MEMS technology to up the ante on barcode application

Barcode users no longer have the dilemma of choosing between the reliability of solid-state CCD readers and the speed of laser scanners. Barcode specialist Intermec is pushing MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) barcode technology as the new best of both worlds for manufacturing and supply chain applications. MEMS-based laser scanners provide faster reading, better recognition of poor quality bar codes than older laser devices, and improved reliability even in difficult environments, according to Stuart Scott, Intermec’s senior director of international marketing. “MEMS scan engines are also extremely compact – about the size of a sugar cube – which leads to lightweight, ergonomic, power-friendly scanners,” he says. It’s not that the underlying technology is that new: MEMS was originally developed in the 1970’s and it’s the underlying technology behind antilock brakes and airbags, and used in numerous other products. But in 1997, the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) began developing a MEMS scanning mirror that, after five years of collaboration with Intermec, has resulted in its EL10 MEMS laser scan engine, which has now been successfully tested commercially for the last year pre-release. Says Scott: “MEMS scanners deliver the reliability of CCDs to the laser category… First-generation MEMS scanners have a range comparable to common laser scanners, but the range should improve as technology matures.” And he adds: “However, like all linear laser scanners, current MEMS devices are limited in their ability to process 2D symbologies and read omni-directional barcodes and do not yet process matrix-style symbologies. Future mirror assemblies and design changes already on the drawing board will enable omni-directional and faster scanning, and extended range. “MEMS provides an important new option for bar code scanning. It should be considered when extreme reliability and responsiveness are desirable in scanning. Until speciality MEMS scanners are released, the technology is not an option for long-range and select 2D reading applications.”