Archive for the ‘Stationary Barcode Scanners’ Category
Stationary Barcode Scanners
Stationary Barcode Scanners
Barcode scanners are electronic devices needed to read the information stored in barcodes. They could come as stationary desktops or hand held devices, and can be connected to computers with the aid of special compatible ports. Barcode scanners include a code reader and a decoder, as both are essential for presenting the stored information.
The first barcode scanners that came into the market were simple, cheap and uncomplicated with a fixed light and a photo sensor. The ones available today are a marked contrast to these as they incorporate polygonal mirrors and laser scanning technology. Laser scanners are sharp enough to read the barcode from any angle, and are very fast.
The different varieties of barcodes include hand-held, hands-free, rugged, wearable, laser and digital scan engines. The most portable and simplest ones are the pen-wand scanners. The only limiting factor with pen-wand scanners is that they need to come in direct contact with the barcode and have to be placed a specific angle as well for reading the barcode in question. Nowadays, though, one comes across digital cameras that have the resolution required to capture single and double dimensional barcodes.
The various types of barcode scanners include:
LED Scanner. These are also called CCD scanners with the CCD being the photo imaging sensor and not the light source;
Laser Scanner: These have a longer scanning distance and are also more expensive;
Imager Scanner: These are able to take an image of the barcode, are more rugged and have no movable parts;
2D Imager Scanner: These have the technology to take a 2D picture of the barcode and can scan 2D barcodes like Datamatrix, along with the linear barcodes found sometimes;
Handheld Scanners: These scanners are small and have a handle and a trigger button to start the light source
Pen or wand Scanner: This type of scanner has to be swiped across the barcode to be able to read it;
Stationary Scanner: These are wall mounted or fixed on a table and can scan a barcode that is passed under them or beside them. They are most commonly used at supermarkets and retail stores as they hasten the pace of scanning;
Fixed Position Scanner: This is a barcode reader for industrial purposes. The barcodes are generated to create a unique identity during the process of manufacturing and for logistical purposes. These are used extensively on packed cartons and boxes or for pallets that have to still go through some processes and reach another location.
PDA Scanner: These are PDAs that come with an in-built barcode reader.
Mobile barcode scanners: These are the latest technological innovation and use color codes and a new two-dimensional code format called mCode, for scanning barcodes of various kinds.
General-purpose barcode scanners are found at checkout counters and in hospitals. Identification documents can also be scanned with these scanners.
Rugged scanners are useful in harsh conditions for scanning barcodes. While all barcode scanners have facilitated identification and labeling techniques and improved processing speeds of data, the most common ones used nowadays are the laser and camera scanners.
By Neil T Jones
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
