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Grid Matrix

Grid Matrix is a 2-dimensional, variable size, matrix symbology, designed specifically to encode Chinese characters. The symbol consists of an array of square blocks called macro modules, each with its own dark or light frame.

ClosedThe Character Set

Grid Matrix supports all 7-bit ASCII characters, numeric digits, and binary data. Additionally, it supports the use of the entire Chinese character set (GB-2312).

ClosedThe Symbology Structure

Grid Matrix consists of square macro modules, arranged in a square pattern. Each macro module is a 6x6 unit module. The dark and light-framed macro modules alternate throughout the symbol, forming a grid which acts as a finder pattern. The four corners of a Grid Matrix code are dark-framed macro modules.

Five selectable levels of error correction are available, which allow a barcode with up to 50% of damaged codewords to still read properly. With maximum error correction levels, Grid Matrix can encode between 3 and 391 Chinese characters, 5 and 634 bytes, 10 and 1,018 Latin characters, or 12 and 1,524 numerals. By choosing a lower error correction, the number of characters that can be encoded increase approximately 80% for each data type.