Universal Product Code (UPC)

The Universal Product Code (UPC) is widely used in retail, packaging, counting, and data processing applications. There are several versions of the basic symbology in use.

Characters: Usually represents numbers only.
Length: Generally 12 digits.
Format: Continuous and linear.
Scanning: Bi-directional.
Checking: Check digit incorporated into code.

Required size: For a 12-digit full-size symbol, approximately 1.5" horizontally and 1.0" vertically are needed.

Foreign Use: The European Article Numbering (EAN) code is the UPC’s international counterpart.

Interleaved 2-of-5

Interleaved 2-of-5 is a high-density code used in warehousing, product/container identification, general industrial, and automotive applications. Its name signifies that each character contains five bars, two of which are wide. Both bars and spaces carry information. This symbology is very useful for numeric messages less than ten digits long.

Characters: Represents numbers only.
Length: May vary but muse have an even number of characters.
Format: Continuous and linear.
Scanning: Bi-directional.
Checking: Self-checking; check digit optional.

Code 39 (3 of 9)

Code 39 is widely used in industrial, medical, and government applications, including photo finishing, high-speed sorting, inventory handling, aluminum, electronics, telecommunications, and furniture. It is endorsed by several industry trade groups, including the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), the Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC), and the U.S. Department of Defense. Its name signifies that each character is composed of nine elements, of which three are wide.

Characters: Represents all 128 alphanumeric characters from the ASCII set.
Length: Variable.
Format: Discrete and linear.
Scanning: Bi-directional.
Checking: Self-checking; check digit optional but not normally used.

Code 128

Code 128 applications include general industrial, inventory, and retail container markings. It is used as the basis for the international language known as Application Identifiers (AI). As its name signifies, this high-density code can represent the entire 128-character ASCII set, including any character found on a CRT keyboard. The code offers versatility and high data security. Code 128 is endorsed by the HIBCC and the Uniform Code Council (UCC).

Characters: Represents 128 alphanumeric characters.
Length: Variable.
Format: Continuous and linear.
Scanning: Bi-directional.
Checking: Check characters available.

Codabar

Applications include inventory, libraries, blood banks, and photo finishing. Its name signifies that each character is represented by a stand-alone group of four bars with their three included spaces. The ability to use four stop/start characters at either end of the symbol allows multiple types of information to be encoded.

Characters: Numbers and symbols (except for start and stop codes in lower case letters).
Length: Variable.
Format: Discrete and linear.
Scanning: Bi-directional.
Checking: Self-checking; no check digit included.

Two-Dimensional Symbologies

Two-dimensional (also called “stacked”) symbologies are relatively new to bar coding. These symbologies are designed to include the largest amount of machine-readable information in the smallest possible area. Symbologies such as PDF417, Codablock, 16K, Code 49, and others produce symbols containing rows of bar codes stacked on top of one another in a rectangular or square pattern. The data is encoded along with information describing its position and sequence within the overall symbol.

Two-dimensional symbologies require the entire symbol to be scanned as a whole before decoding. Scanners equipped with camera technology and charge-coupled devices (CCDs) are used. These symbologies also require special error detection and correction systems.

Matrix Symbols

These symbologies are also two-dimensional. Symbols are often shaped as squares or checkerboards. Symbologies such as MaxiCode and Vericode, for example, are notable for their high-density storage properties. Matrix symbols usually contain a “finder pattern” which distinguishes them from other symbols and provides a decoding reference for scanners. Matrix scanners include charge-coupled devices to register the whole symbol before transmitting data for decoding.

Go To Page>   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11