Symbol Bar Code Scanner
A barcode reader (or barcode
scanner) is a computer peripheral for reading barcodes
printed on various surfaces. It generally consists of a
light source, a lens and a photo conductor translating
optical impulses into electrical ones. Nearly all
barcode readers currently produced contain decoder
circuitry analyzing the barcode's image data provided by
the photo conductor and sending the barcode's content to
the scanner's output port. Bar code laser scanners are
usually programmed to work in conjunction with a cash
register. When a bar code scanning is performed, the
price comes up on the register and a customer receipt is
generated. Bar code scanners can also be used with
inventory software to determine how much product is in a
company’s warehouse or to record merchandise being
shipped from one location to another. Anyone can use a
handheld barcode scanner to read bar codes found on
merchandise or in catalogs from virtually anywhere.
Small and lightweight enough to fit in a pocket or
purse, such scanner can be used at home, in the store,
or on-the-go. It makes routine tasks, such as reordering
groceries or office supplies, quicker and easier than
ever before. The earliest, and still the cheapest, bar
code scanners are built from a fixed light and a single
photo sensor that is manually "scrubbed" across the
barcode. A more modern design, the "laser scanner," uses
a polygonal mirror or galvanometer-mounted mirror to
scan a laser across the barcode -- initially only in a
straight line, but eventually in complicated patterns so
the reader could read barcodes at any angle. A
portable USB bar code scanners have an internal,
built-in USB interface. There is no need for an adapter
cable or box. Just plug the scanners directly into the
computer’s USB port. The PC recognizes the scanner and
automatically activates the appropriate software driver.
The USB bar code scanner can be installed without
powering down the PC.
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