Operations Manual INSTASCAN© SCANNER MODEL S556-EP SCS Corporation 10905 Technology Place, San Diego, CA 92127 Phone: 858-485-9196 • Fax: 858-485-0561 www.scs-corp.com • info@scs-corp.
The products and programs described in this Operations Manual are licensed products of SCS. This Operations Manual contains proprietary information protected by copyright and this Operations Manual and all accompanying hardware, software, and documentation are copyrighted.
Contents Chapter 1— Introduction ....................................................... 1 Advantages .................................................................... 2 S556-EP InstaScan Scanner ............................................. 4 What Else You Need ........................................................ 5 Summary of Chapters ...................................................... 6 Chapter 2 — Installation ....................................................... 7 LEDs and Connectors .......
Chapter 4 — Troubleshooting .............................................. 27 Solving Problems ........................................................... 27 Contacting Customer Service ......................................... 30 Returning Your System .................................................... 31 Chapter 5 — Specifications ................................................. 32 SCS Patents .................................................................. 32 S556-EP Specifications ..................
Chapter 1 Introduction T he S556-EP InstaScan scanners and Dura-label Radio Frequency (RF) Identification 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.
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.
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 tags multiple times.
S556-EP InstaScan Scanner The S556-EP scanner is designed for applications or configurations that require the scanner to be a considerable distance from tags, or where numerous tags are required to be read simultaneously. Conveyor belt applications are ideally suited to the scanner. The scanner provides six pairs of coaxial connectors for supporting up to six external antennas. Each antenna plugs into its own set of connectors on the front panel of the scanner. Figure 2.
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) • FCC Part 90 Site License (U.S. Customers) 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.
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 T his chapter provides instructions for installing the S556-EP scanner and tag(s). LEDs and Connectors The scanner provides the connectors and LEDs described in the following sections and shown in Figure 3. P ow er On LE D R ead L ED Activity / E rror LE D D B -25 Connecto r P ower R ocker S witch Coaxial Antenna Connectors (12 total) AC Power R S -232 Fan Inlet Figure 3.
Scanner Front The front panel of the S556-EP scanner has three LEDs that indicate power, activity, and transmitter ON/OFF (see Figure 3). Table 1 describes the meanings of the LEDs. The front panel also has an On/Off switch located below the three LEDs (see Figure 3). • In the ON position, the red Power ON LED should go ON, indicating that the scanner is receiving power. • If the OFF position, the scanner is not receiving power, even if the connected to the power outlet.
Table 1. S556-EP 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. (b) Loose cable or bad connector Transmit On Green On = Scanner is transmitting RF signals.
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 11. 3. Place the antenna for optimum read/write operation – see page 12. 4. Connect the scanner to a computer serial port or RS-232 – see page 13. 5. Connecting to an AC outlet – see page 14. 6. Configure the scanner - see page 15. 7. Align the antenna – see page 18.
Connecting External Antennas The front panel provides six pairs of coaxial antenna Receive/Transmit connectors. Each pair of connectors accommodates a single external antenna. Figure 4 shows the external antenna connections to the scanner. I The S556-EP can be used with fewer than six antennas. Install antennas sequentially, starting with the left-most connector pairs. Coaxi al Antenna Connectors Coax ial Ante nna Connectors Input/Output Coaxial Cable s Figure 4.
Placing the Antenna Antenna placement is critical to ensuring that information is transmitted to and from tags accurately. Observe the following guidelines when placing the antenna: Locate the antenna 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 23.
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.
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 position (see Figure 3). 2. Connect the power cord to the AC receptacle in the scanner front panel (see Figure 3). 3. Connect the other end of the power cord to the wall outlet. 4. Set the On/Off switch to the ON position. The Power ON LED lights.
Configuring the Scanner The following procedure will verify that the RS-232 link between the scanner and the computer is working correctly. 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 “Setup.exe” 5. Installshield will launch and guide you through the installation of the Series 5 Tools onto your computer. 6.
10. Look for the text “Scanner type = XXXX” in the application dialog. If “XXXX” is not “S556-EP”, select “S516” 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.
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. The Write Test requires a write - capable tag. Place the tag within 22 inches of the antenna #1. 19.
Aligning the Antenna After verifying that the scanner is operating properly, use the following procedure to align the antenna(s). Aligning the antenna(s) 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, choose “Antenna Alignment”. 4. Select the antenna you wish to align with the available antenna buttons. Press the “Go” button. 5.
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.
Reading Information from your Dura-labels Once you have installed your tags, and have set-up 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.
Writing Information to Your Dura-label Read/write tags can be written to using the scanner. Each bit of memory is write once, read many (WORM). Meaning after you have written to a specific bit, it is permanent and cannot be overwritten or erased. To add more data to the tag you must write to a different bit. Another feature included with each user-writable word of memory is a Write-Protect bit. This bit allows you to protect an entire word (16 bits) after any or all of the bits have been written. 1.
7. To write to a block of memory locations, use the commands in the block section of the window. Enter the starting memory location in the “From” window. Enter number of memory locations in the “Length” window. The ending memory location will be automatically calculated in the “To:” window. Click the box to the left of the “Write” text and enter the data in the window below the “Write” command. 8. To write protect the entire block, click the box to the left of the “Write Protect” text. 9.
Chapter 3 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.
Signal Interference Signal interference is RF signals that interfere with the information being exchanged between the tag and scanner. Signal interference can severely diminish the scanner’s ability to read information from the tags. The Activity LED on the scanner flickers constantly if it detects signal interference. The source of the interfering signals may be: • An RF system, such as an RF local-area network (LAN) or another Interactive Identification system, located close to your system.
Signal Attenuation/Reflections Signal attenuation is the loss of signal strength that occurs naturally over distances, but which can also be caused by RF barriers in the signal path. Examples of such barriers include: • Enclosed locations that have concrete walls, floors, and ceilings. • Metal surfaces surrounding the antenna or tag. • Water or other fluids surrounding the antenna or tag. Almost every object (furniture, partitions, and people) in the path of a signal causes some degree of attenuation.
Optimizing Performance While it is not possible to predict how the system will perform in any given environment, observing the following guidelines will help optimize performance in your environments and applications: Carefully plan the placement of the scanner antenna. The antennas can be extended extended approximately ten feet from the scanner depending on cable length purchased for the application.
Chapter 4 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.
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 "Configuring the Scanner" on page 15) The antenna cable may be faulty. Contact SCS Customer Service (see page 30). 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.
Problem Probable Cause Solution Information could not be read from the tag. The tag may be outside of the scanning area. Make sure the tag is no more than 60 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.
Contacting Customer Service If you encounter a problem using your system that you cannot resolve, contact Customer Service: Before contacting CUSTOMER SERVICE, please have the following information available: 1. InstaScan Scanner Information : • • • • InstaScan Model Number Serial Number, located on the bottom of scanner Any modifications made to the scanner or tags Location where system is installed 2.
Returning Your System If SCS Customer Service determines you need to return your system for service, the Service Representative will give you a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). Write this number on the outside of the box containing the returned system, and on a slip of paper inside the box, so your return can be processed quickly. Return only your scanner, antenna, cable, and adapter. Do not return accessories, such as the Diagnostic Label or the diskette containing the Scanner configuration program.
Chapter 5 Specifications SCS Patents SCS Corporation is currently holding the following patents. Other patents outstanding.
S556-EP Specifications LEDs: One Red Power ON LED, one Yellow Activity/Error LED and one Green Transmit ON LED Communication Method: RS-232 Serial transmission rate: Up to 57,600 bps Connector: One DB-9F for RS-232 communications One DB-25 for diagnostic use Pin assignments: (DB9F) Pin 1 – Not used Pin 2 - Transmit Data (Input) Pin 3 - Receive Data (Output) Pin 4 - Internally connected to Pin 6 Pin 5 - Protective Ground Pin 6 - Internally connected to Pin 4 Pin 7 - Internally connected to Pin 8 Pin 8 -
Ambient operating temprature: 0° to 43° C Approved Standards: FCC Part 90 Maximum serial cable length: 10 meters (30 Feet) (32° to 110° F) Dimensions: 36.8 cm x 40.6 cm x 14 cm (14.5 in x 16 in x 5.5 in) Weight: 5.5 Kg (12 lbs.
Chapter 6 DB-25 Connector Function Table 3.
Pin # Name Function 16 PER_IN3 Peripheral input bit 3 17 PER_IN1 Peripheral input bit 1 18 BLANK Digital test signal: blanking signal 19 PER_OUT5 Peripheral output bit 5 20 PER_OUT3 Peripheral output bit 3 21 TX_ASEL4 Transmit antenna select bit 4 22 TX_ASEL2 Transmit antenna select bit 2 23 GND Ground 24 RX_ASEL4 Receive antenna select bit 4 25 RX-ASEL2 Receive antenna select bit 2 Receive Antenna Select Lines Pins 13, 25, 12, 24, and 11 are the high order bits of the hardwa
Transmit Antenna Select Lines Pins 10, 22, 9, 21, and 8 are the high order bits of the hardware pins that select the transmit antenna. Bit 0 is kept internal to the interrogator. These lines are used to drive external multiplexers for multiantenna systems. They are controlled by: 1. Setting up the antenna select table in flash memory (if necessary) using Load Antenna Table command. 2. Issue the Set Antenna Quantity command. 3. Default mode automatically cycles through all antennas.
Peripheral Outputs There are 8 peripheral outputs internal to the interrogator. 4 of these are available at the DB-25 connector: pins 20, 7, 19, and 6 can be controlled by setting or resetting bits, 3, 4, 5 and/or 6 of the command data byte of the Write Peripheral Outputs command. The outputs are compatible with CMOS levels. Table 5. Output Characteristics Description Min. High level output voltage @IOutputHigh = 1.0 mA, VCC* Min. VCC* – 0.5 Max.
Buffered Comparator Input (BUFCOMPIN) This is the analog output of the RF receiver. The pin must remain unconnected, or deterioration of read capability will occur. Buffered Comparator (BUFCOMP) This is the digitized output of the RF receiver. Receiver blanking signal (BLANK) When low, the microcontroller is ignoring the output from the RF receiver. VCC This is the 5.0 V regulated power for the interrogator. It should only be used as a reference.
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 ninety (90) days from date of receipt.
Radio Frequency (RF) exposure limits for operators of this device Operators of this device must have knowledge of their RF exposure conditions in order for the device to comply with FCC-adopted RF exposure limits for persons in the “controlled exposure environment”. The average RF exposure for operators is 5.0 mW/ cm2, which requires them to maintain an estimated separation distance of 22 cm or 8.5” from the transmitter, while in operation.
