Chapter 7: Peripheral Devices & Accessories
Operating Two Dimensional (2D) Imagers
Ikôn Rugged PDA (Windows Mobile 6.1) User Manual 277
7.11.4 Operating Two Dimensional (2D) Imagers
An imager takes a snap shot of a single bar code or multiple bar codes (at one time). It can
find a bar code regardless of its orientation—that is, even a bar code printed at a 45 degree
angle to the Ikôn will be decoded successfully.
Because imagers generally have a shorter depth of field than laser scanners, some practise
may be required to find the optimal distance from the types of bar codes being scanned. Al-
though the imager includes illumination LEDs, ambient light will help the imager decode
the bar codes, especially if the bar code is far from the Ikôn.
• Switch the Ikôn on. Wait until the unit has booted up completely.
• Aim at the bar code and press the scan key or the trigger. Hold the trigger until a suc-
cessful or failed scan result is obtained.
• When the scan button or trigger is pressed, a red, oval shaped light (the framing marker)
is displayed. Centre the framing marker in the field—either in the centre of the bar code
you want to scan or in the centre of the area in which multiple bar codes are to
be scanned.
The illumination LEDs will flash (typically several times) and a picture of the bar code(s)
is taken.
Note: When scanning multiple bar codes, ensure that all of the desired bar codes are
within the field of view of the scanner. It is possible that even when all bar codes are
within the field of view, not all of them will be decoded. Only successfully decoded
bar codes are passed to the application program. The application program then
issues a warning, asking that you scan the missing bar codes.
When scanning a single bar code, ensure that only the desired bar code is within the
field of view of the scanner.
Important: Keep in mind that the imager scanner is a camera, and the LED illumina-
tion is a flash. Glare can be an issue on reflective media such as plastic
coated bar codes, just as glare is an issue for photographers. When pointing
at a shiny surface, either shift the bar code to the side or top, or angle the
bar code so that the glare reflects away from the imager scanner.
Most imagers take several ‘snap shots’ of the bar code in order to decode it.
It is normal for the LEDs to flash two or three times. Hold the unit steady
between flashes to improve decode performance.