2D matrix barcodes

[unclebump]

Anyone using Labview to decode 2D datamatrix barcodes?? What hardware/software/lighting are you using. We have about 14 Cognex cameras with infrared lighting. Read rates are around 80-95% successful. We are running over 1000 reads per day. Some will be 4000+. Each application has a computer on it already. Most of the marks are pin stamped, one is a printed label, and the others are laser etched.

[BruceAmmons]

The camera/lens/lighting is probably good enough if you are getting good contrast on the markings.  After that, it is all software.

NI has tools for reading 2D barcodes.  The initial version of the tools were not very robust, and had difficulty reading "real" barcodes - pinstamped, poor contrast, other issues.  I hear the newer version has improved, but I haven't done any thorough testing.

If the NI tools do not satisfy your needs, I have a 2D barcode toolkit.  It is extremely robust and can read almost any barcode.  I have several images that Cognex can't read but my toolkit can.  Take a look at some of the images on my website.

http://www.ammonsengineering.com/2D_Barcodes/2d_barcodes.html

My tools will usually read several barcodes per second.  The big question is how good of a success rate you need, and how much you are willing to spend to get it.

Bruce

[unclebump]

Thanks Bruce. How do you get the image into Labview?? Do you need to have IMAQ??

[BruceAmmons]

My 2D barcode toolkit doesn't require the Vision tools.  You can capture an image using IMAQ and convert it to a 2D array, or bring it in some other way.  You just need to be able to get it to a 2D array to process it.

Bruce