JP2011113210A - Print information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print information reader that reads print information with high accuracy without being affected by a camera shake or the like, and to focus an optical image of the print information to be totally reflected by a light-transmissive member alone, on a camera. <P>SOLUTION: In the print information reader, upper and lower faces of a casing 17 have opening windows, a non-hollow prism 30 is disposed between the windows, and a white semi-translucent light diffusion sheet 31 is in close contact with the lower face of the prism 30. The print information reader diffuses irradiation light incident from the opening window of the casing 17 upper face and transmitted through the prism 30 in multi-direction by the light diffusion sheet 31, thereafter irradiates a two-dimensional code 21 of a print sheet 20, diffuses reflection light on the two-dimensional code 21 of the irradiation light in multi-direction by the light diffusion sheet 31, thereafter guides the reflection light into the casing 17 through the prism 30, and focuses the reflection light on the camera 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print information reading apparatus that reads 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 captured 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 reading apparatus, since the user captures a two-dimensional code while holding the apparatus with his / her hand, the reading accuracy of the two-dimensional code is likely to deteriorate due to the influence of camera shake or the like. In order to confirm the reading position of the two-dimensional code, 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 its object is to always allow highly accurate reading processing without being affected by camera shake or the like, and to totally reflect if only a light transmitting member is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print information reading apparatus that can form an optical image of supposed print information on a camera.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a print information reading apparatus for reading print information printed on a medium, wherein first and second windows are provided on an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion of a housing, respectively. A non-hollow light transmitting member is disposed between the first window and the second window in the housing, and a light diffusing member is disposed in close contact with the lower surface of the light transmitting member. The illumination light incident through the first window and transmitted through the light transmission member is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion member, and then irradiated to the print information of the medium through the second window. At the same time, an optical image of the print information generated by the irradiation is introduced through the second window and diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusing member, and then led into the casing through the light transmitting member. Thus, the image is formed on the camera.

  Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, when the lower surface portion of the housing is arranged so that the second window includes a range where the print information on the medium is printed, the first surface of the upper surface portion of the housing is arranged. Illumination light incident from the window is irradiated onto the print medium through the optical system to illuminate the print information, and an optical image of the print information is formed on the camera in the housing via the optical system. For this reason, since the print information is imaged in a state where the lower surface portion of the housing is placed on the print medium, high-precision reading processing can be performed without being affected by camera shake or the like.

  In addition, since the light diffusing member is arranged so as to be in close contact with the lower surface of the light transmitting member, if only the light transmitting member is used, illumination light that is totally reflected on the lower surface and is not irradiated to the print information is emitted from the light transmitting member. After entering the diffusing member, it is diffused in multiple directions and irradiated to the print information of the print medium. Then, the optical image of the print information, which is the reflected light, is incident on the light diffusing member and then diffused in multiple directions, and a part thereof is led out into the housing through the light transmitting member and imaged on the camera. . That is, an optical image of print information that should be totally reflected if only the light transmitting member is used can be formed on the camera.

One aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising the following aspects.
In the first aspect, a part of the optical image of the print information diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusing member by the optical system is led out into the casing through the light transmitting member and formed on the camera. And another part of the optical image of the print information diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusing member is led out of the housing from the first window through the light transmissive member so as to be visually recognized by the user. To do.
In this way, the user can align the print information through the first window. 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.

The second aspect further includes a light deflecting member disposed so as to be in close contact with the side surface of the light transmitting member, and the optical image of the print information derived from the side surface of the light transmitting member is provided by the light deflecting member. A perspective image is converted into a planar image and formed on the camera.
In this way, the optical image of the print information can be converted into a planar image before being imaged on the camera, whereby image processing for converting the image data from a perspective image to a planar image after being received by the camera. The processing load on the information reading unit can be greatly reduced.

In the third aspect, the surface position of the lower surface of the light diffusing member is arranged to coincide with the surface position of the bottom surface of the housing.
If it does in this way, when reading printing information, the part where printing information on the medium was printed can be made flat by the undersurface of a light diffusion member. For this reason, even if the print medium has wrinkles or warpage, the print information can be read and corrected in a flat state, thereby enabling reading with higher accuracy.

In the fourth aspect, the light transmitting member is constituted by a non-hollow prism, and the light diffusing member is constituted by a translucent translucent resin sheet having a refractive index equivalent to that of the prism.
If it does in this way, an inexpensive resin sheet can be used as a light-diffusion member, and the price of an apparatus can be made cheap.

  That is, according to the present invention, a highly accurate reading process can always be performed without being affected by camera shake, and an optical image of print information that should be totally reflected by only the light transmitting member is formed on the camera. It is possible to provide a print information reading apparatus capable of performing the above.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a print information reading apparatus according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the printing information reading apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a configuration and an operation of an optical system which is a main part of the print information reading apparatus shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the basic operation | movement of a prism. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a print information reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a print information reading apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part thereof.
The print information reading apparatus according to this 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 1 has a stick-shaped casing 17 having a rectangular shape, and a numeric keypad 9 and a plurality of function key buttons are arranged on the upper surface of the casing 17. The function key buttons include a reading button 11 for inputting a reading instruction for a two-dimensional code and a transmission button 12 for inputting a transmission instruction for decoding data of the read two-dimensional code.

  On the other hand, the housing 17 contains a camera 10 and a circuit unit (not shown) necessary for operating the remote controller 1. 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 communication window (not shown) is provided at the front end of the housing 17, and the communication unit 13 is attached to the communication 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.

  By the way, an opening window is provided in each of an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion on the front end side of the housing 17, and a reading optical system is accommodated in a space portion in the housing 17 formed by these opening windows. Yes. This reading optical system includes a reading prism 30 as a light transmission member, a light diffusion sheet 31 as a light diffusion member, and a deflection prism 32 as a light deflection member. The prism 30 is made of a non-hollow light transmitting member made of acrylic resin so that the longitudinal section has a trapezoidal shape or a parallelogram shape, and the surface position of the upper surface thereof coincides with the surface position of the upper surface of the housing 17. Has been placed.

  A light diffusion sheet 31 is attached to the lower surface of the prism 30 so as to be in close contact with the lower surface so that no air layer is interposed therebetween. The light diffusing sheet 31 is made of a translucent resin material that is cloudy and has a refractive index that is set to be equal to that of the prism 30. For example, since the refractive index is 1.49 when the prism 30 is made of acrylic, a resin material having a refractive index of 1.49 is also used for the light diffusion sheet.

  The light diffusing sheet 31 diffuses the illumination light transmitted through the prism 30 and emitted from the lower surface thereof in multiple directions as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and irradiates the two-dimensional code 21 of the printing sheet 20. At the same time, the reflected light of the irradiated illumination light by the two-dimensional code 21, that is, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21, is diffused in multiple directions and enters the prism 30 as shown in FIG. A part of this incident light passes through the prism 30 and then exits from the top surface of the prism 17 as an optical image OL2 for the user to confirm. The other part of the incident light passes through the prism 30 and then exits from the side surface into the housing 17 and forms an image on the camera 10.

  In FIG. 3, for convenience of explanation, the light diffusion sheet 31 and the print sheet 20 are illustrated as being separated from each other. However, the surface position of the light diffusion sheet 31 is actually the bottom surface of the housing 17. Since they are arranged so as to coincide with the surface position, the light diffusion sheet 31 and the printing sheet 20 are in contact with each other. This is because the printing sheet 20 is flattened by pressing the bottom surface of the light diffusion sheet 31 against the printing sheet 20, thereby correcting wrinkles and warping of the printing sheet 20 and reading the two-dimensional code 21 in a flat state. This is because.

  Further, a deflecting prism 32 is disposed on the side surface of the prism 30 so as not to intervene an air layer. The deflecting prism 32 has a function of converting the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 incident from the side surface of the prism 30 from a perspective image to a planar image and forming the image on the camera 10. The same acrylic resin as that of the prism 30 is also used for the deflecting prism 32.

  Note that the inner wall surface on the front end side of the portion of the housing 17 in which the prism 30 is accommodated is tapered so as to open upward. With this structure, the shadow of the illumination light OL1 from the housing 17 is unlikely to occur on the two-dimensional code 21 of the print sheet 20.

  The circuit unit of the remote controller 1 is configured as follows. FIG. 5 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 (not shown) including a battery.

  When the operation of the reading button 11 is detected, the information reading unit 14 activates the camera 10 to read 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 housing 17 of the remote controller 1 at an arbitrary position on the print sheet 20. In this state, the illumination light incident from the upper surface opening window of the housing 17 passes through the prism 30 and reaches its lower surface. At this time, as described above, the light diffusion sheet 31 having the same refractive index of the prism 30 is stuck on the lower surface of the prism 30 so as not to interpose an air layer between the prism 30 and the lower surface. Yes. Therefore, the illumination light enters the light diffusion sheet 31 from the prism 30 regardless of the incident angle. Then, the light diffusion sheet 31 is diffused in multiple directions and irradiated onto the print sheet 20.

  Next, the reflected light of the irradiation light from the printing sheet 20 enters the light diffusion sheet 31 and is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion sheet 31 and then enters the prism 30. A part of the incident light passes through the prism 30 and is emitted from the upper surface to the outside of the casing 17 as user confirmation light OL2. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the optical image of the printed sheet 20 through the upper surface opening window of the housing 17. Then, by moving the remote controller 1 while visually recognizing the optical image, the remote controller 1 can be aligned with the printing position of the two-dimensional code 21 on the printing sheet 20 as shown in FIG.

  In the state where the alignment is completed, the illumination light incident from the upper surface opening window of the housing 17 is transmitted through the prism 30 and then diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion sheet 31 to irradiate the two-dimensional code 21 of the printing sheet 20. Is done. Then, the reflected light of the irradiation light by the two-dimensional code 21, that is, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21, enters the light diffusion sheet 31 and is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion sheet 31 and then to the prism 30. Incident. Then, a part of the incident light passes through the prism 30 and is incident on the deflection prism 32 from the side surface. After being converted from a perspective image into a planar image by the deflection prism 32, it is emitted into the housing 17. The image is formed on the camera 10.

  When the user presses the reading button 11 of the remote controller 1 in this state, the information reading unit 14 activates the camera 10. As a result, the imaged optical image of the imaged two-dimensional code 21 is picked up and scanned by the camera 10, and the image signal is captured by 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 this embodiment, opening windows are provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the housing 17, the non-hollow prism 30 is disposed between these windows, and the cloudiness is in close contact with the lower surface of the prism 30. A translucent light diffusion sheet 31 is pasted. Then, the illumination light incident from the opening window on the upper surface of the housing 17 and transmitted through the prism 30 is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion sheet 31 and then irradiated to the two-dimensional code 21 of the print sheet 20. The light reflected by the two-dimensional code 21 is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion sheet 31 and then led out into the housing 17 through the prism 30 to form an image on the camera 10.
Accordingly, since the two-dimensional code 21 can be read with the lower surface of the housing 17 placed on the print sheet 20, high-precision reading processing can always be performed without being affected by camera shake or the like.

  In addition, by attaching the light diffusion sheet 31 so as to be in close contact with the lower surface of the prism 30, the following effects can be obtained. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining this effect. That is, in order to form an optical image emitted from the prism 30 on the camera 10 in the housing 17, for example, illumination light is incident on the prism 30 at an angle close to the horizontal as shown in FIG. It is necessary to let However, when this is done, the illumination light is totally reflected on the lower surface of the prism 30, and as a result, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 cannot be formed on the camera 10. The reflection angle when the illumination light is totally reflected on the lower surface of the prism 30 is 42.2 degrees or more as shown by (1) in FIG. 4 when the prism 30 is made of acrylic resin (refractive index = 1.49). Under this condition, the illumination light repeats total reflection between the lower surface and the upper surface in the prism 30.

  On the other hand, when the illumination light is incident on the prism 30 so that the reflection angle of the illumination light with respect to the lower surface of the prism 30 is less than 42.2 degrees in order to prevent the illumination light from being totally reflected on the lower surface of the prism 30. At this time, the illumination light is applied to the two-dimensional code 21 as indicated by (3) in FIG. 4, but the reflected light passes through the prism 30 and is emitted from the upper surface to the outside of the housing 17, An image cannot be formed on the camera 10.

  Therefore, when the light diffusion sheet 31 is attached so as to be in close contact with the lower surface of the prism 30 as in this embodiment, the illumination light incident on the prism 30 is incident on the light diffusion sheet 31 from the prism 30 and then diffused in multiple directions. The two-dimensional code 21 on the print sheet 20 is irradiated. Then, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 that is the reflected light is incident on the light diffusion sheet 31 and diffused in multiple directions, and a part of the optical image is led out into the housing 17 via the prism 30 to be reflected by the camera 10. Is imaged. That is, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 that should be totally reflected by the prism 30 alone can be reliably formed on the camera 10.

  The reflected light of the irradiation light from the print sheet 20 is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusion sheet 31 and then enters the prism 30, and part of the light passes through the prism 30 and is transmitted from the upper surface to the user confirmation light. The light is emitted out of the housing 17 as OL2. Therefore, also in this case, if only the prism 30 is used, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 that should be totally reflected can be emitted from the prism 30 to the outside of the housing 17 as the user confirmation light OL2, thereby allowing the user to The viewing angle when confirming the position of the dimension code 21 can be enlarged.

  Further, in this embodiment, the deflection prism 32 is disposed in close contact with the side surface of the prism 30, and the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 emitted from the side surface of the prism 30 is converted from a perspective image into a planar image by the deflection prism 32. Thus, an image is formed on the camera 10. Accordingly, the optical image of the two-dimensional code 21 can be converted from a perspective image to a planar image before being formed on the camera 10, thereby converting the image data from the perspective image to the planar image after being received by the camera 10. It is not necessary to perform processing, and the processing load on the information reading unit 14 can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the case where the light diffusion sheet 31 is attached to the lower surface of the prism 30 has been described as an example. However, for example, fine irregularities are formed on the lower surface of the prism 30, or fine particles are added to the surface layer portion of the lower surface. Thus, a layer having the same effect as the light diffusion sheet 31 may be formed.

  In the above 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. However, the remote control 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.

  In addition, the material, shape, thickness, installation position of the light transmission member and light diffusion member, the installation position of the camera in the housing, the shape of the housing, the type of print information, and the like are within the scope of the present invention. Various modifications can be made.

  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.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Print information reading apparatus (remote controller), 9 ... Numeric keypad, 10 ... Camera, 11 ... Reading button, 12 ... Transmission button, 13 ... Communication part, 14 ... Information reading part, 15 ... Data storage part, 16 ... Effect Sound output unit, 30 ... prism, 31 ... light diffusion sheet, 32 ... deflection prism, 17 ... housing, 20 ... printing sheet, 21 ... two-dimensional code (QR code).

Claims (5)

In a print information reading device that reads print information printed on a medium,
A housing provided with a first window on the upper surface and a second window on the lower surface, the second window being arranged to include a range in which print information on the medium is printed at the time of reading;
A non-hollow light transmissive member disposed between the first window and the second window in the housing, and a light diffusing member disposed so as to be in close contact with the lower surface of the light transmissive member. The illumination light incident through the first window and transmitted through the light transmitting member is diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusing member, and then irradiated to the print information of the medium through the second window. An optical system in which an optical image of the print information generated by the irradiation is introduced through the second window, diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusing member, and then led into the housing through the light transmitting member. The system,
A print information reading apparatus, comprising: a camera provided in the housing, receiving an optical image of the print information derived into the housing by the optical system, converting the received image into an image signal, and outputting the image signal.   The optical system has a function of deriving a part of an optical image of the print information diffused in multiple directions by the light diffusing member into the casing through the light transmitting member and forming an image on the camera, and the light A function of leading another part of the optical image of the print information diffused in multiple directions by the diffusing member from the first window to the outside through the light transmitting member and allowing the user to visually recognize the printed image. The print information reading apparatus according to claim 1.   The optical system further includes a light deflecting member arranged so as to be in close contact with the side surface of the light transmitting member, and the optical image of the print information derived from the side surface of the light transmitting member is perspectively viewed by the light deflecting member. The print information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is converted into a plane image and formed on the camera.   The optical system is arranged such that the surface position of the lower surface of the light diffusing member coincides with the surface position of the lower surface of the housing, whereby the print information on the medium is printed on the lower surface of the light diffusing member. The print information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print information reading apparatus has a function of flattening the range by contacting the range. The light transmitting member is constituted by a non-hollow prism,
5. The printing information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusing member is formed of a translucent resin sheet that has a refractive index equivalent to that of the prism and is clouded. 6.

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