Hand held products Imageteam 4410 User manual

™

User’s Guide

Quick Check 2D Print

Quality Assessment

Applies to the following products:

4410, 4710, 4600g, 4800i

Disclaimer

Hand Held Products, Inc. (“Hand Held Products”) reserves the right to make

changes in specifications and other information contained in this document

without prior notice, and the reader should in all cases consult Hand Held

Products to determine whether any such changes have been made. The

information in this publication does not represent a commitment on the part of

Hand Held Products.

Hand Held Products shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or

omissions contained herein; nor for incidental or consequential damages

resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. All

rights are reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced,

or translated into another language without the prior written consent of Hand

Held Products.

Web Address: www.handheld.com

Chapter 1 - Introduction

User Operation...................................................................... 1-1

Reading Techniques.............................................................. 1-1

Symbology/Parameter Specifics........................................... 1-2

2D PQA Reporting .............................................................. 1-3

Full Report ..................................................................... 1-3

Screening Report............................................................ 1-3

Identifying Symbol Content........................................... 1-4

2D Stacked / Multi-row ........................................................ 1-5

PDF417 .......................................................................... 1-5

MicroPDF417................................................................. 1-8

2D Matrix.............................................................................. 1-9

Aztec Code ..................................................................... 1-9

Data Matrix .................................................................. 1-10

QR Code....................................................................... 1-11

MaxiCode..................................................................... 1-12

Postal (Height-Modulated) Bar Code Symbologies ........... 1-13

Postnet and Planet Code............................................... 1-13

4-State Codes ...................................................................... 1-14

Table of Contents

Parameter Interpretation ..................................................... 1-16

Average Bar/Gap Width............................................... 1-16

Average (Bar) Height/Extension Height...................... 1-16

Bar Sequence................................................................ 1-16

Codeword (Data and Check)........................................ 1-16

Codeword Yield ........................................................... 1-16

Data Safety Margin ...................................................... 1-17

Edge Accuracy ............................................................. 1-17

Encoded Message......................................................... 1-17

Error Correction/Error Correction Characters ............. 1-17

Error Correction Level (ECL)...................................... 1-17

Error Detection/Error Detection Characters................. 1-17

Mask Pattern/Masking ................................................. 1-18

Module Errors .............................................................. 1-18

Print Growth (Horizontal and Vertical) ....................... 1-18

Row Height .................................................................. 1-18

Symbology ................................................................... 1-18

Useful Row Height....................................................... 1-19

X-dimension................................................................. 1-19

Chapter 2 - Quick*View

Quick*View Demonstration Software Instructions.............. 2-1

Setting Up the Imager and the Quick*View Software... 2-1

Installing Quick*View from the Web................................... 2-1

Temporary Quick*View Configuration................................ 2-2

Using the Quick*View Software .......................................... 2-3

Chapter 3 - Customer Support

Product Service and Repair .................................................. 3-1

Online Product Service and Repair Assistance.............. 3-2

Technical Assistance ............................................................ 3-2

Online Technical Assistance .......................................... 3-3

1 - 1

Introduction

Two-dimensional Print Quality Assessment (2D PQA), a feature of Hand Held

Products’ image readers, identifies a successfully read symbol and also reports

graded measurement parameters obtained from the symbol.

2D PQA is not "true" verification in the traditional sense of the word; however it

can easily and inexpensively provide test results that you may find useful for 2D

bar code symbol print quality process control. This User's Guide explains how

to activate Hand Held Products' 2D PQA analysis function, what is reported, how

the data is measured, what the readings mean, and what you might do to

improve your process.

User Operation

To utilize 2D PQA you need to have an 4600g/4800i with firmware revision

1.135.1.1 or higher or an 4410/4710 with firmware revision 1.91.2.18 or higher.

To see displayed results using the 2D PQA feature, Microsoft®Notepad, a word

processor/editing program, or Quick*View is recommended. Refer to Chapter 2

for information regarding Quick*View.

Reading Techniques

Handheld movement, rotation, and location will affect the measured results. To

obtain proper repeatable reads that yield useful print quality information, you

should follow the techniques listed below.

• Lay the bar code symbol to be tested on a flat surface

• 4600g/4800i: Hold the imager 7.0 in (17.8 cm) for SR models, 3.5 in (8.9 cm)

for the HD, and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) for the SF from the bar code symbol. This

distance is measured from the imager's front window to the reading surface.

• 4410/4710: Hold the imager 5.0 in (12.7 cm) for LR models, 2.0 in (5.1 cm)

for the HD, and 7.0 in (17.8 cm) for the LX from the bar code symbol. This

distance is measured from the imager's front window to the reading surface.

• The handheld imager has a view finder that projects a bright aiming beam that

corresponds to the imager’s horizontal field of view. The aiming beam should

be centered over the bar code and positioned horizontally over the code (no

tilt, skew, or rotation). If the symbol surface is shiny, the reader may have to

Show Firmware

1 - 2

be held several degrees below the normal position to avoid specular

reflections.

• When testing, attempt to minimize as much movement of the imager as

possible. Excessive movement can cause variability in PQA results.

• It is best to take multiple reads of the symbol, comparing the PQA results to

form a better indication of the overall symbol quality.

When you use 2D PQA under the above conditions, you can expect meaningful

and repeatable results that can be used to make correction adjustments in your

symbol generation process.

Symbology/Parameter Specifics

Two-dimensional bar code symbologies come in three distinct varieties or basic

structures:

1. Stacked or Multi-Row symbologies (e.g., PDF417 and MicroPDF47),

2. 2D Matrix symbologies (e.g., Data Matrix, Aztec Code, QR Code, and

Maxicode), and

3. Postal (Height-Modulated) symbologies (e.g., Postnet and Planet Code in

the U.S. and the 4-State codes used in England, the Netherlands (KIX),

Canada, Japan, and Australia).

Since each of these basic types or structures differ, the 2D PQA outputs are quite

different to accommodate the quality parameters for each of the classes of 2D

symbols.

Linear symbol

1 - 3

2D PQA Reporting

Full Report

Hand Held Products 2D PQA reporting can be enabled in two different modes:

Full Report or Screening.

If you are using Quick*View, you can enable Full Report, a listing of all of a

symbol's identifying information, measurements, and corresponding grades, by

typing the following menu command:

2D_PQA1

or by scanning the following bar code:

Note: With the 4600g/4800i, the PQA report is sent out as a second data/beep

sequence after the bar code data. The report has its own Hand Held

Products code ID of >(0X3E) so it can be uniquely identified.

Screening Report

Screening is a grade-based mode that allows display of a limited list of identifying

information, as well as only those measurements that are below Minimum

Acceptable Grade (MAG) level. With the 4600g/4800i, if all of the parameters are

met in the screening mode, only the bar code data will be output with a beep. If

one or more of the measured parameters fail to meet the MAG, the PQA

message is also sent with a beep.

Note: With the 4410/4710, screening mode outputs are also accompanied by a

single beep if all parameters are okay or a triple beep if one or more of the

measured parameters fail to meet the MAG.

If you are using Quick*View, you can enable Screening by typing the following

menu commands:

2D_PQA2 when A is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

2D_PQA3 when B is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

2D_PQA4 when C is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

2D_PQA5 when D is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

Full Report

1 - 4

If your imager is in keyboard wedge mode, enable Screening by scanning the

following bar codes.

You can exit both Full Report and Screening modes by either typing the menu

command, 2D_PQA0, if you are using Quick*View, or by scanning the following

bar code:

Identifying Symbol Content

To identify content or "format" aspects of a symbol, 2D PQA modes report the

less than obvious characteristics of a symbol. For quality determination, 2D PQA

reports those parameters that both relate directly to the print or creation process,

and that also remain relatively consistent over a range of handheld reading

situations.

In the 2D PQA Full Report mode, successful scans of a 2D symbol output a

message similar to the following (with slight variations based upon the

symbology being tested):

This is a representative PDF417 symbol

>>> PQA from Hand Held Products <<<

PDF417: 11 rows x 3 cols, 25 data & 8 chks (ECL = 2)

X roughly = 0.014"

[A] < Row Height = 3.1 X

[A] < Useful Row Height = 2.5 X (82% Row)

[A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% (0 Erasures & 0 Errors)

[B] < Edge Accuracy = 59%

[C] < Print Growth = -43% of X

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = D

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = B

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = C

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = A

Exit

1 - 5

While the details are explained below, this general format includes:

• the encoded data (the usual output message) in the first line.

• a banner " >>> PQA from Hand Held Products <<<" identifying the start of the

2D PQA report.

• the symbology, its features, and approximate size.

• graded print quality parameters in the following lines.

In the 2D PQA Screening mode with "A" as the Minimum Acceptable Grade, this

same scan would be accompanied by a triple beep and the following output

message:

This is a representative PDF417 symbol

>>> PQA from Hand Held Products <<<

Minimum Acceptable Grade = A

PDF417: X roughly = 0.014"

Poor Edge Accuracy (59%)

Excessive Print Shrinkage (-43% of X)

With "C" as the Minimum Acceptable Grade, this same scan would produce just

a single beep and the following output message:

This is a representative PDF417 symbol

>>> PQA from Hand Held Products <<<

Minimum Acceptable Grade = C

PDF417: X roughly = 0.014"

All Measurements within range

The actual details of the symbol identifying and print quality parameters are

explained in the following sections.

2D Stacked / Multi-row

This section describes 2D PQA outputs for PDF417 and MicroPDF417, as well

as their derivative 2D arrays used in UCC/EAN Composite Components and

T-Linked Code 39.

PDF417

The Full Report from a typical scan looks like the following (line numbers have

been added in curly brackets):

{1} This is a representative PDF417 symbol

{2} >>> PQA from Hand Held Products <<<

{3} PDF417: 11 rows x 3 cols, 25 data & 8 chks (ECL = 2)

{4} X roughly = 0.014"

{5} [A] < Row Height = 3.1 X

{6} [A] < Useful Row Height = 2.5 X (82% Row)

{7} [A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% (0 Erasures & 0

Errors)

1 - 6

{8} [B] < Edge Accuracy = 59%

{9} [C] < Print Growth = -43% of X

where:

{1} is always the Encoded Message, the usual data output. In this case "This

is a representative PDF417 symbol".

{2} is a standard Banner heading that marks the start of the PQA portion of the

output.

{3} identifies the Symbology, PDF417 (or its derivative COMPOSITE-C), and

lists other characteristics of this symbol: the height and width of the data

field, the numbers of data and check characters, and the corresponding

Error Correction Level.

{4} presents an approximate X-dimension, presuming normal viewing dis-

tance.

In the Screening PQA modes, the Symbology Identification from Line {3} is

combined with the approximate X-dimension from Line {4}.

Note: The reported X-dimension is approximate and based upon use of the

4410LR at 4.7 in (12 cm) (see "Reading Techniques" on page 1-1). If you

use different image engines, the X-dimension will vary. If you hold the

reader closer than 4.7 in (12 cm), it will have the effect of reporting a larger

than true X-dimension. Conversely, if you hold the reader farther away

than 4.7 in (12 cm), it will have the effect of reporting a smaller than true

X-dimension. Please contact Hand Held Products Application Support for

additional information. Refer to Chapter 3 for contact information.

{5} lists the average Row Height, assigning the grades as:

A if Row Height >= 2.5 X

Fotherwise

In Screening modes, this parameter is reported as "Rows are Too Short (2.2X)"

when that is the case.

{6} lists the Useful Row Height, which is the measured Row Height times the

codeword yield (listed in parentheses), the percentage of symbol characters

scanned that actually decode. The grade is assigned as:

A if Useful Height >= 2.0 X, else

B if Useful Height >= 1.6 X, else

C if Useful Height >= 1.3 X, else

D if Useful Height >= 1.0 X, else

Fotherwise

In Screening modes, this parameter is reported as "Useful Row Height is Too

Short (1.5X)" when that is the case.

1 - 7

{7} lists the Data Safety Margin, which is the ratio of the unused error correc-

tion words to the recommended (!) number of such words. Data Safety Mar-

gin can exceed 100%, when the ECL is higher than the minimum

recommended, or be limited to 50% or lower, even with perfect printing,

when the ECL is below minimum. The grade is assigned as:

A if Safety Margin >= 62%, else

B if Safety Margin >= 50%, else

C if Safety Margin >= 37%, else

D if Safety Margin >= 25%, else

Fotherwise

In Screening modes, this parameter is reported as "Low Data Safety Margin

(44%)" when that is the case.

{8} lists the Edge Accuracy measured in the Start or Stop patterns. The grade

is assigned as:

A if Edge Accuracy >= 62%, else

B if Edge Accuracy >= 50%, else

C if Edge Accuracy >= 37%, else

D if Edge Accuracy >= 25%, else

Fotherwise

In Screening modes, this parameter is reported as "Poor Edge Accuracy (59%)"

when that is the case.

{9} lists the Print Growth measured in the Start or Stop patterns (the growth of

the dark modules or "bars"). The grade is assigned as:

A if Print Growth is between +/- 20%, else

B if Print Growth is between +/- 30%, else

C if Print Growth is between +/- 40%, else

D if Print Growth is between +/- 50%, else

Fotherwise

In Screening modes, this parameter is reported as "Excessive Print Growth

(33%)" or "Excessive Print Shrinkage (-43%)" when those are the cases.

In rare instances where neither a valid Start nor Stop pattern is measurable, yet

the symbol is somehow read, lines {8} and {9} are replaced by a message to that

effect. The message is either:

"[F] < Start/Stop Decode Fails" in a Full Report

"Start/Stop Characters are Bad" in a Screening mode.

In Screening modes, it often occurs that none of the parameters are below the

Minimum Acceptable grade. In this case, the final PQA line becomes:

"All Measurements within range".

1 - 8

MicroPDF417

The Full Report from a typical scan looks like the following (line numbers have

been added in curly brackets):

{1} This is a typical Micro PDF417 symbol

{2} >>> PQA from Hand Held Products <<<

{3} MICROPDF: 15 rows x 3 cols, 24 data & 21 chks

{4} X roughly = 0.015"

{5} [A] < Row Height = 1.8 X

{6} [A] < Data Safety Margin = 100% (0 Erasures & 0

Errors)

{7} [A] < Edge Accuracy = 70%

{8} [A] < Print Growth = +4% of X

where:

{1} is the Encoded Message.

{2} is the Banner heading.

{3} identifies the Symbology, MICROPDF (or one of its derivatives: COMPOS-

ITE-A, COMPOSITE-B, or TLC39), and lists other characteristics of this

symbol: the height and width, and the numbers of data and check, or error

correction characters.

{4} presents an approximate X-dimension.