Feig Electronic ID ISC.ANT800/600 Quick start guide

APPLICATION-NOTE
final
public
2002-06-04
N11000-2e-ID-B.doc
OBI
D
®
i-scan
ID ISC.ANT800/600
Installation and tuning of a gate antenna
made from four base antennas.
Label reads only with parallel orientation
to the loops

OBID® i-scan Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600
FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH Page 2 of 33 N11000-2e-ID-B.doc
Note
Copyright 2002 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 document 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
document 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 document 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®is registered trademark of FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH.
General information's regarding this document
•The sign ")" indicates extensions or changes of this document compared with the former issue.
•The following figure formats are used:
0...9: for decimal figures
0x00...0xFF: for hexadecimal figures,
b0...1 for binary figures.

OBID® i-scan Application-Note ID ISC.ANT800/600
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Contents
1. Characteristics and 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 10
2.1. Installation instructions....................................................................................................10
2.2. Instructions for installing and routing the antenna connection cable.........................11
3. Tuning the gate 12
3.1. Preparations ......................................................................................................................12
3.2. Tuning the first base antenna ..........................................................................................14
3.2.1. Tuning the base antennas ...........................................................................................15
3.3. Tuning the second, third and fourth antenna.................................................................18
3.4. Fine tuning the two antennas on the gate side ..............................................................19
3.5. Measuring the standing wave ratio (VSWR) ...................................................................23
4. Startup and testing of the gate 24
4.1. Reading out the serial number.........................................................................................24
4.2. Checking the Noise Level.................................................................................................25
4.3. Setting the operating parameters ....................................................................................26
4.4. Testing the performance ...................................................................................................27
4.5. Switching the Reader to Buffered Read Mode ................................................................28
4.6. Regulatory agencies in EU countries and the USA .......................................................29
4.7. Shielding around the antennas........................................................................................30
5. Appendix: Helpful tools for constructing and testing the antennas 31
5.1. Recommended equipment and possible sources: ........................................................32

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1. Characteristics and application of the antenna gate
The antenna gate described here has been designed to read Smart Labels (transponders) on
goods carried on pallets or conveying systems. The read window with a label having a size of 46 x
75 mm (1.8 x 2.95 in). (see technical specifications in section 1.1. ) is a maximum of 1.35 m (53 in)
gate width x 1.5 m (59 in) in height.
This presumes that no large magnetic conducting materials (such as metal) are located in the vi-
cinity of the antenna or label. The minimum separations can be found in section 1.3. .
The gate consists of four base antennas of type ID ISC.ANT800/600-A, three Power Splitters type
ID ISC.ANT.PS-A and a Reader type ID ISC.LR200-A. The Power Splitters ID ISC.ANT.PS-A are
used to connect the four antennas in correct phase and power relationships.
In order to meet the RF regulations and to enlarge the read window, two antennas per gate side
must be arranged in a special mounting configuration with proper phase and power relationship.
For detailed information on the products as well as installation notes on the individual antennas,
see the mounting instructions for ID ISC.SAT.C-A, ID ISC.ANTPS-A and ID ISC.ANT800/600. This
information may also be acquired in an antenna training course offered by FEIG ELECTRONIC
GmbH.
The mounting instructions are also contained on an OBID®i-scan CD-ROM available from FEIG
ELECTRONIC GmbH.

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1.1. Project notes
The antenna configuration described here allows labels to be detected as they pass horizontally
through the gate. The label orientation must be parallel to the antennas. The labels are detected
along a horizontal line of motion in certain areas within the antennas. The precise read area de-
pends on the distance of the label from the floor. Labels close to the floor are read by the front an-
tennas. If the label is attached higher, it is read by the upper two antennas.
The capture area of the antennas has a size indicated in the illustration below.
Note: The overall capture area of the antenna is larger than shown in the illustration. The labels
that are oriented parallel to the antennas can also be detected at greater distances when next to or
outside the antennas.
Therefore no product having a label may be stored in the capture area near the gate antenna.
They must remain more than 0.8 m (32 inches) from the gate. Otherwise the antennas will need to
be shielded to prevent unwanted pickup of extraneous tags around the gate.
Figure 1: Capture area of the antennas
To achieve capture of the labels that are parallel to the loop antennas within the capture area
drawn above, the following conditions must be met:
•The gate width (GD) must be less than 135 cm (53 in.).
•The distance of the lower antennas from the floor must be greater than 25 cm (10 in).
•The labels should be at least ISO card size (46 mm x 75 mm [1.8 x 2.95 in]).
•The activation field strength sensitivity of the labels should less than or equal to 85 mA/m.
Capture area

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•The distance from label to label should be greater than 10 cm (3.9 in). .
The distance from label to label may be reduced if the gate width GD is reduced correspond-
ingly. This applies especially to distances of less than 5 cm (1.9 in).
•No more than 16 labels at a time should be located in the capture area of the antenna. The
number of labels may be increased by correspondingly reducing the gate width GD and ad-
justing the maximum speed accordingly.
•The maximum speed of motion of the label should not exceed 0.5 – 1 m/s (this depends on the
number of labels, the number of data blocks, the required data protocol and the label type).
•The antenna should have a separation of greater than 50 cm (20 in) from metal parts.
•There should be no devices in the vicinity of the Reader that could cause noise interference.
The difference of the noise levels (Umax - Umin) should be less than 20 mV.
•The Reader ID ISC.LR200-B should be set for an RF power of 4 watts. At an RF power of
greater than 4 watts the conditions for approval according to the R&TTE directive are ex-
ceeded.
•When using ISO15963 transponders, the Readers should be adjusted as described in section:
4.6. Regulatory agencies in EU countries and the USA.

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1.2. Required components
The following are required to construct the gate:
•Qty. 1 ID ISC.LR200-A (Reader)
•Qty. 3 ID ISC.ANTPS-A (180-degree, two-way Power Splitter)
•Qty. 4 ID ISC.ANT800/600-A (800 x 600 mm Loop Antenna)
•Qty. 5 EMC- ferrite toroids, available from: Würth Elektronik GmbH & Co.KG, diameter da=28,
B.No.742 701 4.
The cables on the antennas ID ISC.ANT800/600 and on the Power Splitter ID ISC.ANTPS-A are
each 3.5 m (11.5 ft) long. This means the Readers should be installed near the antennas. For
longer distances between Reader and base antenna, the ID ISC.ANT.EC extender can be used to
lengthen the antenna cable to 7.20 m (23.5 ft). This will however result in a slight loss of perform-
ance.
The cable extender also requires
•2 x ID ISC.ANT.EC
Components required for commissioning:
•Qty. 1 ID ISC.SATC-A Automatic Tuning Controller
•Service software ISCStart Version 4.00 or higher on a PC running under MS Windows. The
ISCStart software is contained on the OBID®i-scan CD-ROM available from FEIG
ELECTRONIC GmbH.
•Qty. 1 SWR Meter with SMA sockets or adapter to SMA sockets
•Qty. 1 cable RG 58 C/U approx. 20 – 25 cm long with 2 SMA plugs
•Qty. 1 amber blade screwdriver (Tuning tool for tuning capacitors)
•Qty. 1 50 Ωtermination resistor with SMA male connector
For additional information on these devices, see individual instructions or section 5. !

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1.3. Preparing the installation location / metal-free areas
To ensure flawless operation of the gate, all larger metallic parts must be removed from the vicinity
of the antennas.
Figure 2 Metal-free zone, side view
If the lower antennas are installed directly over the floor, a minimum distance of 25 cm must be
maintained.
Figure 3 Metal-free zone, view from above
50 cm50 cm 50 cm (20 in)
50 cm (20 in)
GD 1.1 m + GD
50 cm (20 in)
50 cm
50 cm
2.50 m (8.2 ft)
2.50 m (8.2 ft)
50 cm (20 in)

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If metal cannot be avoided in the vicinity of the antennas, note the following:
•The minimum separation between metal and the antenna must be 10 cm (3.9 in). At 30 cm (12
in), the read distance will be significantly reduced. At more than 50 cm (20 in) there is virtually
no measurable effect.
•The effect of metal parts depends greatly on their size and shape. Thin metal rods affect the
magnetic field lines less than objects having large surface area.
•Larger metal surfaces (edge length > 50 mm) parallel to the antennas or the labels result in a
short circuit of the magnetic field lines. The result is that the label cannot be read.
•Metal parts beneath the conveyor belt change the path of the magnetic field lines. This results
in significant loss of reading range. Horizontally oriented labels cannot then be read.
•The metal parts are not permitted to form closed loops or circuits. Loops must be isolated at
some point around their perimeter to prevent formation of a closed loop.
•The metal parts in the immediate vicinity of the antenna must be grounded in star fashion using
a good High Frequency connection.
•Since the Reader is contained in a metal housing and the antennas are coupled into the cable
connected to the Reader, the Reader should be located at least 50 cm (20 in) from the anten-
nas.
•The Reader housing should not be permitted to make any electrical connection with any metal
parts located near the antenna.

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2. Installation and wiring
2.1. Installation instructions
The antennas and power splitters on both sides of the gate are installed according to the diagram
below. The power splitters are connected only after calibrating the antennas. Since the Reader is
enclosed in a metal housing and the antennas couple into the Reader cables, the Reader should
be located at a distance of at least 50 cm (20 in) from the antennas. The second side mirrors side
one.
Figure 4 Installation diagram for one gate side including cabling
Two of the four base antennas are installed on one gate side, so that two base antennas always
face each other. All antennas should be installed vertically with the antenna opening/covers facing
down. The two antennas on a gate side must be oriented the same with their antenna open-
ing/covers facing the same way. In addition the antenna openings/covers should be located either
facing out (away from the gate) or in (towards the centre of the gate).
Please note the instructions in the installation guide for the ID ISC.ANT600/800-A/B.

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2.2. Instructions for installing and routing the antenna connection cable
To suppress any possible noise, an EMC toroid core with dia=28 mm should be installed in the
antenna cables for the base antennas and power splitters (vendor: see appendix). Loop the coax
cable at least four times tightly through the toroid. The distance between the Reader connection
and the toroid should be less than 10 cm (3.9 in).
Figure 5: Installing the toroid on the antenna cable
The cables to the power splitters are first routed in place in the vicinity of the antenna. The power
splitter is connected only after tuning the antennas.
The antenna cable should always be routed vertically away from the loop at least 50 cm (20 in).
Also maintain a minimum distance of 50 cm (20 in) from the antennas when routing other cables.
If the antenna cable must be routed closer to the antenna, maintain a distance of at least 20 cm.
(7.8 in) otherwise you will sacrifice performance.
All antenna cables must be kept at least 30 cm (11.8 in) from parallel routed, current carrying ca-
bles.
Excess cable should be wound into a loop having a diameter of ∅= 10 – 15 cm.
If the existing cable is not long enough, it may be extended using an ID ISC.ANT.EC extender for
an additional length of 7.20 m (23.6 ft). Slight loss of sensitivity will result.
To achieve optimum reading distances, the antenna connection cable should not be shortened or
lengthened.
Please note the instructions in the mounting instructions for the ID ISC.ANT600/800-A/B.

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3. Tuning the gate
Before tuning, all antennas must be installed and the cables held down near the antenna.
3.1. Preparations
Step Procedure Note
1Connect the ID ISC.LR200
Reader to the PC through the
RS232 or RS485 port
See Installation Manual ID ISC.LR200
2Install the Demo Software ISC-
Start
Located on the OBID®i-scan CD-ROM
3Run the ISCStart program
4Open the COM port settings
5Check the COM port settings and
confirm by clicking on OK.
6Now open the menu File – New -
Reader
7Select ID ISCLR and click on OK
8Select COM: x [Baud 38400......]

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9Click on Commands
10 Select Baudrate Detec-
tion[0x52] command
11 Click on Send
12 The program tests all possible
baud rates. It stops as soon as
the baud rate set on the Reader
has been detected (default
38400 / 8E1) and confirms with
OK
13 Click on Configuration
14 Select ID ISCLR Configuration.
15 Select destination memory
EEPROM instead of RAM.
16 Click on Reset [0x83] to set the
Reader to the default configura-
tion.
17 Click on Read to load the Reader
configuration into the PC and to
load the ISCStart program.

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3.2. Tuning the first base antenna
To tune the antenna you must first remove the cover over the antenna opening. The recommended
tightening torque of the cover screws when attaching the cover is 0.2 Nm – 0.25 Nm.
Next, connect the first base antenna directly to the Reader. Terminate the second antenna using a
50 Ωtermination resistor.
Begin the tuning procedure with the first base antenna. Next tune the second base antenna. Since
the two neighboring base antennas affect each other mutually, the first base antenna must then be
retuned. The third and fourth antennas are tuned in the same sequence. Tuning begins with An-
tenna 3. Next Antenna 4 is tuned, and then Antenna 3 again.
Figure 6: Configuration for tuning the first base antenna
4 x ID ISC.ANT800/600-A
ID ISC.LR200-A
50 Ωtermination resistor
9 cm
20 cm
25 cm
Antenna 1
Antenna 2
Antenna 3
Antenna 4
SWR - Meter

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3.2.1. Tuning the base antennas
Step Procedure Note
1
Connect the Reader to
the base antenna
through the SWR
Bridge.
See also section 3.5.
Measuring the standing
wave ratio (VSWR
2
Jumpers J1 – J4 and
J6–8 should be checked
and set as necessary.
Jumpers JP6 + JP7 are
left out
Jumper JP3 must be in.
JP1, JP2, JP4, JP6, JP7 and JP8 = out
Rges = 3 Ω
3
Trim capacitors pair
“C2” to maximum ca-
pacitance as shown.
Set trim capacitors pair
C1 to mid capacitance.
JP8
JP4
JP3
JP2
JP1
2
Ω
2 Ω
1 Ω
0,4 Ω
Base antenna
ID ISC
.ANT800/600-
A
SWR / Power Meter
Reader
ID ISC.LR200

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4Click on Commands at
the ISCStart Program
Window
5Select the command
[0x6F] Base Antenna
Tunning] and click on
Send to send all the
settings.
6
Now connect the Static
Antenna Tuning Con-
troller ID ISC.SAT.C-A
to the antenna tuner of
the base antenna and
press the “Start“ key on
the controller.
The tuning process
takes several seconds.
When completed, the
green LED will come on
for 4 seconds.
.
Tuning mode: Is activated by holding down the Start key
greater than two seconds (> 2 sec)
Control mode: Is activated by briefly pressing the Start key
shorter than two seconds (< 2 sec).
7
The controller runs then
automatically turns off
and can then be un-
plugged.
Important:
Do not unplug the controller until the
green LED has gone out!
Now you may begin tuning the second, third and fourth an-
tenna.

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8
If the tuning was not
properly concluded, this
is indicated by the red
LED.
If an error occurs at the
beginning of the tuning
procedure, the LED
flashes for 4 seconds.
If an error occurs during
or at the end of the tun-
ing procedure, the LED
turns on solidly for 4
seconds.
If the battery is low, the
yellow LED turns on
for 4 seconds.
If the red LED flashes for 4 seconds, this indicates there is no
RF power at the antenna.
Possible causes:
•Reader or RF power turned off.
•Cable between Reader and antenna defective.
•The SMA connectors were not properly attached to the
Reader or antennas or are not properly seated on the SMA
sockets.
•The cable is pinched or shorted in the SMA plug.
♦The controller was not properly plugged onto the board.
If the red LED comes on solidly for 4 seconds, the tuning was
not properly finished.
Possible causes:
•Cable between Reader and antenna is defective.
•The SMA connectors were not properly attached to the
Reader or antennas or are not properly seated on the SMA
sockets.
•The cable is pinched or shorted in the SMA plug.
♦Modulation is turned on in the Reader.
♦Antenna Q set too high (resistor settings).
♦The controller was not properly plugged onto the board.
♦Tuner board is defective.
.

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3.3. Tuning the second, third and fourth antenna
To tune the second antenna, connect it to the Reader through the SWR meter. Terminate the end
of the antenna cable on the first antenna with a 50 Ωresistor. Use this configuration to tune as
described in section 3.2.1. .
Since adjacent antennas will have a mutual coupling effect on each other depending on their
spacing, the first base antenna should once again be retuned.
Figure 7: Configuration for tuning the second base antenna
The complete procedure for Antennas 1..4 is summarized in the following:
Step Task Reader – Antenna con-
nection
Termination resis-
tor
1Tune Antenna 1 as per section 3.2.1. Reader -> first antenna second antenna
2Tune Antenna 2 as per section 3.2.1. Reader -> second antenna first antenna
3Tune Antenna 1 as per section 3.2.1. Reader -> first antenna second antenna
4Tune Antenna 3 as per section 3.2.1. Reader -> third antenna fourth antenna
5Tune Antenna 4 as per section 3.2.1. Reader -> fourth antenna third antenna
6Tune Antenna 3 as per section 3.2.1. Reader -> third antenna fourth antenna
4 x ID ISC.ANT800/600-A
ID ISC.LR200-A
50 Ωtermination resistor
9 cm
20 cm
25 cm
Antenna 1
Antenna 2
Antenna 3
Antenna 4
SWR - Meter

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3.4. Fine tuning the two antennas on the gate side
Fine tuning is performed individually for each gate side. For this the two antennas on one side
(Antenna 1 and 2 or 3 and 4) are connected with the Power Splitter and to the Reader through the
SWR meter.
Caution! Note the current direction in the antennas. Opposing antennas must have the same
current direction. This means Antenna 1 and 3 must be connected to terminal X1 on the Power
Splitter. Antenna 2 and 4 are connected to terminal X2 on the Power Splitter.
Figure 8: Configuration for fine tuning the first gate side
Since the tuning point of the antennas will deviate somewhat from the configuration during tuning
due to the mutual interference caused by magnetic coupling, the tuning point will need to be read-
justed slightly.
This can be accomplished with the help of an SWR meter and the four blue trim capacitors C1 and
C2 on the tuner boards.
4 x ID ISC.ANT800/600-A
ID ISC.LR200-A
Power Splitter
9 cm
20 cm
25 cm
Antenna 1
Antenna 2
Antenna 3
Antenna 4
SWR - Meter
3,6 m
(11.8 ft)
3,6 m
(11.8 ft)
20 cm
(7.9 in)
Ground
Cable len
g
ths

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Step Procedure Note
1Connect the ID ISC.LR200 Reader
to the first (or second) gate side.
Figure 8:
2Turn the leftmost of the two trim
capacitors C2 on Antenna 1 (3)
approx. ¼ - ½ turn counter-
clockwise.
The SWR must drop!
Always tune the SWR to the
smallest possible value.
3Turn the leftmost of the two trim
capacitors C2 on Antenna 2 (4)
approx. ¼ turn counter-clockwise.
The SWR must drop !
Tune the SWR to the smallest
possible value.
4Turn the leftmost trim capacitor C1
on antenna 1 (3) slowly counter-
clockwise.
The SWR must drop! Otherwise
turn the trim capacitor slowly
clockwise.
Continue tuning until the SWR
reading no longer drops.
5Turn the left trim capacitor C1 on
antenna 2 (4) slowly counter-
clockwise.
The SWR must drop! Otherwise
turn the trim capacitor slowly
clockwise. Continue tuning until
the SWR reading no longer drops.