JP2002216073A - Device for reading readable character or the like and method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for reading readable characters capable of further easily reading characters or symbols readable by a human being without using any OCR or the like. SOLUTION: An information code 1 is provided with a micro-QR code 2 and a character 3 readable by the human being, and the character 3 is read by a code reader by using symbols 4a and 4b arranged at the both edge parts of the character 3. In this case, the CPU of the code reader sets a plurality of scanning lines U, M, and D in a character area 1b, and identifies the character 3 based on the data pattern of the character 3 optically obtained by scanning the character 3 according to the plurality of scanning lines.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading human readable characters or symbols by optical reading means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, all or a part of important alphanumeric characters coded together with a bar code are identified by ID.
Some IDs were printed as (identification information), but the ID in this case is unnecessary if the barcode is correctly read by the reading device. It was only a backup means for performing input operations. Therefore, this ID is not usually used.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-82198
In the official gazette, along with the two-dimensional code, characters that are human-readable and have meaning related to the two-dimensional code (hereinafter, referred to as “
An example is disclosed in which human readable characters are printed. By arranging such readable characters, even a general user can know what the two-dimensional code contains information related to.

[0004]

Here, if it is possible to read the readable characters as well, it is possible to give diversity to the information of the two-dimensional code. That is, even if the two-dimensional code has the same encoding pattern, if the readable characters are different, information having a completely different meaning can be added to the encoding pattern.

[0005] However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-82198.
The publication does not consider reading readable characters. For example, to read readable characters, an OCR (Optical Character Reader) or the like may be used separately from a code reader, but it is often unsuitable because of problems such as cost and processing time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to read human-readable characters or symbols such as readable characters that can be more easily read without using OCR or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for reading readable characters and the like.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the scanning line setting means includes one or a plurality of characters in a display area for characters or symbols (hereinafter, referred to as characters, etc.). And the identification means identifies the character or the like based on a data pattern of the character or the like obtained by performing scanning according to the scanning line.

That is, when the characters and the like are printed (that is, they are not drawn freehand by a human) and the types of the characters and the like are limited to some extent, the OCR like the OCR is used. It is possible to identify a character or the like based on a data pattern scanned according to one or a plurality of limited scanning lines without performing pattern recognition by referring to the entire character or the like. Therefore, with such a configuration, characters and the like can be more easily read without using an OCR or the like.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the identification means stores the data pattern obtained by performing scanning in accordance with one or a plurality of scanning lines and the storage means. Since the character or the like is identified by collating with a data pattern such as a character or a symbol that is assumed to be read in advance, the identification of the character or the like can be easily performed by comparing with the data pattern stored in the storage unit. It can be carried out.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the scanning line setting means sets the scanning lines in the height direction of the display area. The “height direction” here is a direction different from the direction in which the characters and the like are arranged by 90 degrees. For example, when the characters and the like are arranged in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction is the “height direction”. Direction ”. That is, by setting the scanning lines in the height direction, the characters and the like can be identified with a smaller number of scanning lines.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the scanning line setting means sets the scanning line at a position determined by a predetermined ratio with respect to the height of the display area. The position of the scanning line can be easily determined based on the size.

According to the apparatus for reading readable characters and the like according to claim 5, the scanning line setting means sets the scanning line based on the position of the symbol when the symbol is arranged around the display area. The position of the scanning line can be more easily determined.

According to the apparatus for reading readable characters and the like according to claim 6, the identification means decodes information from a code read by the optical reading means and arranged together with the display area. Therefore, for example, a bar code or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code can be read and decoded together with the characters and the like, and by combining information given by a code with the characters and the like,
It is possible to give diversity to the information presented thereby, and the application range of the information code can be further expanded.

[0014]

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the information code 1. Information code 1
Is a micro QR which is a two-dimensional code on the recording surface side.
A code 2 and a character 3 in which human-readable characters “Q Phone” are displayed in white are arranged below the micro QR code (hereinafter simply referred to as a code) 2 in FIG. . Here, an area where the code 2 is arranged is defined as a code area 1a, and an area where the character 3 is arranged (including a symbol 4 described later) is defined as a character area (display area) 1b.

The code 2 is formed by two-dimensionally combining a dark cell formed by printing a black square and a bright cell having a white square as a portion where the dark cell does not exist. Encode information such as kanji, kana, and symbols,
It is formed in a rectangular shape. As will be described in detail later, the code 2 is configured such that an encoding pattern composed of dark cells and bright cells is optically read and decoded by a reader equipped with a CCD camera or the like.

The character area 1b is arranged with a predetermined gap (ie, a non-printing portion) between the character area 1b and the lower end of the code area 1a. The "predetermined gap" is set to be equal to an integral multiple of the cell size of the code 2, for example. The character 3 “Q Phone” represents the content of the information encoded in the code 2.
The character 3 is composed of a black background portion 3B and a white character portion 3C.

The character 3 is located at both ends of the character 3.
Are arranged by bar-shaped symbols 4a and 4b used for reading the code 2 by a reading device for reading the code 2. These symbols 4a and 4b are arranged at both ends of the code area 1a and with a predetermined gap between the symbols 4a and 4b and the black background 3B which is the outer edge of the display area of the character 3.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the code reader 5. The LED 6 is used to irradiate the recording surface of the information code 1 with red light for illumination. When the light emitted by the LED 6 is reflected by the recording surface of the information code 1,
The light is received by a D (Charge Coupled Device) area sensor 8. The CCD area sensor 8
The captured two-dimensional image is used as a scanning line signal in the horizontal direction as a comparison circuit 10 and an A / D conversion circuit 11 via an amplification circuit 9.
Output.

The comparison circuit 10 outputs the binarized data obtained by comparing the input scanning line signal with a threshold value to a memory (storage means) 12 and a specific ratio detection circuit 13. The specific ratio detection circuit 13 detects a predetermined frequency component included in the code 2 encoding pattern from the data of the binarized scanning line signal, and outputs the detection result to the memory 12. I have. The A / D conversion circuit 11 converts an analog scanning line signal provided via the amplification circuit 9 into digital data and outputs the digital data to the memory 12.

CPU (scanning line setting means, identification means) 14
Controls the driving of the LED 5, the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 9, the threshold level given to the comparator circuit 10, the A / D
The conversion circuit 11 and the specific ratio detection circuit 13 are controlled. Further, the CPU 14 controls the synchronization signal generation circuit 1
5 to output a clock signal. When the synchronizing signal generation circuit 15 generates a synchronizing signal based on the clock signal given from the CPU 14, the synchronizing signal is output to the CCD area sensor 8, the specific ratio detecting circuit 13 and the address generating circuit 16. Address generation circuit 1
6 generates a write address of the memory 12 by counting the synchronization signal, and outputs the write address to the memory 12.

Further, an operation signal of a switch 17 for the user to perform an operation input is given to the CPU 14, and the CPU 14 outputs a display signal to a liquid crystal display 18 and a communication interface. 19
The communication with a host (not shown) can be performed via the CPU 12, and processing such as transmitting data stored in the memory 12 is performed. The battery 20 supplies power to each part of the code reader 5.

The hardware configuration of the code reading device 5 is basically the same as that of a well-known one. As will be described below, the characteristic functions of the present invention are realized by software processing in the CPU 14. I have.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the CP of the reader 5.
It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process which U14 performs. First, the CPU 14 reads the image data of the entire area of the information code 1 via the CCD area sensor 8 (step S0). Then, based on the read image data, “1: 1:” corresponding to the positioning symbol 2a of code 2 is read.
When a specific frequency ratio such as 3: 1: 1 "is detected from the detection result of the specific ratio detection circuit 13 (step S1), the code area 1a is detected based on the positioning symbol 2a (step S2, code reading step). .

Subsequently, the CPU 14 sets the code area 1a
And a character area 1b, and an image pattern of an area composed of an arrangement of “symbol 4a, black background 3B, symbol 4b” following the gap, is detected (step S).
3) A black background portion 3B sandwiched between the end symbols 4a and 4b is detected (step S4).

Then, the CPU 14 detects a pattern of the character 3 on the scanning line by performing scanning based on the scanning line set in the character area 1b (step S5). Here, the scanning line set for the character area 1b is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), there are three lines of "U, M, D", and a method of determining their positions will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, the CPU 14 sets the symbol 4 (bar)
Is detected (step A1), the position of the scanning line M is determined as the position of "H / 2" with the lower end of the character area 1b as a reference (for example, "0") (step A2). still,
The height H of the symbol 4 is, for example, 5 of the cell size of the code 2.
It is set to be equal to twice.

Next, the CPU 14 determines the position of the scanning line U,
The position is determined by adding "H / N" based on the position of the scanning line M (step A3). Here, “N” is an appropriate natural number such as “4”. Subsequently, the CPU 14
Determines the position of the scanning line D as a position obtained by subtracting "H / N" from the position of the scanning line M (step A4).
By the above process, three scanning lines “U, M, D”
Is determined. Steps A1 to A4 correspond to a scanning line setting step.

Referring again to FIG. The CPU 14 performs scanning based on the scanning lines "U, M, D" set in the character area 1b in step S5, detects the pattern of the character 3, and then compares the scanned pattern with the reference pattern. , Character 3 is determined (step S6, identification step).

Here, the "reference pattern" is a character which is described as character 3 because it is a specific limited character.
This is stored in the memory 12 in advance as a data pattern expected to be scanned. The pattern of the character portion 3C detected as an outline as a result of the actual scanning is compared with the reference pattern, and the character 3 “Q
Phone ”is determined (identified). In this case, as described above, since it is not necessary to assume all characters, symbols, and the like, it is possible to sufficiently determine the character 3 even with about three scanning lines. It is.

Next, the CPU 14 decodes the code 2 in the code area 1a (step S7,
The result is output to the liquid crystal display 18 together with the character 3 of the character area 1b identified in step C6 (step S8). Also, if necessary, code 2
And the data of the identified character 3 are output to an external device via the communication interface 19.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the information code 1 includes the code 2 and the human-readable character 3 “Q P
"", the character 3 is read by the reader 5 using the symbols 4a and 4b arranged at both ends of the character 3. In this case, the reader 5 is used.
Sets a plurality of scanning lines U, M, D in the character area 1b,
The character 3 is identified based on the data pattern of the character 3 obtained by performing scanning according to the plurality of scanning lines.
Therefore, the character 3 can be more easily read without using OCR or the like.

On the reading side of the information code 1, by combining the information provided by the code 2 and the character 3, the information presented by the entire information code 1 can be given more diversity. 1 can be further expanded.

The characters 3a and 4b represent
Is shown, the reading device 5
Can easily identify and read the code 2 and the character 3, and can easily recognize a character located between the symbols 4 a and 4 b as the character 3. Further, since the dimension relating to the arrangement of the symbols 4a and 4b is an integral multiple (predetermined relation) of the cell dimension of the code 2 (standard dimension relating to the coding pattern), the code reader 5 is used.
When the symbols 4a and 4b are recognized as digital data, the pattern can be easily recognized in relation to the standard dimensions.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the CPU 14
Since the scanning lines U, M, and D are set at positions determined by a predetermined ratio with respect to the height dimension H of the character area 1b, the character 3 can be identified with a smaller number of scanning lines. Further, the position of the scanning line can be easily determined based on the height H. Then, the CPU 14 easily identifies the character 3 by comparing a data pattern obtained by performing scanning according to the scanning lines U, M, and D with a data pattern stored in the memory 12 in advance. Can be.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the parts will be described. In the information code 21 of the second embodiment, instead of the bar-shaped symbols 4a, 4b arranged on both sides of the black background portion 3B in the first embodiment, three dots (1) to (3) are respectively provided on both sides of the black background portion 3B. Symbol 2 consisting of (3)
2a and 22b are arranged.

Of these, the symbol 22 (2) located at the middle in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 is arranged corresponding to the position of the scanning line M in the first embodiment, and the symbol 22 (2)
22 (1), 22 located above and below
(3) is arranged corresponding to the upper end and the lower end of the character area 21b. Others are the same as the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. In this case, the processes in steps S3 and S4 shown in FIG. 3 are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, but in step S3, the positions of the three symbols 22 (1) to 22 (3) are also detected. In FIG. 6 showing the scanning line determination process, the CPU 14 determines the positions of the symbols 22 (1) and 22 (3) as the scanning lines UL and DL, respectively (step B0), and then proceeds to the symbol 22 (2). ) Is determined as the position of the scanning line M (step B1). Then, the position of the scanning line U is determined as an intermediate position between the symbols 22 (1) and 22 (2) (step B2), and the position of the scanning line D is determined between the symbols 22 (2) and 22 (3). An intermediate position is determined (step B3). As a result, the positions of the scanning lines U and D are determined in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the code reader 5 sets a scanning line based on the positions of the symbols 22 (1) to 22 (3). That is, the symbol 22
A scanning line U is provided at each position of (1), 22 (2) and 22 (3).
L, DL, and M are set and their symbols 22
Are set at the intermediate positions of the symbols 3, the reading device 5 can reliably read the character 3 based on the positions of the symbols 22 (1) to 22 (3).

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. explain. In the information code 23 of the third embodiment, the character area 2
The character 24 “Q Phone” of 3b is drawn in black on a white background. In order to set the character area 23b, bar-shaped symbols 25a and 25b drawn in the horizontal direction so as to indicate the upper end and the lower end thereof are arranged.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. As for the information code 23 of the third embodiment, the characters 24
Is detected in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the character area 23 is determined from the difference between the positions of the upper and lower symbols 25a and 25b.
The height H 'of b is obtained, and the position of the scanning line M is determined to be "H' / 2" with the position of the symbol 25b at the lower end of the character area 23b as a reference (for example, "0"). next,
The position of the scanning line U is defined as “H ′” with reference to the position of the scanning line M.
/ N "is determined, and the position of the scanning line D is determined as a position obtained by subtracting" H '/ N "from the position of the scanning line M. That is, as shown in FIG. The same operation as in the first embodiment is performed by replacing the indicated height H with H '.
It goes without saying that “H ′ = H” may be used.

In the third embodiment, when the character 24 is determined in step S6, the scanning lines "U, M,
As a result of scanning based on D ", white and black are detected in a pattern opposite to that of the first embodiment and the like. According to the third embodiment, as described above, the symbols 25a and 25b 2
4, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. explain. In the information code 26 of the fourth embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment, bar-shaped symbols 25a and 25b are arranged to set a character area 26b, and at the middle position between the upper and lower positions, Dot symbol 27
a and 27b are arranged.

Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described. The detection of the character 24 in the fourth embodiment is performed in the same manner as in the second embodiment. That is, the dot symbol 2
The scanning line M is set according to the positions of 7a and 27b, and the scanning line U is set at an intermediate position between the symbol 25a and the symbol 27. Further, a scanning line D is set at an intermediate position between the symbol 27 and the symbol 25b.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the symbols 25a and 25b are arranged at the upper and lower ends of the character 24, and the dot-like symbols 27 are arranged at the left and right ends of the character 24.
Since a and 27b are arranged, the same effects as in the first and third embodiments can be obtained.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, an information code 29 is formed by arranging a frame-like symbol 28 so as to surround the character 24 in the third embodiment. According to the fifth embodiment configured as described above, the code reading device 5 easily recognizes the character 24 arranged inside the symbol 28 and detects the character 24 by the same method as the third embodiment. be able to.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 10 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the sixth embodiment, the symbols 4a and 4b are removed from the information code 1 in the first embodiment,
The information code 30 is provided with a black background portion 3Bx which is obtained by expanding the black background portion 3B to a position where the symbols 4a and 4b are arranged. In this case, a black background portion 3Bx surrounding the white character portion 3C also serves as a symbol.

According to the sixth embodiment configured as described above, the code reading device 5 detects the character portion 3C disposed inside the black background portion 3Bx by the same method as in the first embodiment. be able to.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and the following modifications or extensions are possible. The code is not limited to the micro QR code 2, but may be any other QR code, bar code, PD
Any device that can be read by optical reading means, such as F417, Data Matrix, and Maxicode, may be used.
“Characters or symbols, etc.” are not limited to alphabets, but may include hiragana, katakana, numbers, kanji,
Symbols, lines, figures, etc. may be used. The set number of scanning lines may be changed and set as appropriate, and when the characters to be used are limited to some extent, the set number may be only one. In the first embodiment, the scanning lines UL and DL may be set at the ends (0, H) in the height direction of the character area 1b. That is, when the character is displayed so as to cover the end of the area 1b, the above-described scanning lines UL and DL can be used for character detection. Step S7 may be performed after steps S2 and S4. In the second embodiment, symbols corresponding to the positions of the scanning lines U and D may be separately provided.

The arrangement of the symbols does not necessarily need to be set so as to have a predetermined relationship with the standard dimensions related to the code coding pattern. The symbol does not necessarily need to indicate an area where characters and the like are arranged. For example, the height of the symbols 4a and 4b in the first embodiment may be set smaller than H. In this case, the height H of the character area 1b is detected by detecting the upper and lower ends of the black background 3B. You may do it. Micro QR code 2
And the like may be arranged as needed, and a code in which only the character 3 and the like are arranged may be read.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows an information code, and (b) shows an enlarged character area of the information code shown in (a).

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the reader.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing executed by the CPU of the reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing contents for determining positions of three scanning lines U, M, and D;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1A showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1A showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1A showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1A showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is an information code, 2 is a micro QR code, 3 is a character,
3Bx is a symbol, 4a and 4b are symbols, 5 is a reading device (optical reading means), 12 is a memory (storage means), 14 is a CPU (scanning line setting means, identification means), 2
1 is an information code, 22a and 22b are symbols, 24 is a character, 25a and 25b are symbols, 26 is an information code,
7a and 27b are symbols, 28 is a symbol, 29 and 30
Indicates an information code.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B029 AA03 BB02 CC21 5B064 AB10 BA01 CA07 CA08 DC21 DC35 5B072 AA00 CC01 CC38 DD02 DD23 DD28 JJ11 LL07 MM02

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A human-readable character or symbol,
In a reading device for reading by optical reading means, a scanning line setting means for setting one or a plurality of scanning lines in a display area of the character or the symbol, and the character or the character obtained by performing scanning according to the scanning line A reading device for reading readable characters and the like, comprising: identification means for identifying the character or the symbol based on a data pattern of the symbol or the like. 2. A storage means for storing a data pattern such as a character or a symbol which is assumed to be read in advance, wherein said identification means is obtained by performing scanning according to said one or more scanning lines. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character or the symbol is identified by comparing the data pattern obtained with the data pattern stored in the storage unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanning line setting unit sets the scanning line in a height direction of the display area. 4. The scanning line setting unit detects a height dimension of the display area and sets the scanning line at a position determined by a predetermined ratio with respect to the height dimension. Item 3. A device for reading readable characters according to item 3. 5. The scanning line setting unit according to claim 1, wherein when a symbol is arranged around the display area, the scanning line is set based on a position of the symbol. A reading device for reading readable characters and the like. 6. A code in which information is encoded by combining a dark part and a light part together with the display area is arranged, and the optical reading unit is configured to optically read the code. The readable character according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the identification unit is configured to decode the information from the code read by the optical reading unit. Etc. reading device. 7. A human-readable character or symbol,
In a reading method of reading by an optical reading means, a scanning line setting step of setting one or more scanning lines in a display area of the character or the symbol, and the character or the character obtained by performing scanning according to the scanning line An identification step for identifying the character or the symbol based on a data pattern of the symbol or the like. 8. A data pattern such as a character or a symbol that is assumed to be read in advance is stored in a storage unit, and the identifying step includes: a data pattern obtained by performing scanning according to the scanning line; 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the character or symbol is identified by comparing the data pattern with a data pattern stored in the storage unit. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the scanning line setting step sets the scanning line in a height direction of the display area. 10. The scanning line setting step detects a height dimension of the display area and sets the scanning line at a position determined by a predetermined ratio with respect to the height dimension. Item 9. A method for reading readable characters according to Item 9. 11. The scanning line setting step, wherein, when a symbol is arranged around the display area, the scanning line is set with reference to the position of the symbol. How to read the readable characters etc. of the description. 12. A code reading step of reading the code by the optical reading means when a code obtained by encoding information by combining a dark part and a light part is arranged together with the display area; A decoding step of decoding the information on the basis of the method. 12. The method of reading readable characters and the like according to claim 7, further comprising: