Barcode Scanner
A barcode scanner or a barcode readeris an electronic device which is used for reading the printed barcodes. It is little similar to the flatbed scanner, it includes a lens, a light source, and a light sensor that translates optical impulses into the electrical ones. Added to that almost all the barcode scanners have a decoder circuit that analyses the barcode image data which is provided by the sensor after that it sends the barcode’s content to the output port of the scanner.
Types of barcode readers
Technology
Barcode readers can be differentiated by technology as follows:
Pen-type readers
The first type of barcode scanner is the Pen-type scanner that consists of a photodiode and a light source which are placed besides each other in the tip of a wand. So as to scan the barcode the person holding the pen must move its tip across the bars at a uniform speed. The PEN reader a photodiode which measures the intensity of the light which is reflected back from the light source as the tip runs across each bar and space in the printed code. A waveform is generated through the photodiode which is used to measure the width of the bars and spaces of the barcode. The barcode scanner absorbs the light from the dark bars and it reflects the light from the spaces this creates a voltage waveform that gets generated by the photodiode and is a representation of the space and the bar pattern in the barcode. This particular waveform gets decoded by the barcode in the same way the Morse code dots and the dashes are decoded.
Laser scanners
This scanner works in a similar way as that of a pen type barcode reader, the only difference being that they use a laser beam as a source of light and it usually employ a reciprocating mirror if not that then it uses a prism that rotates so as to scan the laser beam front and back across the barcode. In both the scanners i.e. the laser scanner and the pen type scanner, the light that gets emitted through the reader is varied in brightness. It has a data pattern and the photodiode circuit is made to detect signals which have the same drafted pattern.
CCD readers
CCD barcode readers employ a number of small light sensors that are lined up in a row at the head of the scanner. Every sensor that is used in the scanner measures the intensity of light which is in front of it at that time. Every light sensor in the CCD barcode reader is very small and that because there are a number of readers in a row, it forms a voltage pattern that is same as the pattern in a barcode which is generated inside the scanner by sequentially measuring the voltage around every reader in the row. The major dissimilarity between a pen or a CCD reader or a laser scanner is that, the CCD scanner is used to measure the emitted ambient light through the barcode, unlike the laser or a pen reader that measure the reflected light of a particular frequency which is originating from the scanner itself.
Camera-based readers
The newest type of barcode scanner is the camera based readers; they are two dimensional imaging scanners. It uses the image processing technique to read the barcode.
Other type of barcode reader is the video camera scanner that uses a small video camera which has the CCD technology as the barcode scanner, and instead of single row sensors the video camera has a number of sensors that are arranged in a two dimensional pattern so that an image can be generated.
There are big field of view readers that employ very high resolution industrial cameras to read multiple barcodes simultaneously. Each barcode that appear in the photograph gets decoded at once or by using plugins that are the proven options for resolving the task.
Omni-directional barcode scanners
These scanning devices use an array of curved or straight scanning lines different directions which are in the form of a starburst or a multi angle pattern that are projected at a symbol and one or even more of them would be able to scan all the spacesand bars, regardless of the orientation.
These scanners they all use a laser. They produce an arrangement of beams in different orientations that allows them to read the barcodes at any angle. Many of them employ a single rotating polygonal mirror and a pattern of various fixed mirrors to generate their complex scanning patterns.
These readers are familiar with the horizontal readers that are in the supermarket. There is a wide range of Omni directional units that are present in the market, for multiple types of scanning applications. Omni directional scanners are also capable of reading badly printed, torn or even wrinkled barcodes.
Cell phone cameras
Mobile phones that do not have an auto-focus are not capable of scanning some common barcodes, but there are some 2D barcodes that are optimized for mobile phones, Data Matrix and QR codes can be read easily and accurately even if they are without auto focus. A number of applications have been opened up for the consumers:
• Movie catalogs for DVD or VHS
• play MP3 after scanning, CDs
• Device and book catalogs
• Information on nutrition, groceries,making shopping lists, etc.
• Inventory of personal property which is for insurance and other purposes.
• If the retailers may put barcodes on receipts that allowthe encoding of the entire receipt in a 2D barcode pattern or download an electronic copy, so that the clients can easily get the data into personal finance, grocery, inventory of property, etc. Receipts that are read on a scanner can be easily associated and identified with the appropriate entries in the property inventory software.
Smartphones
Smartphones are widely used to scan barcodes. After scanning the redirect the barcode to the parent site of the product, from where you can get all the details about it.
Housing
Barcode scanners can be differentiated based on their making which is discussed as follows:
Handheld Scanner
It has a handle with an inbuilt trigger button to switch on the light source.
Pen scanner
It is a scanner in shape of a pen.
Stationary Scanner
These are table or wall scanners and the barcode is passed under or beside it.
Fixed Position Scanner
This is kind of reader is an industrial barcode scanner that is used to identify the products which are under the manufacturing stage or in logistics. They are mostly used on conveyor tracks which is to identify the pallets or cartons that need to be routed to some other location or process. One more application joins the holographic scanners which have a check weighed to read the barcodes of any placement or orientation and it also weighs the package.
Update: We also provide a comprehensive guide on IBM Server. Read more on this here.
Types of barcode readers
Technology
Barcode readers can be differentiated by technology as follows:
Pen-type readers
The first type of barcode scanner is the Pen-type scanner that consists of a photodiode and a light source which are placed besides each other in the tip of a wand. So as to scan the barcode the person holding the pen must move its tip across the bars at a uniform speed. The PEN reader a photodiode which measures the intensity of the light which is reflected back from the light source as the tip runs across each bar and space in the printed code. A waveform is generated through the photodiode which is used to measure the width of the bars and spaces of the barcode. The barcode scanner absorbs the light from the dark bars and it reflects the light from the spaces this creates a voltage waveform that gets generated by the photodiode and is a representation of the space and the bar pattern in the barcode. This particular waveform gets decoded by the barcode in the same way the Morse code dots and the dashes are decoded.
Laser scanners
This scanner works in a similar way as that of a pen type barcode reader, the only difference being that they use a laser beam as a source of light and it usually employ a reciprocating mirror if not that then it uses a prism that rotates so as to scan the laser beam front and back across the barcode. In both the scanners i.e. the laser scanner and the pen type scanner, the light that gets emitted through the reader is varied in brightness. It has a data pattern and the photodiode circuit is made to detect signals which have the same drafted pattern.
CCD readers
CCD barcode readers employ a number of small light sensors that are lined up in a row at the head of the scanner. Every sensor that is used in the scanner measures the intensity of light which is in front of it at that time. Every light sensor in the CCD barcode reader is very small and that because there are a number of readers in a row, it forms a voltage pattern that is same as the pattern in a barcode which is generated inside the scanner by sequentially measuring the voltage around every reader in the row. The major dissimilarity between a pen or a CCD reader or a laser scanner is that, the CCD scanner is used to measure the emitted ambient light through the barcode, unlike the laser or a pen reader that measure the reflected light of a particular frequency which is originating from the scanner itself.
Camera-based readers
The newest type of barcode scanner is the camera based readers; they are two dimensional imaging scanners. It uses the image processing technique to read the barcode.
Other type of barcode reader is the video camera scanner that uses a small video camera which has the CCD technology as the barcode scanner, and instead of single row sensors the video camera has a number of sensors that are arranged in a two dimensional pattern so that an image can be generated.
There are big field of view readers that employ very high resolution industrial cameras to read multiple barcodes simultaneously. Each barcode that appear in the photograph gets decoded at once or by using plugins that are the proven options for resolving the task.
Omni-directional barcode scanners
These scanning devices use an array of curved or straight scanning lines different directions which are in the form of a starburst or a multi angle pattern that are projected at a symbol and one or even more of them would be able to scan all the spacesand bars, regardless of the orientation.
These scanners they all use a laser. They produce an arrangement of beams in different orientations that allows them to read the barcodes at any angle. Many of them employ a single rotating polygonal mirror and a pattern of various fixed mirrors to generate their complex scanning patterns.
These readers are familiar with the horizontal readers that are in the supermarket. There is a wide range of Omni directional units that are present in the market, for multiple types of scanning applications. Omni directional scanners are also capable of reading badly printed, torn or even wrinkled barcodes.
Cell phone cameras
Mobile phones that do not have an auto-focus are not capable of scanning some common barcodes, but there are some 2D barcodes that are optimized for mobile phones, Data Matrix and QR codes can be read easily and accurately even if they are without auto focus. A number of applications have been opened up for the consumers:
• Movie catalogs for DVD or VHS
• play MP3 after scanning, CDs
• Device and book catalogs
• Information on nutrition, groceries,making shopping lists, etc.
• Inventory of personal property which is for insurance and other purposes.
• If the retailers may put barcodes on receipts that allowthe encoding of the entire receipt in a 2D barcode pattern or download an electronic copy, so that the clients can easily get the data into personal finance, grocery, inventory of property, etc. Receipts that are read on a scanner can be easily associated and identified with the appropriate entries in the property inventory software.
Smartphones
Smartphones are widely used to scan barcodes. After scanning the redirect the barcode to the parent site of the product, from where you can get all the details about it.
Housing
Barcode scanners can be differentiated based on their making which is discussed as follows:
Handheld Scanner
It has a handle with an inbuilt trigger button to switch on the light source.
Pen scanner
It is a scanner in shape of a pen.
Stationary Scanner
These are table or wall scanners and the barcode is passed under or beside it.
Fixed Position Scanner
This is kind of reader is an industrial barcode scanner that is used to identify the products which are under the manufacturing stage or in logistics. They are mostly used on conveyor tracks which is to identify the pallets or cartons that need to be routed to some other location or process. One more application joins the holographic scanners which have a check weighed to read the barcodes of any placement or orientation and it also weighs the package.
Update: We also provide a comprehensive guide on IBM Server. Read more on this here.
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ANDROID PHONE AS A BARCODE SCANNER: Video
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