AM-EAS Detection System

Technical Manual

Table of Contents
SYSTEM OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................1 IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .................................................................................................................1 COMPONENTS.............................................................................................................................................2 BASIC CONCEPTS.......................................................................................................................................3 MAIN BOARD.............................................................................................................................................7 ANTENNA ELECTRONICS BOARD LAYOUT.......................................................................................................8 CONNECTORS DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................................................9 TEST POINTS DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................12 TEST POINTS AT THE ANTENNA ELECTRONIC BOARD....................................................................................12 TEST POINTS AT THE MAIN ELECTRONIC BOARD.........................................................................................14 SOFTWARE SETTING (AMC V1.0)........................................................................................................16 SETTINGS 1..............................................................................................................................................17 SETTINGS 2..............................................................................................................................................19 SETTINGS 3..............................................................................................................................................21 SETTINGS 4..............................................................................................................................................23 CONNECTION OF SYSTEM....................................................................................................................28 POWER SUPPLY AND CABLING.....................................................................................................................28 POSITIONING AND FIXING ANTENNAS...........................................................................................................28 BETWEEN ANTENNAS AND CONTROLLER.......................................................................................................29 ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................................29 TROUBLESHOOTING..............................................................................................................................30 SOME BASIC REASONS..............................................................................................................................30 FALSE ALARM PROBLEMS..........................................................................................................................30 POWER PROBLEMS.....................................................................................................................................30 SYNCHRONIZATION PROBLEMS.....................................................................................................................31 SPECIFICATIONS......................................................................................................................................32 CONTROLLER AMS3010.......................................................................................................................32 ANTENNA.................................................................................................................................................33

System Overview
AM-EAS detection system is mainly consisted of three parts: controller, antenna and cables.

Important Safety Precautions

The electronics inside the controller and the antenna are extremely sensitive to static electricity. Always discharge yourself by touching a ground point before touching any of the electronics to avoid damaging the circuits.

WARNING

WARNING

The antenna electronic board is with high voltage. Do not touch any isolated place of the board.

PRECAUTION

All AMS devices should use commercial power mains. Using power generated by owned generator will cause many problems, such as serious fluctuation of voltage which might cause false alarms or even damage electronics, no possibility to synchronize different detection systems, etc.. The power supply for AMS devices must be independent, which means that the line is not allowed to be shared with other electronic and/or electric loads, such as electronic transformers, neon lights, electrical engines, computers, LCD screens and cash registers, etc.. Otherwise, detection system and/or deactivator might not be able to operate normally.

PRECAUTION

The power supply for the AMS devices must have good grounding (earth wire). Otherwise, noises from power source or from outside might interfere with performance of PRECAUTION AMS devices seriously or even cause damage to the devices if noise level (current) was too high.

Components
Antenna Acrylic(AMS4400) Acrylic XL(AMS4410) MDF(AMS4100) MDF XL(AMS4110) Ad(AMS4300)

Each antenna has a buzzer inside the base cover Controller

Cables

Power Cable

USB/RS485 Converter

RX&TX Cable Kit

Basic Concepts
It is recommended to read carefully the following basic concepts related to EAS detection system. Some phenomena you encounter when using the detection system do not indicate malfunctions. These concepts would help you understand better.

It is a space inside the aisle between antennas that has no detection of active labels in a certain direction. Dead Zone All EAS systems in the world have dead zones in different positions in the aisle for labels in different directions due to the limitation of the electromagnetic field that the system creates, the design of antenna, the intensity of Acoustic magnetic radiation, the aisle width set and the signal of tag, etc.. It is an alarm triggered by unexpected input signal when no active tag is closing to the antenna. All EAS systems in the world have false alarm problems caused by different reasons. But the more advanced the operational principle is and the higher the quality of the detection system is, the fewer false alarms will be set off; and vice versa. EAS detection systems with different principles have different levels of false alarm possibility if the other factors are not considered. AM detection system has the highest immunity to the false alarms. EM system follows. And RF system has the highest possibility of false alarms. It is an alarm triggered by a foreign signal which characteristics are similar to that of an active EAS tag closing to the antenna. Phantom Alarm Phantom alarms can not be avoided completely. Most of EAS detection systems only identify the characteristics of signals and have no capability to identify whether the signal is from a tag or not. But CSS AM EAS detection system has the ability to identify most of tag-like foreign signal with real tag signal. It is the total detection rate of labels in different orientations at different positions inside the aisle. The pick rate is directly related to the dead zone of a system. It depends on many factors, i.e. method of testing (quantity of test positions), type and size of label, width of aisle, noise in power supply, environmental noises, quality of installation and tuning, etc. To compare pick up rates of different EAS systems, you have to test them in the same place with same power source, at the same aisle width, with same tag, etc.. Otherwise, the results might be just a feeling instead of a practical and real ones. It is the responding time of the system to set off the alarm once an active label enters into a detectable zone in the aisle. The sensitivity is directly related to the signal to noise ratio. The higher the signal to noise ratio is, the more sensitive the system will be. It also depends on many other factors, i.e. type and size of label, width of aisle, noise in power supply, environmental noises, quality of installation and tuning, etc. To compare sensitivity of different EAS systems, you also have to test them in the same place with same power source, at the same aisle width, with same tag, etc.. Otherwise, the results might also be just a feeling instead of a practical and real ones.

False Alarm

Pick Rate

Sensitivity

Controller
Locations and Functions
Rear View

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Power: For connecting to the 220 VAC or 110VAC outlet on the wall. Ext Alarm: For connecting with external alarm unit. RS458: Network interface between controller and PC. RX&Control 1~3: Connecting between controller and gate panel for processing signal received by receiver antenna and feeding back with command to alarm buzzer and lamp. TX1~3: Connecting between controller and gate panel for supplying power to transmitter antenna in order to generating electromagnetic interrogation field.

Top View
4

Indicators Serial Number: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

Power: Power indicator. Antenna1: Status of different signals coming from Channel 1. Antenna2: Status of different signals coming from Channel 2. Antenna3: Status of different signals coming from Channel 3. Indication: Indicator of working status of DSP chip. Continuous blinking of the red LED means that the DSP works well. Otherwise, the DSP might have problem. Volume: The volume of alarm buzzers of Channel 1. Tune clockwise will increase sound volume and tune anti-clockwise will reduce sound volume. Rx Gain: This setting allows you to amplify all received signals. Increasing the gain (clockwise) will increase the signal of tags and noise signal at the same time. If there is no noise around the antenna you can set maximal gain to achieve maximum detection.

Important Notice:
Most parameters are default set at factory to the possible best value. When a system is initially power on and found not having good detection, always try to increase RX Gain by tuning clockwise first step by step (about 2-3 turns by each adjustment, do not increase too much by one adjustment) to see if the detection becomes better. If the detection becomes better and better to your satisfaction, you can increase the RX Gain to a higher level until noise appears when the first Green LED is lit up. Then decrease RX Gain for one turn back (anti-clockwise). If the increase of RX Gain doesnt make any obvious difference on the detection performance, then you should try to increase the detection performance by Software Settings.

Indicators Description:
No. Color Green Green Green Yellow Red description Weak signal Medium signal strong signal Signal surpassing threshold level Signal meets all tag criteria

1 2 3 4 5

When the detection system is just powered on, a short self-test procedure will start for several seconds .At the beginning of the test, all the LEDs on signal indication matrix will light on diagonals and then all LEDs will be on for one second. Error A. B. C. D. If there is any problem with the synchronization. the red or yellow LED will be blinking. If the mains frequency is wrong, all red LEDs will be blinking. If there is no frequency on the mains, the yellow LEDs will be blinking. Memory unit problem will be shown as an X on the green LEDs.

Inside View

Mainboard

Sub-board

Main board & Sub-board

Main Board
Test Point DSPIn Test Points T1, T2, T3

External Alarm Connector

RS458 Connector

RX&Control Connector

Test Point Net

TX Connector

TestPoints Tx1, Tx2, Tx3

Antenna Electronics Board Layout

High Voltage on radiator. Do not touch!

TX Connector

Control sign als Connector

Test Points P2, U

Connectors Description
Power Connector
The fuse is inside the power socket of the controller. A standby fuse is attached for maintenance purpose. The process to replace the defective fuse is as below. 1. Power off the controller. 2. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to open the fuse holder. 3. Replace the defective fuse with the standby one 4. Insert the fuse holder into the socket.

External Alarm Connector

PIN No. 1 2 3 4 5

Name
Any Channels Channel 3 Channel 2 Channel 1 24V DC

Description
GND for alarm on any Channel / 200mA max GND for alarm on Channel 3 / 200mA max GND foralarm on Channel 2 / 200mA max GND for alarm on Channel 1 / 200mA max 200mA max

RS485 Connector
The serial port for communication between the main board and the PC.

RX&Control Cable Connector

The connectors on both ends of the cable connected with the main board and the Antenna board. The shielding should be connected on both ends of the cable. Only cable supplied by CSS shall be used.

PIN No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Name RX GND RX + TX control Lamp Buzzer GND GND 24V DC

Color Green Blue White Gray Yellow Orange Purple + Shield Brown

10

TX Cable Connector
The connectors on both ends of the cable connected with the main board and the Antenna board. Only cable supplied by CSS shall be used.

PIN No. 1 2

Name TXTX+

Color Black Red

11

Test Points Description

Test Points At The Antenna Electronic Board
On the antenna electronic board, there are only two test points. Test Point P2 for antenna current and Test Point U for antenna voltage.

Test Points P2, U

12

TP Name
P2 Test Requirement

Description
Current shape in the antenna Ch1=P2 AC 10:1 1V/DIV trigger 250s/DIV
Ch2

Example

Test Requirement

Voltage shape in the antenna Ch1=U AC 10:1 20V/DIV trigger 250s/DIV

Ch2

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Test Points At The Main Electronic Board

The most important test points are marked on picture below.

T1, T2, T3

Tx1, Tx3

Tx2,

DSPIn

Test Points TX1, TX2, TX3 are used for measuring the transmitter voltage of each channel. DSPIn. For observing if any 58KHz signal goes into the DSP. By observing through an oscilloscope, you can distinguish if the signal is generated by an AM tag appearing in the surrounding area of the antenna or a interference noise or an signal generated by a 58kHz Electronic device.

TP Name
Net

Description
Test Requirement Square pulse refers to mains 0-crossing Ch1=Net AC 10:1 1V/DIV trigger 100s/DIV

Example

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TP Name
DSP_in

Description
Test Requirement Clean listening window Ch1=D SP_in AC 10:1 20V/DIV Ch2=Trigger1 ,2,3 AC/DC 10:1 2V/DIV trigger 500s/DIV

Example

Test Requirement

Listening window with tag signal Ch1=DSP _in AC 10:1 20V/DIV Ch2=Trigger1,2 ,3 AC/DC 10:1 2V/DIV trigger 500s/DIV

Tx1, Tx2, Tx3

Test

Transmitter Voltage shape

Requirement

Ch1=Tx1,Tx 2,Tx3 AC 10:1 20V/DIV trigger 250s/DIV

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Software Setting (AMC V1.0)

Almost all settings are done using the Software Through the "RS485" serial port. Software Setting will be only used when the tuning of RX Gain doesnt work well for improving detection performance or the noise interference to a detection system cannot been removed or decreased to an acceptable level.

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Settings 1
Settings 1 includes: selecting channel/antenna to be tuned, setting time delay of receiver detection, setting threshold value, setting tag/label compatibility, and setting number of detections for triggering an alarm, setting average calculation cycles, select on/off of alarm sound.

17

This group of settings is based on different channels. You have to select which channel you intend to tune before new settings are selected. 1 2 Channel(1-3): Select the channel to be tuned. There are 3 channels on each controller. Maximum 2 antennas are allowed to be connected with each channel, in which maximum 1 antenna can be transceiver antenna. RXDelay: Range from 100 to 20000. The value shows the delay between the end of the transmitting burst and the beginning of the receiving window. Tune from 100 to higher. Too low value might cause the system receive resonance signal from metal surrounding the antenna. Too high value might cause low detection. Click OKto confirm the new setting. 3 Threshold: Range from 10 to 5000. Only signals with amplitude higher than the threshold can trigger the alarm. If the threshold is too low, a weak tag or tag-like noise will trigger the alarm which might cause more false alarms. If the threshold is too high, then only strong tag or tag-like signals can trigger the alarm, which might cause low detection. Click OKto confirm the new 4 5 setting. TagComp: Tag Compatibility. Range from 5 to 1000. The parameter is adopted to distinguish a tag signal from tag-like noise. A lower value gives better label detection. A higher value will cause bad detection of labels. ClickOK confirm the new setting. to NumOfHit: Range from 2 to 10. The parameter represents how many times that required criteria has to be met before an alarm is triggered. The lower the value is, the faster the detection will be and the more easier a false alarm will be triggered. Click OK to confirm the new setting. 6 NumOfCal: Number of Calculation. Range from 2 to 64. This is a filter used for decreasing the influence of random interference signals. Try to keep the NumOfHit as lower as possible in order to maintain the speed of detection. Click OKto confirm the 7 new setting. Alarm: Disable/Enable the sound of buzzer of the antenna(s) connected to the channel. Click OKto confirm the new setting.

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Settings 2
Settings 2 includes: Channel mode selection and time segment settings.

19

ChannelMode: There are 4 modes for the three channels TcTcTc, TcTxRx, RxTxRx and TxRxTx. Selecting different modes have different purposes related to the installation environment limits, the budget limits, etc. Please note that when channels mode is selected as TcTxRx, RxTxRx and TxRxTx, all Rx receivers shall have lower RxDelay values. Click OKto confirm the new setting. TimeSegA: Disable/Enable the receiver listening window at time segment A. Click OKto confirm the new setting. TimeSegB: Disable/Enable the receiver listening window at time segment B. Click OKto confirm the new setting. TimeSegC: Disable/Enable the receiver listening window at time segment C. Click OKto confirm the new setting. TimeSegAll: Disable/Enable the receiver listening windows at different time segments. Click OKto confirm the new setting.

2 3 4 5

Remark When any phase stable signal appears in the listening window and disturbs the detection (only in one or max
two channels), With the TimeSeg setting its possible to disable the time segment in which the noise periodically appears.

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Settings 3
Setting 3 includes: low quality tag detection setting, low quality tag tolerance limit setting (tolerance of the frequency of tags/labels), silent detection, silent detection parameters settings, Ch3forNR option, amplitude detection, amplitude detection setting.

21

TagQ: Tag Quality. This function can successfully prevent low quality labels and noises closing to 58KHz to trigger the alarm of a detection system. Low quality labels include incompletely deactivated labels, bad quality labels/tags without accurate 58KHz frequency. Click OKto confirm the new setting. TagQLimit: Range from 1 to 10. This value is a setting for the TagQ mode. The value represents the frequency parameter which is used to distinguish between low quality and good labels (or noise and proper tag signal). The bigger the value the smaller the tolerance is for other frequencies to trigger an alarm. Click OKto confirm the new setting. F_Check: False Alarm Check. This function can help to to prevent false alarms. Click OKto confirm the new setting. F_Limit: Range from 10 to 15000. If this value is high and the F_Check is enabled, a AMS device will have high immunity to noise interference. Click OKto confirm the new setting. CH3forNR: Channel 3 for Noise Reduction. After this function is ON, the third antenna (at Channel 3) receiver signal will be mixed with the signals received from Channel 1 and channel 2. This option can be used to improve detection with the extra antenna or to cancel noise which is received by antenna 1 and/or antenna 2. Click OKto confirm the new setting. AmpDet:: Amplitude Detection. This is the parameter of the Amplitude Detection criteria. By changing this value its possible to decide which signals should set the alarm and which shouldnt. If You want only strong signals to trigger the alarm then set-up a higher value. If You want weak signals to be able to trigger the alarm then set-up a smaller value. ClickOK confirm the new to setting. AmpLimit: Range from 10 to 30000. Click OKto confirm the new setting

3 4 5

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Settings 4
Settings 4 includes: phase shifts setting, receiving only mode, flashing time setting, beep time setting, and beep speed setting.

23

PhaseSync: Transmitting Phase Synchronization. Range from 10 to 4095. This parameter is the most important for synchronizing different AMS devices (detection systems and/or deactivators, with internal AM equipment or with other AM equipment). Increasing this value, the time between the mains zero crossing point (from negative to positive) and the end of the transmitter burst will be increased. Click OKto confirm the new setting. RXOnly: Receive Only. When this function is ON, the AMS device will only receive signals. Click OKto confirm the new setting. FlashTime: Flash Time of Alarm Lamp. Range from 10 to 200. The flash time of the alarm lamp. The higher the value is, the longer the flash time of alarm lamp will be. Click OKto confirm the new setting. BeepTime: Beep Time of Alarm Buzzer. Range from 10 to 500. The beep time of the alarm buzzer. The higher the value is, the longer the beep of alarm buzzer will be. Click OKto confirm the new setting. BeepFreq: Beep Frequency of Alarm Buzzer. Range from 2 to 50. The frequency of beep. The higher the value is, the faster the beep of alarm buzzer will be. Click OKto confirm the new setting.

2 3 4 5

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Transmitter Output Adjustment

Precaution: This is a very important setting, please do it when 1 all other adjustments still do not give you acceptable performance; 2 you are sure that you understand well how to tune them with the assistance of oscilloscope.

Too small value will decrease the detection range but a too big value might cause distortion. Connect the oscilloscope to the P2 test point in the antenna and use the TX gain adjustment to set a correct value. When you increase the TX output level for desired channel (Tx1, Tx2, Tx3,), observe on the oscilloscope of the current shape (test point P2 in the antenna). When the spikes start to appear, the maximum TX output has been reached. Then you should slightly decrease the TX output until the spike disappears. Shown as below.

25

Different Combinations of Antennas

Up to six antennas can be connected to one single controller. But maximum three Transceiver (TC) antennas is allowed to be connected to the same controller. Otherwise, the controller might be seriously damaged. 1. Normal combination

With this combination, all antennas are in Transceiver Mode. Maximum detection on both sides of all antennas. 2. Wider exit protection with only one controller

The detection of the antennas in Receiver Mode will be weaker.

26

3. Two Entrances

The detection of the antennas in Receiver Mode will be weaker. 4. Three Entrances

The detection of the antennas in Receiver Mode will be weaker. Remark: 1 Two figures (e.g. 0.8/2.2) means detection distance with DR labels and detection distance with ferrite hard tags TC means Transceiver, RX means Receiver only. 2 - The detection of the antennas in Receiver Mode will be weaker. 3 When two antennas are connected to the same channel of one controller, both antennas will alarm (audible and visual) at the same time when an alarm is triggered. Your clients have to be informed about this result to avoid any possible misunderstanding. 4 The first option Normal Combination is strongly recommended except you have no other choice and your clients have clearly accepted the performance and the results of the other options.

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Connection of System
Before connecting the system, Make sure the floor is solid enough to hold the antennas and controller.

Power Supply and Cabling

1. 2. Connect the power cord to the controller Connect the power cord fixed

Positioning and Fixing Antennas

1. Make sure the antenna parallel to each other and maintain a standard distance (see <Antennas installed >Page 25)

The distance between two antennas should be 1.5~1.7/2.3~2.5m and the recommended distance is1.6/2.4m Note: The system should maintain a certain distance with large metal objects and other electrical devices. Otherwise could cause serious interference to the system.

2. 3.

Mark the positions of bolts on the floor and drill. Fix the antennas stably onto the floor and should be placed vertically to the floor.

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Between Antennas and Controller

1. Connect RX&Control connectors and TX connectors to the corresponding sockets on the main board and the antenna board.

Note: RX&Control connectors and TX connectors of the same cable kit shall be connected with the same channel sockets.

2.

Assemble the cable cover for safety purpose. Cable Kit can coming out from any side of the cable cover.

Cable Cover

Environmental requirements
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Keep the environment where controller locates in good ventilation. Keep the environment with proper relative humidity and clean. Confirm all connections before powering on the detection system. Do not connect or disconnect any connections before powering off the detection system. Prevent water from touching all electronics.r

29

Troubleshooting
Some Basic Reasons
Cables are not connected firmly. Power is not on. Fuse is damaged (see < Power Connector >Page 8). Electronics are danaged by water..

False Alarm Problems

Tag(s) is/are placed closing to antenna.

When a tag isl placed too close to the antenna, the detection system will continuously alarm. You have to pay attention to some special situation which cause false alarm problem. For example, during installation, you have tested with a tag at a distance which will not trigger the alarm. But during formal operation of the store, false alarms happen. The reason could be that there are many tags at the place where you have tested and did not find interference to the antenna (e.g. in a boutique, there might be many cloths which are not far away from the antenna). All these tags together will generate very strong tag signal which causes false alarm. So, during the installation, you have to test with enough quantity of tags which will be there in normal operation to make sure that these tags together will not cause false alarm problem. There are large metal object closing to the antenna. Large metal objects closing to the antenna may reflect 58KHz signal to the receiver of the antenna which might cause false alarm problem directly. Also, large metal objects closing the antenna will reduce the transmitting current which will force you to increase RX Gain to improve the detection of tags. But at the same time, the noise signal will be also increased which might cause false alarm as well. Unsynchronized systems All AM detection systems within 150m distance shall be synchronized in order to have no interference among each other. If they are not synchronized, they will have interference among each other and might cause false alarm or low detection. 58 kHz signal to the antenna. The AM detection system works at 58Hz. If there are electronic or electric equipment surrounding the antenna which generates 58KHz signal, the equipment might affect the AM detection system and cause false alarm. Some 58KHz equipment: Spotlight and fluorescent lamp Power supplies Printers PC & laptop

Power Problems
An independent power source for AM detection systems and deactivators is a must. The AC outlet used to supply power to AM detection systems and deactivators should be totally independent which means no other electronic or electric devices shall be connected to the same power source except AM equipment. Otherwise, the operation of the other devices might create noises which might interfere with AM equipment and cause problems, such as false alarm, low detection, low sensitivity, narrower aisle width, etc..

30

The AC outlet must be well grounded. If not, noises could not be eliminated and might cause problems as motioned above.

Synchronization Problems
All AMS equipment installed at this range must be synchronized to each other. This includes synchronizing your newly installed system to other systems of other installed in shops around yours. The main issue is that one system is not allowed to transmit while another system is receiving. If two systems are not synchronized correctly its usually gets the problem of either drop the detection-rate or give a false-alarm. 1. 2. 3. As said before the system checks the mains line to find the zero-crossing to start its sequence. To synchronize with a other system you should use the Phase Shift adjustment with where your system should be situated. Or if you place the two pulses so that they end at the same time it is ok. If you restart the system when it has been synchronized, you might see that the pulses that you synchronized with will change position but they will always move to another correct position

Note: When the system has been synchronized you must never rotate the plug. (or use another outlet) If you do so You will have to make the system do re-sync. But as soon as the plug is returned the right way it will be ok again.

31

Specifications
All dimensions are in mm!

Controller AMS3010

32

Antenna
AMA400L

33

AMA400X

34

AMA100L

35

AMA100X

36

AMA500L

37