Different types of barcode scanners – fit them into your application

Barcode scanners are not only used in retail. We can also encounter them in many other industries. There are various types of scanners available on the market. This text will help you to know the basics of barcode scanner technology.  

How does a barcode scanner work? 

The principle of barcode scanner operation is not very complicated. It uses scanning technology. The scanner generates light through high-luminosity LEDs, which form a thin laser beam moving along a barcode or other type of code. This beam illuminates a small point on the code, and the key to success is that the light is reflected by its bright elements (gaps) as well as absorbed by dark ones (dashes or boxes). 

The photodiode reads the stronger electrical signals reflected from the bright parts of the code and the weaker ones reflected from the dashes. The thickness of the dashes or gaps determines how long the individual signals last. The impulses are then decoded, processed, and converted into numbers, letters, or characters. At the final stage, the information is sent to the host. 

Types of barcode scanners  

Various types of barcode scanners can be found on the market. They are subdivided according to several criteria. 

One of the criteria is the method of communication. There are:  

• fixed mount barcode scanners – hands-free barcode scanners connected to the computer with a cable, which can be built-in or equipped with stands,  
• handheld barcode scanners – portable barcode scanners operate by radio frequency transmission or Bluetooth. 

This group also includes industrial barcode scanners, which are solutions designed for use in harsh environments. It is characterized by higher tightness and resistance to mechanical damage. 

Scanners can also be divided according to the type of codes they handle: 

• 1D scanners – one-dimensional, designed to decode barcodes consisting of vertical lines, 
• 2D scanners – two-dimensional, used to decode QR codes and barcodes. 

The scanners also use different techniques for scanning codes. There are:  

• CCD or CMOS scanners – which use an LED beam that forms into a wide, horizontal line; it can provide information from codes on paper labels as well as on screens of LCDs, smartphones, and other mobile devices, 
• laser scanners – read data using a laser beam, 
• linear imager scanners – equipped with a linear sensor that captures a line of hundreds of pixels,  
• 2D area imager scanners – adapted to scan an image field and decode it into data; they can be used to scan codes, even damaged ones, from any angle and from different surfaces. 

Portable barcode scanners (handheld barcode scanners) – when to use this solution? 

Portable barcode scanners function using wireless communication – radio waves or Bluetooth technology. Their great advantage is the possibility of using them at a certain distance from the USB receiver connected to the computer. The distance range is up to 10 meters (in Bluetooth models) or even 1,200 meters (in radio models).  

Portable barcode scanners are an excellent solution when mobility and freedom of movement are required and the data to be read may be in hard-to-reach areas. They speed up work not only in shops but also in warehouses, wholesalers, and logistics centers. With handheld scanners, products or documents can be scanned without moving.  

Fixed mount barcode scanners – an ideal solution for point-of-sale and cash registers 

Stationary barcode scanners are usually placed on a counter, table, or wall. The barcodes can be scanned by placing them within the range of the laser beam. They are distinguished by their small size and excellent responsivity. 

Although fixed mount barcode scanners are commonly used in commerce – supermarkets, grocery shops, boutiques, and drugstores – they can also be found in office spaces. They are used to scan, e.g., identity documents or access cards to control the flow of people. 

ID card scanners in banks – the facilitation of data verification 

ID card scanners are part of modern access control systems, as well as visitor registration systems. Scanning the data from the codes on identity documents allows it to be verified quickly and efficiently, which, in the case of banking services, often requires multi-step procedures and reduces the risk of fraud. 

Check out the barcode scanners available on Unisystem offer.