barcode quality grading

[manost]

Hi there,

I am thinking of building a barcode verifier, using a machine vision system (Labview with vision development module or NI vision builder AI). 

The problem is that I am reading in the NI vision concept manual that the quality grading is available only for the Data Matrix codes. I have also downloaded the trial version of the  NI vision builder AI, and it seems that the only quality grading function is for the Data Matrix codes.

Why is that? Isn't there a way to grade the quality of an 1D barcode using an NI machine vision system? 

Thank you for your time. 

Manos

[esmaham]

Hi Manos.

It is possible to read 1D Barcodes using NI Machine Vision. Here is where you can find the examples in LabVIEW. Open LabVIEW neveigate to Help»Find Examples»ToolKits and Modules»Vision»Applications»Barcode Example. You will find more examples under Help»Find Examples»ToolKits and Modules»Vision»functions

Also here is an online example to read 1D or Matrix Barcodes.  

Thanks and have a great day. 

Esmail Hamdan | Applications Engineering | National Instruments 

[BruceAmmons]

The 1D barcode routines were written long ago.  They tend to require high quality images and the quality of the barcode needs to be fairly good.  They don't appear to be designed for robustness like the 2D barcode routines.  Since they only read higher quality barcodes, it wouldn't make much sense to try to measure the quality.

Reading a 1D barcode is also a bit different that 2D barcodes.  2D barcodes contain redundant information, which makes it possible to read them even when they are low quality or part of the barcode is missing.  1D barcodes don't have much (any?) redundant information, so if they aren't read cleanly they aren't read at all.

I once heard a rumor that NI was going to rewrite the 1D barcode routines to make them much more flexible, such as the ability to find barcodes and read them in any orientation.  I don't know if it will happen (or when).  Perhaps if they do that they may add a quality measurement of some sort as well.

Bruce