JP2018147212A - Optical information reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration capable of improving design freedom by angle control of an antenna surface.SOLUTION: An antenna unit 50 is configured by providing a loop antenna 51 on an antenna surface formed so as to include a first antenna surface 61 and a second antenna surface. An angle θ1 between the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface is set so that a radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 is directed to an optical reading area S1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical information reader.

  In recent years, in stores such as supermarkets and drug stores, especially stores that handle expensive and relatively small items, an electronic tag for crime prevention using a wireless function in order to prevent theft of the item (hereinafter also simply referred to as an electronic tag) The number of stores that carry out product sales management is increasing. In this merchandise sales management method, processing for stopping the function of the electronic tag attached to the merchandise using a dedicated device is performed at the time of accounting processing or the like.

  As a technique for stopping the function of an electronic tag attached to a product in this way, a sales data processing terminal disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 is known. In this sales data processing terminal, a scanner for reading a barcode or the like attached to a product is formed integrally with the terminal body, and the RFID tag attached to the product is invalidated around and below the scanner. Antennas are arranged respectively. When the barcode or the like is read by the scanner, wireless data communication for invalidating the RFID tag is performed via the antenna, and the RFID tag attached to the product is invalidated.

JP 2011-081619 A

  By the way, the above-mentioned sales data processing terminal is equipped with a portable hand scanner so that a bar code or the like can be read even with a large product, and this hand scanner is also provided with an antenna unit for invalidating the RFID tag. Yes. As described above, a portable optical information reader is also desired to have a function of limiting the electronic tag, such as disabling the electronic tag by stopping the function of the electronic tag.

  However, in the configuration such as the above-described hand scanner, since the antenna unit is provided at the reading port that takes in the reflected light from the barcode, the direction of the radio wave emitted by the antenna unit and the light of the light receiving sensor that receives the reflected light. If the axis is displaced, the distance between the optical reading area and the radio wave output area increases as the distance from the reading port increases. For this reason, the electronic tag may not be read even if the reading port is directed to the barcode. In such a case, the position of the hand scanner relative to the barcode is shifted or the position of the electronic tag (barcode) is shifted again. There is a problem that the operation (operation) for invalidation or the like becomes complicated.

  In particular, the reading port is often designed so that the optical axis is not perpendicular to the reading target in order to avoid specular reflection of the reading target. In such a case, the above problem becomes significant. That is, with respect to the arrangement of the optical axis and the antenna unit, the above problem arises because the influence of physical characteristics such as reflection and diffusion of light and attenuation with respect to the radiation direction and distance of radio waves are not considered. On the other hand, for example, if the antenna portion is designed to be tilted so that the optical reading area and the radio wave output area overlap, a part of the antenna portion pops out from the reading port, and this protruding portion obstructs the optical reading operation. Therefore, if the antenna unit is designed to be pulled into the housing in order to eliminate such an hindrance to the operation, the distance from the electronic tag becomes long, so that radio waves are attenuated and the electronic tag may not be read. Thus, if importance is attached to optical design related to optical reading of information codes or the like, there is a problem that restrictions on design related to antenna arrangement become large.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration capable of improving the degree of design freedom by controlling the angle of the antenna surface.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 of the scope of claims
An optical information reader (1) for optically reading an information code (C),
A light receiving means (28) for receiving reflected light from the information code located in the optical reading area (S1) through a reading port (13);
An antenna unit (50, 50a) for emitting radio waves to a non-contact communication medium (T) using radio waves;
With
The antenna unit is configured by providing a loop antenna (51) on an antenna surface formed to include at least a first surface (61, 71) and a second surface (62, 72),
An angle (θ1, θ2) between the first surface and the second surface is set so that a radio wave radiation direction (F) by the antenna unit is directed to the optical reading area.
In addition, the code | symbol in each said parenthesis shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  In the invention of claim 1, the antenna unit is configured by providing a loop antenna on an antenna surface formed so as to include at least the first surface and the second surface, and the radio wave radiation direction by the antenna unit is optical. An angle between the first surface and the second surface is set so as to face the reading area.

  In this way, the direction of radio wave emission by the antenna section is directed to the optical reading area, so that the optical reading area and the radio wave output area are not easily displaced even at a position away from the reading port. When the electronic tag to be converted is attached, the information code can be read and the electronic tag can be invalidated smoothly by directing the reading port to the information code. In particular, since the radio wave radiation direction can be changed according to the angle between the first surface and the second surface, an antenna unit configured by providing a loop antenna on one plane with respect to the arrangement of the antenna unit, etc. Compared to the above, it is possible to make it less susceptible to the influence of other structures such as the reading port. Therefore, the radio wave radiation direction by the antenna unit can be easily controlled without reducing the degree of freedom in designing the antenna arrangement. That is, the degree of freedom in design can be improved by controlling the angle of the antenna surface.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the antenna portion is disposed outside the edge portion constituting the reading port with respect to the reading port. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the antenna unit from interfering with reception of the information code by the light receiving means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the antenna portion is arranged so that a portion of the loop antenna provided on one of the first surface and the second surface surrounds at least a part around the reading port. Thereby, for example, even when the antenna portion is arranged so that the loop antenna of the second surface is provided around the reading port, the radio wave radiation direction can be adjusted by adjusting the angle between the second surface and the first surface. And the space around the reading port can be used effectively.

  In the invention of claim 4, since a plurality of antenna units are provided for the reading port, it is easy to radiate radio waves in the intended direction, and the radio wave output area can be expanded.

  In the invention of claim 5, since the radio wave is constantly radiated from the antenna unit for a certain period of time, the information code is read at the constant time when the radio wave is radiated from the antenna unit at all times. Tag invalidation can be performed at the same time.

  In the invention of claim 6, since the radio wave is radiated from the antenna portion at the time of the reading operation by the operating means, for example, the reading of the information code and the invalidation of the electronic tag can be performed in synchronization.

  In the invention of claim 7, since the radio wave radiated from the antenna unit is controlled by the radio wave control means according to the result of decoding by the decoding means, not only the electronic tag is invalidated but also electronic Processing contents using radio waves, such as writing to a tag, can be changed.

  As in the eighth aspect of the invention, an optical system in which a housing in which a light receiving means and an antenna unit are incorporated and a housing in which a control means for performing control using a light reception result by the light receiving means is incorporated are configured separately. The present invention can also be applied to a general information reader.

  As in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the present invention can also be applied to an optical information reader configured as a portable type so as to include a battery for supplying power.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure outline | summary of the optical information reader which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the optical information reading device in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the schematic structure of an antenna part in three dimensions. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the optical reading area and radio wave output area in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the reading process and tag invalidation process in 1st Embodiment, respectively. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the reading process and tag invalidation process in the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the reading process in the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment, and a tag invalidation process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the optical information reader which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating three-dimensionally the schematic structure of an antenna part in 2nd Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an optical information reader system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The optical information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment functions as an information code reader that optically reads an information code such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code, and is provided in an article or the like to which the information code is attached. The contact communication medium is configured to have a function of controlling the non-contact communication medium by emitting a radio wave (electromagnetic wave) using electromagnetic induction. In this embodiment, invalidation of the electronic tag T attached to the product R together with the information code C is adopted as a function for controlling the non-contact communication medium.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical information reading apparatus 1 is configured such that a scanner 2 and a control device 3 that controls the scanner 2 are connected via a cable 4. The scanner 2 has an outer case formed by a casing 11 formed by assembling an upper case and a lower case, and various electrical components and the like are mounted on the circuit board 20 and accommodated in the casing 11. The upper case and the lower case constituting the housing 11 are molded members made of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin. A reading port 13 is formed on the end surface 12 on one end side of the housing 11, and a cable is formed on the other end side. A cable mounting portion 14 for fixing 4 is formed. One end side where the reading port 13 is formed is formed in a neck-bend shape that is largely inclined forward toward the back side. This makes it easy for the user to apply the reading port 13 to the information code attached to the reading object in a state where the user holds the scanner 2 from the upper case side.

Next, the electrical configuration of the optical information reader 1 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical information reader 1 mainly includes an optical system such as an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 28, and an imaging lens 27, and a microcomputer (such as a memory 35 and a control circuit 40). (Hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”).

  The optical system is housed in the housing 11 of the scanner 2 and is divided into a light projecting optical system and a light receiving optical system. The illumination light source 21 constituting the light projecting optical system functions as illumination means capable of emitting illumination light Lf toward the optical reading area S1 (see FIG. 4). For example, a red LED 21a and an emission side of the LED 21a And a lens 21b provided in the lens. As can be seen from the illumination optical axis L1 shown in FIG. 1, the illumination light source 21 irradiates the illumination light Lf with a slight inclination with respect to the imaging optical axis L2 by the light receiving sensor 28 in order to suppress specular reflection. Has been placed.

  The light receiving optical system includes a light receiving sensor 28, an imaging lens 27, and the like. The light receiving sensor 28 is configured as an area sensor in which light receiving elements that are solid-state imaging elements such as C-MOS and CCD are two-dimensionally arranged. The light receiving sensor 28 is mounted on the circuit board 20 so as to be able to receive incident light incident from the optical reading area S1 through the reading port 13, the protective plate 26, and the imaging lens 27. The light receiving sensor 28 may correspond to an example of “light receiving means”.

  The imaging lens 27 functions as an imaging optical system that collects incident light incident from the outside through the reading port 13 and forms an image on the light receiving surface of the light receiving sensor 28. In this embodiment, after the illumination light Lf emitted from the illumination light source 21 is reflected by an information code or the like, the reflected light Lr is collected by the imaging lens 27 and a code image or the like is formed on the light receiving surface of the light receiving sensor 28. The image is formed.

  The microcomputer system includes an amplifier circuit 31, an A / D conversion circuit 33, a memory 35, an address generation circuit 36, a synchronization signal generation circuit 38, a control circuit 40, and the like, and is configured to be accommodated in the casing of the control device 3. ing. As the name suggests, this microcomputer system is composed mainly of a control circuit 40 and a memory 35 that can function as a microcomputer (information processing device). The image signal of the information code imaged by the above-described optical system is hard-coded. It can perform signal processing in terms of hardware and software. At least a part of the microcomputer system may be mounted on the circuit board 20 or the like and accommodated in the housing 11 of the scanner 2.

  The image signal (analog signal) output from the light receiving sensor 28 of the optical system is amplified by a predetermined gain by being input to the amplifier circuit 31, and then input from the analog signal when input to the A / D conversion circuit 33. Converted into a digital signal. When the digitized image signal, that is, image data (image information) is input to the memory 35, it is stored in the image data storage area. The synchronization signal generation circuit 38 is configured to generate a synchronization signal for the light receiving sensor 28 and the address generation circuit 36. The address generation circuit 36 is based on the synchronization signal supplied from the synchronization signal generation circuit 38. Thus, the storage address of the image data stored in the memory 35 can be generated.

  The memory 35 is a semiconductor memory device, and corresponds to, for example, a RAM (DRAM, SRAM, etc.) or a ROM (EPROM, EEPROM, etc.). In addition to the above-described image data storage area, the RAM of the memory 35 is configured to be able to secure a work area and a reading condition table used by the control circuit 40 in each processing such as arithmetic operation and logical operation. . The ROM stores in advance a system program or the like that can control each piece of hardware such as the illumination light source 21 and the light receiving sensor 28.

  The control circuit 40 is a microcomputer that can control the entire optical information reading apparatus 1 and includes a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like. The control circuit 40 can constitute an information processing apparatus together with the memory 35 and has an information processing function. . The control circuit 40 performs a reading process, which will be described later, so that a decoding unit and a light receiving unit decode the information code C based on the image of the information code C imaged according to the light reception result of the light receiving sensor 28. It functions as a control means for performing control using the light reception result of the sensor 28.

  The control circuit 40 is configured to be connectable to various input / output devices (peripheral devices) via a built-in input / output interface. In the case of this embodiment, the buzzer 44 and the light emitting unit provided in the scanner 2. 46 is connected via a connector of the circuit board 20, and an operation unit 47 and a communication interface 48 provided in the control device 3 are also connected. Thereby, for example, the buzzer 44 that can generate a beep sound or an alarm sound can be turned on / off, the light emitting unit 46 can be turned on and blinking, the operation unit 47 can be monitored and managed, and communication with an external device can be performed. Communication control and the like are performed by the control circuit 40.

Next, the antenna unit 50 will be described.
When the end face 12 is viewed in plan, the above-described electronic tag T or the like is not in contact with the outer side (right side in FIG. 1) of one edge part 13a which is a part of the edge part constituting the reading port 13. An antenna unit 50 is provided for realizing control of the communication medium. In order to arrange the antenna unit 50 in the housing 11, the end surface 12 is formed so that one edge portion 13 a side of the edge portion constituting the reading port 13 is widened. In addition, the edge part which comprises the reading port 13 except the one edge part 13a is formed so that it may become substantially equal to the thickness of the housing | casing 11. FIG.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the antenna unit 50 is provided with a loop antenna 51 on an antenna surface formed to have two surfaces by using an FPC (flexible printed wiring board) or the like. Is configured. Specifically, the antenna surface is formed by bending so that the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62 are connected at a predetermined angle θ1, and the antenna unit 50 has the second antenna surface 62 substantially the same as the end surface 12. They are arranged in parallel. In addition, the antenna part 50 may be formed so that the inner side of the loop antenna 51 may open.

  Further, the loop antenna 51 is arranged along the outer edge of the first antenna surface 61 and the outer edge of the second antenna surface 62 excluding the edge where the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62 are continuous. In the present embodiment, the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62 correspond to examples of “first surface” and “second surface”, and are formed to be rectangular flat surfaces, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be formed so that at least a part is a curved surface.

  The loop antenna 51 is connected to the control circuit 40 of the control device 3 through wiring 52 and the like at both ends provided on the first antenna surface 61. And it will be in the state which can invalidate the electronic tag T by being controlled by the control circuit 40 and radiating | emitting an electromagnetic wave from the antenna part 50. FIG.

Here, the detailed configuration of the antenna unit 50 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an anti-theft electronic tag T attached to the vicinity of the information code C is attached to the product R attached with the information code C to be read. It becomes the invalidation target using 50. Therefore, the angle θ1 between the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62 is set so that the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 is directed to the optical reading area S1, as shown in FIG. That is, the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 can be changed according to the angle θ1 between the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62. Further, the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 can be changed also by the area of the first antenna surface 61 and the area of the second antenna surface 62. In FIG. 4, for the sake of convenience, the optical reading area is shown by adding an arrow S1 to the optical axis portion corresponding to the distance suitable for imaging in the optical reading area.

  Thereby, the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 can be adjusted according to the angle θ1 or the like toward the optical reading area S1 optimized for optical reading. By adjusting the radio wave radiation direction F in accordance with the angle θ1 or the like, the electronic tag T is placed in the radio wave output area S2 where the electronic tag can be invalidated when the reading port 13 is placed over the information code C. Thus, the area where the radio wave output area S2 and the optical reading area S1 are compatible (see cross-hatching indicated by reference numeral S3 in FIG. 4) is widened.

Next, processing for reading the information code C and invalidating the electronic tag T by the optical information reader 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the present embodiment, when the reading process by the control circuit 40 is started according to the operation of the operation unit 47, the illumination light Lf is irradiated through the reading port 13 by the illumination light source 21, and the information code is directed to the reading port 13. C is picked up using the light receiving sensor 28 and is in an optically readable state (S101 in FIG. 5). In addition, the electronic tag T in the radio wave output area S2 can be invalidated by being constantly radiated from the antenna unit 50 under the control of the control circuit 40 for a certain period of time when this reading process is executed. (S201).

  When the information code C located in the optical reading area S1 is successfully read (Yes in S103), a notification process is performed (S105), and the information code C is read by the sound of the buzzer 44, the lighting of the light emitting unit 46, or the like. You will be informed of success. On the other hand, if the invalidation of the electronic tag T in the radio wave output area S2 is successful (Yes in S203), a notification process is performed (S205), and the buzzer 44 sounds and the light emitting unit 46 is different from the notification process in step S105. Is turned on to notify that the electronic tag T has been successfully invalidated.

  Here, regarding the success or failure of the invalidation of the electronic tag T, for example, a radio wave is irradiated so as to change around the resonance frequency for invalidating the electronic tag T, and the response from the electronic tag T near the resonance frequency. May be performed using the fact that changes before and after invalidation.

  As described above, in the optical information reading apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the antenna unit 50 includes the loop antenna 51 on the antenna surface formed so as to include the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62. The angle θ1 between the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62 is set so that the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 is directed to the optical reading area S1.

  As described above, since the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 is directed to the optical reading area S1, the optical reading area S1 and the radio wave output area S2 are not easily displaced even at a position away from the reading port 13, and thus an information code C is attached. When the electronic tag T to be invalidated is attached to the product R, the information code C is read and the electronic tag T is invalidated smoothly by directing the reading port 13 toward the information code C. Can do. In particular, since the radio wave radiation direction F can be changed according to the angle θ1 between the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62, the arrangement of the antenna unit 50 is configured by providing a loop antenna on one plane. Compared with the antenna part etc. which are performed, it can make it hard to receive to the influence of other structures, such as the reading port 13. FIG. Therefore, the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 can be easily controlled without reducing the degree of design freedom regarding the antenna arrangement. That is, the degree of freedom in design can be improved by controlling the angles of the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62.

  In particular, the antenna unit 50 is disposed on the outer side of the one edge portion 13 a constituting the reading port 13 with respect to the reading port 13. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the antenna unit 50 from interfering with the reception of the information code C by the light receiving sensor 28.

  Further, since a radio wave is constantly radiated from the antenna unit 50 for a certain period of time during which the reading process is executed, the information code C is read by reading the information code C at a certain time when the radio wave is constantly radiated from the antenna unit 50 And reading of the electronic tag T can be performed simultaneously. Note that the predetermined time is not limited to the time during which the reading process is performed, but, for example, an operation for starting invalidation is performed on the operation unit 47 and then an operation for terminating invalidation is performed. It may be between.

  In a configuration in which a trigger switch or the like operated when starting the reading process is provided in the scanner 2 as a part of the operation unit 47, radio waves are radiated from the antenna unit 50 during a reading operation by the trigger switch or the like. May be. Thereby, the reading of the information code C and the invalidation of the electronic tag T can be synchronized. The operation unit 47 such as a trigger switch may correspond to an example of “operation means”.

  Further, radio waves radiated from the antenna unit 50 may be controlled by the control circuit 40 in accordance with the reading result (decoding result) by the reading process. Specifically, for example, as shown in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6, the information code C is optically readable (S301), and when the information code C is successfully read (Yes in S303), the antenna unit 50 May be informed that the reading of the information code C has succeeded (S307) after the radio wave is emitted from the electronic tag T so that the electronic tag T in the radio wave output area S2 can be invalidated (S305). In this notification process, the success or failure of invalidation of the electronic tag T can also be notified.

  Further, for example, according to the read information code C, processing contents using radio waves such as writing to the electronic tag as well as invalidation of the electronic tag T may be changed. For example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the information code C can be optically read (S401), and when the information code C is successfully read (Yes in S403), the type of the read information code C The processing content using the radio wave can be changed according to. Specifically, for example, if the type of the read information code C is A type (Yes in S405), after performing A communication for invalidating the electronic tag T (S407), information on the A type The fact that the reading of the code C is successful, the fact that the electronic tag T is invalidated, and the success or failure thereof are notified (S409). Further, if the type of the read information code C is the B type (No in S405, Yes in S411), after performing B communication for writing predetermined information to an electronic tag (non-contact communication medium) or the like (S413), the fact that the reading of the B-type information code C has been successful, the fact that the processing for writing predetermined information to the electronic tag, etc., and the success or failure thereof are notified (S415). Further, if the type of the read information code C is C type (No in S405, S411, Yes in S417), C for performing other processing such as reading / writing on an electronic tag (non-contact communication medium) or the like. After the communication (S419), the fact that the C-type information code C has been successfully read, the fact that other processing has been performed on the electronic tag, and the success or failure thereof are notified (S421). Further, when the type of the read information code C is not any of A, B, and C types (No in S405, S411, and S417), the processing from step S401 is repeated again.

  Thus, since the radio wave radiated from the antenna unit 50 is controlled by the control circuit 40 according to the decoding result of the information code C, not only the electronic tag T is invalidated according to the read information code C, Processing contents using radio waves, such as writing to an electronic tag, can be changed. The control circuit 40 that performs such processing may correspond to an example of a “radio wave control unit” that controls radio waves radiated from the antenna unit 50 according to the decoding result.

  The optical information reading apparatus 1 includes a housing 11 of the scanner 2 in which the light receiving sensor 28, the antenna unit 50, and the like are incorporated, and a control circuit that performs control using a light reception result by the light receiving sensor 28, as in the present embodiment. It is not limited to being configured as a separate body from the housing of the control device 3 in which the 40 is incorporated, but is a handy terminal having a power supply battery that combines the functions of the scanner 2 and the control device 3. It may be configured as a portable type.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an optical information reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the second embodiment, the arrangement of the antenna unit with respect to the reading port is mainly different from that in the first embodiment. For this reason, substantially the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the antenna unit 50a of the optical information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is bent so that the first antenna surface 71 and the second antenna surface 72 are continuous at a predetermined angle θ2. The antenna unit 50 a is formed such that the second antenna surface 72 is substantially parallel to the end surface 12 and the first antenna surface 71 is along the inner wall of the housing 11 near the reading port 13. In particular, the second antenna surface 72 has an opening inside the loop antenna 51 so as not to prevent light reception by the light receiving sensor 28, and a portion of the loop antenna 51 excluding a side connected to the wiring 52 is on the outer edge of the reading port 13. It is arranged along. Further, the second antenna surface 72 is arranged so that the side connected to the wiring 52 is arranged on the back side away from the one edge 13 a so that the loop antenna 51 surrounds the reading port 13. ing. The end face 12 is formed so that the antenna part 50a is not exposed when viewed in plan. The antenna unit 50a may be formed so that the inside of the loop antenna 51 of the first antenna surface 71 is opened.

  Similarly to the antenna unit 50 described above, the angle θ2 between the first antenna surface 71 and the second antenna surface 72 is such that the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50a is directed to the optical reading area S1, as shown in FIG. Is set to In particular, in the present embodiment, since the loop antenna 51 of the second antenna surface 72 is located around the reading port 13, the direction in which the radio wave radiation direction F is orthogonal to the end surface 12 relative to the antenna unit 50 described above. Need to tilt to. For this reason, the antenna unit 50 a is formed such that the area ratio of the second antenna surface 72 to the first antenna surface 71 is larger than the area ratio of the second antenna surface 62 to the first antenna surface 61 in the antenna unit 50. Yes.

  Even in this case, the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50a can be adjusted according to the angle θ2 toward the optical reading area S1 optimized for optical reading. Further, the radio wave radiation direction F by the antenna unit 50 a can be changed also by the area of the first antenna surface 71 and the area of the second antenna surface 72. By adjusting the radio wave radiation direction F in accordance with the angle θ2 and the like, the electronic tag T is placed in the radio wave output area S2 where the electronic tag can be invalidated when the reading port 13 is placed over the information code C. Thus, the area where the radio wave output area S2 and the optical reading area S1 are compatible (see cross-hatching indicated by reference numeral S3 in FIG. 8) is widened.

  In particular, even when the antenna unit 50a is arranged so that the loop antenna 51 of the second antenna surface 72 is provided around the reading port 13, the angle θ2 between the second antenna surface 72 and the first antenna surface 71 is adjusted. Thus, the radio wave radiation direction F can be controlled, and the space around the reading port 13 can be used effectively.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment, For example, you may actualize as follows.
(1) The antenna unit 50 is not limited to be configured such that the antenna surface consists of two planes of the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62. For example, the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface It may be configured from three or more surfaces, such as a configuration in which a curved surface is provided between the first and second surfaces. Even in such a case, the above-described effect can be obtained by setting the angle θ1 between the first antenna surface 61 and the second antenna surface 62, which is a major surface having a larger area than the other surfaces, as described above. The same applies to the antenna unit 50a, and the antenna surface may be composed of three or more surfaces. Even in such a case, the first antenna surface 71 and the first antenna surface 71, which have a larger area than the other surfaces and are the main surfaces. By setting the angle θ <b> 2 with the two antenna surfaces 72 as described above, the above-described effect can be obtained. The angle θ1 and the angle θ2 can be set to about 30 ° to 160 °. When the angle is more acute than 30 °, the influence of the radio waves generated on the two antenna surfaces canceling each other is stronger. Conversely, when the angle is larger than 160 °, the antenna surface is composed of one surface. This is because a large effect cannot be obtained.

(2) Either one of the antenna unit 50 and the antenna unit 50a is not provided with respect to the reading port 13, but both may be arranged, and another antenna unit may be further provided. Thus, by providing a plurality of antenna units with respect to the reading port 13, it becomes easy to radiate radio waves in the intended direction, and the radio wave output area S2 can be suitably expanded.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical information reader 2 ... Scanner 3 ... Control apparatus 13 ... Reading port 28 ... Light receiving sensor (light receiving means)
40. Control circuit (decoding means, radio wave control means)
47. Operation section (operation means)
50, 50a ... Antenna portion 51 ... Loop antenna 61, 71 ... First antenna surface (first surface)
62, 72 ... second antenna surface (second surface)
C ... Information code F ... Radio wave radiation direction S1 ... Optical reading area S2 ... Radio wave output area T ... Electronic tag (non-contact communication medium)
θ1, θ2 ... Angle

Claims (9)

An optical information reader for optically reading an information code,
A light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the information code located in the optical reading area through a reading port;
An antenna for emitting radio waves to a non-contact communication medium using radio waves;
With
The antenna unit is configured by providing a loop antenna on an antenna surface formed so as to include at least a first surface and a second surface,
An optical information reading apparatus, wherein an angle between the first surface and the second surface is set so that a radio wave radiation direction by the antenna unit is directed to the optical reading area.   The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is disposed outside an edge portion of the reading port with respect to the reading port.   The antenna unit is arranged such that a portion of the loop antenna provided on one of the first surface and the second surface surrounds at least a part of the periphery of the reading port. The optical information reader according to claim 1.   The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the antenna units are provided with respect to the reading port.   The optical information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a radio wave is constantly radiated from the antenna unit for a certain period of time. Comprising operating means that is read when receiving reflected light from the information code;
The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radio wave is radiated from the antenna unit during a reading operation by the operation unit. Decoding means for decoding the information code according to the light reception result of the information code by the light receiving means;
Radio wave control means for controlling radio waves radiated from the antenna unit according to the decoding result by the decoding means;
The optical information reader according to claim 1, comprising:   2. The housing in which the light receiving means and the antenna unit are incorporated, and the housing in which a control means for performing control using a light reception result by the light receiving means is configured as separate bodies. The optical information reading device according to any one of claims 7 to 9.   The optical information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the optical information reading device is configured as a portable type so as to include a battery for power supply.

Images