JP2012181705A - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bar code reader which can read a desired bar code from among a plurality of bar codes existing within a readable range by a simple operation.SOLUTION: A bar code reader 1 includes an image acquisition unit 2, a rectangular image extraction unit 8, an image analysis unit 9 including a bar code determination unit 10, a communication unit 6, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, an input unit 5, and a control unit 7. The control unit 7 performs control so that, if image data includes a plurality of rectangular image data items, a plurality of merchandise information items stored in the storage unit 3 are displayed on the display unit, and if the input unit 5 selects a merchandise information item, the selected merchandise information item is established as a read result.

Description

  The present invention relates to a barcode reader.

  The barcode reader scans the scanning beam and displays the barcode scanner that reads the barcode attached to the product, and the product name, product code, price, etc. corresponding to the barcode information stored in the scanned barcode. It consists of a display and so on. The barcode scanner is, for example, a hand-held barcode scanner that includes a head portion having a window for emitting a scanning beam and a grip portion and can be detachably held by a holding portion attached to a table or the like. Become.

  In such a barcode scanner of the barcode reading apparatus, when there is only one barcode within the readable range that is the range in which the scanning beam is emitted, the barcode is read. However, as shown in FIG. 9, there are a plurality of products 20, 21, 22, 23 within the readable range 100, and a plurality of barcodes 20 a, 21 a appended to these products 20, 21, 22, 23. , 22a, and 23a, the barcodes 20a, 21a, 22a, and 23a cannot be read (unreadable), resulting in an error. Alternatively, a process is performed in which one barcode is arbitrarily selected and read. In this process, an unintended barcode may be read. In this case, it is necessary to erase the read barcode and perform the reading operation again. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the subsequent processing may be continued without noticing that a bar code that has not been intended has been read.

  As a method of avoiding a situation in which reading is not possible due to the presence of a plurality of barcodes within the readable range 100, a barcode scanner is brought close to the product with the target barcode attached, and the barcodes within the readable range 100 are read. There is a way to make it one. Alternatively, there is a method in which a product other than the product to which the target barcode is added is moved so that only one barcode exists in the readable range 100. However, both methods require time and effort for the operator of the barcode reader.

  In order to deal with such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a one-way scanning from an omni-scan mode in which a plurality of scanning beams having different scanning directions are emitted by an operator operating a switch provided in a barcode scanner. A barcode reader that can be changed to a single scan mode in which a beam is emitted is disclosed. According to the barcode reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, even when a plurality of barcodes are close to each other, the target barcode can be read by switching the scan mode.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203395

  However, even the barcode reading method using the barcode reading device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is troublesome because the operator needs to manually change the scan mode. In the single scan mode, in order to correctly read the barcode, it is necessary to manually adjust the orientation of the barcode scanner or the product with the barcode attached so that the scanning beam is perpendicular to the barcode.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bar code reader capable of reading a target bar code from a plurality of bar codes existing within a readable range by a simple operation.

The present invention is a barcode reader capable of data communication with a server in which barcode information and product information are stored in association with each other,
An image acquisition unit that captures image data by photographing a product;
A rectangular image extraction unit that extracts rectangular image data from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit;
From the rectangular image data determined to be the image data indicating the barcode by the barcode determination unit, including a barcode determination unit that determines whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit is image data indicating a barcode, An image analysis unit that converts the barcode information indicated by at least one of a numerical value and a character;
A communication unit that transmits the barcode information to a server and receives product information associated with the transmitted barcode information from the server;
A storage unit for storing product information received from the server;
A display unit for displaying product information stored in the storage unit;
An input unit for selecting desired product information from the product information displayed on the display unit;
It is determined whether the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes only one rectangular image data or a plurality of rectangular image data determined as image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit. A plurality of product information stored in the display unit, and when the product information is selected by the input unit, the control unit controls to confirm the selected product information as a read result. This is a bar code reading device.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes only one piece of rectangular image data that is determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit, the control unit stores the data in the storage unit. One memorized product information is determined as a reading result without being displayed on the display unit.

Further, the present invention is a touch panel in which the input unit is arranged to overlap the display unit,
A barcode image creation unit that creates a barcode image from the barcode information converted by the image analysis unit;
An image position specifying unit that specifies the position of the rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit in the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit;
The control unit, when the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit, the rectangular image specified by the image position specifying unit Based on the position of the data, the barcode image is superimposed on the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and displayed on the display unit,
When product information is selected by touching a part of the touch panel corresponding to the barcode image displayed on the display unit, the selected product information is confirmed as a reading result.

  Further, according to the present invention, the control unit includes a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit in the image data in which the barcode image is superimposed and displayed based on the position of the rectangular image data specified by the image position specifying unit. Product information is displayed in the vicinity of the barcode image corresponding to the product information.

According to the present invention, in the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit, an image distance for detecting a distance from the center of the image data to the rectangular image data determined to be the image data indicating the barcode by the barcode determination unit. A detection unit;
When the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit as image data indicating a barcode, the control unit detects the distance detected by the image distance detection unit. Are displayed in a list in a short order in a plurality of product information stored in the storage unit.

  According to the present invention, the barcode reader is capable of data communication with a server in which barcode information and product information are stored in association with each other. The barcode reading apparatus includes an image acquisition unit, a rectangular image extraction unit, an image analysis unit including a barcode determination unit, a communication unit, a storage unit, a display unit, an input unit, and a control unit.

  The image acquisition unit captures the product and acquires image data. The rectangular image extraction unit extracts rectangular image data from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. The barcode determination unit determines whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit is image data indicating a barcode. The image analysis unit converts the rectangular image data determined as the image data indicating the barcode by the barcode determination unit into barcode information indicated by at least one of a numerical value and a character. The communication unit transmits the barcode information to the server, and receives the product information associated with the transmitted barcode information from the server. The storage unit stores product information received from the server. The display unit displays the product information stored in the storage unit. The input unit selects desired product information from the product information displayed on the display unit. The control unit determines whether the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes only one or a plurality of rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit. When the product information is selected by the input unit, the selected product information is controlled to be confirmed as a read result.

  With such a barcode reading apparatus, even if a plurality of barcodes exist within the readable range, the barcode is not disabled, and one of the plurality of barcodes within the readable range is arbitrarily used. It is never selected. And since several goods information is displayed on a display part, desired goods information can be selected easily. Therefore, the operator can read the target barcode from a plurality of barcodes existing within the readable range by a simple operation.

  Further, according to the present invention, the control unit stores the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit when only one piece of rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit as image data indicating a barcode is stored. Since one item information stored in the section is determined as a reading result without being displayed on the display section, when there is only one barcode within the readable range, the operator operates the barcode reading apparatus. The target barcode can be read without any problem.

  According to the invention, the barcode reading apparatus further includes a barcode image creating unit and an image position specifying unit. The barcode image creation unit creates a barcode image from the barcode information converted by the image analysis unit. The image position specifying unit specifies the position of the rectangular image data determined by the bar code determination unit as image data indicating a bar code in the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit. In such a barcode reading apparatus, when the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit as image data indicating a barcode, Based on the position of the rectangular image data specified by the position specifying unit, the barcode image is superimposed on the image data acquired by the image acquiring unit and displayed on the display unit, and the barcode image displayed on the display unit is displayed. When product information is selected by touching a touch panel portion that is a corresponding input unit, the selected product information is confirmed as a reading result.

  Since the image data is displayed on the display unit, the operator can select the barcode that he / she wants to read by looking at the picture of the product with the barcode to be read and select the desired barcode more easily. can do.

  According to the invention, the control unit stores the image data in which the barcode image is displayed in a superimposed manner on the basis of the position of the rectangular image data specified by the image position specifying unit. A plurality of product information is displayed in the vicinity of the barcode image corresponding to the product information. By displaying a plurality of product information in the vicinity of the barcode image corresponding to the product information, it is possible to easily select desired product information from the product information displayed on the display unit.

  According to the invention, the barcode reading apparatus further includes an image distance detection unit. The image distance detection unit detects a distance from the center of the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit to the rectangular image data determined to be the image data indicating the barcode by the barcode determination unit. In such a barcode reading apparatus, when the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit as image data indicating a barcode, A plurality of product information stored in the storage unit is displayed in a list on the display unit in the order of the shortest distance detected by the distance detection unit.

  There is a high possibility that the target barcode that the operator of the barcode reader wants to read is captured at the center of the image data. By displaying the product information as a list in order of increasing distance from the center of the image data, product information corresponding to the barcode to be read can be easily found. Therefore, the operator can read the target barcode from a plurality of barcodes existing within the readable range by a simple operation.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the barcode reader 1 which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a table showing a data structure included in a database provided in the server 19. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of barcode reading processing by the reading device 1. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on the display unit 4. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the server 19 which received barcode information. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the barcode reader 50 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of barcode reading processing by the reading device 50. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on the display unit 4. It is a figure which shows a mode that several goods 20, 21, 22, and 23 exist in the readable range 100. FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a barcode reading apparatus (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “reading apparatus”) 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The reading device 1 is a device that can acquire barcode information stored in a barcode by reading the barcode attached to the product. The reading device 1 is used for a POS (Point of Sales) system, for example. In the present embodiment, the reading target of the reading device 1 may be a one-dimensional code such as a bar code or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). The reading device 1 can perform data communication with a server 19 that stores bar code information and product information in association with each other.

  The reading device 1 includes an image acquisition unit 2, a control unit 7, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, an input unit 5, and a communication unit 6. The image acquisition unit 2, the storage unit 3, the display unit 4, the input unit 5, and the communication unit 6 are electrically connected to the control unit 7 and can transmit information in one direction or both directions. Configured as follows. Specifically, the image acquisition unit 2 is connected to the control unit 7 by the image acquisition control circuit 14, the storage unit 3 is connected to the control unit 7 by the storage control circuit 15, and the display unit 4 is controlled by the display control circuit 16. 7, the input unit 5 is connected to the control unit 7 by the input control circuit 17, and the communication unit 6 is connected to the control unit 7 by the communication control circuit 18.

  The image acquisition unit 2 includes an imaging lens and an imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. . The image acquisition unit 2 acquires the image data by photographing the product existing within the readable range, and transmits the acquired image data to the control unit 7 via the image acquisition control circuit 14.

  The control unit 7 controls each component included in the reading device 1. The control unit 7 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a read only memory (ROM). The control unit 7 includes a rectangular image extraction unit 8, an image analysis unit 9 including a barcode determination unit 10, a barcode image creation unit 11, an image position specification unit 12, and a touch position specification unit 13. It is.

  The CPU is realized by a microcomputer, for example, and based on an operation program stored in the ROM, the image acquisition unit 2, the rectangular image extraction unit 8, the barcode determination unit 10, the image analysis unit 9, the barcode image creation unit 11, The image position specifying unit 12, the touch position specifying unit 13, the communication unit 6, the storage unit 3, the display unit 4, and the input unit 5 are controlled.

  The rectangular image extraction unit 8 extracts rectangular image data from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2. As the method, first, a smoothing filter is applied to the acquired image data to make the image data blurred. After that, the position of the island-like chunk (location where the same color is concentrated) is extracted from the image data. If there is a straight line in the image data before applying the filter in the vicinity of the extracted island-shaped lump position, the straight line is detected (edge extraction). The rectangular image data is extracted from the image data by extracting a range of island-shaped chunks extending at right angles to the detected straight line. The rectangular image data extracted from the image data is temporarily listed.

  The barcode determination unit 10 determines whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit 8 is image data indicating a barcode, and the image analysis unit 9 is image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit 10. The rectangular image data determined to be converted into barcode information indicated by at least one of numerical values and characters. The barcode information may further include a symbol.

  Whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit 8 is image data indicating a barcode is determined by coding the rectangular image data based on the bar included in the rectangular image data, and the code pattern is the barcode. This is done by a parity check that determines whether the pattern matches. When the barcode determination unit 10 can also determine a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code, first, it is determined whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit 8 is data encoded with a one-dimensional code, If the data is not coded with a one-dimensional code, it is determined whether the data is coded with a two-dimensional code.

  The barcode image creation unit 11 creates a barcode image by arranging the bar corresponding to the numeric value or character of the barcode information converted by the image analysis unit 9 in the order of the numeric value and the character of the barcode information. The barcode image may be selected from previously created barcode images.

  The image position specifying unit 12 specifies the position of the rectangular image data determined by the bar code determination unit 10 as image data indicating a bar code in the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2. The image position specifying unit 12 specifies a rectangular centroid coordinate determined by the barcode determining unit 10 as image data indicating a barcode in a two-dimensional position in the image data.

  The touch position specifying unit 13 specifies the position of the touched portion on the touch panel described later, which is the input unit 5.

The communication unit 6 transmits the barcode information converted by the image analysis unit 9 to the server 19. The server 19 is provided with a database including a table 25 having a data structure as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a table 25 showing a database provided in the server 19. The server 19 searches the database based on the barcode information received from the reading device 1. In this database, the manufacturer information 25b, the product name 25c, and the price 25d, which are product information, are associated with the barcode information 25a. When the barcode information 25a that matches the received barcode information is detected, the product information associated with the barcode information 25a is transmitted to the communication unit 6. If no barcode information matching the database is detected, an error is transmitted to the communication unit 6.
The communication unit 6 receives the product information transmitted from the server 19.

  The storage unit 3 includes the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2, the barcode information converted by the image analysis unit 9, the product information received from the server 19, and the barcode generated by the barcode image creation unit 11. The image and the position of the rectangular image data specified by the image position specifying unit 12 are stored.

  The display unit 4 displays image data, product information, a barcode image, and an “end” icon, which will be described later, stored in the storage unit 3. The display unit 4 is realized by a transflective liquid crystal display element capable of color display, for example. The display unit 4 includes a transmissive liquid crystal display element capable of color display or monochrome display, a reflective liquid crystal display element, an electroluminescence (electroluminescence) element, and a transflective liquid crystal display element capable of monochrome display. It may be realized by any one of them.

  The input unit 5 selects desired product information from the product information displayed on the display unit 4. In the present embodiment, the input unit 5 is a touch panel arranged on the display unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of barcode reading processing by the reading device 1. When the operator is ready to read the bar code attached to the product, the process proceeds to step S1.
In step S1, the image acquisition unit 2 captures the product and acquires image data.

  In step S <b> 2, the control unit 7 stores the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2 in the storage unit 3.

  In step S <b> 3, the rectangular image extraction unit 8 extracts rectangular image data from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2. In this step, the image position specifying unit 12 temporarily specifies the positions of all the extracted rectangular image data, and the storage unit 3 records them.

  In step S4, the barcode determination unit 10 determines whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit 8 is image data indicating a barcode. If it is determined that the image data indicates a barcode, the process proceeds to step S5, and if not, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S5, the image analysis unit 9 converts the rectangular image data determined as the image data indicating the barcode in step S4 into the barcode information indicated by at least one of numerical values and characters.

  In step S6, the barcode image creation unit 11 creates a barcode image from the barcode information converted in step S5.

  In step S7, the bar code information converted in step S5 is transmitted to the server 19. Product information or an error is transmitted from the server 19 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. If the product information is transmitted, the process proceeds to step S8, and if the error is transmitted, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S <b> 8, the communication unit 6 receives product information from the server 19.
In step S <b> 11, the communication unit 6 receives an error from the server 19.

  In step S9, the storage unit 3 stores the barcode image created in step S6, the product information received in step S8, and the position (image position) of the rectangular image data specified by the image position specifying unit 12. That is, in this step, the position of the rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode is determined.

  In step S10, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the processing of steps S4 to S9 or steps S4 to S7 and S11 has been performed on all the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit 8. If the processing of steps S4 to S9 or steps S4 to S7 and S11 is performed on all the rectangular image data, the process proceeds to step S12. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S4, and the next rectangular image data is processed. Note that the next processing order is the order temporarily listed in step S3.

  In step S12, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the image data acquired in step S2 includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode in step S4. If a plurality of pieces of rectangular image data are included, the process proceeds to step S13, and if not, the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S <b> 13, the control unit 7 displays the image data, the plurality of barcode images, and the plurality of product information stored in the storage unit 3 on the display unit 4. For example, an image as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image displayed on the display unit 4 in step S13. As shown in FIG. 4, image data 32 and a plurality of barcode images 30 are displayed on the display unit 4, and the plurality of barcode images 30 are respectively superimposed on the barcodes reflected in the image data 32. Displayed. All barcode images are displayed in a fixed direction regardless of the orientation of the barcode reflected in the image data 32.

  The display unit 4 displays a plurality of product information 31 in the vicinity of the barcode image 30 corresponding to the product information 31. This makes it easier to select desired product information 31 from the product information 31 displayed on the display unit 4. Furthermore, an “end” icon is displayed on the display unit 4.

  In step S14, the touch position specifying unit 13 determines whether the touch panel has been touched by specifying the position where the touch panel is touched by the operator. If it is determined that the touch panel has been touched, the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S <b> 15, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the portion touched by the operator in step S <b> 14 is a portion corresponding to the barcode image 30. If it is determined that the touched portion is a portion corresponding to the barcode image 30, the process proceeds to step S16. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S16, the control unit 7 determines the product information corresponding to the barcode image 30 selected by being touched in step S15 as a reading result. Then, it returns to step S14.

  In step S17, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the portion touched in step S15 is an “end” icon. If it is determined that the icon is an “end” icon, the barcode reading process ends, and if not, the process returns to step S14.

  In step S18, the control unit 7 determines whether or not the image data acquired in step S2 includes only one piece of rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode in step S4. If only one piece of rectangular image data is included, the process proceeds to step S19. Otherwise, the barcode reading process ends.

  In step S19, the control unit 7 determines the product information stored in the storage unit 3 as a reading result, and the barcode reading process ends. Thus, when only one barcode exists within the readable range, the operator can read the target barcode without operating the barcode reader.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the server 19 that has received the barcode information transmitted in step S7 shown in FIG.

In step S21, barcode information is received.
In step S22, the database is searched based on the barcode information received in step S21.

  In step S23, it is determined whether barcode information matching the database has been detected. If barcode information matching the database is detected, the process proceeds to step S24, and if not, the process proceeds to step S26.

  In step S24, the product information stored in association with the barcode information is acquired.

  In step S25, the product information acquired in step S24 is transmitted to the communication unit 6 of the reading device 1. As a result, the processing of the server 19 ends.

  In step S26, an error is transmitted to the communication unit 6 of the reading device 1. As a result, the processing of the server 19 ends.

  With the barcode reading apparatus 1 that performs the barcode reading process as described above, even if a plurality of barcodes exist within the readable range, the barcode is not disabled, and a plurality of barcodes within the readable range are also present. One of the codes is not selected arbitrarily. And since several goods information is displayed on the display part 4, the operator can select desired goods information easily. Therefore, the target barcode can be read from a plurality of barcodes existing within the readable range by a simple operation.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a barcode reading apparatus (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “reading apparatus”) 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The reading device 50 includes an image acquisition unit 2, a control unit 58, a storage unit 3, a display unit 4, an input unit 52, and a communication unit 6. The configurations of the image acquisition unit 2, the storage unit 3, the display unit 4, and the communication unit 6 are the same as those of the reading device 1 shown in FIG.

  The control unit 58 includes a rectangular image extraction unit 8, an image analysis unit 9, and an image distance detection unit 51. The configurations of the rectangular image extraction unit 8 and the image analysis unit 9 are the same as those of the reading device 1 shown in FIG. In the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2, the image distance detection unit 51 is a distance (from the center of the image data to the rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit 10 as image data indicating a barcode ( Image distance) is detected.

  The input unit 52 includes a button input unit 54 for inputting numerical information giving instructions to the control unit 58, and a key input unit 55 for inputting numerical information, character information, support information, and the like giving instructions to the control unit 58. It is comprised including. The input unit 52 transmits an instruction signal corresponding to numerical information, character information, and instruction information to the control unit 58 when the operator operates the button input unit 54 and the key input unit 55. The button input unit 54 is realized by a numeric keypad, for example, and the key input unit 55 is realized by a keyboard including a scroll key and a selection key, for example. The input unit 52 is connected to the control unit 58 by the input control circuit 53. The input control circuit 53 includes a button control circuit 56 and a key control circuit 57, and the button control circuit 56 connects the button input unit 54 to the control unit 58. The key control circuit 57 connects the key input unit 55 to the control unit 58.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of barcode reading processing by the reading device 50. When the operator is ready to read the bar code attached to the product, the process proceeds to step S31. Hereinafter, description of the steps for performing the same processing as the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is omitted.

  Steps S31 to S35 are the same as steps S1 to S5. Steps S36 and 37 are the same as steps S7 and S8. In step S33, the image distance detection unit 51 temporarily detects the image distances of all the rectangular image data extracted in this step, and the storage unit 3 stores them.

  In step S <b> 38, the storage unit 3 stores the product information received in step S <b> 37 and the image distance detected by the image distance detection unit 51. That is, in this step, the image distance of the rectangular image determined to be the image data indicating the barcode is determined.

Steps S39-41 are the same as steps S10-12.
In step S <b> 42, the storage unit 3 stores the rectangular image data determined to be the image data indicating the barcode in step 34 in the ascending order of the image distance. As the method, the control unit 58 extracts the image distances stored in the storage unit 3 in the shortest order, and the storage unit 3 stores them.

  In step S43, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of product information is listed on the display unit 4 in the order stored in step S42. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image displayed on the display unit 4 in step S13. As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 4 displays numerical values, product information 60, and icons 61 indicating the order of image distance from the top in ascending order of image distance.

  In step S44, the control unit 58 determines whether or not product information has been selected. The product information is selected by pressing a numerical value indicating the order in which the image distances are close with the numeric keypad. Alternatively, the icon 61 is moved by the scroll key and selected by pressing the selection key. If product information is selected, the process proceeds to step S45. In the present embodiment, the input unit 52 may be a touch panel as in the first embodiment.

In step S45, the product information selected in step S44 is confirmed as a reading result. Thereby, the barcode reading process of the reading device 50 is completed.
Steps S46 and 47 are the same as steps S18 and S19.

  In the barcode reading apparatus 50 as described above, the control unit 58 includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit 10 as image data indicating a barcode in the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 2. If included, a plurality of product information stored in the storage unit 3 is displayed in a list on the display unit 4 in order of increasing image distance detected by the image distance detection unit 51.

  There is a high possibility that the target barcode that the operator of the barcode reader 50 wants to read is captured at the center of the image data. By displaying the product information as a list in order of increasing distance from the center of the image data, product information corresponding to the barcode to be read can be easily found. Therefore, the target barcode can be read from a plurality of barcodes existing within the readable range by a simple operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,50 Barcode reader 2 Image acquisition part 3 Storage | storage part 4 Display part 5,52 Input part 6 Communication part 7,58 Control part 8 Rectangular image extraction part 9 Image analysis part 10 Barcode judgment part 14 Image acquisition control circuit 15 Memory control circuit 16 Display control circuit 17 Input control circuit 18 Communication control circuit 51 Image distance detection unit 54 Button input unit 55 Key input unit 56 Button control circuit 57 Key control circuit

Claims (5)

A barcode reader capable of data communication with a server in which barcode information and product information are stored in association with each other,
An image acquisition unit that captures image data by photographing a product;
A rectangular image extraction unit that extracts rectangular image data from the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit;
From the rectangular image data determined to be the image data indicating the barcode by the barcode determination unit, including a barcode determination unit that determines whether the rectangular image data extracted by the rectangular image extraction unit is image data indicating a barcode, An image analysis unit that converts the barcode information indicated by at least one of a numerical value and a character;
A communication unit that transmits the barcode information to a server and receives product information associated with the transmitted barcode information from the server;
A storage unit for storing product information received from the server;
A display unit for displaying product information stored in the storage unit;
An input unit for selecting desired product information from the product information displayed on the display unit;
It is determined whether the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes only one rectangular image data or a plurality of rectangular image data determined as image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit. A plurality of product information stored in the display unit, and when the product information is selected by the input unit, the control unit controls to confirm the selected product information as a read result. Bar code reader.   When the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes only one piece of rectangular image data that is determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit, the control unit stores one image stored in the storage unit. The barcode reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product information is determined as a reading result without being displayed on the display unit. The input unit is a touch panel placed on the display unit,
A barcode image creation unit that creates a barcode image from the barcode information converted by the image analysis unit;
An image position specifying unit that specifies the position of the rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit in the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit;
The control unit, when the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined to be image data indicating a barcode by the barcode determination unit, the rectangular image specified by the image position specifying unit Based on the position of the data, the barcode image is superimposed on the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and displayed on the display unit,
The product information is selected and confirmed as a result of reading when product information is selected by touching a portion of the touch panel corresponding to the barcode image displayed on the display unit. Bar code reader.   The control unit, based on the position of the rectangular image data specified by the image position specifying unit, in the image data displayed by overlaying the barcode image, a plurality of product information stored in the storage unit, The barcode reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the barcode reading device displays each in the vicinity of the barcode image corresponding to the product information. The image data acquired by the image acquisition unit further includes an image distance detection unit that detects a distance from the center of the image data to the rectangular image data determined to be the image data indicating the barcode by the barcode determination unit. ,
When the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit includes a plurality of rectangular image data determined by the barcode determination unit as image data indicating a barcode, the control unit detects the distance detected by the image distance detection unit. The barcode reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of product information stored in the storage unit is displayed in a list on the display unit in ascending order.