RV COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Mysore Road, Bangalore-560 059

A Seminar Report on

“BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY”

By

Aashik.P 1RV08IM002
Aditya 1RV08IM004
Ananda.NC 1RV08IM005
Bhaskaran.R 1RV08IM008
Chandra Shekar 1RV08IM009

SUBMITTED
To
Lecturer S.NAGESH

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

RV COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,
Mysore Road, Bangalore – 560 059
 INTRODUCTION TO BARCODE TECHNOLOGY
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of
automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data
directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically
considered as part of AIDC include Barcodes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),
biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and
voice recognition.

AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of
images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the
actual image or a sound into a digital file. The file is then stored and at a later time it can
be analyzed by a computer, or compared with other files in a database to verify identity
or to provide authorization to enter a secured system. Capturing of data can be done in
various ways; the best method depends on application.

AIDC also refers to the methods of recognizing objects, getting information about them
and entering that data or feeding it directly into computer systems without any human
involvement. Automatic identification and data capture technologies include barcodes,
Radio Frequency Identification , barcodes, Optical Character Recognition, magnetic
stripes, smart cards and biometrics (like iris and facial recognition system).

In biometric security systems, capture is the acquisition of or the process of acquiring and
identifying characteristics such as finger image, palm image, facial image, iris print or
voice print which involves audio data and the rest all involves video data.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is relatively a new AIDC technology which was
first developed in 1980’s. The technology acts as a base in automated data collection,
identification and analysis systems worldwide. RFID has found its importance in a wide
range of markets including livestock identification and Automated Vehicle Identification
(AVI) systems because of its capability to track moving objects. These automated
wireless AIDC systems are effective in manufacturing environments where barcode
labels could not survive.

Automated data collection is seen as the key to improving control and providing
management with more timely, more accurate, and therefore more valuable information.
Increased productivity and reduced costs are the key benefits of automated data
collection. The return on investment for automated data collection is typically one year,
and often substantially less.

We live in an information age characterized by rapid change. Today's world moves faster
than earlier eras, and the pace continues to speed up. Continuous developments with
computer technology in manufacturing, distribution, communications, transportation,
healthcare and other sectors have played, and continue to play, a large part in accelerating
change.
For any business in this fast changing world, the importance of collecting and processing
information on a timely basis is essential. Managers must act quickly to be effective to
initiate changes in manufacturing or distribution, or to otherwise respond to new
customer requirements. Doing so requires reliable information in real time or as close to
it as possible.

BARCODE TECHNOLOGY

A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows certain

data on certain products. It is currently the leading AIDC technology, these bar codes are
high graphical symbols that can be interpreted by an optical scanner. It Structured to
contain a specific piece of information. It allows real-time data to be collected accurately
and rapidly. Barcodes represented data in the widths (lines) and the spacing’s of parallel
lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1D (1 dimensional) barcodes or symbologies.
They also come in patterns of squares, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns
within images termed 2D (2 dimensional) matrix codes or symbologies. Although 2D
systems use symbols other than bars, they are generally referred to as barcodes as well.
Barcodes can be read by optical scanners called barcode readers, or scanned from an
image by special software.

The first use of barcodes was to label railroad cars, but they were not commercially
successful until they were used to automate supermarket, checkout systems, a task in
which they have become almost universal. Their use has spread to many other roles as
well, tasks that are generically referred to as Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC). Other
systems are attempting to make inroads in the AIDC market, but the simplicity,
universality and low cost of barcodes has limited the role of these other systems.
Combination of barcode technology with computer and application software improves
performance, productivity and profitability

The automated data collection process with Bar Code Technology has three phases:

• Automatic identification is the essential first step, accomplished by attaching a bar

code label to a part, document, package, personal identification badge or some
other item to be tracked.

• The data collection phase occurs when a part moves in or out of inventory, a work
piece comes in or out of a given stage in the manufacturing process, and/or an
employee checks in or out of work. These actions are instantly and accurately
captured by scanning the bar code label. Scanners can read information far faster
than humans can write or type, and they are far more accurate. Compared to the
average human-transcription error rate of one per 300 characters, the automated
error rate is in the range of one per 3 million.
 • Compiling and computer system input occurs when scanned data is compiled into
a central point and manipulated into a form appropriate to the data stream of a
host computer. The upshot is accurate data automatically captured as each event
occurs, thus permitting management decisions based on solid, current
information.

HISTORY OF BARCODE

In 1948 Bernard Silver, a graduate student at Drexel Institute of Technology in

Philadelphia, USA overheard the president of the local food chain, Food Fair, asking one
of the deans to research a system to automatically read product information during
checkout.[2] Silver told his friend Norman Joseph Woodland about the request, and they
started working on a variety of systems. Their first working system used ultraviolet ink,
but this proved to fade and was fairly expensive.[3]

Convinced that the system was workable with further development, Woodland quit his
position at Drexel, moved into his father's apartment in Florida, and continued working
on the system. On 20 October 1949 Woodland and Silver filed a patent application for
"Classifying Apparatus and Method", in which they described both the linear and
bullseye printing patterns, as well as the mechanical and electronic systems needed to
read the code. The patent was issued on 7 October 1952 as US Patent 2,612,994. In 1951,
Woodland moved to IBM and continually tried to interest IBM in developing the system.
The company eventually commissioned a report on the idea, which concluded that it was
both feasible and interesting, but that processing the resulting information would require
equipment that was some time off in the future.

In 1952 Philco purchased their patent, and then sold it to RCA the same year. In 1963
Silver died in a car accident.

UPC( Universal Product Code )

In 1966 the National Association of Food Chains (NAFC) held a meeting where they
discussed the idea of using automated checkout systems. RCA, having purchased rights
to the original Woodland patent, had attended the meeting and set up an internal project
to develop a system based on the bullseye code. The Kroger grocery chain volunteered to
test it.

In mid-1970, the NAFC established the U.S. Supermarket Ad Hoc Committee on a

Uniform Grocery Product Code, which set guidelines for barcode development and
created a symbol selection subcommittee to help standardize the approach. In cooperation
with consulting firm McKinsey & Co., they developed a standardized 11-digit code to
identify any product. The committee then sent out a contract tender to develop a barcode
system to print and read the code. The request went to Singer, National Cash Register
(NCR), Litton Industries, RCA, Pitney-Bowes, IBM and many others. A wide variety of
barcode approaches were studied, including linear codes, RCA's bullseye concentric
circle code, systems with starburst patterns, and even odder varieties.
In the spring of 1971 RCA demonstrated their bullseye code at another industry meeting,
and IBM executives at the meeting noticed the crowds at the RCA booth, immediately
setting out to develop their own system. IBM marketing specialist Alec Jablonover
remembered that the company still employed the system's inventor Woodland, and he
was set up in new facilities in North Carolina to lead the development.

TYPES OF BARCODES
Bar codes are divided into two basic types: (1) linear barcodes and (2) two-dimensional
barcodes.

(1)Linear barcodes: In this type the encoded data are read using a linear sweep of the
scanner. There are of two types (a)width-modulated, in which the symbol consist of bars
and spaces of varying width; and (b)height-modulated, in which the symbols consist of
evenly spaced bars of varying height.

(2)Two-dimensional barcodes: A matrix code, also known as a 2D barcode or simply a

2D code, is a two-dimensional way of representing information. It is similar to a linear
(1-dimensional) barcode, but has more data representation capability.

Some widely used barcodes are:

UPC-A
The UPC-A barcode uses 12 digits (including one check digit) and is the most common
and well-known barcode in the United States. It is used on practically all consumer goods
in stores, including food items, books, magazines, and newspapers.

UPC-E
The UPC-E is a 6 digit-shorter version of UPC-A. This barcode is about half the size of
the UPC-A for the same product number. Only a subset of the numbers that can be
encoded with UPC-A can be encoded with UPC-E. It is used on products with small
packaging.

Code 39
Code 39, also known as 3 of 9 Code and USD-3, is an alpha-numeric variable length
symbology widely used- in non-retail environments. It is the standard bar code used by
the United States Department of Defense and the Health Industry Bar Code Council
(HIBCC). Code 39 may use a check digit, but often is used without a check digit. Code
39 is normally used to encode digits, upper case letters, and a few special characters.
Representing lower case letters and most of the special characters is done using “full
ASCII” mode. This requires twice as many bar code characters and consequently twice as
much space on the paper.

Code 93
Compressed form of Code 39
Code 93 is a continuous, variable-length compressed form of Code 39. Code 93 produces
denser code. It also encodes 47 characters compared to Code 39's 43 characters. With
Code 39, four of the characters can either be used to specify specific special characters or
they can be used as escape characters. With Code 93 the additional four characters are
used so that there is no ambiguity.

Code 128
Code 128 is high-density symbology used throughout the world which permits the
encoding of alphanumeric data. The barcode uses a checksum digit for verification, and
can also be verified character-by-character. The calculation of the check digit typically
gives programmers an interesting problem to solve. It is used when a large amount of
data needs to be placed into a small space.

UCC/EAN-128
UCC/EAN-128 is used worldwide and is primarily used for encoding shipping and
product information. It is gaining in popularity. UCC/EAN-128 uses Code 128 as its
symbology. It uses 2 digit Application Identifiers (AIs) that specify the meaning of the
data that follows. For example, if the AI is 00 it means that this is a 20 digit SSCC (Serial
Shipping Container Code). This symbology can be expanded, which makes it more
adaptable to the changing needs of business.

Interleaved 2 of 5
Interleaved 2 of 5 is a higher-density numeric barcode based on the Standard 2 of 5
symbology. Interleaved 2 of 5 can only represent numeric data. With the Standard 2 of 5,
the white spaces are all the same width while the width of the black bars is used to
convey the information. There are 5 black bars and 2 of them are wide, hence the 2 of 5.
In the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology both the white spaces and the black bars convey
information. Of the white spaces, 2 of the 5 are wide. A single character (5 black bars and
5 white spaces) represent two digits. The total number of digits represented must always
be an even number. It is widely used in warehouse and industrial applications.

EAN-13
EAN-13 is a 13 character symbology and is based upon the UPC-A standard. EAN 13
was first implemented by the International Article Numbering Association (EAN) in
Europe and is widely used internationally. EAN-13 is a superset of UPC-A. It uses 13
digits (including one check digit) instead of the 12 digits (including one check digit) used
by UPC-A.

RSS-14
RSS-14® is a linear symbology that facilitates omnidirectional scanning. RSS-14 is
smaller than EAN-13 or UPC-A. and designed to used where conventional barcodes will
not work because of space restrictions.
RSS-14® can be scanned and decoded in four segments and then reconstructed. This
facilitates omnidirectional scanning.

PDF 417
PDF 417 is a two dimensional barcode which allows large amounts of text and data to be
stored securely and inexpensively into a small space. The PDF 417 symbology can also
withstand damage without causing loss of data. Error correction is more advanced in the
PDF 417 than one dimensional barcodes. More than one thousands characters of
information can be encoded into this type of barcode.

Datamatrix

DataMatrix is a two-dimensional barcode which can store from 1 to about 2,000

characters. The symbol is square and can range from 0.001 inch per side up to 14 inches
per side. As an example of density, 500 numeric only characters can be encoded in a 1-
inch square using a 24-pin dot matrix printer. The sample shown above encodes 20
ASCII characters
Maxicode

MaxiCode is a fixed-size code which holds up to 93 data characters. The symbol is

composed of a central bulls-eye locator and offset rows of hexagonal elements; the
overall dimensions of the symbol are approximately 1.11 x 1.054 inches. Each element
measures 0.035 x 0.041 inches.

Qr code

The QR Code (Quick Response Code) is a 2-dimensional matrix code. It can encode up
to 2509 numeric or 1520 alphanumeric characters and offers three levels of error
detection. The smallest QR Code measures 21 X 21 cells (each cell encodes one bit) and
can grow in increments of 4 cells to a maximum size of 105 X 105 cells. The squares in
the bottom left, top left, and top right corners are locator patterns.

BARCODE READER

A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an electronic device for reading printed
barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor
translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers
contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode's image data provided by the sensor and
sending the barcode's content to the scanner's output port.
Portable Data Collection Equipment

The first use of barcodes was to label railroad cars, but they were not commercially
successful until they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task in
which they have become almost universal. Their use has spread to many other roles as
well, tasks that are generically referred to as Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC). Other
systems are attempting to make inroads in the AIDC market, but the simplicity,
universality and low cost of barcodes has limited the role of these other systems. It costs
0.5¢ (U.S.) to implement a barcode, while passive RFID still costs about 7¢ to 30¢ per
tag.

Features of barcode readers:

The barcode scanners consist of an internal decoder and a cable, which are connected to
the computer through compatible ports. It consists of a light source, a lens and a photo
conductor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all
barcode readers contain decoder circuit. It analyzes the barcode’s image data provided by
the photo conductor and sends the barcode’s content to the scanner’s output port.
Advanced readers use laser-scanning technology. Barcode readers are available in several
forms like in hand-held, hands-free, wearable, scan engines, laser or digital.

Bar code reader come in a variety of configuration; some require a human to operate
them and other are stand alone automatic units. They are

I)CONTACT BAR CODE READER

II)NON CONTACT BAR CODE READER

CONTACT BAR CODE READER

Contact bar code readers are hand held wands or light pens operated by moving the tip of
the wand quickly past the barcode on the object or document. The wand tip most be in
contact with the bar code surface or in very close proximity during the reading procedure.
In the factory data collection application they are usually part of a key board entry
terminal. The terminal is sometimes referred to as a stationary terminal in the sense that it
is placed in the fixed location in the shop. When the transaction is entered in factory, the
data usually communicated to the computer system immediately. In addition to the their
use in factory data collection system, stationary contact bar code readers are widely used
in retail stores to enter the item identification in a sales transaction
Contact bar code readers are also available as protable units that can be carried around
the factory or ware house by works. They are battery powered and include a solid state
memory device capable of storing data acquiring secured operation. The data can
subsequently be transferred to the computer system. Protable bar code reader often
include a key board that can be used by operator to input data that cannot be entered via
bar code. These protable units are used for picking in a ware house and similar
applications that require a worker to move large distance in a building.

Non-contact bar code readers:

i)Fixed beam non contact bar code reader

ii)Moving beam non contact bar code reader

Non contact bar code reader focus a light beam on the bar code, and a photo detector
reads the reflected signal to interpret the code. The reader probe is located a certain
distance from the bar code during the read procedure.
Fixed beam non contact bar reader

Fixed beam code readers are stationary units that use a fixed beam of light. They are
usually mounted beside a conveyer and depend on the movement of the bar code past the
light beam for their operation. Application of fixed beam readers are typically in
warehousing and material handling operation where large quantities of material must be
identified as they flow past the scanner on conveyors. Fixed beam scanner in these kind
of operations represents some of the first application of bar code in industry.
Moving beam scanner:
Moving beam scanners use a highly focused beam of light, actuated by a rotating mirror
to traverse an angular sweeping search of the bar code on the object. Lasers are often
used to achieve the highly focused light beam. A scan is defined as a single sweep of
light beam through the angular path. The high rotational speed of the mirror allows for
very high scan rate up to 1440scan/sec.This means that many scans of a single bar code
can be made during a typical reading procedure, thus permitting verification of the
reading. Moving beam scanner can be either stationary or protable units. Stationary
scanners are located in a fixed position to read bar codes on objects as they move past on
a conveyors or other material handling system. they are used in ware house and
distribution centers to automate the product identification and sortation operation.
Protable scanner are hand held devices that the user points at the bar code like a pistol.
The vast majority of the bar code scanners used in factories and warehouse are of this
type.

Based on the technology used in the bar code readers are classified in to so many
types they are as follows.

Pen-type readers

Pen-type readers consist of a light source and a photodiode that are placed next to each
other in the tip of a pen or wand To read a bar code, the tip of the pen moves across the
bars in a steady motion. The photodiode measures the intensity of the light reflected back
from the light source and generates a waveform that is used to measure the widths of the
bars and spaces in the bar code. Dark bars in the bar code absorb light and white spaces
reflect light so that the voltage waveform generated by the photo diode is a representation
of the bar and space pattern in the bar code. This waveform is decoded by the scanner in
a manner similar to the way Morse code dots and dashes are decoded.
Laser scanners

Laser scanners work the same way as pen type readers except that they use a laser beam
as the light source and typically employ either a reciprocating mirror or a rotating prism
to scan the laser beam back and forth across the bar code As with the pen type reader, a
photodiode is used to measure the intensity of the light reflected back from the bar code.
In both pen readers and laser scanners, the light emitted by the reader is rapidly varied in
brightness with a data pattern and the photodiode receive circuitry is designed to detect
only signals with the same modulated pattern.

CCD readers

CCD readers use an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in a row in the head
of the reader Each sensor measures the intensity of the light immediately in front of it.
Each individual light sensor in the CCD reader is extremely small and because there are
hundreds of sensors lined up in a row, a voltage pattern identical to the pattern in a bar
code is generated in the reader by sequentially measuring the voltages across each sensor
in the row. The important difference between a CCD reader and a pen or laser scanner is
that the CCD reader is measuring emitted ambient light from the bar code whereas pen or
laser scanners are measuring reflected light of a specific frequency originating from the
scanner itself.

Camera-based readers

Two-dimensional imaging scanners are the fourth and newest type of bar code reader.
They use a camera and image processing techniques to decode the bar code.

Video camera readers use small video cameras with the same CCD technology as in a
CCD bar code reader except that instead of having a single row of sensors, a video
camera has hundreds of rows of sensors arranged in a two dimensional array so that they
can generate an image.
Large field-of-view readers use high resolution industrial cameras to capture multiple
bar codes simultaneously. All the bar codes appearing in the photo are decoded instantly
(Image ID patents 6801245 & 6922208).

There are a number of open source libraries for barcode reading from images. These
include the ZXing project, which reads one- and two-dimensional barcodes using
Android and JavaME, the JJIL project, which includes code for reading EAN-13
barcodes from cellphone cameras using Java ME, and ZBAR, which reads various one-
dimensional barcodes in C. Even web site integration, either by image uploads (e.g. Folke
Ashberg: EAN-13 Image-Scanning and code creation tools) or by use of plugins (e.g. the
Barcodepedia uses a flash application and some web cam for querying a database), have
been realized options for resolving the given tasks. Finally, there are free closed source
libraries including Barcode Scanner, which read one- and two-dimensional barcodes on
iPhone, Windows Mobile, Android, BlackBerry and Symbian smartphones.

Omni-directional barcode scanners

Omni-directional scanning uses "series of straight or curved scanning lines of varying

directions in the form of a starburst, a lissajous pattern, or other multiangle arrangement
are projected at the symbol and one or more of them will be able to cross all of the
symbol's bars and spaces, no matter what the orientation.

Omni-directional scanners almost all use a laser. Unlike the simpler single-line laser
scanners, they produce a pattern of beams in varying orientations allowing them to read
barcodes presented to it at different angles. Most of them use a single rotating polygonal
mirror and an arrangement of several fixed mirrors to generate their complex scan
patterns.

Omni-directional scanners are most familiar through the horizontal scanners in

supermarkets, where packages are slid across a glass or sapphire window. There are a
range of different omni-directional units available which can be used for differing
scanning applications, ranging from retail type applications with the barcodes read only a
few centimeters away from the scanner to industrial conveyor scanning where the unit
can be a couple of meters away or more from the code. Omni-directional scanners are
also better at reading poorly printed, wrinkled, or even torn barcodes.

Housing types

The reader packaging can be distinguished as follows :

Handheld scanner with a handle and typically a trigger button for switching on the light
source.
A handheld barcode scanner

Pen scanner (or wand scanner)a pen-shaped scanner that is swiped.

Stationary scanner wall- or table-mounted scanners that the barcode is passed under or
beside. These are commonly found at the checkout counters of supermarkets and other
retailers.
Fixed-position scanner an industrial barcode reader used to identify products during
manufacture or logistics. Often used on conveyor tracks to identify cartons or pallets
which need to be routed to another process or shipping location. Another application
joins holographic scanners with a checkweigher to read bar codes of any orientation or
placement, and weighs the package. Systems like this are used in factory and farm
automation for quality management and shipping.
PDA scanner (or Auto-ID PDA) a PDA with a built-in barcode reader or attached
barcode scanner.
Automatic reader a back office equipment to read barcoded documents at high speed
(50,000/hour).
Cordless scanner (or Wireless scanner) a cordless barcode scanner is operated by a
battery fitted inside it and is not connected to the electricity mains

BENEFITS OF BARCODE TECHNOLOGY

In point-of-sale management, the use of barcodes can provide very detailed up-to-date
information on key aspects of the business, enabling decisions to be made much more
quickly and with more confidence. For example:

• Fast-selling items can be identified quickly and automatically reordered to meet

consumer demand,
• Slow-selling items can be identified, preventing a build-up of unwanted stock,
• The effects of repositioning a given product within a store can be monitored,
allowing fast-moving more profitable items to occupy the best space,
• Historical data can be used to predict seasonal fluctuations very accurately.
• Items may be re priced on the shelf to reflect both sale prices and price increases.
• This technology also enables the profiling of individual consumers, typically
through a voluntary registration of discount cards. While pitched as a benefit to
the consumer, this practice is considered to be potentially dangerous by privacy
advocates.
 Besides sales and inventory tracking, barcodes are very useful in
shipping/receiving/tracking.

• When a manufacturer packs a box with any given item, a Unique Identifying
Number (UID) can be assigned to the box.
• A relational database can be created to relate the UID to relevant information
about the box; such as order number, items packed, qty packed, final destination,
etc.
• The information can be transmitted through a communication system such as
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) so the retailer has the information about a
shipment before it arrives.
• Shipments that are sent to a Distribution Center (DC) are tracked before being
forwarded to the final destination. When the shipment gets to the final destination,
the UID gets scanned, so the store knows where the order came from, what's
inside the box, and how much to pay the manufacturer.

The reason barcodes are business-friendly is that the scanners are relatively low cost
and extremely accurate compared to key-entry, with only about 1 substitution error in
15,000 to 36 trillion characters entered. The exact error rate depends on the type of
barcode.

APPLICATIONS

• INVENTORY CONTROL
– Portable readers
• WORK-IN PROCESS TRACKING (WIP) COMPANY INVENTORY
– Raw materials
– WIP (Components, Assemblies, Semi finished Products)
– Finished Products
• RETAIL APPLICATIONS
– Super markets
– Counter-mounted Bar Code scanners
– Universal Product Code (UPC)
– Price and description information
• WARE HOUSING
• HEALTH CARE APPLICATIONS
– Drugs, devices, instruments
– Identification of expiry date
– Blood banking
• Blood group
• Expiry date
• Donor traceability

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