JP2010067254A - Print information reading apparatus and print information reading method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce size and price of a reading apparatus while reliably imaging all regions of print information without using any display. <P>SOLUTION: A prism 17a is mounted on a window provided on a distal end surface portion of a case 18 of a remote controller 1A. While a bottom surface of the case 18 is disposed on a print sheet 20 with a two-dimensional (2D) code 21 printed thereon in a predetermined range in a lateral direction, an optical image of the 2D code is introduced from the window into the case 18 by the prism 17a, and formed on a light-receiving plane of a camera 10 disposed inside the case 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print information reading apparatus and a print information reading method for reading print information such as a two-dimensional code using a camera.

  In recent years, information search services and provision services using two-dimensional codes have become widespread. In this type of service, for example, a two-dimensional code represented by a QR code displayed on a printed matter such as a newspaper or a magazine is imaged by a camera, and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) included in the two-dimensional code is obtained from the image data. recognize. Then, by accessing the Internet based on this URL, search information and commercial information are acquired from the corresponding Web server. Using this type of service is very convenient because the user does not need to input a URL by key operation and can reduce erroneous access.

  However, when reading a two-dimensional code, a user generally picks up a two-dimensional code by grasping a reading device with a built-in camera by hand. For this reason, the entire two-dimensional code may not be within the imaging range (frame) of the camera, and as a result, the two-dimensional code may not be read correctly.

  Therefore, conventionally, a device having a display such as a mobile phone is used, and a two-dimensional code image captured by a camera prior to reading is displayed on the display so that the two-dimensional code to be read is within the imaging range. It can be confirmed whether or not it is within the range (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-277445 A

  However, in such a conventional reader, it is necessary to provide a display and its display drive circuit. For this reason, for example, when a remote controller such as a television receiver or a video recording / reproducing device is used as a reading device, the remote controller must be provided with not only a camera but also a display and its display driving circuit. And cost increase.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to ensure that the entire area of print information can be imaged without using a display, thereby enabling a small and inexpensive print information reading apparatus. It is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is that a camera is built in a housing, an optical system is provided in a window provided on a side surface of the housing, and the bottom surface of the housing is printed information on a print medium. Is arranged in a predetermined range outside the printed range, the optical system introduces an optical image of the print information into the housing by the optical system, forms the image on the camera, and converts the print information from the camera to the print information. A corresponding image signal is output.

  Therefore, if the bottom surface of the housing is placed in a predetermined range outside the printed area on the printing medium, the optical image of the printed printing information is introduced into the housing by the optical system. To form an image on the camera. This eliminates the need for a display for displaying an image of print information and its display drive circuit, thereby enabling downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus. In addition, since the print information is imaged in a state where the bottom surface of the casing is placed on the print medium, high-precision reading processing can be performed without being affected by camera shake or the like.

Another aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising the following specific embodiments.
In the first embodiment, the optical system includes a prism that refracts the optical image of the print information to convert the perspective image into a planar image.
In this way, the printing information can be imaged from the horizontal direction, but can be formed on the camera as a planar image, thereby reducing image distortion and improving the content decoding of the printing information. It becomes possible to carry out with accuracy.

In a second embodiment, the optical system converts the optical image of the printing information into a planar image by refracting the optical image of the printing information, and the optical image of the printing information converted into the planar image by the prism. A reflecting mirror that reflects the light and forms an image on the camera.
In this way, the optical image of the print information introduced into the casing by the prism can be reflected in an arbitrary direction in the casing and formed on the camera. As a result, the degree of freedom in design such as the installation position of the camera and the installation position of the prism in the housing can be increased.

According to a third embodiment, when a detector is provided on the bottom surface of the housing, and the bottom surface of the housing is disposed in a predetermined range outside the range where the print information on the medium is printed, The state is detected by the detector. And when the said state is detected by the said detector, it is comprised so that the reading circuit may take in an image signal from the said camera, decode the content, and store the information showing the decoding result in a memory .
In this way, when the bottom surface of the housing is arranged in a predetermined range outside the range where the print information on the print medium is printed, this state is detected by the detector and automatically read by the reading circuit. Operation is performed. Therefore, the user does not need to operate the reading button, and the operability is improved accordingly.

  In the fourth embodiment, the reading circuit reads the image signal from the camera, decodes the content of the image signal, determines the success or failure of the decoding process, and only when the decoding process is determined to be successful, The information representing the decryption result obtained by the above is stored in the memory, and the information representing the success or failure of the decryption process is presented to the user.

  In this way, only when the print information is correctly read, the decoding result is stored in the memory. For example, the arrangement position of the bottom of the housing on the print medium deviates from a predetermined range so that the print information can be read correctly. If not, the information indicating the decryption result is not stored in the memory, and the user is informed that the information could not be read correctly. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an uncertain reading result of print information from being stored in the memory as it is. Based on the result of decoding the print information that is always read correctly, control of other devices and Web access can be performed accurately, and the storage area of the memory can be used effectively. In addition, if the reading is not performed correctly, the fact is presented to the user, so that the user can recognize the failure of the reading operation on the spot, thereby enabling the reading operation to be immediately restarted. .

  In the fifth embodiment, a translucent member having a function of displaying a range on a print medium that can be imaged by an optical system and a camera is attached to a side surface portion of a housing. With such a configuration, when the user aligns the reading device with the reading position on the print medium, the translucent member can be used as an alignment guide, thereby reading the print information. The operation can be performed more reliably and smoothly.

  In the sixth embodiment, the translucent member is further configured to have a function of flattening the range by contacting the range where the print information on the print medium is printed on the bottom surface. is there. If it does in this way, a printing medium will be pressed by a translucent member at the time of reading operation, and the printing range of printing information will be made flat. For this reason, even if the print medium has wrinkles or warpage, the print information can be read and processed in a flat state by correcting the wrinkles, warpage, and the like, thereby enabling reading processing with higher accuracy.

  In other words, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably capture an image of the entire area of print information without using a display, thereby providing a small and inexpensive print information reading apparatus.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
1A and 1B show a first embodiment of a print information reading apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a side view.
The print information reading apparatus according to the first embodiment reads a two-dimensional code (QR code) as print information, and is provided in a remote controller used in a television receiver or a video recording / reproducing apparatus.

  The remote controller 1A includes a stick-shaped casing 18 having a rectangular shape, and a numeric keypad and a plurality of function keys are disposed on the upper surface of the casing 18. The function keys include a reading button 11a for inputting a two-dimensional code reading instruction and a transmission button 12 for inputting a reading instruction for reading the decoded data of the two-dimensional code.

  On the other hand, the housing 18 contains a camera 10 and a circuit unit necessary for operating the remote controller 1A. The camera 10 uses a solid-state image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) as an image sensor.

  Further, a window is provided on the side surface of the front end of the housing 18, and the communication unit 13 is attached to the window. The communication unit 13 includes, for example, a signal transmitter using infrared rays and a transmission control circuit thereof. The communication unit 13 decodes a remote operation signal and a read two-dimensional code toward a television receiver or a video recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown). Used to send data.

  Further, a prism 17 a is attached to the window of the housing 18. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the configuration. The prism 17a displays a perspective optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 in a state where the bottom surface of the casing 18 is arranged in a predetermined range in the lateral direction of the position where the two-dimensional code 21 on the printing sheet 20 is printed. It has a function of being introduced into the housing 18 through the window and forming a planar image on the light receiving surface of the camera 10.

  The circuit unit of the remote controller 1A is configured as follows. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration. That is, the circuit unit includes a communication unit 13, an information reading unit 14, a data storage unit 15, a sound effect output unit 16, and a power supply circuit unit including a battery 19.

  When the operation of the reading button 11a is detected, the information reading unit 14 activates the camera 10, reads the image signal of the two-dimensional code 21 from the camera 10, and decodes the two-dimensional code 21 from the read image signal. Then, it is determined whether or not the decryption has been correctly performed. If the decryption has been performed correctly, a sounding signal to that effect is output to the sound effect output unit 16 and data representing the decryption result is transmitted to the data storage unit 15. Output. Even when the decoding is not performed correctly, a sounding signal to that effect is output to the sound effect output unit 16. The function of the information reading unit 14 is realized by causing a central processing unit (CPU) to execute an application program.

The data storage unit 15 uses, for example, an EEPROM or RAM as a storage medium, and stores data representing the result of decoding the two-dimensional code output from the information reading unit 14 in a predetermined area.
The sound effect output unit 16 includes, for example, a sounder or a speaker, and generates a sound corresponding to the sound signal supplied from the information reading unit 14.
When the transmission button 12 is pressed, the communication unit 13 reads data representing the result of decoding the two-dimensional code 21 from the data storage unit 15 by the transmission control circuit, and transmits the read data to the infrared signal from the signal transmitter. Send as. Note that the communication unit 13 is not limited to using infrared rays, and a wireless interface using specific low power such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) can also be used.

Next, the reading operation of the two-dimensional code 21 by the apparatus configured as described above will be described.
In order to read the two-dimensional code 21, the user first places the bottom surface of the remote controller 1A on the print sheet 20. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two-dimensional code 21 is moved to a predetermined range in the lateral direction of the position where the two-dimensional code 21 is printed, and positioned so that the prism 17 a faces the two-dimensional code 21. . As a result, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 is condensed and refracted by the prism 17 a and introduced into the housing 18, and formed as a planar image on the light receiving surface of the camera 10.

  In this state, the user presses the reading button 11a of the remote controller 1A. Then, the camera 10 is activated by the information reading unit 14. As a result, an optical image of the two-dimensional code formed by the prism 17 a is picked up by the camera 10, and the image signal is taken into the information reading unit 14. The information reading unit 14 performs a decoding process of the two-dimensional code 21 on the captured image signal of the two-dimensional code 21, and determines whether or not the decoding is correctly performed. If the decoding is correctly performed, the sound output to the effect is output from the sound effect output unit 16, and the data representing the decoding result is output to a predetermined area in the data storage unit 15. Remember. If the decoding is not performed correctly, the sound effect output unit 16 outputs a sound to that effect.

  It is assumed that the user confirms that decoding has been performed correctly by the above sound and presses the send button 12. Then, the transmission control circuit in the communication unit 13 reads data representing the result of decoding the two-dimensional code 21 from the data storage unit 15 and transmits an infrared signal corresponding to the read data from the transmitter to a television receiver (not shown). Alternatively, it is transmitted to the video recording / reproducing apparatus.

  When the television receiver or the video recording / reproducing apparatus receives the data representing the result of decoding the two-dimensional code 21, the television receiver or video recording / reproducing apparatus performs, for example, a recording reservation registration process for the program based on the received data. Further, if the television receiver or the video recording / reproducing apparatus can be connected to a communication network such as the Internet, the data is transmitted to the Web server via the communication network, and the program related information and commercial distributed from the Web server are transmitted. Receive service information and display it on the screen.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the prism 17a is attached to the window provided on the side surface of the front end of the casing 18 of the remote controller 1A, and the two-dimensional code 21 on the printing sheet 20 is printed on the bottom surface of the casing 18. The perspective optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 is introduced into the housing 18 from the window by the prism 17a in a state where the position is disposed in a predetermined range in the lateral direction, and is disposed in the housing 18 An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the camera 10 as a planar image.

  Therefore, when the user reads the two-dimensional code 21, if the user arranges the bottom surface of the casing 18 in a predetermined range in the horizontal direction of the position where the two-dimensional code 21 is printed on the printing sheet 20, the printing is performed. The two-dimensional code 21 is imaged by the camera 10 in the housing 18 through the prism 17a. This eliminates the need for a display for confirming the imaging range of the two-dimensional code 21 and its display drive circuit, thereby making it possible to reduce the size and price of the remote controller 1A.

  Although the two-dimensional code 21 is imaged from the oblique direction, the two-dimensional code 21 is formed on the camera 10 as a planar image by being refracted by the prism 17a. For this reason, image distortion can be reduced and the contents of the two-dimensional code 21 can be decoded with high accuracy. Furthermore, since the two-dimensional code 21 is imaged with the bottom surface of the housing 18 placed on the print sheet 20, it is possible to eliminate the influence of camera shake and the like.

The first embodiment described above can be variously modified as follows. 4 to 9 are diagrams showing the configuration.
That is, in order to capture the two-dimensional code 21 on the print sheet 20 with the camera 10 accommodated in the housing 18 of the remote controller 1A from the horizontal direction, the incident side surface or the emission side surface of the prism 17a or its surface It is necessary to tilt both. The angle of the inclined surface is determined by the size of the two-dimensional code 21 to be read.

  In the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the incident-side surfaces of the prisms 17b and 17c are inclined. In this way, when light is illuminated from a light source present on the ceiling, it is possible to make it difficult for shadows due to the housing 18 to be generated on the print sheet 20, thereby simplifying image processing in the information reading unit 14. can do.

The configuration shown in FIG. 6 uses a so-called prism sheet 17d in which small prisms are arranged on a thin sheet. In this way, the volume of the prism can be reduced, and the size of the remote controller 1A can be reduced.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of prisms 17e1 and 17e2 are arranged in the optical axis direction. In this way, the optical image refracted by the first-stage prism 17e1 can be further refracted by the second-stage prism 17e2 and formed on the camera 10, and the refractive index of the prism is set to an optimum value. Can be made easier.

  The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is one in which a casing serving as a bottom plate of the remote controller 1A is integrally formed with the prism 17f. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, a part of the front end portion of the casing 18 serving as a bottom plate of the remote controller 1A is partially excised, and this excision site is replaced with the bottom surface of the prism 17g. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the prism 17 a is placed on the casing 18 serving as the bottom plate, and therefore the prism 17 a is separated from the two-dimensional code 21 by the thickness of the casing 18. It is necessary to arrange at a position, and for that purpose, some tips are required for positioning. However, according to the configuration shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the prism 17a can be positioned in contact with the end of the two-dimensional code 21, so that no knack is required for positioning and the reading operation can be simplified. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment of the present invention, a reflecting mirror is provided in the casing 18 of the remote controller 1B, and the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 refracted by the prism is reflected by the reflecting mirror and connected to the camera 10. It is configured so as to be imaged.
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the print information reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, a window is formed at a position close to the distal end side of one side surface of the remote controller 1B, and a prism 17h is attached to this window. In addition, a reflecting mirror 17i is disposed at a position in the housing 18 facing the prism 17h. The reflecting mirror 17i reflects the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 refracted by the prism by 90 degrees to form an image on the camera 10.

  With this configuration, the two-dimensional code 21 can be read by aligning the side surface of the remote controller 1B with the two-dimensional code 21 to be read. In addition, since the reflecting mirror 17i is provided in the housing 18 so that the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 refracted by the prism is reflected by 90 degrees and formed on the camera 10, the width direction of the remote controller 1B Can be prevented from increasing in size.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment of the present invention, a reading button is provided on the bottom of the casing of the remote controller 1C, and the reading button operates when the user presses the remote controller 1C onto the print sheet with a predetermined amount of force or more. Thus, an operation signal is generated, and the information reading unit 14 executes the reading process.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views showing a third embodiment of the print information reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 11A shows a state before the reading button is operated, and FIG. 11B shows a state after the reading button is operated. Show.
A reading button 11b is provided at the tip of the bottom surface of the remote controller 1C. The reading button 11b is formed of a push button type switch whose operation pin is supported by a spring, and is in an off state when the remote controller 1C is placed on the print sheet 20, and functions as a leg of the remote controller 1C. . When the remote controller 1C is pressed onto the printing sheet 20 with a predetermined amount of force or more, the remote controller 1C is turned on and generates a reading instruction signal. The predetermined amount of pressing force is set by the spring.

With this configuration, after the remote controller 1C is placed on the print sheet 20 and aligned with the reading position, the read button 11b is turned on when the remote controller 1C is pressed onto the print sheet 20 with a predetermined amount of force or more. A reading instruction signal is generated in the state. Then, the information reading unit 14 executes a two-dimensional code reading process using the reading instruction signal as a trigger.
Accordingly, the user can perform the pressing operation of the reading button 11b as an extension of the positioning operation of the remote controller 1C with respect to the print sheet 20, thereby eliminating the trouble of separately operating the reading button and improving the operability. Is possible.

(Fourth embodiment)
According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a box-shaped translucent reading guide member is attached to a window portion of a casing of a remote controller, and a printing sheet that can be imaged by a prism and a camera by the reading guide member. The upper range is displayed and the portion of the printing sheet on which the two-dimensional code is printed is flattened.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show the configuration of a remote controller according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the remote controller, and FIG. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.
12A and 12B, a reading guide member 30 made of a colorless and transparent resin material is attached to the window portion of the casing 18 of the remote controller 1D. The reading guide member 30 has a box shape, the height of which is set to coincide with the height of the casing 18 of the remote controller 1D, and the bottom surface forms the same plane as the bottom surface of the casing 18. It is configured. Further, the width and length of the reading guide member 30 are set to coincide with the range on the print sheet 20 that can be imaged by the prism 17 a and the camera 10.

  With this configuration, when reading the two-dimensional code 21 printed on the print sheet 20, the user sets the remote controller 1 </ b> D to the print sheet so that the two-dimensional code 21 is included in the bottom surface of the reading guide member 30. 20 on the top. Then, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 passes through the reading guide member 30 and is guided to the prism 17a, and is refracted by the prism 17a and received by the camera 10.

  Therefore, when the remote controller 1D is placed on the print sheet 20 to read the two-dimensional code 21, the positioning for reading is performed by positioning the two-dimensional code 21 within the bottom surface of the reading guide member 30. The position can be set easily and accurately. In addition, since the bottom surface of the reading guide member 30 is formed so as to be flush with the bottom surface of the housing 18, the printing sheet 20 is pressed and flattened by the bottom surface of the reading guide member 30 when the positioning is performed. Is done. For this reason, even if the print sheet 20 has wrinkles and warpage, the wrinkles and warpage of the print sheet 20 are extended, and thus the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 can be accurately read with the distortion corrected. Is possible.

(Other embodiments)
In the first embodiment, the case where the print information reading device is provided in the remote controller of the television receiver or the video recording / reproducing device has been described as an example, but the remote used in a personal computer, a cooking device, a car navigation device, or the like. The present invention can also be applied to a controller.

  Moreover, although the case where the reading guide member 30 was formed in a box shape was illustrated in the fourth embodiment, a plate-like reading guide member may be provided so as to protrude from the bottom surface of the casing 18 of the remote controller 1D. Further, a frame-shaped marker indicating the readable range may be displayed on the reading guide member 30. Further, the reading guide member 30 is not limited to being colorless and transparent, and may be colored, and other shapes and materials can be arbitrarily selected.

  Furthermore, an optical system that forms an optical image of print information on a camera in the housing may be configured by combining a prism and a lens. In addition, the configuration and installation position of the prism, the installation position of the camera in the housing, the shape of the housing, the type of print information, and the like can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  In short, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment of the printing information reading apparatus concerning this invention, (a) is the top view, (b) is a side view. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the print information reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a print information reading apparatus according to the present invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the 4th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the 5th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows the 6th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the printing information reading apparatus concerning this invention. It is a side view which shows 3rd Embodiment of the printing information reading apparatus concerning this invention. It is a principal part block diagram which shows 4th Embodiment of the printing information reading apparatus concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1A, 1B, 1C, 1D ... Print information reading device (remote controller), 10 ... Camera, 11a, 11b ... Read button, 12 ... Send button, 13 ... Communication unit, 14 ... Information reading unit, 15 ... Data storage unit, 16 ... Sound effect output unit, 17a to 17h ... Prism, 17i ... Reflector, 18 ... Housing, 19 ... Battery, 20 ... Printing medium, 21 ... Two-dimensional code (QR code), 30 ... Reading guide member.

Claims (9)

In a print information reading device that reads print information printed on a medium,
A housing having a flat bottom surface and a side surface having a window;
The optical image of the print information is provided in a window of the casing, and the bottom surface of the casing is disposed in a predetermined range outside the range where the print information is printed on the medium. An optical system introduced from the window into the housing;
A print information reading apparatus, comprising: a camera provided in the housing, receiving an optical image of the print information introduced into the housing by the optical system, converting the received image into an image signal, and outputting the image signal.   The printing information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical system includes a prism that refracts an optical image of the printing information to convert the perspective image into a planar image.   The optical system includes a prism that converts an optical image of the print information into a planar image by refracting the optical image of the print information, and reflects the optical image of the print information converted into a plane image by the prism to be connected to the camera. The printing information reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting mirror for imaging. This state is detected and detected when the bottom surface of the housing is disposed within a predetermined range outside the range where the print information on the medium is printed. A detector for outputting a signal;
A reading circuit that captures an image signal from the camera in accordance with an output of a detection signal from the detector, decodes the content of the image signal, and stores information representing the decoding result in a memory; The printing information reading apparatus according to claim 1. The reading circuit is
Decoding processing means for taking an image signal from the camera and decoding its contents;
Means for determining success or failure of the decoding process;
Means for storing, in a memory, information representing a decoding result obtained by the decoding processing means when it is determined that the decoding processing is successful;
The print information reading apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for presenting information indicating success or failure of the decoding process to a user.   6. The translucent member attached to the side part of the said housing | casing and having the function to display the range on the medium which can be imaged with the said optical system and a camera, It further comprises any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The printing information reading apparatus according to claim 1.   7. The print information reading device according to claim 6, wherein the translucent member further has a function of flattening the range by contacting the range where the print information on the medium is printed on the bottom surface. apparatus. A camera is built in the housing and an optical system is provided on the side surface of the housing, and the bottom surface of the housing is arranged in a predetermined range outside the range where the print information on the print medium is printed. The optical system is configured to introduce an optical image of the print information into the housing through a side window of the housing, form the image on the camera, and output an image signal corresponding to the printing information from the camera. In the printing information reading method used in the printing information reading apparatus,
A process of detecting this state when the bottom surface of the housing is disposed within a predetermined range outside the printed range of the print information on the medium;
When the state is detected, fetching an image signal corresponding to the print information from the camera, decoding the content, and storing information representing the decoding result in a memory;
A printing information reading method comprising: The process of storing the information representing the decryption result in the memory,
Taking the image signal from the camera and decoding its contents;
Determining the success or failure of the decryption process;
When it is determined that the decryption process is successful, a process of storing information representing a decryption result obtained by the decryption processing means in a memory;
The print information reading method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of presenting information indicating success or failure of the decoding process to a user.

Images