The Barcode Scanner Guide

A slightly different technology than the laser or pen-type scanners, LED scanners use hundreds of miniscule light sensors which are arranged in a row. These sensors measure the light that is already being reflected off of the barcode, which is to say that no light is coming from the scanner itself. And again this is a technology that can be utilized within a variety of housing types. These are probably the least popular, however they are probably the most durable, as there are usually no moving parts. This particular design is common in warehouses, industrial areas, etc. where an accidental drop or fall might occur, because in such an event, it is uncommon that the device breaks.

Despite the differences between the technology of an LED scanner and laser scanner, they are both alike in that the scanner can be held still over the barcode, while the scanner recognizes the code. The difference is that the laser runs back and forth across the barcode reflecting the light back into the scanner, while the LED scanner has no moving parts, just hundreds of little light sensors that are already in a line the width of the barcode, so they don’t need to move, they just pick up the ambient light on the barcode.

LED scanners are also called CCD scanners, which stands for “charge-coupled device”. This feature of the LED scanners moves the electrical charge to a place where it can then be converted into digital information.

LED or CCD scanners are similar in function to camera based, or 2D imaging scanners. The main difference between these two scanners is that LED or CCD scanners pick up an image of the barcode, and camera based or 2D imaging scanners take an actual two dimensional picture of the label.

You probably use LED or CCD scanners yourself all the time without even realizing it. Every time you swipe your credit or debit card in one of those little swiping machines, there is an LED scanner which reads the magnetic strip on the back of your card and transfers your personal information to the computer. The same sort of machines are used in keeping track of employee shift times, or for security purposes, such as the locks on hotel doors.

LED or CCD scanners can be used in more situations than your average laser scanner, and they can read smaller labels very easily. The disadvantages of these types of scanners is that they generally have a lower scanning range, which means that they can only read a barcode label from no further than three inches away.