Why not just use a PDA with a built in RFID scanner? ~$800 last time I looked get a belt mount bluetooth printer and they are done, going to be much easier than mounting all this stuff and trying to get it to work. On 15/09/09 09:10, Roger Weichert wrote: > Hi Guys, > > I was approached yesterday to offer a solution to a problem a 'herd testing' > company has with obtaining 'dairy cow identification numbers' from the RFID > system already built into the dairies. > > They want a simple device they can clip to the front of a led display (7 or > 8 seven segment displays) that will transfer the number to their own > equipment. > > They cant physically tap into the existing displays because they would have > to modify the display in every dairy they go to (which is impractical) and > the manufacturer of the equip already in the dairies will not provide info > on the protocols used to send the numbers to the display (despite 5 years of > negotiation) > > Apparently the herd testers take their own equipment to each dairy to obtain > milk samples but it only stays there a couple of days. They return each > month. > > That exists of their own RFID antenna and reader to identify each cow, then > a palm device and a printer to spit out a label to go on each 250ml sample > container. > > They obtain two samples per cow from two milkings. The samples are then > taken back to the lab where they use a robotic sorter before being analysed. > > Apparently they have investigated using a camera in a box, hung on the front > of the dairies display, and then using an OCR program to identify the > number. > > I suspect the best way would be to 'crack' the communications feeding from > the reader to the display, though exactly how to do that is my dilemma. > > Does anyone have any suggestions how to go about it, or any other ways of > capturing the ID numbers. > > The two brands of RFID systems already in the dairies are made by DeLaval > and Westfalia. > > Regards, Roger > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist