2D image barcode scanner play an important role in modern life and business activities. From scanning products for checkout in retail stores to tracking and managing goods in logistics warehouses, they significantly improve the efficiency of data collection and processing. However, many people have little understanding of the internal structure and function of these devices. Familiarizing yourself with the various components of a 2D barcode scanner can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and choosing the right scanner. Next, we will explore the major components of a 2D barcode scanner in detail to better understand how they work together.
Scanner Housing
The housing of a scanner is an important structure that protects the delicate components inside, and also affects the comfort of holding the device and its overall durability. It usually consists of a front case and a rear case, and is designed with factors such as anti-slip in mind to suit different usage scenarios.
Front housing
The front housing is located at the front of the barcode scanner, directly facing the object being scanned. It usually contains a scanning window, which serves as a channel for light to enter and exit, enabling the scanning component to acquire barcode information. The material of the front housing needs to have a certain degree of abrasion resistance and light transmission to ensure that the scanning window is not easy to scratch, which will affect the scanning effect. In addition, the design of the front shell should be ergonomic to reduce user hand fatigue during prolonged operation.
Rear Shell
The rear shell is mainly used to protect the circuitry and other components inside the scanner. It usually has ports and slots reserved for connecting external devices such as charging cables and data cables. The backshell is generally made of sturdy materials that can withstand a certain degree of shock and drops, providing reliable protection for the internal components. At the same time, the design of the backshell also focuses on heat dissipation to ensure that the scanner does not overheat and affect its performance during prolonged operation.
Anti-slip design
To ensure that scanners are not prone to slipping during use, many scanners are designed with non-slip textures or rubberized pads on the housing. These non-slip designs increase the friction between the hand and the scanner, allowing the user to hold the scanner steadily, even when hands are sweaty or the operating environment is humid, thus improving accuracy and safety.
Scanning Assembly
The scanning component is the core part of the barcode scanner 2d, responsible for capturing the image information of the barcode and converting it into electrical signals for subsequent decoding and processing. This component mainly includes the scanning window, scanning engine and lens.
Scanning Window
The scanning window is the area where the scanner interacts directly with the barcode and is usually made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic. Its purpose is to allow light to pass through so that the scanning engine can clearly read the barcode information. It is critical to keep the scanning window clean from dust and stains, which can affect the accuracy and sensitivity of the scan.
Scanning Engine
The scanning engine is the key component in the scanning assembly that emits light and receives reflected light to capture the image information of the barcode. There are various types of scanning engines, such as laser scanning engines and image-based scanning engines. Laser scanning engines utilize a laser beam to scan barcodes, which is fast and highly accurate, while image-based scanning engines are more adaptable by capturing an image of the barcode and decoding it to recognize barcodes of various shapes and materials.
By understanding these components, you can better understand the working principle of 1d 2d barcode scanners and their applications in different scenarios.
Lens
The lens is located between the scanning window and the scanning engine, and is mainly used to focus the light to ensure that the scanning engine can obtain a clear barcode image. The quality of the lens has a direct impact on the accuracy and resolution of the scan, and a high quality lens can significantly improve the scanner's ability to recognize tiny barcodes and fuzzy barcodes.
Decoding and Processing Unit
The decoding and processing unit is responsible for converting the barcode image information acquired by the scanning component into recognizable data and carrying out subsequent processing and transmission. The unit mainly consists of decoder chip and microprocessor.
Decoder chip
The decoder chip is the core of the decoding and processing unit, which can decode the barcode image acquired by the scanning engine and convert the information in the barcode into digital signals. It supports the decoding of various barcode types, including the common QR code and Code 128 code. Different decoder chips have different decoding speeds and capabilities, and high-performance decoder chips are able to quickly and accurately decode complex barcodes.
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Microprocessor
The microprocessor is the “control center” of the scanner, responsible for coordinating the work of various components, processing and analyzing the decoded data, and communicating with external devices. The performance of the microprocessor directly affects the scanner's overall operating speed and processing capacity, a powerful microprocessor can handle a large amount of data to maintain efficient and stable operation.
Indicator Lights
Indicator lights are used to show the working status of the scanner, including power status, scanning status and connection status. Different colors and blinking frequencies of the indicator lights represent different meanings. For example, a green light indicates that the scanner is on and working properly, while a blinking red light may mean that the scanning has failed or the device is malfunctioning. By observing the status of the indicator lights, users can quickly understand the operation of the scanner.
Buzzer
The buzzer will emit an audible alert when the scan is successful or when there is an abnormality in the device. When scanning is successful, the buzzer emits a clear chirp to remind the user that the scanning operation has been completed; while in the event of scanning failure or device malfunction, the buzzer will emit an alarm sound of different frequencies to prompt the user to take appropriate measures. The volume and sound type of the buzzer can usually be adjusted according to user needs.
Power Module
The power supply module provides the scanner with the required power and is mainly composed of a battery and a charging port.
Battery
The battery is the main source of power for the scanner, and common battery types include lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various electronic devices due to their high energy density, low self-discharge rate and long service life. The capacity of the battery determines the endurance of the scanner. A high-capacity battery can support the scanner to work continuously for a long period of time and reduce the frequency of recharging, thus improving the working efficiency.
Charging connector
The charging port is used to connect the charger to charge the battery. Common types of charging interfaces include Micro USB, Type-C, etc. The Type-C interface has the advantages of supporting forward and reverse plugging, fast transmission speed, high power, etc., and is gradually becoming the mainstream charging interface. The charging interface of the scanner should be designed to be easy to use and have good durability to ensure that it will not be damaged during frequent plugging and unplugging.
Connectivity and Communication Module
The connection and communication module enables the scanner to transmit and interact with other devices, mainly including the wired interface and wireless module.
Wired Interface
Wired interfaces are usually used to connect the scanner to computers, servers and other devices for data transfer and device configuration. Common types of wired interfaces are USB interface and RS-232 interface, USB interface has the advantages of fast transmission speed, plug and play, etc., which is widely used in various scanners; RS-232 interface is commonly used in some industrial control fields, which can realize long-distance data transmission.
Wireless Module
Wireless module makes the scanner free from the constraints of the cable, can be more flexible for data transmission. Common wireless modules include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth module is suitable for short-distance data transmission, such as with cell phones, tablet PCs and other devices to connect; Wi-Fi module can achieve high-speed, stable long-distance data transmission, suitable for a larger range of scanner scenarios, such as logistics warehouses, supermarkets and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the scanner is not scanning sensitively?
Check the scan window: Make sure the scan window is clean. If there is dust or stains, gently wipe it with a clean soft cloth.
Check the barcode quality: Make sure the barcode is clear and complete, not damaged or blurred. If the barcode quality is poor, try adjusting the scanning angle or distance.
Check power: Make sure the scanner's power is sufficient, low power may affect the scanning performance.
Troubleshooting: If the problem still exists, the scanning engine or other components may be malfunctioning, it is recommended to contact a professional maintenance personnel for overhaul.
Why can't the scanner connect to the device?
Check the connection cable: make sure the connection cable is plugged in and the connector is not loose. If using a wireless connection, check that the wireless module is turned on and that the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi settings of the device are correct.
Update drivers: make sure the drivers and software for both the scanner and the connected device are the latest versions, older versions may have compatibility issues.
Reboot the device: Try to reboot the scanner and the connected device, sometimes the connection problem can be solved after the device is rebooted.
Fault Detection: If none of the above methods work, the connection module of the scanner may be faulty and needs to be repaired or replaced.
How to solve the short battery life of the scanner?
Timely charging: Try to avoid charging only when the power is too low, it is recommended to charge when the battery power is remaining 20%-30%.
Turn off unnecessary functions: Turn off unnecessary functions on the scanner, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. to reduce power consumption.
Check the battery status: If the battery has been used for too long, it may be aging and needs to be replaced with a new one.
Conclusion
An in-depth understanding of the parts of a 2D barcode scanner is essential for the proper use, maintenance and selection of the scanner. Each part plays an integral role in the performance and stability of the scanner. By acquiring this knowledge, you can quickly find solutions to problems you encounter, as well as make more informed choices when purchasing a scanner to fully utilize its capabilities and increase productivity.
If you are looking for a high speed 2d barcode scanner and a professional solution, MINJCODE is the ideal choice. We specialize in providing high-quality scanning equipment and have earned the trust of our customers with our excellent service and attention to detail.
Phone: +86 07523251993
E-mail: admin@minj.cn
Official website: https://www.minjcode.com/
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Post time: Apr-22-2025