1. LINEAR AND BIDIMENSIONAL
BAR CODE BASICS
INTRODUCTION TO
LINEAR AND BIDIMENSIONAL
SYMBOLOGIES

2. BAR CODE BASICS Optical Symbologies 1 D - Codes 2 D - Codes
STACKED CODES
BAR CODES
MATRIX CODES

3. BAR CODE BASICS What is a ONE-D code?
It is a sequence of dark and light elements. The code can be considered like an alphabet where each character is composed by a specific sequence of “BARS” and “SPACES”.

4. BAR CODE BASICS What is a Stacked code?
The terms stacked symbology or multi-row code are applied to those codes composed by stacked rows of one dimensional bar codes. Each row is independently decoded, but the complete information is obtained appending the single content of all individual rows.

5. BAR CODE BASICS What is a matrix Code?
The term matrix code applies to 2D symbologies composed by black elements positioned in specific locations of a matrix. Each element has the same dimension, and the relative position of all elements in the matrix determines the information content of the code.

6. BAR CODE BASICS What is a Composite code?
It is the combination of a linear and a stacked code. Typically, the linear code identify the item, and the stacked code contains additional relevant information (i.e. production date, expiration date, batch number, etc.).

7. BAR CODE BASICS

8. = BAR CODE BASICS Why 2-D codes? To reduce space
Datamatrix
CODE 128
To increase the quantity of information

9. SUITABLE APPLICATIONS for 2-D CODES
there is lack of space
All applications in which
a lot of information is needed or
there exist need for portability of the code information content

10. INDUSTRIES & APPLICATIONS

11. STACKED SYMBOLOGY: PDF417
PDF: Portable Data File
multi-row type: developed in 1992
number of row: 3-90
number of columns: 1-30
row width: start/stop pattern, 3-32 symbol characters, quite zone
row height: 3X (cross row scanning: greater tilt angle), no row separator
max. data per symbol:
numeric: 2710 digit
alphanumeric: 1850 characters
it introduced the concept of error detection; and more: user selectable error correction levels
applications:
Government/Postal: identification card, official document
Healthcare: specimen tracking, claims processing, reagent calibration
Logistic: package tracking, shipping list
Manufacturing: process control, quality control, component control

12. MATRIX SYMBOLOGY: DATA MATRIX ECC200
matrix code type, International Data Matrix 1990:
L-shaped dark finder pattern
infinitely scalable
Append structure up to 16 symbols
Reed-Solomon error correction
pack lot information into very small place: up to 3116 numeric or 2335 alphanumeric 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

13. 2D BENEFITS VS. 1D
Information just where you need it: on the spot and on the fly
Robustness of the printed 2D symbols
More information in a reduced area
Printing cost reduction (direct marking / printing)