actidata Bar Code Label Specification for LTO Ultrium Cartridges

Transcription

1 actidata Bar Code Label Specification for LTO Ultrium Cartridges 1

2 Contents Introduction" page 3 Barcode Label Data page 3 Human Readable Text page 4 Encodation page 4 Quiet Zones page 4 Optical Specification page 4. Physical Parameters page 6-7 Volume Identifier Formats page 8 2

3 Introduction This document is intended to provide a functional specification (i.e. barcode label data, encodation, quiet zones, optical specification, physical parameters, volume identifier formats) for the barcode label used on cartridges in actidata actilib LTO Ultrium libraries. Furthermore, the format and location of the human readable characters are specified in this document. The requirements stated herein are defined to standardize the labels and allow users the option of purchasing or printing their own labels. actidata actilib LTO Ultrium libraries use labels based on the bar code symbology of USS-39. A description and definition can be obtained from the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) specification Uniform Symbol Specification (USS-39) and the ANSI MH10.8M-1993 ANSI Barcode specification. Barcode Label Data LTO Ultrium tape cartridges require an eight-character label. The barcode data string shall consist of a start character, eight alphanumeric characters, and the stop character. The start/stop character always occurs as the first and last character in a complete barcode and is represented in the human readable text by the * character. The start/stop characters are preceded and followed by quiet zones. The first six (6) characters shall identify the cartridge volume and may be any combination of upper case A-Z or 0-9 (for example, XYZ789). The last two (2) characters refer to the LTO Ultrium cartridge media type (i.e. L for LTO Ultrium and 1 for tape cartridge generation or drive manufacturer-unique identifier). No characters other than alpha A-Z or numeric 0-9 are allowed. 3

4 Human Readable Text The human readable text must not interfere or intrude into the area defined for the barcode in any way. The color of the characters and the background behind these human readable characters is by customer definition. Encodation The description and format of start characters, identifier characters and the stop character is described in the AIM Uniform Symbol USS-39 specification. Quiet Zones Areas immediately preceding the start character and following the stop character that contain no markings and are free of any extraneous marks are referred to as "quiet zones". They are quiet in terms of the scanning signal produced. They shall not have any printing or reflective properties that could cause spurious reflections. Please consult the AIM Uniform Symbol USS-39 specification for further details. Optical Specification The following optical specifications shall apply for the bar code labels: The print contrast of the Mcbeth PCMII shall be calibrated using the white calibration standard. Set the filter select switch in position A for all calibration and measurements. The reflectivity of the white background, RW, shall be defined as the reflectivity measured in the center of narrow spaces using the Mcbeth PCMII print contrast meter. The RW shall be between 70% and 85%. This measurement should avoid isolated print defects and edge roughness. 4

5 An area anywhere within the white background in which the reflectivity is less than 65% is defined as a spot. No spot may be greater than inches (0.102 mm) enclosed diameter. No two spots may be within 0.01 inches (0.254 mm) of each other. The number of spots in the bar code area per label shall be limited to a maximum of five (5). The reflectivity of the black areas, RB, may be measured anywhere within any black area on the bar code. The print contrast signal, PCS, shall be defined as (RW-RB)/RW and is to be measured using the Mcbeth PCMII print contrast meter. PCS shall be 0.85 minimum. The PCS measurement should avoid isolated print defects and edge roughness. An area within a black area where the PCS is less than 0.85 is defined as a void. Voids must not be greater than inches (0.102 mm) enclosed diameter. No two voids must be closer to each other than 0.01 inches (0.254 mm). The number of voids in the bar code area per label shall be limited to a maximum of five (5). Additional optical requirements and measurement techniques are included in the AIM Uniform Symbol USS-39 specification. 5

6 Physical Parameters The following figure shows the physical parameters of the bar code label. Dimensions are given in inches (with millimeters in parentheses). The bar code label dimension specifications are provided in the following table. The LTO Ultrium label dimensions are derived on the basis of the AIM USS-39 specification. 6

7 Item Specification Dimension 1 Symbol height 0.44 inches (11.1 mm) minimum as measured to the inside of the edge roughness. Note: The edge roughness shall be defined as the transition encountered as a horizontal line is moved vertically from all black to all white. The bar code edge shall be defined as the edge of all printed area attached to the bar. 2 Wide to narrow ratio 1: Narrow element width inches / inches (0.432 mm +0.03/ mm) 4 Nominal width of wide spaces and bars inches (1.188 mm) 5 Inter character gap inches / inches (0.432 mm +0.03/ mm) 6 Bar code element width maximum 7 Quiet zone at the beginning and end of printed bar code string Measured to the outside of the edge roughness (see item 1 for definition). Space width is then the distance between bar maxima. 10 narrow width = 0.17 inches (4.32 mm) 8 Total bar code string Nominal inches ( mm) length (including quiet zones) 9 Bar code string direction May be printed in either direction on the label but must begin/end with a valid start/stop character (*) 10 Edge roughness a inches (0.038 mm) maximum 11 Tolerances 0.XXX± inches, 0.XX±.0.03 inches) (0.XXX± mm, 0.XX± mm) 12 Variation between all wide bars, white and black 13 Variation between all narrow bars, white and black Less than ± inches ( mm) Less than ± inches ( mm) 14 Print side Print the bar code string on the label so it is on the side of the label towards the hub 15 Label stock dimensions x inches (79 17 mm). It must fit within the label recess on the face of the cartridge without curling up on the sides or ends. 16 Minimum length for quiet Nominal inches ( mm) zones, start-stop and data characters 17 Minimum width No less than inches (1.5 mm) narrower than the cartridge label recess width 18 Corner cut inches (1.5 mm radius) 7

8 Volume Identifier Formats A volume identifier is an extra piece of information that is appended to the beginning of the data being barcoded. The volume identifier will be limited to the use of ASCII characters A-Z (41h-5Ah), 0-9 (30h-39h), and the combinations of CLN and DG{space} as described below. The prefix CLNvnnL1 shall only be used for cleaning cartridges. Whereas the v alphanumeric field will be used for the identification of a drive-unique cleaning cartridge, the nn alphanumeric field will be used to track individual cleaning cartridge activity (i.e. usage and life). When the cleaning of the drive is necessary, it will demand loading of the unique type cleaner cartridge. The prefix DG{space}vnnL1 will be used by diagnostic/service cartridges. If necessary, the v alphanumeric field is used to identify a drive-unique diagnostic cartridge. The nn will be an alphanumeric field to identify a specific diagnostic cartridge volume. The volume identifier field shall be composed of six (6) left-justified alphanumeric characters in accordance with SCSI-3 Medium Changer Commands (SMC) ANSI NCITS X. The media identifier characters Lg are controlled characters. The L shall designate the LTO Ultrium type of cartridge, whereas the following g (alphanumeric) shall designate the generation of the LTO Ultrium cartridge. End of document actidata GmbH Alter Hellweg 111 D Dortmund info@actidata.com 8