Question

What are bar codes and explain their importance in automation?

Answer 1

Barcode is a type of data representation which can be read optically. In 1D barcoding the data is represented by varying the width and space between straight parallel lined. Teri dimensional barcodes were developed later which made use of dots, rectangles, hexagons and other geometric patterns. These are also known as matrix codes. Conventionally barcodes were read optically with barcode readers. Later application software became available for devices that could read images, such as smartphones with cameras.

Barcodes are used in various automated systems. A series of barcodes are used in absolute 1D linear encoder. The barcodes are packed close enough together that the reader always has one or two barcodes in its field of view. As a kind of fiducial marker, the relative position of the barcode in the field of view of the reader gives incremental precise positioning, in some cases with sub-pixel resolution. The data decoded from the barcode gives the absolute coarse position. An "address carpet", such as Howell's binary pattern and the Anoto dot pattern, is a 2D barcode designed so that a reader, even though only a tiny portion of the complete carpet is in the field of view of the reader, can find its absolute X,Y position and rotation in the carpet.S Some2D barcodes embed a hyperlink to a web page. A capable cellphone might be used to read the pattern and browse the linked website, which can help a shopper find the best price for an item in the vicinity.