JP2012128759A - Information reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient information reading device.SOLUTION: In an information reading device 1, a reading position (communicable position) of a non-contact IC card reader/writer 30 substantially matches a reading position (focal position) of an image sensor 40, a range readable by the non-contact IC card reader/writer 30 substantially matches a range of the angle of view of the image sensor 40, and both of the reading means face each other. This enables information to be read at the same reading position by either of the non-contact IC card reader/writer 30 or the image sensor 40, that is, a user only needs to recognize a single reading position, thereby improving convenience.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information reading apparatus.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a card reading unit 6a having a non-contact reading function for reading card information recorded on an IC chip mounted on a card in a non-contact manner on a top surface, a boarding pass provided on the bottom surface, and the like A check-in terminal including a bar code reader 6b that reads a bar code attached to is disclosed.

JP 2010-209954 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient information reading apparatus.

  An information reading apparatus according to the present invention is provided on a contact surface that contacts an information recording medium, a first reading unit that is provided in the vicinity of the contact surface, reads information from the information recording medium, and a surface that faces the contact surface. And a second reading means for reading image information in the direction of the contact surface, wherein the first reading means and the second reading means are located at the same position on the contact surface from the information recording medium. Information can be read.

  Preferably, the first reading means is an antenna for reading information from the information recording medium in a non-contact manner, and the second reading means is displayed on the information recording medium using an optical lens. The optical lens is designed so as to be focused on the contact surface.

  Preferably, the contact surface is a surface facing upward, and the second reading unit is a camera for photographing the lower part.

  Preferably, the information reading device further includes a concave portion provided at a front surface of the housing and recessed to a depth at which the information recording medium can be disposed, and the contact surface is provided on a bottom surface of the concave portion, The reading means is provided on the top surface of the recess.

  Suitably, the said contact surface inclines below toward the front surface of the said housing | casing.

  Preferably, based on a reading result by the first reading unit or the second reading unit, a remaining detection unit that detects that the information recording medium remains on the contact surface after the predetermined information processing is completed. It has further.

  Preferably, there is further provided notification means for notifying the front and back of the information recording medium to be turned over based on the result of reading by the first reading means or the second reading means.

  Preferably, a guide for combining the display device, the image read by the second reading unit, and a guide image indicating a region where the information recording medium is to be arranged, and displaying the combined image on the display device. Image display means.

  According to the present invention, a highly convenient information reading apparatus can be provided.

It is a figure which shows typically the whole structure of the information reader 1 of 1st Embodiment. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section in the vicinity of a concave portion 100 of the information reading unit 10. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the whole operation | movement (S10) of the information reader 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the cross section of the recessed part 100 vicinity in the modification 1. FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the synthesized image of the image | photographed image and guide information.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the overall configuration of the information reading apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the information reading apparatus 1 includes an information reading unit 10 and an information processing unit 20. A recess 100 for inserting an information recording medium is provided on the front surface of the housing of the information reading unit 10. Here, the information recording medium may be any medium that can record information. For example, an IC card on which an IC chip is mounted, a card on which a code pattern such as a two-dimensional code is printed, an IC chip, and a bar. A card provided with both codes, or a mobile phone on which an IC chip is mounted and a two-dimensional code can be displayed.
The information reading unit 10 is provided below the information processing unit 20, and the concave portion 100 is disposed, for example, at a height between the user's waist and shoulder.

  The information processing unit 20 includes a touch panel 200, a sensor 202, and an information processing device 50 (not shown). The touch panel 200 is provided on the same front surface of the casing as the recess 100, and displays guide information and the like for guiding the user's operation and accepts an input operation by the user. The sensor 202 is, for example, an interpersonal sensor that detects the approach of the user, and is provided below the touch panel 200. The information processing device 50 is provided inside the housing of the information processing unit 20, and includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, an input / output control device, and the like.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the information reading unit 10 in the vicinity of the recess 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the recess 100 provided on the front surface of the information reading unit 10 (that is, the operation surface facing the user) includes a substantially horizontal bottom surface 102 and a top surface 106, and a substantially vertical back side surface 104. Have
The bottom surface 102 and the top surface 106 face each other and are separated at least to the extent that an information recording medium (for example, a card-like medium and a mobile phone) can be inserted. For example, the top surface 106 is separated so that an image sensor 40 (to be described later) can set the information recording medium at an angle of view, and the focal position of the image sensor 40 is the bottom surface 102. More specifically, the bottom surface 102 and the top surface 106 are separated from each other by 4.5 cm to 10.5 cm.
Further, the back side surface 104 is at a position retracted from the front surface of the information reading unit 10 to such an extent that the entire information recording medium can be accommodated. That is, the recess 100 is a region that is recessed to a depth where the information recording medium can be disposed (for example, a depth of 10 cm to 20 cm).

  A non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 is provided on the bottom surface 102. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 is an example of a first reading unit according to the present invention. More specifically, the antenna of the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 is embedded immediately below the bottom surface 102. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 reads and writes information in a non-contact manner from an IC card arranged in a reading area on the bottom surface 102 (contact surface of the present invention).

  An image sensor 40 is provided on the top surface 106. The image sensor 40 is an example of a second reading unit according to the present invention. The image sensor 40 is installed on the top surface 106 so as to photograph the lower part. The image sensor 40 includes a lens 400 and a light emitting device 402. The lens 400 is designed to have a focal length corresponding to the distance between the bottom surface 102 and the top surface 106. The light emitting device 402 projects, for example, guide information indicating the position where the information recording medium is to be disposed on the bottom surface 102. In addition, the light emitting device 402 irradiates the bottom surface 102 with light necessary for photographing with the image sensor 40.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation (S10) of the information reading apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, in step 100 (S100), when the sensor 202 detects that the user has approached the front surface of the information reading apparatus 1, the sensor 202 outputs the detection to the information processing apparatus 50.

In step 102 (S102), the information processing apparatus 50 displays an initial screen on the touch panel 200 in accordance with the output from the sensor 202.
The touch panel 200 displays an initial screen and accepts user operations.

  In step 104 (S104), the information processing apparatus 50 sequentially displays menus or input screens on the touch panel 200, and receives an input operation corresponding to a service desired by the user.

  In step 106 (S106), the information processing apparatus 50 determines whether or not the service requested by the user requires only the information on the contactless IC card, and only the information on the contactless IC card is stored. If it is determined that it is necessary, the process proceeds to S108, and in other cases (that is, a service that requires information represented by a two-dimensional code), the process proceeds to S110. Transition.

In step 108 (S108), the information processing apparatus 50 causes the touch panel 200 to display “Please place a medium at a prescribed position” and prompt the user to place the information recording medium in the reading area of the bottom surface 102. Furthermore, the light emitting device 402 projects the position where the information recording medium is to be placed on the bottom surface 102 in accordance with an instruction from the information processing device 50.
The user places an information recording medium in the reading area of the bottom surface 102 according to the display on the touch panel 200.

In step 110 (S110), the information processing apparatus 50 causes the touch panel 200 to display “Please place the medium in a specified position with the code facing upward”, with the surface on which the code is displayed facing upward, The user is prompted to place the information recording medium in the reading area of the bottom surface 102. Furthermore, the light emitting device 402 projects the position where the information recording medium is to be placed on the bottom surface 102 in accordance with an instruction from the information processing device 50.
In accordance with the display on the touch panel 200, the user places the information recording medium in the reading area of the bottom surface 102 so that the code display surface faces upward.

In step 112 (S112), the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 communicates with the information recording medium placed in the reading area of the bottom surface 102 in a non-contact manner and reads information.
Further, when it is necessary to read the code (S106: No), the image sensor 40 photographs the direction of the bottom surface 102 and reads the two-dimensional code displayed on the information recording medium.

In step 114 (S114), the information processing apparatus 50 verifies the data read by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 and / or the data read by the image sensor 40, and the data is normally read. It is determined whether or not.
When the data reading is normally performed, the information processing apparatus 50 proceeds to the process of S116, and when the data reading is not normally performed, the information processing apparatus 50 returns to the process of S106 and performs rereading.

  In step 116 (S116), the information processing apparatus 50 continues the service based on the data read from the information recording medium. After the service ends, the information recording apparatus 50 displays information on the touch panel 200 or by projection on the light emitting device 402. Encourage media to take home.

As described above, according to the information reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the reading position (communication position) of the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 substantially coincides with the reading position (focus position) of the image sensor 40. In addition, the range that can be read by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 substantially coincides with the range that falls within the angle of view of the image sensor 40, and these reading units face each other. Information can be read by both the card reader / writer 30 and the image sensor 40. That is, since the user only needs to recognize a single reading position, convenience is improved.
Further, since the guide information from the light emitting device 402 can be shared by the reading process by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 and the reading process by the image sensor 40, cost reduction can be expected.
Further, since the light emitting device 402 emits light from the top surface to the bottom surface of the concave portion 100 on the front surface of the housing, it is expected that the risk of light from the light emitting device 402 directly entering the eyes of the user is reduced.
Further, since the image sensor 40 is installed facing downward, it is expected that the influence of extraneous light on the image sensor 40 is reduced, and the reading accuracy of code data and the like is improved.

Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.
[Modification 1]
FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross section in the vicinity of the recess 100 in the first modification.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom surface 102 may not be substantially horizontal but may be an inclined plane. In the present modification, the bottom surface 102 is inclined downward toward the front surface of the housing of the information reading unit 10. That is, since the bottom surface 102 becomes lower toward the user, the information recording medium placed on the bottom surface 102 slides down toward the user side. Therefore, the user operates while supporting the information recording medium, and it can be expected that the information recording medium (such as an IC card) is left behind. Furthermore, even when the information recording medium is placed on the bottom surface 102, the visibility of the information recording medium is ensured, and the user can use the information reading apparatus 1 with confidence.
As shown in FIG. 4, in this modification, a guide lamp 108 indicating the position where the information recording medium is to be placed is provided at the center of the reading area of the bottom surface 102. Instead of projecting the guide information from the top surface 106, a guide lamp 108 may be provided on the bottom surface 102 to suggest the mounting position of the information recording medium.
Note that a stopper 110 may be provided on the bottom surface 102 in order to prevent the information recording medium from completely sliding out of the recess 100. The stopper 110 of the present modification is a protrusion that is provided on the user side (front side) with respect to the reading area and protrudes upward.

[Modification 2]
The information processing apparatus 50 (remaining detection means) detects the misplacement of the information recording medium based on whether communication by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 or code reading by the image sensor 40 is possible, and informs the user. You may make it warn.
Further, the information processing apparatus 50 (notification means) notifies that the front and back of the information recording medium is turned over based on the availability of communication by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 and the availability of code reading by the image sensor 40. Good. More specifically, when the information processing apparatus 50 determines that communication by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 30 is possible and the code reading by the image sensor 40 is impossible, the information processing apparatus 50 Notify the recording medium to be turned upside down. Note that the information processing apparatus 50 may notify the information recording medium to be turned over when the presence of an object is detected by the image sensor 40 and the code cannot be read.

[Modification 3]
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 50 (guide image display unit) synthesizes guide information indicating a position where the information recording medium is to be placed on the image read by the image sensor 40, and displays the synthesized image. It may be displayed on the touch panel 200. In the form illustrated in FIG. 5, the guide information indicating the position where the information recording medium should be placed and the guide information that prompts the code recording surface of the information recording medium to be superimposed on the image captured by the image sensor 40. However, in addition to this, information indicating whether or not the reading has been normally performed may be combined and displayed.
The information processing apparatus 50 adjusts the position of the information recording medium while looking at the touch panel 200 by synthesizing and displaying these guide information on the image read by the image sensor 40 in real time. Can do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information reading apparatus 10 ... Information reading unit 20 ... Information processing unit 30 ... Non-contact IC card reader / writer 40 ... Image sensor 50 ... Information processing apparatus

Claims (8)

A contact surface for contacting the information recording medium;
A first reading means provided in the vicinity of the contact surface for reading information from the information recording medium;
A second reading means provided on a surface facing the contact surface and reading image information in the direction of the contact surface;
The first reading unit and the second reading unit can read information from the information recording medium at the same position on the contact surface. The first reading means is an antenna for reading information from the information recording medium in a non-contact manner;
The second reading unit is a camera that captures information displayed on the information recording medium using an optical lens,
The information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical lens is designed to be focused on the contact surface. The contact surface is a surface facing upward,
The information reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second reading unit is a camera that photographs a lower part. A concave portion provided on the front surface of the housing of the information reading device and recessed to a depth at which the information recording medium can be disposed;
The contact surface is provided on the bottom surface of the recess,
The information reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second reading unit is provided on a top surface of the concave portion. The information reading device according to claim 4, wherein the contact surface is inclined downward toward the front surface of the housing. And a remaining detection unit configured to detect that an information recording medium remains on the contact surface after predetermined information processing ends based on a reading result obtained by the first reading unit or the second reading unit. Item 2. The information reading device according to Item 1. The information reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the front and back of the information recording medium upside down based on a reading result by the first reading means or the second reading means. A display device;
And a guide image display unit configured to combine the image read by the second reading unit and a guide image indicating a region where the information recording medium is to be arranged, and to display the combined image on the display device. Item 2. The information reading device according to Item 1.

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