Aitronic AT-120 User manual

130
RFID Reader AT-120
Operating Manual
up to Firmware v2.04 and AT-120-Utility v1.26
Edition 21.02.2018

RFID Reader AT-120
Operating Manual
up to Firmware v2.04 and AT-120-Utility v1.26
Edition 21.02.2018

1. General.............................................................................. 1
2. LED Indicators.................................................................. 3
3. Config Button ................................................................... 3
4. AT-120 Utility .................................................................... 4
Interface USB-HID-Keyboard .............................................................................4
Interfaces USB-VCOM and RS-232 (optional)...................................................5
AT-120 Configuration Parameter.......................................................................6
Tag Type Character ............................................................................................7
5. Customer-specific Applications ..................................... 8
Customer-specific Host Application .................................................................9
Customer-specific App Programming ............................................................10
Sample App for Interface USB-VCOM or RS-232 ............................................12
Sample App for Interface USB-HID-Keyboard .................................................13
6. Firmware Updates.......................................................... 14
AT-120 Firmware Update..................................................................................14
TWN4 App/Firmware Update............................................................................14
7. Technical Data................................................................ 15
8. Recycling Orders for old electronic Devices............... 16

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We don’t deliver just our mobile Data Capturing Devices
with Standard Software...
but also develop to customers specific
•Applications for this Devices
•PC Applications
•Hardware
and advise you on
•Creating concepts for mobile and stationary data collection
•Queries surrounding Bar Code and RFID
•Hardware problems
Please consult us with your queries or problems at:
aitronic GmbH
Balhorner Feld 10
D-33106 Paderborn
Germany
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Internet: http://www.aitronic.de
E-Mail: [email protected]
___________________________________________________________
Copyright aitronic GmbH, 2017
All Rights reserved, in particular all extracts which correspond to the
translation, the reprint and reproduction by copying or similar methods.
Delivery and technical changes are subject to change.

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1. General
The AT-120 is a compact device for contact and contactless data exchange with all
commercially available transponders and is suitable for a variety of applications in
the office, and industrial administration.
The AT-120 can be operated in the following 3 basic settings:
•Interface USB-HID-Keyboard
•Interface USB-VCOM
•Interface RS-232 (optional)
The AT-120 is delivered with the basic settings Interface USB-HID-Keyboard and
the app "Simple Protocol" is installed in the TWN4 module.
A read transponder tag will be treated based on the settings that can be made with
the AT-120 utility. The USB interface is operated in HID mode. That means that the
characters received from the AT-120 are treated as keyboard entries. In this way
transponder IDs can be entered in any application which offers manual entry.
The "Simple Protocol" app (or a customer-specific app, which contains the
functionality of "Simple Protocol") must be installed for the basic setting Interface
USB-HID-Keyboard as the AT-120 firmware is instructed to communicate with the
TWN4 firmware on this app. In this app the following functionality is implemented:

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receiving a command from the host,
transmission of commands to the TWN4 firmware,
receiving the response of the TWN4 firmware and
dissemination of the response to the host.
The available commands are documented in "TWN4 Simple Protocol
DocRev11.pdf".
With the basic settings Interface USB-VCOM or RS-232 (only if available), the host
communicates directly via a virtual COM port or the RS-232 with the app installed.
This can be e.g. the default installed app "Simple Protocol". For the commands that
can be used refer to the document "TWN4 Simple Protocol DocRev11.pdf"
(included in the download package “TWN4 Tools und Dokumente.zip”).
Another possibility is the development and the loading of an own custom app to
customize the behavior of the AT-120 to specific requirements. The programming
of apps is described in chapter Customer-specific App Programming.

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2. LED Indicators
Green Ready for operation
Green/Red flashing Configuration Mode
Orange Acknowledgment for read transponder tag in basic setting
Interface USB-HID-Keyboard
In the basic settings Interface USB-VCOM and RS-232 (only if available), the LED
can be controlled by the application as follows:
LED Function Command
GPIO Output Red LED 0400010101<CR>
GPIO Output Green LED 0400020101<CR>
Red LED ein 040201<CR>
Red LED aus 040301<CR>
Green LED ein 040202<CR>
Green LED aus 040302<CR>
3. Config Button
The Config Button is located behind the small hole next to the USB socket and can
be pressed with an office clip or similar. After pressing the Config Button, the 3
characters 00<CR> (hex code: 0x30, 0x30, 0x0D) are output on the interface

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4. AT-120 Utility
This utility, which is included in the delivery package, is used to configure the AT-
120. After starting up the utility
is shown. After connecting the AT-120 and pressing the Config Button, which is
located behind the small hole next to the USB jack (using a paper clip or similar)
depending on the interface set, the screen for the Interface USB HID- Keyboard,
USB-VCOM or RS-232 is shown.
Interface USB-HID-Keyboard
If Interface USB-HID-Keyboard is selected, the UIDs read from the transponder
tags are output on the USB interface in HID keyboard mode (that is, the data
appear as coming from the keyboard) to the host application.

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Interfaces USB-VCOM and RS-232 (optional)
If Interface USB-VCOM is selected, the host application communicates directly
with the RFID module via the virtual COM interface assigned to the USB port.
If Interface RS-232 is selected, the host application communicates directly with the
RFID module via the RS-232 interface.
For the commands that can be used in this fashion from the host application refer
to the document "TWN4 Simple Protocol DocRev11.pdf".

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AT-120 Configuration Parameter
Parameter Beschreibung
LF-Tags
HF-Tags
Activation of the various tag types. Only the UIDs of the
selected tag type are issued. For the best possible
reading performance, only the tag types should be
activated, that are really needed!
Read Data
If the parameter is activated, data is read from the tag
instead of the UID. The following 3 parameters must be
used to specify which data should be read out.
Segment Segment to be read
Offset Offset in bytes relative to segment start
Legic
Count Number of bytes to be read
Version AT-120 Firmware Version.
Type Transponder Reader Type
Suffix: None With this parameter activated, to the output string no
suffix is added.
Enter With this parameter activated, the output string is
terminated with ENTER.
Tab With this parameter activated, the output string is
terminated with TAB.
Prefix: Add Tag Type When the parameter is activated in the basic setting
Interface USB-HID-Keyboard, the UID is leaded by 2
charactes representing the tag type.
Use Alt-Key ALT key codes are used for output.
Byte Mirror With this parameter activated, the bytes of the output
string are mirrored.
Bit Mirror With this parameter activated, the bits of the output bytes
are mirrored.
Use User Cmd (-1=off) If the standard app "Simple Protocol" has been replaced
by a customer-specific app, in which one or more
customer-specific commands (999x) are implemented, the
command "x" (0 ... 9) can be specified here. This
parameter is disabled with "-1".
Char Delay (ms) Time delay between the individual input characters (in
milliseconds).
Double Timeout (sec) Time window to prevent double capturing (in seconds).
Apply The shown settings are written to the transponder reader.

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Tag Type Character
In the basic setting Interface USB-HID-Keyboard and with enabled option "Input
Type Tag" the UID is preceded the tag type represented by 2 hex characters.
Leading
Characters Tag Designation
LF (125/134 kHz)
40 EM4x02/CASI-
RUSCO
41 HITAG 1/HITAG S
42 HITAG 2
43 EM4x50
44 T55x7
45 ISO FDX-B
46 EM4026
47 HITAGU
48 EM4305
49 HID Prox
4A ISO HDX/TIRIS
4B Cotag
4C ioProx
4D Indala
4E NexWatch
4F AWID
HF (13,56 MHz)
80 ISO14443A/MIFARE
81 ISO14443B
82 ISO15693
83 LEGIC
84 HID iCLASS
85 FeliCa
86 SRX
86 NFC Peer-to-Peer

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5. Customer-specific Applications
For applications that only require scanning the transponder ID, the AT-120 can be
operated with the Interface USB-HID Keyboard setting. On the host side no
programming is necessary. The transponder id appears for any host application as
a keyboard input.
For more complex applications that do not require the transponder ID to scan alone
(for example, if additional data is to be read from the transponder tag or
programmed into the transponder tag), the development of a customer-specific
application is required. Basically there are the following two possibilities (or a
combination of both) for the development of customer-specific applications:
•Customer-specific Host Applications
A customer-specific host application opens up the use of all the functions
provided by the RFID reader module integrated in the AT-120, but assumes
that the AT-120 has to be operated with the Interface USB-VCOM or RS-232
(only if available). The customer-specific host application communicates
directly with the RFID reader module. The Utility Director can be used to test
this functionality.
•Customer-specific App Programming
A customer-specific app is loaded into the AT-120 and replaces respectively
extends the standard app "Simple Protocol". The development of a customer-
specific app offers the advantage that the AT 120 can also be operated with
the setting Interface USB-HID-Keyboard. The prerequisite for this is, however,
that the respective customer-specific app contains the functionality of the
standard app "Simple Protocol". This is provided as source code and serves
as a basis for the development of a customer-specific app.

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Customer-specific Host Application
If a customer-specific host application is to be used for communication with the AT
120, the AT-120 must be configured using the AT-120 utility for the USB-VCOM or
RS-232 interface (only if available).
The "AT-120 Sample.ttl" script, which can be run with Tera Term, is an example of
serial communication with the RFID reader module integrated in the AT-120. Tera
Term is an open source terminal emulator and can be downloaded and installed at
https://www.heise.de/download/product/tera-term-51776/download.
The script „AT-120 Sample.ttl“ performs the following functions in a loop:
- Switch on the LED / green
- Scan the transponder tag
- Output transponder UID
- Switch off the LED / green
- Switch on the LED / red
- Output Beeper
- 2 seconds pause
- Switch off the LED / red
The API of the RFID reader module is documented in "TWN4 API Reference
DocRev13.pdf". If you want to change or further develop the script "AT-120
Sample.ttl", you will find the necessary information in the Tera-Term help.

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Customer-specific App Programming
The built in AT-120 RFID Reader module TWN4 offers the possibility to change the
behavior by loading a custom app.
The following rules must be strictly observed when programming a
customized app:
1. The baud rate of 9600 Bd must not be changed.
2. The functionality of the standard app "Simple Protocol" must be
preserved. That the custom app must be based on the source code of the
standard app "Simple Protocol" and may only be an extension of this
app.
3. The 1st byte of customer-specific commands must be "99", the 2nd byte
may only be defined in the range "90" ... "99".
If the AT-120 is operated with the "Interface USB HID Keyboard" setting,
extensions can be made in a custom app either
by intercepting the scan command
or from the AT-120 firmware with activated parameter "Use User Cmd" by
calling the corresponding user command
be called.
The following steps are necessary for programming an app:
1. If not already done: Download the AT-120 Setup Utility from the AT 120
product page https://www.aitronic.de/de/rfid-radio-frequency-identification/rfid-
lesegeraet-at-120 and install this.
2. If not already done: Download the package "TWN4 Tools and Documents
300b.zip" from the AT-120 product page https://www.aitronic.de/de/rfid-radio-
frequency-identification/rfid-lesegeraet-at-120 at-120 and unpack it into any
directory. This package includes all the tools and documents that are needed
for programming apps. Subdirectory Docs contains the following documents:
- TWN4 System Overview DocRev13.pdf,
- TWN4 Simple Protocol DocRev11.pdf,
- TWN4 API Reference DocRev13.pdf,
- TWN4 Director User Guide DocRev7.pdf,
- TWN4 AppBlaster User Guide DocRev4.pdf,
which contain all the necessary information about the tools and programming
of apps.
3. Configure the AT-120 using the AT-120 Utility for Interface USB-VCOM or
RS-232 (only if available).
4. Open the the app’s source code in subdirectory Apps with any editor
(preferable is an editor appropriate for programming, such as Notepad ++).
The programming is done in the C language).
5. Start the AppBlaster in the root directory.
6. Click "Source Code Project“.

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7. Click in the left field to "Type of USB ("Template")", select the right field
"Firmware NanoModule CDC V3.00 App Standard V2.00" and click "Select
Template“.
8. In the left field "Source Code Modules", click "Select Source" and select the
app’s source code file.
9. Now edit the source code (the API is in "API Reference TWN4 DocRev13.pdf"
documents) and save the changes.
10. By clicking "Create Image" the source code is compiled and a loadable image
is created.
11. Click on "Settings" and select the COM port to which is connected to the
AT-120.
12. Click on "Program Image" to load the image of the app into the TWN4 module.
13. Click on "Settings" and disconnect the corresponding COM port from AT-120.
Now continue with one of the following two example apps on the next page.

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Sample App for Interface USB-VCOM or RS-232
As an example, the app "App_SBC100_Status_Byte_Change.c" from the
subdirectory Apps is used hereinafter. In this app the following functions are
performed in a continuous loop:
Reading and displaying the ID of an ISO15693 transponder tags,
Read the first data block (4 bytes) and display of the first byte,
as "status byte read" in hex code,
entering a new status byte in hex code,
Write the new status bytes in the transponder tag.
After you have completed steps 1 through 12 described in section Customer-
specific App Programming, perform the following steps to test the app:
1. Establish a connection to the AT-120 with any terminal program (for example,
TeraTerm, 9600 Bd, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control). The terminal
is used for communication with the app installed respectively.
2. In order to perform further editing, compiling and loading the app, disconnect
the terminal from the relevant interface and proceed with item 8 in section
Customer-specific App Programming.

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Sample App for Interface USB-HID-Keyboard
For example, the app "App_PRS104_Simple_Protocol_ext_2Byte_dec.c" from the
Apps subdirectory is used. This app contains the functionality of the standard app
"Simple Protocol" and is extended by the following function:
The last 2 bytes (4 hex characters) are output in decimal format from a read
transponder id.
After you have completed steps 1 through 12 described in section Customer-
specific App Programming, perform the following steps to test the app:
1. Configure the AT-120 using the AT-120-Utility for Interface USB-HID-
Keyboard.
2. To test, use any application that receives keyboard input (editor, word
processing, etc.). The last two bytes of a scanned transponder id should now
be output as decimal format in the decimal format.
3. If, contrary to expectations, no USB-HID output occurs, the suspicion is that
the output format does not correspond to the protocol, which is tested by the
AT-120 firmware. In this case, it is recommended to perform the error search
with the setting USB-VCOM or RS-232 (as in the previous example).
4. In order to perform further editing, compiling and loading the app, configure the
AT-120 using the AT-120 Utility for Interface USB-VCOM or RS-232 (only if
available) and proceed with item 8 in section Customer-specific App
Programming.

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6. Firmware Updates
AT-120 Firmware Update
The following steps are necessary for the AT-120 firmware update:
1. If not already done: Download the AT-120 setup utility from the AT 120 product
page https://www.aitronic.de/de/rfid-radio-frequency-identification/rfid-
lesegeraet-at-120 and install it.
2. Start the AT-120 utility and press the Config Button on the AT-120.
3. Perform the menu function "File→Update Firmware", select the relevant
AT-120 firmware image (extension "hex") and wait for the update to complete.
TWN4 App/Firmware Update
The following steps are necessary for the TWN4 app/firmware update:
1. If not already done: Download the AT-120 setup utility from the AT 120 product
page https://www.aitronic.de/de/rfid-radio-frequency-identification/rfid-
lesegeraet-at-120 and install it.
2. If not already done: Download the package „TWN4 Tools and Documents
300b.zip“ from the AT 120 product page https://www.aitronic.de/de/rfid-radio-
frequency-identification/rfid-lesegeraet-at-120 and unzip it into any directory.
3. Configure the AT-120 using the AT-120 utility for Interface USB-VCOM or
RS-232 (optional).
4. Start the AppBlaster.
5. Click "Settings" and select the COM port to which the AT-120 is connected.
6. Click "Select Image" and select the relevant firmware image (Extension "bix").
7. Click "Program Firmware Image" and wait until the firmware image is
programmed.
8. Quit the AppBlaster
9. Use the AT-120 Utility to restore the original setting in the AT-120 under
Interface (for example, if the USB-HID-Keyboard was set before the firmware
update).

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7. Technical Data
Connectors USB-HID (Keyboard), USB-Serial (Virtual COM Port)
Power Supply via USB
Optical and acoustic
Indicators
2-color LED (green: "Ready for Operation", orange:
"Transponder read"), acoustic signal for
"Transponder read"
LF Tags 4100, 4102, 4200, 4050, 4150, 4450, 4550, AWID,
CASI-RUSCO, HITAG 1, HITAG 2, HITAG S, Keri,
Miro, Pyramid, TIRIS/HDX, UNIQUE, FDX-B, Q5,
TITAN, T55x7, ZODIAC
HF Tags ISO14443A: MIFARE Classic 1k & 4k EV1, Mini,
DESFire EV1, Plus S&X, Pro X, SmartMX,
Ultralight, Ultralight EV1, Ultralight C, SLE44R35,
SLE66Rxx (my-d move), LEGIC Advant,
PayPass, NTAG2XX
ISO14443B: Calypso incl. Innovatron radio protocol
14443-B, CEPAS, HID iCLASS,
Moneo, PicoPass, SRI512, SRT512, SRI4K, SRIX4K
ISO15693: EM4x33, EM4x35, HID iCLASS, ICODE
SLI, LEGIC Advant, M24LR16/64,
Tag-it, SRF55Vxx (my-d vicinity), PicoPass
ISO18092 / NFC: NFCIP-1: Active and passive
communication mode, Peer-to-Peer, NFC Forum Tag
Type 1-4, Sony FeliCa
Reading Distance up to 2 cm
Dimensions 80 x 76 x 25 mm
Weight 76 g
Environmental
Conditions
-20º C up to +50º C, relative humidity 95 %
(not condensing)
Operating Systems Windows and Linux

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8. Recycling Orders for old electronic Devices
According to the regulation 2002/95/EC of the European Union a producer of
electronic products has to dispose old devices and accessories put on the market
under his brand after the 13th August 2005 at his own expense. But in face of the
date of purchase we offer to our customers to recycle all their devices they bought
from the aitronic GmbH. We pay the costs of the disposal.
Please do not put old electric devices und accessories in the domestic waste or
dispose it via any other kind of waste management. Just send us your old devices
and accessories to the following address:
aitronic GmbH
Balhorner Feld 10
D-33106 Paderborn
GERMANY / ALLEMAGNE
Please mark your shipment as a delivery of old devices! If you have any questions
do not hesitate to contact us.
fon [phone]
email [e-mail]