Hs 21 Hs 41 Xmanual

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader
User Manual
P/N 84-100052 Rev B

Copyright and Disclaimer
Copyright ©2015
Microscan Systems, Inc.
Tel: +1.425.226.5700 / 800.762.1149
Fax: +1.425.226.8250
All rights reserved. The information contained herein is proprietary and is provided solely for the purpose
of allowing customers to operate and/or service Microscan manufactured equipment and is not to be
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to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement.
Disclaimer
The information and specifications described in this manual are subject to change without notice.
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ii HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Introduction
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Quick Start
Check Required Hardware ...................................................................... 1-2
USB Interface .......................................................................................... 1-3
RS-232 Interface ..................................................................................... 1-4
Install ESP ............................................................................................... 1-5
Select Model ............................................................................................ 1-6
Select Interface and Connect to Reader ................................................. 1-7
Configure the Reader .............................................................................. 1-9
Save Changes in ESP ........................................................................... 1-10
Chapter 2 Using ESP
EZ Mode .................................................................................................. 2-2
Application Mode ..................................................................................... 2-3
Tree Controls ........................................................................................... 2-4
Menu Toolbar .......................................................................................... 2-5
Send/Receive ....................................................................................... 2-15
Chapter 3 Basic Operations
Practice Targeting ................................................................................... 3-2
Motion Detect Mode ................................................................................ 3-3
Dual Optics .............................................................................................. 3-4
Operational Feedback ............................................................................. 3-6
Chapter 4 Communications
Communications by ESP......................................................................... 4-2
Communications Overview ...................................................................... 4-3
USB Interface .......................................................................................... 4-4
RS-232 Interface ..................................................................................... 4-5
Preamble ................................................................................................. 4-7
Postamble................................................................................................ 4-8
Preamble and Postamble by ESP ........................................................... 4-9
Keyboard Mapping ................................................................................ 4-10
Communications Mode .......................................................................... 4-11
USB Keyboard Rate .............................................................................. 4-13
RS-232 .................................................................................................. 4-14
Text Command Timeout ........................................................................ 4-15
Chapter 5 Read Cycle
Read Cycle by ESP ................................................................................. 5-2
External Trigger ....................................................................................... 5-3
Default Continuous Event ........................................................................ 5-4
Maximum Decodes per Read .................................................................. 5-5
Read Cycle Timeout ................................................................................ 5-6
Ignore Duplicate Symbol Timeout ........................................................... 5-7
Targeting Zone Tolerance ....................................................................... 5-8
Morphological Preprocessing .................................................................. 5-9
Camera Settings .................................................................................... 5-10
Chapter 6 Symbologies
Symbologies by ESP ............................................................................... 6-2
Data Matrix .............................................................................................. 6-3
QR Code.................................................................................................. 6-4
Aztec........................................................................................................ 6-5
HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual iii

Table of Contents
Code 39 ................................................................................................... 6-6
Code 128 ................................................................................................. 6-7
BC412 ..................................................................................................... 6-8
Code 93 ................................................................................................... 6-9
Codabar................................................................................................. 6-10
Interleaved 2 of 5................................................................................... 6-11
UPC ....................................................................................................... 6-12
Postal .................................................................................................... 6-13
Pharmacode .......................................................................................... 6-14
GS1 DataBar ......................................................................................... 6-16
PDF417 ................................................................................................. 6-17
MicroPDF417 ........................................................................................ 6-18
Composite ............................................................................................. 6-19
Symbology Identifier .............................................................................. 6-20
Chapter 7 I/O Parameters
I/O Parameters by ESP ........................................................................... 7-2
No Read Notification ............................................................................... 7-3
Targeting ................................................................................................. 7-4
Beeper..................................................................................................... 7-5
Vibrate ..................................................................................................... 7-6
Button Stay-Down Time .......................................................................... 7-7
Motion Detect Event ................................................................................ 7-8
Image Quality .......................................................................................... 7-9
Data Validation ...................................................................................... 7-10
Chapter 8 Advanced Operations
Continuous Read..................................................................................... 8-2
Mirroring .................................................................................................. 8-3
Motion Detection ..................................................................................... 8-4
Window of Interest................................................................................... 8-5
Chapter 9 Terminal
Terminal View.......................................................................................... 9-2
Find ......................................................................................................... 9-3
Send ........................................................................................................ 9-4
Macros..................................................................................................... 9-5
Terminal Right-Click Menu ...................................................................... 9-6
Terminal Dropdown Menu ....................................................................... 9-7
Chapter 10 Utilities
Device Control ....................................................................................... 10-2
Differences from Default........................................................................ 10-3
Firmware ............................................................................................... 10-4
Advanced .............................................................................................. 10-6
Appendices
Appendix A General Specifications .........................................................A-2
Appendix B Electrical Specifications .......................................................A-5
Appendix C Configuration Symbols.........................................................A-6
Appendix D Serial Commands ..............................................................A-17
Appendix E Communications Protocol ..................................................A-48
Appendix F ASCII Table ........................................................................A-49
Appendix G Maintenance ......................................................................A-50
Appendix H Glossary of Terms .............................................................A-51
iv HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

About the HS-21 and HS-41X Handheld Readers
About the HS-21 and HS-41X Handheld Readers

The HS-21 is a general-purpose 2D reader. Its many features include dual field optics for
both high density and wide angle performance, a ruggedized design, IP54 sealing against
dust and water, and compact size.
The HS-41X is a special-purpose 2D reader for decoding direct part marks (DPM).
Microscan’s X-Mode decode algorithms make the HS-41X an ideal solution for reading difficult
marks on many surfaces, including PCBs, electrical components, castings, and sheet metal.
Its tough design makes it a good choice for manufacturing and light industrial applications.
Both readers can be configured and tested easily using the intuitive tree controls and user
interface of Microscan’s ESP Software.
Note: The HS-21 and HS-41X have unique algorithm licenses, and the HS-21 cannot be
field-upgraded to an HS-41X.
About This Manual

This manual provides complete information on setting up, installing, and configuring the
HS-21 and HS-41X. The chapters are presented in the order in which the reader would be
assembled, configured, and optimized.
Highlighting
Cross-references and web addresses are highlighted in blue bold.
References to ESP, its toolbar headings, and menu headings are highlighted in Bold Initial Caps.
Introduction
Statement of Agency Compliance
The HS-21 and HS-41X have been tested for compliance with FCC regulations and were
found to be compliant with all applicable FCC Rules and Regulations.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To comply with FCC RF exposure compliance requirements, this
device must not be co-located or operate in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
The HS-21 and HS-41X have been tested for compliance to CE (Conformité Européenne)
standards and guidelines and were found to conform to applicable CE standards, specifically
the EMC requirements EN 55024, ESD EN 61000-4-2, Radiated RF Immunity EN 61000-4-3,
ENV 50204, EFT EN 61000-4-4, Conducted RF Immunity EN 61000-4-6, EN 55022, Class
B Radiated Emissions, and Class B Conducted Emissions.
Statement of RoHS Compliance
All Microscan readers with a ‘G’ suffix in the FIS number are RoHS-Compliant. All compliant
readers were converted prior to March 1, 2007. All standard accessories in the Microscan Product
Pricing Catalog are RoHS-Compliant except 20-500013-01 and 98-000039-02. These products
meet all the requirements of “Directive 2002/95/EC” European Parliament and the Council of
the European Union for RoHS compliance. In accordance with the latest requirements, our
RoHS-Compliant products and packaging do not contain intentionally added Deca-BDE,
Perfluorooctanes (PFOS) or Perfluorooctanic Acid (PFOA) compounds above the maximum
trace levels. To view the document stating these requirements, please visit:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32002L0095:EN:HTML
and
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:372:0032:0034:EN:PDF
Please contact your sales manager for a complete list of Microscan’s RoHS-Compliant products.
This declaration is based upon information obtained from sources which Microscan believes to be reliable, and
from random sample testing; however, the information is provided without any representation of warranty,
expressed or implied, regarding accuracy or correctness. Microscan does not specifically run any analysis on our
raw materials or end product to measure for these substances.
The information provided in this certification notice is correct to the best of Microscan’s knowledge at the date of
publication. This notice is not to be considered a warranty or quality specification. Users are responsible for
determining the applicability of any RoHS legislation or regulations based on their individual use of the product.
In regards to “RoHS Directive 2011_65_EU” Microscan produces Monitoring and Control Instruments as well as
Industrial Monitoring & Control Instruments as defined within the directive. Microscan has developed and is
implementing a RoHS2 compliance plan with the intention of bringing all active products listed in our current
marketing literature within full compliance as per the directive deadlines.
Key milestones for the transition plan are as follows:
• Complete internal product audit by July 2014.
• Initial “Monitoring and Control Instruments” RoHS2 compliant products available by December 2014
• Initial “Industrial Monitoring & Control Instruments” RoHS2 compliant products available by July 2015
• All new products introduced in 2015 are expected to be WEEE & RoHS2 compliant.
Microscan will mark the products with the ‘CE’ marking that complies with the RoHS2 process to acquire ‘CE’ certification
per the example given: Example >> Machinery directive + EMC directive + RoHS2 = Declaration of Conformity.
1 Quick Start
Contents
Check Required Hardware ........................................................................................................... 1-2

USB Interface ............................................................................................................................... 1-3
RS-232 Interface .......................................................................................................................... 1-4
Install ESP .................................................................................................................................... 1-5
Select Model................................................................................................................................. 1-6
Select Interface and Connect to Reader ...................................................................................... 1-7
Configure the Reader ................................................................................................................... 1-9
Save Changes in ESP ................................................................................................................ 1-10
This section is designed to get your HS-21 or HS-41X Handheld Reader up and running
quickly using Microscan’s ESP Software so you can get a sense of its capabilities and test
sample symbols. Detailed setup information for configuring the reader for your specific
application can be obtained in the subsequent sections.
Your interface type will determine how data is received by the host. When sending data by
USB, you must open a text editor in your host computer. When sending data by RS-232, you
must use a terminal program such as ESP’s Terminal view.
HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 1-1

Check Required Hardware
Check Required Hardware

The HS-21/HS-41X is shipped with one of the following cables:
6’ USB Straight Cable 8’ RS-232 Coiled Cable
USB Hardware
• HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader
• USB Cable
RS-232 Hardware
• HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader
• RS-232 Cable
• RS-232 Power Supply
Changing Cable and Communications Interface

The reader can be converted from USB to RS-232 or from RS-232 to USB by changing
the cable and scanning the appropriate communications programming symbol below. To
detach the USB or RS-232 cable from the reader, press a paper clip into the hole on the
side of the handle and gently pull the cable out of the connector.
Save
USB Interface RS-232 Interface Settings
1-2 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Quick Start
USB Interface
Note: The USB interface draws its power from the host computer.
USB Configuration
Item Description Part Number
HS-21 Handheld Reader FIS-HS21-000XG
1
HS-41X Handheld Reader FIS-HS41X-000XG
USB Cable, 6’ Straight 61-000224-01
2
USB Cable, 8’ Coiled 61-000224-02
Installation Steps for USB

To power on the reader, plug the USB cable into
the reader’s handle and into the host’s USB port.
After several seconds, the reader will beep twice
and the LED will turn off. The reader will now be 1
ready to use.
Important: If you use a USB hub, be sure that it 2
is a powered hub.
Default to USB
(HID) USB Configuration
Read the Save Settings symbol.
Save
Settings
Test Symbol
(ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP)

RS-232 Interface
RS-232 Interface
Note: Unlike USB, the RS-232 interface does not draw its power from the host computer,
and requires a power supply.
RS-232 Configuration
Item Description Part Number
HS-21 Handheld Reader FIS-HS21-000XG
1
HS-41X Handheld Reader FIS-HS41X-000XG
2 RS-232 Cable, 8’ Coiled 61-000224-03
RS-232 Power Supply, U.S. 20-000335-02
3 RS-232 Power Supply, Euro 20-000336-02
RS-232 Power Supply, UK 20-000337-02
Installation Steps for RS-232

To power on the reader, plug the RS-232
cable into the reader’s handle, plug the
power supply into the AC outlet, plug the 3
power supply cord into the barrel jack on
the cable, and then connect the cable to
the appropriate serial port on the host.
After several seconds, the unit will beep
twice and the LED will turn off. The reader 1
will now be ready to use.
RS-232 Configuration
Reset to RS-232
Factory Defaults
Read the Save Settings symbol.
Save
Settings
Test Symbol
(ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP)

Quick Start
Install ESP
ESP Software is Microscan’s configuration and testing software. Use ESP to set up your
HS-21 or HS-41X Handheld Reader.
ESP can be found on the Microscan Tools Drive that is packaged with the reader.
1. Follow the prompts to install ESP from the Tools Drive.
2. Click on the ESP icon to run the program.
Note: ESP can also be installed from the Download Center at www.microscan.com.
Minimum System Requirements

• 233 MHz Pentium PC
• Windows 8, 7, Vista, or XP operating system (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
• 128 MB RAM or greater
• 160 MB free disk space
• 800 x 600 256 color display (1024 x 768 32-bit color recommended)

Select Model
Select Model
When you start ESP, the following menu will appear:
1. Click the HS-21/HS-41X button and then click OK. If you do not want to make this
selection every time you start ESP, uncheck “Show this dialog at startup”. If you need
to select another model later, click Switch Model at the top of the screen.
Note: You can also type a name of your choice in the Description text field and click OK.
2. Click Yes when this dialog appears:

Quick Start
Select Interface and Connect to Reader

USB
• In the communications dialog box, select the communications interface you are using
and click Next.
Click the Show

Connect Symbol
button.
• Click the Show Connect Symbol button, print the USB Connect Mode symbol, and
decode it with the reader to ensure that you are in the correct communications interface.
Keep the printed symbol in a convenient place for future use.
• Click Next when you are finished.
The Select Device dialog will then reappear:
Reader ID number should

match the serial number next
to the trigger under the optical
head of the reader.
• You will see a “ Reader” ID number in the Select Device field. Click Connect.
• When you are connected successfully, the CONNECTED message will appear in a
green box in the status bar at the bottom right of the screen.
You are now ready to configure your reader using ESP. Subsequent sections provide
more detailed information about ESP’s configuration options.

Select Interface and Connect to Reader
RS-232
• In the Select Protocol dialog box, select the communications interface you are using
and click Next.
Click the Show

Connect Symbol
button.
• Print the RS-232 Connect Mode symbol (also shown in the Install ESP step) and
decode it with the reader to ensure that you are in the correct communications interface.
Keep the printed symbol in a convenient place for future use.
• Click Next when you are finished.
• The Com Port dialog will then reappear. Select which communications port you are
using. If you don’t see your communications port listed on the dropdown menu, select Other.
• Click Connect.
• When you are connected successfully, the CONNECTED message will appear in a
green box in the status bar at the bottom right of the screen.
If the connection attempt fails, enable a different communications port, check your port
connections, and try again.
You are now ready to configure your reader using ESP. Subsequent sections provide
more detailed information about ESP’s configuration options.

Quick Start
Configure the Reader

Click the App Mode button to make configuration changes.
The following modes are accessible by clicking the buttons in the first row of App Mode icons:
• Click the EZ Mode button to return to the EZ Mode view.

• Click the Autoconnect button to establish communication.
• Click the Send/Recv button to send or receive commands.
• Click the Switch Model button to open the model menu, or to return to a previous model.
• Click the Parameters button to show the tabbed tree controls for Communication, Read
Cycle, Symbologies, and I/O Parameters.
• Click the Imager button to capture and decode symbols and to use Window of Interest
for Near Field and Far Field.
• Click the Terminal button to display decoded symbol data and to send serial commands
to the reader using text or macros.
• Click the Utilities button to show the tabbed interfaces for Device Control, Differences
from Default, Firmware, and Advanced settings.
For further details, see ESP Help in the dropdown Help menu.

Save Changes in ESP
Save Changes in ESP

To make changes to a configuration setting:
3. Place your cursor in the

selection box, scroll down to
the setting you want to
change, and click once on
the setting.
1. Left-click on the +
to expand the
desired tree.
2. Double-click on the
desired parameter
and click once in the
selection box to view
options.
4. Left-click again on the 5. Right-click on the open

open screen to complete screen and select Save to
your selection. Reader to implement the
command in the reader.
Saving Options
• Send, No Save. Changes will be lost when power is re-applied to the reader.
• Send and Save. This activates all changes in current memory and saves to the reader
for power-on.

2 Using ESP
Contents
EZ Mode ....................................................................................................................................... 2-2
Application Mode .......................................................................................................................... 2-3
Tree Controls................................................................................................................................ 2-4
Menu Toolbar ............................................................................................................................... 2-5
Send/Receive ............................................................................................................................ 2-15
This section is designed to help you understand the structure and application of ESP.
When you open ESP, unless otherwise specified in the ESP Preferences dialog accessible
from the Options heading on the menu toolbar, you will enter EZ Mode for initial setup.
From there, you can enter Application Mode (App Mode) and access several configuration
menus (Communications, Read Cycle, Symbologies, I/O Parameters, an Imager interface,
a Terminal interface, and a Utilities interface).
ESP can be used to configure the HS-21 and HS-41X Handheld Readers in the following ways:
• Tree Controls: Each configuration menu contains a list of all option settings that pertain
to that specific element of reader operation. For example, the Communications menu
shows a Communications Mode command, and then the options RS-232 Serial, USB
Keyboard, and USB Native (HID), all of which are accessible from a dropdown menu.
• Graphic User Interfaces: Settings can be configured using such point-and-click tools
as radio buttons, tabs, spin boxes, check boxes, and drag-and-drop functions.
• Terminal: ESP’s Terminal interface allows you to send configuration and utility commands
directly to the reader by typing them in the provided text field.

EZ Mode
EZ Mode
EZ Mode offers instructions on positioning the reader in relation to a test symbol and
triggering the reader to decode the symbol.
Enter App Mode to

access configuration
trees and other setup
features.
Click Start to find the test

symbol within the field of view Hint: Right-click
and to to take an image capture on the image to
of the symbol. Trigger the save it to your PC.
reader manually or check
Auto Trigger for ESP to trigger
the reader and decode the
symbol data. Decoded symbol
data will appear in the field
beneath the viewing area.
Click Stop to end the locate
and trigger functions.

Using ESP
Application Mode
From EZ Mode, you can click on the App Mode button to access specific configuration
menus, Utilities tools, and a Terminal window where serial commands can be entered.
Note: The App Mode and EZ Mode buttons appear in the same position to allow easy
switching between these primary modes.
Click this icon to return to Click here to open the Imager,

Menu toolbar. Terminal, or Utilities views.
EZ Mode.
Click on tabs in this row to

access configuration trees
like the one shown below.
Click the Parameters icon to

return to full App Mode view
from Terminal or Utilities.
Note: See the corresponding sections of this documentation for specific information on
any of the views or modes mentioned above.

Tree Controls
Tree Controls
To make changes to configuration settings in the tree control menus:
1. Left click on the +/-

to expand or collapse
the tree.
2. Double click on
the parameter and
click once in the
selection box to
view options.
3. Place your cursor
in the selection
box, scroll down to
the setting you
want to change
and click once on
the setting.
4. Left click again on the open screen to complete the

selection.
5. Right click on the open screen and select Save to
Reader to implement the command in the reader.
Hint: To see the underlying serial command that corresponds with each tree control item,
click on the item in the tree control and drag the mouse to the open screen. The command
will be displayed between angle brackets.
In this example, the command for

Read Cycle Timeout is shown.

Using ESP
Menu Toolbar
File > New
Whenever New is selected from the File menu, the
default configuration of ESP is loaded.
Open / Save
When Save or Save As is selected, the ESP configuration
is saved to the host computer’s hard drive and available
whenever the same file is selected under Open.
When you save menu changes to your hard drive, these
changes are not saved to your reader. The diagram
below shows how settings can be saved and received
between ESP and the reader, and ESP and the host
hard drive.
(Save to Reader)
(Receive Reader
Settings)
Import / Export
Import converts the ASCII settings from a text file to ESP configuration settings.
Export converts the active ESP configuration settings to an ASCII text file.

Menu Toolbar
Model
The Model menu allows you to select between reader models. When you choose another
model, the current connection with your present model will be terminated.
New Model
To connect to another model, select New Model, choose the model you want, and click OK.
All models you have selected and enabled will continue to appear in the dropdown model
menu. The New Model option is repeated when you click the Switch Model button on the
top row of icons.

Using ESP
Options
You can use the Options menu to save memos and set up ESP
preferences.
Preferences will be saved and loaded into ESP the next time ESP is
opened, whether or not you save the ESP file to the host computer.
Preferences > General Tab
The Toolbar Style

options allow you to
determine how ESP
will display the mode
options in the two rows
at the top of the screen.
Reload Last File

At startup, reloads the last file saved to the computer.
Show Model Prompt
At startup, remembers the last connected model and displays it in the Connecting...
dialog whenever you attempt to connect.
Show Connect Prompt
At startup, displays the Would you like to connect... prompt.
Receive After Connect
At startup, loads the reader’s settings into ESP. (This is not recommended if you want to
preserve your ESP settings for future use.)
Skip EZ Mode
At startup, skips EZ Mode and opens directly in App Mode.

Menu Toolbar
Preferences > Terminal Tab
Show Non-Printable Characters

When Show Non-Printable Characters is enabled, characters such as “CRLF” will be
displayed in the Terminal window. When Enhanced Format is checked, the characters
are displayed with more detailed formatting.
Change Keyboard Macros
Clicking the Change Keyboard Macros button brings
up the Function Keys dialog. In this dialog you can
select the desired function key and then enter your
macro keystrokes in the associated key map. For
example, to make Ctrl-F2 the keystroke to send a trigger
character, select F2, then in the Ctrl row, enter <trigger
character> and click OK. Then whenever the Ctrl-F2
keystroke is pressed, the trigger character will start the
read cycle.
Note: The F1 key is reserved for opening ESP Help and the F3 key is reserved for the
Find Next function.
Change Font
Allows you to modify the font used for decode data received from the reader on the Terminal
screen.
Change Echo Font
Allows you to modify the font used for command characters typed into the Terminal view.
Enable Echo
Allows you to enter command characters in Terminal.
Display Incoming Data Even When Not in Focus
When Display Incoming Data Even When Not in Focus is enabled, data from the reader
will continue to appear in the Terminal even when ESP is not the top window.
Using ESP
Preferences > Bar Code Options Tab
The Bar Code Options dialog allows you to set the size of user-created symbols.
Sizing Information
Sets the bar width or module width (in mils, or thousandths of an inch) of user-created
symbols.
Example: A bar width of 14 is 0.014 inches.

Menu Toolbar
Preferences > Advanced Tab
The Auto Sync options at the top of the Advanced tab allow the user to determine
whether Auto Sync will be enabled automatically in sections of ESP where it is used, or if it
will ask before it enables Auto Sync functions.
Always Ask Before Auto Sync Occurs
If this option box is checked, specific Auto Sync functions can be enabled. Receive Settings
from the Reader will automatically send the reader’s settings to ESP when Auto Sync is
enabled. Send ESP Settings to the Reader will automatically send all reader configuration
settings chosen in ESP to the reader. Do Not Send or Receive Settings creates a condition
in which Auto Sync will not automatically send reader settings to ESP, or send ESP settings
to the reader.
Include Preamble and Postamble with Send Save
When this option box is checked, the user-configured Preamble and Postamble characters
will be sent along with other parameters.
Send XON with Autoconnect
Sends an XON (Begin Transmission) command to the reader before starting the Autoconnect
routine.

Using ESP
Ask to Save ESP File when Quitting
When enabled, prompts the user to save a .esp file when ending a session.
The .esp file will be saved in the location of your choice.
Use Default Storage Location

When enabled, automatically stores data in ESP’s Application Data folder.

Menu Toolbar
Document Memo
The information you type in the Document Memo field will appear in a context-sensitive text
box whenever your cursor hovers over the Document Memo item on the Options menu.
Model Memo
Similar to Document Memo, the information you type in the Model Memo field will appear
in a context-sensitive text box whenever your cursor hovers over the Model Memo item on
the Options menu. Memos created in Model Memo are specific to the model enabled
when the message was created.
Note: Memos must be saved in a .esp file if you want them to available in your next session.
If you do not save your current session, any memos that you have entered during the session
will be discarded, and will be unavailable in your next session.

Using ESP
Connect
The Connect dropdown menu allows the user to access the Connection Wizard, as well
as the Autoconnect and Configure Multidrop dialogs. Connect and Disconnect can
also be performed directly from the dropdown menu without opening a dialog.
Connection Wizard
To connect using the Connection Wizard:
• Click Connect on ESP’s menu toolbar, and then select Connection Wizard.
• Select RS-232 or USB to activate the appropriate display.
• Configure RS-232 or USB settings as required by the application, and click Connect.
RS-232 Connection Wizard USB Connection Wizard
• When a connection is established, the green indicator in the status bar at the bottom
right of the screen will be visible.
• If your RS-232 connection attempt fails, click the Auto Connect button to establish a
connection between the reader and the host.

Menu Toolbar
View
The View menu allows the user to move quickly between the
Parameters, Imager, Terminal, and Utilities interfaces without
using the icon buttons on the App Mode toolbar. It also allows
the user to access the Bar Code Dialog, shown below.
Bar Code Dialog

Symbols can be created in the Bar Code Dialog by typing the text to be encoded. This is a
useful tool for creating configuration symbols, allowing the user to configure the reader by
reading the user-created symbols.
Drag specific configuration

values from the control tree
directly into this field to
encode new symbols.
Choose a spatial
orientation for the
new symbol.
Create a caption
for the symbol
that matches or
describes the
encoded data.
The symbol will be

displayed in the field
at the bottom of the
Bar Code Dialog.

Using ESP
Send/Receive
To access Receive, Save, Lock, Default, and Advanced options, click the Send/Recv
button or right-click in the tree control areas..
You can also access these options by right-clicking in any of the configuration views.
Receive Reader Settings

From the Send/Recv menu, select Receive Reader Settings.
This option is useful if you want to receive the reader’s settings and save them as a file for
later retrieval. For example, if your reader has settings that you do not want to change,
choosing Receive Reader Settings will allow you to load those settings to ESP and save
them as an ESP file.
Receiving the reader’s settings also assures that you will not subsequently save any
unwanted configuration changes previously made in ESP.
Select this option if you want to upload the reader’s settings to ESP. For example, if your
ESP file has a number of custom settings that you want to maintain and download to the
reader, you will lose those ESP settings if you choose to receive settings from the reader.
Save to Reader
Send, No Save
This saves ESP settings to current memory.
Send and Save

This activates all changes in current memory and saves to the reader.
Lock Reader
This locks in the most recently sent and saved configuration to the reader.

Send/Receive
Default Current Menu Settings

This option returns the settings in the current tree control to their defaults.
Important: When you select Default Current Menu Settings you are only defaulting
settings in ESP. The reader is not affected unless you download new settings.
Default all ESP Settings

This option returns all settings in ESP to their defaults.
Important: When you select Default all ESP Settings you are only defaulting settings in
ESP. The reader is not affected unless you download new settings.
Advanced Options
Send Current View
This is the same as Save to Reader > Send, No Save except that only the commands in
the current tree control are sent.
Send Current Command

This is the same as Send Current View except that it only saves the command that is
currently selected.

3 Basic Operations
Contents
Practice Targeting ........................................................................................................................ 3-2

Motion Detect Mode ..................................................................................................................... 3-3
Dual Optics ................................................................................................................................... 3-4
Operational Feedback .................................................................................................................. 3-6
This section explains how to practice targeting and triggering, and how to begin configuring
the reader.

Practice Targeting
When first connecting, allow approximately 3 seconds for the reader to initialize.
1. Hold the reader steady and point it at a test symbol.
2. Squeeze and hold the trigger.
3. Move the reader toward or away from the symbol in a fluid motion until the two side-by-side
blue bars converge in the middle of the symbol. When the reader is at the optimal distance
(about 4 inches or 10 cm), it will decode the symbol and will beep and vibrate while
emitting a green LED flash to indicate a Good Read. At this optimal distance, the two
blue bars should just be touching. Note that the bars overlap as you continue to draw
the reader away from the symbol.
4. If no decode occurs, slowly draw away from or move closer to the symbol while holding
the blue bars centered steadily on the symbol.
When the reader is closer to the symbol, you will As you draw the reader away from the symbol, the
see two separate bars. two bars converge. At the optimal distance, the
two bars should just be touching, as shown above.
Test Symbol
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP
Targeting Suggestions
• Typically, you should not hold the reader exactly perpendicular to the symbol. Position
the reader at an angle to avoid specular reflection.
• Use smooth, fluid motion when targeting the symbol. Do not wave the reader side-to-side
or up-and-down, or attempt to sweep across a symbol, as sudden movements will create
blurred images.
• The reader is omnidirectional and can decode symbols in any orientation. When decoding
1D symbols, be sure that the entire symbol falls well within the field of view.

Basic Operations
Motion Detect Mode

The HS-21 or HS-41X can be placed in a presentation stand and used in Motion Detect Mode.
Important: Motion Detection must also be enabled in ESP for Motion Detect Mode to function.
To decode a symbol, simply place it within the reader’s field of view. The reader will beep,
vibrate, and emit a green LED flash upon Good Read.
HS-21 with Presentation Stand

Dual Optics
The reader’s dual field optical system can read small 2D symbols as well as larger 1D
symbols. An image is captured from each field. The decoder first operates on the image
(Near or Far) which was successfully decoded on the last cycle. If unsuccessful, the next
image is decoded.
Move the reader closer to decode smaller symbols and farther away to decode larger symbols.
Imaging Area
960
640
Far Field
Field of View: 50° horiz. by 33.5° vert.
Focal Point: Approximately 115 mm
(1280)
640
Near Field
Field of View: 30° horiz. by 20° vert.
The reader’s optics are divided into Near Field and Far Field decode zones. Each decode
zone is 960 x 640 pixels.

Basic Operations
Dual Optics Examples
Far Field
Dual Field
Near Field
20 mil Data Matrix
Far Field
Dual Field
Near Field
5 mil Code 39

Operational Feedback
Condition Top LED Light Sound Vibration
Reader Successfully Green LED flashes 1 Beep Handle Vibrates
Powers Up
Reader Successfully Once enumerated,
Enumerates with Host the green LED turns 1 Beep Handle Vibrates
(via Cable) Off
Attempting to Decode Green LED is Off None No Vibration
Successful Decode and Green LED flashes 1 Beep Handle Vibrates
Data Transfer via Cable
Configuration Symbol
Successfully Decoded Green LED flashes 2 Beep Handle Vibrates
and Processed
Configuration Symbol
Successfully Decoded Green LED flashes 4 Beeps Handle Vibrates
but Not Successfully
Processed

4 Communications
Contents
Communications by ESP.............................................................................................................. 4-2

Communications Overview........................................................................................................... 4-3
USB Interface ............................................................................................................................... 4-4
RS-232 Interface .......................................................................................................................... 4-5
Preamble ...................................................................................................................................... 4-7
Postamble..................................................................................................................................... 4-8
Preamble and Postamble by ESP ................................................................................................ 4-9
Keyboard Mapping ..................................................................................................................... 4-10
Communications Mode............................................................................................................... 4-11
USB Keyboard Rate ................................................................................................................... 4-13
RS-232 ....................................................................................................................................... 4-14
Text Command Timeout ............................................................................................................. 4-15
This section explains how to set up communications between the reader and a host.
With Microscan’s ESP (Easy Setup Program), configuration changes can be made in the
ESP tree controls and then sent and saved to the reader. The Data Matrix symbols in this
section can also be decoded to configure the reader’s Communications parameters.

Communications by ESP
Communications by ESP
Click this button to

bring up the App Mode
view, then click the
Communication tab.
To open nested options, To change a setting,

single-click the +. double-click the setting
and use your cursor to
scroll through the
options.

Communications
Communications Overview
Whenever you default the reader, it will return to the default settings of whichever interface
you are using. Defaulting the reader does not remove preamble and postamble formatting.
The reader is in USB Native (HID) by default.
USB
With USB communications, the reader connects directly to the host’s USB port from which it
draws its power. Data is displayed by any open Windows-based program that can capture
text in USB Keyboard Mode.
RS-232
With RS-232 communications the reader communicates with the host through a communications
program such as ESP’s Terminal.
Default settings for establishing RS-232 communications are:
Baud Rate: 115.2K

Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Data Bits: 8

USB Interface
USB Interface
The reader is in USB Native (HID) by default.
USB Native (HID)

This mode is the standard way of transferring unformatted, unpacketized data to the
reader through the USB port.
USB Keyboard Mode (Windows)

Data is output as keyboard sequences.
USB Virtual COM One-Way Mode

This mode allows a reader in a USB configuration to function as a virtual serial COM port.
This mode requires installation of a USB Virtual COM driver, which is available from
Microscan by request.

Communications
RS-232 Interface
Enabling RS-232 Interface will disable USB communications and require you to default
the reader or read the USB Keyboard Mode symbol to return to USB.
Baud Rate (RS-232)

Baud Rate is the rate at which the reader and host transfer data. It only needs to be
changed if necessary to match the host setting.
1200 19.2K
2400 38.4K
4800 57.6K
9600 115.2K (Default)

RS-232 Interface
Parity (RS-232)
Parity is an error detection routine in which one data bit in each character is set to 1 or 0
so that the total number of 1 bits in the data field is even or odd. It only needs to be
None (Default) Odd Even
Data Bits (RS-232)

Data Bits are the total number of bits in each character. This setting only needs to be
8 Data Bits (Default) 7 Data Bits

Communications
Preamble
A preamble is a character or series of characters that is added to the beginning of a
decoded data string. Preamble characters will appear in the order that they are enabled
(left to right). For example, if you enable a comma and then a space, and then decode a
symbol containing the data ‘ABC’, your output will look like this:
, ABC
The only limit to the number of preambles enabled is the total memory size available.
Set the desired preamble by reading the appropriate symbol below.
Comma Space Tab (RS-232 Only)
Tab (USB Keyboard Only) Carriage Return Line Erase (None)

Feed (RS-232 Only)
Erase Preamble and

Postamble Data

Postamble
Postamble
A postamble is a character or series of characters that is added to the end of a decoded
data string. Postamble characters will appear in the order that they are enabled (left to
right). For example, if you enable a space and then a comma, and then decode a symbol
containing the data ‘ABC’, your output will look like this:
ABC ,
The only limit to the number of postambles enabled is the total memory size available.
Set the desired postamble by reading the appropriate symbol below.
Comma Space Tab (RS-232 Only)
Tab (USB Keyboard Only) Carriage Return Line Feed

(RS-232 Only) (RS-232 Only)
Carriage Return Line Enter (USB Erase (None)

Feed (RS-232 Only) Keboard Only)
Erase Preamble and

Postamble Data

Communications
Preamble and Postamble by ESP

Characters can also be added to the beginning and end of data strings using ESP. There
are a few different ways to do this, using the interface shown below.
You will see the Communications tree control on the left, and the Preamble/Postamble
interface on the right.
When you type ASCII characters directly into the Preamble

or Postamble text fields and then click Send to Reader,
those preamble or postamble characters are enabled and
will appear in data output.
Save pre- and postamble settings and send

them to the reader.
In addition to typing directly Scroll through a list of all preamble

in the text fields and selecting and postamble options, and then
from the dropdown menu, click Insert.
you can also click any of
these preset buttons to set a
preamble or postamble.

Keyboard Mapping
Keyboard Mapping
The Keyboard Mapping feature provides alternatives for keyboards that do not conform
to U.S. English mapping.
Note: Universal Keyboard mapping is slightly slower than the other language-specific
options, because it maps data by reference to the full set of ASCII characters. The
advantage of Universal Keyboard mapping is that it allows any language and keyboard
layout to be mapped.
Important: Keyboard Mapping is not to be confused with USB Keyboard Mode, which
has an entirely different function—namely to enable USB cabled communications.
U.S., No Leading 0 (Default) U.S. with Leading 0 U.S., Ctrl + Char.
French German Japanese
Universal Custom Belgian
Swiss
Keyboard Mapping by ESP

Communications
Communications Mode
Some ESP Communications options are unique to the software, and do not have corresponding
programming symbols. These options are explained below.
Reader Packet Format
Data that is sent from the reader to the host in Raw format is sent without packet framing
or check characters. One-Way communication is in a raw format, no response is expected
from the host, and data is not resent.
Packetized data is sent with framing (a preamble communicating the amount of data to be
transmitted, and a postamble containing error detection) and check characters, and a
response is expected from the host. Two-Way communication is in packet format.
Reader to Host Packet Size
The Reader to Host Packet Size is the amount of data (in bytes) that is sent to the host in
packet format. This feature allows you to set the maximum allowable packet size.
Expect Host Response
When Expect Host Response is enabled, the reader will re-transmit data if it doesn’t
receive acknowledgement from the host.
Reader Send Retry Count
Reader Send Retry Count sets the number of times the reader will re-transmit data
before abandoning further send attempts. The minimum retry count is 1, which represents
the initial transmission.
Host Acknowledgement Timeout
The Host Acknowledgement Timeout is the amount of time (in seconds) that the reader
will wait for an acknowledgement from the host before re-sending data.

Communications Mode
Text Commands
When the Text Commands feature is enabled, the reader can accept text commands via
RS-232 connections and USB Virtual COM modes.
Note: Text Commands are not supported in USB HID Mode.
Enable Text Disable Text

Commands Commands
(Default)
Text Commands by ESP

When Text Commands are set to
Enabled; Suppress Echo, text
that a user enters in the Terminal
will not be shown. When Text
Commands are set to Enabled;
Suppress Echo and Responses,
neither user-entered data or reader
responses will be shown, and only
decoded symbol data will appear in
the Terminal.
See Terminal Right-Click Menu
When Magic Sequence is enabled, it allows the user to enable for a way to change Echo settings
Text Commands by entering a predetermined series of keystrokes. directly in the Terminal view.
Entering Magic Sequence

The magic sequence is ;>PA followed by a numeric value of 1, 3, or 7.
1 = Enable Text Commands
3 = Enabled; Suppress Echo
7 = Enabled; Suppress Echo and Responses
In the example below, the magic sequence entered will Enable Text Commands and
Suppress Echo and Responses.
Enter the magic sequence in

this text field and click Send.
Once the magic sequence has been sent, you can send text commands from the same text field.

Communications
USB Keyboard Rate
Requests that the host polls the USB reader at the rate specified (1 to 255 ms).

RS-232
RS-232
Baud Rate
Baud Rate is the rate at which the reader and host transfer data. It only needs to be
Parity
Parity is an error detection routine in which one data bit in each character is set to 1 or 0
so that the total number of 1 bits in the data field is even or odd. It only needs to be
Stop Bits
Stop Bits are added to indicate the end of each character. This setting should only be
Data Bits
Data Bits are the total number of bits in each character. This setting only needs to be

Communications
Text Command Timeout

Text Command Timeout allows you to set the maximum time during which a complete
text command from the host must be received. Pending text command data is discarded
when the timeout is exceeded.

Text Command Timeout

5 Read Cycle
Contents
Read Cycle by ESP...................................................................................................................... 5-2

External Trigger............................................................................................................................ 5-3
Default Continuous Event............................................................................................................. 5-4
Maximum Decodes per Read....................................................................................................... 5-5
Read Cycle Timeout..................................................................................................................... 5-6
Ignore Duplicate Symbol Timeout ................................................................................................ 5-7
Targeting Zone Tolerance ............................................................................................................ 5-8
Morphological Preprocessing ....................................................................................................... 5-9
Camera Settings......................................................................................................................... 5-10
After you’ve established communications you will need to address the spatial and timing
parameters associated with your application. This section explains those parameters. The
Data Matrix symbols in this section can also be decoded to configure Read Cycle parameters.

Read Cycle by ESP
Read Cycle by ESP
Click this button

to bring up the
App Mode view,
and then click the
Read Cycle tab.

single-click the +. double-click the
setting and use your
cursor to scroll
through the options.

Read Cycle
External Trigger
The External Trigger parameter allows you to determine reader behavior when triggered
externally.
Show Target
The target LEDs will illuminate when the reader is triggered externally.
Read Both Fields (Default)

Both Near Field and Far Field will be activated to capture an image when the reader is triggered
externally.
Read Near Field

Near Field will be activated to capture an image when the reader is triggered externally.
Read Far Field

Far Field will be activated to capture an image when the reader is triggered externally.
Read Primary Field

When Read Primary Field is selected, the most recent field to have produced a Good
Read (Near Field or Far Field) will be activated to capture an image when the reader is
triggered externally.
Trigger Active
When an external trigger is active, the reader will either decode once and stop or decode
continuously, depending on how this parameter is set. Trigger Active is set to Read Once
by default.
Important: Ignore Duplicate Symbol Timeout should be set to a value greater than 0
when Trigger Active is set to Continuous Read.

Default Continuous Event
Default Continuous Event

This parameter allows you to determine the default state of the reader.
Idle (Default)
When Default Continuous Event is set to Idle, the reader will remain inactive until triggered.
Show Target
When Default Continuous Event is set to Show Target, the reader will display the target
LEDs but remain inactive until triggered externally.
Motion Detect
When Default Continuous Event is set to Motion Detect, the reader will remain inactive
until motion occurs in the field of view (if a symbol is hand-presented, for example).
Read Both Fields

Both Near Field and Far Field will be continuously activated to capture an image.
Read Near Field

Near Field will be continuously activated to capture an image.
Read Far Field

Far Field will be continuously activated to capture an image.
Read Primary Field

Read (Near Field or Far Field) will be continuously activated to capture an image.
Event Delay
The default Event Delay is 0.100 seconds.

Read Cycle
Maximum Decodes per Read

Maximum Decodes per Read allows you to set how many decodes can be performed in
a single read cycle.

Read Cycle Timeout
Read Cycle Timeout

Read Cycle Timeout determines the duration of the read cycle. The default Read Cycle
Timeout is 0.500 seconds.

Read Cycle
Ignore Duplicate Symbol Timeout

Ignore Duplicate Symbol Timeout sets the reader not to output the same symbol data
multiple times within the time period designated.

Targeting Zone Tolerance
Targeting Zone Tolerance

Targeting Zone Tolerance is particularly useful in environments where closely spaced
symbols of various sizes need to be targeted. It allows the reader to narrow the field of
view relative to the size of a symbol, and to determine the distance the target must be from
the symbol for a decode event to occur.
See Window of Interest for more precise control of the active pixel area.
The default Targeting Zone Tolerance is 1600%.
Formula for calculating Targeting Zone Tolerance:
2 x distance from target to symbol (in pixels) / symbol width or height (in pixels) x 100

Read Cycle
Morphological Preprocessing
Morphological Preprocessing allows you to select the method for processing captured
images, and to choose the operator size for that method. It is set to None by default.
Note: This feature is only available in the HS-41X Handheld Reader.
Erode
Erode increases the dark cell size of a symbol. Useful for increasing the dark cell size of a
dark-on-light Data Matrix symbol.
Dilate
Dilate increases the light cell size of a symbol. Useful for increasing the light cell size of a
light-on-dark Data Matrix symbol.
Size
Size determines the size of the area or “pixel neighborhood” (measured in pixels) in which
the morphological operation is being performed.

Camera Settings
Camera Settings
Camera Settings allow you to set AGC Sampling Mode, to set the percentage values for
Illumination, Exposure, and Gain, to set the AGC Frame Adjust Count, and also to define
Window of Interest dimensions.
AGC Sampling Mode

When AGC Sampling Mode is set to Automatic (default), each time a No Read occurs,
the reader adjusts the gain and exposure for the next capture to optimize symbol contrast.
The values for Illumination, Exposure, and Gain can be set to any value between 0%
and 100%. The default values are shown below.
AGC Frame Adjust Count

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) is a system that controls gain in order to maintain high
performance over a range of input levels. Gain is essentially the ratio of output to input.
Gain settings affect how the reader decodes symbols and captures images.
AGC Frame Adjust Count sets the number of image frames captured and discarded
before the main image capture. This feature gives the gain control time to adjust.

Read Cycle
Window of Interest
The active pixel area of the image sensor is called the Window of Interest (WOI). The WOI
allows the user to select an area of the field of view in which the desired symbol is located.
The programmable window of interest increases decode speed, improves threshold, and
makes it easy to select specific symbols from among several in the field of view. The user provides
the upper-left pixel location and the size of the window to define the Window of Interest.
Window of Interest can also be controlled using a graphic interface in ESP.
High Density
Wide

6 Symbologies
Contents
Symbologies by ESP.................................................................................................................... 6-2
Data Matrix ................................................................................................................................... 6-3
QR Code ...................................................................................................................................... 6-4
Aztec ............................................................................................................................................ 6-5
Code 39........................................................................................................................................ 6-6
Code 128...................................................................................................................................... 6-7
BC412 .......................................................................................................................................... 6-8
Code 93........................................................................................................................................ 6-9
Codabar...................................................................................................................................... 6-10
Interleaved 2 of 5........................................................................................................................ 6-11
UPC............................................................................................................................................ 6-12
Postal ......................................................................................................................................... 6-13
Pharmacode ............................................................................................................................... 6-14
GS1 DataBar .............................................................................................................................. 6-16
PDF417 ...................................................................................................................................... 6-17
MicroPDF417 ............................................................................................................................. 6-18
Composite .................................................................................................................................. 6-19
Symbology Identifier................................................................................................................... 6-20
This section describes the various symbol types that can be decoded by the HS-21 and HS-41X.
The Data Matrix symbols in this section can also be decoded to configure Symbologies parameters.

Symbologies by ESP
Symbologies by ESP
Click this button

to bring up the
App Mode view,
and then click the
Symbologies tab.
To open
nested
options,
single-click
the +.
To change a setting,
double-click the
cursor to scroll

Symbologies
Data Matrix
Data Matrix Enabled (Default) Data Matrix Disabled
Sample Data Matrix Symbol
If you disable the Data Matrix symbology, programming symbols will not be decodable by
the reader and Data Matrix will need to be re-enabled using ESP.
Use the Data Matrix Disabled programming symbol with caution.

QR Code
QR Code
QR Code Inverse and Standard Enabled QR Code Disabled
QR Code and Micro QR Code Enabled
Sample QR Code Symbol Sample Micro QR Code Symbol

Symbologies
Aztec
Aztec Enabled Aztec Disabled (Default)
Sample Aztec Symbol

Code 39
Code 39
Code 39 Disabled Code 39 Enabled (Default)
Code 39 Enable Checksum Code 39 Disable Checksum (Default)
Code 39 Enable Checksum and

Strip from Result
Code 39 Extended Code 39 Extended

Full ASCII Enabled Full ASCII Disabled (Default)
Sample Code 39 Symbol

Symbologies
Code 128
Code 128 Enabled (Default) Code 128 Disabled

BC412
BC412
BC412 Enabled (Default) BC412 Disabled
Sample BC412 Symbol

Symbologies
Code 93
Code 93 Enabled (Default) Code 93 Disabled

Codabar
Codabar
Codabar Enabled (Default) Codabar Disabled
Codabar Checksum Enabled Codabar Checksum Disabled (Default)
Codabar Checksum Enabled and Strip from Result
Sample Codabar Symbol

Symbologies
Interleaved 2 of 5
Interleaved 2 of 5 Enabled (Default) Interleaved 2 of 5 Disabled
Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Enabled Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Disabled (Default)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Enabled and Strip from Result
Interleaved 2 of 5 Two Digit Minimum Interleaved 2 of 5 Four Digit Minimum
Interleaved 2 of 5 Six Digit Minimum (Default)
Sample Interleaved 2 of 5 Symbol

UPC
UPC
UPC Enabled (Default) UPC Disabled
EAN Status Enabled (Default) EAN Status Disabled
UPC-E as UPC-A Enabled UPC-E as UPC-A Disabled (Default)
Sample UPC-E Symbol
Sample UPC-A Symbol

Symbologies
Postal
Postal Enabled Postal Disabled (Default)
Supported Postal Symbologies

• USPS OneCode (4CB)
• POSTNET
• PLANET
• Japanese Post
• Australian Post
• Royal Mail
• KIX Code
Sample Postnet Symbol
Sample Royal Mail Symbol

Pharmacode
Pharmacode
Pharmacode Enabled Pharmacode Disabled (Default)
Fixed Symbol Length Enabled Fixed Symbol Length Disabled (Default)
Bar Width Status: Mixed (Default) Bar Width Status: All Narrow
Bar Width Status: All Wide Bar Width Status: Fixed Threshold
Direction: Forward (Default) Direction: Reverse

Symbologies
Fixed Symbol Length Status
When enabled, the reader will check the symbol length against the symbol length field. If
disabled, any length will be considered valid.
Symbol Length
Specifies the exact number of bars that must be present for the reader to recognize and
decode the Pharmacode symbol.
Minimum Bars
Sets the minimum number of bars that a Pharmacode symbol must have to be considered
valid.
Bar Width Status

If set to Mixed, the reader will autodiscriminate between narrow bars and wide bars. If set
to All Narrow, all bars will be considered as narrow bars. If set to All Wide, all bars will be
considered as wide bars. If set to Fixed Threshold, it will use the fixed threshold value to
determine whether the bars are narrow or wide. The Bar Width Status setting will be
ignored when the reader is able to tell the difference between the narrow and the wide bars.
Direction
Specifies the direction in which a symbol can be read.
Fixed Threshold Value

Used when Bar Width Status is set to Fixed Threshold. Defines the minimum difference
in pixels that will distinguish a narrow bar from a wide bar.
Sample Pharmacode Symbol

GS1 DataBar
GS1 DataBar
All GS1 DataBar Enabled (Default) All GS1 DataBar Disabled
GS1 DataBar Expanded Enabled GS1 DataBar Limited Enabled
GS1 DataBar-14 Enabled
Sample DataBar-14 Limited Symbol
Sample DataBar-14 Stacked Symbol Sample DataBar Expanded Symbol
Sample DataBar-14 Symbol

Symbologies
PDF417
PDF417 Enabled (Default) PDF417 Disabled
Sample PDF417 Symbol

MicroPDF417
MicroPDF417
MicroPDF417 Disabled (Default) MicroPDF417 Enabled
Sample MicroPDF417 Symbol

Symbologies
Composite
Composite consists of a 1D component associated with an adjacent 2D component. A
successful decode is required for both the 1D and 2D components before the reader outputs
a result. When Composite is enabled, the unit decodes the 1D component first.
Important: EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, and UPC-E cannot be decoded individually when
Composite is enabled.
Maximum Decodes per Read

Maximum Decodes per Read represents the maximum number of candidate symbols in
the field of view (1 - 100) that can be decoded during a read cycle. Note that decode
speed will decrease as the Maximum Decodes per Read value is increased.
Composite Disabled (Default) Composite Enabled
Sample Composite Symbol

Symbology Identifier
Symbology Identifier
When Symbology Identifier is enabled, an AIM (Association for Automatic Identification
and Mobility) preamble is added to decoded data output (see the AIM Symbology Identifiers
list). This preamble identifies what kind of symbology has been decoded.
AIM Symbology Identifiers

A Code 39
C Code 128
d Data Matrix
e GS1 DataBar / Composite
E UPC/EAN
F Codabar
G Code 93
I Interleaved 2 of 5
L PDF417 / MicroPDF417
Q QR Code / Micro QR Code
X Other (Pharmacode)
z Aztec

7 I/O Parameters
Contents
I/O Parameters by ESP ................................................................................................................ 7-2

No Read Notification .................................................................................................................... 7-3
Targeting ...................................................................................................................................... 7-4
Beeper.......................................................................................................................................... 7-5
Vibrate .......................................................................................................................................... 7-6
Button Stay-Down Time ............................................................................................................... 7-7
Motion Detect Event ..................................................................................................................... 7-8
Image Quality ............................................................................................................................... 7-9
Data Validation ........................................................................................................................... 7-10
This section includes instructions on setting up conditions for changing input/output electrical
transitions for control of the reader’s internal and external devices. A discrete I/O (in/out) signal
is an electrical transition from one voltage level to another so that digital switching can occur.
The Data Matrix symbols in this section can also be decoded to configure I/O parameters.

I/O Parameters by ESP
I/O Parameters by ESP
Click this button to

bring up the App
Mode view, and
then click the
Read Cycle tab.

single-click the +. double-click the
cursor to scroll

I/O Parameters
No Read Notification
No Read Notification allows you to enable or disable user feedback alerting you when a
symbol is not decoded successfully.
The No Read message output is ap/r, indicating that the reader did not decode the symbol.

Targeting
Targeting
The Targeting parameter allows you to turn the targeting LEDs on or off. They are on by
default.
Read the configuration symbols below to enable or disable Targeting.
Targeting Off Targeting On

I/O Parameters
Beeper
The Beeper parameters allow you to set the Volume, Duration, and Separation of the
beep, and whether or not it will beep on a Good Read.
Beeper volume is 100% by default, 0.100 seconds Duration by default, and 0.100 seconds
Separation by default.
Beep on Good Read is enabled by default.
Read the configuration symbols below to enable or disable Beeper.
Beeper Off Beeper On

Vibrate
Vibrate
The Vibrate parameter allows you to turn Vibrate on or off. It is on by default.

I/O Parameters
Button Stay-Down Time

Button Stay-Down Time sets the amount of time (in seconds) that the reader will continue
to process the current “decode symbol” event. The reader will behave as if the trigger is
being activated for this specified amount of time.

Motion Detect Event
Motion Detect Event

Motion Detect Event allows you to determine the reader's behavior when motion is
detected in the field of view.
Motion Sensitivity
allows you to determine
the sensitivity of motion
detection (lower is more
sensitive - 5 is default).
Motion Detect Start
Delay allows you to set
the amount of delay
before a motion detect
event occurs. (0 seconds
is default.)
Show Target
The target LEDs will illuminate when a motion detect event occurs.
Read Both Fields (Default)

Both Near Field and Far Field will be activated to capture an image when a motion detect
event occurs.
Read Near Field

Near Field will be activated to capture an image when a motion detect event occurs.
Read Far Field

Far Field will be activated to capture an image when a motion detect event occurs.
Read Primary Field

Read (Near Field or Far Field) will be activated to capture an image when a motion detect
event occurs.
Read the configuration symbols below to enable or disable Motion Detection.
Motion Detection Off Motion Detection On, Motion Detection On

Start Delay 500 ms Start Delay 0

I/O Parameters
Image Quality
Image Quality allows you to determine the quality of images that are output from image
captures. Image Quality is set to 50% by default.

Data Validation
Data Validation
Data Validation is used to confirm that a decoded string from the imager has complied
with a particular company, industry, or ISO standard. HS-21/HS-41X Data Validation is
compliant with Department of Defense Unique Identification and ISO/IEC 15434 (Information
Technology – Transfer Syntax for High-Capacity ADC Media) requirements.
Unique Identification
Unique Identification is a mandatory Department of Defense (DoD) requirement on all
solicitations issued January 1, 2004 or later. This policy mandates the use of Unique Item
Identifiers (UIIs) encoded within Data Matrix symbols on equipment and parts procured by
DoD. The HS-21/HS-41X complies with Department of Defense Standard Practice Identification
(MIL-STD-130).
Once the imager decodes the Data Matrix symbol, and if Unique Item Identifier (UII), Current
Part Number (CPN), and Lot/Batch Number (LBN) are turned on, the HS-21/HS-41X
checks the ISO/IEC 15434 syntax with ISO/IEC 15418 (ANSI MH10.8.2 – AI and DI) and
ISO/IEC 21849 (ATA – TEI) semantics to construct the UII, CPN, and LBN.
Unique Identification Features

The following data output options are applicable to Data Matrix ECC 200 symbols only and
have no effect on other symbologies.
UII Enabled Allows the imager to read only message streams encoded in Data Matrix
ECC 200 symbols, then to construct and output a UII string. The message
streams include validation of Unique Item Identifier (UII), Current Part
Number (CPN), and Lot/Batch Number (LBN) strings. When the imager
decodes a symbol but the symbol data does not compy with UII format, it
will stop capturing images and the green LED will illuminate without
beeping, vibrating, or outputing the string.
UII Enabled with Allows the imager to read UII messages in Data Matrix ECC 200 symbols
Pass Through and non-UII messages in any type of symbols. The imager’s behavior is
the same as with UII Enabled.
UII Enabled with Allows the imager to read UII messages in Data Matrix ECC 200 symbols
Error Messages and output detailed information such as construction type, data components,
or error messages. The imager’s behavior is the same as with UII
Enabled.
Data Validation Disables both UII and ISO/IEC 15434 data validation.
Disabled

I/O Parameters
Unique Identification Output Examples
UII Enabled
UII:UN123456789ABCDEFG
CPN:87654321
LBN:87654321
UII:12345678 CPN:87654321
UII:12345678 LBN:87654321
UII Enabled with Pass Through

UII:UN123456789ABCDEFG
CPN:87654321
LBN:87654321
UII:12345678 CPN:87654321
UII:12345678 LBN:87654321
DATA:Microscan Precision Data Acquisition and Control Solutions
UII Enabled with Error Messages

UII:UN123456789ABCDEFG;Construct_1;25SUN123456789ABCDEFG;;;;;;
CPN:87654321;PNR;PNR 87654321;;;;;;
LBN:87654321;30T;30T87654321;;;;;;
UII:12345678 CPN:87654321;Construct_1_2/PNR;UID 12345678;PNR 87654321;;;;;
UII:12345678 LBN:87654321;Construct_1/30T;25S12345678;30T87654321;;;;;
(15434 ERROR: HEADER - 1ST POSITION);Microscan Precision Data Acquisition and
Control Solutions;;;;;;;
Data Validation Disabled

The imager will return to normal output behavior without performing data validation.

Data Validation
ISO/IEC 15434
ISO/IEC 15434 specifies a transfer structure, syntax, and coding of messages and data
formats when using high capacity automatic data capture (ADC) technologies.
The following ISO/IEC 15434 data output options are applicable to Data Matrix ECC 200
symbols only and have no effect on other symbologies.
ISO/IEC 15434 Allows the imager to read only ISO/IEC 15434-compliant message
Enabled streams in Data Matrix ECC 200 symbols then output the ISO/IEC 15434
string. This implementation only checks the header/trailer format and
proper format indicator (00-99 and DD). The output string has a prefix, a
format indicator, and data components.
ISO/IEC 15434 Allows the imager to read only ISO/IEC 15434-compliant messages in
Enabled with Error Data Matrix ECC 200 symbols and output detailed information such as
Messages prefix, format indicator, data components, or error messages.
Data Validation Disables both UII and ISO/IEC 15434 data validation.
Disabled
ISO/IEC 15434 Output Examples

ISO/IEC 15434 Enabled
(15434);05;0100061414199999;211A0B9C3D6;;;;;
(15434);06;7L0A1B3C;1P4202435;S10936;;;;
(15434);06;17V0A1B2;1P4202435;S10936;;;;
ISO/IEC 15434 Enabled with Error Messages

(15434);05;0100061414199999;211A0B9C3D6;;;;;
(15434);06;7L0A1B3C;1P4202435;S10936;;;;
(15434);06;17V0A1B2;1P4202435;S10936;;;;
(15434 ERROR: HEADER - 3RD POSITION);[)<▲DD↔CAG 12345↔SER
67890123▲♦;;;;;;;
(15434 ERROR: TRAILER - END OF TRANSMISSION);[)>▲12↔CAG 12345↔SER
67890123▲♣;;;;;;;
(15434 ERROR: HEADER - GROUP SEPARATOR);[)>▲12▲CAG 12345♦029SER
67890123▲♦;;;;;;;
Data Validation Disabled

The imager will return to normal output behavior without performing data validation.

I/O Parameters
Data Validation Settings

The following symbols control Data Validation functions:
UII UII Enabled

Enabled with Pass Through
UII Enabled with ISO/IEC 15434

Error Messages Enabled
ISO/IEC 15434 Enabled Data Validation

with Error Messages Disabled (Default)
Save Settings
Data Validation by ESP

Each of the Data Validation Settings can also be enabled in ESP’s I/O Parameters tree control.

Data Validation
Detailed Output Format

The table below describes data validation output in detail.
Note: UII Enabled with Pass Through will add the prefix DATA to non-UII output for all
symbologies.
Note: UII Enabled with Error Messages will output the following format: UII/CPN/LBN;
DF0; DF1; DF2; DF3; DF4; DF5; DF6; DF7.
Note: When ISO/IEC 15434 output is in compliance with the standard, the format is
(15434); DF0; DF1; DF2; DF3; DF4; DF5; DF6; DF7. When it is not in compliance with
the standard, the output is (15434 ERROR: xxxx);;;;;;;; where DF0 is the format indicator
showing which type of data qualifier is in use.
UII Enabled
Content of Decoded Data
UII/CPN/LBN
Matrix Symbol
UII:UII_data
Valid UII
Example: UII:12345678
CPN:CPN_data
Valid CPN Example: CPN:87654321
Valid LBN LBN:LBN_data
Example: LBN:87654321
UII:UII_data CPN:CPN_data
Valid UII and CPN Example: UII:12345678 CPN:87654321
Valid UII and LBN UII:UII_data LBN:LBN_data
Example: UII:12345678 LBN:87654321
UII:UII_data (CPN ERROR)
Valid UII and Invalid CPN Example: UII:12345678 (CPN ERROR)
Valid UII and Invalid LBN UII:UII_data (LBN ERROR)
Example: UII:12345678 (LBN ERROR)
(UII ERROR) CPN:CPN_data
Invalid UII and Valid CPN Example: (UII ERROR) CPN:87654321
Invalid UII and Valid LBN (UII ERROR) LBN:LBN_data
Example: (UII ERROR) LBN:87654321
None of the above
(Invalid UII; Invalid CPN;
Invalid LBN; Invalid UII and No output data
Invalid CPN; Invalid UII and
Invalid LBN)
UII Enabled with Error Messages
Content of Decoded Data
UII/CPN/LBN DFO
Matrix Symbol
UII:UII_data Constructed UII type
Valid UII
Example: UII:12345678 Example: Contruct_1

I/O Parameters
CPN:CPN_data Constructed CPN type
Valid CPN Example: CPN:87654321 Example: PNR
Valid LBN LBN:LBN_data Constructed LBN type
Example: LBN:87654321 Example: 30T
UII:UII_data CPN:CPN_data
Example: UII:12345678 Constructed UII/CPN type
Valid UII and CPN CPN:87654321 Example: Construct_1/PNR
Valid UII and LBN UII:UII_data LBN:LBN_data Constructed UII/LBN type
Example: UII:12345678 Example: Construct_1/30T
LBN:87654321
UII:UII_data (30P ERROR:
xxxx)
UII:UII_data (PNR ERROR: Constructed UII type
Valid UII and Invalid CPN xxxx)
Example: Construct_1
Valid UII and Invalid LBN UII:UII_data (240 ERROR:
xxxx)
UII:UII_data (30T ERROR:
xxxx)
(UII ERROR: xxxx) Constructed CPN type:
Invalid UII and Valid CPN CPN:CPN_data 30P, PNR, 240
Invalid UII and Valid LBN (UII ERROR: xxxx) Constructed LBN type:
LBN:LBN_data 30T
(UII ERROR: xxxx)
(15434 ERROR: xxxx)
Invalid UII Original decoded data
Example: (UII ERROR: DATA
ELEMENT CHARACTER)
(30P ERROR:xxxx)
(PNR ERROR:xxxx)
Invalid CPN
(240 ERROR:xxxx) Original decoded data
Invalid LBN
(30T ERROR:xxxx)
(15434 ERROR: xxxx)
(UII ERROR: xxxx) (30P
ERROR: xxxx)
(UII ERROR: xxxx) (PNR
Invalid UII and Invalid CPN ERROR: xxxx)
Original decoded data
Invalid UII and Invalid LBN (UII ERROR: xxxx) (240
ERROR: xxxx)
(UII ERROR: xxxx) (30T
ERROR: xxxx)

Data Validation
Error Messages
The following is a list of potential error messages.
15434 ERROR: DATA ELEMENT SEPARATOR
15434 ERROR: DOUBLE TRAILER
15434 ERROR: FORMAT INDICATOR
15434 ERROR: HEADER - 1ST POSITION
15434 ERROR: HEADER - 2ND POSITION
15434 ERROR: HEADER - 3RD POSITION
15434 ERROR: HEADER - 4TH POSITION
15434 ERROR: HEADER - GROUP SEPARATOR
15434 ERROR: TRAILER - END OF TRANSMISSION
15434 ERROR: TRAILER - RECORD SEPARATOR
PNR ERROR: TOO LONG
PNR ERROR: TOO SHORT
PNR ERROR: CHARACTER
30P ERROR: TOO LONG
30P ERROR: TOO SHORT
30P ERROR: CHARACTER
240 ERROR: TOO LONG
240 ERROR: TOO SHORT
240 ERROR: CHARACTER
UII ERROR: DATA ELEMENT CHARACTER
UII ERROR: DATA ELEMENT TOO LONG
UII ERROR: DATA ELEMENT TOO SHORT
UII ERROR: LOWER CASE CHARACTER
UII ERROR: NEED UII ELEMENT FIRST
UII ERROR: SPACE AFTER TEI DATA QUALIFIER
UII ERROR: TEI DATA QUALIFIER
UII ERROR: UII ELEMENT INCOMPLETE
UII ERROR: WRONG FORMAT INDICATOR
UII ERROR: UII STRING TOO LONG
Additional Notes
• DF1 – DF7: If the UII/CPN field is “(15434 ERROR: xxxx)”, DF1 – DF7 are filled in with
an empty string. Otherwise, the fields are used to display data elements. If there are
fewer than seven data elements, an empty string is filled in at the end. If there are more
than seven elements, only the first seven elements are displayed.
• There is a space between UII and CPN in both tables (UII:12345678 CPN:87654321).
• The constructed UII type can be Contruct_1, Contruct_2, Construct_1_2, or
IUID_EQUIVALENT.
• The constructed CPN type can be PNR, 30P, or 240. The constructed LBN type can be 30T.

8 Advanced Operations
Contents
Continuous Read.......................................................................................................................... 8-2

Mirroring ....................................................................................................................................... 8-3
Motion Detection........................................................................................................................... 8-4
Window of Interest........................................................................................................................ 8-5
This section introduces several settings that can be applied to speed up processing or
improve readablility in various circumstances.

Continuous Read
Continuous Read
Read the following symbols to enable or disable Continuous Read.
Continuous Read On Continuous Read Off

Advanced Operations
Mirroring
Mirroring allows the reader to decode symbols that are reversed. When Mirroring is
enabled, all other decode functionality is disabled.
Note: Once the reader has been set to Mirroring On, it can only return to its default mode
by reading the Mirroring Off symbol below.
Mirroring On Mirroring Off (Default)

Motion Detection
Motion Detection
Motion Detection causes the reader to attempt a decode whenever it senses motion in its
field of view.
Motion Detection On, Motion Detection On, Motion Detection Off
Start Delay 0 ms Start Delay 500 ms (Default)
Motion Detection On, Motion Detection On,

Start Delay 0 ms, Start Delay 500 ms,
Dark Environment Dark Environment
Motion Detection by ESP

Motion Detection settings can be refined further using the options in ESP.
Select the action

you want the
reader to perform
when it detects
motion in the field
of view.
Motion Sensitivity
The reader’s sensitivity to motion in the field of view can be configured using the Motion
Sensitivity parameter. (The lower the number, the greater the sensitivity.)
Important: For Motion Sensitivity to function correctly, Button Stay-Down Time should
be increased.
Motion Detect Start Delay

Motion Detect Start Delay allows you to set the amount of delay before a Motion Detect
Event occurs. (0 seconds is default.)

Advanced Operations
Window of Interest
Window of Interest allows you to shrink the processing area of the reader’s field of
view. Because the reader has far less processing to do in a smaller window, read rates
typically increase dramatically.
• Click the Camera icon in App Mode to bring up Window of Interest.
Click the Capture and Decode button in the Window of Interest view to decode the
symbol in the field of view. If successful, the Good Decode indicator will be green and
the symbol will be outlined in green.
Note: You can resize the image by clicking and dragging the ESP window from the
lower right corner. This is useful where very small symbols are being read.
• Click and drag the cursor to define a rectangle over the symbol that you want to isolate.
Notice that the surrounding pixels become black.
You can use the anchor points on the image area that you have just drawn to resize the
Window of Interest. You can also click on the center of the window to move it.
• Click the Reset button to remove the Window of Interest.
Hint: Right-click
on the image to
save it to your PC.

Window of Interest
Linear Mode
Linear Mode is intended for use with 1D (linear) symbologies. The combination of Far
Field optics and narrow field of view is ideal for decoding a series of closely-spaced 1D
symbols, such as a warehouse “pick list”.
Clicking the Linear Mode button automatically defines the narrow Window of Interest in
Far Field as shown below. The Near Field Window of Interest is also reduced to maintain
fast decode times of 1D symbols while still allowing Data Matrix decoding (including Data
Matrix programming symbols).
Click the Linear Mode button

to set the narrow Window of
Interest shown at left.
To exit Linear Mode, reset the
Top, Left, Height, and Width
values for both Near Field and
Far Field.

9 Terminal
Contents
Terminal View................................................................................................................................9-2
Find ...............................................................................................................................................9-3
Send ..............................................................................................................................................9-4
Macros...........................................................................................................................................9-5
Terminal Right-Click Menu ............................................................................................................9-6
Terminal Dropdown Menu .............................................................................................................9-7
This section describes the Terminal interface and macro functions in ESP.

Terminal View
Terminal View
Click the Terminal button.
You will see the following view:
Clear screen, copy, Type text

paste, save. Type text here to Terminal
screen commands
find matching text in here.
the terminal window.
Click on Macros arrow to Add Macro,

Remove Macro, or Edit Macro.
Macros listed
on this bar.
Click on desired
macro to run.
The Terminal interface allows you to send commands to the reader by using macros, by
copying and pasting, or by typing commands in the Send text field.
The Terminal view also displays symbol data or information from the reader.
You can also right click on the Terminal screen to bring up a menu of further options.

Terminal
Find
The Find function allows you to enter text strings to be searched for in the terminal window.
For example, suppose a series of symbols have been scanned into the terminal view and
you want to determine if a particular symbol whose data begins with “ABC” has been read.
1. Type “ABC” into the Find box.
2. Press Enter.
The first instance of “ABC” will be highlighted in the terminal window.
3. Click the Find button to the left of the text field to locate additional instances of
“ABC”.

Send
Send
The Send function allows you to enter text commands and then send them to the reader.
(See Text Commands.)
For example, suppose you want to disable the vibrate function in the reader. To disable
vibrate using a text command, you would enter “P%A10” (the command that disables
vibrate) in the text field and click Send.
Click here to access the

dropdown menu of stored
text commands.
Type text commands in

the text field and then
click the Send button to
initiate. Clicking Send
repeatedly will initiate the
command repeatedly.
Once text commands are initiated, they are saved in a dropdown menu that can be
accessed by clicking the arrow to the right of the text field.
You can also send the current command repeatedly by clicking the Send button repeatedly.

Terminal
Macros
Macros can be stored in a macro selection bar, edited in a separate window, and executed
by clicking on the macro name.
When you click Move to Start, the names

of all the macros appear, as shown at left.
Choose which macro button you want to
appear in the first position at the bottom
of the terminal view.
Click on all subsequent arrows

to Edit the associated macros.
Click on the first arrow here to see Add Macro, Default Macros, and
Move to Start.
When you default macros, the entire macros set is restored to original
Click on Next commands.
Row to see the
next set of
macro buttons.
Clicking on a macro button executes the related command. The command is also sent to
the reader at the same time it is displayed.
Editing a Macro
When you click the arrow next to a any macro and select Edit, the following dialog appears:
You can edit an existing

macro or type in the Macro
Name text field and define it
in the Macro Value text field.

Terminal Right-Click Menu
Terminal Right-Click Menu

Right click in the terminal window to display the following menu:
• Copy selected text to clipboard.
• Paste from terminal or other text.
• Clear all text in terminal window.
• Select All text in the terminal window.
• Save... incoming and outgoing data into a text file.
• Change Font... of data received from the reader.
• Change Echo Font... to change the appearance of user-entered
data.
• Disable Echo to hide user-entered data.
• Change Background Color of the terminal window.
• Non-Printable Characters can be shown or hidden in the
terminal view in Standard or Enhanced format.
• Default Settings to return all of the above to original settings.
• Keyboard Macros brings up the Function Keys dialog,
which allows you to create customized macro functions.
Function Keys
The Function Keys dialog allows you to assign commands to specific function keys on
a standard keyboard. Note that the F1 key is reserved for opening ESP Help, and the F3
key is reserved for the Find Next function.
Select the desired function key and

then enter your macro keystrokes in
the associated key map.
For example, to make Ctrl-F2 the
keystroke to send a trigger character,
select F2, then in the Ctrl text field,
enter <trigger character> and click
OK. Then whenever Ctrl-F2 is
keyed, the trigger character will start
the read cycle.
Note: This feature is also available from the Terminal Dropdown Menu and the Terminal
tab of the Preferences dialog.

Terminal
Terminal Dropdown Menu

The terminal dropdown menu allows you to capture and save current text, and it also
includes the functions defined for the Terminal Right-Click Menu.
• Capture Text... lets you append data in real time to

a text file of your choice. While in operation, the
text file cannot be opened. You can select Pause to
interrupt the capture flow or Stop to end the flow
and open the file.
• Save Current Text... saves all text in the terminal
window to a text file of your choice.
• Find Next locates the next instance of the specified
data string in the terminal. This function can also be
activated by pressing F3.
• Find Previous locates the most recently occurring
instance of the specified data string in the terminal.
• Keyboard Macros brings up the Function Keys
dialog, which allows you to create customized
macro functions.

Terminal Dropdown Menu

10 Utilities
Contents
Device Control............................................................................................................................ 10-2

Differences from Default............................................................................................................. 10-3
Firmware .................................................................................................................................... 10-4
Advanced ................................................................................................................................... 10-6
This section explains ESP’s Utilities features. These include Device Control, an interface
that lets you perform major operations with one click; Differences from Default, which
shows all currently enabled reader settings that are not default settings; Firmware, where
you can update your reader’s firmware; and Advanced, which allows you to collect batch
files for customized reader configuration and optimization.

Device Control
Device Control
This feature allows you to delete stored errors, to reboot the reader, and to default the reader.
• Delete Stored Errors erases all logged errors whether you have looked at them or not.
• Default Reader returns the reader to its default state, without any optimization or configuration.
• Reboot Reader refreshes the reader’s memory and functionality, returning it to the most
recent configuration you have saved.

Utilities
Differences from Default

Clicking the Differences from Default button will cause ESP to check all stored configuration
settings and compare them to default settings. All settings that are different than default
will appear in the left column (shown below), and descriptions of those settings will appear
in the right column.
Click this button for a list of ESP Click this button to generate a
configuration settings that are symbol encoded with the commands
different than default settings. in the Differences window.
Send configuration settings

to the reader without saving
by clicking Send to Reader.
Click Save As to save the Send configuration settings to the

report as plain text or a reader and save in ESP by clicking
tab-delimited text file. Send and Save.
• To save the Differences from Default report, either as plain text or as a tab-delimited
text file, click Save As.
• Click Send and Save to send the settings to the reader and save them, or Send to
Reader to send the settings without saving them.
Important: The use the Differences from Default feature, you must connect to the
reader and Receive Reader Settings via the Send/Recv button on the toolbar.

Firmware
Firmware
The Firmware view in ESP Utilities is a simple way to update and verify your reader’s
firmware and to update batch files.
Choose App Code from the Firmware Update dropdown

menu and click Start to install new firmware.
Use this dropdown menu to

locate batch files in the host
computer’s file directory.
Download the needed files
directly to the reader by
clicking the Start button.
The Firmware Verification tool

sends a direct query to the reader
for its Application Code Version,
Firmware Version, Boot Code
Version, and Radio Version.

Utilities
ID and Firmware Version

Another way to query the 2D Engine for its identifying information is by reading the following
symbol:
ID and Firmware Version
The host’s text program will output a data string containing the device’s identifying information
in the format shown below.
Example:
i03360205none0020019795A0600000060008001400490002<TAB>35-619100-10 005
0336 Application Version Number
0205 Bootloader Firmware Version
None Radio Firmware Version
0020019795 Serial Number
A A – Running Application
06 N/A
0 N/A
0000 N/A
06 Hardware Identifier
0008 Hardware Type Identifier
0014 Boot Application Version
0049 Operating System Kernel Version
0002 Root File System Versions
<TAB> ASCII TAB Character
35-619100-10 005 Decoder Version PN and BN

Advanced
Advanced
The Advanced tab in Utilities features an archive of all batch files containing reader
configuration commands. Each batch file’s extension is .crb, and each file contains the
fundamental code for programming the reader. Notice that the names of the batch files
correspond with the numbers beneath all the Data Matrix configuration symbols.
This tool allows you to use the batch file data to create your own symbols, or to collect only
the files that you use frequently to configure the reader for your application.
The Download Collection and Save Collection

As... buttons allow you to acquire the entire
contents of the batch file archive and save the
files in a location of your choice.
Scroll through the list of batch files in

the archive and choose the ones you
need. Move them to the collection
window using the Add arrow. Files
can also be transferred by clicking
and dragging.
The single Remove arrow functions
in the same way as the Add arrow,
except that it transfers files back to
the batch archive. The double
Remove arrow allows you to transfer
all files simultaneously.

Appendices
Contents
Appendix A General Specifications .............................................................................................. A-2

Appendix B Electrical Specifications ............................................................................................ A-5
Appendix C Configuration Symbols.............................................................................................. A-6
Appendix D Serial Commands ................................................................................................... A-17
Appendix E Communications Protocol ....................................................................................... A-48
Appendix F ASCII Table............................................................................................................. A-49
Appendix G Maintenance ........................................................................................................... A-50
Appendix H Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................. A-51
HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual A-1

General Specifications
Appendix A — General Specifications

Mechanical Indicators
Status Indicators: Beep, vibrate, LED flash
Height: 5.2” (131.6 mm)
Width: 2.0” (52 mm) Image Output Options
Depth: 3.6” (91.1 mm) Format: JPEG
Weight: 3.9 oz. (110 g) Memory Capacity
128MB Flash ROM, 32MB RAM
Environmental
Operating temperature: –20° to 55°C Data Editing
(–4° to 131°F) JavaScript (Additional License Required)
Storage temperature: –30° to 65° C
(–22° to 150°F) Electrical
Humidity: 5 to 95% (non-condensing) Power Requirements: Reader @ 5VDC (mA): Typical:
Less than 450 mA; Idle: Less than 80 mA; Sleep: Less
Shock: Withstands multiple drops of 6’ (1.8 meters) than 31mA
CE Standards Dimensions
Immunity: EN 55024
ESD: EN 61000-4-2
Radiated RF: EN 61000-4-3
Keyed Carrier: ENV50204
EFT: EN 61000-4-4
Conducted RF: EN 61000-4-6
Emissions: EN 55022, Class B Radiated,
Class B Conducted
CB Test Certificate: IEC 60950-1:2005, 2nd Edition
Symbologies
2D Symbologies: Data Matrix, QR Code, Micro QR
Code, Aztec Code
Stacked Symbologies: PDF417, MicroPDF417, Composite
Linear Symbologies: UPC, Code 39, Code 128, Interleaved
2 of 5, Codabar, GS1 DataBar, Code 93
Postal Symbologies: USPS OneCode (4CB), POSTNET,
PLANET, Japanese Post, Australian Post, Royal Mail,
KIX Code
Light Collection Options
Sensor: CMOS 1.2 Megapixel grayscale
Sensor Array: 1280 by 960
Field Selection: Near Field or Far Field
Field of View: Near Field: 30° horizontal by 20° vertical;
Far Field: 50° horizontal by 33.5° vertical
Optical Resolution: Near Field: 960 x 640; Far Field:
960 x 640
Communication Protocols
Standard Interface: RS-232, USB 2.0 (Generic HID,
HID Keyboard, Virtual COM Port)
Read Parameters
Pitch: ±60° (front to back)
Skew: ±60° (from plane parallel to symbol, side-to-side)
Rotational Tolerance: ±180°
Print contrast Resolution: 25% (1D symbologies); 35%
(2D symbologies); absolute dark/light reflectance differential,
measured at 650 nm
Ambient Light Immunity: Sunlight: Up to 9,000 ft.-candles
/ 96,890 lux
Target Beam: 2 blue bars Note: Nominal dimensions shown.
Typical tolerances apply.
A-2 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Appendices
Read Ranges
Narrow Bar Read Range
STANDARD DENSITY
1D
.0050” (.127 mm) 3.7 to 5.0” (94 to 127 mm)
.0075” (.191 mm) 2.2 to 6.5” (56 to 165 mm)
.010” (.254 mm) 1.5 to 8.0” (38 to 203 mm)
.020 (.508 mm) 2.3 to 15.5” (58 to 394 mm)
2D
.0050” (.127 mm) 3.7 to 4.6” (94 to 117 mm)
.0075” (.191 mm) 1.5 to 6.0” (38 to 152 mm)
.010” (.254 mm) 1.6 to 7.7” (41 to 196 mm)
.020 (.508 mm) 1.6 to 9.4” (41 to 239 mm)

General Specifications
FIS and Demo Kit Options; Accessories
HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Readers
HS-41X, Handheld, X-Mode, Dark Gray, USB, 6' Straight Cable FIS-HS41X-0001G
HS-41X, Handheld, X-Mode, Dark Gray, RS-232, 8' Coiled Cable, U.S. P/S FIS-HS41X-0002G
HS-41X, Handheld, X-Mode, Dark Gray, RS-232, 8' Coiled Cable, Euro P/S FIS-HS41X-0003G
HS-41X, Handheld, X-Mode, Dark Gray, RS-232, 8' Coiled Cable, UK P/S FIS-HS41X-0004G
HS-21, Handheld, Std, Light Gray, USB, 6' Straight Cable FIS-HS21-0001G
HS-21, Handheld, Std, Light Gray, RS-232, 8' Coiled Cable, U.S. P/S FIS-HS21-0002G
HS-21, Handheld, Std, Light Gray, RS-232, 8' Coiled Cable, Euro P/S FIS-HS21-0003G
HS-21, Handheld, Std, Light Gray, RS-232, 8' Coiled Cable, UK P/S FIS-HS21-0004G
Kit, Demo, X-Mode, Dark Gray, USB, 6' St Cable 98-000263-01
Kit, Demo, Std., Light Gray, USB, 8' Coiled Cable 98-000264-01
Presentation Stand for fixed-mount Motion Detect operation 98-000270-03
Microscan Tools Drive: Software, User Manuals, Quick Start Guides, Configuration 37-000001
Guides, links to Microscan website
Safety Certifications
FCC, CE, RoHS/WEEE
©2015 Microscan Systems, Inc.

All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change.
Product specifications are given for typical performance at 25°C (77°F) using grade A symbols. Performance
characteristics may vary at high temperatures or other environmental extremes. Five Year Limited Warranty on
parts and labor.

Appendices
Appendix B — Electrical Specifications

Power Requirements
Reader @ 5VDC (mA): Typical: Less than 450 mA; Idle: Less than 80 mA; Sleep: Less than 31mA
USB Cable Pinouts
RS-232 Cable Pinouts

Configuration Symbols
Appendix C — Configuration Symbols

A1 A2 A3 A4
USB Native (HID) USB Virtual COM

Default to USB (HID) USB Keyboard (Windows) Mode Mode
B1 B2 B3 B4
USB Enable Alternate USB Disable Alternate

OS OS Reset to RS-232 Defaults RS-232 7 Data Bits
C1 C2 C3 C4
RS-232 8 Data Bits

(Default) RS-232 1200 Baud RS-232 2400 Baud RS-232 4800 Baud
D1 D2 D3 D4
RS-232 9600 Baud RS-232 19200 Baud RS-232 38400 Baud RS-232 57600 Baud
E1 E2 E3 E4
RS-232 115200 Baud RS-232 No Parity

(Default) RS-232 Even Parity RS-232 Odd Parity (Default)

Appendices
A1 A2 A3 A4
UART Flow Control UART Flow Control RS-232 Raw Mode

None (Default) Hardware (Default) RS-232 Packet Mode
B1 B2 B3 B4
Targeting Off Targeting On Beep Off Beep On
C1 C2 C3 C4
Motion Detect On, Start Motion Detect On, Start

Continuous Trigger Off Motion Detect Off Delay 0 Delay 500 ms
D1 D2 D3 D4
Reader Text Commands Reader Text Commands

On Off Preamble - Comma Preamble - Space
E1 E2 E3 E4
Preamble - Tab Preamble - Tab Preamble - Erase Preamble - CR LF

(Keyboard Only) (Serial Only) (None) (Serial Only)

A1 A2 A3 A4
Postamble - CR Postamble - LF Postamble - CR LF

(Serial Only) Postamble - Comma (Serial Only) (Serial Only)
B1 B2 B3 B4
Postamble - Enter Postamble - Tab Postamble - Tab

Postamble - Space (Keyboard Only) (Keyboard Only) (Serial Only)
C1 C2 C3 C4
Postamble - Erase Preamble and Postamble U.S. Keyboard U.S. Keyboard

(None) - Erase Mapping (Default) without Leading 0
D1 D2 D3 D4
U.S. Keyboard with French Keyboard German Keyboard Japanese Keyboard

Ctr+Char Mapping Mapping Mapping
E1 E2 E3 E4
Universal Keyboard Belgian Keyboard Swiss Keyboard

Mapping Custom Keyboard Mapping Mapping

Appendices
A1 A2
Important: If you disable the Data Matrix
symbology, programming symbols will not
be decodable by the reader, and you will
need to re-enable Data Matrix using ESP.
Use the Data Matrix Off programming
symbol with caution.
Data Matrix On Data Matrix Off

B1 B2 B3 B4
Aztec On Aztec Off (Default) BC412 On (Default) BC412 Off
C1 C2 C3 C4
Codabar Checksum Codabar Checksum

Codabar On (Default) Codabar Off Enabled Disabled (Default)
D1 D2 D3 D4
Codabar Checksum Code 39 Enable

Enabled, Strip from Result Code 39 On (Default) Code 39 Off Checksum
E1 E2 E3 E4
Code 39 Enable
Code 39 Disable Checksum and Strip Code 39 Extended Code 39 Extended Full
Checksum (Default) from Result Full ASCII On ASCII Off (Default)

A1 A2 A3 A4
Code 93 On (Default) Code 93 Off Code 128 On (Default) Code 128 Off
B1 B2 B3 B4
Interleaved 2 of 5 On
Composite On Composite Off (Default) (Default) Interleaved 2 of 5 Off
C1 C2 C3 C4
Interleaved 2 of 5 with
Interleaved 2 of 5 Two Interleaved 2 of 5 Four Interleaved 2 of 5 Six Control Character
Digit Minimum Digit Minimum Digit Minimum Stripped
D1 D2 D3 D4
Interleaved 2 of 5
Interleaved 2 of 5 Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Checksum Enabled,
Checksum Enabled Disabled (Default) Strip from Result MicroPDF417 On
E1 E2 E3 E4
MicroPDF417 Off
(Default) PDF417 On (Default) PDF417 Off Postal On

Appendices
A1 A2 A3 A4
QR Code Inverse and QR Code and Micro QR

Postal Off (Default) QR Code Off Standard On Code On
B1 B2 B3 B4
GS1 DataBar Limited All GS1 DataBar On

On (Default) All GS1 DataBar Off UPC On (Default)
C1 C2 C3 C4
EAN Status Enabled

UPC Off (Default) EAN Status Disabled UPC-E as UPC-A Enabled
D1 D2 D3 D4
UPC-E as UPC-A Pharmacode Fixed

Disabled (Default) Pharmacode On Pharmacode Off (Default) Symbol Length Enabled
E1 E2 E3 E4
Pharmacode Fixed
Symbol Length Disabled Pharmacode Bar Width Pharmacode Bar Width Pharmacode Bar Width
(Default) Status Mixed (Default) Status All Narrow Status All Wide

A1 A2 A3 A4
Pharmacode Bar Width Pharmacode Direction Pharmacode Direction Delete Scanned Data
Status Fixed Threshold Forward (Default) Reverse from Memory
B1 B2 B3 B4
Disable Duplicate Symbol

ID and Firmware Version Clear All JavaScript Rules Save Settings Timeout
C1 C2 C3 C4
1 Second Duplicate Scan 2 Second Duplicate Scan 3 Second Duplicate Scan

Delay Delay Delay Default Trigger Delay

Appendices
Configuration Symbol Reference

Beeper
Beep Off ..............................................................................................................................A-7 (B3)
Beep On ..............................................................................................................................A-7 (B4)
Continuous Trigger
Continuous Trigger Off ........................................................................................................A-7 (C1)
Keyboard Mapping
U.S. Keyboard Mapping (Default)........................................................................................A-8 (C3)
U.S. Keyboard Mapping without Leading 0 .........................................................................A-8 (C4)
U.S. Keyboard with Ctr+Char ..............................................................................................A-8 (D1)
French Keyboard Mapping ..................................................................................................A-8 (D2)
German Keyboard Mapping ................................................................................................A-8 (D3)
Japanese Keyboard Mapping ..............................................................................................A-8 (D4)
Universal Keyboard Mapping...............................................................................................A-8 (E1)
Custom Keyboard ................................................................................................................A-8 (E2)
Belgian Keyboard ................................................................................................................A-8 (E3)
Swiss Keyboard ...................................................................................................................A-8 (E4)
Motion Detection
Motion Detect Off.................................................................................................................A-7 (C2)
Motion Detect On, Start Delay 0 ..........................................................................................A-7 (C3)
Motion Detect On, Start Delay 500 ms ................................................................................A-7 (C4)
Preamble/Postamble Settings
Preamble - Comma..............................................................................................................A-7 (D3)
Preamble - Space ................................................................................................................A-7 (D4)
Preamble - Tab (Keyboard Only).........................................................................................A-7 (E1)
Preamble - Tab (Serial Only) ...............................................................................................A-7 (E2)
Preamble - Erase (None).....................................................................................................A-7 (E3)
Preamble - CR LF (Serial Only)...........................................................................................A-7 (E4)
Postamble - CR (Serial Only) ..............................................................................................A-8 (A1)
Postamble - Comma ............................................................................................................A-8 (A2)
Postamble - LF (Serial Only) ...............................................................................................A-8 (A3)
Postamble - CR LF (Serial Only) .........................................................................................A-8 (A4)
Postamble - Space ..............................................................................................................A-8 (B1)
Postamble - Enter (Keyboard Only).....................................................................................A-8 (B2)
Postamble - Tab (Keyboard Only) .......................................................................................A-8 (B3)
Postamble - Tab (Serial Only) .............................................................................................A-8 (B4)
Postamble - Erase (None) ...................................................................................................A-8 (C1)
Preamble and Postamble - Erase........................................................................................A-8 (C2)
Reader Text Commands
Reader Text Commands On................................................................................................A-7 (D1)
Reader Text Commands Off................................................................................................A-7 (D2)
RS-232 Settings
Reset to RS-232 Defaults.................................................................................................... A-6 (B3)
RS-232 7 Data Bits.............................................................................................................. A-6 (B4)
RS-232 8 Data Bits (Default) ...............................................................................................A-6 (C1)
RS-232 1200 Baud ..............................................................................................................A-6 (C2)
RS-232 2400 Baud ..............................................................................................................A-6 (C3)
RS-232 4800 Baud ..............................................................................................................A-6 (C4)
RS-232 9600 Baud ..............................................................................................................A-6 (D1)
RS-232 19200 Baud ............................................................................................................A-6 (D2)
RS-232 38400 Baud ............................................................................................................A-6 (D3)
RS-232 57600 Baud ............................................................................................................A-6 (D4)
RS-232 115200 Baud (Default) ........................................................................................... A-6 (E1)
RS-232 Even Parity .............................................................................................................A-6 (E2)
RS-232 Odd Parity .............................................................................................................. A-6 (E3)
RS-232 No Parity (Default).................................................................................................. A-6 (E4)
UART Flow Control None (Default) ..................................................................................... A-7 (A1)
UART Flow Control Hardware ............................................................................................. A-7 (A2)
RS-232 Raw Mode (Default) ............................................................................................... A-7 (A3)
RS-232 Packet Mode .......................................................................................................... A-7 (A4)
Symbologies
Data Matrix On .................................................................................................................... A-9 (A1)
Data Matrix Off .................................................................................................................... A-9 (A2)
Aztec On.............................................................................................................................. A-9 (B1)
Aztec Off (Default) ............................................................................................................... A-9 (B2)
BC412 On (Default) .............................................................................................................A-9 (B3)
BC412 Off............................................................................................................................ A-9 (B4)
Codabar On (Default) ..........................................................................................................A-9 (C1)
Codabar Off .........................................................................................................................A-9 (C2)
Codabar Checksum Enabled...............................................................................................A-9 (C3)
Codabar Checksum Disabled (Default) ...............................................................................A-9 (C4)
Codabar Checksum Enabled and Strip from Result............................................................A-9 (D1)
Code 39 On (Default) ..........................................................................................................A-9 (D2)
Code 39 Off .........................................................................................................................A-9 (D3)
Code 39 Enable Checksum.................................................................................................A-9 (D4)
Code 39 Disable Checksum (Default) ................................................................................. A-9 (E1)
Code 39 Enable Checksum and Strip from Result .............................................................. A-9 (E2)
Code 39 Extended Full ASCII On........................................................................................ A-9 (E3)
Code 39 Extended Full ASCII Off (Default) ......................................................................... A-9 (E4)
Code 93 On (Default) ........................................................................................................ A-10 (A1)
Code 93 Off ....................................................................................................................... A-10 (A2)
Code 128 On (Default) ...................................................................................................... A-10 (A3)
Code 128 Off ..................................................................................................................... A-10 (A4)
Composite On.................................................................................................................... A-10 (B1)

Appendices
Composite Off (Default) .....................................................................................................A-10 (B2)
Interleaved 2 of 5 On (Default) ..........................................................................................A-10 (B3)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Off .........................................................................................................A-10 (B4)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Two Digit Minimum ...............................................................................A-10 (C1)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Four Digit Minimum...............................................................................A-10 (C2)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Six Digit Minimum .................................................................................A-10 (C3)
Interleaved 2 of 5 with Control Character Stripped............................................................A-10 (C4)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Enabled...............................................................................A-10 (D1)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Disabled (Default) ...............................................................A-10 (D2)
Interleaved 2 of 5 Checksum Enabled and Strip from Result ............................................A-10 (D3)
MicroPDF417 On ...............................................................................................................A-10 (D4)
MicroPDF417 Off (Default) ................................................................................................A-10 (E1)
PDF417 On (Default) .........................................................................................................A-10 (E2)
PDF417 Off........................................................................................................................A-10 (E3)
Postal On ...........................................................................................................................A-10 (E4)
Postal Off (Default) ............................................................................................................A-11 (A1)
QR Code Off ......................................................................................................................A-11 (A2)
QR Code Inverse and Standard On ..................................................................................A-11 (A3)
QR Code and Micro QR Code On .....................................................................................A-11 (A4)
GS1 DataBar Limited On ...................................................................................................A-11 (B1)
All GS1 DataBar On (Default)............................................................................................A-11 (B2)
All GS1 DataBar Off ..........................................................................................................A-11 (B3)
UPC On (Default) ..............................................................................................................A-11 (B4)
UPC Off .............................................................................................................................A-11 (C1)
EAN Status Enabled (Default) ...........................................................................................A-11 (C2)
EAN Status Disabled .........................................................................................................A-11 (C3)
UPC-E as UPC-A Enabled ................................................................................................A-11 (C4)
UPC-E as UPC-A Disabled (Default).................................................................................A-11 (D1)
Pharmacode On ................................................................................................................A-11 (D2)
Pharmacode Off (Default)..................................................................................................A-11 (D3)
Pharmacode Fixed Symbol Length Enabled .....................................................................A-11 (D4)
Pharmacode Fixed Symbol Length Disabled (Default)......................................................A-11 (E1)
Pharmacode Bar Width Status Mixed (Default) .................................................................A-11 (E2)
Pharmacode Bar Width Status All Narrow.........................................................................A-11 (E3)
Pharmacode Bar Width Status All Wide ............................................................................A-11 (E4)
Pharmacode Bar Width Status Fixed Threshold................................................................A-12 (A1)
Pharmacode Direction Forward (Default) ..........................................................................A-12 (A2)
Pharmacode Direction Reverse.........................................................................................A-12 (A3)
Targeting
Targeting Off........................................................................................................................A-7 (B1)
Targeting On........................................................................................................................A-7 (B2)

USB Settings
Default to USB (HID) ........................................................................................................... A-6 (A1)
USB Keyboard (Windows)................................................................................................... A-6 (A2)
USB Native (HID) Mode ...................................................................................................... A-6 (A3)
USB Virtual COM Mode....................................................................................................... A-6 (A4)
USB Enable Alternate OS (Mac, Linux, CE)........................................................................ A-6 (B1)
USB Disable Alternate OS................................................................................................... A-6 (B2)
Other Commands
Delete Scanned Data from Memory .................................................................................. A-12 (A4)
ID and Firmware Version................................................................................................... A-12 (B1)
Clear All JavaScript Rules ................................................................................................. A-12 (B2)
Save Settings .................................................................................................................... A-12 (B3)
Disable Duplicate Symbol Timeout.................................................................................... A-12 (B4)
1 Second Duplicate Scan Delay ........................................................................................A-12 (C1)
Default Trigger Delay.........................................................................................................A-12 (C4)

Appendices
Appendix D — Serial Commands

Text Commands
Text commands may be sent to the reader in RS-232 or USB Virtual COM mode using any
serial communications software, e.g., ESP Terminal.
Encoded-data is decoded by the reader by replacing %xx by a single byte with the value
specified by the two hex-digits xx, e.g., %25 would be replaced by character number 0x25,
which is ASCII ‘%’.
text-command: command-type encoded-dataopt carriage-return
command-type: Single ASCII character in the set defined in Command Types.
encoded-data: encoded-datum / encoded-data encoded-datum
encoded-datum: printable-character | % hex-digit hex-digit
printable-character: any byte value in the range [0x20,0x7e]
hex-digit: ‘0’ | ‘1’ | ‘2’ | ‘3’ | ‘4’ | ‘5’ | ‘6’ | ‘7’ | ‘8’ | ‘9’ |‘A’ | ‘B’ | ‘C’ | ‘D’ | ‘E’ | ‘F’
| ‘a’ | ‘b’ | ‘c’ | ‘d’ | ‘e’ | ‘f’
carriage-return: 0x0d
In order to eliminate inadvertent commanding of the reader, Text Commands are
disabled by default. To enable Text Commands requires an initial sequence: ;>PAx
where x is as defined in the Reader Settings Table, register setting 41. (Note: ‘A’ is the
ASCII character that corresponds to 41 HEX.)
For example, to send the reader commands by typing commands in ESP Terminal:
;>PA1
P(xx)yy
P(xx)yy
~
PA8
Where ;>PA1 enables text commands with echo and command responses; P%xxyy can
be any desired commands; ~ saves the settings just sent (the ~ command saves all but
communication-related settings); and PA8 turns text commands back off (except for the
initial sequence). (Note: ‘A’ is the ASCII character that corresponds to 41 hex, thus
P%418 would be equivalent.)
Note: ;>PA1 is used for interactive text commands. If the commands are to be saved in a
file and sent non-interactively, use ;>PA7 instead; this enables text commands but disables
echo and command responses. (See Command Types, Reader Settings, and CRB
System for additional information.)
The following two examples can be sent to a reader in RS-232 mode from ESP Terminal
by just typing the example text.

Serial Commands
Example 1 (make the reader beep 3 times):
#%03 Expected output: should make reader beep 3 times
Example 2 (set reader to continuous read, High Density field (FOI0) only):
P(C4)5 Expected output: should set reader to continuous read, High Density field (FOI0) only
Example 3 (set reader to trigger read mode):
P(C4)255 Expected output: should set reader to trigger read
Packetized Commands
Packetized commands consist of packetized data sent from Host-to-Reader to configure
and cause the reader to perform certain functionalities (e.g. settings). Packetized commands
are always enabled, unlike text commands. In addition, they include error detection data,
making them more robust than text commands.
normal-command structure:
[preamble] [command-type] [data-size] [dataopt] [reserved field] [crc14]
preamble: 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE
command-type: Single ASCII character in the set defined in Command Types.
data-size: byte value in range [0,240], which indicates size of data (in bytes) following
this before [reserved field]
dataopt: datum or data datum
data or datum is any byte value in the range [0,255]
reserved field: 0x00
crc14: Two consecutive bytes, each in range [0,127], representing the crc16
value and with the value 0x7F7F, most significant byte first. The packet
crc16 is calculated over the entire packet, excluding the preamble and
the crc14 itself. (See source files crc16.[hc] (Appendix) for details on
the crc16 algorithm and polynomials to be used.)
Note: Most terminal programs will omit or not transmit a NULL (0x00) character entered
in the terminal. So, if one tries to compose the command structure manually and send it
through a terminal program, one might have to send everything before the reserved field,
then send the 0x00 (key Ctrl+@ in ESP terminal view) by itself, and then the CRC14
checksum bytes.
In the first of the examples shown below, for instance, “0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0x23 0x01
0x03” can be sent using ESP’s Terminal, then the NULL character can be sent by typing
“Ctrl + Shift + 2”, and then “0x4E 0x71” can be sent to complete the command sequence.
Examples:
0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0x23 0x01 0x03 0x00 0x4E 0x71
This executes the beep command, causing the reader to beep 3 times. “#%03” in text
command format. The first 4 0xEE are the preamble, followed by the ‘#’ character or 23h
the beep command, and followed by data size of 1 with a data datum of 3 following it. 0x00
is the reserved field followed by two bytes CRC14 of the command + data size + data datum.

Appendices
0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0x49 0x00 0x00 0x03 0x3C
This executes the info command, “I” in text command format. Since it does not have any
data datum associated with it, 0x00 following 0x49 (ASCII “I”) but before the reserved field
and CRC14 (0x00 0x03 0x3C) indicating it has no dataopt.
0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0x50 0x04 0xC4 0x32 0x35 0x35 0x00 0x43 0x3C
This will change the reader to trigger-read mode, “P(C4)255” in text command format.
0x50 is the command-type, 0x04 indicates that following 4 bytes are the data option with
0xC4 being the register that needs to be updated and 0x32 0x32 0x35 being the new value.
0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0x50 0x03 0xA9 0x35 0x63 0x00 0x77 0x6B
This will change the reader Bypass Gain to 92 (0x5c) percent, “P(A9)5c” in text command
format. 0x50 is the command-type, 0x03 indicates that the following 3 bytes are the data
option with 0xA9 being the register that needs to be updated and 0x35 0x63 (5c) being the
new value.
0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0xEE 0x50 0x07 0x28 0x31 0x45 0x41 0x29 0x46 0x41 0x00 0x14 0x18
This will change Good Read Duration to 250ms, “P(1EA)FA” in text command format. In
this case the register 1EA is more than one byte can hold; the register is converted to its
individual ASCII hex value bounded by 0x28 and 0x29, underlined above.

Serial Commands
Command Types
Causes the reader to beep the specified number of times; data contains
the number as a single character in the range [0,127].
#
(The reader will respond with d or e.)
Example – beep three times: #%03
Posts an event to the reader; data contains the event number as a single
$ character. See setting 39 in Reader Settings for a list of the event numbers.
Causes the reader to upload any logged error messages (no data)
(The reader will respond with a g packet, zero or more z packets, and a
final d or e. Each z packet contains a portion of the requested data in its
( data field.
Note: This is very similar to the response to the X command; however, p
packets are not applicable and the g and d/e packets are not sup-
pressed even in raw mode.)
Causes the reader to erase its log of error messages (no data)
)
Causes the reader to send a list of current reader settings (no data)
, (The reader will respond with d containing a space-separated list of all
setting values (in order, expressed as hexadecimal ASCII characters) or
with e.)
Toggle a bit (or bits) in a reader setting; data contains a printable ASCII
string in the following format: hexadecimal setting number in parenthe-
ses followed by a 32-bit signed integer value, expressed in ASCII hexa-
decimal characters (with optional minus sign) or ASCII decimal
/ characters preceded by the ‘#’ character, e.g., /(2e)1000 or /(2e)#4096;
the specified integer is XOR’ed with the existing setting value.
Note: See Reader Settings for possible reader settings.
Indicates the start of a file download; data is empty. This command is
followed by a sequence of 2 commands containing the file data and a
1 download-end command (e.g., 5).
Indicates a continuation of a file download; data contains the next por-
2 tion of the file data.
(The reader will not send any response.)
Indicates the end of a regular file download; data contains the name of
the file, which is from 1 to 200 letters, digits, periods, hyphens, and
5 underscores, terminated with ASCII NUL.
(The reader will respond with d, e, or f.)

Appendices
Requests the reader to delete a file from its storage; data contains the
9
file name, terminated with ASCII NUL.
; Reserved (nop – treated as a comment)
Causes the reader to send a list of saved reader settings (no data)
<
(see ‘,’ command)
Puts setting directly to reader’s non-volatile memory so that it will take
effect upon next reboot; data is as defined in the / command; the speci-
fied integer replaces the existing setting value.
=
Note: This command can be used to set communication modes without
losing communication during the process.
Causes the reader to send a string of text to the host as a z packet;
> data contains the text to send.
(The reader will respond with a z packet containing the text.)
Causes the reader to reset its internal date/timestamp to the specified
time; data contains the date and/or time in one of the following formats.
yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm
hh:mm:ss
hh:mm
@ Note: The separators are optional; only digits are significant.
Examples:
Set to midnight: @00:00
Set to Sept 1, 2005 11:52:02 PM: @2005-09-01 23:52:02
Note: On units without a battery-backed real-time clock, the date and
time will reset to 2000-01-01 00:00:00 upon power-up.)
Notifies the reader that the previously sent data were rejected for one of
the following reasons:
• The packet was encrypted and the decryption failed.
• The host is locked to a different reader.
A
The reader should indicate to the user that the packet has been
rejected; e.g., it may sound error beeps. See related setting 0x12f,
notify-of-packet-rejection.
(The reader will not respond to the host.)

Serial Commands
Get setting from reader; data contains a single character (0-255), which
is the setting number.
G (The reader will respond with d and the setting value as a sequence of 8
ASCII hexadecimal digits or with e.)
Requests the reader to send its information string (no data).
I
(The reader will respond with i or e.)
Requests the reader to restore settings to defaults (no data).
J
J1 Complete restore of factory setup. Will overwrite the apps and settings.
Requests the reader to send a list of its stored files.
data is:
• (no data) or “0”; all non-hidden files.
L • “1”; hidden files
(The reader will respond in the same manner as with the ‘(’ command,
each z packet containing a file name as a NUL-terminated string of print-
able ASCII characters.)
Set a bit (or bits) in a reader setting; data is as defined in the / com-
mand; the specified integer is ORed with the existing setting value.
O
Put setting to reader; data is as defined in the / command; the specified
integer replaces the existing setting value.
P
Clear a bit (or bits) in a reader setting; data is as defined in the / com-
mand; the ones-complement of the specified integer is AND’ed with the
Q existing setting value.
Requests that the previously sent packet be re-sent by the reader; data
may specify a maximum packet size the receiver will accept: data is
either empty or specifies a 16-bit big-endian unsigned integer (2 bytes).
If data is empty or specifies a size less than 32 (the minimum packet
size), the reader will use its preferred maximum packet size. Otherwise,
R it will use the specified max packet size (or less) and will fragment data
across multiple smaller packets when necessary.
(The reader will respond by re-sending its previous packet or with e if
there was no previous packet. If the max data size has changed, it may
resend the previous data in a sequence of more than one packet.)

Appendices
Requests the current date and time (no data).

(The reader will respond with d with data containing the date and time
T formatted as yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss.)
Note: On units without a battery-backed real-time clock, the date and
time will reset to 2000-01-01 00:00:00 upon power-up.
U Reserved for script engine.
Requests the reader to write its current settings from RAM to its non-vol-
W atile memory.
Acknowledge the receipt of a packet; data specifies the received packet
Y number (one byte).
(The reader will not respond.)
Request the reader to reboot.
data is:
Z • empty or ‘0’; reboot the reader.
• ‘1’; restart application.
(The reader will respond with d or e before it reboots.)
Requests the reader to upload the specified stored file; data contains
the file name, terminated with ASCII NUL.
The reader will respond with:
^ • ‘g’ packet containing “filename<tab>(size)”
• ‘z’ packet(s)
• ‘d’ packet containing “EOF<tab>(CRC16)”
Note: filename “help” is reserved to send command information.
Causes the reader to wait for all buttons to be released and clear its
_
event queue.
Process data as a decoded string.
|

Serial Commands
Simple Protocol
The file is split into blocks of 236 or less bytes each and downloaded to the reader via 1, 2,
and 5 commands using the following sequence:
1. Send a 1 command to initialize the download.
2. Wait for a d or e response from the reader or a timeout.
a. If timeout or e response, restart the sequence at step 1.
b. If d response, continue to step 3.
3. Send a series of 2 commands, each with a portion of the file. (The reader will not
send any response.)
4. Send a 5 command to end the download and install the file.
5. Wait for a d, e, or f response from the reader or a timeout.
a. If f response or timeout, restart the sequence at step 1.
b. If e response, repeat step 5.
c. If d response, file download has completed successfully.
Note: The timeout will need to be increased from the normal response timeout to allow the
firmware time to write the file to the flash memory.

Appendices
Reader Settings
The host sets the reader settings using the /, O, P, Q, and = commands and reads them
using the G, ,, and < commands.
For example, the following P command sets register 2C to the value C8.
P(2C)C8
Note: For two-digit setting numbers (i.e., settings 00 through fd), an alternative format may
be used: in place of the parentheses and hexadecimal setting number, substitute a single
character, which represents the setting number. The equivalent to the example above is
P,C8 (the ASCII ‘,’ character has the hexadecimal value 2c). (In certain circumstances,
such as with text commands, “percent-encoding” may be used for encoding a character as
a sequence consisting of the percent character followed by two hexadecimal digits. With
percent-encoding, the example may be expressed as P%2CC8.)
In the Reader Settings Table, the Reg column is the setting number, in hexadecimal, to
be used with the commands identified above. In the Default column, all values are in
hexadecimal unless otherwise specified. To use decimal values in commands you must
precede the data with a pound sign ‘#’. The following P command sets register 2C to the
same value as the example above:
P(2C)#200
Since the single digit values of 0 through 9 are identical in decimal and hexadecimal, no
indicator is needed.

Serial Commands
Binary Dip Switch

Some registers are what Microscan terms a ‘Binary Dip Switch’ where the value of each bit
of the data string switches on or off some part of the behavior of that register. The bits are
numbered from least significant to most (right to left). Each bit can be on or off (1 or 0).
An example of this is register 0B, ‘Codabar Checksum’. The following settings are possible:
Bit (R to L) Controls Value
0: Disabled
0 Codabar Checksum Checking
1: Enabled
0: Disabled
1 Strip Checksum from Output
1: Enabled
Given the settings above, the binary string turns Codabar Checksum ON and strips it from
output.
Thus, the command to implement the settings above would be:
P(48)3
or
P(48)#03
Field of Interest
The reader optics are typically split into two separate fields - Field Of Interest 0 (FOI0) and
Field Of Interest 1 (FOI1). In certain circumstances, these fields can be customized to the
requirements of the user. In the default configuration of these fields FOI0 is the High Density
(HD) field and FOI1 is the Wide (W) field.
At a given focus distance, the HD field is designed to read small, low-mil symbols while the
Wide field is designed to pick up large, wide symbols.
This document will refer to FOI0 as HD and FOI1 as Wide.

Appendices
Reader Settings Table

Default
Reg Setting Name Comment
(Hex)
0: Minimal Illumination
1: Leave Illumination On Until End
04 Continuous Illumination During Read 0 Read Cycle
Leave illumination on during read.
1: Raw
2: Packet Mode Version 1
For example, USB “two-way” native:
08 Reader Packet Format 1 1B: 5 (USB Native)
08: 2 (packet mode)
42: 1 (expect response)
Also see registers: 1B, 42
1 Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value
NEC 2 of 5 0: Disabled
0 Decoding 1: Enabled
Checksum 0: Disabled
1 checking 1: Enabled
Strip checksum 0: Disabled
0A NEC 2 of 5 Symbology 2 from result 1: Enabled
1 Digit Symbol 0: Disabled
3 Allowed 1: Enabled
Note: All symbol lengths greater than 2
are always enabled when NEC 2 of 5
Decoding is enabled.

Serial Commands
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

Matrix 2 of 5 0: Disabled
Checksum 0: Disabled
1 checking 1: Enabled
Strip checksum 0: Disabled
0B Matrix 2 of 5 Symbology 1 2 from result 1: Enabled
Note: All symbol lengths greater than 2
are always enabled when Matrix 2 of 5
Decoding is enabled.
0: Disabled
0C Telepen Symbology 1
1: Enabled
Enable Non-Square Data Matrix Sym- 0: Disabled
0D 0
bology 1: Enabled
0: Targeting Disabled
0F Targeting Control 1
1: Targeting Enabled
0: Disabled
16 Data Matrix Rectangular Symbology 0
1: Enabled
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value
Data Matrix 0: Disabled
19 Data Matrix Symbology 1 0 Decoding 1: Enabled
Inverse Data 0: Disabled
1 Matrix Decoding 1: Enabled

Appendices
1: RS232 serial
2: USB keyboard
5: USB Native (HID)
6: USB VComm
8: Dynamic (1 if decode is RS232; 2 if
decode is USB)
This setting is used in conjunction with
settings 08 and 42 to configure the
communication mode between stan-
dard “one-way” and “two-way” modes.
1b: 5 (USB Native)

08: 2 (packet mode)
Note: The following must be completed
1B Communications Mode 8 within 1 second.
first output report with numlock set and
capslock clear
second output report with numlock set
and capslock clear
third output report with capslock set
numlock clear
fourth output report with capslock set
numlock clear
fifth output report with numlock set and
capslock clear
sixth output report with numlock set
and capslock clear
On the last output report comm proto-
col is set to raw mode, comm expect
response is false and comm mode is
USB Downloader mode.
Also see registers: 08, 42
All standard baud rates up #115200
• #9600 (2580)
1C200 • #19200 (4B00)
1C Serial Baud Rate
(#115200) • #38400 (9600)
• #57600 (E100)
• #115200 (1C200)
1: One
1D Serial Stop Bits 1
2: Two
7: Seven
1E Serial Data Bits 8
8: Eight

Serial Commands
0: None
22 Serial Parity 0 1: Odd
2: Even
Valid Range: 0 to 64 (#100) Percent
This is the current percentage of full
26 Beep Volume (percent) 64 (#100)
volume potential.
Also see registers: 59, A7
0: Disabled
29 PDF417 Symbology 1 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 2A, CF
0: Disabled
2A MicroPDF417 Symbology 0 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 29, CF
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

QR Code Decod- 0: Disabled
0 ing 1: Enabled
Inverse QR Code 0: Disabled
2B QR Code Symbology 1 1 Decoding 1: Enabled
Micro QR Code 0: Disabled
Inverse Micro QR 0: Disabled
3 Code Decoding 1: Enabled

Appendices
Valid Range: 0 to 7FFFFFFF Millisec-

onds
Counts down to the change to Idle
Mode.
The most significant bit (MSB) of the
32-bit register indicates whether this
timer is enabled. Enable or Disable the
timer by setting the MSB.
You can change the big directly by set-
ting the register value (such as setting
to #100) or you can change the value
of just the MSB using the O (set), Q
(clear) or / (toggle) bit commands. See
Command Types for more information
on these commands.
2C Idle Mode Countdown Timer (ms) 64 (#100) Action Command
Enable O(32)#-2147483648
Disable Q(32)#-2147483648
Toggle /(32)#-2147483648
Idle Mode is the time between the last
user interaction with the reader (button
press, etc.) or firmware interaction
(communications, etc.) and Standby
Mode. There are many user and firm-
ware events that will reset the timer.
Therefore, it may seem that the timer is
longer than the value set.
This state: Active (highest power
usage)
Next state: Idle
0: US English (without leading 0 in the
ALT _ Number)
1: ASCII (ALT+number) - universal
2: Custom (requires user to download
keyboard map)
3: US English (with leading 0 in the ALT
2D Keyboard Maps 0 + number for non-printable ASCII)
4: French Keyboard
5: German Keyboard
6: Japanese Keyboard
7: US English (with CTRL + char for
non-printable ASCII)

Serial Commands
The Reader will process up to this

number of codes per “read code”
event. If there are more than this many
Maximum Candidate Decodes Per
34 1 codes in the field of view and within tar-
Read
get tolerance, only the first ones will be
decoded. For fastest performance with
single codes, set to 1.
onds
35 Button Stay-Down Time (ms) 0 Keep processing the “read code”
events for this amount of time (act as if
the button stays down for this time)
Valid Range: 0 to 7FFFFFFF Frames
Number of frames captured and dis-
Number of Control Frames Before Pic-
36 0 carded before live picture to give the
ture Capture
gain control time to adjust.
Also see registers: 43, AC, AD, AE, AF
The specified event is posted upon
press of this button. The events are
defined below:
0: No Action
1: Keep Awake
2: Show Target
3: Read In Both Fields (Default)
39 Trigger 1 3
4: Default Event Selected By Hardware
5: Read In High Density field (FOI0).
6: Read In Wide field (FOI1).
7: Take Picture
8: Read In Most Recently Successful
Field
255: Idle
onds
2AF8 The maximum time during which a
40 Text Command Timeout (ms) complete text command from Host
(#11000)
must be received. (Pending text com-
mand data is discarded when the time-
out is exceeded.)

Appendices
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

0: Disabled
0 Text Commands
1: Enabled
0: Disabled
1 Suppress Echo
1: Enabled
Suppress 0: Disabled
2 Responses 1: Enabled
Disable Text 0: Disabled
Commands but
3 Enable Magic 1: Enabled
Sequence
Suppress URL 0: Disabled
4 Decode; See
Below 1: Enabled
41 Text Commands 8 Accept On Time- 0: Disabled
5 out 1: Enabled
Magic Sequence:
The Magic Sequence is the string
“;>PAx” where x is 1, 3, or 7 as defined
above. This would normally be used in
command text files, which would begin
with the text-command-on sequence
and end with the command to return to
this special mode. For example:
;>PA7
;any desired commands here
PA8
Suppress URL Decode:
For example, if enabled, P%418 will
not equal PA8. The % is not recog-
nized as an escape character
Accept On Timeout:

Serial Commands
0: Reader doesn’t wait for acknowl-

edge
1: Reader will retransmit data when
Host doesn’t acknowledge receipt
This setting is used in conjunction with
settings 1B and 42 to configure the
42 Expect Acknowledgement From Host 0 communication mode between stan-
dard “one-way” and “two-way” modes.
1B: 5 (USB Native)
08: 2 (packet mode)
Also see registers: 08, 1B
Valid Range: 0 to 64 (#100) Percent
0: Raw Image (No JPEG Compression)
43 JPEG Picture Quality (percent) 32 (#50) 1 To 100: JPEG Compression Quality
Percent
Also see registers: 36, AC, AD, AE, AF
45 Read Cycle Timeout 1F4 (#500) Valid Range: 0 to FFFF (#65535) ms
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value
Maxicode Decoding, 0: Disabled
0 Mode 0 1: Enabled
1 Mode 1 1: Enabled
2 Mode 2 1: Enabled
47 Maxicode Symbology 0
3 Mode 3 1: Enabled
4 Mode 4 1: Enabled
5 Mode 5 1: Enabled
6
Mode 6 1: Enabled
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

Codabar Checksum 0: Disabled
48 Codabar Checksum 0 0 Checking 1: Enabled
1 Strip Checksum from 0: Disabled

Output 1: Enabled

Appendices
0: Disabled
49 Code 39 Symbology 0 1: Enabled
Code 39 Full ASCII Decoding
0: Disabled
1: Enabled
4A Composite Codes 0
Composite Code Decoding
Also see register: D8
0: Disabled
4B Postal Code Symbology 0
1: Enabled
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

GS1 Expanded 0: Disabled
0 decoding 1: Enabled
GS1 Expanded 0: Disabled
1
Stacked decoding 1: Enabled
4C GS1 Symbology 1F (#31) GS1 Limited decod- 0: Disabled
2 ing 1: Enabled
GS1-14 and GS1-14 0: Disabled
3 Truncated decoding 1: Enabled
GS1-14 Stacked and 0: Disabled
GS1-14 Stacked
4 Omnidirectional 1: Enabled
decoding
0: Disabled
4D UPC Expansion 0 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 4E, 6A, 74
0: Disabled
4E UPC Supplemental 0 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 4D, 6A, 74

Serial Commands
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

0: Disabled
0 MSI Plessey
1: Enabled
0: Disabled
1: Enabled
1: 1 mod 10
2: mod 10
and mod 11
4F MSI Plessey Symbology 1 3: 2 mod 10
[3:1] Checksum
5: 1 mod 10
strip cs
6: mod 10
and mod 11
strip cs
7: 2 mod 10
strip cs
0: Disabled
4 Improved Bounds
1: Enabled
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

0: Disabled
50 Aztec Symbology 1 0 Aztec decoding
1: Enabled
Inverse Aztec decod- 0: Disabled
1 ing 1: Enabled
Valid Range: 1 to 640 pixels

Decoder uses only the specified pixel
53 Decoder HD field (FOI0) Width 280 (#640)
width in the HD field (FOI0).
Also see registers: 54, 98, 99
54 Decoder HD field (FOI0) Height 3C0 (#960)
height in the HD field (FOI0).
0: Disabled
1: Send “r” packet on no-read (See “r”
packet in Packet Data.)
55 Notify Of Read Failure 0 0x100xx: post event on no-read, where
the lower 8 bits specify the event num-
ber. For example, 0x10009 to post
Event 0x09.

Appendices

59 Beep Duration 64 (#100) onds
Also see registers: 26, A7
66 Bypass Illumination 0 Valid Range: 0 to 64 (#100) percent
0: Disabled
6A UPC Symbology 1 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 4D, 4E, 74
0: Disabled
6B Code 39 Symbology 1 1: Enabled
Also see register: 70
0: Disabled
6C Code 93 Symbology 1
1: Enabled
0: Disabled
6D Code 128 Symbology 1
1: Enabled
0: Disabled
6E Interleaved 2 Of 5 Symbology 1 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 71, C9
0: Disabled
6F Codabar Symbology 1
1: Enabled
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value
Code 39 Checksum 0: Disabled
0 Checking
70 Code 39 Checksum 0 1: Enabled
Strip Checksum from 0: Disabled
1 Output 1: Enabled
Also see register: 6B
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value
Interleaved 2 of 5 0: Disabled
0 Checksum Checking 1: Enabled
71 Interleaved 2 Of 5 Checksum 0
Strip Checksum from 0: Disabled
1 Output 1: Enabled
Also see register: 6E, C9
0: Disabled
74 UPC Short Margin 1 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 4D, 4E, 6A
1: Settings unlocked
78 Settings Lock 1 3: Settings locked (except settings
Lock)

Serial Commands
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value

Trioptic Decoding, 0: Disabled
0 Normal Quiet Zones 1: Enabled
85 Trioptic Options 0 0: Disabled
Allow Short Quiet
1 Zones 1: Enabled
No Quiet Zones 0: Disabled
2 (requires firmware
version 3280+) 1: Enabled
Valid Range: (see register 39)

Motion detection is enabled by setting
register C4 to 0xF0.
This register is reset to 0 (disabled)
when register C4 is changed away
86 Motion Detection: Event 3 from 0xF0.
When motion is detected, this event is
posted.
See register 39 for list of events.
Also see registers: 20E
Valid Range: 0 to FFFF (#65535) ms
87 Motion Sensitivity 5
Also see registers: 86, 20E
0: Beep indicating decode before
JavaScript processing
1: Call JavaScript without beeping to
indicate decode
Normally, the Reader beeps as soon as
decodes are read and processes them
via JavaScript if necessary after the
93 Suppress Beep On Decode 0 beep. To enable JavaScript to control
the beep feedback, change this setting
to 1; this will suppress the beep; the
JavaScript would typically beep if the
decode is valid or start another read
cycle if it isn’t.
This setting does not suppress beeps
for anything but a successful decode
event.
Decoder uses the pixels after the specified
98 Decoder HD field (FOI0) X Offset 0
pixel offset in the HD field (FOI0).

Appendices

99 Decoder HD field (FOI0) Y Offset 0
pixel offset in the HD field (FOI0).
9A Decoder Wide field (FOI1) X Offset 0
pixel offset in the Wide field (FOI1).
Also see registers: 9B, C7, C8
9B Decoder Wide field (FOI1) Y Offset 0
pixel offset in the Wide field (FOI1).
Also see registers: 9A, C7, C8
Valid Range: 0 to 7FFFFFFF Percent
For the Reader to accept a code, the
target dot must be within the code rect-
angle or in proximity to the symbol. The
nearness is defined as this percentage
of the code’s smaller dimension. For
9D Target Tolerance (percent) 640 (#1600)
example, with a 10 x 20 mm code and
a setting of 150 (%), the target dot must
be within 15 mm of the code.
Any value over 1000 is considered infi-
nite tolerance, and no target checking
is performed.
onds
The Reader will pause for this amount
A2 Default Event Delay (ms) 64 (#100) of time between each posting of the
default event (used with “continuous
read” mode).
Also see register C4
onds
A7 Beep Pulse Separation (ms) 64 (#100) The spacing in milliseconds between
beeps.
Also see registers: 26, 59
Specify left edge of window used with
“take picture.” The position and size
are relative to the virtual image (i.e.,
not the rotated physical image).
Wide field (FOI1) Picture Window Left
AC 0 Note: Overall image is 960 pixels by
Position
1280 pixels. Upper half is Wide field
(FIO1); lower half is High Density
(FOI0).
Also see registers: 36, 43, AD, AE, AF

Serial Commands
Specify upper edge of window used

with “take picture.” The position and
size are relative to the virtual image
(i.e., not the rotated physical image).
Wide field (FOI1) Picture Window
AD 0 Note: Overall image is 960 pixels by
Upper Position
(FOI0).
Also see registers: 36, 43, AC, AE, AF
Specify width of window used with
AE 500 (#1280) Note: Overall image is 960 pixels by
Width
(FOI0).
Also see registers: 36, 43, AC, AD, AF
Specify height of window used with
AF 3C0 (#960) Note: Overall image is 960 pixels by
Height
(FOI0).
Also see registers: 36, 43, AC, AD, AE
onds
B0 Target On Before Picture (ms) 3E8 (#1000)
0: Target off before picture capture
Also see registers: 36, 43, AC, AD, AE
Note: The value 1 is defined as the
Number Of Retries Before Reader original send attempt but no resends.
B3 3
Gives Up Sending Packet
Valid Range: 1 to FF (#255) Millisec-
onds
BF USB Keyboard Poll Rate A (#10)
The Host is requested to poll the USB
device at the specified period.

Appendices
The default value of FF (idle event) dis-

ables “continuous scanning”. Use one
of the read events to enable “continu-
ous scanning.” See setting 39 for the
list of events.
C4 Default (Continuous) Event FF (#255)
When no button is pressed but the
Reader is still in active mode (i.e., not
power-saving idle or sleep modes), this
event will be posted.
Valid Range: 1 to 280 (#640) pixels
C7 Decoder Wide field (FOI1) Width 280 (#640)
height in the Wide field (FOI1).
Also see registers: 9A, 9B, C8
Valid Range: 1 to 3C0 (#960) pixels
C8 Decoder Wide field (FOI1) Height 3C0 (#960)
height in the Wide field (FOI1).
Also see registers: 9A, 9B, C7
FFFFFFFC: 2 and 4 digit disabled
FFFFFFFD: 2 digit enabled
C9 Interleaved 2 Of 5 Lengths 0
FFFFFFFE: 4 digit enabled
Also see registers: 6E, 71
0: Disabled
CF Macro PDF417 Symbology 0 1: Enabled
Also see registers: 29, 2A
0: Accept any composite element
Composite Codes Require Both Ele- 1: Only accept composite codes if both
D8 1
ments elements could be decoded.
Also see register 4A
Maximum Reader To Host Packet Data 4000
EB Valid Range: 1 to 4000 (#16384)
Size (#16384)
onds
When Expect Acknowledgement From
Host (register 42) is nonzero, the
Host Acknowledgement Time Limit Reader will wait up to Host Acknowl-
EC F (#15)
Multiplier (ms) edgement Time Limit (register 37) +
dataSize * Host Acknowledgement
Time Limit Multiplier (register EC) milli-
seconds to receive an acknowledge-
ment from the Host.

Serial Commands
0: Don’t prefix with AIM identifier

Prefix Decode Result With AIM Sym- 1: Prefix decode result with ISO/IEC
ED 0
bology Identifiers standard 15424/AIM symbology identi-
fier
0: Disabled
F0 Allow Code 128 Short Margin 1
1: Enabled
0: Disallow short margin Code 39 sym-
bol decoding
F6 Code 39 Short Margin 1
1: Allow short margin Code 39 symbol
decoding
0: Disabled
F8 PharmaCode Symbology 0
1: Enabled
Valid Range: Each 8 bits can be 04 to
10 (#16)
1004 Bit 0 – Bit 7: min bar count, 04 to 10
F9 PharmaCode Bar Count
(#4100) (#16)
Bit 9 – Bit 15: max bar count, 04 to 10
(#16)
Valid Range: F (#15) to 1FFFE
FA PharmaCode Min Value F (#15)
(#131070)
1FFFE Valid Range: F (#15) to 1FFFE
FB PharmaCode Max Value
(#131070) (#131070)
0: Disabled
1: Enabled
10B Enable JavaScript 1 When set to 0 installed scripts are dis-
abled. This can be useful from boot
mode for recovering the unit if a non-
responsive script is installed.
0: Normal effort
1: Increase effort
10D Data Matrix Symbol Identification Effort 2 2: Max effort
Increases the decoder’s effort to find a
Data Matrix symbol in an image.
0: Disabled
1: Enabled
12C Data Matrix Improvement 1 Improves the decoding capability of the
Reader on low contrast or pixelated
Data Matrix bar codes

Appendices
Binary Dip Switch

Bit Controls Value
Hong Kong 2 of 5 0: Disabled
0 decoding 1: Enabled
12D Hong Kong 2 Of 5 Symbology 0
2
Allowed 1: Enabled
0: Disabled
1: Enabled
137 PDF417 Handle Invalid Shift 0
Allows the decoding of PDF417 bar
codes that were improperly encoded
Valid Range: 0 to 7FFFFFF Millisec-
onds
Consecutive duplicate codes (i.e.,
159 Ignore Duplicate Code (ms) 0 codes that contain the same data) are
blocked for this amount of time (in milli-
seconds). 0 turns off blocking of dupli-
cate codes.
Binary Dip Switch
Bit Controls Value
0: None
1-0 Technique 1: Erode
1D7 Morphology 0
2: Dilate
0: Small 3x3
3-2 Size 1: Med. 5x5
2: Large 7x7
0: Disabled
1D8 BC412 Status 1 1: Enabled
0: Disabled
1D9 UPC/EAN Status 1 1: Enabled

Serial Commands
Binary Dip Switch

Bit Controls Value
0: Forward
0 Direction
1: Reverse
Fixed Symbol 0: Disabled
1 Length Status 1: Enabled
0 = Mixed
1 = All Narrow
1DC Pharmacode Settings 28A40 3-2 Bar Width Status 2 = All Wide
3 = Use
Fixed
Threshold
Minimum Number of 4-10 (#16)
8-4 Bars Value (Default 4)
Fixed Symbol 1-10 (16)
13-9 Length Value (Default 5)
0-FFFF
29- Fixed Bar Width (#65535)
14 Threshold (Default 10)
1EA Good Read Duration (ms) C8 (#200) Valid Range: 0 to 7FFFFFF Milliseconds
1EB Decoder Data Matrix Module Size 32 (#50)
onds
A built-in delay of 200 ms prevents
motion detect to detect motion right
20E Motion Detection: Start Delay (ms) 0 after a successful decode. This allows
the bar code to be removed without
triggering a new decode. Use this to
add an additional delay amount.

Appendices
CRB System
The CRB system is a convenient method for creating and maintaining a set of commands
that can be easily sent to the reader. These CRB files can be created in any text editor
with the file extension of .crb. The CRB system accepts all of the valid text commands.
The most commonly used commands are J, N, P, and ~. There should be one command
per line. The CRB file may contain empty lines and comments as well.
The .crb files can be sent directly to the reader using the normal file transfer. As CRB files
are just a list of text commands, they can also be sent by a serial terminal program. Note:
if using a serial terminal program the reader will first need to be set to “text command
mode”; see Text Commands.
You can request a copy of all reader configuration settings in .crb format.
Example CRC16 C Code

CRC16.h:
// crc16.h
#ifndef crc16_h
#define crc16_h
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stddef.h>
#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C" {
#endif
typedef uint16_t crc_t;
crc_t crc
( crc_t initialCrc
, const unsigned char* bufPtr
, size_t length
);
#ifdef __cplusplus
} // extern "C"
#endif
#endif
/*eof*/

Serial Commands
CRC16.c:
// crc16.c
#include <crc16.h>
crc_t crc
( crc_t initialCrc
, const unsigned char* p
, size_t n
)
{
enum
{
crcBits = 16,
charBits = 8,
diffBits = crcBits - charBits
};
crc_t c = initialCrc;
#include "crc16tab.h"
while( n-- )
c = (c << charBits) ^ crcTab[( c >> diffBits ) ^ *p++];
return c;
}
/*eof*/

Appendices
CRC16tab.h:
/* crc16tab.h
* crc16 table of partial remainders generated by
* mkcrctab.c with polynomial 1021.
* included only from within crc() function in file crc16.c
*/
static const crc_t crcTab[] =
{
0x0000, 0x1021, 0x2042, 0x3063, 0x4084, 0x50a5, 0x60c6, 0x70e7,
0x8108, 0x9129, 0xa14a, 0xb16b, 0xc18c, 0xd1ad, 0xe1ce, 0xf1ef,
0x1231, 0x0210, 0x3273, 0x2252, 0x52b5, 0x4294, 0x72f7, 0x62d6,
0x9339, 0x8318, 0xb37b, 0xa35a, 0xd3bd, 0xc39c, 0xf3ff, 0xe3de,
0x2462, 0x3443, 0x0420, 0x1401, 0x64e6, 0x74c7, 0x44a4, 0x5485,
0xa56a, 0xb54b, 0x8528, 0x9509, 0xe5ee, 0xf5cf, 0xc5ac, 0xd58d,
0x3653, 0x2672, 0x1611, 0x0630, 0x76d7, 0x66f6, 0x5695, 0x46b4,
0xb75b, 0xa77a, 0x9719, 0x8738, 0xf7df, 0xe7fe, 0xd79d, 0xc7bc,
0x48c4, 0x58e5, 0x6886, 0x78a7, 0x0840, 0x1861, 0x2802, 0x3823,
0xc9cc, 0xd9ed, 0xe98e, 0xf9af, 0x8948, 0x9969, 0xa90a, 0xb92b,
0x5af5, 0x4ad4, 0x7ab7, 0x6a96, 0x1a71, 0x0a50, 0x3a33, 0x2a12,
0xdbfd, 0xcbdc, 0xfbbf, 0xeb9e, 0x9b79, 0x8b58, 0xbb3b, 0xab1a,
0x6ca6, 0x7c87, 0x4ce4, 0x5cc5, 0x2c22, 0x3c03, 0x0c60, 0x1c41,
0xedae, 0xfd8f, 0xcdec, 0xddcd, 0xad2a, 0xbd0b, 0x8d68, 0x9d49,
0x7e97, 0x6eb6, 0x5ed5, 0x4ef4, 0x3e13, 0x2e32, 0x1e51, 0x0e70,
0xff9f, 0xefbe, 0xdfdd, 0xcffc, 0xbf1b, 0xaf3a, 0x9f59, 0x8f78,
0x9188, 0x81a9, 0xb1ca, 0xa1eb, 0xd10c, 0xc12d, 0xf14e, 0xe16f,
0x1080, 0x00a1, 0x30c2, 0x20e3, 0x5004, 0x4025, 0x7046, 0x6067,
0x83b9, 0x9398, 0xa3fb, 0xb3da, 0xc33d, 0xd31c, 0xe37f, 0xf35e,
0x02b1, 0x1290, 0x22f3, 0x32d2, 0x4235, 0x5214, 0x6277, 0x7256,
0xb5ea, 0xa5cb, 0x95a8, 0x8589, 0xf56e, 0xe54f, 0xd52c, 0xc50d,
0x34e2, 0x24c3, 0x14a0, 0x0481, 0x7466, 0x6447, 0x5424, 0x4405,
0xa7db, 0xb7fa, 0x8799, 0x97b8, 0xe75f, 0xf77e, 0xc71d, 0xd73c,
0x26d3, 0x36f2, 0x0691, 0x16b0, 0x6657, 0x7676, 0x4615, 0x5634,
0xd94c, 0xc96d, 0xf90e, 0xe92f, 0x99c8, 0x89e9, 0xb98a, 0xa9ab,
0x5844, 0x4865, 0x7806, 0x6827, 0x18c0, 0x08e1, 0x3882, 0x28a3,
0xcb7d, 0xdb5c, 0xeb3f, 0xfb1e, 0x8bf9, 0x9bd8, 0xabbb, 0xbb9a,
0x4a75, 0x5a54, 0x6a37, 0x7a16, 0x0af1, 0x1ad0, 0x2ab3, 0x3a92,
0xfd2e, 0xed0f, 0xdd6c, 0xcd4d, 0xbdaa, 0xad8b, 0x9de8, 0x8dc9,
0x7c26, 0x6c07, 0x5c64, 0x4c45, 0x3ca2, 0x2c83, 0x1ce0, 0x0cc1,
0xef1f, 0xff3e, 0xcf5d, 0xdf7c, 0xaf9b, 0xbfba, 0x8fd9, 0x9ff8,
0x6e17, 0x7e36, 0x4e55, 0x5e74, 0x2e93, 0x3eb2, 0x0ed1, 0x1ef0,
};
/*eof*/

Communications Protocol
Appendix E — Communications Protocol

Communications Protocol Command Table
Control Characters
Protocol Command Hex
(Entered in menu or Effect of Command
(Mnemonic displayed on menu) Value
serial command)
RES ^D 04 Reset
REQ Ê 05 Request
EOT ^D 04 Reset
STX ^B 02 Start of Text
ETX ^C 03 End of Text
ACK ^F 06 Acknowledge
NAK Û 15 Negative Acknowledge
XON ^Q 11 Begin Transmission
XOFF ^S 13 Stop Transmission

Appendices
Appendix F — ASCII Table

Dec Hex Mne Ctrl Dec Hex Ch Dec Hex Ch Dec Hex Ch
00 00 NUL ^@ 32 20 SP 64 40 @ 96 60 `
01 01 SOH Â 33 21 ! 65 41 A 97 61 a
02 02 STX ^B 34 22 “ 66 42 B 98 62 b
03 03 ETX ^C 35 23 # 67 43 C 99 63 c
04 04 EOT ^D 36 24 $ 68 44 D 100 64 d
05 05 ENQ Ê 37 25 % 69 45 E 101 65 e
06 06 ACK ^F 38 26 & 70 46 F 102 66 f
07 07 BEL ^G 39 27 ' 71 47 G 103 67 g
08 08 BS ^H 40 28 ( 72 48 H 104 68 h
09 09 HT Î 41 29 ) 73 49 I 105 69 i
10 0A LF ^J 42 2A * 74 4A J 106 6A j
11 0B VT ^K 43 2B + 75 4B K 107 6B k
12 0C FF ^L 44 2C , 76 4C L 108 6C l
13 0D CR ^M 45 2D - 77 4D M 109 6D m
14 0E SO ^N 46 2E . 78 4E N 110 6E n
15 0F SI Ô 47 2F / 79 4F O 111 6F o
16 10 DLE ^P 48 30 0 80 50 P 112 70 p
17 11 DC1 ^Q 49 31 1 81 51 Q 113 71 q
18 12 DC2 ^R 50 32 2 82 52 R 114 72 r
19 13 DC3 ^S 51 33 3 83 53 S 115 73 s
20 14 DC4 ^T 52 34 4 84 54 T 116 74 t
21 15 NAK Û 53 35 5 85 55 U 117 75 u
22 16 SYN ^V 54 36 6 86 56 V 118 76 v
23 17 ETB ^W 55 37 7 87 57 W 119 77 w
24 18 CAN ^X 56 38 8 88 58 X 120 78 x
25 19 EM ^Y 57 39 9 89 59 Y 121 79 y
26 1A SUB ^Z 58 3A : 90 5A Z 122 7A z
27 1B ESC ^[ 59 3B ; 91 5B [ 123 7B {
28 1C FS ^\ 60 3C < 92 5C \ 124 7C |
29 1D GS ^] 61 3D = 93 5D ] 125 7D }
30 1E RS ^^ 62 3E > 94 5E ^ 126 7E ~
31 1F US ^_ 63 3F ? 95 5F _ 127 7F D

Maintenance
Appendix G — Maintenance
The HS-21 and HS-41X Handheld Readers require only a minimum of maintenance to operate.
Cleaning the HS-21 and HS-41X Handheld Readers
The following substances are approved for cleaning of the HS-21 and HS-41X.
Product Chemical Content
Alcohol Wipes Isopropyl Alcohol
CaviWipes® Disinfecting Towelettes and Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl
CaviCide® Ether
Isopropyl Alcohol, n-Alkyl Dimethyl-benzyl
Ammonium Chloride, n-Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl
Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes Ammonium Chloride, Alkyl Polyglucoside,
Propylene Glycol Propyl Ether
Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Chloride,
Clorox® Bleach Solution (10% Clorox Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide,
bleach, 90% tap water)
Sodium Polyacrylate
Formula 409® Glass and Surface n-Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride,
Cleaner n-Propoxypropanol
Sani-Cloth® HB, Super Sani-Cloth®
Germicidal, Sani-Cloth® Plus Germicidal Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/Chlorides
Disposable Wipes
n-Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride,
Virex® II Disinfectant Cleaner Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride
Gentle dish soap and water

Appendices
Appendix H — Glossary of Terms

Aberration — The failure of an optical lens to produce an exact point-to-point correspondence
between the object and its resulting image. Various types are chromatic, spherical, coma,
astigmatism and distortion.
Absorption — The loss of light of certain wavelengths as it passes through a material and
is converted to heat or other forms of energy. (–)
Active Illumination — Lighting an area with a light source coordinated with the acquisition
of an image. Strobed flash tubes and pulsed lasers are examples.
ADC — See Analog-to-Digital Converter.
A/D Converter — See Analog-to-Digital Converter.
AGC — See Automatic Gain Control.
Ambient Light — Light which is present in the environment of the front end of a reader
and generated from outside sources. This light, unless used for actual illumination, will be
treated as background noise by the reader.
Analog — A smooth, continuous voltage or current signal or function whose magnitude
(value) is the information.
Analog-to-Digital Converter (A/D Converter or ADC) — A device that converts an
analog voltage or current signal to a discrete series of digitally encoded numbers (signal)
for computer processing.
Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) — An integrated circuit that is customized
for a particular kind of use, rather than general use. All vision system elements including
firmware can be integrated into one ASIC.
Automatic Gain Control (AGC) — Adjustment to signal strength that seeks to maintain a
constant level regardless of the distance between a reader and symbol.
Auxiliary Port — RS-232 connection to an auxiliary terminal or device for remote viewing.
Baud Rate — The number of discrete signal events per second; bits per second.
CCD — See Charge-Coupled Device.
Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) — A semiconductor device with an array of light-sensitive
elements that converts light images into electrical signals.
Check Character — A Modulus 43 or Modulus 10 character that is added to encoded
symbol data for additional data integrity.
Connector — A plug or socket on a device or cable providing in/out connectivity for various
circuits and pins.
Concentrator — Intermediary device that relays data from readers to a host and commands
from the host to the readers or other devices.
DAC — See Digital-to-Analog Converter.
Daisy Chain — Linkage of primary and secondary readers allowing data to be relayed up
to the host via auxiliary port connections.
Decode — A Good Read. The successful interpretation and output of the information
encoded in a symbol.
Default — Restores ROM or flash settings and initializes serial commands.

Glossary of Terms
Delimited — A delimited command or field is bracketed by predefined characters.
Decode Rate — The number of good reads per second ahieved by a reader.
Darkfield Illumination — Lighting of objects, surfaces, or particles at very shallow or low
angles, so that light does not directly enter a reader’s optical hardware.
Depth-of-Field — The in-focus range of a reader. Measured from the distance behind an
object to the distance in front of the object with all objects appearing in focus.
Diffused Lighting — Scattered soft lighting from a wide variety of angles used to eliminate
shadows and specular glints from profiled, highly reflective surfaces.
Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) — A VLSI circuit used to convert digitally processed
images to analog for display on a monitor.
Digital Signal Processor (DSP) — A VLSI chip designed for ultra-high-speed arithmetic
processing.
Discrete I/O — Inputs and outputs characterized by discrete signal transitions from one
voltage level to another so that digital switching can occur.
Direct Memory Access (DMA) — A capability provided by some computer bus architectures
that allows data to be sent directly to memory from an attached device.
DSP — See Digital Signal Processor.
EPROM — See Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory.
Embedded Memory — Onboard memory device such as EPROM or flash.
End of Read Cycle — The time or condition at which the reader stops expecting symbol
information to decode.
Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) — A memory chip that retains
data when its power supply is turned off; “non-volatile memory”.
External Edge — Allows a read cycle to be initiated by a trigger signal from an object
detector when it detects the appearance of an object (rising edge). The read cycle ends
with a good read, a timeout, or a new trigger.
External Level — Allows a read cycle to be initiated by a trigger signal from an object
detector. The read cycle ends when the object moves out of the detector’s range.
Falling Edge — A change of state (to inactive) associated with a level trigger.
Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) — A semiconductor device containing programmable
interconnects and logic components.
Firmware — Software hard-coded in non-volatile memory (ROM), and closely tied to
specific pieces of hardware.
Fixed Symbol Length — Increases data integrity by ensuring that only a symbol length
will be accepted.
Focal Distance — In optics, the distance from the lens to the focal plane.
Focal Plane — Usually found at the image sensor, it is a plane perpendicular to the lens
axis at the point of focus (–).
Focus — Any given point in an image at which light converges; the focal point.
FPGA — See Field-Programmable Gate Array.
Full Duplex — A communications system in which signals can travel simultaneously
between devices.

Appendices
Good Read — A decode. The successful scanning and decoding of the information
encoded in a bar code symbol.
Half Duplex — A communications system in which signals can travel between devices in
both directions, but not simultaneously.
Host — A computer, PLC, or other device that is used to execute commands and process
data and discrete signals.
Image Sensor — A device that converts a visual image to an electrical signal; a CCD, for
example.
Initialize — Implement serial configuration commands into the reader’s active memory.
Input — A channel or communications line. Decoded data or a discrete signal that is
received by a device.
Ladder Orientation — A linear symbol orientation in which the bars are parallel to the
symbol’s direction of travel.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) — A semiconductor device that emits light when conducting
current.
Lens — A transparent piece of material with curved surfaces which either converge or
diverge light rays.
Multidrop — A communications protocol for networking two or more readers or other
devices with a concentrator (or controller) and characterized by the use of individual
device addresses and the RS-485 standard.
Normally Closed — A discrete output state that is only active when open.
Normally Open — A discrete output state that is only active when closed.
Object Plane — An imaginary plane in the field of view, focused by a reader’s optical
system at the corresponding image plane on the sensor.
Output — A channel or communications line. Data or discrete signals that are transmitted
or displayed by a device.
Parity — An error detection routine in which one data bit in each character is set to 1 or 0
so that the total number of 1 bits in the data field is even or odd.
Picket Fence Orientation — A linear symbol orientation in which the bars are perpendicular
to the symbol’s direction of travel.
Pitch — Rotation of a linear or 2D symbol around an axis parallel to the symbol length on
the substrate. See the illustration below.
Skew axis
Tilt
axis
Pitch
axis
Scan line

Glossary of Terms
PLC — See Programmable Logic Controller.
Port — Logical circuit for data entry and exit. (One or more ports may be included within a
single connector.)
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) — An electronic device used in industrial automation
environments such as factory assembly lines and automotive manufacturing facilities.
Protocol — The rules for communication between devices, providing a means to control
the orderly flow of information between linked devices.
Random Access Memory (RAM) — A data storage system used in computers, composed
of integrated circuits that allow access to stored data in any sequence without movement
of physical parts.
Read Cycle — A programmed period of time or condition during which a reader will accept
symbol input.
Read-Only Memory (ROM) — A data storage medium used in computers and other
electronics, primarily used to distribute firmware.
Skew — Rotation of a linear or 2D symbol around an axis parallel to the symbol height on
the substrate. See the illustration under the definition of Pitch.
Substrate — The surface upon which a symbol is printed, stamped, or etched.
Symbol Transitions — The transition of bars and spaces on a symbol, used to detect the
presence of a symbol on an object.
Symbology — A symbol type, such as Code 39 or Code 128, with special rules to define
the widths and positions of bars and spaces to represent specific numeric or alphanumeric
information.
Tilt — Rotation of a linear or 2D symbol around an axis perpendicular to the substrate.
See the illustration under the definition of Pitch.
Trigger — A signal, transition, or character string that initiates a read cycle.
Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) — The creation of integrated circuits by combining
thousands of transistor-based circuits on a single chip.
VLSI — See Very Large-Scale Integration.

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HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader

P/N 84-100052 Rev B

Latest Manual Version

Microscan Systems, Inc.

ii HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual iii

iv HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

About the HS-21 and HS-41X Handheld Readers

About This Manual

Statement of Agency Compliance

Check Required Hardware ........................................................................................................... 1-2

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 1-1

Check Required Hardware

6’ USB Straight Cable 8’ RS-232 Coiled Cable

Changing Cable and Communications Interface

1-2 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Installation Steps for USB

Read the Save Settings symbol.

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 1-3

Installation Steps for RS-232

Read the Save Settings symbol.

1-4 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Minimum System Requirements

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 1-5

1-6 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Select Interface and Connect to Reader

Click the Show

The Select Device dialog will then reappear:

Reader ID number should

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 1-7

Click the Show

1-8 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Configure the Reader

• Click the EZ Mode button to return to the EZ Mode view.

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 1-9

Save Changes in ESP

3. Place your cursor in the

4. Left-click again on the 5. Right-click on the open

1-10 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 2-1

Enter App Mode to

Click Start to find the test

2-2 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Click this icon to return to Click here to open the Imager,

Click on tabs in this row to

Click the Parameters icon to

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 2-3

1. Left click on the +/-

4. Left click again on the open screen to complete the

In this example, the command for

2-4 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 2-5

2-6 HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual

Preferences > General Tab

The Toolbar Style

Reload Last File

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 2-7

Show Non-Printable Characters

HS-21/HS-41X Handheld Reader User Manual 2-9