GLOSSARY
Aperture
Term used on the required CDRH warning labels to describe the laser exit window.
Barcode
A pattern of variable-width bars and spaces which represents numeric or
alphanumeric data in machine-readable form. The general format of a barcode
symbol consists of a leading margin, start character, data or message character,
check character (if any), stop character, and trailing margin. Within this framework,
each recognizable symbology uses its own unique format.
Barcode Label
A label that carries a barcode and can be affixed to an article.
Baud Rate
A unit used to measure communications speed or data transfer rate.
CDRH (Center for Devices and Radiological Health)
This organization (a service of the Food and Drug Administration) is responsible for
the safety regulations governing acceptable limitations on electronic radiation from
laser devices. Datalogic devices are in compliance with the CDRH regulations.
Code Positioning
Variation in code placement that affects the ability of a scanner to read a code. The
terms Pitch, Skew, and Tilt deal with the angular variations of code positioning in the
X, Y and Z axes. See pars. 2.2.1 and 2.4. Variations in code placement affect the
pulse width and therefore the decoding of the code. Pulse width is defined as a
change from the leading edge of a bar or space to the trailing edge of a bar or space
over time. Pulse width is also referred to as a transition. Tilt, pitch, and skew impact
the pulse width of the code.
Decode
The process of translating a barcode into data characters using a specific set of rules
for each symbology.
Decoder
As part of a barcode reading system, the electronic package which receives the
signals from the scanner, performs the algorithm to interpret the signals into
meaningful data and provides the interface to other devices. The decoder is normally
integrated into the scanner.
EAN
European Article Number System. The international standard barcode for retail food
packages.
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