BARCODING TECHNOLOGYGenuine Coder

Introduction

Why use barcodes?

Barcode types and uses

Bar-coding terminology

Barcode scanners

Advantages

Conclusion

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONAs far back as the 1960s, barcodes were used in industrial work environments. Some of the early implementations of barcodes included the ability identify rail road cars.

In the early 1970s, common barcodes started appearing on grocery shelves. To automate the process of identifying grocery items, UPC barcodes were placed on products.

Today, barcodes are just about everywhere and are used for identification in almost all types of business.

What is Barcode?

A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches.

Bar code is a predefined format of dark bars and white spaces

It allows real-time data to be collected accurately and rapidly

Why use barcodes?

When barcodes are used in the business process, procedures are automated to increase productivity and reduce human error.

Whenever there is a need to accurately identify or track something, bar-coding should be used

Instead of manually typing a customer identification number into a database, if the information is contained in a barcode, a data entry operator may scan it in. This would increase automation and reduce human error.

Linear barcodes 2D barcodes

Code 128 Data Matrix

UPC PDF417

Interleaved 2 of 5 Maxicode

Barcode types and useThere are 2 types of barcodes

1. Linear barcodes and

2. 2D barcodes

The type of barcode to use for a particular situation depends upon

The use

The data encoded in barcode

How the barcode will be printed

There are several different types of barcode standards for different purposes - these are called symbologies

Choosing the best type to use

Symbology

The mapping between messages and barcodes is called a symbology.

Different type of symbologies:

Codabar: Older code often used in library systems, sometimes in blood banks

Code 11: Used primarily for labeling telecommunications equipment

UPC-A: Universal product code seen on almost all retail products in the USA and Canada

Code 128: Very capable code, excellent density, high reliability; in very wide use world-wide

BAR-The darker, non reflective element of a Barcode

BI-DIRECTIONAL SYMBOL - A Bar Code symbol format which permits reading in either direction across the bars and spaces

CHECK DIGIT - A calculated character included within the Bar Code for error detection

Bar-coding Terminology

INTER-CHARACTER GAP - The space between the bars or space

SPACE - The lighter, reflective element of a Bar Code.

START CHARACTER - A special pattern of bars and spaces used to identify the beginning of a Bar Code symbol.

STOP CHARACTER - A special pattern of bars and spaces used to identify the end of a Bar Code symbol

Barcode Scanners

These are the devices used to extract information from barcode optically

Basically there are two types of scanners

1. Contact readers and2. Non-contact readers

Contact readers Must touch or come in close proximity of

symbol

Good where the label cannot be placed in an easy-to-view position

Normally hand-held/stationary units

Common type is pen/wand reader

Fixed beam slot scanner

Non-contact readersReader need not come in contact with symbol

Scan distance may be from 6” to several feet depending upon symbol size and scanner design

Hand-held, fixed beam readers

Table mounted fixed beam reader

Hand-Held moving beam readers

CCD Scanner

Working of barcode scanner

Basically, there are 3 functional parts to the barcode scanner itself illumination system,

the sensor / converter, and

the decoder.

Barcode scanners begin by illuminating the code with red light. The sensor of the barcode scanner detects the reflected light from the illumination system and generates an analog signal with varying voltage that represent the intensity (or lack of intensity) of the reflection. The converter changes the analog signal to a digital signal which is fed to the decoder. The decoder interprets the digital signal, does that math required to confirm and validate that the barcode is decipherable, converts it into ASCII text, formats the text and sends it to the computer the scanner is attached to.

Types of Illumination systemsSingle point LED

Linear multiple LED

LASER

LED Imager

Sensor and Converter A photo detector senses the reflected light and generates an analog signal with varying voltage. The voltage fluctuates based on whether the sensor sees the reflected light from the white spaces because the black bars absorb the red light.

Decoder – The decoder in a barcode scanner performs a variety of functions. First, it analyses the digital signal from the sensor, and tests to see if it can be interpreted as a valid barcode. In this test, it looks for uniformity of the white space (high signal) on each side of the digital signal, and uniformity between the peaks and valleys of the digital signal itself. Then, it tests the digital signal for conformance with any and all of the barcode symbologies it's designed and set up to read.

Advantages

Fast-selling items can be identified quickly and automatically reordered.

Slow-selling items can be identified, preventing inventory build-up.

The effects of merchandising changes can be monitored, allowing fast-moving, more profitable items to occupy the best space

Historical data can be used to predict seasonal fluctuations very accurately.

Items may be repriced on the shelf to reflect both sale prices and price increases.

ConclusionBarcode technology is a very useful technology

It is very cheap

Highly useful for identifying objects

Thank you Download barcode generator program

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