JPH036682A - Multistage bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately discriminate the combination of blocks constituting a multistage bar code by taking one-stroke scan information into consideration with respect to the multistage bar code. CONSTITUTION:The label of the bar code in each stage is scanned with laser light or the like, and the reflected light is inputted to an A/D converter in a bar code reading part 10 to convert the obtained analog signal into a digital signal. When it is detected by a one-stroke scan detecting means 22 that AB or/and CD of the bar code are scanned at one stroke, the combination of AB or CD is first detected, and the arrangement of bar blocks A to D of the bar code is discriminated in accordance with the combination of CD or AB. Thus, the combination of blocks A to D constituting the multistage bar code is accurately discriminated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The present invention relates to a multi-stage barcode reading device that reads a multi-stage barcode in which a barcode is set in multiple stages. An object of the present invention is to provide a code reading device and a multi-stage barcode reading device capable of reading barcodes of arbitrary users. A multi-stage barcode reading device in which barcodes that can be read at least in each block are set in multiple stages, and all blocks of one stage of the barcode among the multi-stage barcodes to be read are consistently scanned. The second invention is configured to include a means (22) for detecting all the information at once, and the second invention is capable of reading at least each block of a barcode having a plurality of bar blocks divided by an identification bar. A multi-stage barcode reading device for reading a multi-stage barcode in which a barcode is set in multiple stages, wherein a flag indicating that the barcode block in each stage is a multi-stage barcode is provided in a part of the barcode block in each stage, and a flag in each stage is provided. The configuration includes means (41, 42) for registering a flag that can be changed as desired, and means (43, 44) for confirming instructions from the host when starting the reading device.

[Industrial application field]

[Prior Art] In recent years, with the spread of computer network systems, point-of-sale information tubes 31 (hereinafter referred to as PO
8) system has become widely adopted. Electronic cash registers and stationary readers are used as terminals in POS systems. These terminals are installed at payment counters and operated by operators such as store clerks to read barcodes printed on product labels.

The barcode includes the product number, product name, product price, etc. When the barcode is read, the next price is displayed on the electronic register, and finally the total price is displayed by pressing a button.

In addition to the register function, this terminal also functions as a data input device for an information management system that sends sales information by product online one by one to a computer center and performs comprehensive product management such as sales aggregation, inventory management, and purchasing management. It has become a wing.

Fig. 5 (ω■ to ■ are schematic explanatory diagrams of barcodes. That is, as shown in Fig. 5, left and right guard bars, LGB
, EGB is divided into two sections by a center bar CB, and between each block is stored a numerical code from O to 9 represented by the bar width, and with these numbers, in addition to the Japanese country name (49), the above-mentioned product number, Product name 1 price etc. are coded and shown.

The barcode-attached label is read by a barcode reading device using a laser beam.

At this time, as shown in (1) and (2), the range shown by the broken line is read out by the running line shown by the solid line for each half block.

Those that intersect all the bars of each block are valid, and those that intersect only some of them are invalid.

Figures (6) and (c) show the scanning mode of the one-stage barcode according to the reading direction. ■ in figure (b)
In this case, each block A, E and the scanning line pass through at once (buy at once)
In some cases, the scanning is performed separately, as in (1) and (2), and (1) in the figure is shown with a dash in the opposite direction. In either case, demodulation is performed in two rows for each block.

J+, -1, ·Ill ]ノ [Problem to be solved by the invention] However, there is a limit to the ability to express various types of information with the above-mentioned one-stage barcode, and recently users have developed barcode blocks with two or more stages. There have been requests to implement product management using . Figure 5(d) shows an example of a two-stage barcode, which has two flag characters at the beginning of the previous block to identify that it is a multi-stage barcode, 10 characters of data, and a final check (modulus 10 check). This is a multi-stage barcode consisting of a total of 13 characters including one code character, and this represents twice the information of two products, two prices, etc. as shown in the Q diagram.

FIG. 6(6) shows a reading mode of a two-stage barcode. The blocks in the first stage are designated as A and E, and the blocks in the second stage are designated as C and D, and the flag indicating multistage is prefixed with ○○ and ΔΔ as shown in the figure. According to the original technology, A, E, C, and D are detected in block units;
It is clear that is the beginning of each stage, but AB■ or AD■, CD
In some cases, it may be impossible to distinguish between ■ and CB■.

Furthermore, the flag used to recognize that there are multiple stages is assigned a unique two-digit number by the user, but it is required that this be changeable.

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

In order to make it available for use by any user as a second invention,
The idea is to make it possible to change the flag that identifies multiple stages.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stage barcode reading device that can accurately determine the combination of blocks constituting a multi-stage barcode by taking into account information that a part of the multi-stage barcode has been read all at once. , it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-stage barcode reading section R capable of reading barcodes of arbitrary users.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective 1, as shown in the main part configuration diagram of the principle explanatory diagram in FIG. A first aspect of the present invention is a multi-stage barcode reading device that reads a barcode in which barcodes that can be read are set in multiple stages,
The second invention comprises a means 22 for detecting continuous information that all blocks of the R barcode have been scanned consistently, Means 41.42 for providing a flag for recognizing that there is a flag and registering the flag to be compared with the flags of each stage so as to be changeable as desired; and means 45.42 for confirming an instruction from the host when starting the reading device.
44.

[For production]

Due to the above-mentioned main part configuration, the first invention is as shown in FIG.
.

As shown in (11), for example, the AE of a two-stage barcode
.

When the one-shot detection means 22 detects that either or both of the CDs have been scanned all at once, the combination AE or CD is first detected at any time, and the remaining one (F) is detected.
It is possible to determine the bar block arrangement of a two-stage barcode from the combination of A and B.

However, if the information of blocks B and D is the same, AB, C
Both D and -A need to be scanned through.

In the second invention, as shown in FIG.
, ) K indicated F, flag conversion W5 '' + F2 The flag held in the flag conversion unit 42 and as shown in this example?
, Activate F2 For example, means for confirming host instructions every time power is turned on for a barcode reader 45. Based on the confirmation results of 44, if there are any changes, praise the new F2. In addition, the same POS system is applied to multiple users with different flags F, , F2, and can read multi-stage barcodes.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

However, the barcode shall be UPC or JAN code.

In the figure, the labels of each barcode are scanned with a laser beam or the like, and the reflected light is inserted into the A/D converter 11 in the barcode reading section 10 to convert the obtained analog signal into a digital signal. A bar width counter circuit 12 is used to count one bar width interval of GE, characters (each number), CM, etc., and each GE check circuit 15. 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 characters and temporarily stores them in demodulation data buffer circuits 23 and 24 for each barcode block CGB-CE) and CCB-GE).

Next KGE check circuit 14. Character check circuit 1
5. The check data output from the CB check circuit 16 is transferred to the conventionally used GB→CB sequence control circuit 1.
7 and CB-+GB sequence control circuit 18. GB CBF (P2 Ritsu 21 is Flip Flora (ON
). Then, when the later circuit 18 detects CB/GB, the value of GB CBFC frame) 21 (flag value)
When is "1", it means that all characters in one row have been completely detected, and both blocks in one row are read and scanned at once, so the all-at-once flag 22
is AND gate 22. It consists of 7 lip-flops 22□, and the ON output of GE CBF 21 (FF) and C
The output of the B→GB sequence control circuit 18 is ``month (O
N) is set and sent to the control unit 20K.

When GE (CE) of each row barcode is detected, GB
-CB (CB-GB) Sequence control circuit 17 (18
) works, character check times wr14 '6
Every time a block character becomes check OK, a pulse is generated to write the demodulated data from the demodulation circuit 16 into the demodulation data buffer circuits 25 and 24. It should be noted that block B is scanned as shown in (6) (2) in FIG.

The data of D is not stored in the data buffers 25 and 24. The data buffer circuit 26 stores the data when the GB-CB force direction optical beam is scanned1, and the data buffer circuit 24 stores the data when the final character of each block is completed for the optical beam demodulated data in the CB-GE direction. Checks whether the next barcode block is CE (GB), and if OK, sends a demodulation completion signal 25 (26) to the control unit 20.
) to be notified. Items in parentheses indicate that processing will continue in the same way. The control unit 20 receives demodulation completion signals 25 and 26.
When turned on, demodulated data is output one after another.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation for each stage barcode in FIG.
6) shows the CB-GE system.

In FIG. Check whether the character is OK as a result of checking. If not, turn off the GB 0M flag 21 and return to the beginning. If OK, give a write pulse to the demodulated data buffer 23, and if demodulated data is obtained, check if CB is OK. If it is OK, the GE CB flag 21 is set to ON [■], and if it is not, it is returned to the original state. G.E.C.
When the E flag is set to ON [■], a demodulation completion notification is sent to the control unit 20. In the above process, each column vffr (OK or not, etc.) and each process (return to the original [original], etc.) are GB - CB
This is performed by the synence control circuit 17.

In (6) of the same figure, the CB-vGB sequence control circuit 18 checks whether the bar detection signal inputted from the barcode reading section 1o is CE [■], and if this is detected, the next character Check whether it is OK [@], repeat this process, and if it is OK, give a write pulse to the demodulated data buffer 24 to write the demodulated data t-fill [@], and check whether the last character of the block has been completed [[phase]. ]], and if completed, determine whether the GE is OK or not, and
If it is K, the flag of GB CB flag 21 is ON or OFF.
If it is ON, the d~ all-at-once flag 22 is turned ON [@], and if it is OFF, the all-at-once flag is turned OFF [[phase]], and a demodulation completion notification is sent to the control section 20.

The valley judgment and processing in the above process are performed by the CB-GB performance control circuit 18.

The control unit 20 has a processor and a program that operates the processor. The data sent from the demodulation data buffer circuits 25 and 24 is stored in memories 50° and 51K by the control unit 20.
Stored. The memory 50 stores the data of the left block of each stage of the barcode, and the memory 31 stores the data of the right block of each stage of the barcode.

For example, assume that the data present in the demodulated data buffer circuits 25 and 24 is as shown in FIG. 2(b).

The reason why the data from the first stage and the data from the second stage are mixed is that
This is because, in the case of the scanning lines shown in FIG. 1 (6), there are three scanning lines, ``■'', ``■'', and ``■''. The shaded area in the figure is non-barcode data, and is, for example, the data obtained in the broken line area of the scanning line ■ in FIG. 1(6). First left block data A
When the data is sent, the control unit 20 determines that it is data of the left block using the conventional technology, and stores it in the L1 location of the memory 50. The next non-barcode data is not sent to the control unit 20.

Next, when data C of the left block is sent, it is determined by the control unit 20 to be data of the left block, and is compared with the previous data A using the conventional technology. Stored in address.

Next, when data B of the right block is sent, the control unit 20 determines that it is the data of the right block using conventional technology, and stores it in the memory 510R1 address. In this way, the four data of the first and second barcodes are divided into memories 50 and 51 for each block. Here, since the scanning by the light beam is fast, one stage of the barcode is optically scanned multiple times due to the - degree weaving operation, so as mentioned above, a large number of block data A, B, C is sent from the demodulated data buffer circuits 25 and 24 to the control section 20.

By the way, the simultaneous data A and B are demodulated data buffer 2.
5, 24K is stored, and the all-at-once flag 22 is turned ON.
, then the control unit 20 reads data A from the demodulated data buffer 426 and compares it with the data A and C previously stored in the memory 60.
This address L1 matches data A stored in
is stored in the memory 52, and then compared with the data Bf from the recovery data buffer 24 and the data B at address R1 stored earlier in the continuous output memory 61. In this case, since they match, this landing R1 is It is stored in the memory 52 as a pair with address L1.

Note that these data A and E stored in the xis data buffer 25.24 remain in the demodulation data buffer 25.24 even if they are successively outputted by the control unit 20, and these data A and B that are passed through at once remain in the demodulation data buffer 25.24. Memory 50. ! It is not stored in A.

Furthermore, if data B in the first stage and data D in the second stage are the same, then when data D is read from the demodulated data buffer 23, 24, it will be the same as the data B at address R1 already stored in the memory 51. Since they are compared and match, this data D is not stored in the memory 61.

In this case, data D is not scanned, and only data C of the second stage barcode is scanned, and the demodulated data buffer 25
Otherwise, it is indistinguishable from the case where the barcode is stored in 24, so in order to read the data more accurately, it is necessary to provide the information for the second stage barcode all at once. When the reading operation for the two-stage barcode is thus completed and the storage of the demodulated data in the memories 50 and 51 is completed, the control section 20 performs a modulus 10 check, which is a conventional technique.

This modulus 10 check is performed for all combinations AE, AD, CB, CD of data (A, C) and (E, D) stored in the memory 50.51, and as a result, for the undesired combination AD. Although the modulus 10 check may be OK in some cases, the control unit 20 employs the combination AE using the all-in-one information stored in the memory 52 and does not employ the combination AD.

Modulus 10 check for combination CB N.

Then, the modulus 10 check for the combination CD is O
When X, the combination CD is adopted. However, combination CB
If the modulus 10 check for is OK, then in order to obtain the desired combination CD, all-in-one information for the CD is required, and based on this all-in-one information, the combination CD is adopted and other combinations CB are not adopted. .

As shown in Fig. 1(b), the information that light beam scanning is applied to each block A, B, C, and D of a multistage, for example, two-stage barcode is taken into consideration, and AB , the reading is performed as a CD. These data are sent to the POS, where they are managed and decoded.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the second invention. Second
Parts equivalent to those in Figure Ca) are given the same reference numerals.

In the present invention, in order to read a multi-stage barcode, either the first stage or the second stage
Instead of specifying the flag indicating the level from the host.

That is, when data matching this flag is read from the barcode label, it is recognized as a multi-stage barcode and a match is determined by the control section 20), and the remaining barcodes are read.

These F1+F2 flags often differ depending on the user, and a plurality of flags are provided corresponding to the users. Flags F1+F2 attached to the barcode label are represented by a combination of bar widths. In this case, as a normal usage, a certain frequently used value (this is called a default value) is determined, and if there is no instruction from the host PO 8, the default value stored in the memory 46 is used.

With this configuration, the PO as host after power on
If you turn off the power to this device (i.e., the equipment shown in Figure 4!i) without regard to PO8 after receiving a change instruction from 8, and then turn on the power source 1 without turning it on, the power will return to the default value. I end up. - I understand that PO8 has issued a change order, so Ll? An error occurs. In order to prevent this, the present device is provided with a means to always check the instruction from PO8 at the time of startup.

The configuration shown in FIG. 4 shows one example of this means. That is, for the control g20, a multi-stage flag is set at the beginning of the barcode of each stage, for example, the first stage p,=20. 2nd stage F2 = 29 mag (,1m)fi r20J, "29
ko is a character indicated by a combination of bar widths. )t
- Buffer 41 and 42 are provided to store the flag in a changeable manner (buffer 41 is for the upper barcode flag, buffer 4 is for the flag of the upper barcode,
2 is for the flag of the lower barcode. ) together with
POS interface (IF) transmission circuit 441POS
PO3 via interface (IP) receiving circuit 45
Connect with. Furthermore, an initial message memory 45 is prepared which is sent to the PO 8 each time the system waits for startup. This initial message is stored in the memory 43 in advance.

As a result, when this device is powered off regardless of PO8 and then turned on again, the control unit 20
A multi-stage flag change instruction request is sent to PO8 by an initial message via the PQFI IF transmitting circuit 44, and in response, a change instruction/request acceptance completion signal is obtained from PO8 via the POS rh-receiving circuit 45. Based on this response, the control unit 20 controls the flag buffer 41 for the first stage.
, changes the flags in each stage of the second stage flag buffer 42.

The flag of the barcode label is stored in the demodulation data buffer 25,
24 as part of the block data. The control unit 20 recognizes the flag position from the demodulation completion signals 25, 26, and stores the flag stored at that position and the buffer 41.
42 flags, and if they match, it is recognized as a multi-stage barcode as described above and goes on to read the other barcodes.

,,,/ Also, at startup (for example, when turning on the power), as a means of confirming POS instructions, the power of this device can be turned off without exchanging the above information and regardless of PO8.
- In place of the first-stage flag buffer 41 and second-stage flag buffer 42 described above, FjEFROM (non-volatile memory; electrically erasable ROM) is effective when turned on. You can also save the instructions and use them one after another at startup.

Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to send the above-mentioned initial message.

The above description has been made for a two-stage barcode, but even in the case of a more multi-stage barcode, the same process can be performed by preparing one less or the same number of one-shot purchase information as the number of stages.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by adding continuous information to a multi-stage barcode, it is possible to accurately determine the combination of blocks constituting the multi-stage barcode, and furthermore, each By assigning a multi-stage flag to each stage and allowing the multi-stage flag to be changed arbitrarily, it is possible to effectively accommodate multiple users.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 (α) to (σ) are diagrams explaining the principle of the present invention, and Figure 2 (
, ) is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the embodiment, FIG. 2(b) is a diagram showing demodulated data, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the configuration of the embodiment of the second invention. Fig. 5 (α) to (-) are explanatory diagrams of the conventional example, in which 10 is a barcode reading section;
1 is a barcode reading unit, 12 is a bar corner counter circuit,
15 is a GE check circuit, 14 is a character check circuit, 15 is a CB check circuit, 16 is a return W4 circuit, 17
is the GE-CE fusence control circuit, 18 is the CB-GE
20 is a control unit, 21 is GB/CB
Flag part, 22 is a continuous flag part, 25, 24 id
Demodulated data buffer, 41, 42 is a buffer, 45 is a high-speed message memory, 44 is a PO3 I/F transmitting circuit, and 45 is a PO8 I/p receiving circuit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A multi-stage barcode reading device that reads a multi-stage barcode in which barcodes that can be read for at least each block of a barcode that has a plurality of bar blocks separated by identification bars are set in multiple stages, and are the target of reading. means (22) for detecting continuous information that all blocks of one stage of the barcode of the multi-stage barcode have been scanned consistently; A multistage barcode reading device characterized by reading. (2) A multi-stage barcode reading device for reading a multi-stage barcode, in which barcodes that can be read for at least each block of a barcode having a plurality of bar blocks separated by identification bars are set in multiple stages, A means (41, 42) for providing a flag indicating that the barcode is a multi-stage barcode in a part of the barcode block, and for registering a flag to be compared with the flags of each stage so as to be changeable as desired.
), and means (43, 44) for confirming instructions from the host when starting up the reading device, and flag registration means (41, 44) for each stage based on the confirmation result of the instruction confirmation means (43, 44). 42) A multi-stage barcode reading device characterized in that flags for each stage are registered. (3) The means for confirming the instruction from the host at startup has means for sending an initial message requesting the designation of a flag from the host at startup, and receives the flag designation from the host in response to the message. The multi-stage barcode reading device according to claim 2, characterized in that: (4) The multi-stage barcode reading device according to claim (2), wherein the means for confirming the host instruction at startup has a storage device that holds a final host instruction flag and can read it at startup. .