TECHNICAL SEMINAR

ON
QR Code Technology
Presented by
T.Bhargava

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING
JNTUA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,KALIKIRI
Roadmap
• Definitions
• Development/Timeline
• How do they work?
• Conclusion
• References
• Questions
Definitions
• Barcode - a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned
bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned
and read into computer memory and that contains information (as
identification) about the object it labels.
• QR Code - a matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by QR
scanners, mobile phones with a camera, and smartphones.
• Scanner – a device that interpret different imagery, in this case: barcodes.
Development/Timeline
• 1952, a patent for “Classifying Apparatus And Method” is filed.
• 1959, Collins manages development of a car identification system (KarTrak).
• 1967, a standard for bar codes is formed based on KarTrak’s.
• 1968, Collins forms Computer Identics Corp.
• 1971, first portable bar code scanners and wands made.
• 1973, UPC codes invented and adopted by food stores.
• 1974, Code 39 developed.
• 1982, Code 128 developed. 1st handheld scanner & barcode printer released.
• 1987, Code 49 developed. Collins forms Data Capture Institute.
• 1990, ANSI X3.182 standard on bar code print quality is issued. PDF417, is introduced
by Symbol Technologies
• 1994, Checkerboard symbology Data Matrix invented by International Data Matrix,
Inc.
• 2005, airlines implement QR Codes as a part of boarding passes.
• 2008, mobile phones implement usage of the QR Code.
Different Codes
Code 39
• Defines 43 Characters.
• Typically used in non-retail areas.
• Arguably the simplest barcode.
Different Codes
Code 128
• Defines the entire 128
ASCII character set.
• Typically used in
shipping/retail.
Different Codes
QR Code
• Most commonly used
barcode as of recent
especially with mobile
phones.
• Has various numbers of
functions: linking to
websites, send SMS
functions, etc.
How does a
scanner/smartphone interpret
a barcode?
• Each barcode is interpreted similarly and yet also slightly
differently as well.
• Barcodes also happen to be less complex that QR Codes.
• Barcodes can use scanners, whereas QR Codes require
something else (i.e smartphones, computer, game machines)
No/Quiet Zones
• For all commonly used barcodes, each has a no or quiet zone.
Each one varies.
• In general, these must not be covered or the scan of the
barcodes will not work.
• For QR Codes, there are no zones as well as a quiet zone.
• With Codes 39 or 128, they have a quiet zone surrounding it.

Quiet Zone
No Zones
QR Code

• Position Markers

• Format

• Version Number

• Alignment Marker
 Light from Scanner
Barcodes Light Reflection

• Barcode scanners are made of 3

different parts: an illuminator, a
convertor, and a decoder. Barcode
• The illuminator shoots out a line of
light (typically red) at the barcode.
• Light will reflect from the barcode
(from anywhere that is not black) in
the form of a wave.
• The convertor converts the wave
into a readable form for the device.
• Decoder reads the converted
information.
QR Codes
• Certain applications on a smart
phone / portable gaming device
can scan QR codes (i.e ZXing on
Android)
• Instead of bouncing off an image
via light, QR Codes are interpreted
from a picture skipping the light
wave process.
QR Codes
• Interpretation of the code is that
excluding the no zones, each
black module is a 1 bit and a
white one is a 0 bit.
0 1
QR Codes
• There are also different versions
(currently up to 40).
• These are determined by a
numeral in a chart, followed by a
error correction level. By
following the two, the version
number is reached.
QR Codes
• Error Correction
• This allows other images to
be placed into the code
without any issues.
Still works!
Conclusion
• What barcodes and QR codes are.

• A brief history of barcodes.

• The different kinds of barcodes.

• How they work.

References
• Webster, M. (n.d.). Bar code. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/bar code
• UID Solutions - UID Products and Services for US Military Contractors and
DoD. Barcode History Timeline. Retrieved from
http://www.uidsolutions.com/barcodetimeline.html
• Qr readers. (n.d.). Barcode Technology Timeline. Retrieved from
http://www.qrreaders.net/articles/barcode-technology-timeline.html
• (9/29/2011). What Is A QR Code And How Does It Work?. [ONLINE]
Available at: http://www.youthedesigner.com/2011/09/29/what-is-a-qr-
code-and-how-does-it-work/.
• How Barcode Scanners Work. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.carolinabarcode.com/how-barcode-scanners-work-a-69.html.
• (2000). Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — Bar code symbology — QR Code. [ONLINE] Available
at: http://raidenii.net/files/datasheets/misc/qr_code.pdf.
Thank you