IDC’s new low cost ZB111 hand held mobile barcode scanner, for goods in/out and inventory management systems, is designed for smaller organisations that cannot invest in full blown Windows CE™ handheld terminals. The design of the ZB111 takes the complexity – and cost - out of the handheld unit and transfers it to a central server, making the system simple to support and upgrade.
Designed for wireless mesh operation with licence-free IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless sensor networks, the ZB111 reads all commonly used barcodes and can be used for a variety of industrial and logistics applications. The unit offers the operational benefit of being highly ruggedised, and the cost saving advantages of not requiring cabling, power supplies, or installation. It has low power requirements and is rechargeable from a standard 5vDC/ mains charger.
Easy to use, the ZB111 is provided with a keypad featuring ten keys – which can be individually customised if required – and a graphical display, enabling barcode and interactive messages, commands and prompts to be sent to central Warehouse Management and Manufacturing Execution server- based systems.
The flexibility of IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networking enables the ZB111 to provide secure and robust two- way communications over distances of up to 100m between nodes; with routing over multiple nodes for larger networks and longer distances.
Security and redundancy is provided with encryption and alternative routing of messages in the event of a single node failure. In addition, the ZigBee network is easy to install and extend using routers, and it can be used for other applications for tracking, monitoring and control.
The ZB111 is a key component in IDC’s comprehensive ZB family of ZigBee modules, which includes Ethernet and serial gateways, routers, micro- controller and handheld devices, These devices provide a comprehensive single source for complete wireless solutions, ranging from simple cable elimination to large- scale, site- wide telemetry systems in a distributed control system architecture.
IDC Ltd
Intelligent Distributed Controls (IDC Ltd) is based in Derby. The company has a highly skilled team of dedicated hardware and software design, development and application engineers. These personnel have specialist application knowledge of control systems applied to logistics, warehouse distribution and manufacturing. This applications experience has IDC enabled to develop key skills in real time control, RFID and wireless technology, and to develop niche products for these industries and related OEMs. IDC’s customer base includes Toyota, Toys R Us, ASDA George, Smiths Areospace, Astra Zeneca and Vestas Wind Systems A/S.