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A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data such as
alphabets, numbers and few special characters. Originally, barcodes
represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines also
knows as linear or 1D barcode.
Typical 1D symbologies are CODE128 and EAN-13.
CODE128 1D Barcode.
Data: M3MOBILE
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Since, the amount of data that can be represented by 1D barcode is limited,
2D barcode were introduced that are represented using dots or small squares.
2D barcode can represent a lot more data compared to 1D barcodes within a reasonably smaller space. Typical 2D symbologies are QR code and Datamatrix.
If a single bar in 1D barcode is damaged, it is not readable by the scanner whereas damaged 2D barcode is still readable subject to the damage is not critical. |
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A barcode scanner is the machine that reads the barcode and interpret it to human-readable data. In general,
1D barcode uses laser to read the barcode. Since the dark part absorbs the light and white part reflects the light, by analyzing the amount of reflected light, scanner can decode the barcode. However, 1D scanner cannot read
2D barcodes such as QR code or Datamatrix.
2D Scanner, also called 2D Imager does not use the reflection of the laser to read the barcode. Instead, it captures the image as a camera then analyze the image to interpret the data.
Since, camera and imager uses the same CPU interface, camera and imager cannot be launched at the same time.
However, scanner wedge program called ScanEmul.exe provided from M3 Mobile enables the user to switch between Imager and Camera easily. |
QR CODE 2D Barcode.
Data: http://www.m3mobile.co.kr
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