Tag READ Operations
There are two READ operating modes, Read-Only and Read-Stop, described below.
For details on entering one of these modes, see “Operating Modes of the TagMate
USB
®
”. For details about processing tags, see “Tag Processing Operations”.
Read-Only vs. Read-Stop Mode
The TagMate USB
®
may be used as often as desired to check the status of a
monitored item before the end of a particular monitoring session. In this case,
Read-Only is the appropriate mode to use. Each subsequent Read-Only process will
update the complete data set from the tag, including any previously-read data.
9
If
the T-700 tag is being read at the end of the monitoring process, Read-Stop is
preferred in order to avoid unnecessary use of the tag’s battery and/or to keep
undesired data points from being added to the tag’s dataset (in case it is re-read
later).
READ Outcomes
While a tag is being processed, the LED is solid blue. The LED and beeper on
TagMate USB
®
convey outcome of a READ process as follows:
•
Single short beep accompanied by a green LED light (approx. one second
duration, then returning to standby). This indicates a successful processing
event with no alarms arising from tag data analysis. If a USB drive is plugged
in, a second very short beep will indicate completion of file creation on the
USB drive.
•
Single short beep folled by a single long beep, with a pause in between, and a
red LED light (approx. two seconds). This indicates a successful processing
event, but with one or more alarms arising from tag data anaylsis, as
described below. If a USB drive is plugged in, a third very short beep will
indicate completion of file creation on the USB drive.
•
A red-green flashing pattern and no beep. This indicates a processing error
after tag recognition occurred. Details about this error may appear in the
activity log (path: TAGMATE\ACTIVITY.LOG) if a USB drive is plugged in.
•
No change in LED pattern and no beep. This indicates that the reader did not
recognize the tag. This may indicate a damaged tag.
The analysis of data retrieved from a tag makes use of parameters stored on the tag
for upper/lower temperature limits, maximum time durations above/below these
limits, shelf life calculation parameters, and expected average or MKT(mean Kinetic
Temperature) values. These alarm parameters are a large part of the configuration
that is applied to a tag at the start of a monitoring session (see “Tag START
Operations” above). A complete description of these alarms and the associated
parameters is given in the instructions for
Session Manager
software, and in the
accompanying TagMate QC
®
user guide.
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In general, the purpose of tag data analysis and the associated alarms is to inform
the user immediately of possibly harmful temperature excursions experienced by the
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See also the section below on Continuous Mode. This mode does not carry with it a pre-defined start
time for the data set, so each READ process will usually NOT include all previously-read data.
10
TagMate QC
®
is a companion handheld product with an LCD display for immediate review of monitoring
results and/or tag configuration parameters, plus the ability to generate strip chart output summaries
using a mobile printer.
TagMateUSB Aug 11, 2009
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