Barcode Scanner Core Basics

Dear customer,

You know, it still never ceases to amaze me how there is still so much confusion within our industry with data capture and integration of barcode scanners. Choosing the right barcode scanner for your budget and your application can be for many, a task that can be fraught with many perils and dangers. But there is no reason it has to be like this!

It also certainly doesn't help that some barcode experts in the industry, confuse it even more and create an almost black magic about barcode scanners and data capture. Well let me tell you.....it's not black magic and it's not rocket science either. Admittingly, there are a few variables involved but if a guy like me, who has never been the sharpest tool in the shed and can get his head around this, i am sure you will too!

Firstly, a barcode scanner can be cabled or cordless. We will take a look in further emails on these differences. But essentially, a barcode scanner is also designed to scan only the barcode #. Thats it!

If you need the barcode scanner to collect location #, user ID #, Qty, date and time stamp etc etc......then you need to look at using a PDA Barcode Scanner or also referred to as Mobile Computer/Barcode Terminal/Portable Data Terminal.....for this. For a range of our mobile computers, check this link out - Cipherlab Mobile Computers

More about mobile computers will be covered in a future email. However, they do use the same scanning engines as barcode scanners which we describe below.

TYPICAL BARCODE SCANNER TYPICAL PDA BARCODE SCANNER

Barcode Scanners are generally connected back to your PC via three main cable interfaces. They are USB, Serial and Keyboard Wedge. A USB cable interface is the most common these days. A few years ago, it was mainly keyboard wedge but now its USB. USB interface see's the data as keyboard input. That means it emulates keyboard strokes. So what ever application you have that is open, it will dump the scanned data there.

The scannning engines found in barcode scanners also vary. You have CCD, Linear Imager, Laser and 2D (see below for further info on scanning engines).

CCD Barcode Scanner

CCD stands for Charged Coupled Device. CCD technology works the same way that a camera works. The barcode is photographed & digitised and electronically sent back into the application. CCD barcode scanners are low cost, durable, low power and maintenance.. Because CCD scanners have no moving parts, they are generally more rugged then laser scanners.

CCD Scanners are a touch scanner so the proximity of range between the scanner and the barcode is very close, sometimes touching. CCD readers range from about 0 - 2cm and up to 67mm in width. You can only get these scanners cabled. No cordless versions are available in CCD.

You would also classify these barcode scanners as an entry level barcode scanner. Not suitable for supermarkets or when there is a high amount of traffic that needs to be scanned . However, if there is low traffic and and occasional scanning required, then yes, this could be a good choice. You should be able to find decent CCD scanners around or under the $110.00-150.00ex GST.

There are many CCD scanners on the market. And like everything, there are good and bad ones. Be sure to ask what kind of warranty they have. The good ones will have up to 5yr warranties.

A couple of features to look out for are:

1. Depth of field (D.O.F.)- min and max reading distance of a barcode read. usually no more than a couple of cms.

2. Resolution - Smallest barcodes it can read. Generally 4-5 mil is the smallest.

3. Drop rating - how robust it is. Look for 1.2-1.5m +

4. Warranties - Look for up to 5yrs.

Linear Imager Barcode Scanner

Linear Imager Scanners are also referred to as CCD Scanners. However, this CCD scanner is no touch scanner. They are also called a long distance CCD scanner They produces a beam of about 0.5cm in height across the barcode.

They have a distance of reading barcodes of up to 35cm. Because they have no moving parts, they are quite durable and rugged with drop rating of up to 2 metres.

Costs are slightly more expensive than the CCD scanners but scanning is much more responsive and quicker. Some Linear Imagers come with auto sense stands for hands free scanning. Costs can be around are the $180-$200ex for a kit - scanner + cable + stand.

Linear Image scanners can be cabled or cordless. Cipherlab has a great range of Linear Imagers in the 1500 Series. For cabled, look at the 1500. For Cordless, look at the 1560. Also check out the pocket size cordless scanners which will be the 1661/1663 cordless bluetooth scanners from the 1600 Series. Cordless scanners will range in cost from about $295.00ex - $520.00ex-

A couple of features to look out for are:

1. Depth of field - min and max reading distance of a barcode

2. Resolution - Smallest barcodes it can read. Generally 3 mil is the smallest.

3. Drop rating - how robust it is. Look for 1.2m+

4. Warranties - Good ones are up to 5yrs.

Laser Barcode Scanners

Laser scanners use a laser beam as the light source and typically employ either a reciprocating mirror or a rotating prism to scan the laser beam back and forth across the bar code. A photodiode is used to measure the intensity of the light reflected back from the barcode. The light emitted by the reader is tuned to a specific frequency and the photodiode is designed to detect only this modulated light of the same frequency.

Laser Barcode Scanners have generally the best performance compared to CCD and Linear Imagers in certain conditions. However, they are generally a bit more expensive again and can be more prone to breakdown. They have moving parts where the CCDs / Linear Imagers have no moving parts.

In applications, where the barcodes are larger than 30cm in width and you need to scan in direct sunlight, Laser Barcode Scanners are generally the best option. You find laser scanning engines used in most mobile computers from warehousing thru to mobility applications outdoors. However, if indoors and you are scanning barcodes than are not greater than 30cm in width, then there is negligible difference between Laser and Linear Imager.

If intersted in Laser barcode Scanners, check out the 1500 series and the 1502 scanner. which is a cabled laser barcode scanner. The 1562 is a cordless bluetooth laser barcode scanner.

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2D Barcode Scanners

2D means two dimensional - that is, information is encoded vertically as well as horizontally. Conventional 1D barcodes just get wider as more data is encoded, while 2D barcodes can also make use of the vertical dimension to pack more data in. 2D barcode scanners are becoming more frequently used in applications where the barcode needs to store much more information than just an Item #. Actually you can store over 2000 characters in a 2D barcode.

As you can see above, the 2D barcode does does not look like a linear 1D barcode on the right. They are often squarish with many vertical and horizontal lines with no real formation of patterns. Like 1D barcodes, there are also a number of barcoding symbologies that are available....ie;- TLC-39 (TCIF Linked Code 39); Code 11; PDF417; MicroPDF417; Data Matrix; Maxicode; QR Code; US Postnet; US Planet; UK Postal; Japan Postal; Australian Postal; Dutch Postal; Composite Code

2D barcode scanners can also scan 1D barcodes. So if you need to scan both 2D barcodes and 1D barcodes, you only need a 2D barcode scanner. You have choices of cabled and cordless 2D barcode scanners.

For more information on 2D scanners, check out our range of 2D scanners on this link: http://www.cipherlab.com.au/2D_barcode_scanner.html

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If you don't want to wait for any further emails but would prefer to hear more right away, please feel free to call me on 1300 247 437.

We've helped more than 1000 businesses to save money, time, and frustration accross Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea with Cipherlab products and solutions.

I look forward to seeing whether we have a solution that fits your specific requirements.

Email: [email protected]

PH: 02 9621 3427

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