What encoding method should I use?

Question

I need some advice on the following- what encoding method should i use to meet the following requirements-

The process, magnetic or optical should be capable of encoding a number between 0 and 5000 in an area 1mm by 1cm.
It should be possible to print/encode these data bits on a long

1cm wide strip with each discrete data bit right next to each other without any interference/degradation of data read.

The sensor should be small, probably 2cm by 2cm by 4cm.
It should not involve any radio transmission.

Would really appreciate any help i can get. Thanks a lot Maddy

bill.sloman · Accepted Answer

Search on "bar codes".--Bill Sloman, Nijmegen

Maddy · Answer

But arent barcodes very wide. I need something just 1mm wide.Maddy

Rich Webb · Answer

Barcodes are (typically) wide in order to relieve the reader of the need for precise alignment with the printed code. The track under the read head is probably a good bit narrower (no pun intended) than 1 mm.

mkaras · Answer

0-5000 requires 13 binary bits to encode. It is a fact of life (and also physics) that there will always be issues with bit cell to bit cell distortion so you will need SOME type of redundancy built into your code to permit reliable readback. Lets guess at full 100% reduncancy and you get up to 26 bits of information to encode into your stamp.

Now it also sounds like to me that the selection of 0 to 5000 as a range is tied to some present tense application need. I would include more bits for further expansion or flexibilty. Why not pick another batch of bits and move up to 64 bits total.

I think you would be better off looking at a small square type bar code like a Datamatrix code. See this link for a quick description of such codes:

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or

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It is possible to make small bar code readers which can image a Datamatrix bar code. For example check out this link:

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's%20New/Miniature%20barcode%20reader.htm or

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- mkaras

Homer J Simpson · Answer

Cauzin SoftStrip?

What encoding method should I use?

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