Bar Code Symbologies - Wasp WCS 3900 Programming Manual

Chapter 2

Bar Code Symbologies

Bar codes are symbols consisting of a series of bars and spaces which can be
applied to packages, cartons, bottles, and other commercial products. The bars
and spaces in each symbol are grouped in such a way to represent a specific
ASCII character or function. The interpretation of these groups is based on a
particular set of rules called symbologies. Various symbologies have been
developed for particular applications. Some examples are shipping and
receiving, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, transportation, document processing
and tracking, and libraries.
The resolution of a bar code is dependent on the narrowest element of a bar
code (X dimension), and can vary from high density (nominally less than 0.009
in./0.23 mm), medium density (between 0.009 in./0.23 mm and 0.020 in./0.50
mm), and low density (greater than 0.020 in./0.50 mm). Medium and low
densities are the most common since these are the easiest to read (scan) with
nearly all scanning devices. The scanner can read bar codes with
X-dimensions as low as 5 mils (0.005 in/0.13mm).
WCS 3900 Series Scanners can read the most popular bar code symbologies
including Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC-A, UPC-E,
EAN/JAN-8, EAN/JAN-13, Codabar, and MSI/Plessey.
Please see test chart on pages 28-30.
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