Impro Partners

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DENITRON BELGIUM

Denitron provides time & attendance applications, an application for production follow up and an application for fuel distribution pumps. We can also develop customized software.

Integration of the IL controller as a terminal in IXP200, IXP300 and IXP400 systems

Purpose and use of the IL Terminal

APPLICATIONS INCLUDE:

Time and attendance
Job costing
Production follow up
Canteen management
Fuel distribution pump control
Advanced alarm control
Custom applications that require a LCD - keypad user interface with tag and barcode reading option

The IL Terminal hardware

The IL controller contains a Tiny Tiger Module
This Tiny Tiger Module is pre-programmed by Denitron.
The pre-programmed Tiny Tiger Module needs a "configuration" to operate.
This configuration can be created or edited by anyone using the "IL Terminal Configuration Software Tool".
The configuration is downloaded into the IL Terminal by connecting the PC to the IL Port 2 RS232.

The IXP200, IXP300 and IXP400 systems offer a high level of performance for access control. On the other hand, the use of an additional DL terminal does not give us the functionalities that we would expect from such a terminal. Therefore a program was developed on the IL controller to overcome the DL restrictions.

Now, it's possible to use IL controllers as terminals in IXP200, IXP300 and IXP400 systems. With a Windows PC configuration program, the user can define up to 256 screen menus with specific action definitions for each menu. These actions include tag logging, barcode logging, keypad actions, keypad input, tag validation, range validation, etc. Each tag code, barcode or keypad entry can be logged in the IC controller as a tag code with specific reason code. The Impro IXP200 or IXP300 software reads the transaction data from the IC controller and stores the tag codes with reason codes in the transaction database. The user can view the transactions and make reports in the standard Impro software.

Any software manufacturer can use the transaction database and write software applications for various applications

Connecting the IL Terminal

Screw terminals on the ImproX IL
Port 1 RS485 : not used for the moment.
Port 2 RS485 : is connected to the RS485 Terminal Bus of the IC or AC controller. Do not connect the IC/AC terminal bus to port 1 of the IL Terminal ! (a common mistake)
Port 2 RS232 : can temporarily be connected to the PC RS232 port for downloading a new or edited configuration
Port 3 RS232 : serial connection for a barcode reader or other serial device (a measuring device for example) that sends an ASCII numeric value
Digital inputs : 4 digital contact inputs
Relay outputs : 2 relay outputs (NO/NC)
Power supply : 10 to 36VDC

Adding the IL Terminal in IXP Software

When an AutoID is executed, the IL Terminal is recognized by the IXP system as a DL Terminal.
The returned fixed address by the IL is the fixed address of the DL part of the IL. This is also the fixed address as printed on the Impro label of the IL unit.
Terminal Settings :
Select "Time & Attendance Unit" instead of "Access Control Unit".
Door mode patterns have no effect on the IL Terminals.
The tagholder and access pattern settings are used for tag validation. With this, the IC/AC controller knows if a tag is allowed or denied at a given date and time.
The IL Terminal "allowed" setting must be "green LED". The IL Terminal uses this green LED command from the IC/AC Controller to determine if a tag is allowed or not at a given time.

IL Terminal Configuration Software

The configuration is created with the "IL Terminal Configuration Software Tool". This system offers the possibility to create a customized menu structure and input system for the most various applications.
The user can define up to 256 screens.
The main screen is always shown after a power up or reset.
For each screen, a number of parameters can be set :
Screen Text.
The text as it will appear on the LCD. (maximum 4 x 16 characters.
Line 4 can be text or the real-time clock date/time
The global variables "tagcode" and "barcode" (the stored tag code and barcode) can be displayed with a predefined character length at a chosen LCD position as part of the displayed message–A start position for display of a numeric keypad entry can be defined
Timeout settings.
The timeout time can be set between 0.1 and 25.4 seconds
If no timeout time is set, the system remains in this screen until we leave the screen as a result of a defined action
The timeout menu number is the number of the screen where we want to go to in case a timeout occurs
In a screen with numeric keypad entry, the timeout time is reset after each digit entered.
Action table.
For each key of the IL keypad, a series of up to 5 action lines (an action table) can be defined.
The user can also define an action table that is not linked to a key. These action lines are executed directly from the moment the screen appears on the LCD, without waiting for any keypress.
Example : when a tag code is read, then save it with a reason code and go directly to another screen.
The actions are executed one at a time. When an action causes the system to go to another screen, then the remaining actions will not be executed.
An action line has two items in it, namely the action itself and a validation.

Action table : possible actions and validations

actions

validation

- No action

- Go to menu (menu number)

- Save tag code in IC controller

- Save tag code with reason code (reason code)

- Save barcode

- Save barcode with reason code (reason code)

- Activate LED (colour, duration)

- Activate buzzer (volume, tone, duration)

- Activate relay (relay number)

- Get digital inputs

- Get tag (maximum wait duration)

- Get barcode (maximum wait duration)

- Get keypad input (maximum wait duration, input mask)

- Reset

- No validation

- Tag code not empty

- Tag code allowed

- Tag code range (minimum value, maximum value)

- Barcode not empty

- Barcode range (minimum value, maximum value)

- Keypad input range (minimum value, maximum value)

- Digital input (input number)

Action table : parameters and info

Reason code : is a value between 00 and 255 (range Hex 00 to FF)
Get tag, Get barcode : with this action command, the tag or barcode read is stored in a global variable. When then in this or another screen, a save tag or save barcode action is executed, the tag or barcode value in the global variable is saved into the IC/AC controller. The variable can also be used in other screens to display this tag or barcode.
Get keypad input : the format or keypad entry mask can be defined. Formats are integer entry (a number up to 14 digits long), date/time or timespan (a time duration)
Range : the start and end values (14 digits maximum) form the range of a valid trag or barcode value
Allowed tag code : the system will use the IC/AC controllers decision (Green LED command) to check if a tag is allowed or not for this reader at this very moment.

Invalid menu numbers

This is the number of the screen where we want to go to in case of a not valid situation. For each type of validation, a different menu number can be defined.

Configuration Files

The configuration that was created with the "IL Terminal Configuration Software Tool" can be saved under a chosen filename
The configuration files can be opened again for modification or for download into the IL Terminal
Configuration files can be copied or distributed.

Downloading the Configuration

The configuration that we want to download is opened in the "IL Terminal Configuration Software Tool"
The IL Terminal Port 2 RS232 must be connected to the PC RS232 port.
After a power up or reset of the IL Terminal (a reset can also be defined as an action of a specific keypad key in a screen), the IL checks on it's RS232 Port 2 if it is possible to connect with the Configuration Software Tool on the PC
- .-If it can connect and if a download is ready to be sent, the download will start.
- -If it can not connect, the IL switches over to RS485 communication on Port 2 RS485 and starts up with the main screen.
A future version of the configuration software tool will allow the downloading of configuration files into the IL units using the engine. So, it will become unnecessary to download each IL separately by connecting to it's RS232 Port 2.

The Transaction Database

The transactions with data field (tag code, barcode, keypad entry) and reason code are stored in the IC/AC controller
At startup of the IXP200 or IXP400 software and connecting to the hardware, the transactions are moved from the controller to the transaction database
The user can now view the transactions and make reports in the standard Impro IXP Software
Any software manufacturer can use the transaction database and write software applications for various applications.
Denitron will also provide a time & attendance application, an application for production follow up and an application for fuel distribution pumps.
Denitron can also develop your customized software.

Contact information

Denitron
Kazerneweg 27
B-9770 Kruishoutem
Tel. : ++32 9 333.99.00
Fax : ++32 9 383.08.03
Email: info@denitron.com
Website: www.denitron.com