LINEAR AND BIDIMENSIONAL BAR CODE BASICS INTRODUCTION TO LINEAR AND BIDIMENSIONAL SYMBOLOGIES

BAR CODE BASICS Optical Symbologies 1 D - Codes 2 D - Codes STACKED CODES BAR CODES MATRIX CODES

BAR CODE BASICS What is a ONE-D code? It is a sequence of dark and light elements. The code can be considered like an alphabet where each character is composed by a specific sequence of “BARS” and “SPACES”.

BAR CODE BASICS What is a Stacked code? The terms stacked symbology or multi-row code are applied to those codes composed by stacked rows of one dimensional bar codes. Each row is independently decoded, but the complete information is obtained appending the single content of all individual rows.

BAR CODE BASICS What is a matrix Code? The term matrix code applies to 2D symbologies composed by black elements positioned in specific locations of a matrix. Each element has the same dimension, and the relative position of all elements in the matrix determines the information content of the code.

BAR CODE BASICS What is a Composite code? It is the combination of a linear and a stacked code. Typically, the linear code identify the item, and the stacked code contains additional relevant information (i.e. production date, expiration date, batch number, etc.).

BAR CODE BASICS

= BAR CODE BASICS Why 2-D codes? To reduce space Datamatrix CODE 128 To increase the quantity of information

SUITABLE APPLICATIONS for 2-D CODES there is lack of space All applications in which a lot of information is needed or there exist need for portability of the code information content

INDUSTRIES & APPLICATIONS

STACKED SYMBOLOGY: PDF417 PDF: Portable Data File multi-row type: developed in 1992 number of row: 3-90 number of columns: 1-30 row width: start/stop pattern, 3-32 symbol characters, quite zone row height: 3X (cross row scanning: greater tilt angle), no row separator max. data per symbol: numeric: 2710 digit alphanumeric: 1850 characters it introduced the concept of error detection; and more: user selectable error correction levels applications: Government/Postal: identification card, official document Healthcare: specimen tracking, claims processing, reagent calibration Logistic: package tracking, shipping list Manufacturing: process control, quality control, component control

MATRIX SYMBOLOGY: DATA MATRIX ECC200 matrix code type, International Data Matrix 1990: L-shaped dark finder pattern infinitely scalable Append structure up to 16 symbols Reed-Solomon error correction pack lot information into very small place: up to 3116 numeric or 2335 alphanumeric characters most popular application: marking of small items Direct Part Marking (DPM) small component marking (selected by EIA) silicon wafer marking (selected by SEMI) pharmaceutical unit dose and product marking

2D BENEFITS VS. 1D Information just where you need it: on the spot and on the fly Robustness of the printed 2D symbols More information in a reduced area Printing cost reduction (direct marking / printing)