JP2655758B2 - Barcode reader and barcode reading method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an add-on bar code reading system for reading an add-on bar code added to a bar code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bar code reader usually irradiates a bar code with light, measures the width of a black bar and a white bar with the reflected light, and converts the bar code into a numerical value or the like based on the bar width data. The demodulation of converting to data is performed. On this occasion,
Conventional bar code readers do not read only the bar code of the main part and read the add-on bar code added to the bar code even if the bar code has an add-on bar code.

[0003]

For this reason, the conventional bar code reading apparatus does not read the add-on bar code even if the add-on bar code is provided. There was a problem that management and the like could not be performed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to automatically read an add-on barcode added to a barcode and perform product management and the like.

[0004]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 and 2, the bar width counter 3 counts the width of a white bar and a black bar measured by reading a bar code with an add-on bar code. The start guard bar detection circuit 40 detects a start guard bar (SB).

The center bar detecting circuit 41 detects a center bar (CB). The end guard bar detection circuit 42 detects an end guard bar.

[0006]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bar width counter 3 counts the width of a white bar and a black bar read from a bar code with an add-on bar code, and based on these counted values. The start guard bar detection circuit 40 detects the start guard bar (SB), the center bar detection circuit 41 detects the center bar (CB), and the end guard bar detection circuit 42 detects the end guard bar (EB). A right block of a barcode is found based on CB and EB, and when a barcode is located at a predetermined number of modules from the right block, the barcode is determined to be an add-on barcode and read. Also, S
When the right block is not detected based on B, CB, and EB, the right end of the bar code is detected, and when a bar code is located at a predetermined number of modules from the right end, the bar code is determined to be an add-on bar code and read. Like that.

Therefore, by detecting the right block or the right end of the bar code and reading the add-on bar code at a position corresponding to a predetermined number of modules from the bar code, the add-on bar code added to the bar code is automatically recognized and accurately detected. It becomes possible to read.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in order with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, a detector 1 irradiates a bar code with a beam emitted from a He-Ne laser and scanned by a polygon mirror, detects light reflected and returned, and converts its intensity into an electric signal. Things.

The A / D 2 converts a signal from a bar code detected by the detector 1 into a digital signal. The bar width counter 3 counts the width of the white bar and black bar portions of the bar code (counts the number of clocks) from the signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D 2.

The bar code detecting circuit 4 comprises a circuit as shown in FIG.
0, a center bar detection circuit 41, an end guard bar detection circuit 42, and the like.
B), center bar (CB), end guard bar (E
B) etc., and a pointer signal group (FIG. 2)
Is output.

The data buffer 5 is a buffer for temporarily storing the measured width values of the white bar and the black bar counted by the bar width counter 3. The CPU 6 performs various processes according to a program. The ROM 7 is a read-only memory in which programs and the like are written in advance.

The interface unit 8 is an interface for transferring data read from a bar code to a POS or the like. The miscellaneous control circuit 10 includes a polygon motor driving circuit 10-1 that drives a polygon gun for scanning the laser light emitted from the He-Ne laser,
Laser drive circuit 10-2 for driving Ne laser, speaker 10-3 for emitting sound, and display 1 for displaying various states
It is a control circuit for controlling 0-4.

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the bar code detection circuit 4 shown in FIG. 2, the start guard bar detection circuit 40 detects a start guard bar (SB) from the bar width data of the white bar and the black bar counted by the bar width counter 3 of FIG. 1 (see FIG. 5). .
The center bar detection circuit 41 is provided with the bar width counter 3 shown in FIG.
The center guard bar (CB) is detected from the bar width data of the white bar and the black bar counted by (see FIG. 5). Since the center guard bar (SB) is line-symmetric, it does not depend on the scanning direction.

The end guard bar detection circuit 42 detects an end guard bar (CB) from the bar width data of the white bar and the black bar counted by the bar width counter 3 in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 5). Here, the start guard bar (SB) is a case where there is a guard bar after the margin portion, and the end guard bar (EB) is a case where there is a margin portion after the guard bar. Therefore, in the case of the beam direction 48 in FIG. 5, the start guard bar (SB) becomes the left guard bar (LGB) and the end guard bar (EB) becomes the right guard bar (RGB). On the other hand, when the beam direction is 49 in FIG. 5, the start guard bar (SB) is a right guard bar (RGB) and the end guard bar (EB) is a left guard bar (LGB).

With the above circuit, SB, CB and EB can be obtained from the bar width data of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code counted by the bar width counter 3 of FIG. The shift register 43a detects the start guard bar (SB) by the start guard bar detection circuit 40 from the bar width data of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code counted by the bar width counter 3 in FIG. Is input in synchronization with the shift clock, and is sequentially shifted rightward in the figure.

The shift register 43b detects the center bar (CB) by the center bar detection circuit 41 from the bar width data of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code counted by the bar width counter 3 in FIG. The bar width data is input, fetched in synchronization with the shift clock, and sequentially shifted rightward in the figure. The AND circuits 44 to 47 calculate the AND of the inputs as shown in the figure and output the results as shown in the figure.

The operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 2 will be described below. (1) When the start guard bar detection circuit 40 detects the start guard bar (SB) from the bar width data, the bar width data is sequentially input to the shift register 43a, and is shifted rightward in the figure in synchronization with the shift clock. (2) When the center bar detection circuit 41 detects the center bar from the bar width data, the bar width data is sequentially input to the shift register 43b and is shifted rightward in the figure in synchronization with the shift clock.

(3) Under the condition (1), when the center bar detection circuit 41 detects the center bar (CB) in (2), the detected center bar (CB) and (1)
Is input to the AND circuit 47a and the AND circuit 46a, and S4 (4-digit detection, SB → CB detection), S3 (6-digit detection, SB → CB)
Detected) is output.

(4) When the end guard bar detection circuit 42 detects the end guard bar (EB) from the bar width data, the detected end guard bar (EB) and (1)
Start guard bar (SB) shifting in (2),
The center bar (CB) is input to the AND circuit 45 and the AND circuit 44, and S2 (8 digits detection, SB → CB → EB detection) and S1 (12 digits detection, SB → CB → EB detection) Outputs the applicable one. Also, the detected end guard bar (EB) and the center bar (CB) shifted by (2) are input to AND circuits 47b and 46b, and S6 (4-digit detection, CB → EB detection), S5 ( The corresponding one of (6-digit detection, CB → EB detection) is output.

As described above, the start guard bar (SB), the center bar (CB), and the end guard bar (EB) are respectively detected from the bar width data counted by the bar width counter 3 in FIG. , UPC / A bar code of UPC system, ENA 8-digit bar code, EAN 13-digit bar code, UPC / E bar code, etc., can output a corresponding signal among S1 to S6. And, as described below,
From these signals, the right block of the barcode (for example, a block whose data is all EVEN) is found, and the add-on barcode added to the position of a predetermined number of modules is read from the right block.

In accordance with the order of the flowchart of FIG.
1 and 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, SS1 performs demodulation (1). This is because the start guard bar (SB) and the center bar (C) detected from the bar width data by the bar code detection circuit 4 in FIG.
B), based on the corresponding signals among SS1 to SS6 generated from the end guard bar (EB), demodulate the left character and right character of the main part of FIG. .

SS2 determines whether or not the add-on read flag set by the operator in advance is on. That is, it is determined whether or not an instruction to read and demodulate the add-on bar code added to the bar code is set.
In the case of YES, the processes of SS3 to SS6 are performed.
In the case of NO, there is no instruction to read the add-on barcode, so the process proceeds to SS7.

SS3 determines whether or not the right block is EVEN. This is because when the data of the right character in FIG. 4A is EVEN (when each data is represented by a white bar and a black bar, the sum of the data width (module) of the black bar is E)
VEN (even numbers, the same applies to other descriptions) ), and therefore, it is determined whether or not the block is a right block corresponding to EVEN. YES (The description is simplified in the flowchart of FIG. 3
“Y” to make it into
The same applies to other statements) .
Since it turned out to be the right block which is EVEN, SS
At 4, the add-on barcode at the position of a predetermined number of modules from the right block is demodulated. On the other hand, SS3 NO (Fig. 3
"N" in the flowchart of FIG.
And the meaning of “No” in the determination of SS3
In other cases, the same applies to other descriptions.) In this case, it is determined that the block is not EVEN but a left block.
It is determined whether or not E is a bar code having no right block (see (c) in FIG. 4 ) . In the case of YES, demodulation (2) of the add-on barcode is performed in SS4 and SS5 described above, an aodon presence flag is added, and the process proceeds to SS7. Meanwhile, SS6
In the case of NO, since it was not UPC / E, SS7
Proceed to.

SS7 determines whether the add-on flag is ON or not. That is, it is determined whether the add-on flag is set to ON in SS5 and the add-on barcode is demodulated. If YES, SS8 or SS1
Do 2 In the case of NO, only the data in the main section is demodulated and the data in the add-on section are not demodulated.
3 to store the main part data and SS14 to check the main part data to determine whether it is OK or not. If YES, it is OK and only the main part of the barcode is successfully read. Reading of only the main part from the bar code as NG fails.

The SS 8 stores data of the main section and the add-on section. The SS 9 checks the data of the main unit (checks the validity of the demodulated data). SS1
0 determines whether the check of the main unit is OK or not. YES
In the case of (1), the data of the add-on section is checked in SS11, and the check of the data in the add-on section is completed as OK (success) when the check is OK in SS12 and is ended as NG (failure) when the check is NG.

As described above, when the bar code of the main section is demodulated (SS2), the add-on read flag is set to ON in advance, and the reading of the add-on bar code is instructed, the add-on at a predetermined number of modules from the right block is added. By reading the barcode and checking the validity of the read data, the add-on barcode added to the barcode can be read.

FIG. 4 shows a bar code / add-on bar code explanatory diagram. FIG. 4A shows an example of a barcode (UPC system) with an add-on barcode. Here, as shown in the figure, the main portion includes a margin portion, a left guard bar (L
GB), a left character, a center bar (CB), a right character, a light guard bar (RGB), a margin portion, and the like. The add-on section is provided in addition to the bar code of the main section. In the present embodiment, the special left section is located 7 to 10 modules from the right guard bar (RGB) of the right character (right block) of the main section. A guard bar (SLGB) is found, and subsequently, a character in the add-on portion is detected.

FIG. 4B shows UPC / A, EAN8,
An example of an EAN13 + add-on barcode is shown. here,
From left, margin, left block (LGB and left character), CB, right block (right character and RGB), margin, add-on barcode (SLG)
B, adon character) and a margin portion. Here, all the right blocks are EVEN.
The left block is a combination of EVEN and ODD. Therefore, all the blocks of EVEN are detected and the right block is determined. Then, as described above, the bar code existing at the position of 7 to 10 modules from RGB of the right block is determined as the add-on bar code and demodulated. I do.

FIG. 4C shows a UPC / E + add-on bar code. Since this UPC / E has no right block, when the barcode is a UPC / E barcode (YES in SS6 in FIG. 3), from the right end of the barcode, as described above, 7 to 10 modules are used. The barcode existing at the position is determined as an add-on barcode and demodulated.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a bar code (UPC system). This shows the details of the UPC barcode. Here, when the beam direction is 48, SB → CB →
The EB changes from LGB → CB → RGB. Beam direction 49
In this case, SB → CB → EB is changed to RGB → CB → LGB. Therefore, since the right data character is located on either side depending on the beam scanning direction, in this embodiment, since all the right data characters are EVEN, all the EVEN blocks are detected as the right data characters. Like that. Then, a barcode located 7 to 10 modules from the rightmost RGB of the right block of the found right block is detected as an add-on barcode and read.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the right block or right end of the barcode is detected and the add-on barcode at the position of the predetermined number of modules is read from the barcode, the add-on barcode added to the barcode is automatically recognized, Can definitely read. This makes it possible to easily read a barcode with an add-on barcode in the same manner as a barcode without an add-on barcode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a barcode detection circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a barcode / add-on barcode.

FIG. 5 is an example of a barcode (UPC system).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: detector 2: A / D 3: bar width counter 4: bar code detection circuit 40: start guard bar detection circuit 41: center bar detection circuit 42: end guard bar detection circuit 43a, 43b: shift register 44 to 47: logical product Circuit 5: Data buffer 6: CPU 7: ROM 8: Interface section

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A by reading the bar code, based on a bar width counter for counting the width of the measured white bars and black bars, the width of the white bar and black bar bar width counter has counted, detects a start guard bar A start guard bar detection circuit, a center bar detection circuit for detecting a center bar, and an end guard bar detection circuit for detecting an end guard bar, and a start guard bar, a center bar, and an end guard bar detected by these circuits. detects the block, characterized by comprising a means for reading by determining which the add-on bar code when a bar code from the guard bar in the detected right block to the position of a predetermined number of module bar code Li
Order . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the right end of the bar code is detected when the right block is not detected based on the start guard bar, the center bar, and the end guard bar detected by the circuit. 2. The barcode reader according to claim 1, wherein when there is a barcode, the barcode is read as an add-on barcode. 3. A white bar measured by reading a bar code.
And the width of the black bar are counted, and based on the counted white and black bar widths,
Start guard bar, center bar, end guard bar
It detected, the detected start guard bar, the center bar, d
Detect right block of barcode based on window guard bar
A predetermined number of modules from the detected right block.
Is determined as an add-on barcode, and
Barcodes, which read barcodes
-Code reading method .