ACR1555U-A1 Bluetooth NFC Reader/Writer User Manual

Introduction

The ACR1555U-A1 is a secure Bluetooth NFC reader/writer that combines the latest technology in smart card reader/writers with Bluetooth connectivity. This compact wireless smart card reader offers a sleek design and sophisticated technology, enabling easy support for Bluetooth-enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets, and meeting the requirements of various smart card-based applications.

This document describes the driver installation procedure and the steps to implement applications using the ACR1555U-A1 Secure Bluetooth NFC Smart Card Reader.

The ACR1555U supports two operating modes:

• NFC Card Reader
• Bluetooth HID Keyboard Emulation

When switching to Bluetooth HID keyboard emulation mode, pairing equipment and establishing a connection is necessary. As this process differs from the NFC reader/writer connection procedure, follow the appropriate steps based on your selected mode.

Product Description

The ACR1555U-A1 features:

• Build-in Buzzer
• Mode Button
• NFC
• USB Type-C
• PICC
• Bluetooth Mode
• Power / Charging
• Power ON/OFF

2.0 iOS (Bluetooth Test App)

2.1 Install Bluetooth Test App

1. Download the iOS BLE EVK (SmartCardIO) from the ACS website and access the device's library files.
2. Open the BLETest.xcodeproj via the Xcode application.
3. Select your mobile device and send the BLETest.xcodeproj to this device, then click the play button. Ensure your mobile device is connected to the PC.

2.2 ACS Bluetooth Demo Application Usage

2.2.1 Device Connection

1. Press and hold the power switch for 3 seconds to turn on the ACR1555U-A1 and enter Bluetooth mode, making it discoverable. The green LED will be constantly lit, and the blue LED will start blinking. If the green LED is lit but the blue LED is not blinking, follow the instructions in step 2.
2. Press and hold the mode switch for 3 seconds to turn on the ACR1555U-A1 and enter Bluetooth mode, making it discoverable.
3. Click Settings > Bluetooth to enable Bluetooth on your mobile device.
4. Open the BLE Test application.
5. Click Scan.
6. Select the terminal type ACR1555U-A1.
7. Select the reader to pair with your iOS device and click Done.
8. The main page will pop up upon successful pairing.

2.2.2 Get Battery Level

To retrieve the battery status, click Get Battery Level. The log will display the battery status.

2.2.3 Transmit APDU Commands

To transmit APDU commands:

1. Connect your mobile device to your Mac and locate the BLETest application folder in Finder.
2. Drag and drop the acos3.txt and mifare.txt files from the script folder into the BLETest folder.
3. Under the Apps section, click the BLETest application to create text files (.txt) containing APDU commands.
4. Tap the ACR1555U-A1 reader with a contactless smart card.
5. On your mobile device's demo application, tap [Script File] and locate the .txt file to execute it.
6. Return to the main page and click the Transmit button. The response APDU will be displayed in the log.

3.0 Android (Bluetooth Test App)

3.1 Install Bluetooth Test App

1. Connect your mobile device to your computer.
2. Create a new folder on your device's internal storage to store the ACR1555U-A1 BLETest files.
3. Download the Android BLE EVK (SmartCardIO) from the ACS website and access the device's library files.
4. Copy the BLETest-0.6.0.apk and test scripts (.txt) files to the folder you created in the Android library.
5. Disconnect your mobile device from the computer and use a file manager application to locate BLETest-0.6.0.apk.
6. Open the BLETest-0.6.0.apk file to start the installation.
7. Use the Package Installer to complete the action.
8. A prompt will appear asking for permission to control the hardware. Tap Install to proceed.
9. Once the installation is complete, you can open the BTETest app.

3.2 ACS Bluetooth Demo Application Usage

3.2.1 Device Connection

1. Press and hold the power switch for 3 seconds to turn on the ACR1555U-A1 and enter Bluetooth mode, making it discoverable. The green LED will be constantly lit, and the blue LED will start blinking. If the green LED is lit but the blue LED is not blinking, follow the instructions in step 2.
2. Press and hold the mode switch for 3 seconds to enable Bluetooth mode on the ACR1555U-A1, making it discoverable.
3. Click Settings | Bluetooth to enable Bluetooth on your mobile device.
4. Open the BLE Test application.
5. Click Scan.
6. Select the terminal type ACR1555U.
7. The available devices will be displayed. Click the dropdown button to show the full list of available devices.

3.2.2 Transmit APDU Commands

To transmit APDU commands:

1. Tap the ACR1555U-A1 reader with a contactless card.
2. On your mobile device's demo application, tap [Select File] and locate the .txt file to execute it.
3. Return to the main page and click the Transmit button. The response APDU will be displayed in the log.

Note: This application is designed to retrieve the card's ATR before sending APDU commands.

Android is a trademark of Google LLC. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Advanced Card Systems Ltd. is permitted to use such marks.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

4.0 Windows® (USB Mode and Bluetooth HID Mode)

4.1 Install ACS CCID PC/SC Driver (USB)

Install the driver:

1. Run the ACS CCID PC/SC Driver Installer (USB).
2. The installation wizard will pop up. Click OK to start the installation.
3. Click Next.
4. Click Next to install to the default path: X:\Program Files\Advanced Card Systems Ltd\ACS CCID PCSC Driver 1.0.5.0\, where X represents the local Windows system disk.
5. Click Install.
6. Wait for the driver installation to complete. When the installation finishes, click Finish.
7. Download and run the ACS QuickView Tool.
8. Connect the ACR1555U using a USB cable.
9. Find the ACR1555U in the list and click 'Select'.
10. Tap the card to read its parameters.

4.2 Bluetooth HID Keyboard Emulation Mode

Note: This step applies to Windows 8 and later systems. Windows 7 cannot support devices that use Bluetooth 5.2/Bluetooth Low Energy interface.

Follow these steps to establish pairing:

1. Press and hold the power switch for 3 seconds to turn on the ACR1555U-A1 and enter Bluetooth mode, making it discoverable. The green LED will be constantly lit, and the blue LED will start blinking. If the green LED is lit but the blue LED is not blinking, follow the instructions in step 2.
2. Press and hold the mode switch for 3 seconds to enable Bluetooth mode on the ACR1555U-A1, making it discoverable.
3. Go to Settings, then select Bluetooth & devices.
4. Turn on Bluetooth.
5. Click Add device.
6. In the [Add a device] window, click [Bluetooth] and select the ACR1555U-A1 reader for pairing. (If ACR1555 is not found in Windows 11, continue to step 6.)
7. If Windows 11 or Bluetooth devices are not displayed, you may need to switch the 'Bluetooth devices discovery' to advanced mode. You can find the Bluetooth device discovery option in the Settings menu under 'Bluetooth & devices' > 'Devices'.
8. Press and hold the mode switch to complete the Bluetooth binding process. The ACR1555U-A1 is now connected, and the blue LED will be constantly lit, indicating that the device is connected correctly.
9. Once successfully bound, the ACR1555U-A1 enters HID mode. Open Notepad and read the card UID.

Note: To configure the ACR 1555 U for HID keyboard emulation mode, you need to use the ACS script tools or the ACS ACR15XX keyboard configuration tool. Refer to Chapter 5 for details.

5.0 Bluetooth HID Keyboard Emulation

What is Bluetooth HID Keyboard Emulation?

Bluetooth HID keyboard emulation is a feature of the ACR1555 reader/writer. It allows the reader/writer to be used as a keyboard input device to read the unique identifier (UID) of a card.

In this mode, the reader/writer reads the UID from the smart card and automatically inputs the information into an editable text field, just like a regular keyboard. This simplifies the card data entry process, allowing users to complete operations more quickly and efficiently.

5.1 Steps for ACR1555U to Enter Bluetooth HID Keyboard Emulation

Required tools download link: https://www.acs.com.hk/en/utility-tools/

1. Download the application: Obtain the ACS ACR15XX Keyboard Configuration Tool (V201).
2. Connect the device: Connect the ACR1555U to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Open the tool: Launch the ACR15XX Keyboard Configuration Tool.

This tool allows you to customize keyboard settings such as layout, language, and card UID reading mode. (Keep the default settings.)

4. Select Device: Select ACR1555U from the list and click the 'Connect' button to read the firmware version and current settings.
5. Change Mode: Select BLE HID MODE from the dropdown menu to switch to Bluetooth HID mode. You can also use this tool to return to CCID mode.
6. Application Settings: Click 'Apply' to save changes, or click 'Quit' to exit without saving.
7. To activate Bluetooth HID keyboard emulation mode, restart the ACR1555U device by pressing the 'Power' button or the 'Mode' button and turning it off.

Note: To return to NFC Reader/Writer mode, follow the procedure to clear the binding (pairing) record (Chapter 5.2) and repeat the setup procedure, selecting CCID Reader/Writer.

Testing the ACR1555U in Bluetooth HID Keyboard Emulation Mode

1. Open your phone's system settings and navigate to Bluetooth.
2. Turn on the Bluetooth reader/writer and find 'ACR1555U-A 1-XXXXX' from the device list.
3. Select the reader/writer and click the 'Pair' button on the Bluetooth pairing request dialog.
4. Press the 'MODE' button on the left to confirm the connection.
5. Open the Notepad app again and read the card UID.

5.2 Clearing Pairing Records

Why clear pairing records?

Clearing Bluetooth pairing records is a necessary step to prevent unexpected automatic reconnections. Once the binding record is cleared, the ACR1555U will only pair with trusted devices, ensuring that previously connected devices do not interfere with current settings. By restarting, you can minimize connection errors and improve overall security.

Steps to Clear ACR1555U Binding Records

Method 1

1. Check the device list:
• Access the Bluetooth settings option on your mobile device.
• Ensure that the ACR1555U is not listed. If it is listed, select and click the 'Forget' or 'Remove' button. This will prevent automatic reconnection.
2. Disconnect ACR1555U:
• Wait for the blue LED of the ACR1555U to start blinking, indicating that the Bluetooth connection has been disconnected.
• Turn off your mobile device's Bluetooth function to prevent the ACR1555U from attempting to re-establish a connection.
3. To clear binding records:
• Press and hold the ACR1555U 'MODE' mode switch for 4 seconds until the blue LED blinks rapidly (for 4 seconds) to clear the ACR1555U's Bluetooth binding records.
4. New Device Connection:
• The ACR1555U is now ready to pair with a new mobile device.

Method 2

1. Download the software: Obtain the ACS Script Tool.
2. Connect the device: Connect the ACR1555U to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Open the tool: Run the ACS Script Tool.
4. Command to clear binding records: Enter the command [D] E0 00 00 5B 00 and click '▶' to execute.
5. Restart the ACR1555U. It is now ready to pair with new mobile devices.