Basics and Understanding of Barcode Scanners! – Buyer’s Guide – PART I Allmark | India
In this guide, you will find basics and information about the types of technologies used and their benefits and limitations.
Each model is designed with features to meet POS Purchases & Sales, Inventory Management, Field Service Operations and Warehouse Operations.
To help you make an informed decision to choosing the right barcode scanner, one must bear in mind that “there is no best barcode scanner system; but there is an appropriate scanner that carries the scan-engine technology for each application of use”.
The scan technology that you should select is very important with respect to the speed of work-flow, accuracy of information required and the distance between the scanner and the product.
What is a barcode Scanner?
A barcode Scanner/Reader is a device with lights, lenses and a sensor that captures and decodes the information of a barcode.
Types of Scan-Engine Technology
There are three scan-engine technologies, currently in the market which are Laser, Linear Imager and 2D Area Imager and each are designed to meet different industrial needs.
Laser Barcode Scanners
uses a laser beam as a light source and typically employ oscillating mirrors or rotating prisms to scan the laser beam back and forth across a barcode. The photodiode in the electronic circuits then measures the reflected light from the barcode and the electronic system decodes the barcode.
| Type of Scanner | Benefits | Limitations |
| Laser Scanners | 1. Fast to conduct up to 1300 scans per second.
2. Some laser Scanners can read PDF417 Stacked Codes.
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1. Cannot read complex symbologies of 2D Codes ( QR, Datamatrix and other symbologies)
2. Cannot read poorly printed, low contrast, distorted or damaged barcodes. 3. The number of misreads and no-reads are typically too high. 4. Cannot read the barcodes where the combination of highly reflective parts and light source environment exists. |
Linear Imaging Barcode Scanners are also referred as CCD Scanners
Uses a Charged Coupled Device or an LED Scanner which captures the picture of a barcode. The sensor module in the scanner decodes the barcodes and this reader can read only 1D barcodes similar to Laser Scanner. However linear imager scanners can read poorly printed images, unlike a laser scanner.
| Type of Scanner | Benefits | Limitations |
| Linear Imager Scanners | I). Can read poorly printed barcodes.
II). Can read barcodes of up to the distance of 35 cm. III). There are no moving parts, and can function with a drop rating of up to 2 meters. |
I). Cannot read 2D Codes ( QR, Datamatrix and other symbologies)
II). Cannot read properly, when barcodes are in bright sunlight environment.
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Area Imager 2D Scanners
Use a camera and image processing techniques to decode barcodes and 2-Dimensional QR Codes, Datamatrix and other symbologies. These are called purpose-built scan engine and are classified as 2D imagers.
| Type of Scanner | Benefits | Limitations |
| Area Imager Scanners | I). Can read poorly printed 1-D barcodes and all 2D symbiology’s.
II). Reads the barcode information at a quick rate and more accurately. |
Expensive when compared to Laser Scanners
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The buyer must also consider factors such Environment, Usage, and Communication Port, that is fetching data to the SAP or any customized ERP software system for Inventory Tracking, Traceability and supply chain management.
Leading global manufacturers, for example, Honeywell, Zebra, Symbol, Motorola, Newland, Cipherlab, Datalogic and Henex have a wide range of barcode scanners with a variants of Handheld, Hand-free, Fixed Mount, and Wearable Scanners suitable for Retail, Industrial and Healthcare applications.
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