Operational Modes; Digital Camera; Scanning Considerations - Motorola MC55A0 User Manual

3 - 2 MC55A0/MC55N0 Enterprise Digital Assistant User Guide

Operational Modes

MC55 with an integrated imager support three modes of operation, listed below. Activate each mode by
pressing the Scan button.
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Decode Mode: In this mode, the MC55 attempts to locate and decode enabled bar codes within its field
of view. The imager remains in this mode as long as you hold the scan button, or until it decodes a bar
code.
NOTE To enable Pick List Mode, download the Control Panel applet from the Support Central web site at
http://support.symbol.com. Pick List can also be set in an application using a API command.
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Pick List Mode: This mode allows you to selectively decode a bar code when more than one bar code is
in the MC55's field of view. To accomplish this, move the aiming crosshair or dot over the required bar
code to decode only this bar code. This feature is ideal for pick lists containing multiple bar codes and
manufacturing or transport labels containing more than one bar code type (either 1D or 2D).
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Image Capture Mode: Use this mode to capture an image within the MC55's field of view. This is useful
for capturing signatures or images of items like damaged boxes.

Digital Camera

MC55 with an integrated digital camera have the following features:
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Omnidirectional reading of a variety of bar code symbologies, including the most popular linear, postal,
PDF417, and 2D matrix code types.
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Advanced intuitive aiming for easy point-and-shoot operation.
The camera uses digital camera technology to take a digital picture of a bar code, stores the resulting image in
its memory, and executes state-of-the-art software decoding algorithms to extract the data from the image.

Scanning Considerations

Typically, scanning is a simple matter of aim, scan, and decode and a few quick trial efforts master it. However,
consider the following to optimize scanning performance:
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Range
Any scanning device decodes well over a particular working range — minimum and maximum distances
from the bar code. This range varies according to bar code density and scanning device optics.
Scanning within range brings quick and constant decodes; scanning too close or too far away prevents
decodes. Move the scanner closer and further away to find the right working range for the bar codes
being scanned.
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Angle
Scanning angle is important for promoting quick decodes. When laser beams reflect directly back into the
scanner from the bar code, this specular reflection can "blind" the scanner.
To avoid this, scan the bar code so that the beam does not bounce directly back. But don't scan at too
sharp an angle; the scanner needs to collect scattered reflections from the scan to make a successful
decode. Practice quickly shows what tolerances to work within.
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Hold the MC55 farther away for larger symbols.
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Move the MC55 closer for symbols with bars that are close together.