JP2003216915A - Information transmission equipment and information transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information transmission equipment capable of transmitting greater amount of information on a limited screen and a transmission method using it. <P>SOLUTION: The information transmission equipment has a conversion means for converting information into image commands, a display means for displaying the information in the form of successively variable data codes, and a reading means for reading the data codes. The method of transmitting information using the equipment is also disclosed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transmitting device capable of transmitting a large amount of information even in a small size, and an information transmitting method using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets, a bar code and a data scanner are used as an information transmitting device for recording, displaying and reading various kinds of information about products for the purpose of product identification management and price display. Information transmission equipment consisting of and has become established. Also, in companies, hospitals, public institutions, etc., management of personal information,
Data codes such as bar codes are becoming popular on ID cards such as medical examination tickets and employee ID cards for the purpose of identification.

[0003]

By the way, in these information transmission devices, the data code such as the bar code in which the information is described is displayed by directly printing it on the article or card to be managed or by attaching a sticker. Since the data code once described is difficult to change easily, there is also a problem that a large area is required to simultaneously describe a plurality of different data codes.

Further, for the purpose of diversifying usage methods and preventing forgery of the data code itself, the information code is rapidly becoming complicated and large in capacity. On the other hand, since the data code that can be displayed per unit area and the resolution of the image reading device that reads it are both limited, increasing the area of the data code is a problem. There was a problem that the range was limited.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information transmitting device capable of transmitting a plurality of information and an information transmitting method using the same. .

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the information transmission device of the present invention is an image comprising a conversion means for converting information into an image command and a data code capable of sequentially changing the image command. Display means to display as
And an image reading unit for reading the image. Further, the information transmission method of the present invention uses the information transmission device having the above configuration as a solution means.

According to the configuration of the present invention, after converting the specific information into an image command represented by a digital value or the like by the converting means, the image command is displayed on the displaying means as an image consisting of a data code, Information can be transmitted by reading the image by the image reading means. At this time, since the image can be changed by the display means, the data code can be easily changed.
Also, by displaying various data codes sequentially,
A large amount of information can be displayed on a screen of a specific size.

Further, since the image changes depending on the scroll type, the whole switching type, the partial switching type, or the like, various kinds of information can be continuously transmitted. In particular, in the case where the image changes in a scroll format, it is not necessary to scan the entire screen by the reading means, and the entire information can be read by scanning a part of the display screen. Further, in the case of the partial switching format, since the screen can be divided into a plurality of sections and different information can be displayed for each section, a plurality of information can be transmitted simultaneously and continuously.

The data code constituting the image in the present invention is at least one kind selected from numbers, alphabets, hiragana, katakana, one-dimensional bar code, two-dimensional bar code, and geometric symbol. The combination makes it easier to convey various complicated and large amounts of information. Further, by using such a data code, an image with good visibility can be easily displayed. Especially when a data code including a barcode and a geometric symbol is used, confidentiality of information can be maintained.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the information transmitting device and the information transmitting method of the present invention will be described in detail, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that various forms can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The information transmission device of the present invention comprises a conversion means 1 for converting information to be transmitted into an image command, a display means 2 for displaying an image corresponding to the image command, and an image reading means 3 for reading the displayed image. It is roughly composed.

In FIG. 1, an information detector 4 detects and inputs specific information to be transmitted, and the information detected by this information detector 4 is a conversion means represented by, for example, an A / D converter. At 1, it is converted to a digital value.
The specific information converted into the digital value is transmitted to the microcomputer (CPU) 5 as an image command, processed there, and then displayed on the display means 2 as an image composed of various data codes that can be sequentially changed.

A memory 6 is connected to the microcomputer 5. The memory 6 is a random access memory (RA that allows writing of data according to an image command).
M) and a read only memory (ROM) capable of reading data only. In the ROM portion, various control programs such as image commands as well as image patterns such as data codes are stored, and the data codes can be switched and displayed according to the image commands. In the RAM portion, the information converted into a digital value is recorded as data, and this is appropriately divided and read out, whereby the RO
The data code stored in the M portion can be displayed on the display means 2 as an image that can be changed sequentially.

The display means 2 is not particularly limited as long as it is a display means capable of appropriately changing and displaying an image in accordance with an image command and capable of holding the contrast ratio of the display image at 2 times or more. It may be full color or mono color. Even passive display elements such as liquid crystal display elements (LCD) and electrochromic (EC) display elements, cathode ray tubes (CRTs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), electroluminescence (EL) display elements, plasma display panels ( It may be composed of various light emitting display elements such as PDP). These display elements may be direct-view type or projection type,
Further, in the case of a passive display element, it may have a light source as a backlight for the purpose of improving visibility. The display device 2 of the present invention has a display image contrast ratio of 2 or more because the contrast ratio generally required when a barcode is read by a scanner is 2 or more.

The image reading means 3 has an input terminal 7, a scanner 8, a scanner driver 9, a microcomputer (CPU) 10 and a memory 11. The microcomputer 10 drives the scanner 8 via the scanner driver 9 in response to a read start input from the input terminal 7 including a keyboard or the like. The microcomputer 10 converts the image read by the scanner 8 into a numerical value or the like and stores it in the memory 11. Like the memory 6 on the image display side, this memory 11 also has a RAM portion and a ROM portion, and accumulates and records the displayed image information. The information thus received and recorded can be recorded in the memory 6 via the input terminal 7 or can be connected to a host computer, a printer or the like for external output.

According to the information transmission method using the information transmission device of the present invention, first, the specific information is detected by the information detector 4, and this data is digitized by the A / D converter 1, It is processed as an information command by the microcomputer 5. This information command is displayed as an image on the image display element 2 as a data code that can be changed sequentially. The image displayed at this time may be one in which all the information to be transmitted is displayed at one time, or may be a divided image in which only a part of the information is displayed. In the case of divided images, by sequentially changing these, the entire information can be transmitted sequentially. Next, this image is read by the image reading means 3, processed by the microcomputer 10, and stored in the memory or output to the outside as required.

The data code used in the present invention is not particularly limited and includes numbers, alphabets, hiragana, katakana, one-dimensional bar code, two-dimensional bar code,
It consists of geometric symbols. It may be composed of one or more of these and may be used in combination. Especially when a two-dimensional bar code is used, it becomes easier to transmit various complicated and large-volume information, which is preferable. The code system of the two-dimensional bar code is not particularly limited, and for example, maxi code, data matrix, super code, etc. are suitable. By using such a bar code, it is possible to easily display an image with good visibility and also keep the confidentiality of information. Furthermore, in the case of a two-dimensional bar code, a large amount of information can be transmitted, and it is possible to prevent forgery of the data code itself.

An example of a one-dimensional bar code preferably used in the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an example of a two-dimensional bar code is shown in FIG. These data codes may be one bar code displayed on one screen or a plurality of bar codes displayed simultaneously on one screen. For example, as shown in FIG.
It may be divided into four sections of 22, 23, and 24, and a different barcode may be displayed for each section. Furthermore, the directionality of each barcode may be different for each section.

The format for changing the image composed of these data codes is not particularly limited, and a scroll format, a full screen switching format, a partial screen switching format, etc. can be preferably used, and information to be transmitted. Can be selected as appropriate depending on the type and use thereof.

FIG. 5 shows how the displayed image is changed by scrolling the one-dimensional bar code shown in FIG. 2 from the left side to the right side of the drawing. By thus scrolling the data code displayed on the screen, it is not necessary to scan the entire screen by an image reading means such as a scanner, and a large amount of information can be transmitted on a small display screen. Further, by continuing scrolling, a plurality of pieces of information can be continuously transmitted. In addition, the scroll direction, its speed is the amount of information to be transmitted,
It can be changed as appropriate depending on the contents, the capability of the image reading means, and the like.

By switching the entire screen,
FIG. 6 shows how the barcode shown in FIG. 3 is changed to the barcode shown in FIG. In this way, according to the screen full-screen switching type, since it is easy to change the barcode, it is possible to transmit a plurality of information in a small area.

When a plurality of different pieces of information are transmitted by switching a part of the screen, the screen is divided into four sections 21, 22, 23 and 24, respectively, as shown in FIG. Combine the two existing sections respectively. That is, section 21 and section 23, and section 22 and section 2
4 and are combined respectively. Then, the information A is set to be displayed by the sections 22 and 24, and the information B is set to be displayed by the sections 21 and 23. Here section 21 and section 23
By changing only the display screen of, the new information C can be displayed in place of the information B while the information A is being displayed. As described above, in the case of the partial screen switching type, the screen of the image display element can be divided into a plurality of sections, and each image to be displayed can be independently switched for each section. Different information can be displayed and communicated at the same time.

The setting of the image switching timing is not particularly limited depending on the switching format, the type of information, etc., and a timer built in the microcomputer 5 on the image display side may be used, or various settings may be made in accordance with the completion of image reading. There is a method of transmitting a signal from the scanner side, receiving the signal on the display side, and feeding it back to the microcomputer 5.

According to the information transmission method of the present invention, the data code can be easily changed by appropriately switching the screen. Therefore, it is possible not only to transmit a plurality of different information items but also to selectively transmit only necessary information items. Further, when it is not necessary to switch the screen, the image once displayed can be retained as it is, and the display element itself can be provided with a recording function.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one usage state when the information transmission device of the present invention is used as the identification certificate 12, in which the identification certificate 12 is authenticated by the authenticator 14. The authenticator 14 has a laser scanner (not shown) for reading a bar code displayed on the liquid crystal display element 13 and an operation key 15. As shown in FIG. 9, the identification card 12 is a card having a liquid crystal display element 13, and the certification contents such as name and employee number are also printed by printing characters, photographs, holograms and the like. Other personal authentication information such as address, name, face picture, password, etc. are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13.

At the time of enrollment at a company or the like, after the ID card 12 is read by the authenticator 14 and confirmed,
The gate can be opened by operating the operation key 15. After the identification is confirmed, by inputting an end command or the like from the operation keys 15, a signal of sound or light is transmitted from the authenticator 14 side to the liquid crystal display element 13 to change the display screen. In this way, the information displayed on the liquid crystal display element 13 can be changed as appropriate, so it is not necessary to issue an entrance card for each gate provided on the premises, and only one identification card 12 is required. Good. Further, when such an identification card 12 is used, the personal information is coded and cannot be read by human eyes, so not only the confidentiality of the information is maintained, but also for the prevention of forgery. Be useful.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the information transmitting device and the information transmitting method using the same of the present invention, since the data code can be easily changed, a large amount of information can be displayed on a limited screen. Can be transmitted. Also, since the screen changes sequentially, it is possible to continuously transmit a plurality of information. In particular, if the change of the image is partially switched, a plurality of different information can be transmitted simultaneously and continuously. Further, when the change of the image is in the scroll format, it is not necessary to scan the entire screen with the reading device, and the information can be transmitted by scanning a part of the screen.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an image displayed by the information transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another example of the image.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing still another example of the image.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of how an image displayed on the information transmission device of the present invention changes.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of how the image changes.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing still another example of how the image changes.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the information transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 conversion means 2 display means 3 Image reading means 12 ID card 13 Liquid crystal display element 14 authenticator

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A conversion means for converting information into an image command, a display means for displaying the image command as an image composed of a data code that can be changed sequentially, and an image reading means for reading the image. Information transmission equipment. 2. The information transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the image changes according to a scroll format. 3. The information transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the image changes according to a full-face switching format. 4. The information transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the image is changed depending on a partial switching format. 5. The data code comprises at least one selected from numbers, alphabets, hiragana, katakana, one-dimensional barcodes, two-dimensional barcodes, and geometric symbols. The information transmission device according to claim 4. 6. An information transmission device comprising: a conversion unit for converting information into an image command; a display unit for displaying the image command as an image composed of a data code that can be changed sequentially; and an image reading unit for reading the image. Information transmission method to be used. 7. The information transmitting method according to claim 6, wherein the image changes in a scrolling manner. 8. The information transmitting method according to claim 6, wherein the image changes according to a full-face switching format. 9. The information transmitting method according to claim 6, wherein the image is partially changed depending on a switching format. 10. The data code comprises at least one selected from numbers, alphabets, hiragana, katakana, one-dimensional barcodes, two-dimensional barcodes, and geometric symbols. Claim 9
The information transmission method described in any one of 1.