User Guide WherePort III User Guide ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1 WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev C ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide Typographical Conventions ____________ ____________ Warnings call attention to a procedure or practice that could result in personal injury if not correctly performed. Do not proceed until you fully understand and meet the required conditions. ____________ CAUTION ____________ Cautions call attention to an operation procedure or practice that could damage the product if not correctly performed. Do not proceed until understanding and meeting these required conditions.
User Guide Document Revision History Revision Change Description Date A Release per ECO C01013 2/23/06 B Updated per ECO C02336 12/07/10 Initials G.Phillips D. Bowman ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3 WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev C ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide Contents WherePort III User Guide .................................................................................... 1 1 Regulatory Information ............................................................................... 6 1.1 FCC and IC Requirements ........................................................................ 6 1.2 EU Compliance Information (WPT-3200) ................................................. 6 1.3 Regulatory - Other......................................................
User Guide 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Simulator Controls and Features........................................................... 42 WherePort Configuration ....................................................................... 43 Sample Graphs ........................................................................................ 46 Adjacent WherePorts .............................................................................. 49 7 Command Summary ...............................................................
User Guide 1 REGULATORY INFORMATION 1.1 FCC and IC Requirements This device complies with Part 15 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. The user is cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Zebra Enterprise Solutions could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
User Guide 1.3 Regulatory - Other CMIIT ID: 2007DJ4325 WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide THE WHEREPORT The WherePort III is a location indicator that is part of the Zebra Enterprise Solutions (ZES) Real Time Locating System (Figure 1). The WherePort transmits a localized magnetic field. Since the field is confined (programmable from approximately 3 feet to 25 feet) it is a reliable indicator of the location of key sites in the facility. When WhereTags pass through the WherePort field they transmit the ID of the WherePort.
User Guide 1.4 This Guide This guide presents the basic principles of WherePort communication and the major issues for placing them on a site. It is intended to support both the planning for and the implementation of an RTLS application using WherePorts. It describes the WherePort, the WhereTag and its responses, the characteristics of the magnetic field, and how the WherePort is used in a variety of applications. For more detailed information about the WhereTag see the WhereTag Users Guide.
User Guide Unused: Do Not Terminate 24 VAC Transformer Power Black & White 24 VAC Transformer Output Sync: Red and Blue Figure 2 Input Sync: Green and Orange Wiring Schematic for Power and Synchronization Each 24 VAC transformer supports no more than two WherePorts. 1.6 Health Tag A WhereTag that is programmed to blink when there is no signal from the WherePort may be mounted to each WherePort.
User Guide Mounting Bracket Figure 3 WherePort Mounting Bracket Figure 4 Ruggedized Mounting Bracket WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide 2 THE WHERETAG The WhereTag (Figure 5) is pinged by the WherePort and responds by transmitting a data message to the RTLS. The WhereTag is a small device with a magnetic pick up coil and a RF transmitter. It is mounted to movable assets such as trailers, vehicle assemblies, or storage bins. It transmits a programmable blink signal. When operating without the WherePort, the blink is received by at least three sensors which enable the system to locate the tag accurately on the site.
User Guide Figure 6 The WhereTag in a WherePort Capture Area In mode 1, the re-trigger is set for a time interval after the WherePort blink. When this interval elapses, the tag will transmit a blink if the tag is still in the same WherePort field. Without the re-trigger interval being set, the tag will continue blinking in response to the WherePort signal. If the tag enters a new field, it will transmit a blink, even if the set interval has not elapsed (see Figure 2).
User Guide Figure 7 Retrigger Mode 1 and a New Capture Area In mode 2 the tag must both leave the WherePort field and the specified interval elapse before a WherePort blink will occur. If the tag enters a new WherePort field it will immediately transmit a blink (Figure 2). Figure 8 Retrigger Mode 2 and a New Capture Area In mode 3, the set interval must elapse and the tag leave the field, and then the tag will transmit a blink to indicate that it has left the field.
User Guide 2.2 Using the WherePort ID The tag response can also be changed by the WherePort. Ports with ids from 0 to 255 are used only when the alternate blink mode is required. These reserved ids are split evenly between IDs (128 – 255) to mark the entrance of tag into the field and ids (0 - 127) to mark the exit of a tag from the field. The significance of other tag IDs is shown in Table 3. WherePorts can turn tags on and off as they enter and leave a site.
User Guide 3 MAGNETIC COMMUNICATION BASICS The WherePort signal is carried by a magnetic field. The field’s shape and size is determined by the orientation of the coil and the power level. It is not possible to aim the field. One of the characteristics of a magnetic field is that it drops off rapidly. This produces a well-defined, localized field. These characteristics make the WherePort an excellent device for monitoring tagged assets 3.
User Guide Perpendicular Coils Parallel Coils Figure 11 Orientation When the coil in the tag and the port are parallel the range is the greatest. When the coils are perpendicular the range is the shortest. The relative positions of the two coils, WherePort transmitting and WhereTag receiving, determine the range in which the tag will receive the signal. This range is the coverage area, or guaranteed capture area (Figure 12).
User Guide 3.2 Coverage Areas The size of the coverage area is significant as well as its location or placement. It is important that the tag be released from a field when it is no longer in the area being monitored by the WherePort. There are three areas that are described for the field. Guaranteed Capture Uncertainty Guaranteed Release All WhereTags at a given orientation will always be pinged in this area. A WhereTag may or may not be pinged in this area.
User Guide Figure 13 Orientation and Capture Area Two maps are shown for two different WherePort mountings, horizontal (left) and vertical (right). The two maps show two different tag orientations for each of the mountings. Figure 13 shows the effects of WherePort and Tag orientation on the guaranteed capture area. These maps are taken from the Simulation software. WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions.
User Guide 3.3 Power Level The size of the field is determined by the power setting for the WherePort. There are nine power levels for the WherePort III. Setting the power level to 0 turns off the WherePort magnetic field. Table 4 shows the approximate capture and release ranges for each of the power levels when the tag’s orientation is random and when it is fixed as it moves through the field.
User Guide Field Overlap Figure 14 Overlapping Uncertainty Areas Coverage Overlaps When positioning WherePorts it is not always possible to prevent their fields from overlapping. Overlapping the uncertainty areas of two WherePorts does not produce a guaranteed capture area. It produces an area where a tag may be pinged by either one or the other WherePorts or none.
User Guide 3.4 Phases When two are more WherePorts are used to cover a large area they must be phased to reduce the interference between the two fields. WherePorts mounted on the ceiling might be set to 0º and on a wall 90º. Figure 15 shows the correct phase settings for four orientations of the WherePort. The phases are set with reference to the orientation of the master WherePort.
User Guide 3.5 Sequencing WherePorts that have been connected electronically can also operate in the sequence mode. Sequenced WherePorts do not transmit at the same time. The first WherePort sends its message and then shuts off its field while the next WherePort in the sequence sends its message. The number of times each WherePort sends its message is set using the CMCn command. The number of WherePorts in the chain is set using the CMWn command. See Figure 16 through Figure 18.
User Guide Master WP #1 Slave WP #2 Slave WP #3 Slave WP #4 Figure 17 Mode 2 More than one WherePort may be active at a time. A master and three slaves are shown. One and three are active while 2 and 4 are inactive. WhereWand WPSeq Count (or RS232 CMWn) = 1. Master WP #1 Slave WP #2 Figure 18 Mode 3 All WherePorts may be off part of the time. A master and one slave are shown. One is active, then two, then both are inactive. WhereWand WPSeq Count (or RS232 CMWn) = 2 or higher.
User Guide Figure 19 Dual Where Port B A Figure 20 C Coverage Pattern A single (A), adjacent (B), and dual WherePort (C) field are shown. The fields shown are for WherePorts at power level 8 and mounted at the same height as the WhereTag. 3.7 Interference Steel objects and some devices can interfere with the WherePort field and change its shape and range. Some kinds of structures will affect the range of the WherePort.
User Guide Figure 21 3.8 Magnetic Field Meter The Field Meter The field meter is a WhereTag connected to a voltage meter so that it can detect and display the strength of the WherePort field (Figure 21). By walking around an installed WherePort the strength of the signal throughout the area to be monitored can be measured. The tag can be positioned to match its mounting position on the tracked asset. Experimenting with the field meter can help to clarify the coverage area of the WherePort.
User Guide Sequenced Master, field off No color Sequenced Slave, field on Yello Sequenced Slave, field off No color 3.10 Capture Area Simulator The capture area simulator calculates and maps the capture area for several different WherePort and WhereTag orientations. The simulator is described in Chapter 6. 4 WHEREPORT IN THE FIELD The basic principles of the WherePort must be translated into applications in the field.
User Guide 4.1 Zones In some applications it is not necessary to be able to determine the precise position of an asset. All that is needed is to know when the asset is in one or more key zones of the facility. Fewer antennas are required to define zones. While accuracy may not be essential, reliability will be. By placing one or more WherePorts in a zone, the system can reliably determine that a tag asset has entered and is still in a zone. 4.
User Guide Corridor Functional Area Figure 23 WherePort in a Doorway To enter the room, an object must pass through the guaranteed capture range of the WherePort. The placement of a WherePort in the doorway might seem simple. Figure 23 shows this installation. Any tagged asset passing through the doorway must pass through the guaranteed capture range. However, an object passing down the corridor would also be pinged by the WherePort.
User Guide Figure 24 Loading Dock Doors Spacing of loading dock doors makes it impossible to assign unique WherePort IDs to each of the doors. If, instead of a single door, a series of doors (for example on a loading dock) or bays are too close together, the fields may overlap so that it is not possible to assign a unique WherePort ID to each of the doors.
User Guide Drop Ceiling Floor 2 Utility Space Drop Ceiling Floor 1 Figure 25 Multi-Floor Schematic Shows a floor configuration so that the WherePort field extends into the second floor. 4.4 Multi-Floor Installations When activities are tracked on several floors, the vertical position of the WherePort and the extent of its field must be carefully considered. If the field extends into the floor above, a tag moving on the upper floor may be activated by the WherePort on the lower floor.
User Guide WherePorts are defined as locked using the software of the SystemBuilder. No setting in the WherePort is needed. After a tag pings that it has detected a locked WherePort the tag will be ignored until it is unlocked. It is unlocked by detecting an unlocked WherePort. Tag movement must be clearly understood to make sure that a tag that enters a locked WherePort field will also enter an unlocked WherePort field.
User Guide 0º Master 180 º Figure 26 Phasing for Wall Mounted WherePorts Viewed from the top. Figure 26 shows a corridor or large space with WherePorts mounted on the different walls to effectively cover the entire area. This means that the phase of each WherePort must be set as indicated. 90 º 0º Master Figure 27 WherePort III User Guide 180 º Phasing for Ceiling and Wall WherePorts D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions.
User Guide A large doorway may require three WherePorts to reliably detect the passage of a tagged asset through it. In the example shown in Figure 27 coverage requires a WherePort on each side of the doorway and on the ceiling. Again each WherePort must be phased accordingly. 0º Figure 28 180 º 0º Loading Dock Door Options Viewed from the side. Loading dock doors are frequently too close together for each of them to be monitored by a different WherePort.
User Guide Figure 29 Over the Door WherePort Mounting The dotted line ellipse shows the approximate shape of the coverage area if the tag is oriented horizontally rather than vertically. 1 Figure 30 4.7 2 3 4 Sequenced WherePorts on Parking Lanes Sequenced WherePorts Figure 30 shows the use of sequenced WherePorts to accurately identify which lane a vehicle has entered. Sequenced WherePorts are turned on and off.
User Guide 4.8 Summary Each application will present a unique combination of the principles demonstrated by the examples in this chapter and thus require different configurations to create a successful application. In the next chapter, guidelines for planning and designing an application will be discussed. WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks.
User Guide 5 WORKING THROUGH AN APPLICATION To effectively place WherePorts the site and the required information from the site must be carefully studied. In this chapter a simple site will be presented and issues about WherePort placement will be discussed and mounting locations for WherePorts found. Figure 31 5.1 The Warehouse Site Warehouse and Shipping Facility Events or positions that need to be monitored in some way. What must be tracked.
User Guide Issues affecting the placement of the WherePort. Are there any obstacles or structures that will affect the field? Where will the WhereTags be mounted? Will their orientation be controlled while they are in a WherePort field? The first and most important step in creating a successful WherePort application is to define what information must be obtained from the WherePort.
User Guide Figure 32 5.
User Guide identifying where on the site this information must be gathered, and determining Creating a map of the site. WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide 6 USING THE SIMULATOR The WherePort simulator (ZES p/n D0910) is a tool for exploring the best solutions for WherePort placement and for better understanding the basic characteristics of WherePort communication. Because of the number of variables that affect the response of the tag to the WherePort field, it is helpful to examine the response using the simulator.
User Guide Two Adjacent WherePorts Two Adjacent WherePorts Two Adjacent WherePorts Mounted vertically, facing sideways Mounted vertically, facing forward Mounted horizontally The magnetic field extends in all directions from the WherePort. Its position does, however, affect the direction of the field and therefore its relation to the position of the tag. It is the direction of the field that is important when reviewing the different orientations of the WherePort. Figure 34 6.
User Guide Figure 35 Tag Orientations for the Graphs The graphs are calculated based on the tags maintaining the same orientation while it moves. Its orientation to the field will therefore change. For each WherePort position, graphs are drawn for six different WhereTag orientations. These orientations and the number designations of each are shown in Figure 35 The tag orientation is with reference to the position of the WherePort. There are also options for controlling the presentations of the graphs.
User Guide Figure 36 Sample Graph The graph shows the guaranteed capture area in green and the uncertainty area in yellow for a single WherePort, mounted horizontally, with a power level of 4, and a tag to WherePort height of 4 feet for a tag with orientation 2. The scale is 10. WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide Figure 37 Sample Graph Shows the same configuration as Figure 4 except the tag is in the 6 orientation. 6.3 Sample Graphs The importance and usefulness of the simulator can be shown by looking at two graphs showing two different tag orientations while all other options are identical. Figure 36, with orientation 2, shows a guaranteed capture area that is approximately ten feet long and four feet wide.
User Guide Figure 38 Power Level Comparison Tag Orientation 2 WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide Figure 39 Power Level Comparison Tag Orientation 6 WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide Figure 40 6.4 Adjacent WherePort Configuration Adjacent WherePorts Adjacent WherePorts require that some additional variables be set: Select a power lever from 1 to 8. The highest power level is 8. Tag to WherePort Height Set from 0 to 20 feet. Distance between WherePorts (feet) 0 to 50 feet in five foot increments. Are the WherePorts Synchronized Yes or no (wired together). WherePort #1 Phase 0, 90, 180, or 270. WherePort #2 Phase 0, 90, 180, or 270.
User Guide 7 COMMAND SUMMARY This section describes the commands used to configure the WherePort. All commands and responses are ASCII character strings. ACK responses are the three character string ‘ACK’ and not the 0x06 nonprintable character. Similarly, NAK responses are the three character string ‘NAK’ and not the 0x15 non-printable character. All numbers (represented by ‘n’ in command list) sent are the ASCII representation of the value.
User Guide The password can be set using the ****:XPW **** command. Changes to the password will take effect immediately. The changes affect only the current session unless the host sends the WherePort an execute command (****:EXE). Only after receiving an execute command will the new password be written into flash memory and read on power up. Without the execute command, the password will return to its previous value if the WherePort is powered down. 7.
User Guide 7.5 Commands 7.5.1 Message Length Set the length, in bits, of the WherePort message. There are six possible values. n Value 1 10 bit 2 28 bit 3 44 bit 4 144 bit 5 144 bit with payload CRC1 6 144 bit with payload CRC2 Example MSG 1 Sets the message length to 10 bits. Considerations Message length affects the dwell time when using sequenced WherePorts. 7.5.2 Power Set power level, from 0 to 8. When set to 0 the WherePort power is off.
User Guide Example PHS 2 Sets the phase to 2. Considerations When WherePort fields overlap, the phase of each WherePort must be set to match to placement of the ports. 7.5.4 WherePort ID Sets the WherePort Id. The valid range is 0 to 32,767. WID n Example WID 4 Sets the WID to 4. Considerations WherePort IDs 0 through 255 are used for an alternate blink mode. When a WhereTag is pinged by a WherePort with an ID less than or equal to 255 the tag is converted to the alternate blink mode.
User Guide Example RSP 1 Set the response blink type to 72 bits. 7.5.7 Count Set the WherePort response blink count (44 bit message only). CNT n Valid range for n is 0 through 15. Example CNT 4 Sets the blink count to 4. 7.5.8 Interval Set the WherePort response blink interval (44 bit message only ) where n is 0 to 7. INT n 7.5.9 Trigger Set the re-trigger response (44 bit message only). TRG n Where n is a value 0 through 15.
User Guide A string of 24 ASCII-HEX characters to set the 96-bit data payload of the WherePort. 7.5.11 EXE EXE n Send message to magnetic field generator and the flash memory. 7.5.12 Sequence Mode Set number of WherePort in the chain for sequencing mode. CMW n Where n is a value of 1 through 15. A value of 0 disables sequence mode. A value of 1 means that there is a master and 1 slave. Example CMW 2 Sets the number of WherePorts in the chain to 3, one master and 2 slaves. 7.5.
User Guide 7.5.14 Version Set the software version number. VER m.nn Where m is the major version and nn is the minor version. Example VER 2.01 Sets the WherePort software version number to 2.01. 7.5.15 XPW Set the password to the four character ssss. XPW ssss 7.5.16 HWT (1) Used to test the ISP port pins and set the WherePort password access flags. HWT n Where n is a value of 1 through 6. A value of 6 sets the default password. Example HWT 2 7.5.
User Guide Set message length = 10 bit Execute immediately GQ2 Set message length = 28 bit Execute immediately GQ2 n Set WPID = n, where 0 ≤ n ≤ 32,767 Set message length = 10 bit Execute immediately GQ3 n,m,p,q n = 0x0-0x7FFF m = 0x0-0xF p = 0x1-0x7 q = 0x0-0xF Arguments are in upper case ASCII-Hex format Set message length = 44 bit Set WPID = n Set CNT = m Set INT = p Set TRG = q Execute immediately GQ4 Set message length = 144 bit Execute immediately GQ4 n Set Tag ID n = 0 to 7FFF Argument is in AS
User Guide GQ4 s Set message length = 144 bit (CRC) Set data string = s (22 or 24 chars) String is in ASCII-Hex format Execute immediately GQ4 n,s n = 0 to 7FFF s = string Set message length = 144 bit (CRC) Set Tag ID = n Set data string = s (22 or 24 chars) Execute immediately GQ5 n N = 0 to 7FFF Set message length = 144 bit (CRC) Set Tag ID = n Execute immediately GQ5 s Set message length = 144 bit (CRC) Set data string = s (22 or 24 chars) Execute immediately GQ5 n,s n = 0 to 7FFF s = string Set me
User Guide Set Tag ID = n Execute immediately GQ6 s Set message length = 144 bit (CRC) Set data string = s (22 or 24 chars) Execute immediately GQ6 n,s n = 0 to 7FFF s = string Set message length = 144 bit (CRC) Set Tag ID = n Set data string = s (22 or 24 chars) Execute immediately WherePort III User Guide ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions. WherePort and all product names and numbers are Zebra Enterprise Solutions trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
User Guide 8 INSTALLATION The lists of required parts, both supplied with the WherePort (Figure 41) and required but not supplied, and the instructions for mounting WherePorts in typical locations follow. Caution - Use of Zebra external power supply is limited to indoor use and a max 40° C environment. Outdoor installations will require installation of a limited power source by the installer. Warning - Electrical Shock: No operator serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
User Guide WherePort Flat Washer (2x) Lock Washer (2x) ½ inch Screw (2x) Tag Bracket Rubber Bushing (2x) Bracket Figure 41 Installation Kit The power/synchronization cable is not shown. 8.2 Also Required (not included) 1. Power supply, North American PS-025-00 2. Power supply, International PS-030-00 3. Power supply, vehicle 12 V, PS-200-00 4. Interconnect cabling Belden p/n 9156 5. WhereWand Programmer WND-2010 or WND-2200 6. Cable Assembly, WhereWand I to WherePort III CBL-300-00 7.
User Guide For Angled Mount For Side Mount For Rear Mount Hole for Wall Mount Slots for Pole Mount Break Off Tab for Rear Mount Figure 42 8.3 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Mounting Bracket Installation Procedure Determine mounting location based on Zebra Enterprise Solutions site design worksheet. Determine orientation of WherePort compared to mounting surface. Choose bracket hole depending on pole mount, side mount, or rear mount. Break bracket tab for rear mount (Figure 42).
User Guide Power Black & White Unused, Do not Terminate 24 VAC Transformer 24 VAC Transformer Output Sync Red & Black Figure 43 Input Sync. Green & Black Wiring Schematic for Synchronized WherePorts Since there are more the two WherePorts there are two 24 volt AC power supplies. Step 4 Step 5 Connect wiring: white & black pair to power; red & blue pair to following WherePort; green & orange pair to previous WherePort (Figure 43). Note: Do not connect more than two WherePorts to an AC transformer.
User Guide A Glossary blink A signal sent by a WhereTag to the RTLS system. A blink may contain 1 to 8 sub-blinks. coverage area The area in which a WhereTag will be pinged by a WherePort signal. dual WherePort Two WherePorts on a bracket, oriented at 90 degrees to each other. guaranteed WP capture area pinged. The part of the WherePort field where a tag will be WP health tag A WhereTag mounted to a WherePort to indicate if the WherePort is operating correctly.
User Guide simulator A software package for experimenting with coverage areas. slave All WherePorts other than the maser in a group of sequenced or phased WherePorts. uncertainty area The part of the WherePort field where a tag may be pinged but where it is also possible that it will not be pinged. WherePort ID A number from 0 to 32,000 that identifies each WherePort to the system. WherePort III User Guide D948 Rev B ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions.
B Index alternate blink mode, 11 dual WherePort, 18 field meter, 20 guaranteed capture, 14 guaranteed release, 14 health tag, 6 interference, 19 LED, 20 magnetic field, 12 modes, 8 mounting bracket, 6 overlapping fields, 16 phase, 17 phased master, 27 power level, 15 sequenced, 29 simulator, 21 specifications, 5 uncertainty, 14 WherePort ID, 4 WhereTag coil orientation, 8 WhereTag response modes, 8 WherePort III User Guide ©2010 Zebra Enterprise Solutions.
