About barcodes and symbologies 2

What is Barcode Symbologies?

The mapping between messages and barcodes is called a symbology. The specification of a symbology includes the encoding of the single digits/characters of the message as well as the start and stop markers into bars and space, the size of the quiet zone required to be before and after the barcode as well as the computation of a checksum.

2D Symbologies

Stacked symbologies repeat a given linear symbology vertically.

The most common among the many 2D symbologies are matrix codes, which feature square or dot-shaped modules arranged on a grid pattern. 2-D symbologies also come in circular and other patterns and may employ steganography, hiding modules within an image (for example, DataGlyphs).

Linear symbologies are optimized for laser scanners, which sweep a light beam across the barcode in a straight line, reading a slice of the barcode light-dark patterns. Stacked symbologies are also optimized for laser scanning, with the laser making multiple passes across the barcode.

In the 1990s development of charge coupled device (CCD) imagers to read barcodes was pioneered by Welch Allyn. Imaging does not require moving parts, as a laser scanner does. In 2007, linear imaging had begun to supplant laser scanning as the preferred scan engine for its performance and durability.

2-D symbologies cannot be read by a laser as there is typically no sweep pattern that can encompass the entire symbol. They must be scanned by an image-based scanner employing a CCD or other digital camera sensor technology.

Linear Symbologies

Linear symbologies can be classified mainly by two properties, Continuous vs. discrete & Two-width vs. many-width.

Continuous vs. discrete:

Characters in continuous symbologies usually abut, with one character ending with a space and the next beginning with a bar, or vice versa. Characters in discrete symbologies begin and end with bars; the intercharacter space is ignored, as long as it is not wide enough to look like the code ends.

Two-width vs. many-width

Bars and spaces in two-width symbologies are wide or narrow; the exact width of a wide bar has no significance as long as the symbology requirements for wide bars are adhered to (usually two to three times wider than a narrow bar). Bars and spaces in many-width symbologies are all multiples of a basic width called the module; most such codes use four widths of 1, 2, 3 and 4 modules.

Interleaving Symbologies

Some symbologies use interleaving. The first character is encoded using black bars of varying width. The second character is then encoded, by varying the width of the white spaces between these bars. Thus characters are encoded in pairs over the same section of the barcode. Interleaved 2 of 5 is an example of this.

– Pharmaceutical Laboratories-
– QR codes 2D as well as linear
– ALN
– ALS instruments barcode verifier

Laetus Pharma codes

Laetus is a simple code, often to be found folded within the flap on pharmaceutical boxes. It is used by the packaging machinery in the factory to ensure that the correct box and instruction sheet are used. It cannot be given an ISO 15416 grade and many pharmaceutical companies do not require a verifier for it. Some verifiers already include software which has the ability to measure these codes, whereas others have additional software that can be added on. Laetus pharmacode cannot be autodscriminated from other symbologies and cannot be verified to ISO 15416 so additional software may be needed. If your codes have black bars printed onto a white background then you can use a verifier with a red light, if your Leatus codes are printed in black and white or includes a red bar a verifier with white light should be used.

Portable vs stationary Verifier

Portability of the verifier also needs to be considered in relation to what and where you are wanting to scan. However, there are pros and cons to this.

The obvious benefit of portable verifiers is the ease of travel, allowing you to bring your verifier to different printing lines and even production sites. Please note some verifiers may require an additional device and a trolley to become fully portable. Portable verifiers can result in accidental dropping and damage. This will often result in the need for repair – this is also a service we can provide.

Stationary verifiers reduce the likelihood of damage and need for repair and are ideal for the production line. However, stationary verifiers need a full set up with calibration when transported to a new location.

How to achieve professionally designed barcodes which corresponds with inventory list.
And spreadsheet with product catalog.

Design barcode on professional program such as Enable, Seagul etc. Test the sample. Print on paper. Verify it. Give it to printer to produce barcode with similar clarity and contrast.