Parameters Effecting 2D Barcode Scanning Reliability

This paper describes a case study to identify the various parameters that affect the scanning reliability of 2D barcodes for high content density applications. A review of the numerous options for 2D symbologies showed that, in theory, these symbologies are capable of encoding relatively large amounts of data, but in practice, barcode scan-ability decreases as the encoded content increases. With specific attention to higher content (or capacity) applications, a case study was performed to identify the 2D symbologies with the highest scanning reliability, to be termed ‘‘scan-ability,’’ as well as the various parameters that impact this scan-ability. The paper is divided into four logical sections. The introduction section covers the goal and the specific requirements of the project. Section 2 discusses in detail the various parameters that impact the scan reliability of high-capacity 2D barcodes. Section 3 focuses on the testing methodology employed and Section 4 summarizes the conclusions of the detailed testing. Based on our requirements, our findings indicated that the best three scan reliability measurements of 96%–99% were all obtained using the PDF417 symbology with different media types and scanners. 1. I ntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 2. F actors that Affect Barcode Scan Ability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 2 .1. B arcode Symbologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 2 .2. C ontent Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 2 .3. E rror Correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 2 .4. S can Grade and Reflectance Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 2 .5. S ymbol Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 2 .6. E ncoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 2 .7. P rinter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 2 .8. M edia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 2 .9. D ecoder/Scanner Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 3. T esting Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 3 .1. I n ternal Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 3 .2. E xternal Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 4. C onclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 R eferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 PARAMETERS EFFECTING 2D BARCODE SCANNING RELIABILITY 211 Author's personal copy