Appendix J - Glossary Of Terms - Microscan MS-3000 User Manual

Glossary of Terms
Appendix J — Glossary of Terms
Autodiscriminate. The ability to decode various bar code symbologies
without changing configuration.
AWG. Abbreviation for American Wire Gauge. This is a standard measuring
system for wire sizes, listed from 0 (biggest) to 40 (smallest). A 26 AWG is
equivalent to 0.0159 in. (0.405 mm) in diameter.
Bar Code. Data that has been encoded into an array of parallel bars and
spaces of varying widths.
Bar Code Density. Number of characters per inch or other unit of measure.
Baud Rate. The term used to describe the number of discrete conditions or
signal events per second. In RS-232 and RS-422/485 systems, baud rate is
the same as bits per second (bps).
Blurring. Congestion of bars and spaces, typically occurring when scan-
ning at severe angles and/or distances, to a point that the scan beam is dis-
torted and individual bar code elements are not discerned.
Code 39. An alphanumeric bar code with a character set containing a start/
stop character, 10 numbers, 26 letters, 6 symbols, and a space. This code
is discrete, variable length, and self-checking.
Concentrator. Intermediary device which communicates with up to 50
other devices, and relays data from those devices to the host as well as
commands from the host to the devices.
Configuration. The method used to change factory default settings for
operational features to match a specific application. Configuration can be
done through menu selection, with serial commands, or with a profile card.
Connector. Physical device (plug or socket) on unit to provide in/out con-
nectivity for various circuits and pins.
Counter. Memory space provided to keep track of read cycle events.
Decoder. A device that analyzes digital input provided by the scan head
and translates it into bar code information.
Depth of Field. The distance between the minimum and maximum range in
which a scan head can read bar code labels.
EPROM. Erasable, programmable, read only memory. The EPROM stores
the coded information that contains decoding algorithms and options that
can be changed by the user.
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MS-3000 Single Head Decoder User's Manual