How Honeywell Scan Engines Help Make Contactless Environments Possible

Is contactless society here to stay? Is contactless good for business? Contactless applications are all around us. From contactless healthcare patient check-in and touchless access control to self-ordering and ticketing/check-in applications, contactless platforms have become commonplace.

Almost every industry is experiencing a rise in contactless applications. One of the fastest-growing applications is contactless payment. For example, a recent research study by National Retail Federation (NRF) and Forrester¹ found that 67 percent of retailers said that they now accept some form of no-touch payment. This is including

• Fifty-eight percent who accept contactless cards that can be waved over a card reader or tapped on the reader. That was an increase of 40% over the previous year.
• Fifty-six percent accept digital wallet payments on mobile phones. This is up 44% over the previous year.

Contactless payments have increased 69 percent since January 2020. Of consumers who have used contactless payment, 62 percent used their phone, and 56 percent used a contactless card. Sixty-seven percent said they were satisfied with the experience, while 57 percent would likely continue once the pandemic has subsided.

Benefits of Scan Engines and Scan Modules in Contactless Applications

Contactless platforms are a combination of applications, tools, and solutions designed to help businesses, consumers, and patrons operate without physical contact.  They are usually found in public places like airports, grocery stores, malls and sports venues. These areas tend to be heavily populated and are a perfect application for self-service, contactless solutions.

OEM Scan Engines or Scan Modules are small scanners that are easily embedded/integrated into equipment such as medical devices, lab instrumentation, equipment, access control, kiosks, robotic systems and other customer-facing applications.  These scanners provide benefits such as:

• Verification of identity. Scan engines are widely used in self-service kiosks, terminals, and lockers. For example, scan modules are used to facilitate passenger onboarding of planes by scanning the tickets or mail drop-off lockers.
  
• Identification of samples. In the medical industry, it is critical to correctly identify, record, and track medical samples from the sample collection, storage and testing. Scan engines and modules are used throughout the testing processes and procedures to maintain and ensure required accuracy.
  
• Authentication of consumables. Medical labs need to ensure that users are using correct or approved consumables. If a barcode scan module detects that a consumable is missing or contains incorrect data, operations can be disabled, or the user notified so corrective action could be taken.
  
• Continuous and improved throughput. Scan engines help keep the lines moving and reduce changes for bottlenecks in high-traffic workflow applications like events, automated lockers, transportation and more. Scan engines efficiently improve information collection by providing accurate barcode scanning.
  
• Production traceability. Manufacturers use scan engines to track items used in the production process. Every item can be scanned through every step of production by both handhelds and mounted scan engines. If mistakes or contamination occur, scanned information makes it easy to find the source of the problem.
  

Barcode Scan Engines and Modules Are Built for Extreme Conditions

Barcode scan engines and modules are designed to withstand the environmental stresses the barcode scanners will encounter, such as dust, cold/heat, water, or environmental hazards. You will be looking at durability ratings for drop/impact, focal point distance of barcodes, wireless/corded capture method, and more.  For example, 

• Indoor/outdoor temperatures.  Scan engines embedded in platforms such as kiosks. Kiosks include a computer, display and electronics that can easily reach 130° Fahrenheit (54°C) without consideration of external temperatures. For example, if the scan engine is used outdoors, temperatures can fluctuate from minus 40° (-40°C) to highs of 120° Fahrenheit (49°C). If scan engines are not optimized, cold conditions can cause screens and housing to become brittle; repeated condensation can cause internal components to corrode, short-circuit and fail.
  
• Indoor/outdoor light. Barcode scan engines must be able to correctly scan under all lighting conditions. Scanners must able to correctly scan barcodes in very low light conditions such as in a warehouse or effectively scan in bright clearing light of the sun on an outdoor kiosk.
  
• Sealing, shocks, and vibration.  Barcode scan engines are also subject to conditions of water and dust and vibration/shocks of machine operations in which the scanners are embedded.
  

Honeywell Embedded Barcode Scan Engines for Contactless Applications

Today's embedded barcode scan engines and modules are designed to address the needs of specific applications.  For example, in the Honeywell Optical Sensing portfolio, you will find over 30 different types of barcode scanning modules that include 1D Laser, 1D Imager, 2D Imager and All-in-One OEM Modules plus barcode decoding software solutions. Let's take a look at a few applications and some of the Honeywell scan engines used.

Retail countertop and kiosk. Customers need a standardized countertop kiosk that saves space, replaces scanners and payment terminals and create a better customer experience. The Honeywell solution provides a large window for ease of scanning with easy plug-and-play integration. The result is a 30%+ reduction in countertop space and increased efficiency because staff manages one kiosk versus several stand-only devices. Customer chooses the

• The CF Series Imager Module for Customer-Facing Designs provides a self-contained 1D and 2D barcode scanning solution, whether it is decoding mobile phone screens, cards or paper. It offers contact or close-to-contact scanning operations so that the end-user can easily read any standard 1D or 2D barcode. Utilizing the latest Honeywell decoding technology, the CF Series Module is designed for use in global customer-facing OEM applications such as self-service kiosks, access control, vending machines, and fast food self-ordering kiosks.
  

In-vitro medical diagnostics. Scan engines are used for tracking patient in-vitro specimens for medical testing. Customers require fast and reliable scanning, an external trigger, and a fast wake-up time. Honeywell solutions provide for the fastest speeds for sample throughput, a variety of internal mounting options for a close-range that make systems smaller and easier lifecycle management for FDA and others. The customer often chose between Honeywell's

• CM Series Compact 2D Imager Module provides a self-contained 1D and 2D barcode scanning solution, whether decoding mobile phone screens or paper. Its all-in-one, easy-to-mount design simplifies integration into your fixed mount enclosure. A selection of optics allows you to meet the performance requirements your application requires.
  
• N4680 Series Compact, Decoded 2D Scan Engine is a one-piece design, fully decoded 2D scan engine that utilizes Honeywell's latest imaging and decoding technology
  

Warehouse logistics and package delivery. Scan engines are used to scan a variety of distances in a rugged handheld for warehouse and package delivery applications. Warehouse and distribution center operation managers need barcode scanning solutions that can read barcodes at close distances as well as those farther away, such as package labels on shelves as high as 10 cm to 20 m [4 in to 66 ft]. The scanner needs to provide fast scanning and have a high tolerance to account for operator movement. Honeywell solutions provide patented image sensor technology that has high motion tolerance, a rugged design with no moving parts and integration directly with the handheld operating system (OS). The result is a highly reliable reading rate of ~100% accuracy, fast reading speed, and high-quality, rugged industrial design to survive a drop of handheld and vehicle vibration. Customers often choose between Honeywell's following offerings:

• N6700 Series 2D Scan Engines is Honeywell's slimmest 2D imager. It is designed to provide higher performance and reliability, simplify integration into mobile devices, and enable increased barcode scanning speeds to meet higher-volume application requirements.
  
• Extended FlexRange™ EX30 2D Scan Engine provides warehouse and distribution center operations seamlessly reads barcodes from 10 cm to 20 m [4 in to 66 ft] using the latest technology for a fast auto-focus mechanism.
  

Smart locker. Smart lockers are for unattended customer pickup of packages, food, or online purchases. Scan engines must work under a broad range of temperature and lighting conditions and be able to scan both paper tickets and cell phone barcodes. The Honeywell solution provides a proprietary optical sensing image engine, cost-effectiveness and simple integration for customer operating systems. The result is low power and fast wake-up time for unattended scanning, faster reading speeds, and high-quality, rugged industrial design across a wide temperature range. Customers often choose between Honeywell's following offerings:

• CM5680, Honeywell's CM Series Compact 2D Imager Module, provides a self-contained 1D and 2D barcode scanning solution, whether decoding mobile phone screens or paper. Its all-in-one, easy-to-mount design simplifies integration into your fixed mount enclosure. A selection of optics allows you to meet the performance requirements your application requires.
  
• N4680 Series Compact, Decoded 2D Scan Engine is a one-piece design, fully decoded 2D scan engine that utilizes Honeywell's latest imaging and decoding technology
  

Bus and train access gate. Transportation requires that travelers have the ability to quickly access and move through ticket entry. Tickets need to be read in less than a second in order to deliver time and cost savings. The Honeywell solution provides a proprietary optical sensing image engine, embedded optical character recognition software and simple integration with the customers operating systems. The result is a highly reliable reading rate of ~100% accuracy, fast reading speed, and high-quality, rugged industrial design across a wide temperature range. Customer often chooses the following Honeywell offering:

• CF Series Imager Module for Customer-Facing Designs provides a self-contained 1D and 2D barcode scanning solution, whether it is decoding mobile phone screens, cards or paper. It offers contact or close-to-contact scanning operations so that the end-user can easily read any standard 1D or 2D barcode. Utilizing the latest Honeywell decoding technology, the CF Series Module is designed for use in global customer-facing OEM applications such as self-service kiosks, access control, vending machines, and fast food self-ordering kiosks.
  

Access and visitor management. Access control for stadium and venue entry requires the need for quick access to keep lines moving. Tickets need to be read in less than a second in order to  deliver time and cost savings. The Honeywell solution provides a proprietary optical sensing image engine, a sensor for wake up in an unattended mode and simple integration with customer operating systems. The result is low power and fast wake-up time for unattended scanning, fastest reading speed, and high-quality, rugged industrial design across a wide temperature range. Customers choose the following Honeywell offering:

• CM5680, Honeywell's CM Series Compact 2D Imager Module, provides a self-contained 1D and 2D barcode scanning solution, whether decoding mobile phone screens or paper. Its all-in-one, easy-to-mount design simplifies integration into your fixed mount enclosure. A selection of optics allows you to meet the performance requirements your application requires.
  

Mobile point of sale. Merchants seek to have quick and easy barcode scanning in order to process the in-store mobile payment on modern payment terminals. Honeywell provides SwiftDecode^TM mobile barcode decoding SDK. This software provides for superior performance for on-screen barcode reading and supports Apple^® iOS ^®, Android™ and Windows™ UWP (Universal Windows Platform), Linux. Companies experience a high reliable reading rate of ~100% accuracy, fast reading speed, and proven performance with autofocus cameras.

Customer information capture. Companies like car rentals have a need to capture names and addresses from their driver's licenses. Honeywell provides SwiftDecoder^TM mobile barcode decoding SDK with the EasyDL option. Mobile apps running on an iPad captures customers' names and addresses directly from their driver's licenses which results in saved time and minimized errors.

Inflight point of sales. Airlines seek a solution for inflight point of sales that provides fast and accurate product scanning and payment for inflight food and beverage services. Honeywell provides SwiftDecoder^TM mobile barcode decoding SDK that is deployed on a smartphone. Results include faster and more accurate scanning, improved customer service and faster distribution of food and beverage items.

Parking management. Companies require remote access to airport and building parking that operates under a broad range of temperature and lighting conditions and can scan both paper and cell phone barcodes. The Honeywell solution provides a proprietary optical sensing image engine, a sensor for wake up in an unattended mode and simple integration with customer operating systems. These results include low power and fast wake-up time for unattended scanning, faster reading speed and high-quality, rugged industrial design across a wide temperature range. Customers choose the following Honeywell offering:

• CM5680, Honeywell's CM Series Compact 2D Imager Module, provides a self-contained 1D and 2D barcode scanning solution, whether decoding mobile phone screens or paper. Its all-in-one, easy-to-mount design simplifies integration into your fixed mount enclosure. A selection of optics allows you to meet the performance requirements your application requires.
  

Conclusion

At Honeywell Advanced Sensing Technologies (AST), formerly known as Sensing & Internet of Things, we have taken a lead role in designing, engineering, and manufacturing Compact 2D Barcode Scan Engines, Barcode Scan Modules, and Barcode Decoding Software. These solutions, found throughout the world, help make today's contactless and touchless experience possible in a wide variety of industry applications.

With decades of experience in scanning and decoding, Honeywell's broad portfolio and engineering expertise help design engineers solve their technical and performance challenges and select the right offering for their specific scanning application. Get in touch with us to discover the potential of the Honeywell barcode scanning OEM solutions. For more information, visit sps.honeywell.com or Contact a Honeywell Solutions Expert today! Call 1-800-934-3163.

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¹ Coronavirus leads to more use of contactless credit cards and mobile payments despite cost and security concerns