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The Data Matrix Code |
 Conventional
one-dimensional (1-D) barcodes are widely used in many retail and
industrial applications today. However, conventional barcodes have
some inherent limitations, which prevent their use in identifying
and tracking products as they are manufactured.
The most important such limitation is that bar codes require precise,
high-contrast printing, typically on labels, in order to be read reliably,
because they encode information in an analog fashion in the form of
alternating bars and spaces of varying widths.
Two-dimensional 2-D symbologies like Data Matrix overcome this key
limitation by encoding information digitally in the form of a checkerboard
pattern of on/off cells and thus allow marking and reliable reading
of low-contrast codes directly on parts without a label.
Data Matrix is the most popular 2-D symbology which has found extensive
use in automotive, aerospace, electronics, semiconductor, medical
devices and other manufacturing unit-level traceability applications.
Data Matrix codes are typically not replacing conventional barcodes
in these applications but instead extend barcode applicability to
areas where they have not been applied in the past.
Data Matrix symbology was invented by Acuity CiMatrix but has been
placed in the public domain so that anyone can print or read Data
Matrix codes without paying a license.
Any Data Matrix
symbol is comprised of the following major components:
- The L-shaped solid border
- The broken border on the opposite corner
- The data storage area inside the symbol and
- The quite zone outside of the symbol
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| Complete data matrix symbol |
Solid border |
Broken border |
Data storage |
Data Matrix Code Advantages
In summary, specific advantages of Data Matrix codes over conventional
1D barcodes include:
- Encode information digitally, as opposed to
the analog encoding of data in conventional barcodes.
- Can accommodate low-contrast printing directly
on parts without requiring a label
- Offer very high information density –
the highest among other common 2D codes, which means that you can
place a lot of information in a very small area.
- They are scaleable, which means that you can
print them and read them in various levels of magnification –
only limited by the resolution of the available printing and imaging
techniques.
- Due to the high information density inherent to Data Matrix codes,
they also offer built-in error-correction techniques
which allow fully recovering the message encoded in a Data Matrix
symbol even if the mark is damaged and missing as much as 20% of
the symbol.
- They are read by video cameras as opposed to a scanned laser
beam used for reading conventional barcodes, which means that they
can be read in any orientation.
Data Matrix codes can in general store up to 3116 numeric or 2335
alphanumeric characters or up to 1555 bytes of binary information. |
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© Copyright 2006 Acrovision Ltd |
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