ALIEN TECHNOLOGY® ALR-9900 HARDWARE SETUP GUIDE September 2007 ALR-9900
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Alien Technology® Hardware Setup Guide ALR-9900 September 2007 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 Audience ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 RFID Reader Overview ..................................................................................
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 Introduction This Hardware Setup Guide provides instructions for installing and operating the ALR-9900 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.
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 RFID Reader Overview The Alien ALR-9900 RFID reader is designed to read and program any EPC Class 1 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.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 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 9900 Architecture Point-to-multipoint reader network, mono-static antenna Operating Frequency 902.75 MHz – 927.25 MHz Hopping Channels 50 Channel Spacing 500 KHz Channel Dwell Time < 0.
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 RFID Reader External Circular Polarized Antenna Model ALR-9611-CR and ALR-9611-CL 3 dB Beamwidth E-plane: 65 degrees • H-plane: 65 degrees Frequency 902-928 MHz Gain (dBi) 5.73 dBi Polarization Circular RF Connector 6 m LMR-195 with Reverse-Polarity TNC VSWR 1.5:1 Dimensions (cm) 22 x 27 x 4 • (in) 8.5 x 10.5 x 1.65 Weight .57 kg • 1.25 lb RFID Reader High Performance Antenna 4 Model ALR-9614 3 dB Beamwidth E-plane: 65 degrees; H-plane 65 degrees Gain 8.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Mechanical: Reader Physical Size Figure 1 - Outline Drawing of the ALR-9900 I/O Port Terminal Interface The ALR-9900 I/O port provides four digital inputs and eight digital outputs, optically isolated from the reader circuitry. Opto-isolators have two basic elements: a light source (usually a light emitting diode) and a photo-sensitive detector. These two elements are positioned facing one another and inserted in an electrical circuit to form an opto-coupler.
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 I/O Port Screw Terminal Connector (Phoenix 14-pin header) Pin 1 V+ (5-24 VDC) Pin 2 Output 0 (optically isolated; 500 mA max) Pin 3 Output 1 " Pin 4 Output 2 " Pin 5 Output 3 " Pin 6 Output 4 " Pin 7 Output 5 " Pin 8 Output 6 " Pin 9 Output 7 " Pin 10 Input 0 (optically isolated; 5-24 V) Pin 11 Input 1 " Pin 12 Input 2 " Pin 13 Input 3 " Pin 14 V- I/O PORT SCREW TERMINAL (FEMALE) – LOOKING AT READER Figure 2 - Input and Output Circuits 6 A
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION RS-232 Port Pinouts RS-232 Connector (Female DB-9F) Pin 1 DCD Connected to Pin 6 Pin 2 TR1 Transmit Data (Output) Pin 3 RC1 Receive Data (Input) Pin 4 DTR Connected to Pin 6 Pin 5 Ground Pin 6 DSR Connected to Pin 4 Pin 7 RTS Connected to Pin 8 Pin 8 CTS Connected to Pin 7 Pin 9 Not Connected RS-232 CONNECTOR (FEMALE) – LOOKING AT READER 5 4 9 3 8 2 7 1 6 System Architecture A0 A1 Host Communication Interface Digital Control Circuitry RF Receiver Antenna
READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 2 Reader Hardware Installation and Operation This chapter describes the RFID Reader and provides installation and operation information. Receiving the RFID Reader Your RFID Reader Kit is shipped with the items listed below. Please verify the contents of your received shipment before assembling.
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION Reader I/O Panel The I/O panel (shown below) houses the following: 14-pin female I/O terminal block LAN TCP/IP port 9-pin D female RS-232 serial port Power connector Figure 5 - ALR-9900 Reader Connections Diagnostic LEDs The ALR-9900 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 (
READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION CHAPTER 2 Figure 6 – ALR-9900 Reader Diagnostic LEDs 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. Figure 7 - Antenna Connections 10 ALR-9900 Hardware Setup Guide DOC.
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION System Assembly and Bench Test Assembling the RFID Reader system is easy. We recommend you set up the system and verify its operation in a bench test configuration before installing it in a production setting. Bench Test Configuration 1. Place the Reader on a tabletop. Ensure the following conditions: A standard 120 or 220 VAC outlet is nearby.
READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION CHAPTER 2 You must use TCP/IP to communicate with the reader, so connect a standard Ethernet cable from the reader to a nearby LAN drop or network switch. You may alternatively use a cross-over Ethernet cable and connect the reader directly to the PC. The reader comes preconfigured to look for a DHCP server to set it's network parameters. In the absence of a DHCP server, the reader will use the following settings: IP Address: 192.168.1.
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION --------------------------------------------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. 10. Ensure the PC has compatible network settings.
READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION CHAPTER 2 6. Verify the host receives the tag data. Refer to indications specified in applicable user guide to verify the tag was read successfully. 7. If bench test conditions are verified, proceed to installation. 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.
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION Figure 10 - View of the Reader showing mounting holes Hardware Installation Procedure 1. Select mounting position for antenna(s). CAUTION: Reader antenna 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.
READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION CHAPTER 2 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. 5. Connect antennas to reader. Route coax cables from the antennas to the reader according to your system design specifications and secure them properly.
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION Reader Interface Guide The Alien Reader Protocol, mentioned previously, is described in detail in the Reader Interface Guide. Using this interface, the reader can be configured to read tags when queried or after one of a variety of event triggers (e.g., a rising edge on one of the I/O pins, or a timer). Tag data acquired in response to these triggers can be transmitted to the host in a number of formats (e.g.
