Avery Dennison RFID - Manual (Page 4)

HowToRFID
Revision: 13 Date: 31 August 2009
Page 4 of 53
Content
1 Summary of supported RFID features...................................................................................................6
1.1 RFID enabled systems (machines)...........................................................................................6
1.2 UHF Technology .......................................................................................................................6
1.3 HF Technology..........................................................................................................................8
2 RFID in a printer ....................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................8
2.2 Supported Technologies ...........................................................................................................8
2.3 Hardware prerequisites .............................................................................................................9
2.4 Processing of RFID tags in the printer ....................................................................................10
2.4.1 General................................................................................................................................10
2.4.2 Mechanical specifications / restrictions ...............................................................................11
2.4.3 Inlay position / Tag antenna coupling..................................................................................12
2.4.4 Using pre qualified supplies ................................................................................................14
2.4.5 Finding and defining the optimum coupling position (the “Hotspot”)...................................14
2.4.6 Hotspot-/Profile test.............................................................................................................15
2.4.7 Processing failures (errors) – Invalidating labels ................................................................17
2.4.8 Processing failures (errors) – Bad tag signaling .................................................................18
2.4.9 Statistics ..............................................................................................................................18
2.5 Using a cutter ..........................................................................................................................19
3 Prepare the printer...............................................................................................................................20
3.1 Configuration...........................................................................................................................20
3.1.1 Activating the RFID-option ..................................................................................................20
3.1.2 Material depending RFID parameters .................................................................................20
3.1.3 Parameters for error handling .............................................................................................22
3.1.4 Chip protection ....................................................................................................................23
3.1.5 Recommendations for web / material handling ...................................................................23
3.2 Additional support functions....................................................................................................24
3.2.1 Functions for testing purpose ..............................................................................................24
3.2.2 For information ....................................................................................................................24
3.3 AWID RFID module firmware update......................................................................................25
3.3.1 Update procedure................................................................................................................25
3.3.2 Dependencies .....................................................................................................................26
4 RFID Transponder / tags / inlays.........................................................................................................28
4.1 Memory layout (data fields) of RFID Tags ..............................................................................28
4.1.1 HF Technology ....................................................................................................................28
4.1.2 UHF Technology (EPC tags)...............................................................................................28
4.2 Inlay qualification.....................................................................................................................30
4.2.1 The inlay qualification process ............................................................................................30
4.2.2 RFID Label Design & Printer Setup Guide + RFID Suppy Specifications...........................31
4.2.3 Terms used in the inlay specifications and related documents...........................................31
4.2.4 Printer specific dimensions and restrictions ........................................................................32
5 Reading and writing RFID data using EasyPlug .................................................................................33
5.1 Design an EASYPLUG job......................................................................................................33
5.1.1 The Basics...........................................................................................................................33
5.1.2 Concepts of data handling...................................................................................................33
5.1.3 Operation / EasyPlug command matrix...............................................................................33
5.2 Legacy EasyPlug commands..................................................................................................34
5.2.1 Read and Write operations..................................................................................................34
5.2.2 Other RFID operations ........................................................................................................35
5.3 Commands using the variable data handling mechanism ......................................................35
5.3.1 Definition of variables and data manipulation .....................................................................35
5.3.2 Data coding schemes / coding scheme conversion ............................................................35
5.3.3 Functions .............................................................................................................................36
5.3.4 Read and Write operations..................................................................................................37
5.3.5 Sending data (read from tag) to an interface ......................................................................39
6 Applications / Examples ......................................................................................................................42