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The ubiquitous barcode. You find them attached to or embedded in everything we buy. But what exactly are barcodes, what’s their primary purpose, and are there different types?

All industries, companies, and businesses need to keep track of products and assets. Barcodes provide a great solution for this. They help make operations more efficient by quickly identifying products. Barcodes help provide control over inventory, track work in process, and ensure accurate data and compliance requirements are met.

Put simply, a barcode visually represents data about a product or asset. It often includes information about the item's price, manufacturing details, and the company that produced it. Once a barcode is scanned, it enables quick and accurate tracking of assets and products in progress, as well as inventory monitoring.

Different types of barcodes serve different purposes. In this article, we'll look closer at 1D and 2D barcodes and how these widely used barcode types are crucial for trade and supply chains.

1D vs. 2D Barcodes: What's the Difference?

There are two types of barcodes: one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) (Figures 1 and 2). Both types are effective but differ in their applications, scanning technology, layout, and data storage capacity. The nature of your work usually determines which type of barcode is used and the associated technology needed, such as printers, scanners, readers, and software.

Figure 1: A 1D barcode, or linear barcode, uses varying-width vertical lines to encode data horizontally. It can hold up to 85 characters. The commonly seen UPC on consumer goods is a 1D barcode comprising a 12-digit number with manufacturer and item specifics, plus a check digit. (Source: Maly LOLek, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Figure 2: A 2D barcode encodes data using various shapes, storing information vertically and horizontally, with a capacity of up to 7,089 characters. QR codes, a popular 2D barcode type, are easily scanned by lasers or cameras, providing quick access to information, often used in tracking and marketing. (Source: Original:  Iamjamieq Vector:  OmegaFallon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Barcode grading—specifically for 1D and 2D barcodes—is a process used across various industries and sectors to verify the readability, consistency, and reliability of these codes throughout their lifecycle.

Here's where and why barcode grading is used:

• Supply Chain & Logistics: Ensuring barcodes can be read consistently is vital in warehouses, distribution centers, and during shipping. A poorly readable barcode can cause delays, mis-shipments, or inventory errors.
• Retail: Products in stores often carry barcodes for pricing and inventory management. A high-quality barcode ensures quick and accurate scanning at checkout points, enhancing customer experience and reducing errors.
• Healthcare: Medical equipment, patient IDs, and medications might have barcodes. Proper grading ensures patient safety by reducing the chances of misidentification or administering the wrong medication.
• Manufacturing: Parts and products in manufacturing lines may have barcodes for tracking and quality control. Ensuring these assets are of high quality can reduce errors in assembly and quality checks.
• Aerospace & Automotive: Components often have barcodes for traceability. Given the critical safety implications in these industries, high barcode quality is paramount.
• Electronics & Semiconductor: Components and finished products often have barcodes or 2D codes for tracking and traceability.
• Government & Defense: Documents, equipment, and even personnel might have barcoded IDs for tracking and verification. Grading ensures consistency and readability, in turn enhancing security, especially in critical scenarios.
• Agriculture: Barcodes on produce or packaged foods can help trace back to the origin in case of recalls or quality checks.
• Pharmaceuticals: Medication and pharmaceutical products often have barcodes for traceability, ensuring the right product reaches the consumer and helping in cases of recalls.
• Ticketing & Events: Tickets for events, airlines, or transportation usually have barcodes to validate entry and prevent fraud.
• Publishing & Media: Books, DVDs, and other media typically have barcodes for inventory and sales purposes.

The primary objective of all these applications is to ensure that scanners can be read barcodes reliably across various environments. Grading provides a standardized way to measure and verify this quality, leading to increased efficiency, reduced errors, and enhanced traceability across these sectors.

Machine Vision for Barcode Grading

Industry always needs solutions that will help make operations more efficient by quickly identifying products. As shown in the previous section, barcodes help numerous sectors provide control over inventory, help track work in process, and ensure accurate data and compliance requirements are met.

But, for barcodes to operate effectively, they must be legible and accurate. In today's age, where automated supply chains hinge on data precision for dependable global operations, the importance of properly aligned, properly placed, accurate barcodes cannot be overstated. Machine vision verification is a crucial tool in guaranteeing barcodes meet quality standards consistently for automated readability. Moreover, it ensures flawed codes are pinpointed before leading to expensive mishaps.

Featured Product

Omron’s Industrial Automation F440-F smart cameras offer the newest smart camera technology, boasting a compact 40mm × 61mm frame while packing powerful capabilities. Their state-of-the-art Sony Pregius 5MP global shutter sensor snaps images at an impressive 35 frames per second (FPS), ensuring top-notch image quality. What sets them apart is the AutoVISION software, which simplifies vision setup to only three steps with twelve user-friendly tools. So, it’s not just the hardware that stands out; it’s the embedded software—AutoVISION—that truly simplifies the complexities of machine vision into an accessible, user-friendly powerhouse in compact smart camera technology.

Implementing the Omron F440 smart camera with the AutoVISION software for grading 1D and 2D codes can offer numerous benefits to companies, especially those aiming for efficient, accurate, and advanced quality control. Here's how:

• High Resolution and Speed: With its Sony Pregius 5 MP Global Shutter sensor capable of capturing images at 35FPS, the F440 ensures precise grading of codes. This means fewer errors, misreads, or missed codes, even on fast-moving production lines.
• Compact Design with Powerful Capabilities: Despite its compact size, the F440 doesn't compromise performance. It can be easily integrated into existing systems, even where space is at a premium.
• Advanced Software Integration: The AutoVISION software simplifies setting up and starting vision applications. The software's twelve user-friendly tools can streamline the setup process into just three simple steps, making it faster and easier to implement and adjust as needed.
• Flexibility: The Standard C-Mount Reading Lenses ensure compatibility with a wide range of lenses. Coupled with its optics and lighting flexibility, the F440 can be tailored to specific grading requirements and different environmental conditions.
• Cost-Efficiency: By automating the grading process with a reliable smart camera, companies can reduce manual inspection costs, decrease the likelihood of human error, and minimize the costs associated with product recalls or rework.
• Reliability and Consistency: Regularly grading codes ensures that products meet industry standards consistently, fostering trust with partners and consumers.
• Traceability and Compliance: With accurate grading, products can be traced throughout their lifecycle, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and facilitating recalls if necessary.
• Enhanced Data Management: Accurate grading also ensures that data collected from barcodes is valid. This data can be used for inventory management, production analytics, and other decision-making processes.
• Global Standards Adherence: By ensuring that their 1D and 2D codes meet international standards, companies can ensure smoother operations in global markets, reducing barriers related to non-compliance.
• Scalability: As businesses grow and production lines expand or evolve, the Omron F440's versatility ensures it remains a valuable asset, capable of adapting to new challenges and requirements.

For OEMs and businesses, the F440 by Omron embodies a compact machine vision solution that leaves no stone unturned in delivering impeccable performance. In essence, by integrating the Omron F440 smart camera into their grading processes, companies can achieve better quality control, increase operational efficiency, foster compliance, and ultimately enhance their brand reputation in the market.

Tuesday’s Takeaway

The Omron F440 smart camera, coupled with its advanced machine vision capabilities, is a revolutionary tool in the world of 1D and 2D code grading. By ensuring the highest level of precision and accuracy in barcode grading, the F440 not only enhances operational efficiency but also upholds the gold standards of quality control. In a world increasingly dependent on automation and accurate data, this camera stands as a game-changer, setting new benchmarks in the realm of machine vision.

Sources:

Association for Advancing Automation. “Understanding Machine Vision Verification of 1D and 2D Barcodes,” April 12, 2013. https://www.automate.org/tech-papers/understanding-machine-vision-verification-of-1d-and-2d-barcodes.

Brady Corporation. “1D vs 2D Barcodes: Differences, Devices & Applications.” February 6, 2023. https://www.bradyid.com/applications/product-and-barcode-labeling/1d-vs-2d-barcodes#:~:text=1D%20barcodes%20are%20read%20with,certain%20barcode%20type%20is%20preferred..