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CCD barcode scanners compete with laser scanners in point of sale and similar applications of the like. The CCD barcode scanners typically have the advantage over laser scanners in several applications. CCD scanners have no moving parts which make the CCD scanners less prone to failure. The laser scanners have oscillating mirrors which are subject to wear and mechanical failure, unlike CCD scanners. CCD scanners use LEDs for light illumination and last about ten times as long as laser light diodes.

Lasers typically have a warning label associated with direct viewing and safety precautions need to be taken. Because CCD scanners do not use lasers, there are no precautions that need to be taken for a safe viewing distance. The CCD scanners have scan rates of 45 scans per second or faster, which is comparable in speed to the laser scanners. CCD scanners are also much lighter and less expensive than laser scanners.

Laser scanners also exhibit some advantages over CCD scanners. Laser scanners have a more powerful light emission which means they can be used further from the barcode. The laser scanners have a greater depth of field or operating range. For this reason, the laser barcode scanners are good when used by a particularly untrained worker. The laser scanners, depending on the model, can be operated several feet away from the barcode, while the CCD scanner needs to be within several inches in order to work effectively. Laser scanners can read longer bar codes than CCD scanners. CCD units are usually limited to a barcode length of three or four inches.

The interfaces for CCD scanners have caused confusion between buyer and user. The keyboard wedge interface is the most common for CCD scanners. After the scanner has read a code, the scanner copies the keyboard.

A CCD scanner uses an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in a row in the head of the sensor. We have all seen a CCD scanner at the supermarket. The CCD reader is extremely sensitive and small because of the hundreds of sensors. A voltage pattern commensurate with the pattern in the bar code is created in the reader by measuring voltages across each sensor in a row. The most important difference to remember when using a CCD scanner is that it is measuring ambient light versus the use of a laser.

There are wireless barcode scanners which are wireless and operate on the same frequency as wireless Internet. The 802.11 radio frequency allows the freedom of the person using the scanner to move around and still have the functionality of having a cordless scanner. The downside to having a cordless scanner is the fact that you are limited to the battery life of the scanner. The scanner must be charged after a shift or the next worker must wait for the scanner to be available for usage. The cordless scanners tap into usually a USB port on the computer. The barcode scanner works in conjunction with the keyboard to emulate keyboard key strokes given to the computer, but are actually sent from the wireless scanner.

Present-day companies opt for wireless barcode scanners instead of the conventional ones. They are reliable, helpful and well-accepted by these companies. The most popular among them is the cable-free 2D barcode reader which scans barcodes with two dimensions.

Metrologic Barcode Scanner

Highest quality barcode readers fall under the trademark Metrologic. But Metrologic is now a part of Honeywell group. The MS1633 FocusBT barcode scanner is one of the well-known scanners of this company and is widely used in healthcare trade, market sale applications and supply chains. It supports Bluetooth wireless software and stores data after scanning, even if it is outside the communication range. When it comes within the range, it transmits the data to the base computer. This scanner has proved to be an apt choice for various applications and workplaces.

Wasp Barcode Scanner

One good example of a cordless 2D scanner is the Wasp WWS850 Freedom barcode scanner. Since it is wireless, it does not constrain your movement. With the help of its Bluetooth software, data can be transmitted from a distance of up to sixty feet from the host computer. When the scanner is not within the Bluetooth defined range, it stores the barcodes after scanning. The barcode reader allows us to read barcodes even from a distance of twenty five inches. It has a drop requirement of five feet and the battery can survive thirty five thousand readings or exhausts after fifty hours.

All the accessories of this scanner are available in one kit which includes the charger, radio base and its cable and the scanner. This cordless barcode scanner is an appropriate choice for a person if he working in a storehouse or a particular floor of an industrial unit. It is also suitable for salesmen or retailers and those who are engaged in site jobs. One should possess a MS Windows loaded PC and a USB port only to operate this scanner.

Datalogic Barcode Scanner

Suitable for various applications, the Datalogic PowerScan PM8300 is a great example of a cable-free barcode scanner. It is a strong scanner with good scanning characteristics, especially for industries. It can operate with the STAR wireless system used for narrow band radio links to enhance the overall output and flexibility of a workplace. One can keep a track of time and remaining charge in battery by viewing it on screen so that he can connect to the base in advance.

This wireless barcode scanner can survive critical temperatures and environmental conditions. It has the power to resist dust, dew drops and water. The PM8300 barcode scanner can be operated for long hours as it weighs below average and is designed in a style suitable for workplaces. It is the best model of a steadfast cordless 2D barcode reader and is known for its easy usage.

The cordless barcode readers are outshining the traditional wired barcode scanners as they are hassle free and consists stable batteries which can survive for long hours. A 2D cordless barcode reader enhances the efficiency and the productivity of the workers and is more versatile than the wired ones in any place like storehouse, shops or other companies.

Before discussing about the 2D barcode scanner, it is imperative to know about 2D barcode. Basically, 2D barcodes are upgrade of 1 dimensional barcodes and they contain more data than the conventional barcodes. In contrast to the conventional linear barcodes that gets wider with more data, 2D barcodes uses vertical dimensions to get more data encoded to it. The sophisticated markings of 2D barcode need a high-end device to decode them. In fact, laser scanners and auto scanners have replaced the traditional scanners and the 2D barcode scanners are getting more popular with their functionality.

About 2D Barcode Scanners

2D barcode scanners are advanced barcode scanning devices that can interpret the complex two-dimensional barcodes. They use both imaging and CCD technologies to decode the data matrix coding. The scanner can be integrated with a PC via USB port and can be configured with software to direct the data to a file.

Technologies Used in 2D Barcode Scanners

The 2D barcode scanners use CCD as well as imaging technologies to interpret the 2D barcodes.

CCD Technology

The barcode readers based on CCD technologies use an array of numerous tiny lights in a row in the head of the scanner. The individual light sensors are extremely small and can be considered as single photo diode that can immediately measure the intensity of light in front of it. A voltage pattern is generated in the reader that is similar to the pattern in a barcode and it sequentially measures the voltage across each sensor in a row.

Imaging Technology

The fourth generation and the newest kind of 2D barcode readers are developed with the imaging technology that uses a small video camera to take images of the 2D barcodes. A sophisticated digital image processing technology in the scanner decodes the barcode. The camera of the device has numerous rows of sensors organized in a two-dimensional array to generate an image.

Networking of 2D Barcode Scanners

The 2D barcode scanners USB cables for networking. These days, the connectivity of electronic devices is being enhanced with the help of wireless networking. The modern age scanners also allow wireless networks that are supported by rechargeable batteries. The scanners connected to a Mobil computer can be operated in a local area network or wide area network.

2D barcode scanners provide an increased and sophisticated barcode reading output for virtually any kind of barcode reading applications. The high resolution capacity of the scanners simplifies the decoding of difficult data- poorly printed or damaged barcodes. These days, with the development of technology, high-end 2D barcode scanners are available that support the mobile computers. However, the mobile computers need to have built-in 2D data matrix technology.

The features of the 2D barcode scanners include linear illumination, omnidirectional scanning, illumination forward design and multiple codes select.

Since the 2D barcodes are introduced to compact more data per unit area, and use barcode symbologies to achieve high data density, only a high-end 2D barcode scanner can solve the purpose.

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