Scanner Settings

Barcode scanner is a device intended to read barcodes printed or pasted on product packaging or other media and to transmit the gathered data to a PC, cashier or POS.

Barcode scanner types by reader design:

• LED scanners with LED emitter and CCD reader – the lowest-cost and reliable devices with short-range reading capability (to read a barcode it shall be taken close, almost in touch), able to read only 1D barcodes.
• Laser scanners with greater reading range and higher reading capacity. But a mirror-based laser beam sweep mechanism includes moving parts, thus, is more sensitive to shock. Some manufacturers try to compensate this drawback with shockproof cases. Besides, the laser technique can read neither codes on electronic device screens nor 2D codes (QR, DataMatrix, PDF-417, etc.). Previously there had been laser scanners capable of reading PDF-417 2D barcodes, but those were rare and, eventually, disappeared. There are two types of laser barcode scanners: linear and multiplane.
• Image scanners (or photo scanners) are most advanced readers, recently on the market. These are fast and reliable, with good reading range for not only linear or composite, but two-dimensional barcodes. The image scanners are much more sustainable to external loads than laser devices, as there are no moving parts like reading beam sweep mechanisms, therefore, nothing inside can be displaced by an impact. The image scanners can scan barcodes on mobile device screens. There are two types of image scanners: linear imagers and area imagers.

Barcode scanner types by application method:

• Handheld scanners. The largest group of handheld scanners are USB devices – compact and light, these are easy to handle. Besides, USB scanners are low-cost. Easy-to-use, such devices are indispensable for companies. Many scanners include supports, thus, may be not held in hand.
• Fixed mount scanners. These are bigger, but of higher capacity, capable of multiplane scanning. Not easily portable, these devices require a scanned product to be brought thereto, but the scanning process itself is much faster which makes it a good choice for large supermarkets where every second matters.
• Integrated scanners. These devices are integrated directly into a cashier for easier use and feature high code processing capacity with no additional wires or devices. Such scanners can be often found in large stores and showrooms.