ISO/IEC 15416:2025
(Main)Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code print quality test specification — Linear symbols
Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code print quality test specification — Linear symbols
This document — specifies the methodology for the measurement of specific attributes of bar code symbols, — defines a method for evaluating these measurements and deriving an overall assessment of symbol quality, and — gives information on possible causes of deviation from optimum grades to assist users in taking appropriate corrective action. This document applies to those symbologies for which a reference decode algorithm has been defined, and which are intended to be read using linear scanning methods, but its methodology can be applied partially or wholly to other symbologies.
Techniques automatiques d'identification et de capture des données — Spécifications pour essai de qualité d'impression des codes à barres — Symboles linéaires
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO/IEC 15416
Third edition
Automatic identification and data
2025-01
capture techniques — Bar code
print quality test specification —
Linear symbols
Techniques automatiques d'identification et de capture des
données — Spécifications pour essai de qualité d'impression des
codes à barres — Symboles linéaires
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2025
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© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms. 3
4.1 Symbols .3
4.2 Abbreviated terms .4
5 Measurement methodology . 4
5.1 General requirements .4
5.2 Reference reflectivity measurements .5
5.2.1 General .5
5.2.2 Measurement light source .5
5.2.3 Measuring aperture .5
5.2.4 Optical geometry . .6
5.2.5 Inspection band .7
5.2.6 Number of scans .8
5.3 Scan reflectance profile .8
5.4 Scan reflectance profile assessment parameters .9
5.4.1 General .9
5.4.2 Element determination .10
5.4.3 Edge determination .10
5.4.4 Decode .10
5.4.5 Symbol contrast .10
5.4.6 Edge contrast .10
5.4.7 Modulation .11
5.4.8 Defects .11
5.4.9 Decodability . . 13
5.4.10 Quiet zone check .14
6 Symbol grading . 14
6.1 General .14
6.2 Scan reflectance profile grading . 15
6.2.1 General . 15
6.2.2 Decode . 15
6.2.3 Reflectance parameter grading . 15
6.2.4 Decodability . .16
6.3 Expression of symbol grade . .16
Annex A (normative) Decodability . 17
Annex B (normative) Threshold calculation algorithm — Algorithm description .18
Annex C (informative) Example of symbol quality grading . 19
Annex D (informative) Substrate characteristics .21
Annex E (informative) Interpretation of the scan reflectance profile and profile grades .24
Annex F (informative) Guidance on selection of light wavelength .27
Annex G (informative) Guidance on the number of scans per symbol .28
Annex H (informative) Example of verification report .29
Annex I (informative) Comparison with traditional methodologies .30
Annex J (informative) Process control requirements .33
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iii
Annex K (informative) Description of significant changes in this edition of this document .37
Bibliography .38
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
iv
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity.
ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO/IEC 15416:2016), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the calculation of threshold to find edges within a scan reflectance profile has been modified;
— the calculation of R and R has been modified;
max min
— the calculation of continuous grades has been clarified.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
© ISO/IEC 2025 – All rights reserved
v
Introduction
The technology of bar coding is based on the recognition of patterns encoded in bars and spaces of defined
dimensions according to rules defining the translation of characters into such patterns, known as the
symbology specification.
The bar code symbol is produced in such a way as to be reliably decoded at the point of use, if it is to fulfil its
basic objective as a machine-readable data carrier.
Manufacturers of bar code equipment and the producers and users of bar code symbols therefore require
publicly available standard test specifications for the objective assessment of the quality of bar code symbols,
to which they can refer to when developing equipment and applicati
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