TECHNICAL INFORMATION MANUAL Revision 0.
Visit the skID R1280I web page, you will find the latest revision of data sheets, manuals, certifications, technical drawings, software and firmware. All you need to start using your reader in a few clicks! Scope of Manual The goal of this manual is to provide the basic information to work with the skID R1280I Mini Sled RAIN RFID Reader. Change Document Record Date 18 Jan 21 22 Feb 21 Revision 0.0 0.
Preliminary Product Information This document contains information for a new product. CAEN RFID reserves the right to modify this product without notice. “Preliminary” product information describes products that are ready for production, but for which full characterization data is not yet available. CAEN RFID believes that the information contained in this document is accurate and reliable.
Index Scope of Manua l................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Change Document Record ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Reference Doc ument ..........................................................................................................................................
9 Battery Life....................................................................................................................................................................... 81 REGULATO RY COMPLIANCE ...................................................................................................................................... 83 FCC Compliance ......................................................................................................................................................
1 INTRODUCTION Product Description The skID (Model R1280IE, R1280IU) is a portable RAIN RFID reader of the easy2read© product line with integrated antenna for medium range applications. The reader hosts an internal rechargeable battery and can retrieve data from tags read by RFID interface both in wired mode, using a USB cable, or in wireless mode through the embedded Bluetooth® module. USB and Bluetooth® interfaces are mutually exclusive, when the USB is enabled the Bluetooth module is in power down mode.
Front panel The skID R1280I front panel houses the following buttons (see figure below): Fig. 1.3: Front Panel No. Name 1 Trigger button 2 Power button 3 Antenna Description Inventory mode: press to perform an inventory cycle (hold down the button to repeat inventory cycles) Press the button to switch on the reader, press for at least 2 seconds to switch it off Y Antenna Position, do not cover with your hand! Tab. 1.
Bottom panel Fig. 1.4: Bottom Panel No. 1 Name USB 2 Power LED 3 Link LED Description USB port type C Indicates the reader status and battery level (see § Tab. 1.3: Power LED Status Table page 8) Indicates the Bluetooth and USB/charger connection (see § Tab. 1.4: Bluetooth and USB/charger LED status table page 8) Tab. 1.
Back panel Fig. 1.5: Back Panel No. 1 2 3 Description Area where to apply the 3M Dual Lock TM Position of the internal magnets that couple with those supplied for direct application on the phone cover Area where to apply the SP Tab. 1.5: Back Panel Charging The skID R1280I is supplied with an USB cable while the power supply for charging is an optional accessory (see § Accessories page 11). When you charge the reader, the link LED (see § Tab. 1.
Accessories The following accessories are supplied with the skID R1280I reader: No. 1 USB cable USB Type C No. 1 3M Dual Lock TM No. 1 SP ConnectTM No. 2 magnets Fig. 1.6: Supplied Accessories For the skID R1280I optional accessories see § Ordering Options page 11: Power Supply Fig. 1.
Ordering Options The reader is available in ETSI or FCC version: Reader Accessories Code WR1280IXUSAA WR1280IXEUAA WALIM0000004 Description R1280I - skID - RAIN RFID Mini Sled Reader FCC R1280I - skID - RAIN RFID Mini Sled Reader ETSI AC-DC power supply 5V 1A INTRODUCTION - skID Technical Information Manual 11
2 CONFIGURATION MENU Introduction The skID R1280I configuration can be performed via USB using the R1280I Configuration Tool. In order to access the configuration menu follow the steps described below: 1. Download from the skID R1280I web page the latest version of the skID R1280I Configuration Tool. 2. With the reader switched off, connect the R1280I skID reader to a PC using the provided USB cable. 3. Press simultaneously the trigger and the power button for about two seconds, until you hear a beep.
6. Select the right COM port number from the RS232 Port combo box (COM15 in the example): 7. Click on Connect. If the connection is not successful, the message “connection error” appears.
RFID Access the configuration menu as explained in the Introduction paragraph page 12. Use this section in order to set the desired profile and then the related configuration options. Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar). On the main application window click on File Disconnect. Power off the reader, disconnect the USB cable and then power on the reader, the new settings are active.
RF Power Up (mW) Through the RF Power Up you can set the power level emitted by the reader. The RF Power Up is an editable field and the default value is 500 mW. Accepted values are included in the range 0÷500. The RF Power Up is expressed in mW Note that, when the reader is configured in the EASY2READ profile, to set the RF Power Up you can also use the CAEN RFID Easy Controller Application or the SetPower function of the SDK (Software Development Kit) library.
Note that, when the reader is configured in the EASY2READ profile, to set the EPCC1G2 Parameters you can also use the CAEN RFID Easy Controller Application or the SDK (Software Development Kit) library. Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar). On the main application window click on File Disconnect. Power off the reader, disconnect the USB cable and then power on the reader, the new settings are active.
HID Parameters Choosing the HID profile, the HID parameters available are: Keyboard: The Keyboard options are the following: o QWERTY: standard keyboard. o AZERTY: French keyboard By default the Keyboard is set to “QWERTY”. You can change the default value using the drop-down menu. FORMAT: In the HID profile you can set different EPC formats: o HEX: The EPC code is represented as a hexadecimal number. For example, an EPC Code of 96 bits long corresponds to 24 hexadecimal digits (96/4=24).
Inter Line Delay (ms): The Inter Line Delay is the delay between printing one last character of a line and the first character of the next line. It is expressed in ms. The default value is 0. If set to 0, the reader does not introduce delay: the only delay is that of the BT of the device in use.
Using the second part of the Tab. 2.1: EPC Code parameters page 18, the same parameters (Prefix, Suffix) can be set for individual memory banks (RESERVED, EPC, TID and USER). Addition parameters are: ADDRESS: The address to start counting the “length” value. By default the address string is empty. LENGTH: number of characters of the EPC code to be display ed counting from the “address”. If not set, all the EPC code is displayed. By default the length string is empty.
SYSTEM Bluetooth and USB communication Access the configuration menu as explained in the Introduction paragraph page 12. Use this section in order to set the communication interface: COMM INTERFACE: in the COMM INTERFACE box you can set two different communication interface: o USB o Bluetooth (BT or BLE, depending on the firmware uploaded into the reader's Bluetooth module) Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar).
Bluetooth Low Energy Options By setting the COMM INTERFACE to Bluetooth, the window Bluetooth Low Energy Options is enabled. Y Warning: To enable the Bluetooth Low Energy it is necessary to set the Bluetooth option in the COMM INTERFACE and to upload the BLE firmware into the reader's Bluetooth module (see § BT-BLE switching page 72) In this section you can set the BLE communication parameters for iOS devices.
Buzzer Use this section in order to set the buzzer parameters: Power Up: beep at the power on of the reader Power Down: beep at the power off of the reader Inventory: beep at the identification of a tag o Success (ms): length of tone expressed in ms in case of success o Failure (ms): length of tone expressed in ms in case of failure By default, all the Buzzer options are disabled.
3 EASY2READ PROFILE Introduction By default, the reader profile is set to EASY2READ. With the EASY2READ profile active you will use the CAEN RFID easy2read communication protocol and the reader can be controlled using the CAEN RFID Easy Controller Application or the SDK (Software Development Kit) library. The connection to the skID reader using the EASY2READ profile is possible via Bluetooth or USB port.
5. On the main application window click on File -> Connect; the connection dialog box will appear. 6.
7. Click on Connect. If the connection is not successful, the message “connection error” appears.
8. You can change the profile value using the drop-down menu: Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar). On the main application window click on File Disconnect. Power off the reader, disconnect the USB cable and then power on the reader, the new settings are active.
EASY2READ profile options It is possible to configure various options using the EASY2READ profile: For details on the EASY2READ configuration options, refer to § EASY2READ paragraph page 16.
Android devices Bluetooth Communication Setup using the Easy Controller for Android Follow the steps below to connect your Android device to the skID reader using the BT connection and the Easy Controller App. All the images below were generated using a Samsung S7 model device. 1.
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6. Select the skID R1280I reader from the list of Bluetooth devices available (in this example the skID with serial number 20400008): 7. Once the connection is established the Bluetooth blue light turns on.
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Windows PCs Bluetooth Communication Setup Follow the steps below to connect your Windows PC to the skID reader using the BT connection and the Easy Controller Application. All the images below were generated using the Windows 10 Operating System. 1.
2. In your Windows Pc go to Settings Devices. 3. Click on Bluetooth & other devices Add Bluetooth or other device: 4.
5. Select the skID R1280I reader (in this example the skID with serial number 20400011): 6. The message on the screen “Your device is ready to go!” informs you that the connection is established and the Bluetooth blue light of the reader turns on.
Easy Controller for Windows via Bluetooth connection Once the Bluetooth connection is established, a virtual COM port is created on the host PC. This COM port is used to connect to the reader with the CAEN RFID Easy Controller application. Follow the steps below to connect the skID reader using the Easy Controller for Windows via Bluetooth: 1. Connect the skID reader to your PC using the Bluetooth connection as explained in previous paragraph (§ Bluetooth Communication Setup page 35). 2.
4. Look for the COM port in the Bluetooth Settings (COM 13 in the example below): 5. Launch the CAEN RFID Easy Controller application. 6. On the main application window click on File → Connect; the connection dialog box will appear.
7. Select RS232 from the Connection Type combo box and the right COM port number from the RS232 Port combo box (COM13 in this example): 8. Click on Connect. 9. To verify if the connection with the reader has been established, check the green dot on the bottom left side of the sidebar.
10. Place tags in front of the reader and click on Start Inventory to see the tag information displayed on the main window: For more information on the CAEN RFID Easy Controller for Windows application usage, please refer to the relevant user manual: you can download it from the skID R1280I web page, Downloads section or in the Manual and Documents web area.
USB Communication Setup The skID R1280I reader can be connected to a PC using the provided USB cable and it is detected by the PC as an emulated serial port. Follow the steps below to connect your Windows PC to the skID reader using the USB connection and the Easy Controller Application. All the images below were generated using the Windows 10 Operating System. 1.
Easy Controller for Windows via USB connection Once the USB connection is established, a virtual COM port is created on the host PC. This COM port is used to connect to the reader with the CAEN RFID Easy Controller application. Follow the steps below to connect the skID reader using the Easy Controller for Windows via USB: 1. Download from the CAEN RFID web site the latest version of the CAEN RFID Easy Controller for Windows software and install it. 2. In your Windows Pc go to Settings System.
6. Select RS232 from the Connection Type combo box and the right COM port number from the RS232 Port combo box (COM12 in this example): 7. Click on Connect. 8. To verify if the connection with the reader has been established, check the green dot on the bottom left side of the sidebar.
9. Place tags in front of the reader and click on Start Inventory to see the tag information displayed on the main window: For more information on the CAEN RFID Easy Controller for Windows application usage, please refer to the relevant user manual: you can download it from the skID R1280I web page, Downloads section or in the Manual and Documents web area.
iOS devices Bluetooth BLE Communication Setup Y Warning: Note that in the EASY2READ profile, the BLE connection between your iOS device and the skID reader is made directly through the Easy Controller app. Follow the steps below to connect your iOS device to the skID reader using the BLE connection and the Easy Controller App. All the images below were generated using an Apple iphone XR model. 1.
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4. Click on Menu: Connect.
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6. The available devices are shown, click on the skID R1280I reader (in this example skID s.n.
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8. Once the connection is established, the Bluetooth blue light on the skID R1280I reader turns on and y ou can start using your reader. 9.
10. Click on icon to start the inventory.
4 HID PROFILE Introduction Choosing the HID profile option you select the keyboard emulation protocol. The connection to the skID Reader using the HID profile is possible via Bluetooth or USB port. In the following table it is shown the compatibility between the HID profile and BT/BLE/USB connection for different Operating Systems (Android, PC and iOS): ANDROID devices HID BT BLE ۷ ۷ USB WINDOWS PC BT ۷ BLE USB iOS devices BT BLE USB ۷ Tab. 4.
HID PROFILE - skID Technical Information Manual 55
5. On the main application window click on File -> Connect; the connection dialog box will appear. 6. Select the right COM port number from the RS232 Port combo box (COM15 in the example): 7. Click on Connect. If the connection is not successful, the message “connection error” appears.
8. You can change the profile value using the drop-down menu: Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar). On the main application window click on File Disconnect. Power off the reader, disconnect the USB cable and then power on the reader, the new settings are active.
HID profile options It is possible to configure various options using the HID profile: For details on the EASY2READ configuration options, refer to § HID Parameters paragraph page 17.
Android devices Bluetooth Communication Setup Follow the steps below to connect your Android device to the skID reader using the BT or BLE connection. All the images below were generated using a Samsung S7 model device. 1.
2. On your Android device, go to Setting and enable the Bluetooth.
3. Click on the skID R1280I reader(in this example the skID with serial number 20400008), confirm the Bluetooth pairing and wait until the pairing is complete: 4. Once the connection is established the Bluetooth blue light on the skID R1280I reader turns on.
5. Launch a text editing App (or any other App accepting keyboard input). 6. Start an inventory cycle by pressing the trigger button. On the text editing App window you will see the EPCs of the tags: Note that, when configured in HID profile and paired to a device, the skID R1280I reader will automatically reconnect to the same device every time the Bluetooth link is active ( skID R1280I switched ON and Bluetooth activated on the host).
Windows PCs Bluetooth Communication Setup Follow the steps below to connect your Windows PC to the skID reader using the BT connection. All the images below were generated using the Windows 10 Operating System. 1. Follow the instructions given in paragraph § Bluetooth and USB communication page 20 to select the Bluetooth communication interface using the skID R1280I Configuration Tool: Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar).
2. In your Windows Pc go to Settings Devices. 3. Click on Bluetooth & other devices Add Bluetooth or other device: 1.
2. Select the skID R1280I reader (in this example the skID with serial number 20400011): 3. The message on the screen “Your device is ready to go!” informs you that the connection is established and the Bluetooth blue light of the reader turns on.
4. Once the connection is established, the Bluetooth blue light on the skID R1280I reader turns on. 5. Launch a text editing App (or any other App accepting keyboard input). 7. Start an inventory cycle by pressing the trigger button.
iOS devices Bluetooth BLE Communication Setup Follow the steps below to connect your iOS device to the skID reader using the BLE connection. All the images below were generated using an Apple iphone XR model. 1. Follow the instructions given in paragraph § Bluetooth and USB communication page 20 to select the Bluetooth communication interface using the skID R1280I Configuration Tool: Y Warning: To save the changes click on the SAVE button (check the green dot on the bottom right side of the sidebar).
2. On your iOS device, go to Setting and enable the Bluetooth. 3.
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5. Once the connection is established, the Bluetooth blue light on the skID R1280I reader turns on. 6. Launch a text editing App (or any other App accepting keyboard input).
7. Start an inventory cycle by pressing the trigger button.
5 BT-BLE SWITCHING In the following table it is shown the compatibility between the skID R1280I reader profiles and BT/BLE/USB connection for different Operating Systems (Android, PC and iOS): Profile ANDROID devices Profile BT EASY2READ HID BLE ۷ ۷ USB WINDOWS PC BT ۷ ۷ ۷ BLE iOS devices USB ۷ BT BLE USB ۷ ۷ Tab. 5.
Switching the reader from BT to BLE Follow the instructions below to load the Bluetooth BLE firmware into the Bluetooth module This step is required for the communication with iOS devices. Note that when BLE is available, Bluetooth Classic profile is not available and vice-versa. 1. Power off the skID R1280I reader 2. Attach an USB cable to the reader and connect it to a Windows PC 3. Hold down the trigger button, power on the reader and release both power and trigger buttons when the reader beeps.
Switching the reader from BLE to BT Follow the instructions below to load the Bluetooth BT firmware into the Bluetooth module Note that when Bluetooth Classic is available, BLE profile is not available and vice-versa. 8. Power off the skID R1280I reader 9. Attach an USB cable to the reader and connect it to a Windows PC 10. Hold down the trigger button, power on the reader and release both power and trigger buttons when the reader beeps. The communication LED should turn green. 11.
6 RESET THE READER To reset the reader, press the power and the trigger buttons (see § Fig. 1.4: Bottom Panel page 8) simultaneously for about five seconds and then release the buttons. The reader restarts by itself. Y Warning: Note that the reader SHALL NOT be connected to the USB port or to the battery charger during the reset, otherwise the reader enters in the firmware upgrade state.
7 FIRMWARE UPGRADE The skID R1280I firmware upgrade can be performed via USB using the skID R1280I Firmware Upgrade Tool, available for free at the skID R1280I web page. In order to upgrade the firmware follow the steps described below: 1. With the reader switched off, connect the R1280I skID reader to a PC using the provided USB cable. 2. Press simultaneously release them. 3. Open the skID R1280I Firmware Upgrade Tool. 4. Click on Next button: 5.
6. Select the FW image file by clicking on the “Browse” button: 7. Click on the “Upgrade Firmware” button and wait for the upgrade process to be completed. 8. At the end of procedure, if the upgrade has been successfully performed, you will see the messa ges reported in the image below: 9. Power off the reader, disconnect the USB cable and then power on the reader again: the reader is ready for normal operation.
8 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Technical Specifications Table Frequency Range RF Power Number of Channels Standard Compliance Antenna Gain Antenna Polarization Read Range USB Interface Bluetooth Interface User Interface Battery Type Battery Life Battery Charging Time IP Rating Dimensions Length of USB cable Operating Temperature Weight 865.600÷867.600 MHz (ETSI EN 302 208 V3.1.1) (Mod. WR1280IXEUAA) 902÷928 MHz (FCC part 15.247) (Mod. WR1280IXUSAA) Configurable from 1dBm ERP to 28dBm ERP (Mod.
Technical Drawings The following drawings show the R1280I skID from different points of view. All dimensions are in millimeters. Fig. 8.
Fig. 8.2: skID R1280I Technical Drawings – Front panel view Fig. 8.3: skID R1280I Technical Drawings – Back panel view Fig. 8.
Battery Life The following tables show the values of the battery life of the SKID R1280I reader in three operating states: No. Status 1 Power down 2 Stand by 3 Connected Property Not discoverable by BT Not indication status battery Discoverable by BT Indication status battery Connected BT Indication status battery Battery Life 50 days 3,5 days 24 hours Tab. 8.
2. Moderate Use Scenario C: Incoming goods in stock Configuration BT Always Connected Power 500mW Q default No vibration No sound Reading mode Continuous inventory of 10 seconds every 3 minutes for 8 hours Target Box of 30 tags Approx tag reads 4800 Battery consumption 65,00% Tab. 8.
9 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE FCC Compliance This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
