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2D - Two-Dimensional bar code
802.11 - IEEE 801.11 Standard for Wireless LAN Interoperability
A
Active Tag - Active Tags are radio frequency identification devices which require batteries
for their operation
AI - Application Identifiers
AIDC - Automatic Identification and Data Capture
AIM - Automatic Identification Manufacturers, Inc., the worldwide association representing the
AIDC industry, is the source for technically accurate, unbiased, commercial-free, and up-to-date information on all AIDC technologies
Alignment - In an automatic identification system, the relative position and orientation of a scanner to the symbol
A/N - See "Alphanumeric"
Alphanumeric - The character set which contains letters, numbers and may contain other characters such as punctuation marks or control characters
ANSI - The American National Standards Institute is a non-governmental organization responsible for the development of voluntary industry standards
Antenna - In a radio frequency identification system, the antenna is the device which radiates and/or receives the RF energy
Aperture - The opening in an optical system (scanner) implemented by a physical baffle that establishes the field of view
ASCII - The character set and code described in American National Standard Code for Information Interchange, ANSI X3.4-1977. Each ASCII character is encoded with 7-bits (8 bits including parity check). The ASCII character set is used for information interchange between data processing systems, communication systems, and associated equipment. The ASCII set consists of both control and printing characters
ASN - Advanced Shipping Notice
Aspect Ratio - In a bar code symbol, the ratio of bar height to symbol length
Autodiscrimination - The ability of bar code reading equipment to recognize and correctly decode more than one symbology
Average Background Reflectance - Expressed as a percentage; the simple arithmetic average of the background reflectance from at least five different points on a sheet
B
Background - The spaces, quiet
zones, and area surrounding a printed symbol
Bar - The darker element of a printed bar code
symbol
Bar code - An automatic identification technology
that encodes information into an array of varying width
parallel rectangle bars and spaces
Bar code Character - A single group of bars and
spaces that represent an individual number, letter,
punctuation mark, or other symbol
Bar code Density - The number of data characters
which can be represented in a linear unit of measure. Bar
code density is often expressed in characters per inch (CPI)
Bar code Label - A label which carries a bar code
symbol and is suitable to be affixed to an article
Bar code Reader - A device used to read a bar code
symbol
Bar code Symbol - See "Symbol"
Bar Height - See "Bar Length"
Bar Length - The bar dimension perpendicular to the bar width. Also called height
Bar Width - The thickness of a bar measured from the edge closest to the symbol start character to the
trailing edge of the same bar
Bar Width Reduction - Reduction of the nominal bar width dimension on film masters or printing plates
to compensate for systematic errors in some printing processes
Base Line - A reference line used to specify the desired vertical position of characters printed on the same line
BCD - Binary Coded Decimal (see "Decimal, Binary")
Bi-Directional - A bar code symbol capable of being read successfully independent of scanning direction
Bi-Directional - Read See "Bi-directional"
Binary - The number system that uses only 1’s and 0’s
Bit - An abbreviation for "binary digit". A single element (0 or 1) in a binary number
C
Capture Window - In an automatic identification system employing RF, that volume which defines the
active portion of the radio frequency antenna pattern
CCBBA - Committee for Commonality in Blood Banking
in America
Centerline - The vertical axis around which
character elements are located for letters, numerals, or
symbols
Character – 1) A single group of bars and spaces
that represent an individual number, letter, punctuation
mark, or other symbol. 2) A graphic shape representing a
letter, numeral, or symbol. 3) A letter, digit, or other
symbol that is used as part of the organization, control, or
representation of data
Character Alignment - The vertical or horizontal position of characters with respect to a given set of
reference lines
Character Set - Those characters available for encodation
in a particular automatic identification technology
Check Character - A character included within a
message whose value is used for the purpose of performing a
mathematical check to ensure the accuracy of that message
Check Digit - See "Check Character"
Clear area - See "Quiet Zone"
Codabar - (2 of 7 Code, Code 27). A numbers only bar code consisting of seven modules, two of which are wide. See ANSI/AIM X5-3 USS-Codabar
for specifications
Code - See "bar code"
Code 39 - (3 of 9 Code). A full alphanumeric bar code consisting of nine modules, three of which are wide.
See ANSI/AIM X5-2 USS-39 for specifications
Code 93 - A full alphanumeric bar code capable of encoding all 128 ASCII characters. See ANSI/AIM X5-5
USS93 for specifications
Code 128 - A full alphanumeric bar code capable of
encoding all 128 ASCII characters. See ANSI/AIM X5-4 USS128
for specifications
Code 16K - See stacked codes. See ANSI/AIM X5-6 Code
16K for specifications
Code 49 - See stacked codes. See ANSI/AIM X5-7 Code
49 for specifications
Code Reader - See "bar code reader"
Continuous Code - A bar code symbology where all spaces within the symbol are parts of characters,
e.g. USS I 2/5. There is no intercharacter gap in a
continuous code
CPI - Characters per inch (see "Bar code Density")
D
Data Capacity - The amount of memory available in an RF
tag or in a buffer
Data Rate - In an automatic identification system employing RF,
the rate at which data is communicated between the
identification tag and interrogator. Typical units are bits
per second or bytes per second
Decimal, Binary Coded (BCD) - A numbering system
using base 2 that represents each decimal digit by four
binary bits, with the place values equal to 8, 4, 2, and 1,
reading from left to right
Decoder - As part of a bar code reading system, the
electronic package that receives the signals from the
scanner, performs the algorithm to interpret the signals
into meaningful data, and provides the interface to other
devices
Density - See "Bar code density"
Depth of Field - The distance between the maximum
and minimum plane in which a code reader is capable of
reading symbols
Diffuse Reflection - The component of reflected
light, which emanates in all directions from the reflecting
surface
DISA – Data Interchange Standards Association
Discrete Code - A bar code symbology where the spaces between characters (intercharacter
gap) are not part of the code, e.g. USS-39
Dot Matrix - A system of printing where individual
dots are printed in matrix (5x7, 7x9, etc.) forming bars,
alphanumeric characters, and simple graphics. See AIM
document T11, "Matrix Impact Printing", for specifications
Dot Size - (Ink Jet, Dot Matrix, Thermal) The size
of the printed dot laid down on a substrate in a matrix or
line to form characters
Dot Size - (Scanner) The diameter of the beam of
light used to scan a bar code symbol - ideally the beam
width should be the same as the width of the narrow bar
DSSG - Distribution Symbology Study Group
E
EAN - European Article
Numbering System, the international standard bar code for
retail food packages
EAS - Electronic Article Surveillance
EC - Electronic Commerce
ECN - Engineering Change Notice
EDI - Electronic Data Interchange
EDIFACT - EDI for Administration, Commerce, and
Trade
EDP - Electronic Data Processing
Electrostatic - A method of printing that utilizes a
special electrostatic paper or a charged drum, both of which
attract toner to the charged area. See AIM document T-12,
"Electrostatic Printing"
Element - In a bar code symbol, a single bar or
space
ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning
F
Film Master - A photographic
film representation of a specific bar code or OCR symbol
from which a printing plate is produced
First Read Rate - See "Read Rate"
Fixed Beam Scanner - Either a visible light or laser
scanner reading in a fixed plane. Requires a more exact
positioning of bar code than with a moving beam scanner
Foil - See "Ribbon"
Font - A specific size and style of printer's type
Formed Font Impact - A printing method for labels
consisting of a rotating drum etched with raised bars and
characters. A one time ribbon and the label move between the
drum and a micro controlled hammer
G
Guard Bars - The bars which are at both ends and center of a U.P.C. and EAN
symbol. They provide reference points for scanning
GUI - Graphic User Interface
H
Hand Laser Gun - See "Laser
Scanner"
Helium Neon Laser - A type of laser commonly used in
bar code scanners. It emits coherent red light at a
wavelength of 633 nanometers
He-Ne - Common name for helium neon laser
Horizontal bar code - A bar code or symbol presented in such a manner that its overall length dimension is parallel to the horizon. The bars are presented in an array, which look like a picket fence
I
ID - Identification
IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission
Impact Printing - Any printing system where a micro
processor controlled hammer impacts against a ribbon and a
substrate
Ink Jet - A method of printing using liquid ink,
projected a drop at a time against a substrate
Intercharacter Gap - The space between two adjacent
bar code characters in a discrete code. For example, the
space between two characters in USS-39
Interleaved bar code - A bar code in which characters are paired together using bars to represent the first character and spaces to represent the second, e.g., USSI
2/5 (see also "Continuous Code")
Interleaved Two of Five Code - (I 2/5) A number-only bar code symbology
consisting of five bars, two of which are wide. In this code
both the bars and spaces carry information. See ANSI/AIM X51
USS I 2/5 for specifications
Interrogator - In an automatic identification system employing RF, the device, which triggers the identifying tags to respond with a modulated RF
message
Ion Deposition - See "Electrostatic"
ISO – International Organization for Standardization
IT – Information Technology
IVR – Interactive Voice Response
J
JTC – Joint Technical Committee
L
Ladder Code - See "Vertical
bar code"
LAN – Local Area Network
Laser Scanner - An optical bar code reading device
using a low energy laser light beam as its source of
illumination. Often hand held
LED - Light emitting diode. A semiconductor that
produces light at a wavelength determined by its chemical
composition. The light source often used in bar code readers
LF - Low frequency. 30-300 KHz
Light Pen - In a bar code system, a hand held
scanning wand, which is used as a contact bar code reader
held in the hand (see "Wand Scanner")
Logmars - Logistics of marking and reading symbols. A Department of Defense program to place a Code 39 symbol on all federal items. For specifications see MilStd
1189
LTL - Less than Truckload
M
MES - Manufacturing Execution
System
MF - Medium Frequency. 300 KHz to 3 MHz
MH10.8.3 – ANSI Standard for Unit Loads and
Transport Packages - Two Dimensional Symbols
MHI - The Material Handling Institute, Inc.
MICR - Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. The
stylized printing on the lower left of personal and bank
checks
Microwave - A radio wave between 0.1 and 100 centimeters in wavelength or 1-100 GHz. Several automatic RF
identification systems use this frequency band
Mil-Std - Military Standard
MIS - Management Information Systems
Misread - A condition that occurs when the data
output of a reader does not agree with the data encoded in
the bar code symbol
Module - The narrowest nominal width unit of measure
in a bar code
Modulo Check Digit or Character - See "Check
Character"
Moving Beam Scanner - A scanning device where
scanning motion is achieved by mechanically moving the light
beam through the bars
MRPII - Manufacturing Resource Planning/2nd Generation
N
Nanometer - A unit of measure
used to define the wavelength of light. Many standards
require scanning in the B633-B900 range
NIST - National Institute of Standardized Testing
Nominal - The exact (or ideal) intended value for a
specified parameter. Tolerances are specified as positive
and negative deviations from this value
Non-read - In a bar code system, the absence of data
at the scanner output after an attempted scan due to no
code, defective code, scanner failure, or operator error
Number System - A method of identifying individual
or groups of objects. Number systems are of two types:
1) Significant digit where each item is uniquely identified
and 2) Non-significant digit where sequential numbers are
assigned regardless of product or item description
Numeric - A character set that includes only numbers
O
OCR-A - An abbreviation commonly applied to the character set contained in ANSI Std. X3.17-1981
(ISO 1073 Part 1). The code is both human and
machine readable
OCR-B - An abbreviation commonly applied to the character set contained in ANSI Std. X3.49-1975.
(ISO 1073 Part ll)
OMS - Order Management Systems
Opacity - The optical property of a substrate material that minimizes show-through from the backside or
the next sheet. The ratio of the reflectance with a black backing to the reflectance with a white backing.
Ink opacity is the property of an ink that prevents the
substrate from showing through
Orientation - The alignment of a bar code symbol
with respect to the horizontal axis. Two possible
orientations are horizontal with vertical bars and spaces
(picket fence) and vertical with horizontal bars and spaces
(ladder)
Overhead - In a bar code system, the fixed number of characters required for start, stop and checking in a given symbol. For example, a symbol requiring a start/stop and two check characters contains four characters of overhead. Thus, to encode three characters, seven characters are required to be printed
P
Passive Tag - Passive tags are
radio frequency identification devices that do not have any
internal power source. Their energy source is the
power emitted from adjacent antennas
PCS - Print Contrast Signal. A measurement of the ratio of the reflectiveness between the bars and spaces of a symbol, commonly expressed as a percentage. PCS is calculated as:
PCS = R1 - Rd divided by R1, where R1 is the reflectance of the light background and Rd is the reflectiveness
of the dark bars
PDF417 - A 2D Stacked bar code symbology
Pen Scanner - A pen like device either connected by
wire to a device or self-contained, used to read bar codes.
Requires direct contact with the symbol
Photo Comp - Photo composition. A system to produce
very high quality labels by computer/photography
Picket Fence Code - See "Horizontal bar code"
PIN - Personal Identification Number
Pitch - Rotation of a bar code symbol about an axis
parallel to the direction of the bars
POS - Point-of-Sale
PPBM - Positive Passenger Bag Matching
Preprinted Symbol - A symbol that is printed in
advance of application either on a label or on the article
to be identified
Print Contrast - See "PCS"
Print Quality - The measure of compliance of a bar code symbol to the requirements of dimensional tolerance, edge roughness, spots, voids, reflectance, PCS, quiet zone, and encodation
Q
QR Code – A 2D Matrix bar code symbology
Quiet Zone - A clear space, containing no machine readable marks, which precedes the start character of a bar code symbol and follows the stop characters. Sometimes called the "Clear Area"
R
RF - Radio Frequency. An
electro-magnetic wave
RFID - Radio Frequency Identification (see "Radio Frequency Tag"). See AIM document T-1, "RFID
Systems"
Radio Frequency Tag - An electronic tag capable of receiving/storing and/or transmitting digital information by means of, and in response to, RF
energy
Range - In a radio frequency system, range is
defined as the maximum allowable distance between the
antenna and the tag
Read/Only - Read/Only identification systems employ
radio frequency tags, which contain pre-programmed data
Read/Only Tag - In an RF tag that is capable of only
being read
Read/Write - In a RF automatic identification system, the capability of the RF tags to have their stored data changed by an external RF
signal
Read/Write Tag - In an automatic identification system employing RF,
an electronic tag capable of receiving, storing, and
transmitting digital information
Read Rate - The ratio of the number of successful
reads on the first attempt to scan to the total number of
attempts
Reflectance - The ratio of the amount of light of a
specified wavelength or series of wavelengths reflected from
a test surface to the amount of light reflected from a
barium oxide or magnesium oxide standard under similar
illumination conditions
Resolution - In a bar code system, the narrowest
element dimension which can be distinguished by a particular
reading device or printed with a particular device or method
Ribbon - A cloth or plastic tape with several layers
of material, one of which is ink-like, that produces the
visible marks on a substrate. Used on formed font impact,
dot matrix, thermal transfer and hot stamp printers. Also
called "Foil"
ROI - Return on Investment
Rule of "X" - X Dimension
S
SAW - Surface Acoustic Wave. A technology by which radio frequency signals are converted to acoustic signals and confined within a small substrate made from Lithium Niobate
or other crystalline materials. SAW waves propagate at
relatively low speed with reference to radio waves and, as
such, a small substrate may produce relatively long time
delays
SC - Subcommittee
Scanner - An electronic device to read bar codes that electro-optically converts bars and spaces into electrical signals. For RF
systems see "Interrogator"
SCC-14 - Shipping Container Code
Self-checking - A bar code or symbol using a
checking algorithm which can be independently applied to
each character to guard against undetected errors
Show-through - The generally undesirable property of
a substrate that permits underlying markings to be seen and
may adversely affect read rate
SI - Systems Integrator
Skew - Rotation of a bar code symbol about an axis
parallel to the symbol's length
Sniff Mode - Occurs when some radio frequency based
systems are searching for a radio frequency tag. The
interrogator continually emits trace amounts of radio waves
until a tag is detected. Upon detection, interrogation is
made at the maximum power
SNMP - Simple Network Management Protocol
Space - The lighter element of a bar code usually
formed by the background between bars
Space Width - The thickness of a space measured from
the edge closest to the symbol start character to the
trailing edge of the same space
Spectral Response - The variation in sensitivity of
a reading device to light of different wavelengths
Specular Reflection - The mirror-like reflection of
light from a surface
Spot - The undesirable presence of ink or dirt in a
space
SSCC-18 - Serialized Shipping Container Code
STAC - Symbol Technical Advisory Committee to the Uniform Code Council, Inc (see "UCC")
Stacked Codes - 16K and Code 49 are examples where a
long symbol is broken into sections and "stacked" one upon
another similar to sentences in a paragraph. Extremely
compact codes
Standard - A set of rules, specifications, instructions and directions to use a bar code or other automatic identification system to your profit. Usually issued by an organization, e.g. Logmars, HIBCC, U.C.C, etc.
Start Stop Character or Pattern - A special bar code
character that provides the scanner with start and stop
reading instructions as well as a scanning direction
indicator. The start character is normally at the left-end
of a horizontally oriented symbol. The stop character is
normally at the right-end of a horizontally oriented symbol
Substitution Error - A mis-encodation, mis-read, or
human key entry error where a character that was to be
entered, is substituted with erroneous information. Example:
Correct information 1,2,3,4, substitution 1,2,3,5
Substrate - The surface on which a bar code symbol
is printed
Symbol - A combination of bar code characters including start/stop characters, quiet zones/data characters, and check characters required by a particular symbology, which form a complete, scannable
entity
Symbol Density - The number of data characters per
unit length
Symbol Length - The distance between the outside edges of the quiet zones
T
TCP/IP - Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol
TCS - Transport Case Symbol
Telepen - A European code capable of encoding the
full ASCII set
Thermal - A printing system where dots are
selectively heated and cooled and drag upon a heat sensitive
paper. The paper turns dark in the heated areas. See AIM
document T-20, "Direct Thermal Printing"
Thermal Transfer - A printing system like thermal
except a one-time ribbon is used and common paper is used as
a substrate. Eliminates the problems of fading or changing
color inherent in thermal
Tilt - Rotation of a bar code symbol about an axis
perpendicular to the substrate
TSC - AIM USA bar code Technical Symbology Committee
U
UCC - Uniform Code Council, (see Uniform Product Code Council); the organization which administers the U.P.C.
and other retail standards
UCS - Uniform Container Symbol
UHF - Ultra-High Frequency. 300 to 3000 MHz
ULF - See "VLF"
UPC - Universal Product Code - The standard bar code
symbol for retail food packages in the United States
UPCC - Universal Product Carton Code - A standard administered by the UCC
UPN - Universal Product Number
USS - Uniform Symbol Specification. The current series of symbology
specifications published by AIM
UV - Ultra Violet
V
VAR - Value-Added Reseller
Verifier - A device that makes measurements of the
bars, spaces, quiet zones, and optical characteristics of a
symbol to determine if the symbol meets the requirements of
a specification or standard
Vertical bar code - A code pattern presented in such
orientation that the axis of the symbol from start to stop
is perpendicular to the horizon. The individual bars are in
an array appearing as rungs of a ladder
VLF - Very Low Frequency. Frequency less than 30 KHz
Void - The undesirable absence of ink in a bar
W
Wand - See "Wand Scanner"
Wand Scanner - A hand held scanning device used as a
contact bar code or OCR reader
Wedge - A device that plugs in between a keyboard
and a PC. Includes a pen scanner allowing data to be entered
either by keyboard or pen scanner
WIP - Work in Progress/Process
X
"X" Dimension - The nominal
dimension of the narrow bars and spaces in a bar code symbol
Many thanks to our friends at AIM for their permission to republish this document. You can reach AIM at www.aimglobal.org.
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