2D_Codes_Fundamental

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HHR-TSPHand Held ReadersTechnical
SupportBarcodes and 2D codesPlace -
DD/MM/YYYY - Session XX2D Codes Fundamental
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Agenda

• When Day DD/MM/YYYY
• Where Place
• Who Speaker / Professional qualification
• What 2D Codes Fundamental
• Duration HHMM hours
• Level Basic

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Modules Contents

• 2D Codes Introduction
• Stacked Symbologies
• PDF417
• Matrix Symbologies
• Data Matrix code
• QR Code
• Aztec Code
• Maxicode
• Composite Codes symbologies
• RSS CC codes
• Postal codes
• Australia Post
• Sectors and applications
• Glossary

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1D vs 2D Symbology
Optical Symbologies
1-D Symbology
2-D Symbologies
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Why do we need 2D symbols ?

• We need -using less space- more information in
  time and at the point of decision
• on the spot and on the fly

• 2D label on blood transfusion bag cross-checked
  against 2D symbol on patients wrist band
• 100 character square inch MaxiCode drives a
  package through a distribution network
• Info encoded in a 2-D symbol on a product
  available at a POS
• PDF417 symbology inside of an automobile door
  frame
• Data Matrix ECC200 printed on a computer chip
  traceability and identification data

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Linear (1D) Codes symbologies

• Information only on X-axis (one single row)
• Low capacity, typically 15 to 50 character
  carrying capability, depending upon symbology and
  the symbol form
• Vertically Redundancy same information repeated
  in Y-axis tolerates printing dropout
• Made up of one series of bars and spaces of
  different width (not only binary modulation)
• Machine readable licence plate key into a data
  base containing detailed information BUT BUT .

this is not on the spot and on the fly
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2D Codes symbologies

• Two-dimensional code information along the
  height (X-axis) as well as the length (Y-axis) of
  the symbol
• No vertically redundancy
• 2D Codes tolerates printing dropouts because of
• Error Correction Capability (ECC)
• Increase the effective density of the encoding
  more data in a smaller space
• Portable database (rather than just a database
  key) encode complete data files in an optically
  readable symbol and so
• extend the potential market for AUTO-ID
• There are two types of 2D codes in current use
• Multi-Row (Stacked) codes
• Matrix codes.

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Stacked symbologies (1/2)

• Stacked symbologies evolved as 1D codes stacked
  in horizontal layers to create the Multi-row
  symbologies
• Rectangular block made up of thin barcodes
  vertically stacked on top of each other
• Many of the characteristics of the linear
  barcode
• each row is a series of one-dimensional barcodes
• each row (or slice row) is designed to be scanned
  in a linear manner
• the message continues from row to row
• Additional characters to provide error
  detection/correction
• Special characters to sign
• number of rows
• row number of the individual row
• Readable by Raster laser scanners, linear CCD
  devices, Matrix CCD cameras

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Stacked symbologies (2/2)

• Maximum data capacity
• up to 2710 digits Structure Append capability
  for concatenation of multiple symbols
• The most used stacked codes are
• PDF417 family
• Code 49
• Code 16K
• Codablock
• ...

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PDF417

• 1992, Symbol
• PDF Portable Data File
• Number of row 3-90
• Number of columns 1-30
• Row width start/stop pattern, 3-32 characters,
  quite zone
• Seven user selectable Error Correction Levels
• Variations Macro PDF417, Micro PDF417, Truncated
  PDF417
• Maximum data per symbol
• numeric 2710 digit
• alphanumeric 1850 characters
• Most popular applications
• Government/Postal identification card, official
  document
• Healthcare specimen tracking, claims processing
• Logisticpackage tracking, shipping list
• Manufacturing process control, quality control,
  component control

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PDF417 structure

• Standard PDF417 code has the following structure

Where Rx Row indicator/Left and Right Start
PDF417 Start pattern Cx Check
character/Codeword Stop PDF417 Stop Pattern
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PDF417 Error Correction Capability

• A significant amount of a Stacked or 2D symbol
  can be destroyed and still recover 100 of the
  information

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Matrix Symbologies (1/2)

• Matrix symbologies offer higher data densities
  than Stacked codes in most cases
• Composition of cells in an array structured on a
  grid
• Help to localization of codes Finder Pattern
• Cell characteristics regular, polygonal shaped,
  uniform center to center distance, dark and light
  
• Binary encoding dark and light cells stand for 0
  and 1
• Error detection and correction techniques to
  improve reading reliability and enable reading of
  partially damaged symbols
• Orientation-independent scanning
• Readable only by Imager devices like CCD camera
  or Vision system

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Matrix Symbologies (1/2)

• Matrix symbologies differ in terms of
• way input data is converted in binary pattern
• way pattern is placed on the greed
• grid size (number of cells)
• finder pattern
• Maximum data capacity
• up to 7089 numeric characters or 4296
  alphanumeric characters using Structure Append
  capability
• The most used Matrix codes are
• Data Matrix family
• QR Code
• Aztec Code
• Maxicode

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Data Matrix ECC200

• 1990, International Data Matrix
• L-shaped dark finder pattern
• Infinitely scalable
• Append structure up to 16 symbols
• Reed-Solomon error correction
• Fixed Error Correction Level (ECC 30)
• Maximum data per symbol
• numeric 3116 digits
• alphanumeric 2335 characters
• Most popular application
• marking of small items
• Direct Part Marking (DPM)
• small component marking (selected by EIA)
• silicon wafer marking (selected by SEMI)
• pharmaceutical unit dose and product marking

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Data Matrix ECC000 and ECC140

• Version ECC000 and ECC140 features
• Always Square, uses an ODD number of rows and
  column
• How to recognise Dark square in the upper
  right
• Limitation as size and Error Correction
  Capability
• Maximum symbol dimensions 49 x 49 modules
• Data Matrix ECC200 exceeds these limitations
• For new and/or open systems type applications,
  ECC200 is recommended
• These versions are not supported by Datalogic

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Data Matrix ECC200

• Version ECC 200 features
• Square, Rectangular or MultiFinder
• Uses an EVEN number of rows and column
• How to recognise Light square in the
  upper right
• MAX Information Capacity
• Square --gt 26x26
• 88 digits or 64 characters
• MultiFinder --gt 144x144
• 3116 digits or 2335 characters
• Rectangular --gt 16x48
• 98 digits or 72 chars
• Square or MultiFinder are recommended

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Data Matrix ECC200 benefits

• Large amount of data
• High level of security
• High reading rate
• Low requirement for contrast
• Any printing technique
• Direct marking (silk screen printing, laser
  etching, etc.)
• Reduction of costs by using smaller labels
• Amount of data and size of the code are
  dynamically variable

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QR Code

• 1994, Nippodenso
• Finder pattern concentric dark/light squares
  7x7 modules in three corners
• Japanese script capability
• Append structure up to 16 symbols
• Reed-Solomon error correction
• Four user selectable Error Correction Levels
• Variations Micro QR Code
• Maximum data per symbol
• Numeric 7089 digits
• Alphanumeric 4296 characters
• Katakana 2953 characters Kanji 1817 characters
• Typical application
• Motor and electronic manufacturing industries
• Manufacturing documentation
• Ordering details for product in an office
  stationary catalogue

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Aztec Code

• 1995, Welch Allyn
• Finder pattern bullseye square
  rings located in the center of the symbol
• Infinitely scalable
• No quiet zone around the symbol required
• Reed-Solomon error correction
• User selectable Error Correction Level
• Maximum data per symbol
• Numeric 3832 digits
• Alphanumeric 3067 characters
• Most popular application
• Marking of small items
• Motor and electronic manufacturing industries
• Mail and document sorting

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Maxicode

• 1988, UPS
• Designed not by the AIDC industry but by that
  user organisation
• Central Circular "Bullseye Finder pattern
• Fixed sized (one inch square) hexagonal element
• Specialised for high speed sorting and tracking
  application
• Maximum data per symbol
• Numeric 138 digits
• Alphanumeric 93 characters
• Features that suit to the environment of parcel
  carriers
• Central finder pattern omnidirectional location
  on package at high speed
• Fixed element size reliable reading on package
  of varying heights (great DOF) on wide conveyor
• Nested hexagonal pattern reading on warped or
  angled surfaces
• Extensive error correction capability reliable
  performance

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Composite Codes symbologies (1/3)

• EAN/UCC Composite symbol consists of a Linear
  component associated with an adjacent 2D
  Composite Component printed in fixed relative
  positions to each other and contain linked data
• These are intended for
• applications where different parts of the
  information may be required at different points
  of the item's life
• Applications where there are restrictions on the
  amount of space available in which a second
  linear bar code could be placed
• The composite symbol always includes
• a linear component so that the primary
  identification (typically the item) is readable
  by all scanning technologies
• a Multi-row Composite Component that contains
  relevant information (i.e. production date,
  expiration date, batch number, .. ), for
  compatibility with Linear and Matrix CCD readers
  and with Linear and Rastering laser scanners

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Composite Codes symbologies (2/3)

• The choice of linear component determines the
  name of the Composite symbol the Linear
  component is one of
• a member of the RSS (Reduced Space Symbology)
  family
• a member of the EAN/UPC symbology (EAN-13, EAN-8,
  UPC-A/E)
• UCC/EAN-128
• The 2D Composite Component (abbreviated as CC) is
  chosen based on the selected linear component
  and on the amount of supplementary data to be
  encoded
• CC-A a variant of MicroPDF417 symbol (designed
  for efficient encoding of supplemental
  application identifier data)
• CC-B a MicroPDF417 symbol (using a new data
  compaction scheme)
• CC-C a PDF417 symbol (using a new data
  compaction scheme)

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Composite Codes symbologies (3/3)

• The RSS (Reduced Space Symbology) family
  contains three linear symbologies to be used with
  the EAN/UCC System.

• RSS-14 encodes the full 14 digit EAN/UCC item
  identification in a linear symbol. It also has
  Truncated, Stacked and Stacked Omnidirectional
  formats
• RSS Limited encodes a 14 digit EAN/UCC item
  identification with Packaging Indicators of zero
  or one in a linear symbol
• RSS Expanded encodes EAN/UCC primary
  identification plus supplementary element strings
  such as weight and "best before" date in a linear
  symbol. RSS Expanded can also be printed in
  multiple rows as a Stacked symbol

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Composite Codes

• Examples of the Composite Code symbols are

• RSS14 Stacked 4-Column CC-A
• Maximum data per symbol
• up to 16 56 digits

• UCC/EAN 128 5-column CC-C
• Maximum data per symbol
• up to 50 digits 2361 digits

• RSS Limited 5 column CC-B
• Maximum data per symbol
• up to 16 338 digits

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Postal Codes symbologies

• Postal Barcodes symbologies proprietary codes
  developed by and for various Postal Services (US
  Post Office, Royal Mail, Australia Post, Dutch
  PTT, ) to improve the sorting, speed, accuracy
  and delivery of mail
• They contain more information in a set length
  than most other linear barcode symbologies
• Additional characters or check digit to provide
  Error Detection/Correction
• Maximum Data capacity units to tens of
  characters
• Readable by Raster laser scanners, Linear CCD
  device, matrix CCD camera or special Optical
  Character Reader (OCR)
• The most used Matrix codes are
• 4 State Barcodes Australia Post, Royal Mail,
  Japan Post, KIX Code
• 2 State Barcodes PostNet, Planet

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Australia Post

• 1998, Australia Post
• Based on four types of bars
• Reed-Solomon error correction
• Each bar has a distinct name, value and symbol
• Fixed Barcode structure (37, 52 or 67 bars)
• Start/Stop bars, Format Control bars
• DPID (Delivery Point Identifier)
• Customer Information (no bars, 16 or 31 bars)
• Error Correction Code
• Maximum data (customer information) per symbol
• numeric 15 digits
• alphanumeric 10 characters
• Specialised for
• automated mail sorting processes
• printing postcode and Delivery Point Suffix (DPS)
  on letters

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Sectors and applications
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Additional Info

• You can find more at
• Stacked and 2D symbologies
• http//www.aimglobal.org/technologies/barcode/
• http//www.aimglobal.org/aimstore/matrixsymbologie
  s.htm
• Composite Code Symbologies
• http//www.aimglobal.org/technologies/barcode/
• http//www.uc-council.org/rss14/
• Postal Codes
• http//www.auspost.com.au/futurepost/

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Glossary (1/4)

• 2D (TWO DIMENSIONAL) SYMBOLS machine-readable
  symbols which must be examined both vertically
  and horizontally to read the entire message they
  may be of two types Matrix symbols and Multi-row
  (or Stacked) symbols.
• ASPECT RATIO Expressed as XY. When referring to
  2D codes it is either the ratio of module height
  to module width or the height-to-width ratio of
  the entire symbol.
• CCD (CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICE) an electronic
  light-sensitive component used in a linear or
  two-dimensional array as the light collecting
  element in certain types of linear or
  two-dimensional symbol reader.
• C-MOS SENSOR light-sensitive component based on
  the same technology of integrated circuits. The
  sensor and the control electronic are integrated
  on the same silicon chip.
• COMPOSITE SYMBOLOGY consists of a EAN/UCC linear
  component (encoding the items primary
  identification) associated with an adjacent 2D
  Composite Component (encoding supplementary data).

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Glossary (2/4)

• ELEMENT a single bar or space in linear or
  stacked symbologies or a single cell in matrix
  symbologies.
• ELEMENT WIDTH the thickness of an element
  measured from the leading edge of an element to
  the trailing edge of the same element. Also X
  dimension.
• ERROR CORRECTION a reader/decoder use of
  mathematical schemes to reconstruct missing or
  damaged symbol characters.
• ERROR CORRECTION CHARACTERS symbol characters
  which are used for error detection and for error
  correction.
• ERROR DETECTION the use of error correction
  characters to detect that the number of errors in
  the symbol exceeds the error correction capacity
  error detection will keep the symbol from being
  decoded as erroneous data.
• FINDER PATTERNS a unique pattern, specific to
  each symbology, that does not represent data
  whose propose is to locate the symbol within the
  readers field of view. The finder pattern may
  also be used for other purpose.

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Glossary (3/4)

• MATRIX SYMBOLOGIES an arrangement of regular
  polygon shaped cells where the centre to centre
  distance of adjacent element is uniform. The data
  arrangement of the cells represent data and/or
  symbology functions. Matrix symbols may include
  recognition patterns which do not follow the same
  rile as the other element within the symbol.
• MULTI-ROW (OR STACKED) SYMBOLOGY symbologies
  where a long symbol is broken into section and
  stacked one upon another similar to sentences in
  a paragraph.
• REDUNDANCY Characteristic whereby information is
  repeated to increase the probability of its being
  read or communicated successfully. In a bar code
  symbol the height of the bars provides vertically
  redundancy by enabling multiple scan paths to
  exist through the symbol, only one of which is
  necessary in theory for complete decode. In two
  dimensional symbols, additional error correction
  characters are added.

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Glossary (4/4)

• RSS (REDUCED SPACE SYMBOLOGY) contains three
  linear symbologies to be used with the EAN/UCC
  System (i.e. Composite Codes symbologies, )
• SPACE an area of relatively high reflectance
  between the bars in a linear or two dimensional
  symbol
• STRUCTURE APPEND feature enabling multiple
  symbols to be linked and carry a single long
  message or file exceeding the capacity of a
  single symbol
• X DIMENSION the intended width of the narrow
  elements dictated by the application, or
  symbology specification, or both