AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide TransCore, Inc.
© 2005 TC IP, Ltd. All rights reserved. TRANSCORE and AMTECH are registered trademarks of TC IP, Ltd., and are used under license. All other trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners. Contents are subject to change. Printed in the U.S.A.
WARNING TO USERS IN THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT 47 CFR §15.105(a) NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Contents
Contents 1 Before You Begin Purpose of This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Guide Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide Program Tag Using 4-Bit ASCII Hex Format (#201xxx...) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read/Verify Tag Data Using TransCore 6-Bit ASCII Format (#210) . . . . . Read/Verify Tag Data Using 4-Bit ASCII Hex Format (#211) . . . . . . . . . . Write/Verify A Page Of Data Using Hex Format (#220yyxxxx…). . . . . . . . Write/Verify A Byte Of Data Using Hex Format (#221yyxx) . . . . . . . . . . . . Read A Page Of Data Using Hex Format (#230yy) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents List of Figures Figure 2-1 Figure 2-2 Figure 3-1 Figure 3-2 Programming Workstation with ESD Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Serial Interface Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 AP4118 Programmer Indicator Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 Tag in Tag Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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1 Before You Begin
Chapter 1 Before You Begin The AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide provides information necessary for installing, operating, and troubleshooting the AP4118 Tag Programmer. Purpose of This Guide This AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide discusses the proper setup and operation of the AP4118 Tag Programmer. This guide also provides procedures useful in troubleshooting any problems encountered after installation.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide Describes the interface configuration to a host computer. Appendix B – RS–232 Connector Pin-outs Appendix C – TransCore 6-Bit ASCII Format Lists TransCore’s 6-bit ASCII character codes. Appendix D – 4-Bit ASCII Hex Codes Lists TransCore’s 4-bit hexadecimal formats. Appendix E – Programmer Response Codes Lists the tag programmer response codes. Appendix F – Security Characters Lists the 6-bit security character codes.
Before You Begin Table 1-1 Typographical Conventions (continued) Convention Indication NUL Zero-value ASCII character or a zero-value byte NULL Zero-value pointers. Null-terminated string refers to strings of printable ASCII characters with a zero-value byte placed in memory directly after the last printable character of the string.
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2 Setting up the Programmer
Chapter 2 Setting up the Programmer This chapter provides instructions for setting up the tag programmer, preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to tags, and connecting to a host computer. Required Supplies to Operate the Tag Programmer The programmer is shipped with the items listed below. When unpacking your order, make sure all of the following items are included.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide • Rubbing tags across a table top • Wearing certain types of clothing Electrostatic discharge may cause significant damage to the tag and will adversely affect a tag’s operating performance. Typical symptoms of ESD include the following: • Inability to program the tag • Greatly reduced operating range • Tag operating failure Antistatic Workstation In a factory or fixed indoor environment, position the programmer in an antistatic workstation.
Setting up the Programmer 2. Connect the banana plug of the ESD wrist strap to the ESD jack on the front of the unit. 3. Attach the ESD strap to your wrist by adjusting the hook and loop material. Antistatic Mat The antistatic work mat on which your programmer sits should be connected to earth ground through the standard 1 M-ohm resistance that should be provided with the mat. The mat should also be clean and free of any electrical path to direct earth ground.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide The tag programmer’s PC interface complies with the RS–232 standard for data communications equipment and uses the protocol settings listed in Table 2-1. Refer to Appendix B for specifications of the programmer’s RS–232 pinouts. Table 2-1 PC Interface Protocol Settings Protocol Setting Data Rate 9600 bps Data Bits 8 Parity None Stop Bits 1 Software Flow Control None Hardware Flow Control None To connect the programmer to the host computer 1.
3 Operating the Programmer
Chapter 3 Operating the Programmer This chapter describes how to program a tag and how to verify or read back the data. This chapter also lists the RS–232 command set and describes the security character operation. Before You Program Tags Before programming, the programmer system must be set up as specified in Chapter 2, “Setting Up the Programmer.” The programmer must be connected either to a host system running Tag Programming (TP) software or to a communications terminal.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide PROGRAM The tag is being programmed. VERIFY The programmer has read and verified the tag identification (ID) code. ERROR An error has occurred while programming the current tag. POWER The programmer is receiving power. READY The programmer is ready to program tags.
Operating the Programmer Enable Tone Generator (#120) The default state of the audible tone generator is tone enabled. The tone generator creates audible responses described as beep, triple beep, and solid tone. This command re-enables the programmer’s audible response capability after it has been disabled by the #121 command. Response: #Done Disable Tone Generator (#121) This command disables the programmer’s audible response capability.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide #xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx #Done or #Error Read/Verify Tag Data Using TransCore 6-Bit ASCII Format (#210) The programmer reads the data from the tag, puts it into the TransCore 6-bit ASCII format, and sends it to the host device. Refer to Appendix C for a description of this 6bit ASCII format. During execution of this command, a series of beeps indicates that the programmer is waiting for a tag to be placed in the holder.
Operating the Programmer If the tag is not already in the tag holder, a series of beeps indicates that the programmer is waiting for a tag to be placed in the holder. If you do not place the tag in the holder, and close the door within a 10-second limit, the programmer will abort this command. The programmer will not program the data if the programmer does not have permission to write to the memory area of the tag that is requested by the user.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide The programmer will not read the data if the programmer does not have permission to read the memory area of the tag that is requested by the user. Each programmer will be assigned permissions at the factory, or through the use of a permissions tag that must be placed in to the programmer at pre-specified intervals.
Operating the Programmer Display System Status (#40) This command requests a 2-digit status response code from the programmer indicating the status of the last operation performed. Refer to Appendix E for a description of the programmer response codes that refer to system status. Response: #xx where XX is the 2-digit response code. The code 00 indicates that the programmer performed the last operation without error.
AP4118 Tag Programmer User Guide Figure 3-2 Tag in Tag Holder If the tag is placed within the 10-second period, the programmer programs the user data, verifies the user data, and sends a response to the host system. If the tag is not placed within the 10-second period, the programmer aborts the command, sends the #Error response to the host, and emits a continuous audible tone. When the tag is successfully programmed, the programmer responds with a triple beep and with the following response: xxx...
Operating the Programmer Security Characters The tag security character function prevents the use of unauthorized tags in any TransCore electronic identification system. All AP4118 tag programmers have the capability, when enabled, to program specific, predefined security characters into a tag. This capability is enabled at the factory if it is specified in an authorized order.
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4 Troubleshooting
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting Table 4-1 lists some problems that you may encounter when programming tags, along with suggestions for troubleshooting each problem. If a problem persists, call the TransCore Action Center at (800) 755-0378. Table 4-1 Troubleshooting Problems and Solutions Problem System does not beep at power-on. System powers on, but does not sign on. Programmer beeper is not heard during tag programming/ verify sequence, or system continually beeps until time-out.
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A Tag Programmer Specifications
Appendix A Tag Programmer Specifications This appendix lists the AP4118 Tag Programmer physical and environmental specifications. Table A-1 lists the AP4118 Tag Programmer parameters and specifications. Table A-1 AP4118 Tag Programmer Physical and Environmental Specifications Parameter Specification Size (W x H x D) 14.3 x 3.2 x 11.5 in (36.3 x 8.1 x 29.2 cm) Weight 6.8 lb (3.
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B RS–232 Connector Pin-outs
Appendix B RS–232 Connector Pin-outs Table B-1 identifies the pin-outs of the programmer’s DB-9 rear panel RS–232 connector.
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C TransCore 6-Bit ASCII Format
Appendix C TransCore 6-Bit ASCII Format In TransCore’s 6-bit ASCII format, each ASCII data character is represented by a certain 6-bit pattern. These bit patterns are placed in specific groups of six consecutive bits within the tag. The ASCII characters and their corresponding 6-bit codes are listed in Table C-1. TransCore's 6-bit ASCII codes are produced by subtracting 00100000 from the character's 8-bit ASCII value.
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D 4-Bit ASCII Hex Codes
Appendix D 4-Bit ASCII Hex Codes In TransCore’s 4-bit hex format, each ASCII character is represented by a certain 4-bit pattern. These bit patterns are placed in specific groups of four consecutive bits within the tag. The ASCII characters and their corresponding 4-bit hex codes are listed in Table D-1.
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E Programmer Response Codes
Appendix E Programmer Response Codes The programmer returns one of these codes in response to command #40, Display System Status. Table E-1 lists the response codes. Table E-1 Programmer Response Codes Code Description 00 Operation Successful/No Error: The last operation performed by the programmer was executed without errors. 01 Illegal Command: The command sent to the programmer was not a valid command.
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F Security Characters
Appendix F Security Characters You may enter security characters into an Amtech tag if your programmer has been configured at the factory to perform the security character function. These ASCII security characters are encoded in the Amtech 6-bit data encoding scheme, and are listed in Table F-1.
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