JP2783234B2 - Barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reader, and more particularly, to a multi-level bar code reader for reading a multi-level bar code in which bar codes are set in multiple levels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of computer network systems in recent years, point-of-sale information is managed in department stores, supermarkets, and the like.
s; hereinafter referred to as POS) system has been widely adopted. Electronic registers and stationary readers are used as terminals in POS systems. These terminals are installed in a payment counter and operated by an operator such as a clerk to read a barcode printed on a label of a product.

[0003] The bar code includes a product number, a product name, a product price, and the like. When you read the barcode,
The prices are sequentially displayed on the electronic cash register, and finally the total amount is displayed by a push button instruction. In addition to the register function, this terminal serves 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. 1A to 1C are schematic explanatory diagrams of bar codes. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the center bar C is provided between the left and right guard bars RGB and RGB.
B is divided into two, and a number code of 0 to 9 represented by a bar width is stored between each block, and the numbers, the product name, the price, etc. described above in addition to the Japanese name (49) are stored in these numbers. Shown coded.

[0005] The label with the bar code is read by scanning with a laser beam by a bar code reader. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 (2) and 5 (3), a range shown by a broken line is read by a scanning line shown by a 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. FIG.
(B) and (c) show the scanning manner in the reading direction of the one-stage barcode. FIG. 5B shows a case in which the blocks A and B and the scanning line in (1) of FIG. 5B penetrate all at once (at a stretch), and a case in which scanning is performed separately as in FIGS. 5B and 5C. 5 (c) is shown with a dash in the opposite direction.
In each case, demodulation is performed in units of each block.

[0006]

However, there is a limit in expressing various types of information using the one-stage barcode, and it is desired that a user or the like recently uses two or more stages of barcode blocks to perform product management. Request has been issued. FIG.
(D) shows an example of a two-stage barcode, which has two flags at the beginning of the preceding block for identifying a multi-stage barcode, 10 characters of data, and 1 character of a final check (modulus 10 check) code. And a multi-stage barcode composed of a total of 13 characters, and thereby, a product, a price, and the like as shown in the figure are represented by double information.

FIG. 5E shows a two-stage bar code reading mode. 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 marked with ○ and Δ at the beginning as shown in the figure. According to the conventional technology, A, B, C, and D are detected in units of blocks, and it can be seen that A and C are markedly first.
In some cases, it may not be possible to determine the combination of (1) or AD (2), or CD (3) or CB (4).

Further, a flag for recognizing the multi-stage is given a unique two-digit number by the user, and it is required that the flag can be changed. The present invention is intended to make it possible to change a flag for identifying a multi-stage in order to be used by any user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stage barcode reading device for reading a barcode of an arbitrary user.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object,
As shown in the main part configuration diagram of the principle explanatory diagram of FIG. 1 (a), a barcode having a plurality of barcodes that can be read at least for each block of a barcode having a plurality of bar blocks divided by identification bars is used. A multi-level bar code reading device for reading, wherein a flag for recognizing a multi-level bar code is provided in a part of the remarkable bar code block, and a flag to be collated with the flag of each level can be changed as desired. Registering means 41 and 42, and means 43 and 4 for confirming an instruction from the host when the reading apparatus is started up.
4 is provided.

[0010] With the above-described main part configuration, the flags F1 and F2 provided in a part of the bar block of each stage are held in the F1 flag converter 41 and the F2 flag converter 42 shown in FIG. Activate the flags F1 and F2 as exemplified, for example, based on the confirmation result of the means 43 and 44 for confirming the instruction of the host every time the power supply for the bar code reader is turned on, if there is a change in the flags, new flags F1 and F2 Write. As a result, the same POS system is applied to a plurality of users having different flags F1 and F2, and can read a multi-stage barcode.

[0011]

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. However, the barcode is a UPC or JAN code. In FIG. 2, the label of each bar code is scanned with a laser beam or the like, and the analog signal obtained by inserting the reflected light into the A / D converter 11 in the bar code reading unit 10 is converted into a digital signal. Put into the bar width counter circuit 12,
The bar widths and intervals of GB (guard bar), character (each number), CB (center bar), etc. are counted, and GB check circuit 13, character check circuit 14,
The signal is sent to the CB check circuit 15 and the demodulation circuit 16. The demodulation circuit 16 demodulates the character and temporarily stores it in the demodulation data buffer circuits 23 and 24 for each bar code block (GB-CB) and (CB-GB).

Next, check data output from the GB check circuit 14, the character check circuit 15, and the CB check circuit 16 are transmitted to the GB-CB sequence control circuit 17 and the CB-GB sequence control circuit 1, which are conventionally used.
Put in 8. The GBCBF (flag) 21 is a flag composed of a flip-flop, and the preceding circuit 17
/ CB is detected, the output of the circuit 17 is received and "1" (O
N). Then, when the circuit 18 detects CB / GB, when the value (flag value) of the GBCBF (flag) 21 is "1", all the characters in one stage are completely detected, and one character in one stage is detected. In order to indicate that both blocks have been read and scanned at a stretch, the blow-through flag 22 is composed of an AND gate 22 ₁ and a flip-flop 22 _2.
“1” (ON) is set by the ON output of the CBF 21 (FF) and the output of the CB-GB sequence control circuit 18, and is sent to the control unit 20.

When the GB (CB) of the bar code at each stage is detected, a GB-CB (CB-GB) sequence control circuit 1
7 (18) operates, and each time the character of each block is checked OK by the character check circuit 14,
Pulses for writing demodulated data from the demodulation circuit 16 to the demodulation data buffer circuits 23 and 24 are generated. When scanning is performed as shown in FIG. 1B, 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 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, the next bar code block is CB (G
B), 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 is continued. When the demodulation completion signals 25 and 26 are turned on, the control section 20 reads out the demodulated data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the bar code in each row in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A shows a GB-CB sequence, and FIG. 3B shows a CB-GB sequence. FIG.
In (a), the GB-CB sequence control circuit 17
Checks whether or not the bar detection signal input from the bar code reading unit 10 is GB [1]. When this is detected, the character is checked as to whether the result is OK. The flag 11 is set to OFF and returned to the beginning. If OK, the demodulated data is written [3]. If the last character of the block character is completed [6], if OK, the GBCB flag 21 is set to ON [OK]. 7], and if not, return to the original. When the GBCB flag is set to ON [7], 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. 3B, the CB-GB sequence control circuit 18 checks whether or not the bar detection signal input from the bar code reading section 10 is CB [11]. Next, it is checked whether or not the character is OK [12]. If this is repeated, a write pulse is given to the demodulation data buffer 24 to write the demodulation data [13], and whether or not the last character of the block is completed [15]. ], And if completed, it is determined whether GB is OK or not [16]. If OK, it is checked whether the flag of the GBCB flag 21 is ON or OFF, and if ON, the blow-through flag 22 is turned ON [ 18], if it is OFF, the blow-through flag is turned OFF [19], and the control unit 20 is notified of the demodulation completion.

Each judgment and processing in the above process is CB-
This is performed by the GB sequence control circuit 18. The control unit 20 has a processor and a program for operating the processor. The data sent from the demodulation 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 barcode, and the memory 31 stores the data of the right block of each barcode.

For example, demodulated data buffer circuit 23,
It is assumed that the data existing in 24 is as shown in FIG. The data in the first row and the data in the second row are mixed because the scanning lines are 1, 2 and 3 as shown in FIG.
Because there is a book. The hatched portions in the figure are non-barcode data, for example, data obtained by the broken line portion of the scanning line 2 in FIG. 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 by the conventional technology, and stores the data in the address 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 left block data, and the data is compared with the previous data A in the related art and is different (A ≠
C) Therefore, it is stored at address L2 of the memory 30. Next, when the right block data B is sent, the control unit 20 determines that the right block data is the right block data by the conventional technology, and stores the data in the memory 31 at address R1. In this manner, 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, the barcode of one stage is scanned a plurality of times by one reading operation, 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, when the continuous penetration data A and B are stored in the demodulation data buffers 23 and 24 and the continuous penetration flag 22 is turned on, the control unit 20 reads the data A from the demodulation data buffer 23, The data is compared with the data A and C stored in the attachment 30 first.
1 matches the data A stored in the address L.
1 in the memory 32, and then the demodulated data buffer 24
Is read from the memory 31 and compared with the data B of the address R1 previously stored in the memory 31. In this case, the address R1 matches the data B of the address R1, and the address R1 is paired with the address L1.
To be stored.

The data A and B stored in the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24 remain in the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24 even after being read by the control unit 20, and are stored in the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24. A and B are memory 3
0 and 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 demodulation data buffers 23 and 24, the data D is compared with the data B of the address R1 already stored in the memory 31. Therefore, this data D is not stored in the memory 31. In this case, since the data D is not scanned and only the data C of the bar code of the second stage is scanned and stored in the demodulation data buffer 23 or 24, the data is not distinguished from the case where the data C is read. All-in-one information for the barcode in the second row is required. In this way, 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 2
A value of 0 performs a conventional modulus 10 check.

This modulus 10 check is performed in the memory 3
Data (A, C) stored in 0, 31 and (B,
D) is performed for all combinations AB, AD, CB, and CD. As a result, the modulus 10 check may be OK even for an undesired combination AD. However, the control unit 20 is stored in the memory 32. The combination AB is adopted by using the
Is not adopted.

If the modulus 10 check for the combination CB is NO, and the modulus 10 check for the combination CD is OK, the combination CD is adopted. However, if the modulus 10 check for the combination CB is OK, a quick pass information for the CD is required to obtain a desired combination CD, and the combination CD is used based on this quick pass information, and another combination CB is used. Don't do it.

With the above arrangement, 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 taken into consideration. , CD is read. These data are sent to the POS, managed and decrypted. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. 2 (a) are given the same reference numerals.

In the present invention, in order to read a multi-stage bar code, the host indicates a flag indicating whether the bar 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 (the control unit 20 determines the match), and
Try to read the remaining barcodes.

The F1 and F2 flags are often different for each user, and a plurality of flags are provided for each user.
Flags F1 and F2 attached to the barcode label are represented by a combination of bar widths. In this case, a value frequently used (this is referred to as a default value) is determined as a normal usage, and the default value stored in the memory 46 is used when there is no instruction from the POS serving as the host.

With this configuration, after the power is turned on, a change instruction is once issued from the POS serving as the host, and then only this apparatus (ie, the apparatus shown in FIG. 4) is turned off irrespective of the POS.
Then, when this power is turned on, the power 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 present apparatus is provided with a means for always confirming the POS instruction at startup. FIG. 4 shows an example of this means. That is, the control unit 20 sends a multi-stage flag to the beginning of the bar code for each stage, for example, the first stage F1.
= 20, second stage F2 = 29 etc. (this value “20”, “2
"9" is a character indicated by a combination of bar widths. Buffers 41 and 42 are provided to store the data in a changeable manner (buffer 41 is for an upper bar code flag, and buffer 42 is for a lower bar code flag). ), The POS interface (IF) transmission circuit 44, PO
POS via S interface (IF) receiving circuit 45
Connect with Further, an initial message memory 43 to be transmitted to the POS every time the apparatus is activated is prepared. This initial message is stored in the memory 43 in advance.

Thus, when the power of the apparatus is turned off irrespective of the POS and then the power is turned on, the control unit 20 sends a POS IF transmission circuit 44 to the POS IF transmission circuit 44 to issue a multi-stage flag change instruction request via an initial message. In response, a change instruction / request acceptance completion signal is obtained from the POS 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.

The bar code label flag is stored in the demodulated data buffers 23 and 24 as part of the block data. The control unit 20 recognizes the flag position from the demodulation completion signals 25 and 26, compares the flag stored at that position with the flag in the buffers 41 and 42, and recognizes a multi-stage barcode as described above if they match. And read other barcodes.

At the time of startup (for example, when power is turned on), P
As means for confirming the instruction of the OS, the above-mentioned first-stage flag buffer 41 is useful as a means effective when the power of the apparatus is turned off and on without regard to the POS without exchanging the above-mentioned information. Alternatively, instead of the second stage flag buffer 42, an instruction from the POS may be finally stored in an EEPROM (non-volatile memory: a ROM that can be electrically erased) and read out and used at the time of startup. Therefore, in this case, the transmission of the initial message described above is unnecessary.

Although the above description has been given of a two-stage bar code,
Even in the case of more stages, the same processing can be performed by preparing less than one or more than one number of stretch-through information at the same time.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By assigning a multi-stage flag to each stage of the multi-stage bar code so that the multi-stage flag set in the bar code reader can be arbitrarily changed, it is possible to effectively cope with a plurality of users.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating demodulated data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

5 (a) to 5 (e) are explanatory diagrams of a conventional example. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a bar code reader, 11 denotes a bar code reading unit, 12 denotes a bar width counter, 13 denotes a GB check circuit, and 14 denotes 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,
Reference numeral 20 denotes a control unit, 21 denotes a GB / CB flag unit, 22 denotes a straight-through flag unit, 23 and 24 denote demodulation data buffers,
Reference numerals 1 and 42 denote buffers, 43 denotes an initial message memory, 44 denotes a POSI / F transmission circuit, and 45 denotes a POSI /
5 shows an F receiving circuit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code reader for reading a multi-stage bar code in which a plurality of bar codes each having a plurality of bar blocks separated by an identification bar is set in a multi-stage manner. Means for registering flag information, which is provided in a part of the bar block and is collated with a flag indicating that the barcode is a barcode constituting a multi-stage barcode, in a modifiable manner; Means for confirming an instruction given from the host, when the instruction from the host confirmed by the instruction confirming means is flag information of each stage of a multi-stage barcode, the flag of each stage is stored in the flag registering unit. A bar code reader registered as flag information. 2. A bar code reader for reading a multi-stage bar code in which bar codes having a plurality of bar blocks divided by identification bars are set in multiple stages, wherein at the time of reading the bar code, each of the stages constituting the multi-stage bar code is read. Means for registering flag information, which is provided in a part of the bar block and is collated with a flag indicating that the barcode is a barcode constituting a multi-stage barcode, in a modifiable manner; Means for confirming an instruction given from a host; and means for sending an initial message requesting the host to specify the flag when the barcode reading device is activated. Receiving the designation of the flag, the flag designated by the host confirmed by the instruction confirmation means; Serial bar code reading apparatus characterized by being registered in the multi-stage barcode said flag register means as the flag information for each stage.