The weekly report discusses the progress made by group KID-WA Company on their project to design a barcode reader. It provides an overview of the basic components and working principles of barcode readers, including that they use light sources and sensors to read barcodes and convert the light patterns into electrical signals. The report also includes figures showing examples of printed barcodes and a handheld barcode scanner. It analyzes barcode readers' strong point of being faster than keyboards but also notes their weak point of being bulky devices with limited display abilities. Next steps are to research the internal circuitry of barcode readers.

1. [INC 281 MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP WEEKLY REPORT] February 15, 2012
Name-Surname Kittipong Kitchakan
Student ID. 53211803
Group Name KID-WA Company
Engineering Ple(05), Disk (09), Pete(12), Fond(18), Care(21),
Team Members Wijak(27), Lek(34)
Product Design
P’ Tong, P’ Gong, P’ Joy, P’Aru
Team Members
Weekly Progress
A barcode reader or barcode scanner is an electronic device for reading barcodes. It
consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into
electrical. It contain decoder circuit analyzing the barcode's image data provided by the
sensor and sen barcode's content to the scanner's output port.
Types of barcode reader: pen-type readers, laser scanners, CCD readers, camera-
based readers, omni-directional barcode scanners, cell phone cameras and smartphones.
Methods of connection: early serial interfaces, proprietary interfaces, keyboard wedge,
USB and wireless networking
The working principle of the bar code reader.
1. A barcode reader light on the bar code.
2. Receive the light reflected back from the bar code.
3. Convert amount of light reflected back into electrical signals.
4. The electrical signal is applied to the data.
Figure 1. Printed barcodes “INC19 KMUTT”
Figure 2. A handheld barcode scanner
Engineering Analysis
Strong Point
- Barcode reader faster than the keyboard.
- Easy to use and comfortable.
Weak Point
- Bulky and annoying devices
- Ability of display and convey information is limited series of thin and wide bars.
Next Week Job
- I will search and learn about circuit of the barcode reader and how to use it.
Department of Control System and Instrumentation Engineering
KING MONGKUT’s UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THONBURI