Socket Mobile Series 3 User Manual

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Appendix D  
Decode Zone 
 
The decode zone is a function of various symbol characteristics 
including density, print contrast, wide-to-narrow ratio, and edge 
acuity.  The minimum element width (also known as the “X 
Dimension”, “size” or “symbol density” of a bar code) is the 
width in thousandths of an inch (or ‘mils’) of the narrowest 
element (bar or space) in the bar code.  The figures shown are 
the typical scanning distances (Depth of Field) for selected bar 
code sizes.  
 
For example, the SD Scan Card 3E should be able to scan a 10 mil 
bar code when the bar code is positioned between 1.25 and 7.5 
inches from the nose of the scanner.   
 
The maximum readable length of a bar code symbol (Width of 
Field) at any given range is also shown.  In the example above, 
the maximum length of a 10 mil bar code scanned at a distance 
of 7.5 inches is approximately 8 inches including the quiet zone. 
 
SDSC 3E 
 
 
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