Hand Held Products Scanner IT4410 User Manual

Quick Check 2D Print

Quality Assessment

Applies to the following products:

IT4410, IT4710, IT4600, IT4800, IT4X80

™

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Table of Contents

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...................................................................... 1-15

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

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

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

Bar Sequence................................................................ 1-17

Codeword (Data and Check)........................................ 1-17

Codeword Yield ........................................................... 1-17

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

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

Encoded Message......................................................... 1-18

Error Correction/Error Correction Characters ............. 1-18

Error Correction Level (ECL)...................................... 1-18

Error Detection/Error Detection Characters................. 1-18

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

Module Errors .............................................................. 1-19

Print Growth (Horizontal and Vertical) ....................... 1-19

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

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Symbology....................................................................1 -19

Useful Row Heigh t .......................................................1 -19

X-dimension .................................................................1 -20

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 We b ...................................2 -1

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

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

Chapter 3 - Customer Support

Obtaining Factory Service.....................................................3-1

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

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Introduction

Two-dimensional Print Quality Assessment (2D PQA), a feature of HHP's image

readers, identifies a successfully read symbol and also reports graded mea-

surement 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 HHP's 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 IMAGETEAM™ 4600/4800/4X80 with

firmware revision 1.135.1.1 or higher or an IMAGETEAM 4410/4710 with firm-

ware revision 1.91.2.18 or higher..

Show Firmware

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

Hand held 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

IT4600/4800/4X80: 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 sym-

bol. This distance is measured from the imager's front window to the read-

ing surface.

•

IT4410/4710: 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.

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•

The hand-held 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 be held several degrees below the normal position to avoid

specular reflections.

2D Matrix symbol

•

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

sible. 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 Maxi-

code), 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.

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2D PQA Reporting

Full Report

HHP's 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 sym-

bol's identifying information, measurements, and corresponding grades, by typ-

ing the following menu command:

2D_PQA1

or by scanning the following bar code:

Full Report

Note: With the IT4600/4800/4X80, the PQA report is sent out as a second data/

beep sequence after the bar code data. The report has its own HHP 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 identify-

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

Acceptable Grade (MAG) level. With the IT4600/4800/4X80, if all of the param-

eters 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 IT4410/4710, 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

2D_PQA3

2D_PQA4

2D_PQA5

when A is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

when B is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

when C is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

when D is the Minimum Acceptable Grade

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

following bar codes.

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = A

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = B

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = C

Minimum Acceptable

Grade = D

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:

Exit

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 hand held

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 symbol-

ogy being tested):

This is a representative PDF417 symbol

>>> PQA from HHP <<<

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

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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 HHP <<<" 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 HHP <<<

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 HHP <<<

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 HHP <<<

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

{4} X roughly = 0.014"

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{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)

{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 com-

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

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

IT4410LR 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 HHP Application Support for additional

information. Refer to Chapter 3 for contact information.

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

if Row Height >= 2.5 X

otherwise

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:

if Useful Height >= 2.0 X, else

if Useful Height >= 1.6 X, else

if Useful Height >= 1.3 X, else

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if Useful Height >= 1.0 X, else

otherwise

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

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

{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:

if Safety Margin >= 62%, else

if Safety Margin >= 50%, else

if Safety Margin >= 37%, else

if Safety Margin >= 25%, else

otherwise

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:

if Edge Accuracy >= 62%, else

if Edge Accuracy >= 50%, else

if Edge Accuracy >= 37%, else

if Edge Accuracy >= 25%, else

otherwise

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:

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

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

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

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

otherwise

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

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

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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 or

"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".

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 HHP <<<

{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.

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

IT4410LR 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 HHP Application Support for additional

information. Refer to Chapter 3 for contact information.

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

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if Row Height >= 1.5 X,

otherwise.

{6} lists the Data Safety Margin. Because MicroPDF's error correction level is

fixed, this parameter is just the "Unused Error Correction" and always

between 0 and 100%.

{7} lists the Edge Accuracymeasured in multiple scans through the Row

Address Patterns.

{8} lists the Print Growth measured within the Row Address Patterns.

2D Matrix

This section describes 2D PQA outputs for Aztec Code, Data Matrix, QR Code,

and MaxiCode.

Aztec Code

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

been added in curly brackets):

{1} This is a representative Aztec Code symbol

{2} >>> PQA from HHP <<<

{3} AZTEC CODE: 3 layers (Compact) => 23x23 modules

{4} Data Field: 29 data & 22 chks in GF(256), 0 Erasures

& 0 Errors

{5} X roughly = 0.021"

{6} [A] < Core Symbol: 0 errors

{7} [A] < Data Safety Margin = 146%

{8} [A] < Horizontal Print Growth = +1% of X

{9} [A] < Vertical Print Growth = +1% of X

{1} is the Encoded Message.

{2} is the Banner heading.

{3} identifies the Symbology (AZTEC CODE) and lists the symbol's size and

format.

{4} lists the numbers of Data and Check Words, as well as the Error Correction

used.

{5} presents an approximate X-dimension.

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