| 1、Comparison between 2D barcode and 1D barcode |
| Barcode type |
Information density |
Information capacity |
Information type |
Error correction function |
Dependence on database |
Nature |
| 1D |
Low |
Small |
Numbers, English |
Yes |
Must depend on database or communication network |
Object label & index |
| 2D |
High |
Big |
Numbers, English, Chinese, pictures, voice and other binary information |
No |
No depend on database or communication network |
Description on objects |
|
 |
 |
| 1D Barcode |
CM 2D Barcode |
|
| 2、Comparison between CM code and PDF417 & QR codes |
| If compared with PDF417 and QR codes, CM is obviously more appreciated due to its 32K of capacity. In the fields of biological identification and digital documentation, images, fingerprints and large amount of text need be saved into 2D barcodes, thus storage capacity of 2D barcodes has been a critical factor. Usually compression technologies are required for PDF417 and QR to handle normal image and fingerprint biological identification, which not only makes application more complicated, but also results in distortion after compression. |
| 2D barcode |
QR |
PDF417 |
CM |
| Max capacity |
3 KB |
1 KB |
32 KB |
| Error correction level |
Levels 1~4 |
Levels 0~8 |
Levels 1~8 |
| Barcode shape |
Square only |
Any rectangle |
Any rectangle |
| Chinese encoding efficiency |
Normal |
Low |
High |
| Savable information |
Text, symbols and small images |
Text, symbols and simple images |
Text, symbols, colorful pictures and even voice |
| Photoelectrical sensor (core part of a reader) |
Made in Japan |
Made in Japan |
Made in China |
| Intellectual property rights |
Japan |
US |
China |
|
| To obtain a specific impression on their capacities, we can have a direct comparison on how much area PDF417 and CM codes respectively need to save the same information. |
 |
| PDF417 and CM 2D codes saving 20 numbers |
 |
| PDF417 and CM 2D codes saving 200 numbers |
 |
| PDF417 and CM 2D codes saving 2,000 numbers |
| Scale: 5.2:1 |
|
| 3、Comparison between GM code and Data Matrix, PDF417 & QR codes |
| GM, Data Matrix, PDF417 and QR are all of the general type of 2D barcodes, whose technical specifications are as follows: |
| 2D barcode |
Data Matrix |
QR |
PDF417 |
GM |
| Layout |
Matrix |
Matrix |
Layers (1D layout) |
Matrix |
| Max capacity |
1.5KB |
3 KB |
1 KB |
2 KB |
| Readable direction |
Full direction |
Full direction |
Upward/downward |
360o full direction |
| Image “dead point” |
Yes (no tarnishing for positioning image) |
Yes (no tarnishing for positioning image) |
Yes (no tarnishing for positioning image) |
No |
| Chinese encoding efficiency |
Bad (16bit) |
Bad (16bit) |
Bad (16bit) |
Good (13bit) |
| Photoelectrical sensor (core part of a reader) |
Made in Japan or US |
Made in Japan |
Made in Japan or US |
Made in China |
| Intellectual property rights |
US |
Japan |
US |
China |
| Sample picture |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| It has been disclosed from the above table that GM code is of stronger tarnishing and distortion resistance, much competitive in the object distribution application. |
| 4、Comparison between 2D barcode and other automatic identification technologies |
| Information media |
Magnetic card |
OCR identification |
Biological identification |
RFID |
2D barcode |
| Identification speed |
0.3－2s |
4－8s |
1－5s |
0.3－0.5s |
0.3－1s |
| Bit error rate |
Up to life of magnetic media |
1/ 1,000 |
1/300 |
Up to noise and angle |
1/1,000,000 |
| Technical advantage |
Portable and data rewritable |
Quick in image and symbol operation |
Non- counterfeitable |
Quick and batch processing |
Quick and accurate |
| Print cost |
Intermediate |
Low |
High |
Very high |
Very low (only ink cost) |
| Sample |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
