EPS IU Reader User Operating Manual [PIC-316-IU]

Introduction

The PIC-316-IU is an electronic interface board designed to connect to an In-Vehicle Unit (IU) antenna so that a computer or system can read the vehicle’s IU number — a unique identifier transmitted by the onboard electronic unit used in Singapore for car traffic and parking systems.

Features

  • Operates from 7V, 12V up to 24Vdc (DC Barrel Socket OD 5.5mm, ID 2.1mm)
  • 1x Input trigger to read IU
  • 1x General Purpose Input
  • 1x Output (Captured IU number successfully)
  • 1x Output (Failed to capture any IU number)
  • Ethernet/RS232 communication
  • RS485 connection to EPS IU Antenna

Product Description

Parts description [PIC-316-IU]
  1. Product User Guide – QR code scan for access to the device operating guide.
  2. Product Model – Product model PIC-316-IU
  3. Indicator Power Operating – Blinking green indicator meaning device is operating normally. Red light blinking may indicate error detected.
  4. Power Input – DC barrel socket (OD:5.5mm, ID:2.1mm) accepting a voltage range from 7, 12 to 24Vdc. Current max is 1A.
  5. Ethernet Port – Ethernet communication connection. (check below for configuration)
  6. RS485 to EPS IU Antenna – 2 twisted pair wiring to the antenna.
  7. Indicator Communication – toggling lights means receiving data from the communication channels.
  8. Test Button – for simulating an EPS IU antenna (without the physical antenna)
  9. Indicator I/O Ports – Display the respective status of the I/O ports.
  10. I/O Ports 1-4 – Special functioning I/O ports.

Setup

The following are some instructions for the wiring connection and configuration for the PIC-316-IU, the EPS IU Antenna, the network setup, and the control command communication protocol.

There are two ways of operating this IU reader.

Propose System Connection

This system workflow is triggered by the vehicle detector.

The vehicle detector will request IU scanning. If the IU number is read successfully, it will send the IU number to the computer, and will also activate an output, which can be used for opening the barrier.

Recommended IU Reader connection

Computer-Controlled IU Reader

This system workflow is triggered from the computer.

The computer send request for IU scanning. The IU number scanned will be returned to the computer.

Computer-Controlled IU Reader

Hardware Connection

The following are the PIC-316-IU reader wiring instructions.

  1. Connect the power input to the PIC-316-IU reader. It is recommended to share the power supply (24Vdc 3A) with the EPS IU Antenna, to do away with the need of installing another power supply unit.
  2. Connect the Ethernet port to your computer system lcoal area network.
  3. Connect the RS485 port to the EPS IU Antenna with a twisted pair cable.
  4. Optional: You can connect Port 1 (input) from the output of a vehicle detector sensor. The output of the sensor is to be a simple relay contact (dry contact). When a vehicle is detected in front of the EPS IU Antenna, the input will trigger the reader to scan for the vehicle IU number.
  5. Optional: Port 2 is an input port (unused)
  6. Optional: Port 3 is a relay contact output. It will output a 1-second pulse if the IU number of a vehicle is successfully captured.
  7. Optional: Port 4 is a relay contact output. It will output a 1-second pulse if the IU number of a vehicle is not captured after scanning for about 10 seconds.

EPS IU Antenna Setup

For this Mitsubishi EANT-2 EPS Antenna Unit, the wiring connection is simple. There are a few steps to take note.

  1. Connect up the RS485 connection with a twisted pair wire to the PIC-316-IU RS485 port. Please ensure that the +ve and -ve polarity is wired correctly.
  2. Supply 24V (up to 3A) to the EPS IU Antenna unit.
  3. Ensure that the ARC-ID is set to 1. (ID of this antenna unit)
  4. To start operating, turn on the power supply and ensure that the power switch (A white coloured square push-latched button) is pushed down. When the unit is powered up, this push latched button will illuminate with the colour green.
EPS IU Antenna Setup

Communication

Ethernet Version (Network Configuration)

For product model number PIC-316-IU only.

1. Download PIC-316-IU device finder & configuration program. Unzip the files and execute the file “USR-M0 V2.2.6.1.exe“

Software: ethernet-config-software.zip (0.7Mb)

(note: for Windows OS only)

2. Click on the button “Search Device” to find PIC-316-IU readers connected to the same local network.

3. Select the Device IP which you would like to configure. A configuration page will pop up on the right side of the window.
You may want to make a copy of the device’s MAC address.

4. Follow the proposed configuration settings on the right.

This default recommended configuration sets the PIC-316-IU as a client.

Please change the RemoteIP to the IP address of your server, and also the ModuleStaticIP to the assigned IP address from your network administrator.

You may also like to set it to another network configuration suitable for your system. Eg.
– Set device IP Type to “DHCP” instead of “Static IP”
– Set the device as “TCP Server” instead of “TCP Client”

Please remember to click on the button “Save Config” when you are done with your configuration. This will save the settings onto the PIC-316-IU device.

RS232 Version (Serial Configuration)

For product model number PIC-306-IU only.

  • Baud rate: 9600 bps
  • Stop bits: 1
  • Parity: None
  • Hardware handshake: None

Command Format

This device accepts ASCII commands over UART. Each command frame:

  • Starts with ETX (0x03, Ctrl+C)
  • Ends with CR (0x0D, carriage return)

All commands must follow this structure:

Ascii: [ETX][ASCII Command][CR][LF]
Hex: 03 [ASCII Command] 0D 0A

Invalid Command Response

If a command is invalid, the device returns:

Ascii: [ETX]NA[CR][LF]
Hex: 03 4E 41 0D 0A

Ping Command

Host → Device 03 4F 4B 0D 0A
Device → Host 03 4F 4B 0D 0A

IU Request Command

The computer can issue an IU scanning request to the IU reader using the following IU command (5 bytes).

IU Request Command: 0x03 0x49 0x55 0x0D 0x0A ( which is ETX ‘I‘ ‘U‘ ‘\r‘ ‘\n‘ )

If the vehicle IU unit is present, the IU reader will respond with

Response: 0x03 0x49 0x55 [IU ID number] 0x0D 0x0A

where [IU ID number] is a 10-digit number representing the vehicle IU unit ID number.

If the vehicle IU unit is NOT present, the IU reader will respond with

Response: 0x03 0x49 0x55 0x4E 0x41 0x0D 0x0A ( which is ETX ‘I‘ ‘U‘ ‘N‘ ‘A‘ ‘\r‘ ‘\n‘ )

If the EPS IU Antenna is NOT connected, NOT powered up, or is faulty, the IU reader will respond with

Response: 0x03 0x49 0x55 0x45 0x52 0x52 0x4F 0x52 0x0D 0x0A ( which is ETX ‘I‘ ‘U‘ ‘E‘ ‘R‘ ‘R‘ ‘O‘ ‘R‘ ‘\r‘ ‘\n‘ )

Ping Command

Network connection may get disconnected occasionally for numerous reasons. It is recommended to send a ping command every minute to maintain the network connection.

Host → Device 03 4F 4B 0D 0A
Device → Host 03 4F 4B 0D 0A

( which is ETX ‘O‘ ‘K‘ ‘\r‘ ‘\n‘ )

Click here for the complete command list.

IU Number Reading Simulation (using onboard Test button)

For development work purposes or for troubleshooting situations, the EPS IU Antenna or the vehicle’s IU unit may not be available for testing. To ease the development work, a test mode feature is built in to help developer work out the scenario for their software development.

The PIC-316-IU IU reader can be switched into a simulation mode by pressing the “Test Button”. The test mode will be switched every time the test button is pressed.

Test Button Mode
Pressed once – Simulation test mode #1
Pressed again – Simulation test mode #2
Pressed again – Simulation test mode #3
Pressed again – Returns to normal operation
*** Repeats to cycle through the mode.

To set the device into simulation mode #1, press the Test button once. You should hear a beep sound. The beep sound will continue to beep every few seconds to remind the user that the device is in simulation mode #1. The operating LED will blink as an orange light instead of green during the simulation mode.

The same Test button is pressed again to set the device into simulation mode #2. You should hear a double beep sound this time. The double beep sound will continue to beep every few seconds to remind the user that the device is in simulation mode #2. The same goes for mode #3.

Pressing the Test button when in mode #3 will return the device to normal operation. There will be a long, low sound tone followed by the operating indicator blinking in green colour.

Test mode #1,
This mode simulates the vehicle IU number detected. Immediate response from the IU Antenna. Request to scan for IU number will be responded back immediately with the IU number “0123456789”
(response bytes: 03 49 55 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 0D 0A)

Test mode #2,
This mode simulates the vehicle IU number detected after some time. A delayed response from the IU Antenna. Request to scan for IU number will be responded with the IU number “0123456789” after about 10 seconds.
(response bytes: 03 49 55 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 0D 0A)

Test mode #3,
This mode simulates a vehicle IU number not detected by the IU Antenna. This happens when there is no Vehicle IU in front of the IU Antenna or the IU Antenna is not detecting the Vehicle IU for some reason. Request to scan for IU number will be responded with the message “IUNA” (vehicle IU is Not Available) after about 10 seconds.
(response bytes: 03 49 55 4E 41 0D 0A)

In normal operation mode, there is one scenario which you may want to test for. The reader responds with the message “IUERROR“.
(response bytes: 03 49 55 45 52 52 4F 52 0D 0A)

This is when the RS485 wire is not connected, when the IU Antenna is faulty or the IU Antenna is not powered up.

When the IU Antenna is connected up during normal operation, it will either respond with the Vehicle IU number (IU detected) or “IUNA” (IU not detected).

Tools for testing and sending commands.

Go back to main page “Reading In-Vehicle Unit number from IU Antenna“