News — x-dimension

What is a Decode Zone? A decode zone is a scanner’s working range for effectively scanning a particular type of barcode from a specific distance. The factors that determine the decode zone are: the size of the barcode’s x-dimension (smallest element), overall barcode width, the distance the barcode is from the scanner.

Density of a barcode refers to how much space is required for the needed characters - typically how many characters per inch “CPI”. Factors that determine the density of a barcode: Symbology Type The ratio of wide to narrow elements X-Dimension

Quiet zones Areas just before and after barcode These areas should be Same color as the spaces At least 10 times as wide as x-dimension Without the quiet zone the scanner is not able to read the code correctly - it doesn’t know where the barcode starts or ends.

X-Dimension is the width of the narrowest element (bar or space) in a barcode. It is measured in thousands of an inch call mils - 1000 mils is 1 inch. 5 mils means 5 thousandths of an inch. Here you can see two barcodes - on the left a 1D barcode with x-dimension of 10 mils and on the right a 2D barcode with x-dimension of 5 mils. Different scanners are able to read codes with different x-dimensions.

A barcode is a type of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology that consists of a series of parallel, adjacent bars and spaces (in the case of linear symbologies), dots and squares (in the case of two-dimensional [2-D] symbologies), or a combination of these (in the case of composite symbologies). The technology enables real-time data to be collected accurately and rapidly. AIDC technology creates the potential for improving performance, productivity, consumer safety, and efficiency in industries worldwide. Code versus symbol versus symbology The term "code" refers to the actual data that is contained in the arrangement of lines and spaces or...