JP2589939Y2 - Storage case and barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information recording medium in which predetermined musical sound information is printed by a bar code (one-dimensional code (one-dimensional code)) or a two-dimensional bar code (two-dimensional code (two-dimensional code)). The present invention relates to a case (hereinafter, referred to as a storage case) and a barcode reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a disk storage case for storing a disk such as a music CD (compact disk), a CD-ROM, or a rewritable magneto-optical disk, or a compact cassette case for storing a music tape. In such cases, at the point of sale, it is wrapped in a paper member or a transparent film sheet, and unless the paper member or the transparent film sheet is opened, the inner disk or cassette case cannot be taken out or auditioned (or viewed). . Therefore, for example, when a user wants to know the music content when purchasing a disc such as a CD, a confirmation means using a CD listening machine is used.

[0003] Further, on the printed matter sheet stored in the storage case or the packaging film sheet, the content recorded on a CD or tape, for example, an introduction of a song, a composer, a performer, etc., is printed in characters, or a cover illustration is printed. , Photos, etc. are printed. Further, a bar code is also printed on the printed sheet. This barcode is used as a product management means by recognizing a product price and a product number by a barcode reader.

[0004]

However, in the above-described configuration, in order to actually listen to the recorded contents of a CD or a tape, the wrapping film sheet (hereinafter referred to as a wrapping sheet) must be opened. , I can't listen to it unless I listen to it. Therefore, it is necessary for the sales side to prepare a separate disk and to purchase and install a trial listening machine. In the selection process, the purchasing side (customer side) wants to listen to several types of CDs and tapes, but it is difficult to offer it casually.

[0005] However, the purchaser (customer) may want to confirm the touching portion or the highlight portion of the recorded content by some means, for example, a sound reproduced by a signal processor, a synthesized voice, or a music box-like sound before purchasing. Occurs. In addition, even at the time of purchase, you can easily record the content,
Sometimes you want to know in a very short time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a storage case and a barcode reader which allow a user to listen to and check a touching portion or a highlight portion of recorded content by simple means without opening a packaging sheet of the storage case. It is.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the storage case of the present invention comprises a packaging sheet for packaging a case containing an information recording medium such as a disk or tape.
Alternatively, tone information is printed by a bar code (or two-dimensional code) on at least one of a main plane constituting the case, a printed material sheet stored in the case, and a printed material sheet stored in the packaging sheet. The bar code is read by a bar code reader, and the bar code embedded in the bar code reader is read.
The sound conversion means and the sound output means allow the user to listen and check.

As the bar code, in addition to printing using a conventional general printing member so that it can be seen (confirmed) in the visible light range, a stealth type bar code (invisible type bar code), that is, an indium or bar code is used. The barcode may be formed of a transparent member that is colorless and transparent in the visible light region using an oxide such as tin.

When a stealth-type bar code is used, it can be arranged so as to be superimposed on characters and photographs of a conventionally formed printed sheet. Of course, it is also possible to print on a transparent storage case or a transparent packaging sheet, and this can be performed without impairing the conventional product appearance.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the above configuration eliminates the need for expensive listening equipment and various types of discs, so that the purchaser (customer) can easily touch or highlight the recorded content before purchasing. Easily and in a very short time.

Further, since the recorded contents can be previewed and confirmed without opening the packaging sheet of the storage case, the commercial value of the disk or tape does not decrease.

[0012]

[Practical example] A practical example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings using an example of a CD storage case.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a CD storage case 1 and a bar code reader 2 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a main part of circuit means 3, 4, and 5 for converting a bar code signal read by the bar code reader 2 into a tone signal (sound signal). FIG. 3 is a logical value corresponding to an FM coded bar code. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a bar code reader according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a bar code reader according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a bar code reader according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the storage case 1 is wrapped with a transparent wrapping sheet (not shown), and almost all the printed material sheets (not shown) in the case are composed of musical sound information. The barcode 10 is provided by being printed in a predetermined manner. FIG. 6 shows a bar code 10 in which the musical score 9 is subjected to, for example, FM coding to obtain musical sound information.

The bar code 10 provided on the printed sheet is read by a reading port 41,
Is converted to a digital signal by the control circuit 4 (for example, an MPU (microprocessor unit) or R
AM, ROM, etc.). The control circuit 4 gives a tone output command to the tone generator 5 from the time of supply of a start command based on information read by scanning the reading port 8. The start command is executed by turning on the start switch or the function key 42 provided on the barcode 2 when all the barcodes 10 provided on the printed sheet are scanned.

The tone generator circuit 5 outputs a musical sound such as a melody or a rhythm sound through the amplifier 6 and the speaker 7 in response to a given musical score output command. The details of the barcode reader 2 and the amplifier circuit 3 are as shown in FIG. That is, a light-emitting element for converting a difference in light reflectance into an electric signal (a magnitude of a current), for example, a light-emitting diode (LE)
D) or semiconductor laser and light receiving element (photo sensor)
21.

The output is amplified by an operational amplifier 22 and supplied to a differentiating circuit 23. Then, the signal differentiated by the differentiating circuit 23 is supplied to an operational amplifier 24 which is a bistable circuit and becomes a logic signal.

The bar code reader 2 constructed as described above
For example, when the FM-coded bar code 10 shown in FIG.
Is as shown in FIG. 3 (B).

The circuit elements from the amplifying circuit 3 to the amplifier 6 and the speaker 7 are housed in a cabinet 48 of the bar code reader 2 in the same manner as the light emitting / receiving element. FIG. 4 shows an example of the external shape of the barcode reader 2. 4, the bar code reader 2 includes a speaker sound emission hole 44, a liquid crystal display 45, a numeric keypad 47, a function key 42, and the like. The liquid crystal display 45 displays the contents of the read barcode and the contents input from the ten keys 47 or the function keys 42.

The bar code 10 representing the tone information is printed on a transparent packaging sheet for wrapping the storage case or a main plane of the storage case for storing a CD or cassette tape, in addition to the printed sheet. Needless to say, you can prepare for it.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a bar code reader 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention. When the barcode reader 20 is used, a barcode 50 indicating a conventional product number (meaning a plurality of digits) is predetermined on a printed sheet (not shown) in the information recording medium storage case 51 in advance. Printed. This barcode 50
By reading the information with the bar code reader 20, a tone information signal corresponding to the bar code 50 is taken out via a decoder, an MPU (microprocessor unit), a tone memory IC or the like built in the bar code reader 20. This signal is output as a musical sound (song, song, melody, etc.) from a speaker via a signal processor or the like. As a matter of course, the signal processor, the speaker and the like are built in the cabinet of the barcode reader 20.

The musical tone memory IC is composed of a flash memory IC or the like, and the musical score signals of several tens to several hundreds corresponding to the bar code 50 are stored in advance. Of course, a flash memory card or an optical card in which musical signals of several tens to several hundreds corresponding to various bar codes are stored in advance may be connected to the bar code reader 20 for use. Needless to say. In this case, the bar code reader 20 also needs the reader function of the flash memory card or the optical card, but the addition or change of the musical tone information to be stored becomes simple.

Further, the bar code may be an arbitrary two-dimensional code (such as a two-dimensional bar code).

The bar code reader is configured to output a desired musical tone even when a numerical value corresponding to a bar code is input using a numeric keypad provided in the bar code reader. Also, the bar code-voice conversion means is removed from the inside of the bar code reader, and is instead provided in a separately installed personal computer. (A communication network) and sound may be output from a speaker in a barcode reader.
In this case, it goes without saying that the bar code reader and the personal computer are provided with the antenna means and the signal transmitting / receiving circuit necessary for the wireless LAN.

For example, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a control circuit housed in a bar code reader. A modulation circuit 33 and a demodulation circuit 34 are connected to the MPU 31 via an input / output control circuit 32 for controlling input and output.
5 and the receiving circuit 36 are connected.

Further, a transmitting circuit 35 and a receiving circuit 36
Is connected to an antenna 37. The bar code signal input from the reading port 38 is sent to the MPU 3 via the decoder.
Enter 1. The input / output control circuit 32, the modulation circuit 33,
The signal is transmitted to the personal computer via the transmission circuit 35 and the antenna 37.

The tone signal transmitted through the bar code to voice conversion means in the personal computer is received by the antenna 37, detected by the reception circuit 36, and demodulated by the demodulation circuit 3.
After being converted from an analog signal to a digital signal in step 4,
Sound is output through the input / output control circuit 32, the MPU 31, the speaker, and the like.

[0028]

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, the present invention eliminates the need for preparing expensive listening equipment and various kinds of discs by the above configuration, and as a purchaser (customer side), touches the recorded content before purchasing. And highlights easily and easily,
You can know in a very short time.

Also, since the recorded contents can be previewed and confirmed without opening the packaging sheet of the storage case, there is an effect that the commercial value of the disk or tape is not reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a storage case and a barcode reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a main part of circuit means 3, 4, 5, 6 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a relationship diagram between FM-coded barcodes and corresponding logical values.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a bar code reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a barcode reader according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a musical score used for describing the present invention and a bar code obtained by encoding the musical score.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of a wireless LAN according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage case 2, 20, 70 Barcode reader 3 Amplifier circuit 4 Control circuit 5 Sound source circuit 6 Amplifier 7 Speaker 9 Music score 10 Barcode 21 Photosensor 22, 24 Operational amplifier circuit 23 Differentiator circuit 31 MPU 32 Input / output control circuit 33 Modulation Circuit 34 Demodulation circuit 35 Transmission circuit 36 Receiving circuit 37 Antenna 38, 41 Reading port 42 Function key 43 Reading confirmation LED 44 Sound emission hole for speaker 45 Liquid crystal display 46 Switch 47 Numeric keypad 48 Cabinet 50 Barcode 51 Information recording medium storage case

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G11B 23/30 G06K 7/10 G10H 1/00 102

Claims (8)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A flat surface of a case for storing an information recording medium,
Alternatively, the tone information is printed by a bar code on at least one of a packaging sheet for packaging the case, a printed material sheet stored in the case, and a printed material sheet stored in the packaging sheet. Storage case characterized by the following. 2. The storage case according to claim 1, wherein the bar code is formed of a transparent member. 3. The storage case according to claim 1, wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional code. 4. A system according to claim 1, wherein a means for reading a bar code representing musical sound information, a means for converting the bar code signal into a musical sound signal, and a sound output means for outputting a musical sound are housed in the same cabinet. Barcode reader. 5. A musical tone storing means, a means for reading a bar code representing a product number, a means for converting a read bar code signal into a musical tone signal, and a sound output means for outputting a musical tone in the same cabinet. A barcode reader characterized by: 6. A musical sound storing means, a means for reading a bar code representing a product number, a means for converting a read bar code signal to a musical sound signal, a sound output means for outputting as a musical sound, a read content or an input content A bar code reader, wherein the display means is stored in the same cabinet. 7. A bar code reader wherein a means for reading a bar code representing a product number and an audio output means for outputting a signal received by a wireless LAN as a musical sound are housed in the same cabinet. 8. A means for reading a bar code representing a product number, a means for transmitting the read bar code via a wireless LAN, an audio output means for outputting a signal received via the wireless LAN as a musical tone, and the contents of reading or input. A bar code reader characterized in that the means for displaying the contents are housed in the same cabinet.