Barcode Glossary
Excerpts have been taken, with permission, from the book Behind Bars:
Barcoding Principles and Applications Grieco, Gozzo & Long.
AIAG - Automotive Industry Action Group
AIM - Automatic Identification Manufacturers ALPHANUMERIC-Description
of a symbology's character set which consists of letters and numerals.
ANSI - American National Standards Institute
APERTURE - Measure of the size of the beam which reads the bar code.
AUTODISCRIMINATE - Ability for one bar code reader to interpret several
different codes.
CAD - Computer Aided Design
CAM - Computer Aided Manufacturing
CCBBA - Committee for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation
CCD - Charge Coupled Device. This scanner type has is usually inexpensive
and light weight. The disadvantage is that the scanner must touch the
barcode and usually can only scan a barcode the same length as the device.
Meaning, if you have a 4" barcode and the CCD is only 3", there
is a good chance that it may not read it correctly.
CHECK CHARACTER - Character added to guard against undetected errors.
CIM - Computer Integrated Manufacturing
CODABAR - Standard bar code symbology used principally by the blood
products industry.
CODE 39 - Standard bar code symbology and one of the most widely used.
CONTINUOUS - Symbologies in which intercharacter gaps are treated
as characters.
CORE SIZE - The core size is the measurement of the diameter of the
cardboard tube that contains the labels.
DECODER-Converts signal from scanner into
a signal which the computer can understand.
DENSITY - The number of characters which can be encoded in a given
unit of length.
DEPTH OF FIELD - The distance between the closest and farthest point
at which a bar code can be scanned. DISCRETE - Symbologies in which
intercharacter gaps are not treated as characters.
DOT MATRIX PRINTER - Printer which forms characters when an array
of pins hits an inked ribbon which transfers the image to the media.
DRUM or FORMED-CHARACTER PRINTERS - Images formed from
hammer striking ribbon and media against reversed image on a rotating drum.
DUTY CYCLE-
EAN - European Article Number
ELECTROSTATIC PRINTER - Sensitized drum attracts toner which is transferred
to media.
FIRST READ RATE - The ratio of the number of successful
reads to the number of attempted first reads.
FIXED LENGTH - Description of a symbology which only allows bar codes
of a set number of characters.
HEIGHT - Vertical measurement of a bar code.
HIBCC - Health Industry Bar Code Council
INK JET
PRINTERS - Controlled jets of ink spray
from nozzles to form image.
IP RATING - The ingress
protection rating of electronic equipment, such as barcode scanners.
JAN - Japanese Article Number
JIT - Just-In-Time
LABELS - Labels can come in all widths, sizes and
colors. They can also be made out of different materials such as wax, resin
and Valeron. This allows the label to be used in different environments such
as humid climates, exterior warehouses and low level lighted areas. In order
to purchase labels, it is a good idea to know the "core" size and
the inches between each label. Labels are purchased per case.
LASER ETCHERS - Burn image into media or burn protective coating off
of media to form image.
LASER RADIO TERMINAL (LRT) - 35-46 keys, hand held scanner. When a
barcode is scanned, it is instantly sent to a specific location (real time
tracking).
LED - Light Emitting Diode
LOGMARS - Logistics Application of Automated Marking and Reading Symbols
MAGNETIC STRIPE - Technology allowing the encoding
of information on special labels with magnetism.
MEDIA WIDTH -
MRP-Material Requirements Planning
MRP II - Manufacturing Resource Planning
NUMERIC - Description of a symbology's character
set which consists of only numerals.
OCR - Optical Character Reader
OPTICAL THROW - Least distance at which a scanner can read a bar code.
PORTABLE DATA TERMINAL (PDT) - Handheld terminal,
35-46 keys, scanner. Information is kept within the terminal as you scan
the item. When done, terminal is put in a cradle. Than the information is
exported to a PC.
PRINT CONTRAST - Ratio of the difference of reflected light between
the bars and spaces of a bar code. Print Contrast equals Space Reflectance
minus Bar Reflectance divided by Space Reflectance.
PRINTERS - In order to create a barcode for an item, it must be produced
by a printer. All printers have a media width, amount of speed and duty cycle.
Below are the two main types of printers.
- THERMAL DIRECT PRINTER - Forms images by pressing heated areas
of printing head against heat-sensitive paper. (No ribbon is needed)
- THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER - Forms images by pressing heated areas
of printing head against heat-sensitive ribbon which presses against media.
QUIET ZONE - Area leading or trailing a bar code
with no encoded information.
READER - A bar code scanner and decoder.
REFLECTIVITY -
Amount of light reflected back by the surface upon which the bar code is
printed.
RESOLUTION - Measure of the size of the spot of light reflected back
to the reader.
SCANNER - Bar code device which produces a signal
representing the bars and spaces of a bar code.
SELF-CHECKING - Ability of a symbology to guard against undetected
errors.
SOFTWARE SHELL - Simulates keyboard entry of bar code signals.
SPEED FOR PRINTERS - How many labels it prints per seconds. May be
measured by how many centimeters the printer prints per second.
START AND STOP CHARACTERS - Character which tells a scanner or reader
when a bar code begins and ends. SUBSTITUTION ERROR RATE-The ratio of the
number of incorrect characters to the total number of entered characters.
TBC-Total Business Concept
THERMAL DIRECT PRINTER - Forms images by pressing heated areas of
printing head against heat-sensitive paper.
THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER - Forms images by pressing heated areas of
printing head against heat-sensitive ribbon which presses against media.
TQC-Total Quality Control
UCC - Uniform Code Council
UPC-Universal Product Code; standard symbology used by the grocery and retail
industries.
USS-Uniform Symbology Specifications
VARIABLE LENGTH - Description of a symbology which
allows bar codes of varying numbers of characters.
VISION SYSTEM -
Vision systems digitize an object's image so that it can be understood by
a computer.
WEDGE READER - Converts bar code signal into a keyboard
signal which the computer is able to read. WIDE-TO-NARROW RATIO - Ratio of
the wide bars to the narrow bars in a symbology.
WIDTH - Measurement of the narrowest element of a bar code. Same as "X" dimension.
"X" DIMENSION - Measurement of the narrowest element of
a bar code. Same as width.
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