Han Xin Code
Han Xin Code is a two-dimensional, variable-size matrix symbology that was designed in 2007 specifically to encode Simplified Chinese characters in addition to all ASCII characters and numeric digits. The symbol consists of an array of square modules that are arranged in a square pattern. It has also been called Chinese Sensible. GS1 China owns and maintains this symbology.
With minimum error correction levels, Han Xin Code can encode up to 2,174 common Chinese characters, 3,261 binary bytes, 4,350 ASCII characters, or 7,827 numeric characters. Multiple data types can be encoded in the same symbol.
Han Xin Code is defined in AIMD-015 Bar code symbology specification - Han Xin Code.
The symbol comprises the following elements:
The finder pattern consists of four chevron-shaped position detection patterns, one in each corner of the symbol.
The alignment pattern, which is present only in version 4 and larger symbols, helps the decoding software re-synchronize in case of slight distortion of the code. The pattern consists of a set of zigzag lines that traverse the symbol.
This symbology supports the following characters in the following modes:
Numeric mode: Includes all numeric digits (0-9)
Text mode: Includes two submodes that can encode data from the common symbols that are defined in ISO/IEC 8859 Information technology - 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets
Binary byte mode: Includes data that is encoded at 8 bits per character
Chinese characters mode: Includes characters that are encoded in accordance with Chinese National Standard GB 18030 Information Technology - Chinese coded character set; four submodes are associated with the Chinese character set
It is possible to switch between the different modes and submodes and to use any combination of them in a single Han Xin Code symbol.
Han Xin Code uses the Reed-Solomon algorithm for error correction. Four selectable levels of error correction are available, which enables the barcode to be read even if up to 30 percent of the code is damaged.
Han Xin Code has 84 possible sizes, referred to as version 1, version 2, and so on through version 84. Version 1 (the smallest) is 23 x 23 modules, and version 84 (the largest) is 189 x 189 modules.
The quiet zone that surrounds the symbol must be at least three modules wide.
Symbol Structure