JP2010527481A - Barcode scanner with external detector - Google Patents

Abstract

A barcode scanner 10 having a scanner gun 100 and at least one sensor 104 in communication with the scanner gun 100, the at least one sensor 104 operating to detect at least one operating state of the barcode scanner 10. To do.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  Bar code scanner devices are known. Current bar code scanners typically perform various functions on a common platform, such as autofocus, image data capture, and image data decoding.

  Performing the above operations unconditionally when the power is turned on will help point the barcode scanner to the appropriate image and ensure that the image data that you want to capture is acquired. However, performing the functions described above, whether or not necessary, wastes energy and the barcode scanner acquires and decodes data about another image that is not related to scanning the barcode. , The possibility to store.

  Such irrelevant data will waste data storage space and may require subsequent work to separate the irrelevant image data from the barcode data. Therefore, it is technically problematic that the operation of one or more barcode scanners is unconditionally executed when the scanner is turned on. Otherwise, it will require the user to input such as a trigger signal for execution.

  One object of the present invention provides a method for controlling a barcode scanner that includes detecting a state of the barcode scanner and changing at least one operation of the barcode scanner based on the detected state. That is.

  Another object of the present invention is a barcode scanner comprising a scanner gun and at least one sensor in communication with the scanner gun, the at least one sensor operating to detect at least one operating state of the barcode scanner. Is to provide.

  In the preferred embodiment, multiple operations or standbys are performed in the desired mode when the scanner is not in use, and different operations or transitions to different modes when in use. According to an exemplary embodiment, a scanner initiates a specific action based on the scanner's ability to detect when the use begins or ends when the scanner is used or when it is terminated. Or stop and / or change mode.

Other embodiments, features, advantages, etc. will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the preferred embodiment of the invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For the purpose of illustrating various embodiments of the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

1 is a schematic diagram of a barcode scanner according to one or more embodiments of the invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed by a barcode scanner according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a barcode scanner according to one or more embodiments of the invention. FIG. No explanation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a barcode scanner 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The barcode scanner 10 includes a barcode scanner gun 100, a trigger unit 102, a motion sensor 104, and / or a contact sensor 106. Bar code scanner gun 100 may be a conventional bar code scanner gun. The motion sensor (motion detector) 104 may be a gyroscope sensor and / or other types of sensors. A more complete list of various motion sensors can be viewed from one or both of the following two websites:
http://www.vti.fi/en/products-solutions/products/accelerometers/digital-platform/
http://www.epson.co.jp/e/newsroom/tech_news/tnl0502single.pdf#search='gyro%20sensor
In any case, any of various conventionally available motion sensors is sufficient.

Contact sensor 106 may be implemented using an infrared (IR) sensor, a capacitive sensor, and / or other suitable sensor. As another type of sensor, there is an optical sensor arranged so as to detect that light is no longer incident from a detection window at a position covered by the palm of the user. Various other contact sensors can be viewed below.
http://www.psocdeveloper.com/uploads/tx_piapappnote/an2105_01.pdf
http://www.omron.com/ecb/products/touch/genri.html
http://www.omron.com/ecb/products/touch/yougo.htm

  The motion sensor 104 can operate to indicate whether the barcode scanner 10 is moving or stationary. This information is used to change one or more operations of the barcode scanner 10 to start and / or stop. The use of information from the motion sensor 104 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In one embodiment, motion sensor 104 may be located anywhere within barcode scanner gun 100. In other embodiments, the motion sensor 104 can be located outside the scanner gun 100 as long as it can communicate with the scanner gun.

  The contact sensor 106 can operate to indicate whether the operator is in contact with the barcode scanner 10. Being in contact with the barcode scanner 10 includes holding the barcode scanner 10 or simply touching it. Alternatively, the contact sensor 106 may be configured to detect that the operator has approached the scanner 10 without actually touching the scanner 10 physically. This contact information is used to change one or more operations of the barcode scanner 10 to start and / or stop. The use of information from the motion sensor 104 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  In one or more embodiments, the contact sensor 106 is disposed in an area where the operator on the outer surface of the scanner gun 100 can touch the operator when lifting the scanner gun 100, and in one or more other embodiments. The contact sensor 106 is placed inside the scanner gun and detects it using an appropriate detection technique to detect when the operator touches the scanner gun 100.

  Considering right-handed and left-handed operators, we also considered the placement of multiple sensors that detect the same specific state in various parts around the sensor. For example, two detectors can realize a light detector that detects when a part covered by the user's hand is gripped by the user, and it is arranged on each side of the device, Regardless of whether the person operating the device is right-handed or left-handed, one of those lights is blocked.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing performed by a barcode scanner according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 2 is used to control one or more operations of the barcode scanner 10 based on detection of one or more states of the barcode scanner 10. Here, the term “state” corresponds to the term “operation state”. Further, the operation control of the barcode scanner 10 includes start and / or stop of operations such as scanning, warm-up for scanning, light emission operation, sensor operation, mode change, and the like.

  In one or more embodiments, the method 200 starts at step 202. In step 216, the initial operation settings of the barcode scanner 10 are established. Initial settings include leaving the scanner in sleep mode and leaving one or more elements in a non-operating or power saving mode or similar state.

  In step 204, the motion sensor 104 detects whether or not the barcode scanner 10 is moving. If the barcode scanner 10 is not moving, the operation of the barcode scanner 10 is not changed in step 208. If the barcode scanner 10 is moving, one or more operations, such as decoding, are stopped at step 206. When blocks 210 and 226 follow 204 or 208, the device is left in sleep mode or idle mode, for example, unless the device is moved or touched.

  In step 210, it is determined whether an operator is in contact with the barcode scanner 210, which is performed using the contact sensor 106. If the barcode scanner 10 is not touched, the operation of the barcode scanner 216 is not changed in step 216. When contact with the barcode scanner 10 is detected, one or more operations of the barcode scanner are started or stopped at steps 212 and 214, respectively. When contact with the bar code scanner 10 is detected, the apparatus determines at decision point 212 whether the scanner is already in focus or that the autofocus process shown at block 214 is required to be performed. In either case, control is then transferred to block 216 for data acquisition and decoding.

  Usually, the autofocus operation is relatively fast. That is, when contact is detected, the autofocus operation can be completed within a sufficient time for enabling the decoding process.

  Data acquisition and decoding are performed when there is contact with the scanner but the scanner is not moving. In essence, this means that the operator has moved the scanner to the proper position near the image to be scanned and correctly positioned it to begin scanning. It is noteworthy that the motion sensor detects slight movements of the operator's hand if the operator has not yet fully grasped the scanner. Nonetheless, the detection sensitivity of the motion sensor so that it accurately determines that the scanner is "not moving" when the scanner is held in a relatively stable state in front of the image to be scanned. Can be adjusted easily.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a barcode scanner according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows one or more features added to that shown in FIG. The barcode scanner 10 includes a barcode scanner gun 100, a motion sensor 104, a contact sensor 106, an autofocus mechanism 302, a data acquisition unit 304, an image decoder unit 306, and an optical communication unit 308. In FIG. 3, the trigger unit 102 is omitted for convenience. Here, the motion sensor 104 and the contact sensor 106 are as described above. Therefore, the part mentioned above for convenience is not demonstrated again.

  In one or more embodiments, the optical communication unit 308 includes an optical element, an electro-mechanical device, and a control circuit suitable for transmitting light reflected by a barcode, such as a two-dimensional barcode. In one or more embodiments, the autofocus mechanism 302 includes a lens, a moving mechanism, and a control circuit suitable for automatically focusing the barcode scanner 10. In one or more embodiments, the data acquisition unit 304 includes a data processing circuit suitable for receiving and at least temporarily storing image data by the optical device, the converter, and the barcode scanner 10. In one or more embodiments, the image data decoder 306 is data suitable for converting the image data received by the barcode scanner 10 into the original barcode data indicated by the barcode read by the barcode scanner 10. It has a processing circuit.

  Note that the functions described so far are autofocus, image acquisition, and decoding, but other functions can be automatically executed and stopped based on parameters measured by touch and / or movement. I want to be. Furthermore, various combinations of movement and contact can be made as appropriate according to the specific function to be generated. For example, when the function of shifting the scanner from the active mode to the sleep mode is executed, the scanner monitors whether there is no contact or movement for a predetermined time. Other combinations are possible as well.

  While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it merely illustrates the principles and applications of the invention. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and substitutions can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (21)

Automatically detects the state of the symbol reader,
According to the detected state, it is determined whether the symbol barcode is used or has been used,
A control method for a symbol reading device, wherein at least one operation of the barcode scanner is changed in preparation for the next operation of the symbol reading device based on the state detected in the detecting step. In the control method of the symbol reading device according to claim 1,
The symbol reading apparatus is a bar code scanner, and in the step of detecting the state, it is determined whether the bar code scanner is moving or stopped. In the control method of the symbol reading device according to claim 1,
In the step of detecting the state of the barcode scanner, it is determined whether or not an operator is in contact with the barcode scanner. In the control method of the symbol reading device according to claim 1,
A method of controlling a symbol reading apparatus, comprising: stopping an operation of the barcode scanner operating in a power saving mode when a movement of the barcode scanner is detected by the detection. In the control method of the symbol reading device according to claim 1,
In the changing step, the image reading process by the bar code scanner is started when it is detected that the bar code scanner is in contact with an operator in the detecting step. Method. In the control method of the symbol reading device according to claim 1,
The method of controlling a symbol reading apparatus, wherein, in the changing step, the decoding operation by the bar code scanner is started when it is detected that the bar code scanner is in contact with an operator in the detecting step. In the control method of the symbol reading device according to claim 1,
In the changing step, the autofocus operation by the bar code scanner is started when it is detected in the detecting step that the bar code scanner is in contact with an operator. . A scanner for performing a plurality of operations relating to symbol scanning and decoding;
At least one sensor in communication with the scanner, the sensor operating to detect user readiness or completion of use for the scanner;
An apparatus comprising: means for changing at least one of operation parameters of the scanner in accordance with a user's use preparation or use completion detection result for the scanner by the sensor.   The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is a motion sensor.   The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motion detector is operative to detect whether the scanner gun is moving or stationary.   The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is a contact sensor.   12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the contact sensor operates to detect whether an operator is holding the scanner gun.   9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein when the motion sensor and heat sensor are activated, the scanner changes from a sleep state or sleep mode to an active mode in preparation for scanning.   14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scanner is in the shape of a gun, the motion sensor is disposed in a front portion of the gun, and a heat sensor is disposed in a rear portion of the gun. Equipment.   The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the signal change of the motion detector or the heat detector is detected, the apparatus shifts to a power saving mode. A scanning device for scanning and decoding symbols,
It has multiple sensors that detect different parameters,
When at least two of the sensors detect the respective parameters, the mode changes from the power saving mode to the use mode, and when at least one of the sensors changes during or after use, the power saving from the use mode. A scanning device configured to change to a mode. The scanning device according to claim 16, wherein
The scanning scanning device characterized in that the at least one sensor whose state changes is the at least two sensors. The scanning device according to claim 16, wherein
The at least one sensor is one of the plurality of sensors, but is not one of the at least two sensors. A method for controlling an image capturing device, comprising:
A method for controlling an image capturing device, comprising: detecting whether the image capturing device is touched by a user and not moving, and if so, starting an autofocus operation. The control method according to claim 19, wherein
Further, after the stop, an image capturing apparatus control method, wherein image acquisition / collection and decoding are performed. The control method according to claim 20, wherein
In addition, the method includes the step of testing the device to determine whether the user has pressed the trigger portion, the step being initiated in response to detecting that the device is touched and moving by the user. A method for controlling an image capturing device.

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