JP2000251011A - Bar code recognizing device and slip recognizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly accurately recognize a bar code. SOLUTION: After the same plural bar codes are read, a character code is recognized from the said read bar codes by a bar code recognizing means 11. Afterwards, when the plural recognized character codes are compared by a character code propriety judging means 12 and character codes more than half are the same, the same character code is judged right.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a bar code recognition device and a form recognition device (OCR) for reading a bar code or a form to determine whether or not it is correct.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a bar code recognition apparatus, a standard code is prepared in advance as a code symbol, and after a bar code reading unit (scanner) optically reads a bar code printed on a product label or a price tag. The read code is converted into a character code with reference to a standard code, and a character including a predetermined number corresponding to the character code is output.

Accordingly, such a bar code reading device can automatically output correct predetermined characters from the read bar code if the reading direction of the bar code is correct.

[0004]

However, in the above-described bar code reading apparatus, when a bar code is scanned in an oblique direction or when a form of bar code printing contains dirt or the like, the character of the bar code is read. There was a problem that the code could not be read correctly or was incorrectly recognized.

Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary to perform a manual correction operation after reading the bar code.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bar code recognition device that recognizes whether a bar code is correct or not with high accuracy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a form recognition apparatus for recognizing the contents of a form with high accuracy.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a bar code recognizing means for reading a plurality of printed bar codes and converting them into a predetermined character code. The bar code recognition device is provided with character code correctness determination means for comparing the character codes of the bar codes recognized by the means, and determining that the character code belonging to the majority is correct when the majority is the same character code. is there.

According to the present invention, by taking the above-described means, when a majority of the recognized character codes of a plurality of identical bar codes are the same, the character codes belonging to the majority are recognized. Since it is determined to be correct,
Even if a barcode reading error occurs, a correct barcode can be recognized, unnecessary operations can be eliminated, and correction work after barcode reading can be greatly reduced.

According to another aspect of the invention, a weight coefficient for the grayscale information of a barcode is set in advance, a plurality of printed codes of the same barcode and grayscale information are read, and the read codes of the barcodes are specified. The character code may be determined from the magnitude of the weighting factor of the grayscale information corresponding to the converted character code of each bar code.

Further, one bar code may be read a plurality of times to determine a correct character code by the same means as described above.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a setting means for setting a weight coefficient corresponding to the number of times of reading or brightness of a form, and reading image data by reading a form a plurality of times, or changing image brightness by changing brightness. Form reading means, image recognition means for converting image data read by the form reading means into a predetermined character code, reading a plurality of times recognized by the image recognition means, or reading by changing the brightness. If the character codes of the majority of the read times are the same or the largest of the brightness weighting factors corresponding to each character code, the character code with the majority or the larger weighting factor is compared. Is a form recognition device provided with a character code correct / incorrect determination means for determining that the character is correct.

According to the present invention, by taking the above-described means, a correct form can be recognized in the same manner as the above-described barcode recognition, and the correction work after reading can be greatly reduced.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a barcode recognition device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a barcode recognition apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a form such as a product label or a price tag. A predetermined number (2N + 1, N is an integer) of bar codes are printed on the form 1 as shown in FIG. The plurality of barcodes have the same character content.

On the other hand, the apparatus main body side reads a bar code reading unit 2, a bar code setting information file 3, a recording medium 4 for recording a bar code recognition processing program, and a bar code read by the bar code reading unit 2. It comprises a read barcode storage unit 5, a recognized character code storage unit 6, and a barcode recognition processing unit 7 for storing. The barcode setting information file 3, the read barcode storage unit 5, and the recognized character code storage unit 6 may use the same storage device by dividing the area.

The bar code reading section 2 is generally called a bar code reader, and optically reads a bar code on a form, converts the bar code into code data, and outputs the code data. FIG.
Indicates the bar code reading direction. For example, five bar codes may be read simultaneously from a direction orthogonal to the arrow (a).

The bar code setting information file 3 is for setting various information necessary for bar code recognition processing. For example, the number of bar codes (2N + 1) to be printed on the form 1 and the standard code (JAN Code) ) Is set.

As the recording medium 4, a magnetic disk is generally used.
D-ROM, DVD-ROM, floppy disk, M
An O, CD-R, memory card, or the like is used, and a bar code recognition processing program for executing a series of processing as shown in FIG. 3 or 4 is recorded.

The recognized character code storage section 6 has a function of storing a character code or the like which is a bar code recognition result.

The bar code recognition processing section 7 is constituted by a CPU. The bar code recognition processing section 7 performs standard code / character setting for the bar code data stored in the read bar code storage section 5 in the bar code setting information file 3. A bar code recognition unit 11 that converts the character code into a character code while referring to the code conversion table and stores the character code in the recognized character code storage unit 6
And the character code of each bar code recognized by the bar code recognition means 11, and when the majority (N + 1) character codes are the same, the character code correctness determination means 12 determines that the character code is correct. And a recognition result output means 13 for outputting a character including a number corresponding to the character code determined to be correct by the character code correctness determination means 12.

Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

First, prior to the operation of the apparatus, various information necessary for barcode recognition processing is set in the barcode setting information file 3. As shown in FIG. 2, when five barcodes are printed on the form 1, the number of barcodes is set to 5, and a standard code / character code conversion table (for example, JAN Code) is set. .

When the operation is started in this state, the bar code recognizing means 11 of the bar code recognizing processing section 7 stores "i = 1" in a counter memory set in a partial area such as the recognized character code storing section 6. After the setting (S1), the code data of the bar code read by the bar code reading unit 2 is read from the read bar code storage unit 5, and the character code corresponding to each bar code is referred to while referring to the standard code / character code of the file 3. Is recognized, and the recognized character code is stored in the recognized character code storage unit 6 (S2 to S4).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the number of recognized character codes has reached the set number of bar codes "5" (S5). The memory is incremented by +1 (S
6) Then, the process returns to step S2 to repeatedly execute the same processing.

If the number of recognized barcodes reaches the set barcode number in step S5, the character code correct / incorrect judgment unit 12 compares the recognized barcodes and determines the majority "5" of the barcode number "5". It is determined whether or not the character codes of "N + 1" are the same (S7). When the majority of the character codes are the same, it is determined that the character codes belonging to the same are correct. The recognition result output means 13 outputs a character corresponding to the character code whose majority is determined to be the same (S8). When the same character code does not reach a majority, it is determined that recognition is not possible, and an error display or the like is output.

Incidentally, when the recognized character code of each bar code is bar code 1: 12345 bar code 2: unrecognizable bar code 3: 12345 bar code 4: 12345 bar code 5: 11111, the same character code is used. Since the character code has reached the majority, the value of the read barcode "12345" is determined to be correct, and a character "12345" is output as a recognition result.

Further, another operation example of the barcode recognition device will be described with reference to FIG.

In this example, a correct judgment result is obtained more quickly than in the above-described operation example.

This operation is the same as that of FIG. 3 in steps S1 to S4, and corresponds to steps S11 to S14. Here, after storing the character codes recognized in step S14 in the recognized character code storage unit 6, it is determined whether the number of recognized character codes has exceeded the majority (N + 1) of the number of barcodes (S15).

Here, when the number of recognized character codes exceeds a majority, the recognized character codes are compared with each other (S16), and the majority "N + 1" of the bar code number "5" is compared.
If the character code of "= 3" is the same, a character corresponding to the same character code is immediately output from the recognition result output means 13 (S17). When the number of identical character codes does not reach the majority in step S16, it is continuously determined whether the number of recognized character codes has reached the number of barcodes (S18). The counter memory is incremented by +1 (S1
9) Return to step S2 and repeat the same processing.

If the number of character codes recognized in step S18 has reached the number of barcodes, the character code correctness determination means 12 compares the recognized character codes (S2).
0), if the recognized character codes of the majority "N + 1" of the barcode number "5" are the same, the recognition result output means 13 outputs a character corresponding to the recognized recognized character code (S17). If the same recognition character code does not reach the majority, it is determined that recognition is not possible and an error display is output.

Accordingly, for example, when the recognized character code is bar code 1: 12345 bar code 2: 12345 bar code 3: 12345 bar code 4: unrecognizable bar code 5: 11111, bar code 1,2,2 3 are the same, the value of the read barcode “1”
2345 "is determined to be correct, and the character" 12345 "corresponding to this character code is output.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, when the (2N + 1) bar code is added in advance and the recognition result of the majority (N + 1) of the bar codes is the same, the same recognition result is used. The character code is judged to be correct and the character is output. Therefore, even if a bar code reading error (unreadable, erroneous recognition, etc.) occurs, the correct bar code is recognized on the condition that the majority of the recognition results are the same. Then, the recognition result can be output.

Further, even if a certain degree of error occurs, the bar code can be correctly recognized as long as a correct recognition result of the same result can be obtained, and correction processing after reading the bar code can be almost eliminated.

Next, another embodiment of the barcode recognition device will be described.

In this embodiment, a weight coefficient corresponding to the density of a bar code is set in advance, and the correctness of a character code is determined from the cumulative weight coefficient based on the density of the same recognized character code. Since it is almost the same as FIG. 1,
Here, only necessary parts will be described.

The bar code reading section 2 reads the code data and the density information of each bar code, and stores the read code data and the density information of each bar code in the read bar code storage section 5 in a corresponding relationship.

The bar code setting information file 3 includes:
For example, the following items are set.

Number of barcodes: For example, 5 Barcode type: JAN Code Weighting reference: Barcode density 10 or less → 100 20 or less → 50 30 or less → 2531 or more → 0 is set. The depth of the weighting criterion means that the larger the value is, the darker the background becomes and the more likely it is to cause erroneous recognition.

The character code correct / non-judgment means 12 compares the character codes of the bar codes recognized by the bar code recognizing means 11 and, if the same character code exists in these character codes, the same character code It has a function to judge that a character code with a large cumulative weight coefficient value of the shade information corresponding to the code is correct, and to judge that a character code with a large weight coefficient is correct among the character codes when there is no identical character code. .

Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

When the bar code reading operation is started, the bar code reading section 2 reads a plurality of bar codes on the form 1 and stores the code data and density information of each bar code in the read bar code storage section 5. .

In this state, the bar code recognition processing section 7
The bar code recognition means 11 of the
In the counter memory set in some areas such as "i =
After setting "1" (S21), the read barcode storage 5
Is read, the character code corresponding to each bar code is recognized by referring to the standard code / character code of the file 3, and the recognized character code is stored in the recognized character code storage unit 6. Yes (S22 ~
S24).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the number of recognized character codes has reached the set number of bar codes "5" (S25). If the number of bar codes has not reached the number of bar codes, +1 is added to the counter memory. Increment (S26),
Subsequently, the process returns to step S22 to repeatedly execute the same processing.

After the character codes of all the bar codes are recognized and stored as described above, the character code correct / incorrect determination means 1
2 judges whether or not the same character code exists among the recognized character codes (S27). If the result of this determination is that there is no identical character code, a weight coefficient is extracted from the file 3 based on the grayscale information corresponding to each character code, and the character code having the largest weight coefficient among these weight coefficients is determined as the correct character code. Is determined (S28), and a character corresponding to the character code is output (S29).

If there is the same character code in step S27, it is determined in next step S30 whether a plurality of the same character codes exist. Here, when there are a plurality of the same character codes, the weighting factors corresponding to the same character codes are totaled, and the same character code having the largest weighting factor cumulative value among them is determined to be the correct character code (S31). ), The character corresponding to the character code is output from the recognition result output means 13 (S29).

On the other hand, if there is only one kind of the same character code in step S30, the character having the largest weight coefficient is determined from the cumulative weight coefficient corresponding to the same character code and the weight coefficients of the other recognized character codes. The code is determined to be a correct character code (S32), and a character corresponding to the character code is output from the recognition result output means 13 (S29).

Incidentally, when the shading of each bar code is a value as shown in FIG.
The weight coefficient is as shown in FIG. In this figure, a plurality of identical recognition character codes "12345", "12344"
Exists. Therefore, when the weighting factors of these same character codes are accumulated, the character code is "12345": 75 and the character code is "12344": 25, and the correct character code is determined to be "12345".
The character "12345" is output.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the weight coefficient is set small in advance while considering that the background becomes darker and errors are more likely to occur as the depth of the weight reference becomes higher. For the recognized character code, the correct character code is selected from the magnitude relationship of the weighting factors determined from the shading of each barcode, so that the appropriateness of the barcode can be determined in consideration of the actual degree of contamination, and more accurately. Barcodes can be recognized. Further, the same effect as that of FIG. 3 or FIG.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a barcode recognition apparatus according to the present invention.

The bar code recognition apparatus does not read a plurality of bar codes, but reads one bar code continuously plural times, and compares the recognition results of the read bar codes to obtain a correct recognition result. Since the configuration is almost the same as that of FIG. 1, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, different portions will be described.

In this apparatus, a different bar code, such as a product label and a price tag as shown in FIG. The configuration information file 3A, the barcode recognition means 11A and the like are devised.

First, the barcode setting information file 3A is set with a barcode reading frequency, a table of converted character codes for standard codes, and the like. The number of times of reading the barcode is the number of times of continuous reading of one barcode by the barcode reading unit 2A, and is set to, for example, “5 times”. The arrow (b) shown in FIG.
Is the bar code reading direction, but the bar code may be read from a direction orthogonal to this direction.

The bar code recognizing means 11A has a function similar to that of FIG. 1 and uses, for example, a clock generated from a built-in clock source of the CPU, or divides the generated clock to obtain five continuous bar codes. Has a function of sending the high-speed scan clock to the barcode reading unit 2A and issuing a barcode reading instruction.

The bar code reading section 2A has a function of reading and outputting the same bar code five times, for example, by reading and outputting the bar code every time the high-speed scanning clock is received.

The operation of this apparatus can be processed using the same operation procedure as that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 only by changing the number of bar codes read in place of the set number of bar codes described above.

By the way, in each reading number of one bar code, the first time: 12345 The second time: cannot be recognized The third time: 12345 The fourth time: 12345 The fifth time: When the character code such as 11111 is recognized, the setting is performed. Since the three character codes “12345”, which is the majority (N + 1) of the read number 5 (2N + 1), are the same, it is determined that the character code “12345” is correct, and “12345”
Is output.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the first
In addition to the effect similar to that of the embodiment, since only one barcode is used, the present invention can be easily applied to a conventionally used barcode.

Further, another embodiment of the barcode recognition device will be described.

In this embodiment, when one bar code is read continuously plural times, the bar code is read while the brightness is changed, and the correctness of the character code recognized from the weight coefficient corresponding to the brightness is determined. Since the configuration is almost the same as that of FIG. 8, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and different portions will be described below.

Particularly different parts in this apparatus are a bar code reading section 2A, a bar code recognizing means 11A, a bar code setting information file 3A, a character code correct / incorrect judgment means 12A and the like.

The barcode recognizing means 11A has a function of sending a predetermined number of scan clocks, for example, five scan clocks to the barcode reader 2A continuously for one barcode.

The bar code reading section 2A has a function of reading a bar code while increasing the brightness, for example, every time a predetermined number of scanning clocks are received, and storing the read bar code in the read bar code storage section 5.

For example, the following items are set in the barcode setting information file 3A.

Number of times of bar code reading: for example 5 Bar code type: JAN Code Brightness information At first reading: weight coefficient 10 At second reading: 20 At third reading: 30 At fourth reading: 40 At fifth reading Hour: Set 50. It should be noted that, as the weighting coefficient becomes brighter, even a small amount of dirt can be recognized, so that a larger value means higher reading accuracy.

The character code correct / incorrect judgment means 12A compares the character codes of the bar codes recognized by the bar code recognition means 11A, and determines the number of the same character codes and the brightness of the character codes including the same character codes. Has the function of judging the correct character code from one or both of the weight coefficients.

Next, the operation of the above device will be described.

The bar code reading section 2A continuously reads one bar code while changing brightness each time it receives a scanning clock continuously input from the bar code recognizing means 11A. 5 is stored.

Here, the bar code recognition means 11A reads the bar code data from the read bar code storage unit 5, recognizes the character code based on the standard code of the file 3A, and stores it in the recognized character code storage unit 6. I do. This processing recognizes and stores the character code of the bar code data for the predetermined number of times of reading.

If the character code read five times is recognized in this way, the character code correct / incorrect determination means 12A
Judge whether the character code is correct or not.

For example, it is assumed that the following values are obtained as the character codes read five times.

First time: 12345 → 10 Second time: 12345 → 20 Third time: 12344 → 30 Fourth time: Unrecognizable → 0 Fifth time: Unrecognizable → 0 At this time, the first and second character codes “12345” "
Are the same, and the weighting coefficient is two and becomes 30, while the third character code “12344” is one,
In addition, the weight coefficient is 30, and both weight coefficients are the same.

Therefore, in this case, since there are two identical character codes "12345", this character code "12345"
345 "is correct.

(Third Embodiment) Each of the above embodiments has been described with reference to a barcode recognition apparatus, but the present invention can be applied to a form recognition apparatus that reads a form in the same manner.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a form recognition apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a form in which handwritten characters, marks, printed characters and the like are described.
The handwritten characters, marks, printed characters, and the like on 1 are read by the form reading unit 22, and the read image data is stored in the image data storage unit 23.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a character etc. pattern setting file. In this file 24, in addition to the character code corresponding to the image data and the character etc. pattern to be converted into a mark, the file 24 is read for each number of readings of the form 21 or for each continuous reading. A weight coefficient when the brightness is changed is set.

The form recognition processing unit 30 is composed of an image recognition unit 31, a character code correctness determination unit 32, a recognition result output unit 33, and the like.

The image recognition means 31 reads the image data stored in the image data storage section 23,
The character code and the mark are recognized from the standard pattern of the character etc. pattern setting file 24 and stored in the recognized image storage unit 25. In this process, the same process is performed for a predetermined number of form readings or for the number of times of continuous reading while changing brightness.

The character code correct / incorrect judgment means 32 executes the same processing as in the second embodiment. For example, a character code or a mark of an image read a plurality of times recognized by the image recognizing means 31 or a character code or a mark of an image read by changing the brightness is compared. Or, when the brightness weighting coefficient corresponding to each character code is the largest, the majority or the character code with the larger weighting coefficient is determined to be correct.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, when the same character code has a majority in the number of forms read, or the largest character code or the same character code weight among the brightness weighting factors. Since the largest character code among the cumulative coefficient value and the weight coefficient of the other character codes is determined to be correct, the same effect as the bar code recognition device can be obtained in the form recognition device.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bar code recognizing apparatus capable of recognizing the correctness of a bar code with high accuracy and greatly reducing correction work after bar code recognition.

Further, the present invention can provide a form recognition apparatus capable of recognizing the contents of a form with high accuracy and also capable of greatly reducing correction work after reading a form.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a barcode recognition device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a form of a barcode read by the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining still another operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a read character code of each bar code and shade information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between weighting factors and grayscale information in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the barcode recognition device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a form of a barcode read by the apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a form recognition apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Form 2, 2A ... Barcode reading part 3, 3A ... Barcode setting information file 7 ... Barcode recognition processing part 11, 11A ... Barcode recognition means 12, 12A ... Character code correctness judgment means 13 ... Recognition result output means DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Form 22 ... Form reading part 30 ... Form recognition processing part 31 ... Image recognition means 32 ... Character code right / wrong judgment means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bar code recognizing means for reading a plurality of the same bar codes printed and converting the bar code into a predetermined character code, and comparing the character codes of the bar codes recognized by the bar code recognizing means with a majority. A character code correct / non-judgment means for judging that a character code belonging to a majority thereof is correct when are the same character code. 2. A setting means for setting a weighting factor according to the density information of a bar code, a bar code reading means for reading a plurality of codes of the same bar code and density information, and a bar code reading means. Bar code recognizing means for reading the code of each read bar code and converting it into a predetermined character code; and a weight coefficient of shading information corresponding to the character code of each bar code recognized by the bar code recognizing means. A bar code recognition device, comprising: character code correct / incorrect determination means for determining a correct character code. 3. A bar code recognizing means for reading one bar code a plurality of times and converting the bar code into a predetermined character code, and comparing the character codes of the bar codes recognized by the bar code recognizing means with each other. A bar code recognition device, comprising: character code correct / non-judgment means for judging that a character code belonging to the majority is correct when the character codes of the number of times of reading are the same. 4. A weighting factor setting means for setting a weighting factor corresponding to brightness, and a barcode recognition for reading a plurality of times for one barcode while changing brightness and converting each barcode into a predetermined character code. And comparing the character code of each barcode recognized by the barcode recognition means, and selecting one of the same number of character codes and the magnitude of the weight coefficient corresponding to the brightness of the character code.
And a character code correct / impossibility determining means for determining a correct character code from one or both of them. 5. A setting means for setting a weighting factor corresponding to the number of times of reading or brightness of a form, wherein the form is read a plurality of times to read image data;
A form reading means for reading image data by changing the brightness; an image recognizing means for converting the image data read by the form reading means into a predetermined character code; and a plurality of readings recognized by the image recognizing means. ,
Or, compare the character codes of the image data read by changing the brightness, and if the character codes of the majority of the number of readings are the same or the largest of the weighting coefficients of the brightness corresponding to each character code, A form recognition device comprising: a character code correctness determination unit that determines a character code having a majority or a large weighting factor to be correct.