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Document: Datasheet Date: 30-Dec-11 Model #: 1206 Products Page: www.sunrom.com/p-859.html





RFID Reader
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Card
Readers provide a low-cost solution to read
passive RFID transponder tags up to 7 cm away.
This RFID Card Reader can be used in a wide
variety of hobbyist and commercial applications,
including access control, automatic identification,
robotics navigation, inventory tracking, payment
systems, and car immobilization. The RFID card
reader read the RFID tag in range and outputs
unique identification code of the tag at baud rate
of 9600. The data from RFID reader can be
interfaced to be read by microcontroller or PC.
Features
Low-cost method for reading passive RFID transponder tags
9600 bps serial interface at 5V TTL level for direct interface to microcontrollers
Buzzer & LED indicate valid RFID Tag detection
Range up to 7 cm for 125 Khz RFID Cards or Keychains
Specification
Parameter Value
Input Voltage 5V DC regulated
Output Data Speed 9600 BPS
8 Bit Data/No-Parity/1 Stop Bit
Output Data Level 5V TTL level
Detection Range 7 cm(2 inches) contact-less
Valid Tag in Range Indicated by Buzzer and LED
Information about Tag
Each transponder tag contains a unique identifier (one of 2
40
, or 1,099,511,627,776 possible
combinations) that is read by the RFID Card Reader and transmitted to the host via a simple serial
interface. It means no two tags are same. Each tag has different value. This value is read by reader.
Communication
When the RFID Card Reader is active and a valid RFID transponder tag is placed within range of
the activated reader, the unique ID will be transmitted as a 12-byte printable ASCII string serially to
the host in the following format:


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2

Start Byte
(0x0A)
Unique ID
Digit 1
Unique ID
Digit 2
Unique ID
Digit 3
Unique ID
Digit 4
Unique ID
Digit 5
Unique ID
Digit 6
Unique ID
Digit 7
Unique ID
Digit 8
Unique ID
Digit 9
Unique ID
Digit 10
Stop Byte
(0x0D)

The start byte and stop byte are used to easily identify that a correct string has been received from
the reader (they correspond to a line feed and carriage return characters, respectively). The middle
ten bytes are the actual tag's unique ID.

For example, for a tag with a valid ID of 0F0184F07A, the following ASCII data would be sent
0F0184F07A
Same data in HEX bytes can be interpreted as:
0x0A, 0x30, 0x46, 0x30, 0x31, 0x38, 0x34, 0x46, 0x30, 0x37, 0x41, 0x0D

All communication is 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and least significant bit first (8N1). The baud
rate is configured for 9600 bps, a standard communications speed supported by most any
microprocessor or PC, and cannot be changed. The RFID Card Reader initiates all communication.
This allows easy access to the serial data stream from any programming language that can open a
COM port.
Using RFID Reader
When powered on the RFID reader will activate a RF field waiting for a tag to come into its range.
Once tag is detected, its unique ID number is read and data is sent via serial interface. The valid tag
detecting is indicated by LED blink and Buzzer beep. The face of the RFID tag should be held
parallel to the front of the antenna (where the majority of RF energy is focused). If the tag is held
sideways (perpendicular to the antenna) you may have difficulty getting the tag to be read. Only one
transponder tag should be held up to the antenna at any time. The use of multiple tags at one time
will cause tag collisions and confuse the reader. The tags available with us have a read distance of
approximately 7 cm. Actual distance may vary slightly depending on the size of the transponder tag
and environmental conditions of the application.
Connecting to Microcontroller
Connect data output pin of RFID reader to RXD pin of any
microcontroller and configure your MCU to receive data at 9600
baud rate. You also have to keep common ground signal
between RFID reader and microcontroller.













C9
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R1
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U2
AT89S52
P3.1/TXD
11
P3.2/INT0
12
P3.3/INT1
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P3.4/T0
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P3.5/T1
15
P3.6/WR
16
P3.7/RD
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P2.1/A9
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P2.2/A10
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P2.3/A11
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P2.4/A12
25
P2.5/A13
26
P2.6/A14
27
P2.7/A15
28
PSEN
29
ALE/PROG
30
EA/VPP
31
P0.7/AD7
32
P0.6/AD6
33
P0.5/AD5
34
P0.4/AD4
35
P0.3/AD3
36
P0.2/AD2
37
P0.1/AD1
38
P0.0/AD0
39
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P1.0/T2
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P1.1/T2EX
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P1.2
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P1.3
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P1.4/SS
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P1.5/MOSI
6
P1.6/MISO
7
P1.7/SCK
8
RST
9
P3.0/RXD
10
+
C8
10uF 16V
VCC
U4
RFID Reader SUNROM#1206
D
a
t
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VCC
VCC
TTL UART INTERFACING
Y1
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C1
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C10
33p

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Connecting to PC Using Serial Port
Since the PC uses RS232 level you cannot directly connect the data output of RFID reader. This
might damage the reader. The reader outputs 5V level signal. You can use a MAX232 level
conversion to convert 5V signal to RS232 level signal. Reference diagram is given below.


Use Hyperterminal software which comes with Windows XP or use any other Terminal software with
following settings.

Data Rate: 9600 Data Bits: 8 Parity: None Stop Bit: 1 Flow Control: None

One of the Terminal software can be downloaded from http://www.sunrom.com/files/Terminal.exe

RS232 INTERFACING
VCC
C16
100n
P2
DB9-CONN-F
5
9
4
8
3
7
2
6
1
+
C13
10uF 16V
+
C12
10uF 16V
+
C15
10uF 16V
+
C14
10uF 16V
U6
MAX232
R1IN
13
R2IN
8
T1IN
11
T2IN
10
C+
1
C1-
3
C2+
4
C2-
5
V+
2
V-
6
R1OUT
12
R2OUT
9
T1OUT
14
T2OUT
7
V
C
C
1
6
G
N
D
1
5
VCC
VCC
U5
RFID Reader SUNROM#1206
D
a
t
a
-
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U
T
3
G
N
D
1
+
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V
2

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4
Software in VB.NET with Source Code
Download Application with Source Code from here
http://www.sunrom.com/files/1202-app.zip






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5
When you start software for first time, you get following window, Select proper COM port and click
Connect.



Once software is connected to port and card is brought near, it shows below messages.



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6
RFID Technology Overview
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a generic term for non-contacting technologies that use
radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. There are several methods of identification,
but the most common is to store a unique serial number that identifies a person or object on a
microchip that is attached to an antenna. The combined antenna and microchip are called an "RFID
transponder" or "RFID tag" and work in combination with an "RFID reader" (sometimes called an
"RFID interrogator").

An RFID system consists of a reader and one or more tags. The reader's antenna is used to
transmit radio frequency (RF) energy. Depending on the tag type, the energy is "harvested" by the
tag's antenna and used to power up the internal circuitry of the tag. The tag will then modulate the
electromagnetic waves generated by the reader in order to transmit its data back to the reader. The
reader receives the modulated waves and converts them into digital data.

There are two major types of tag technologies. "Passive tags" are tags that do not contain their own
power source or transmitter. When radio waves from the reader reach the chips antenna, the
energy is converted by the antenna into electricity that can power up the microchip in the tag
(known as "parasitic power"). The tag is then able to send back any information stored on the tag by
reflecting the electromagnetic waves as described above. "Active tags" have their own power
source and transmitter. The power source, usually a battery, is used to run the microchip's circuitry
and to broadcast a signal to a reader. Due to the fact that passive tags do not have their own
transmitter and must reflect their signal to the reader, the reading distance is much shorter than with
active tags. However, active tags are typically larger, more expensive, and require occasional
service. The Sunrom RFID Card Reader is designed specifically for passive tags.

Frequency refers to the size of the radio waves used to communicate between the RFID system
components. Just as you tune your radio to different frequencies in order to hear different radio
stations, RFID tags and readers must be tuned to the same frequency in order to communicate
effectively.

There really is no such thing as a "typical" RFID tag. The read range of a tag ultimately depends on
many factors: the frequency of RFID system operation, the power of the reader, environmental
conditions, physical size of the tags antenna and interference from other RF devices. Balancing a
number of engineering trade-offs (antenna size v. reading distance v. power v. manufacturing cost),
the Sunrom RFID Card Reader's antenna was designed with a RFID operation at a tag read
distance of around 7 cm.