A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a photo conductor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode’s image data provided by the photo conductor and sending the barcode’s content to the scanner’s output port. hotposnew.au1.cdn-alpha.com sell flatbed, upright and hand held scanners.
Types of barcode readers
The different Uses
Barcode Readers are usually offered from three lines of heritage:
- Handheld raders for semi-automatic reading: The operator must not write, but at least position the Reader versus the label
- Fix-mount readers for automatic reading: The reading is performed laterally en passant. No operator is required, but the position of the code target must coincide with the imaging capability of the reader
- Reader gates for automatic scanning: The position of the code must be just under the gate for short time, to enable the scanner sweep capture the code target at last once successfully.
This leads to the segregation of in-line reading, semi-automatic reading and automatic scanning.
HotPOS terminology and technology
The reader types can be distinguished as follows:
- Laser scanners
Laser scanners work the same way as pen type readers except that they 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. Just the same as with the pen type reader, a photodiode is used to measure the intensity of the light reflected back from the bar code. In both pen readers and laser scanners, the light emitted by the reader is tuned to a specific frequency and the photodiode is designed to detect only this same frequency light.
- CCD Readers
CCD readers (also referred to as LED scanner) use an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in a row in the head of the reader. Each sensor can be thought of as a single photodiode that measures the intensity of the light immediately in front of it. Each individual light sensor in the CCD reader is extremely small and because there are hundreds of sensors lined up in a row, a voltage pattern identical to the pattern in a bar code is generated in the reader by sequentially measuring the voltages across each sensor in the row. The important difference between a CCD reader and a pen or laser scanner is that the CCD reader is measuring emitted ambient light from the bar code whereas pen or laser scanners are measuring reflected light of a specific frequency originating from the scanner itself.
- Camera-Based Readers
2D imaging scanners are the fourth and newest type of bar code reader currently available. They use a small video camera to capture an image of a bar code. The reader then uses sophisticated digital image processing techniques to decode the bar code. Video cameras use the same CCD technology as in a CCD bar code reader except that instead of having a single row of sensors, a video camera has hundreds of rows of sensors arranged in a two dimensional array so that they can generate an image.
The Different housing
The reader packaging can be distinguished as follows:
- Handheld scanner : with a handle and typically a trigger button for switching on the light source.
- Pen scanner (or wand scanner) : a pen-shaped scanner that is swiped.
- Stationary scanner : wall- or table-mounted scanners that the barcode is passed under or beside. These are commonly found at the checkout counters of supermarkets and other retailers.
- Fixed position scanner : an industrial barcode reader used to identify products during manufacture or logistics. Most often used on conveyer tracks to identify cartons or pallets which need to be routed to another process or shipping location.
- PDA scanner : a PDA with a built-in barcode reader or attached barcode scanner
Cordless Bluetooth
Modern handheld barcode readers are operated in wireless IEEE 802.15.3 (Bluetooth). However, such configuration limits the time of operation from battery or rechargeable battery and required recharging at least after a shift of operation.
Wired USB Cables
USB
USB is the most common interface type for barcode scanner scanners. They work as keyboard emulators. This means if you are using a windows based system (or MAC for some brands), wherever you can type you can scan, including applications like word, excel and access etc.