The Scirocco IR (InfraRed) identification systems comprise Readers, Tags, Energizers and Accessories. They make use of the latest inventions in infrared technology and are patented by Scirocco. IR systems are highly optimised in relation to performance, tolerance to demanding environments and coexistence with other systems.
Scirocco IR systems offer a number of unique features;
- Low-cost readers
- Compact readers
- Long reading- and writing range
- High-precision zone with sharp edges
- Reading of one or two tags simultaneously
- Radio band regulation not an issue
- Patented technology
- Adequate speed (30 km/h)
- No batteries – friendliness to the environment
Scirocco IR systems have no battery in the tags. Infrared light signals and lens technology are used for tag reading and writing, as well as to energize tags. The signals are generated by LEDs (light emitting diodes) and are specially coded to efficiently carry information, as well as to distinguish from other artificial light. Photo detectors with advanced optics are used to receive signals, where lenses in the reader are used to magnify the reading signals from tag to precisely define the zone borders and to block light from other directions to reach the receiver.
More precisely, the systems operate in the NIR (Near InfraRed) band, i.e. where the frequency is 300 THz which corresponds to a wavelength of 1 um – about twice the wavelength of visible light. Infrared emitters are harmless to other equipment and can therefore be freely used in any market.
Scirocco IR systems can read tags at up to 3 m distance, while writing is possible at up to about 2 m. They are directional and feature a high-precision and exact communication zone, as defined by the illumination and receiver lens optics in the readers. The systems are very robust against disturbances from other sources thanks to the optical properties of infrared.
By means of lens technology and without need for a separate antenna, IR systems are characterised by very compact, light-weight and low-cost readers.
Scirocco IR systems have a highly functional design and are designed for demanding environments, i.e. with high IP- and EMC specifications as well as tolerance to mechanical stress.
With about twice the wavelength of visible light, infrared waves can pass through smoke and layers of dust particles without significant attenuation, thereby making many materials that are opaque to the eye nearly transparent to infrared. Further, water has little or no attenuation to the infrared tag signals and it goes without saying that infrared tags can be mounted directly to metal or concrete without performance degradation.
Scirocco IR systems are typically used in closed-loop flows with large and valuable objects. Examples are found in factory flow-lines for identification of AGVs, forklift trucks and car bodies, and in transport logistics with trucks, trailers, trolleys, buses and containers. These objects generally need directional identification at more than 0.5 m distance, at the same time as misreads or overreach due to metal- or concrete structures are unacceptable. The predictable reading zone, the compact reader size and the freedom to place tags on metal, without need to align them with the reader’s polarization, makes installation easy.