iQR Code
iQR Code was developed in 2011 by Denso Wave to be the successor to their QR Code. It features 80 percent higher data capacity and the option for a rectangular symbol. This barcode was designed for printing in small spaces. Like its predecessor, iQR Code efficiently encodes kanji characters.
iQR Code is defined in the Denso Wave SPQR-0004 iQR Code Specification document.
The symbol comprises the following elements:
The layout and number of finder, corner, timing, and alignment patterns depend on the size and shape of the symbol.
Data is stored in "modules" (square dots) in the data area as binary information. Each black module represents a binary 1, and each white module represents a binary 0.
The finder pattern is the square bull's eye that appears in the upper-left corner of the symbol. This pattern enables the barcode to be scanned correctly at any orientation.
The corner patterns are placed in the lower left, upper right, and lower right corners of the symbol.
The alignment pattern helps the decoding software re-synchronize in case of slight distortion of the code. It consists of a grid of small square bull's eyes that is overlaid over the data region.
The timing patterns consist of one row and one column of alternating black and white modules. They enable the reader to determine symbol version and density.
This symbology supports the following characters in the following modes:
Numeric mode: Includes all numeric digits (0-9)
Alphanumeric mode: Includes three submodes that can encode all numeric digits (0-9), all letters (A-Z, a-z), and 35 special characters
Byte mode: Includes data that is encoded at 8 bits per character; the default character set is as defined in ISO/IEC 8859 Information technology - 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets, in compliance with Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) X 0201 7-bit and 8-bit coded character sets for information interchange
Kanji mode: Includes kanji characters that are encoded in accordance with the Shift JIS system as defined in JIS X 0208 7-bit and 8-bit double byte coded KANJI sets for information interchange; the following values are supported:
8140HEX–9FFCHEX
E040HEX–EAA4HEX
For more information about kanji mode, see JIS X 0208 Annex 1: "Shift Coded Representation."
It is possible to switch between the different modes and submodes and to use any combination of them in a single iQR Code symbol.
iQR Code uses the Reed-Solomon algorithm for error correction. Five selectable levels of error correction are available, which enables the barcode to be read even if up to 50 percent of the code is damaged.
iQR Code supports both square dimensions and rectangular dimensions for use on cylindrical surfaces or narrow spaces.
When the iQR Code symbol is square, the smallest version (version 1) has dimensions of 9 x 9 modules, and the largest version (version 61) is 422 x 422 modules.
When the iQR Code symbol is rectangular, the smallest version (version R1) has dimensions of 5 x 19 modules, and the largest version (version R15) is 43 x 131 modules.
The quiet zone that surrounds the symbol must be at least one module wide.
Symbol Structure