Barcoding Basics

•A bar code is a pattern of dark bars and light spaces grouped together in some pattern to encode data characters. Every barcode type or symbology has it own unique way of encoding data characters. •Bar codes are capable of being "read" and decoded by bar code scanners. •Bar codes are used to identify retail sales items, identification cards, library books and other products. •They are also utilized to manage work in progress, to track documents and for many other automated identification applications.

Conventional 1D barcode “Code 39”

This is a conventional 1D barcode. It has a single row of bars- similar to a picket fence. The barcode is called 'one dimensional' because all the data is encoded in the horizontal width.

2D Barcode “PDF 417”

This is PDF417 two dimensional barcode. Data is encoded in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. As more data is encoded, the size of the barcode can be increased in both the horizontal and vertical directions thus maintaining a manageable shape for easy scanning. Could have 2000 or more characters embedded in the barcode.

Motorola Document Classification, File Name, Rev Number Add additional legal text here if required by your local Legal Counsel. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2005 What is a Symbology? A Symbology is a defined encoded method of representing numeric or alphabetic digits using bars and spaces that are easily scanned by computer systems. ( i.e. - A specific type of bar code)

Common 1D Symbologies are Code 3 of 9, UPCA, Code 128, RSS

Common 2D Symbologies are PDF 417, Data Matrix, Maxi Code

1D Codes Code 3 of 9 RSS-14 Symbology UPC A RSS Limited Bar Code 6 14141 00527 7 Type 2D Codes PDF Data Maxi Examples -417 Matrix Code

Bar Code Character Sets contain Elements “Bar and Spaces” that represent one (1) character.

The number, size and type of element required is determined the Symbology “Barcode” type being used.

Motorola Document Classification, File Name, Rev Number Add additional legal text here if required by your local Legal Counsel. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2005 Decode Zone Every scanner has a decode zone or working range. This range tells us what size bar codes the scanner will decode at which distances. There are three variables to be considered: 1. The Size of the X Dimension of bar code 2. The Length of the bar code 3. Distance of the bar code from the scanner.

Motorola Document Classification, File Name, Rev Number Add additional legal text here if required by your local Legal Counsel. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2005 X-Dimension The X Dimension is the smallest bar or space element in the barcode, measured in thousandths of an inch. Typically labeled in mils i.e. 5 mil, 6.67 mil, 7.5 mil, etc…

X-Dimension. The smallest element Bar Or Space in the Barcode

In this example, this Scanner can read a 7.5 mil barcode With a typical width of 2 - 3.5” from 2.75 to 7.75 inches Away

These areas should be the same color as the spaces, and at least 10 times as wide as the minimum element, x dimenision, of the bar code.

If there is something in this space, the scanner may think it is part of the barcode making it invalid and undecodeable

Motorola Document Classification, File Name, Rev Number Add additional legal text here if required by your local Legal Counsel. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2005 Barcode Defects Spots, voids, and edge roughness If the scan line pass through any of these defects, it could make a bar or space look like two separate elements, or just change the size of the element.

Bar width growth and loss

If the ink spreads when a bar code is printed the bars will become wider. Since the spaces are in-between these bars, they will get smaller. This will change the ratio between the two making it hard to decode. This is called bar width growth. The opposite will happen if to little ink is put on and is called bar width loss.

Poor Print Contrast is an insufficient color difference between bars and spaces. Poor contrast bar codes will have an Minimum Reflective Difference (MRD) below 60%. When an MRD falls below 60%, the scanner can no longer differentiate between the highs (spaces) and

lows (bars). MRD% = RL% - RD% RL = Reflectance of the worst light space RD = Reflectance of the worst dark bar

Please select which of these Barcode types is not a 1 dimensional Barcode:

A) UPC/EAN B) Code 128 C) PDF417 D) Code 3 of 9 E) RSS

Data is numeric only

Just look on a Milk Carton/Soda Can 1 23456 78901 2

Commonly used in Non Retail Applications “Manufacturing/Warehouse”

First Alpha Numeric Barcode

Standard code 39 can encode 0 thru 9, A thru Z, - . $ / + % * space

Full ASCII code 39 can encode all of 128 ascii characters

1 2 3 F O U R

CO D

1 2 3 f o u r

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o t 0 00 o 0 00 M 12 3 45 o 67 l 0 l

QR Code Quick Response Code 2D High Density / 4000 – 7000 Charaters Micro QR Code can hold 35 Characters Automotive Industry / Marketing

Symbology Worst Case Best Case

DataMatrix 1 error in 10.5M 1 error in 612.9M

PDF417 1 error in 10.5M 1 error in 612.4M

Code 128 1 error in 2.8M 1 error in 37M

Code 39 1 error in 1.7M 1 error in 4.5M

UPC 1 error in 394K 1 error in 800K

Source: Lincoln's Log Vol 1-00

Symbology Uses

Worldwide retail, GS1-approved - International Standard ISO/IEC U.P.C. 15420

Old format used in libraries and blood banks and on airbills (out of Codabar date)

Code 25 – Non-interleaved 2 of 5 Industrial (NO)

Code 25 – Interleaved 2 of 5 Wholesale, libraries (NO) International standard ISO/IEC 16390

Code 39 Various - international standard ISO/IEC 16388

Code 93 Various

Code 128 Various - International Standard ISO/IEC 15417

Code 128A Various - only a CODE 128 character set, not an own symbology

Code 128B Various - only a CODE 128 character set, not an own symbology

Code 128C Various - only a CODE 128 character set, not an own symbology

Code 11 Telephones (out of date)

DUN 14 I 2of5 barcode see EAN14 / ITF 14 – Packaging

Addon code (magazines), GS1-approved - not an own symbology - EAN 2 to be used only with an EAN/UPC according to ISO/IEC 15420

Addon code (books), GS1-approved - not an own symbology - to be EAN 5 used only with an EAN/UPC according to ISO/IEC 15420

Worldwide retail, GS1-approved - International Standard ISO/IEC EAN 8, EAN 13 15420

Symbology Uses

Facing Identification Mark USPS business reply mail

various, GS1-approved -is just an application of the Code 128 GS1-128 (formerly known as UCC/EAN-128), incorrectly referenced (ISO/IEC 15417) using the ANS MH10.8.2 AI Datastructures. Its not an as EAN 128 and UCC 128 own symbology.

GS1 DataBar, formerly Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) Various, GS1-approved

Healthcare [19] - is a datastructure to be used with Code 128, Code 39 HIBC (HIBCC Health Industry Bar Code) or DataMatrix

Non-retail packaging levels, GS1-approved - is just an Interleaved 2/5 ITF-14 Code (ISO/IEC 16390) with a few additional specifications, according to the GS1 General Specifications

Pharmacode Pharmaceutical packaging (no international standard available)

Catalogs, store shelves, inventory (no international standard Plessey available)

PLANET United States Postal Service (no international standard available)

POSTNET United States Postal Service (no international standard available)

United States Postal Service, replaces both POSTNET and PLANET Intelligent Mail barcode symbols (previously known as OneCode)

MSI Used for warehouse shelves and inventory

PostBar Canadian Post office

RM4SCC / KIX Royal Mail / Royal TPG Post

JAN Used in Japan, similar and compatible with EAN-13 (ISO/IEC 15420)

Telepen Libraries (UK)

Symbology Notes

Designed by Andrew Longacre at Welch Allyn (now Honeywell Aztec Code Scanning and Mobility). Public domain. -- International Standard ISO/IEC 24778

Small Aztec Code Space-saving version of Aztec code.

Code 1 Public domain.

Code 16K Based on 1D Code 128.

Code 49 Stacked 1D barcodes from Intermec Corp.

From Microscan Systems, formerly RVSI Acuity CiMatrix/Siemens. Public domain. Increasingly used throughout the United States. Datamatrix Single segment Datamatrix is also known as Semacode - Standard: ISO/IEC 16022.

Ezcode Designed for decoding by cameraphones.[25]

MaxiCode Used by United Parcel Service. Now Public Domain

MicroPDF417 Facilitates codes too small to be used in PDF417.

PDF417 Originated by Symbol Technologies. Public Domain.

Initially developed, patented and owned by Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave for car parts management; now public domain. Can encode Japanese Kanji and Kana characters, music, images, URLs, QR Code emails. De facto standard for Japanese cell phones. Also used with BlackBerry Messenger to pickup contacts rather than using a PIN code. These codes are also used frequently for Android OS phones. -- International Standard : ISO/IEC 18004

GS1 - Global standard for marking and identifying retail items - Uses RSS / Databar symbologies - www.gs1.org Bookland EAN (ISBN – International Standard Book Number) - Used to identify books, audio and video publications and software UPC Shipping Container Symbol – ITF-14 - Used to mark containers, cases and pallets that contain UPC and EAN labeled products - ITF-14 is shorthand for Interleaved 2 of 5, 14 characters are used in this standard

AIAG – Automotive Industry Action Group - Created labeling standards for identifying products within the automotive manufacturing industry HIBC – Health Industry Barcode Standard - Utilizes Alpha-Numeric barcodes to identify resources, patients, etc in the healthcare ISSN – International Standard Serial Number Tracking - The ISSN system is used for identifying serial publications (print and non-print); these are publications like magazines, newspapers, annual reports, etc. that are published at regular intervals.

Which of the following is not an industry standard barcode label

A) AIAG B) ITF-14 C) GS1 D) UBC-12 E) HIBC

“The Barcode Book” by Roger C. Palmer In-depth book on Barcodes and Symbologies ISBN 0-911261-09-5 The Barcode Book

Motorola “ADC” Technical Support 800 653 5350 Top Notch Support Engineers with over 30+ years of Experience

Wikipedia “Barcodes” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode

• The laser line illuminates the bar code • Scanner “collects” the light like a camera 1 • Creates a reflected analog wave signal 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 • Analog-digital converter • Decoder processes digital data 3 • Applies symbology algorithm • Verifies via check digit • Sends data stream to the host

• The bar code is illuminated by LED lights 3 • Scanner captures and image of the entire code • Decoder software finds barcode in image 1 to decode • Applies symbology algorithm • Verifies via check digit if supported 2 • Sends data stream to the host

You need an Imager to read 2D codes ! !

Motorola Document Classification, File Name, Rev Number Add additional legal text here if required by your local Legal Counsel. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2005 The need for both technologies • One is not superior to the other • Motorola embraces both technologies with best of breed offerings

Laser Scanners Digital Imagers

• Reading 1D codes better • Required for 2D codes, & PDF- served by lasers 417 • Required for all image capture applications

Application determines the technology

Cable

Bluetooth “Wireless”

Data is Rec’d by Data Sent via Host in Host Scanner Decodes Cable or Format Barcode Bluetooth Keyboard Input , Bluetooth, etc.

Typical 1D Laser Scanner

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

Typical 2D Imager Scanner

Symbol Laser Scanner Symbol Area Imager

Best suited for intensive scanning More Versatile applications

Does not generally support 2D codes Supports all 1D and 2D codes

Omni directional reading of all codes for an Orientation is required increased productivity

Height of Field of view Vertical alignment with the code is required indicated by the aiming system

Highly visible and intuitive aiming line Crosshair + Frame corners

Motorola’s Mobile Computers use Scan Engines that are embedded in the unit to scan barcodes

Scan Engines come in two favors: Imager and Laser

Laser Scan Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

Linear Imager Engine

Imager Scan Engine

There are various scan engines in our mobile computers

SE 960

SE 1224

SE 1524

SE 4500

SE-960 High Performance 1D Laser Barcode Reader

SE-1224 Scan Intensive 1D Laser Barcode Reader

SE-1524 Extended Range 1D Laser Barcode Reader

SE-655 Linear Imager 1D Laser Barcode Imaging

SE-4500 Imager Omni 1D & 2D Barcode Reader + Image Capture

SE-4600 Extended Range Imager Omni 1D & 2D Barcode Reader

Motorola Document Classification, File Name, Rev Number Add additional legal text here if required by your local Legal Counsel. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2005 39 DPM “Direct Part Marking” What is DPM? Symbol/Barcode “branded” to an item High capacity Secure/indelible Versatile

DPM Target Markets: Manufacturing Healthcare Government Aerospace