Barcode Scanners

1. Blog 1:Sabarcodes.co.za BARCODE SCANNERS Well, it is an undeniable fact that using barcodes in your business provides you with many benefits. We all have read them many times. But what's important to know here is that the devices used to read barcodes, which are known as barcode scanners, are also object of marvel. It is an electronic hand held device which consists of a light source, and a light sensor that translates electronic impulses. Generally, barcode readers contain a circuitry which decodes and analyses the barcode’s image as provided by the sensor of the apparatus. There are different types of barcode readers, offering different usability: Pen type readers: they consist of a light source and photodiode that is placed in the tip of the pen, next to each other. The job of the photodiode is to generate waveform, which then is used to measure the width and the space between the bars of the barcode. The scanner decodes the waveform exactly like the Morse code and dashes are decoded. Laser scanners: laser scanners use laser beams as their light source, and employ a reciprocating mirror to scan the laser beam back. The rest of the functioning is similar to pen type readers. CCD or LED readers: they use hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in the head of the reader. There is no need to move it; each sensor reads the light reflection in front of it. Camera based readers: these are the newest type of bar code readers. They use camera and image processing techniques to decode the barcode numbers. And last but not the least... Smart phone cameras: while they are not the ideal kind of scanners, but they can easily and accurately read QR codes, 2D barcodes, and data matrix codes.