What types of Bar Code readers are available?
Currently, the four different types of bar code readers are available: the pen type readers (bar code wands), laser bar code scanners, CCD (Charge Couple Devices) barcode readers and camera based barcode readers. Each of these types use a slightly different technology for reading and decoding bar code. Pen Type Readers or Bar Code wands Pen type barcode readers have a light source and a photo diode placed next to each other in the tip of a pen or wand. To read a bar code, you drag the tip of the pen across all the bars, in a steady even motion. The photo diode measures the intensity of the light reflected back from the light source and generates a waveform corresponding to the widths of the bars and spaces in the bar code. The barcode reader sends the waveform to the decoder, which decodes the waveform and sends it to the computer in a traditional data format. Laser Barcode Scanners Laser barcode scanners work the same way as pen type barcode readers. The only difference is that laser
