Feig Electronic ID ISC.ANT600-DA Installation and operating instructions

APPLICATION-NOTE
final
public (B)
2005-08-29
N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
OBI
D
i-scan
®
ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
Configuring and Tuning an
Antenna Gate from four or six
ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA Antennas

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 2 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
Note
©Copyright 2005 by
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH
Lange Strasse 4
D-35781 Weilburg-Waldhausen
Tel.: [phone]
http://www.feig.de
With the edition of this document, all previous editions become void. Indications made in this manual may be
changed without previous notice.
Copying of this document, and giving it to others and the use or communication of the contents thereof are
forbidden without express authority. Offenders are liable to the payment of damages. All rights are reserved
in the event of the grant of a patent or the registration of a utility model or design.
Composition of the information in this document has been done to the best of our knowledge.
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH does not guarantee the correctness and completeness of the details given in this
manual and may not be held liable for damages ensuing from incorrect or incomplete information. Since,
despite all our efforts, errors may not be completely avoided, we are always grateful for your useful tips.
The instructions given in this manual are based on advantageous boundary conditions.
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH does not give any guarantee promise for perfect function in cross environments.
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH assumes no responsibility for the use of any information contained in this
document and makes no representation that they free of patent infringement. FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH
does not convey any license under its patent rights nor the rights of others.
OBID®and OBID i-scan®are registered trademarks of FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH.
Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 3 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
Contents
1. Properties and intended Application of the Antenna Gate 4
1.1. Project Notes.......................................................................................................................5
1.2. Required Components........................................................................................................7
1.3. Preparing the Installation Location / Metal-free Areas ....................................................8
2. Installation and Wiring 9
2.1. Configuration of the Antenna Gate....................................................................................9
2.2. Notes on Installing and Routing the Antenna Cable......................................................10
3. Tuning the Gate 11
3.1. Setting the Power Splitter.................................................................................................11
3.2. Setting the Multiplexer......................................................................................................14
3.2.1. Configuration of the DIP-Switch...................................................................................14
3.2.2. Jumper Configuration ..................................................................................................15
3.3. Setting the Antennas ........................................................................................................15
3.4. Reader Configuration........................................................................................................16
3.5. Tuning the Antennas.........................................................................................................18
3.6. Checking the Standing Wave Ratio SWR (optional) ......................................................19
4. Starting up and Testing the Gate 20
4.1. Checking the Noise Level.................................................................................................20
4.2. Reading out a Serial Number...........................................................................................22
4.3. Testing the Performance..................................................................................................23
4.3.1. Testing parallel Label Orientation................................................................................23
4.3.2. Testing right angels Label Orientation.........................................................................24
4.4. Setting Buffered Read Mode ............................................................................................25
ANNEX 26
Recommended Equipment and possible Sources.................................................................26

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 4 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
1. Properties and intended Application of the Antenna Gate
The antenna gate described here was designed for reading Smart Labels (transponders) on goods
transported on pallets or conveyor systems. The read window depends on the number of the used
antennas, the required label orientation, the label type used and the size of the label.
The gate consists of antennas of type ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA, an antenna multiplexer
ID ISC.ANT.MUX-A, a power splitter ID ISC.ANT.PS-B and a Reader ID ISC.LR200-B.
Detailed information about the products and installation notes on the individual antennas can be
found in the installation guide ID ISC.DAT, ID ISC.ANT.MUX-A, ID ISC.ANT.PS-B and
ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA or can be acquired in an antenna training course offered by FEIG
ELECTRONIC GmbH.
The installation guides can be found on the OBID i-scan®CD available from
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 5 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
1.1. Project Notes
The antenna configuration described permits detection of labels which are moving in a horizontal
direction through the gate. The gate distance GD depends on the selected label orientation. This
can be parallel to the antennas (c), at right angles to the antennas (d) or a combination of both
orientations, whereby the gate distance GD is the narrowest in the a combination of both orienta-
tions.
The gate height (GH) depends on the antenna overlapping AO, that must not be smaller than
15cm. Different gate heights by different antenna overlappings are shown above:
Table1: Gate Height by different Antenna Overlappings
Antenna Overlapping AO Gate Height GH
4 Antennas 6 Antennas
15cm 1,45m 2,10m
30cm 1,30m 1,80m
Figure 1 shows the capture area as well as the various label orientations.
Figure 1: Capture Area and Label Orientation
4 Antennas 6 Antennas
Note: The gate height (GH) is smaller than the mechanical height of the gate.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 6 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
The following gate distances for the various label orientations are derived from the capture area
shown above:
Table 2: Gate Distances
Label Orientation Gate Distance
parallel to antenna cmax. 1.55 m
at right angles to antenna dmax. 1.10 m
parallel and at right angles to
antenna max. 1.00 m
In order to ensure that the label is captured in the capture area illustrated above, the following
conditions must be met:
•The minimum distance from the lower antennas to the floor must be 25 cm.
•The labels should have at least an ISO card size (46 mm x 75 mm).
•The activation field strength of the labels should be less than or equal to 85 mA/m.
•The distance from label to label should be more than 10 cm.
The distance from label to label can be reduced if the gate distance GD is correspondingly
diminished. This applies especially for distances of less than 5 cm.
•Not more than 16 labels should be located within the capture area of the antenna at one time.
The number of labels can be increased by reducing the gate distance correspondingly and
adjusting the maximum speed accordingly.
•The maximum traverse speed of the labels should not exceed 0.5 – 1 m/s (This depends on
the number of labels, the number of data blocks, the necessary data protocol and the label
type).
•The antenna should have a minimum separation from metal parts of 50 cm.
•No noise inducing electrical devices should be located close enough to the Reader to cause
interference. The difference in the noise levels should be equal to or less than 20 mV.
Note: The entire capture area is larger than the area shown in Figure 1.This means there
are label orientations for which the label can be detected outside the drawn capture
area, so that labels can even be outside the gate. Suitable shielding measures need
to be taken to prevent this.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 7 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
1.2. Required Components
The following are required to construct the gate:
-Qty. 1 ID ISC.LR200-B
-Qty. 1 ID ISC.ANT.MUX-A
-Qty. 1 ID ISC.ANT.PS-B
-Qty. 4/6 ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
-Qty. 2 ID ISC.ANT.CS
-Qty. 1 ID ISC.ANT.SC
-Qty. 3/5 EMC ring core
Supplier: Würth Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG, Best.-Nr. 742 701 4
-Qty. 2 Koaxialcable 18cm with SMA-connectors
The cables on the ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA antennas are approx. 3.5 m long each. The connection
between the power splitter ID ISC.ANT.PS-B and reader ID ISC.LR200-B is made by the 2.9m
cable from the ID ISC.ANT.CS cable set. The power splitter ID ISC.ANT.PS-B and the multiplexer
ID ISC.ANT.MUX-A are connected by the 18 cm cables ID ISC.ANT.SC. This means the reader
needs to be installed near the antennas.
For greater distances between reader and antennas, the ID ISC.ANT.EC extension can be used to
increase the length of the antenna cable and/or the cable between reader and power splitter by
7.20m. This will however result in a slight reduction in performance.
For cable extension the following is required:
-ID ISC.ANT.EC
For startup you will need the service software
ISOStart Version 6.06 or higher and
DATuningTool
on a PC running under Windows. The service software can be found on the OBIDi-scan®CD
available from FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH. Also recommended for checking purposes is an SWR
meter with SMA jacks. For more detailed information, see ANNEX.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 8 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
1.3. Preparing the Installation Location / Metal-free Areas
To ensure flawless operation of the gate all larger metal parts must be removed from the vicinity of
the antennas.
Figure 2: Metal-free zone
side view top view
A minimum distance of 25cm to the floor should in any case be maintained. If the presence of
metal near the antennas cannot be avoided, note the following:
•Minimum distance from antenna to metal 10 cm. Closer than 30 cm will result in strong
reduction of the reader range. Above 50 cm from metal there is virtually no effect.
•The effect of metal parts depends greatly on their size and shape. Thin metal bars affect the
magnetic lines of field less than large surface areas.
•Larger metal surfaces (edge length >50 mm) parallel to the antennas or labels will result in
short circuiting of the magnetic lines of field. This will prevent the label from being read.
•Metal parts beneath a conveyor belt change the orientation of the magnetic lines of field. This
will result in strong reduction of the read range. Horizontally oriented labels will in such cases
be unreadable.
•The metal parts may not form closed loops or circuits. These likewise need to be electrically
separated (opened) at some point.
•The metal parts in the direct vicinity of the antenna must be star grounded using a good HF
connection.
•Since the Reader is contained in a metal housing and the antennas couple to the Reader
through the cable, the Reader should be located at a distance of at least 50 cm from the
antennas.
•The Reader housing may not have an electrical connection to any metal parts in the vicinity of
the antenna.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 9 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
2. Installation and Wiring
2.1. Configuration of the Antenna Gate
The individual components are configured as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Configuration of the antenna gate
The antennas must be connected to the multiplexer as shown in Figure 3. The lower antennas
must be connected to outputs OUT1 and OUT8 respectively, the middle antennas must be con-
nected to outputs OUT2 and OUT7 respectively, etc.
If a SWR meter is used it has to be placed between the reader an the power-splitter (s. Figure 4).
The SWR meter is only used for checking the tuning results and is removed when testing is
finished.
Figure 4: Mounting of the SWR meter
6 x Antenna
ID ISC.ANT800/600-D
A
Reader
ID ISC.LR200-B
Power Splitter
ID ISC.ANT.PS-B
3,5m
(+7,2m)
18cm
12-24VDC
MUX
IN OUT
1
2
7
3
6
4
8
5
Multiplexer
ID ISC.ANT.MUX-A
PS
1
2
LR200
2
,
9m
70cm
PS
LR200
SWR meter
18cm
70cm
2.9m

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 10 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
2.2. Notes on Installing and Routing the Antenna Cable
To suppress possible noise, an EMC ring core having a diameter of 28 mm should be installed in
all antenna and Power Splitter cables (supplier: see ANNEX). The coax cable should be wrapped
tightly through the EMC ring core at least four times. The distance between the Reader connection
and the ring core should be max. 10 cm.
Figure 5: Installing the EMC ring core on the connection cable
Up to a distance of 50 cm the antenna cable should always be routed vertically up from the
antennas. A minimum distance of 50 cm from the antennas should also be observed for the
additional cable routing.
If the antenna cable has to be routed closer to the antenna, a distance of at least 20 cm should still
be observed. Otherwise a performance degradation can be expected.
All antenna cables must have a distance of at least 30 cm from parallel routed, current carrying
cables.
Excess cable should be fastened in a ring ∅= 10 – 15 cm.
If the existing cable is not long enough, the ID ISC.ANT.EC extension can be used to lengthen the
antenna cable by an additional 7.20 m. This will result in a slight loss of sensitivity.
In order to achieve optimum read distances the antenna connection cable should not be shortened
or lengthened.
Note: Please note the instructions in the installation guide ID ISC.ANT600/800-DA.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 11 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
3. Tuning the Gate
3.1. Setting the Power Splitter
How the jumpers are set on the Power Splitter depends on the required label orientation in the
antenna gate. Three orientations are possible
-Label parallel to antenna (Helmholtz orientation, Figure 6 c)
-Label at right angles to antenna (Antihelmholtz orientation, Figure 6 d)
-Label parallel and at right angles to antenna with 90° phase shift
Figure 6: Label orientation
Also involved is the installation direction of the antennas. The antennas can be installed such that
the housing covers point either in the same or in different directions (s. Figure 7).
Figure 7: Mounting direction of the antennas
Housing covers facing same direction Housing covers facing different directions
Note: All antenna pairs have to be installed in the same direction.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 12 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
Make the following settings on the Power Splitter depending on the required label orientation and
mounting direction of the antennas.
Table 3: Jumper settings for labels parallel to antenna
Antenna installation JP1 JP3 JP4 JP5 JP6
Housing covers facing
same direction
Jumper setting A
3-5
4-6
2-4 1-3 2-4 1-2
3-4
Housing covers facing
different directions
Jumper setting B
3-5
4-6
2-4 1-3 2-4 1-3
2-4
Table 4: Jumper settings for labels at right angles to antenna
Antenna installation JP1 JP3 JP4 JP5 JP6
Housing covers facing
same direction
Jumper setting B
3-5
4-6
2-4 1-3 2-4 1-3
2-4
Housing covers facing
different directions
Jumper setting A
3-5
4-6 2-4 1-3 2-4 1-2 3-4
Table 5: Jumper settings for labels parallel and at right angles to antenna
Antenna installation JP1 JP3 JP4 JP5 JP6
both directions
Jumper setting C
3-5
4-6
2-4 1-2 1-2 1-3
2-4

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 13 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
Figure 8: Jumper Settings for Power Splitter
Jumper settings A
Jumper settings B
Jumper settings C

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 14 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
3.2. Setting the Multiplexer
Regardless of the number of antennas (four or six), the configuration of the multiplexer, specifically
the DIP-Switch and the jumper, is performed as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9: Position DIP-Switch and Jumper
Note: For the configuration of the multiplexer see also the installation manual
ID ISC.ANT.MUX (M30201-1de-ID-B).
3.2.1. Configuration of the DIP-Switch
The DIP-Switch should be configured according to Table 6.
Table 6: DIP-Switch Configuration of Multiplexer
DIP-Switch S1
12345678
ON OFF OFF ON ----

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 15 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
3.2.2. Jumper Configuration
The jumpers JP1 through JP8 of the multiplexer should be configured according to Table 7.
Table 7: Configuration JP1-8
Jumper Position
Set jumpers JP11 through JP18.
The configuration of jumpers JP19 and JP20 plays no role for this application.
3.3. Setting the Antennas
The jumpers of the antenna ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA must be configured as shown in Table 8.
Table 8: Jumper Configuration of the Tuning Board
Function Jumper Position
1ΩQ Resistor JP1 closed
2ΩQ Resistor JP2 open
Antenna switch JP3 open
Note: For the configuration of the dynamic antenna tuner see also the installation manual
ID ISC.DAT (M40401-xde-ID-B) OBID i-scan®CD.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 16 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
3.4. Reader Configuration
Prior to beginning the tuning function you must read out the current Reader configuration using the
ISOStart service software and set the operating parameters. Proceed according to the following
sequence:
Table 9: Reading out the current Reader configuration
Step Procedure Note
1Connect the Reader to
the PC see installation guide for Reader
2Install the ISOStart
service software on OBIDi-scan®CD
3Start the ISOStart
software
4Carry out a „Detect“...
5...follow the „New-File
Assistant“...
6...and read out the current
Reader configuration

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 17 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
Table 10: Setting the operating parameters
Step Vorgang Hinweis
1Menü „Configuration“
auswählen
2
Reader Parameters
CFG3: RF-Interface:
Send power (here 8W)
Turn on needed
transponders and
unneeded ones off. (here
ISO 15693)
FSK Transponder set to
„0x02 both antennas“
3„Write“ to set parameters
4
System Parameters
CFG10: General
For tuning, the „ISO-Host
Mode“ must be activated
5„Write“ to set parameters

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 18 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
3.5. Tuning the Antennas
Before start tuning the antennas, the service software ISOStart has to be closed. After that the
antennas are tuned according to the following sequence:
Table 11: Tuning procedure
Step Procedure Note
1Start the software
DATuningTool
2
Select
“Detect Reader...” and
then “Detect” on the
connected interface
(COM-Port 1)
3
Configure the Settings:
Dual Mode, Number of
Gates 3
with Multiplexer
Number of Tuning
Iterations 3
4„Start Tuning“ and wait
until Tuning Procedure
has finished ... ...
5
After every Tuning
Iteration the actual
Tuning Status is
shown in the tree.
After a successful
tuning procedure both
antennas of gate1are
colored green in the
tree
After a successful tuning of the antennas the software DATuningTool has to be closed.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 19 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
Possible error sources when tuning the antennas are listed in Table 12:
Table 12: Error sources when tuning
Error Cause / Solution
Communication with the an-
tenna tuner is not possible.
Error message:
FEFU: Timeout
-no power supply on DAT from the Multiplexer
check the power supply (LED on selected antenna tuner and
multiplexer is flashing)
-cables are not connected correctly
check the cable connections
-RF-power to low
minimum RF-power (CFG3) 2W
Antenna can’t be tuned, i.e.,
values for difference resistance
and/or phase are outside the
tolerance range
-Capacitor presets are incorrect. This will be indicated by the
fact that the extreme values 0 or 127 respectively for
Capacitance 1 and Capacitance 2 were set. The cause may
be a strong detuning of the antennas due to the presence of
metal, etc.
For presetting the antenna tuner ID ISC.DAT see 3.3. Setting
the Antennas and user’s guide for ID ISC.DAT (M40401-xde-
ID-B)
-Coupling of the antennas between each other is too strong.
The coupling may be very strong due to insufficient distance
between the antennas or by the presence of metal or ferrous
material in the field.
Increase the distance between the antennas and/or metal or
remove ferrous materials from the antenna field.
3.6. Checking the Standing Wave Ratio SWR (optional)
Once the antenna has been tuned or the local conditions have changed, the question arises: How
well are the Reader and antennas matched?
A useful tool for assessing the matching of the antenna to the impedance of 50Ωis the SWR
meter. This device measures the ratio between incoming and reflected energy. A SWR value of up
to 1.3:1 is considered a good value.
The cable between the Reader and SWR meter should be either very short (< 20cm) or 7.20 m
(RG58 = λ/2) long.
After checking the SWR the SWR meter and the 18cm connection length between the SWR meter
and the T fitting on the Reader are removed.

OBID i-scan®Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600-DA
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Seite 20 von 26 N50101-0e-ID-B.doc
4. Starting up and Testing the Gate
After installing and tuning the antennas you can check the correct functioning of the gate using the
Reader, the service software and a Smart Label. If an SWR meter was used when tuning the an-
tennas, remove it now.
4.1. Checking the Noise Level
Step Procedure Note
1Fasten a label to one of the
antennas Use adhesive tape for example to attach the label
2Click on “Commands”
button
3
Multiplexer:
[0xDD] Channel Select
Cascade Level: 1
Output Channel Input 1: 1
Output Channel Input 2: 8
4Send Command to Reader
5Click on “Test and
Measurement” button
6
Select the „Noise Level“
function and start by
clicking on the „Start“
button.
7
Nominal noise level values:
Average:
400-750mV
Difference (Max-Min):
< 20mV