Are All Barcode Scanners Laser Scanners?
No,
there are many other types of barcode scanners other than the
laser based units. There are the fixed beam scanners, like we
make at Custom Sensors, that are small and operate in close
proximity to the code. We can use LEDs for light sources
because we don't need all the power of a laser. CCD scanners
also use LED light sources. A CCD is actually an array of
detectors, rather than a single detector. CCDs, like fixed
beam scanners operate close to the code and don't need the
power of a laser either. Laser scanners are generally used in
applications where the code and the scanner have to be
separated by some distance. This is where the great quantity
of coherent light that a laser emits comes into play. The
laser beam is intense and can be easily focused to a very
small spot which is ideal for reading barcodes. Because of
the beam intensity, lasers can present a safety problem and
users should be familiar with the necessary precautions to be
taken when using a laser based device.
