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3 - 10 Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide

Battery Depletion Impact

The following graph illustrates the impact of battery depletion. It defines the maximum RFID output power that the 
Workabout Pro4 platform can handle in normal temperature operating mode (+0°C to +40°C). Due to Li-Ion 
chemistry, as the battery charge level goes down, the percentage of available current decreases.

Figure 3-14    

Battery Depletion Graph

NOTE

As indicated in the graph above, RFID cannot operate below 20% battery capacity. Users must charge 
the battery or replace it to continue RFID operation.

Summary of Contents for WA9901

Page 1: ...UHF Linear WA9901 WA9902 UHF Circular WA9903 WA9904 WORKABOUT PRO4 RFID MOBILE COMPUTER INTEGRATOR GUIDE ...

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Page 3: ...WORKABOUT PRO4 RFID MOBILE COMPUTER INTEGRATOR GUIDE MN001066A02 Rev A April 2015 ...

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Page 5: ...ram or use a licensed program in a network without written permission from us The user agrees to maintain our copyright notice on the licensed programs delivered hereunder and to include the same on any authorized copies it makes in whole or in part The user agrees not to decompile disassemble decode or reverse engineer any licensed program delivered to the user or any portion thereof We reserve t...

Page 6: ...iv Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide Revision History Changes to the original manual are listed below Change Date Description 02 Rev A 04 2015 Zebra rebrand ...

Page 7: ...ents and Software ix Service Information ix Chapter 1 Getting Started Introduction 1 1 RFID Technology Overview 1 1 RFID Components 1 2 Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer 1 3 Reading Tags 1 4 Chapter 2 Updating the RFID Firmware Introduction 2 1 Updating the RFID Firmware 2 1 Chapter 3 MobileRFID Functionality Introduction 3 1 MobileRFID Icons 3 2 MobileRFID Menu 3 3 Configure Region 3 4 ...

Page 8: ...4 4 Tag Storage Settings 4 5 Antenna 4 6 RF Mode 4 7 Singulation 4 8 Power On Off Radio 4 9 Reset to Factory Default 4 9 Operations Menu Options 4 10 Antenna Info 4 10 Filter 4 11 Access 4 13 Triggers 4 17 Management Menu Options 4 22 Help Menu 4 22 Exit 4 22 Chapter 5 Tag Locator Introduction 5 1 Using Tag Locator 5 2 Locating Tags Using a csv File 5 3 Chapter 6 Troubleshooting Introduction 6 1 T...

Page 9: ...Hand held 6 5 and CE 6 0 512 MB RAM 4GB Flash Alphanumeric keypad long models QWERTY or numeric short models Color display WLAN 802 11 a b g n radio Bluetooth Optional WWAN Radio Optional GPS Optional Scanner Imager Camera This guide covers the following options NOTE Screens and windows pictured in this guide are samples and may differ from actual screens Model Number Country Support Power Antenna...

Page 10: ...ocedures Appendix A Technical Specifications includes the technical specifications for the reader Appendix B RFID APIs provides a reference for information on supported RFID APIs Notational Conventions The following conventions are used in this document Mobile computer or reader refers to the Workabout Pro4 RFID mobile computer Italics are used to highlight the following Chapters and sections in t...

Page 11: ...or the latest version of guides go to http www zebra com support Service Information If you have a problem with your equipment contact Zebra support for your region Contact information is available at http www zebra com support When contacting support please have the following information available Serial number of the unit Model number or product name Software type and version number Zebra respon...

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Page 13: ...a may be pre encoded or can be encoded in the field The tags come in a variety of shapes and sizes To read a tag the mobile computer sends out radio frequency waves using its integrated antenna This RF field powers and charges the tags which are tuned to receive radio waves The tags use this power to modulate the carrier signal The reader interprets the modulated signal and converts the data to a ...

Page 14: ...zes tags often called transponders receive and respond to data requests Tags require power to send data There are several categories of tags based on the protocol they support read write memory and power options Active RFID tags are powered by internal light weight batteries and also use these batteries to broadcast radio waves to the reader Semi passive RFID tags are also powered by internal ligh...

Page 15: ... kill lock block write block erase and permalock functionality Alphanumeric keypad long models QWERTY or numeric short models Color display Orientation insensitive integrated external antenna Windows Embedded Hand held 6 5 and CE 6 0 WLAN 802 11 a b g n wireless connectivity Application specific setup for ease of installation Low Level Reader Protocol LLRP Sample application and support for custom...

Page 16: ... Application directory and select RFID3Sample6 exe See Chapter 4 RFID Sample Application 3 Aim the mobile computer at the tag oriented horizontally or vertically depending on the tag orientation The distance between the tag and the antenna is the approximate read range 4 Press the trigger within the application to interrogate all RFID tags within the radio frequency RF field of view and capture da...

Page 17: ...ists contact information to assist you with RFID Firmware updates Updating the RFID Firmware The RFID_FLASH utility used to update the RFID firmware is no longer provided For related issues contact Zebra support https portal zebra com Support US EN WT mc_id support ...

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Page 19: ...uction MobileRFID is an RFID server application that runs in the background on the mobile computer The MobileRFID icon appears in the system tray This chapter includes information on using and configuring MobileRFID Figure 3 1 MobileRFID Icon ...

Page 20: ... Icons The MobileRFID icon indicates RFID radio status as described in Table 3 1 Table 3 1 MobileRFID Icon Indicators Icon Indication RFID running radio on RFID running radio off not enough power RFID stopped radio not found battery critical stopped from user interface ...

Page 21: ...ndows default home screen tap the RFID panel then tap the Settings button Figure 3 2 MobileRFID Home Window and Settings Window If not using RFID as the Windows default home screen tap the MobileRFID icon in the system tray A menu appears Figure 3 3 MobileRFID Icon Menu ...

Page 22: ...e Configure Region Upon Startup After upgrading the mobile computer the following window appears on startup Figure 3 4 Country Not Set Window 1 Tap OK When no country is selected the Region Configuration window appears Figure 3 5 Region Configuration Window ...

Page 23: ...n standard as allowed by the regulatory standards of that country region from the drop down menus The following warning message appears Figure 3 6 Region Selection Warning Message 3 Tap Yes to confirm A window appears indicating success Figure 3 7 Region Selection Success Window ...

Page 24: ...ke the MobileRFID menu then tap Configure Region 2 In the Region Configuration window select a region from the Region of Operation drop down menu Figure 3 8 Region Configuration Window 3 Tap Yes on the warning window that appears A confirmation window appears upon successful completion Figure 3 9 Region Selection Success Window 4 Tap OK ...

Page 25: ... Configure RFID Figure 3 10 RFID Configuration Window 2 Select the Client Mode check box 3 In the LLRP Port field enter the port number on which the server waits for the RFID client to communicate The default is 5084 4 In the Server IP field enter the server IP for the remote host to which RFID communicates as a client 5 Tap Apply 6 Tap OK to close the window ...

Page 26: ...FID Window This window displays the MobileRFID application version radio library version radio firmware version and radio OEM data version Run Stop RFID To stop RFID service tap Stop in MobileRFID menu This frees the RFID radio Figure 3 12 RFID Stopped To restart RFID tap Run in MobileRFID menu NOTE The version information in Figure 3 11 may differ from the information on the actual mobile compute...

Page 27: ...is option can be overwritten using RFID3 API configuration settings Figure 3 13 Battery Performance Configuration Smart Power Management Implementation A smart power management algorithm SPM was also developed on top of the battery configuration The main purpose of this algorithm is to optimize the trade off between battery life and performances to offer the best RFID performances handled by WAP4 ...

Page 28: ...that the Workabout Pro4 platform can handle in normal temperature operating mode 0 C to 40 C Due to Li Ion chemistry as the battery charge level goes down the percentage of available current decreases Figure 3 14 Battery Depletion Graph NOTE As indicated in the graph above RFID cannot operate below 20 battery capacity Users must charge the battery or replace it to continue RFID operation ...

Page 29: ...ve 40 C cannot supply the same current as it can within the allowable temperature range When outside the temperature range RFID cannot operate at 30 dBm RFID output power is scaled down in case of extreme temperatures according to the graph below Figure 3 15 Battery Temperature Graph NOTE As indicated in the graph above RFID is not usable below 17 C and above 57 C Workabout Pro4 maximum operating ...

Page 30: ...ID is not usable below 50 battery but it is still usable at 24 dBm maximum the remainder of the time Figure 3 16 Battery Depletion Graph when WWAN is ON IMPORTANT All the parameters listed above are cumulative If WWAN is ON at low temperatures RFID is not likely to operate If the RFID is prevented from operating due to insufficient power a message like the one below is displayed in the RFID Settin...

Page 31: ...MobileRFID Functionality 3 13 Figure 3 17 Not Enough Power ...

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Page 33: ...gram Gen2 tags Each tag contains the EPC number 64 or 96 bits CRC and kill code The mobile computer can also collect data by decoding in range EPC Gen2 RFID tags Initiating the trigger button within the sample application causes the mobile computer to interrogate all RFID tags within the radio frequency RF field of view The reader captures data from each new tag and adds it to the list box in the ...

Page 34: ...o4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide Launching the RFID Sample Application Select RFID Demo in the Start menu to start the RFID sample application Figure 4 1 RFID Demo Icon Figure 4 2 RFID Sample Application Window ...

Page 35: ...ad Release the trigger to terminate tag reading Use the Mem Bank drop down to select a tag memory bank to read The default memory bank is EPC None Other options are TID Reserved and User Connection Tap Connection to display the reader IP and port number Figure 4 3 Connection Window Select Disconnect to disconnect the reader ...

Page 36: ...ct Menu Capabilities to view the capabilities of the connected reader Figure 4 4 Capabilities Window Configuration Menu Options The Configuration menu includes the following options Tag Storage Settings Antenna RF Mode Singulation Power On Off Radio Reset to Factory Defaults ...

Page 37: ...ge settings Figure 4 5 Tag Storage Settings Window This window includes the following fields Maximum Tag Count The maximum number of tags to store in the DLL Max Tag ID Length The maximum tag length Max Size of Memory Bank Storage to allocate for the memory bank s data Apply Select to apply the configuration changes ...

Page 38: ...lowing fields Antenna ID Selecting an antenna ID updates the configuration values in the other fields Receive Sensitivity dB Lists the reader supported values for the selected antenna Transmit Power dBm Lists the reader supported values for the selected antenna Hop Table Index Updates the Hop Frequency list with its corresponding frequencies Apply Select to apply the configuration changes ...

Page 39: ...tenna Figure 4 7 RF Mode Window This window includes the following fields Antenna ID Selecting an antenna ID updates the configuration values in the other fields Tari Value TARI specified in nsec RF Mode Table RF mode table configured for the current antenna Apply Select to apply the configuration changes ...

Page 40: ...es in the other fields Session The session number for the inventory operation Tag Population The approximate tag population in the RF field of the antenna Tag Transit Time The time in milliseconds that the tag typically remains in the RF field of the antenna State Aware Indicates if the antenna performs state aware or state unaware singulation Inventory State Select a tag of state A or B Valid onl...

Page 41: ... Radio Select Menu Config Power On Off Radio to change the power settings of the RFID radio Figure 4 9 Radio Power Settings Menu Reset to Factory Default Select Menu Config Reset to Factory Default to restore the default reader configuration ...

Page 42: ... Menu Options The Operations menu includes the following options Antenna Info Filter Access Triggers Antenna Info Select Menu Operations Antenna Info to view configure the list of antennas that can be used for inventory access operations Figure 4 10 Antenna Info Window ...

Page 43: ...llowing fields Antenna ID Selecting an antenna ID updates the configuration values in the other fields Memory Bank Memory bank on which the filter is applied Offset The first msb bit location of the specified memory bank against which to compare the tag mask Tag Pattern The pattern against which to compare the specified memory bank Filter Action Select the required filter action For more informati...

Page 44: ...ow includes the following fields Memory Bank Memory bank on which the filter is applied Offset The first msb bit location of the specified memory bank against which to compare the tag mask Tag Pattern The pattern against which to compare the specified memory bank Tag Mask The bit mask to facilitate bit wise filtering Match Pattern Select the tag pattern to match A B both or neither ...

Page 45: ...Operations Filter Access Filter to view configure the access filters Figure 4 13 AccessFilter Window See Post Filter on page 4 12 for field descriptions Access Select Menu Operations Access to perform the following access operations Figure 4 14 Access Menu ...

Page 46: ...ext Menu Access Operation Windows The access operation windows include the following fields Set options as required in the various parameter windows Not all windows include all options Tag ID The name of the selected tag Password Set a password before performing any access operation except Kill Memory Bank Select the memory bank Reserved EPC TID User Offset Offset of the first word to read from th...

Page 47: ...an not change the lock privilege of the particular memory bank Read_Write The user can read and write to the tag Perma_Lock Permanent lock Perma_Unlock Permanent unlock Unlock The user can unlock the tag for writing Figure 4 16 Read Access Operation Window Figure 4 17 Write Block Write Access Operation Window ...

Page 48: ...4 16 Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide Figure 4 18 Lock Access Operation Window Figure 4 19 Kill Access Operation Window ...

Page 49: ...7 Figure 4 20 Block Erase Access Operation Window Triggers Select Menu Operations Trigger to view configure the following triggers Start Trigger Stop Trigger Report Trigger Start Trigger Figure 4 21 Start Trigger Periodic Window ...

Page 50: ...4 18 Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide Figure 4 22 Start Trigger GPI Window Figure 4 23 Start Trigger Handheld Trigger Window ...

Page 51: ...RFID Sample Application 4 19 Stop Trigger Figure 4 24 Stop Trigger Periodic Window Figure 4 25 Stop Trigger GPI with Timeout Window ...

Page 52: ...4 20 Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide Figure 4 26 Stop Trigger Tag Observation with Timeout Window Figure 4 27 Stop Trigger N Attempts with Timeout Window ...

Page 53: ...RFID Sample Application 4 21 Figure 4 28 Stop Trigger Handheld Trigger with Timeout Window Report Trigger Figure 4 29 Report Trigger Window ...

Page 54: ... applicable for handheld readers Help Menu Select Menu Help to display the version information The version numbers displayed in this window are examples Actual version numbers are based on the versions of the files on the device Figure 4 30 Help Window Exit Select Menu Exit to exit the RFID sample application ...

Page 55: ...uter back and forth to obtain the location of the tag as indicated by the beep frequency and a vertical progress bar showing the relative position of the tag The Tag Locater application requires the following components DLLs on the device RFIDAPI32 dll Version 5 1 15 or higher Symbol RFID3 Device dll Assembly version 1 1 0 1 File version 1 1 0 7 or higher Symbol Audio dll Symbol dll Symbol Notific...

Page 56: ...ocater application Figure 5 1 Tag Locator 2 Enter the tag ID in one of three ways Type the tag ID in the TagID text box then select Locate or press and hold the trigger Perform a search operation by selecting the Search Tags button or by pressing and holding the trigger Select the Import Tags button to import a list of saved tags from a csv file See Locating Tags Using a csv File on page 5 3 ...

Page 57: ...lect the Import Tags button to import a list of saved tags from a csv file The following window appears Figure 5 2 Opening a csv File 2 Select the desired csv file to import the tags to the list Figure 5 3 Tag List 3 Select a tag from the list to search ...

Page 58: ...old the trigger Move the mobile computer in all directions to get the relative position of the tag indicated by a beep the vertical progress bar or both Figure 5 4 Tag Search Use the Options menu to turn the beeper on and off and to display data in ASCII or hexadecimal format Figure 5 5 Options Menu ...

Page 59: ...t If the RFID reader still does not turn on perform a cold boot Rechargeable Lithium ion battery did not charge Battery failed Replace battery If the mobile computer still does not operate try a warm boot then a cold boot Mobile computer removed from cradle while battery was charging Insert mobile computer in cradle and begin charging No sound Volume setting is low or turned off Increase the volum...

Page 60: ...gs are not EPCgen2 Read application is not loaded Move the tag into the read range See Reading Tags on page 1 4 Use tags of good quality Use EPCgen2 tags Verify that the unit is loaded with a read application Reader is not reading tags and the LLRP icon is orange There is not enough power available from the battery Charge or replace the lithium ion battery Turn off devices that consume higher leve...

Page 61: ...m x 75 100 mm x 31 42 mm SHORT 7 87 in x 2 95 in 3 94 in x 1 22 in 1 65 in 200 mm x 75 100 mm x 31 42 mm Weight Short 16 2 oz 461 g Long 18 6 oz 526 g Keyboard Alpha Numeric long models QWERTY or Numeric short models High reliability keypad Ultra white backlight Display 3 7 in VGA QVGA 640x480 Transflective color Touch display Sunlight visibility with 240 cd m brightness Battery 4400 mAh Lithium I...

Page 62: ...ming RFID reader reads Gen2 tags Bundled Applications Internet Explorer 6 Wordpad ActiveSync Microsoft Office WE HH 6 5 only Additional Software Kiosk MobiControl Total Recall TweakIt Dr Debug A R C Windows Mobile Device Center Terminal Emulation TekTerm Stay Linked Terminal Emulation Naurtech CETerm and Industrial Web Browser Wavelink TE Barcode Scanner Options 1D standard range laser1 1D extende...

Page 63: ... Pod Wireless Data Communications WWAN Radio Optional UMTS HSPA WAN radio data only in the Americas with GPS receiver supports AGPS GLONASS and SBAS Note In the Americas no co transmission is possible with RFID RFID and WWAN work in toggle mode In Europe the voice feature is only offered with the linear antenna RFID kit WLAN Radio 802 11a b g n optional diversity antenna module available WLAN Data...

Page 64: ...vehicle cradle accessory pistol grip hand strap wrist strap holsters protective carrying cases and rubber boots Regulatory Worldwide Safety EMC RF Laser approvals CE Mark E Mark vehicle cradles RoHS compliant WEEE compliant REACH compliant Warranty Subject to the terms of the Zebra hardware warranty statement the Workabout Pro 4 is warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a perio...

Page 65: ...PIs are available in C and NET For information on supported RFID APIs refer to the Enterprise Mobility Developer Kit EMDK available at http www zebra com support For C refer to the EMDK for C v2 1 or later For Net refer to the EMDK for NET v2 2 or later ...

Page 66: ...B 2 Workabout Pro4 RFID Mobile Computer Integrator Guide ...

Page 67: ...nching 4 2 dimensions A 1 display A 1 drop specification A 3 F firmware update 2 1 H humidity A 3 I icons MobileRFID 3 2 K keypad A 1 L locating tags 5 1 M memory A 2 MobileRFID 3 1 client mode 3 7 configuring 3 7 configuring region 3 4 icons 3 2 menu 3 3 server mode 3 7 starting 3 8 stopping 3 8 version information 3 8 Model Numbers RFID vii O operating system vii A 2 operating temperature A 3 R ...

Page 68: ...s vii RFID overview 1 1 S sample application 4 1 connection 4 3 launching 4 2 service information ix specifications A 1 starting RFID 3 8 stopping RFID 3 8 storage temperature A 3 support ix T tags 1 2 locating 5 1 problems reading 6 2 reading 1 4 technical specifications A 1 troubleshooting 6 1 U updating device firmware 2 1 RFID firmware 2 1 V volume 6 1 W weight A 1 Windows Embedded 6 5 and CE6...

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Page 70: ...s Corporation Lincolnshire IL U S A http www zebra com Zebra and the Zebra head graphic are registered trademarks of ZIH Corp The Symbol logo is a registered trademark of Symbol Technologies Inc a Zebra Technologies company 2015 Symbol Technologies Inc ...

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