JP2741404B2 - Barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] The present invention relates to a bar code reading apparatus for reading a multi-stage bar code in which bar codes having left and right bar blocks separated by identification bars are set in multiple stages. Demodulating means capable of demodulating in bar block units; and a means for detecting that at least one of the left and right blocks of the multi-stage bar code to be read demodulated by the demodulating means has been consistently scanned by one scan. Selecting a combination of left and right blocks constituting a barcode that has been consistently scanned and detected by the detection unit, and among the combinations of the unselected bar blocks, a check result based on a check code is valid. Means for selecting a combination of bar blocks.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a bar code reading device that reads a multi-stage bar code in which bar codes are set in multiple stages.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of computer network systems, point-of-sale (POS) systems have become widely used in department stores, supermarkets, and the like. Electronic registers and stationary readers are used as terminals in POS systems. These terminals are installed in a payment counter, and are operated by an operator such as a clerk to read a barcode printed on a label of a product.

The bar code includes a product number, a product name, a product price, and the like. When the barcode is read, the prices are sequentially displayed on the electronic register, and finally the total amount is displayed by the push button instruction.

In addition to the register function, this terminal is used as a data input device of an information management system that comprehensively manages merchandise management such as sales management, inventory management, purchase management, etc. by sending sales information by product to computer centers one by one online. One wing.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic explanatory diagrams of bar codes. That is, as shown in FIG.
The center bar CB is divided into two sections between B and RGB, and a number code of 0 to 9 represented by the bar width is stored between each block, and these numbers are used in addition to the Japanese name (49) and the above-mentioned product number. , Product name, price, etc. are coded and shown.

The label with the bar code is read by a bar code reader using a laser beam. On this occasion,
As shown in the figure, the range shown by the broken line is read by the scanning line shown by the solid line for each half block. Those that cross all the bars of each block are valid, and those that cross only some of them are invalid.

FIGS. 7B and 7C show the scanning manner in the reading direction of the one-stage bar code. FIG. 3 (b) shows a case where each of the blocks A and B and the scanning line penetrate at a stroke (through at a stretch) and a case where scanning is performed separately as shown in FIG. 3 (b). It is shown with a symbol. In each case, demodulation is performed on a block basis.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, there is a limit in expressing various types of information using the one-stage barcode. Recently, users and the like have issued a request to implement product management using two or more stages of barcode blocks. FIG. 5 (d) shows an example of a two-stage barcode, which has two characters at the beginning of the preceding block for identifying a multi-stage barcode, 10 characters of data, and a final check (Modulus 10 check). Code 1
This is a multi-stage barcode consisting of a total of 13 characters including characters, and this represents information twice as large as the product, price, etc. as shown in the figure.

FIG. 9E shows a reading mode of a two-stage barcode. Each block of the first stage is A and B, each block of the second stage is C and D, and flags indicating multiple stages are initially marked with a circle as shown in the figure.
○ and △△ shall be added. According to the conventional technology, A, B, C, and D are detected in block units, and it is understood that A and C are the first in each stage, but it is impossible to determine whether it is AB or AD, or CD or CB. In some cases.

Further, the user is provided with a unique two-digit number for the flag for recognizing the multi-stage, but it is required that the flag can be changed.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the fact that the combination of the above-described blocks can be accurately discriminated by adding the continuous information to the detection of each block in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a bar code reading apparatus capable of accurately discriminating a combination of blocks forming a multi-stage bar code by adding information that a part of the multi-stage bar code has been read all at once. .

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, as shown in the main part configuration diagram of the principle explanatory diagram of FIG. 1 (a), a multi-stage bar code in which bar codes having left and right bar blocks divided by identification bars are set in multiple stages is read. In the bar code reader (10), a demodulation means (17, 18, 21, 23, 24) capable of demodulating a bar code in one bar block unit; Means for detecting that at least one of the left and right blocks of the code has been consistently scanned by one scan (22)
And selecting a combination of left and right blocks constituting a consistently scanned barcode detected by the detection means, and among the combinations of the non-selected bar blocks, a check result based on a check code is Means (20, 30 to 32) for selecting a valid combination of bar blocks.

[Action]

According to the above-mentioned main part configuration, the present invention is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (ii), for example, a two-stage barcode AB, CD
When either or both of them are scanned by the straight-through detection means 22 at any time, the combination of AB or CD is first detected and the remaining C, D or A, B It is possible to determine the arrangement of the bar blocks of the two-stage bar code from the combination. However, if the information of blocks B and D is the same, both AB and CD need to be scanned all at once.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. However, barcodes are UPC and JA codes.

In FIG. 1, a label of each bar code is scanned by a laser beam or the like, and the reflected light is scanned by an A / D converter 1 in a bar code reading unit 10.
The analog signal obtained by inserting it into 1 is converted into a digital signal, and the converted signal is inputted to a bar width counter circuit 12, and the bar width and interval of GB, character (each number), CB, etc. are counted, and the GB check circuit 13, It is sent to a character check circuit 14, a CB check circuit 15 and a demodulation circuit 16. The demodulation circuit 16 demodulates the character and generates a bar code block (GB-CB),
Demodulated data buffer circuits 23, 24 for each (CB-GB)
Once, then GB check circuit 13, character check circuit 14, CB
The check data output from the check circuit 15 is input to the GB → CB sequence control circuit 17 and the CB → GB sequence control circuit 18 which are conventionally used. GB CBF (flag) 21 is a flag composed of flip-flops,
When 17 detects CB / GB, it receives the output of the circuit 17 and outputs "1" (O
N). Then, when the circuit 18 detects CB / GB, GB
When the value (flag value) of the CBF (flag) 21 is "1", it means that all characters in one stage have been completely detected.
To indicate that the One stage of the two blocks is once read scanning is made, at one stroke through transmural flag 22 is composed of AND gates 22 ₁ and flip-flop 22 _2, GB CBF21 (FF) of the ON output and CB → GB sequence control circuit "1" (O
N) is set and sent to the control unit 20.

When GB (CB) of each barcode is detected, GB → CB (CB
→ GB) When the sequence control circuit 17 (18) operates and the character check circuit 14 checks the character of each block, the pulse for writing the demodulated data from the demodulation circuit 16 to the demodulation data buffer circuits 23 and 24 is output. Generate. When scanning is performed as shown in FIG. 1B, the data of blocks B and D are not stored in the data buffers 23 and 24. The data buffer circuit 23 stores data when the light beam is scanned in the GB → CB direction, and the data buffer circuit 24 stores the data when the light beam is scanned in the CB → GB direction.

When the last character of each block is completed for the demodulated data, it is checked whether the next bar code block is CB (GB), and if OK, the demodulation completion signal 25 (26) is turned on to notify the control unit 20. The contents in parentheses indicate that the same processing will be continued. When the demodulation completion signals 25 and 26 are turned ON, the control unit 20
Read the demodulated data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation for each bar code in FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3 (a) shows the GB-CB sequence and FIG. 3 (b) shows the CB-GB sequence.

In FIG. 7A, the GB → CB sequence control circuit 17
Is the bar detection signal input from the barcode reading unit 10.
Check if it is GB [], if this is detected, then check the character to see if it is OK as a result.
Set the GB CB flag 21 flag to OFF and return to the beginning.If OK, apply a write pulse to the demodulation data buffer 23 to write the demodulation data [], check whether the final character of the block character is completed [], and complete. If you do
Depending on whether or not the CB is OK [], if OK, the flag of the GB CB flag 21 is turned ON [], and if not, the GB CB flag 21 is restored. When the GB CB flag is set to ON [], the controller 20 is notified of the demodulation completion. The GB-CB sequence control circuit 17 performs each determination (OK or not, etc.) and each process (return to the original [original]) in the above process.

In FIG. 6B, the CB → GB sequence control circuit 18
Indicates that the bar detection signal input from the barcode reading unit 10 is CB
[], And if this is detected, it is next checked whether the character is OK []. If this is repeated, a write pulse is given to the demodulation data buffer 24 to write demodulation data []. Check whether the final character of the block is completed [], and if completed, determine whether the GB is OK [], and if OK, check whether the GB CB flag 21 flag is ON or OFF, If ON, turn on all-at-on flag 22
[], And if it is OFF, the blow-through flag is turned OFF [], and the control unit 20 is notified of the demodulation completion.

The CB-GB sequence control circuit 18 performs each judgment and processing in the above process.

The control unit 20 has a processor and a program for operating the processor. The data sent from the demodulated data buffer circuits 23 and 24 are stored in the memories 30 and 31 by the control unit 20. The memory 30 stores the data of the left block of each row of the barcode, and the memory 31 stores the data of the right block of each row of the barcode.

For example, it is assumed that the data existing in the demodulated data buffer circuits 23 and 24 is as shown in FIG. The data in the first stage and the data in the second stage are mixed because there are three scanning lines, as shown in FIG. 1 (b). The hatched portions in the drawing are non-barcode data, for example, data obtained by the broken line portions of the scanning lines in FIG. 1 (b). When the data A of the left block is transmitted first, the control unit 20 determines that the data is the data of the left block in the prior art, and stores the data in the address at L1 of the memory 30. The next non-barcode data is not sent to the control unit 20.

Next, when the data C of the left block is sent, the control unit 20 determines that the data is the data of the left block, and the data is compared with the data A in the prior art and is different (A ≠ C). Is stored.

Next, when the right block data B is transmitted, the control unit 20 determines that the right block data is the right block data according to the prior art, and
It is stored in address R1 of 31. In this way, the demodulated data of the first and second bar codes is distributed to the memories 30 and 31 for each block. Here, since the scanning by the light beam is performed at a high speed, a single reading operation is performed a plurality of times by scanning the bar code of one stage, so that a large number of block data A, B, and C are demodulated as described above. The data is sent from the data buffer circuits 23 and 24 to the control unit 20.

By the way, the continuous data A and B are demodulated data buffer 23,
The control unit 20 reads out the data A from the demodulated data buffer 23 when it is stored in the
First, the data A and C stored in the memory 30 are compared. In this case, since the data A matches the data A stored in the address L1, the address L1 is stored in the memory 32, and then the data L2 is read from the demodulated data buffer 24. B is read out and compared with the data B of the address R1 previously stored in the memory 31, but in this case, the address R1 is stored in the memory 32 as a pair with the address L1.

Note that these data A and B stored in the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24 remain in the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24 even if read by the control unit 20, and these continuous data A and B are stored in the memory 30. , 31 are not stored.

If the data D of the first stage and the data D of the second stage are the same, later when the data D is read from the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24, it is compared with the data B of the address R1 already stored in the memory 31. Since they match, this data D is stored in the memory 31
Is not stored in In this case, since the data D is not scanned and only the data C of the second-stage bar code is scanned and stored in the demodulated data buffer 23 or 24, no distinction is made. At a glance, information on the barcodes in the first row is required. In this manner, when the reading operation for the two-stage barcode is completed and the storage of the demodulated data in the memories 30 and 31 is completed,
The control unit 20 performs a conventional modular 10 check.

This Modulus 10 Chiekku is all combinations AB, AD, C of the data (A, C) and (B, D) stored in the memories 30, 31
B and CD are performed, and as a result, the module 10 may be OK for the undesired combination AD.However, the control unit 20 determines the combination AB using the quick-run information stored in the memory 32. Adopted, not combined AD.

If Modulus 10 Chizek for combination CB is NO, when Modulus 10 Chizek for combination CD is OK, combination CD is adopted. But Modulus for combination CB
If 10 Chizek is OK, to get the desired combination CD
At a glance, information about the CD is required, and the combination of CDs is used, and other combination CBs are not used.

With the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), information indicating that light beam scanning has passed through all the blocks A, B, C, and D of a multi-stage bar code, for example, a two-stage bar code, is added to AB, CD. Is read. These data are sent to the POS,
It is managed and decrypted.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the configuration of another embodiment, in which the present invention is combined with another proposed invention. 2 (a) are given the same reference numerals.

In the present invention, in order to read a multi-stage barcode, the host indicates a flag indicating whether it is the first stage or the second stage. That is, when data that matches this flag is read from the barcode label, it is recognized as a multi-stage barcode (coincidence is determined by the control unit 20), and the remaining barcodes are read.

These F ₁ and F ₂ flags are often different for each user, and a plurality of F ₁ and F ₂ flags are provided for each user. Flags F ₁ and F ₂ attached to the bar code label are represented by a combination of bar widths. In this case, as a usual usage, a certain frequently used value (this is called a default value) is determined, and the host
If there is no instruction from the POS, the default value stored in the memory 46 is used.

With this configuration, after the power is turned on, the PO
After a change instruction from S once, the power of only this apparatus (that is, the apparatus shown in FIG. 4) is turned off irrespective of the POS, and then when this power is turned on, it returns to the default value.
On the other hand, since the POS recognizes that the change instruction has been issued, a recognition error occurs. In order to prevent this, the apparatus is provided with a means for always confirming the POS instruction at startup.

FIG. 4 shows one example of this means. That is, for the control unit 20, the first stage F ₁ = 20, the second stage F ₂ = 29, for example, as a multi-stage flag at the beginning of the bar code for each stage.
(The values "20" and "29" are characters indicated by combinations of bar widths).
1 and 42 (buffer 41 is for an upper bar code flag, and buffer 42 is for a lower bar code flag), and a POS interface (IF) transmission circuit 4 is provided.
4. Connect to POS via POS interface (IF) receiving circuit 45. Further, an initial message memory 43 to be transmitted to the POS every time it is started is prepared. This initial message is stored in the memory 43 in advance.

As a result, after the device is turned off regardless of POS,
Next, when the power is turned on, the control unit 20 sends a multi-stage flag change instruction request to the POS by an initial message via the POS IF transmission circuit 44, and in response thereto, the POS issues a change instruction / request acceptance completion signal. Is obtained via the POS I / F receiving circuit 45. Based on this response, the control unit 20 changes the flags of each stage of the first stage flag buffer 41 and the second stage flag buffer 42.

Barcode label flag is demodulated data buffer 23,2
4 is stored as a part of the block data. Control unit 20
Recognizes the flag position from the demodulation completion signals 25 and 26, compares the flag stored at that position with the flags of buffers 41 and 42, and if they match, recognizes the multi-stage bar code as described above, and Read the code.

At the time of start-up (for example, when the power is turned on), the means for confirming the POS instruction is effective when the power of the apparatus is turned off and on without performing the above-mentioned information exchange and independently of the POS. Instead of the first-stage flag buffer 41 and the second-stage flag buffer 42 described above, an instruction from the final POS is stored in an EEPROM (non-volatile memory; an electrically erasable ROM), and this is stored at startup. It can also be read and used. Therefore, in this case, the transmission of the initial message described above is unnecessary.

Although the above description has been made with respect to a two-stage barcode, the same processing can be performed in the case of more stages by preparing one or less than the same number of continuous penetration information.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine a combination of blocks constituting a multi-stage barcode by taking into account the at-a-glance information to the multi-stage barcode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are diagrams for explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an embodiment, FIG. 2 (b) is a diagram showing demodulated data, and FIG. Flow chart showing example operation, fourth
FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (e) are explanatory diagrams of a conventional example. FIG. 5 (a) to FIG. 5 (e) are explanatory diagrams of a conventional example.
Is a bar code reading section, 12 is a bar width counter circuit, 13 is GB
A check circuit, 14 is a character check circuit, 15 is a CB check circuit, 16 is a demodulation circuit, 17 is a GB-CB sequence control circuit, 18 is a CB-GB sequence control circuit, 20 is a control unit, 21
Is a GB / CB flag section, 22 is a straight-through flag section, 23 and 24 are demodulated data buffers, 41 and 42 are buffers, 43 is an initial message memory, 44 is a POS I / F transmission circuit, and 45 is a POS I / F.
3 shows a receiving circuit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code reader for reading a multi-stage bar code in which bar codes having left and right bar blocks separated by identification bars are set in multiple stages, a demodulation means capable of demodulating the bar code in units of one bar block. A means for detecting that at least one of the left and right blocks of the multi-level barcode to be read demodulated by the demodulation means has been consistently scanned by one scan; and A combination of left and right blocks constituting a barcode that is consistently scanned is selected, and a combination of bar blocks whose check result based on the check code is valid is selected from among the combinations of the non-selected bar blocks. Means for reading a bar code. 2. In the bar code reading device, when there are a plurality of combinations of bar blocks for which a check result based on the check code is determined to be valid, at least one of the plurality of combinations has at least one piece of communication information. The bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein a combination is adopted.