A programmable display unit for displaying barcodes or, as the case may be, a radio transponder coupled to a programmable display unit of the aforementioned type. The display unit has for the purpose a multiplicity of strip-shaped display elements arranged substantially parallel to and at a predetermined distance from each other. Each strip-shaped display element is controlled independently and can be switched independently. A respectively predetermined number of display elements are used for representing a strip in the barcode. A respectively predetermined number of display elements are analogously used for representing a space in the barcode. The barcode requiring to be represented is composed of a multiplicity of strips and spaces.
Display unit for displaying programmable barcodes