User Manual

December 2009 Revision 2.1 29/68

5.1.3 EAS Mode versus AFI Mode

EAS mode is only supported by the C370 or C370-L (NXP chip). AFI mode is supported by most

ISO15693 chips, from major chip manufacturers (NXP, Texas Instrument, STM, Infineon,

MeMarin…).

EAS digital burst is a prime number data stream of 128 bits which is read out after sending a check

EAS command to the Tag. This dedicated EAS command in only implemented in NXP SLI chips.

C220 & C320 TAGSYS chips EAS signal is respectively 100kHz free running and 106kHz

synchronous burst sent by the chip at power on reset during a few ms when RF field is first

established and when EAS bit is set. This mode is only supported by TAGSYS which owns the

chip design. C220 supports only EAS detection, no memory content read out is possible. C320

supports both EAS detection and 256 bits memory content read out for data model support.

The AFI (Application Family Identifier) is an 8bit-field defined in the ISO15693 standard but not

mandatory. Whenever issuing an inventory command with a specific AFI code, only Labels with the

same matching AFI code will reply with its UID. Generally the code 9E is used to say that the book

has not been properly checked out, thus will be detected by the pedestals.

5.2 Understanding the L-SP3 Synchronization Process

5.2.1 Standard Synchronization Mode

To manage a group of pedestals, a synchronization burst is sent by the master pedestal to all

the slaves’ pedestals, a token being propagated back and forth as in a token ring process. This is

called the synchronization process.

 Only one pedestal is defined to be the master who emits a synchronization burst to the next

slave in close proximity who in turns emits it to the next slave and so forth.

 The other pedestals, configured as slaves, get the synchronization from the neighboring

pedestal and emits back to the next Slave of higher index.

Figure 12: Chronogram Sample (1 Master/ 4 Slaves)

Default Configuration of the L-SP3 is set to Master 2 Pedestals.

Synchronization Burst

MASTER

SLAVE1

SLAVE2

SLAVE 3

SLAVE 4

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