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From: rees@apollo.uucp (Jim Rees)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Bar-code Scanners: Are they safe?
Message-ID: <386517f3.b8ab@apollo.uucp>
Date: Tue, 10-Nov-87 11:30:00 EST
Article-I.D.: apollo.386517f3.b8ab
Posted: Tue Nov 10 11:30:00 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Nov-87 23:18:34 EST
References: <4814@oberon.USC.EDU> <244@enprt.Wichita.NCR.COM> <15455@onfcanim.UUCP>
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass.
Lines: 12
Keywords: laser, bar-code, scanner


    The lasers used in barcode scanners are almost certainly under 1mW in
    beam power, which makes them class II.

I took a look last time I was in my local supermarket.  They have the
scanners with the * shaped windows, which I think is what the original
question was about.

The scanner in question was clearly marked "class IIA."  There was also
a caution about not looking directly at the beam for too long.

The cashier looked at me a little funny as I was checking this out.