UHF Reader Platform for Industry 4.0

Direct connection of external antennas increases flexibility of read/write heads and simplifies gate applications in multiplex operation

Mülheim, November 7, 2018 – At the SPS IPC Drives fair, Turck will be presenting the first device in its Q300 UHF reader family with an Ethernet interface. RFID users particularly benefit from the range of platforms and interfaces of the Q300 readers. Up to four external antennas can be connected directly on the reader, thus considerably simplifying the creation of high performance gate applications in multiplex operation. The direct connection of triggers and signals via universal I/Os also simplifies the installation. With an output power of up to 2 W the readers can achieve very large read/write ranges. Their selectable antenna polarization enables read holes to be excluded in any environment, even with a high output. With the Q300 series Turck is strengthening its position as a system supplier for these key Industry 4.0 technologies.

The integrated Ethernet interface enables all Q300 readers to not only be connected directly to industrial controllers, ERP or other systems, but also to receive a power supply via “Power over Ethernet” (PoE). Additional interfaces or industrial PCs in the field are not required with the Q300 series. As IP67 readers they support the complete separation of the production level from the corporate IT.

Turck's first variant to be launched is a Codesys variant. The integrated U interface of the Q300-CDS provides the data directly to a controller. The Codesys reader is a multiprotocol device and can thus be integrated directly in all networks with Profinet, Ethernet/IP or a Modbus TCP master. Over the course of 2019, Turck will next add a Linux-based variant to the Q300 series, which will be of particular interest to system integrators. Devices with Windows CE as well as a variant with OPC-UA will also follow.