Useful Sensors' Tiny Code Reader is a convenient, cost-effective hardware component that scans QR codes. It's tailored for speedy system configuration, such as delivering a Wi-Fi network name and password or allowing input without a keyboard.

The Tiny Code Reader encases an image sensor and microcontroller into a single board, while making it simple to integrate into products without exposing implementation details. This device yields QR code information via an I2C connection.

The board uses a standard STEMMA QT / Qwiic connector for the I2C interface. If you're using a standard connector, the wire colors are yellow for SCL, blue for SDA, red for 3.3V, and black for GND. The sensor supports I2C bus speeds of up to 400k baud with 3.3V power; other voltage levels (like, 5V) are not supported.

The sensor uses an image sensor internally, so you need to make sure that the lens has a clear field of view. It can be mounted in any orientation, which shouldn't affect the code recognition quality. There's a mounting hole for a screw in the top left, and some alternative pads in case you don't want to use a QT connector but want to wire in directly. The edge with these pads is designed to snap off, in case you need to reduce the size of the board further.