CANTON, Mass., June 5 -- Robotic Vision Systems Inc. (RSVI) has announced orders for reading equipment for Data Matrix codes totaling over $1 million. According to RSVI a large telecommunications equipment manufacturer has selected Data Matrix as its standard for direct-part marking on circuit boards used in certain wireless communications products. And the company has chosen RSVI's Acuity CiMatrix Division to provide the equipment that will be used to verify and read Data Matrix two-dimensional bar code marks.
Most of the circuit boards manufactured in the world today are tracked and traced using bar codes on adhesive labels, said Bill Baker, 2-D Systems general manager for RVSI Acuity CiMatrix. These labels are large, contain only a handful of characters of information, and can tear or peel off during manufacturing or use.
Data Matrix codes, on the other hand, are less than a quarter inch on a side and can hold up to 50 alphanumeric characters. This is crucial for such hand-held wireless devices as data organizers and cellular telephones, where space on the circuit board is essential. And, when a Data Matrix code is printed or laser-etched directly onto the circuit board, it becomes a permanent feature.