 4 R X _ A S E L 4 R e
DRAFT T r a n s m it A n te n n a S e le c t L in e s P in s th a t to r. a n te 1 0 , s e le T h e n n a 1 . S e ttin g u p th e a n te n u s in g L o a d A n te n n a Is s u e th e S e t A n te n n D e fa u lt m o d e a u to m in te rro g a to r w ill fre e th e S e le c t T r a n s m it A 2 . 3 . 2 2 , 9 c t th e s e lin e s y s te m , 2 tra s a s. 1 , a n d 8 a n s m it a n te re u s e d to T h e y a re re th e h ig n n a .
DRAFT P e rip h e ra l O u tp u ts T h e a v a b y s th e w ith re a re ila b le e ttin g W rite C M O 8 p e rip h e a t th e D B o r re s e ttin P e rip h e ra S le v e ls . ra l 2 5 g b l O o u tp u ts in te c o n n e c to r : p its , 3 , 4 , 5 a u tp u ts c o m rn a l to in s 2 0 n d / o r m a n d th e in te r r o g , 7 , 1 9 , a n d 6 o f th e c o m . T h e o u tp a to 6 c m u ts r. 4 a n b a n d a re o f e c d a c o th o ta m e se a re n tro lle d b y te o f p a tib le Table 5.
DRAFT T h is is th e a n a lo g o u tp u t o f th e R F r e c e iv e r. T h e p in m u s t re m a in u n c o n n e c te d , o r d e te rio r a tio n o f r e a d c a p a b ility w ill o c c u r. B u ffe re d C o m p a ra to r (B U F C O M P ) T h is is th e d ig itiz e d o u tp u t o f th e R F r e c e iv e r. R e c e iv e r b la n k in g s ig n a l (B L A N K ) W h e n lo w , th e m ic r o c o n tro lle r is ig n o rin g th e o u tp u t fro m r e c e iv e r. th e R F V C C T h is is th e 5 .
DRAFT Limited Warranty SCS warrants its Dura-label to be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use and service, for a period of ninety (90) days from receipt of products. SCS warrants its Scanner to be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use and service, for a period of 1 year from date of receipt.
DRAFT R a d io F r e q u e n c y ( R F ) e x p o s u r e lim its fo r o p e r a to r s o f th is d e v ic e O p e ra to r s o f th is d e v ic e m u s t h a v e k n o w le d g e o f th e ir R F e x p o s u re c o n d itio n s in o rd e r fo r th e d e v ic e to c o m p ly w ith F C C - a d o p te d R F e x p o s u re lim its f o r p e r s o n s in th e “ c o n tro lle d e x p o s u re e n v iro n m e n t” . ( A t 3 ” , t h e a v e ra g e R F e x p o s u re fo r o p e ra to rs is 5 .0 m W / c m .
DRAFT 4 3
