2D codes
The two-dimensional evolution of the barcode
2D barcodes are divided into matrix codes, such as QR, Data Matrix, Aztec, Code One, as well as dot codes, such as Dot Code A and stacked codes, such as PDF 417, Coda Block and Code 16K. Below we take a closer look at QR codes, which are mainly used in marketing, advertising and public relations, and Data Matrix codes, which are mainly used in industry and logistics.
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QR codes - lots of marketing squared
QR stands for "Quick Response", which refers to the fact that the information encoded in the code can be accessed within seconds. The QR code was developed by the Japanese company Denso Wave (subsidiary of the Toyota Group) in 1994. The aim was to ensure two components: More information in less space and a higher reading tolerance in the event of faulty codes. However, the QR code has established itself in advertising and public relations and serves as a marketing tool in these areas.
The QR code consists of a square matrix (black and white squares) that represents encoded data in a machine-readable format. There is a special marking in three of the four corners of the square, which is used for orientation.
1. the position markers indicate the direction in which the code was printed
2. the alignment markers serve as an additional orientation aid for a large code.
3. the synchronization lines, also known as clock cells, show the scanner how large the data matrix is
4. the marked fields show the version
5. the format fields contain information about the error tolerance and the data mask of the code. They also make scanning easier.
6. the information is encrypted in the small squares.
7. the quiet zone enables the scanner to distinguish the QR code from its surroundings
Thanks to the horizontal and vertical display of information (2-dimensional), the QR code only requires a tenth of the space of a conventional barcode. In addition, the QR code is less susceptible to soiling or damage due to error correction levels. The error correction level, which you can select yourself when creating a QR code, determines the degree of error correction so that the code remains readable even if it is damaged or dirty. At the highest level, up to 30% of the data can be damaged and readability is still guaranteed.
A QR code can contain up to 7,089 digits or 4,296 letters as well as punctuation and special characters. In addition to numbers, words and sentences and therefore Internet addresses can also be encrypted. The more information is encrypted in the QR code, the more code structure is created.
Creating a QR code is quick and easy. On a website that generates QR codes, you first select which function the code should fulfill. You then enter the relevant data to be stored. Click on "Create QR code" to generate your personal QR code. After deciding in which data format the QR code should be displayed, the file can be downloaded.
First of all, you need a scanner app on your smartphone. A large selection of these are usually available free of charge in the respective "app stores". By holding the smartphone camera over the QR code to be scanned, you scan it. Once the code has been read, the encrypted address or action is automatically called up.
The QR code owes its widespread use in part to the technology "open source" - i.e. available to everyone. Decisive advantages over the conventional barcode are the larger data capacity and high error tolerance. The QR code has now also found its way into mobile marketing thanks to the widespread use of smartphones.
Popular applications for QR codes are:- Print ads, advertising posters and shop windows
- Transportation and train stations for mobile ticketing
- Point of sale
- Business cards
DataMatrix codes - lots of content in a square
Where barcodes or QR codes reach their limits, the search for alternatives leads to the DataMatrix code. It was developed in the late 1980s in the USA and is one of the best-known 2D barcodes. Since its invention, the DataMatrix code has undergone numerous stages of development. Like the QR code, the DataMatrix code is also standardized by an international organization (ISO) and is used all over the world.
Like the QR code, the DataMatrix code also consists of various components. Anyone who knows these components can easily distinguish a DataMatrix code from other two-dimensional barcodes.
The Finder is a continuous boundary line in the bottom left-hand corner. It is used for pattern recognition and to calculate the rotational position of the DataMatrix code, while the bar cells on the outside are used to identify the number of rows and columns. They specify the matrix density.
In the memory area, the binary information is displayed in coded form. The quiet zone is the empty zone that surrounds the memory area. It does not store any information but separates the code from any surrounding patterns or structures.
Much has changed since the first variant of the Data Matrix code, the ECC00, to the ECC200 variant commonly used today. ECC stands for Error Correcting Code, i.e. an error correction that is carried out using a Reed-Solomon algorithm. This means that even a Data Matrix code that is up to 25 % damaged can still be read without any gaps. Depending on the symbol size and outer shape - square or rectangle - a different amount of data can be reproduced. With square DataMatrix codes, the symbol size ranges from 10 x 10 to 144 x 144, resulting in a data volume of between 1 and 1,556 bytes. Rectangular codes can have a symbol size of 8 x 18 to 16 x 48 and achieve a data volume of between 3 and 47 bytes.
Creating a DataMatrix code is just as quick and easy as creating a QR code. There are various websites that generate DataMatrix codes free of charge. One click on "Create DataMatrix code" and your personal DataMatrix code is generated.
A label and laser printer is sufficient for printing a DataMatrix code. Many of these devices have already implemented the requirements for printing 2D codes in their printer language and can print a DataMatrix code on paper.
Laser marking systems are mainly used for direct marking today. The DataMatrix code is burned directly onto motor parts, circuit boards or similar objects using a laser. The code is engraved into the material of an industrial machine, for example.A camera system is required to read the information from a Data Matrix code. This is the only way to recognize and capture the structure of the code. The DataMatrix code is illuminated by a light source and the reflected light is detected and evaluated.
Different devices can be used for this:- Smartphone
- Mobile computer
- Handheld scanner
The most widespread areas of application are in industry and logistics. The DataMatrix code is mostly used for permanent direct marking using laser engraving. However, it is also increasingly being used in document handling, such as mailing and ticketing.
Popular applications for DataMatrix codes are:
- Marking of industrial machines
- Use in the pharmaceutical industry
- Logistics
- Electronics and semiconductor industry
- Aviation
Technologies at a glance
