JP3835003B2 - Data code reader and program recording medium thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data code reader for reading a data code obtained by encoding data such as a bar code and the like, and a program recording medium thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a hand-held type laser scanner that reads a bar code information by irradiating a laser beam on a bar code through a scanning mirror and receiving the reflected light, a bar code about 40 cm to several meters ahead can be read. Since the laser beam is irradiated at a scanning angle (scanning width) fixedly determined in advance, the irradiation range becomes wider as the distance from the barcode increases.
Therefore, for example, when scanning a shelf label or the like to read a barcode, the adjacent shelf label may be irradiated with a laser beam. A bar code tag of a product is affixed. In such a case, two or more bar codes may be irradiated with a laser.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this way, when multiple barcodes are irradiated with laser, they can be read and decoded at the same time, but usually there are many cases where recognition is impossible, and even barcodes not intended by the operator are read and decoded. This is a big hindrance in managing product inventory.
An object of the present invention is to be able to process only a data code intended by an operator even when a plurality of data codes are read simultaneously.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in response to a user operation, the position of a data code among a plurality of adjacently arranged data codes is instructed to be decoded, and reading operation is performed on a reading unit that reads the data code When it is determined that a plurality of data codes have been read by the determination means, a determination means for determining whether or not a plurality of data codes have been read simultaneously by the reading means, Deletion means for deleting data code information other than the data code at the position indicated by the instruction means from the data code information read by the reading means, and decoding of the data code information remaining without being deleted by the deletion means And a decoding means.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a handy terminal with a laser scanner, and FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the laser scanner. A laser irradiation unit 2 that is an opening of a laser scanner is provided at the head of the apparatus main body 1, and a liquid crystal display screen 2 and a keyboard 4 are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1. The laser scanner is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the laser beam emitted from the laser transmitter a is reflected by the reflection mirror b and is emitted within a constant deflection angle of the scanning mirror (vibration mirror) c to irradiate the barcode on the barcode. In this case, the scanning direction in which the laser beam is irradiated on the barcode is reversed alternately left and right by the vibration mirror, such as from left to right or from right to left. Further, as the distance between the laser irradiation unit 2 and the object to be read (barcode) increases, the laser irradiation range extends in the left-right direction. The cord may be laser irradiated. The reflected light of the laser beam irradiated onto the barcode in this way is sent to the light receiving portion e and subjected to photoelectric conversion, and then input processing as barcode information. On the other hand, in addition to the numeric keypad and various function keys, the keyboard 4 is provided with a right trigger key RT and a left trigger key LT unique to this embodiment. The right trigger key RT and the left trigger key LT are trigger keys for instructing the start of laser irradiation, respectively, but when there is a high possibility that two bar codes adjacent in the left-right direction will be read simultaneously, the right trigger key RT The code is valid and the left trigger key LT also functions as a key for instructing to validate the left bar code.
[0007]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a handy terminal with a laser scanner.
The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the handy terminal with a laser scanner in accordance with various programs loaded in the RAM 12. The storage device 13 includes a storage medium 14 in which an operating system, various application programs, data files, character font data, and the like are stored in advance, and a drive system thereof. The storage medium 14 is fixedly provided or detachably mountable, and is constituted by a magnetic or optical storage medium such as a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, or RAM card, and a semiconductor memory. Further, programs and data in the storage medium 14 are loaded into the RAM 12 as required by the control of the CPU 11. Furthermore, the CPU 11 receives a program and data transmitted from another device via a communication line or the like and stores them in the storage medium 14 or stored in a storage medium provided on the other device. Existing programs and data can be used via a communication line or the like.
[0008]
An input device 15, a display device 16, a laser unit 17, and a laser controller 18 as input / output peripheral devices are connected to the CPU 11 via a bus line, and the CPU 11 controls their operations according to the input / output program. To do. The input device 5 includes a keyboard 4, and key codes corresponding to operation keys are taken into the CPU 11. The display device 16 includes a liquid crystal display screen 3 and displays and outputs a decoding result obtained by decoding the barcode information and data input from the input device 15. The laser unit 17 has a detection unit for detecting the scanning timing of the vibration mirror in addition to the laser transmitter a, the mirror b, the vibration mirror c, and the light receiving unit e shown in FIG. In response to the / OFF signal LSR, laser irradiation is started, black and white image data is generated based on the reflected light of the laser irradiation, and is output as a barcode image signal IMG, which is given to the laser controller 18. At this time, a laser scanning timing signal TMG that is reversed for each scan is detected by detecting a specific position of the vibration mirror depending on whether the scanning direction of the vibration mirror is left to right or right to left, and is supplied to the laser controller 18. . The laser controller 18 outputs a laser irradiation ON / OFF signal LSR in accordance with the operation of the right trigger key RT and the left trigger key LT, determines the scanning direction according to the laser irradiation timing signal TMG from the laser unit 17, and completes one scan. Each time the barcode image signal IMG changes, the bar width is measured as time data, and the data of this time sequence is given to the CPU 11 as barcode information.
[0009]
Next, the operation of the handy terminal with a laser scanner will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, a program for realizing each function described in this flowchart is stored in the storage medium 14 in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 11, and the contents thereof are loaded into the RAM 12.
Now, after the power is turned on, a laser irradiation ON / OFF signal LSR is output from the laser controller 18 in accordance with the operation of the right trigger key RT or the left trigger key LT, and in response to this, the laser unit 17 starts a scanning operation. Here, when scanning a shelf label at an inventory shelf or display shelf position, depending on the distance between the shelf label and the laser scanner, there is a high possibility that two bar codes adjacent to the left and right will be read simultaneously in one scan. In such a case, either the right trigger key RT or the left trigger key LT is operated in order to validate only the intended barcode. Here, if the barcode located on the left side is the target barcode as shown in FIG. 5, the left trigger key LT is pressed, and the barcode located on the right side as shown in FIG. If the barcode is to be pressed, the right trigger key RT is pressed. When one of the left trigger key LT and the right trigger key RT is pressed in this way, the laser unit 17 starts a scanning operation in response to the laser irradiation ON / OFF signal LSR, and sends the laser scanning timing signal TMG to the laser controller. Give to 18. Then, the laser controller 18 counts the time of the bar width every time the barcode image signal IMG changes, generates a count value for one scan as barcode information, and gives it to the CPU 11 together with a notice of completion of one scan.
[0010]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation when decoding the barcode information transferred from the laser controller 18 every time one scan is completed. Here, FIG. 7 shows the data structure of the bar code information transferred from the laser controller 18 when the bar code is scanned from the left to the right, the head of which is an identifier indicating the scanning direction, In the case of scanning from left to right (right scan), the identifier is “0”. In the case of scanning from right to left (left scan), the identifier is “1”. Thereafter, bar width time data t1, t2, t3,..., T17 indicating control bars and data bars are obtained. It is assumed that the first bar width time data t1 is time data corresponding to a white thin bar. FIG. 8 shows the data structure of bar code information when two bar codes adjacent to the left and right are read simultaneously in one scan. In this case as well, the head is an identifier indicating the scanning direction. And bar width time data t1, t2, t3,..., T132, t133, t134, and t135 indicating data bars.
[0011]
First, when the CPU 11 receives the barcode information having the data structure as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the CPU 11 extracts two adjacent black bars at the head portion and the tail portion, and compares the time data (step). S1). In this case, as described above, since the first bar is a white bar corresponding to the right margin and the left margin, the subsequent bar is a black bar, and the time data t2 and t4 are values obtained by counting the black bar width, The bars one and three bars before the last bar are also black bars, and the time data tn-1 and tn-3 are values obtained by counting the black bar widths. In this way, as a result of comparing the count values of two adjacent black bar widths at the head portion and the tail portion of the bar code information, the minimum value is determined as a black thin bar (step S2). Here, although depending on the type of bar code, the black thin bar width and the white thin bar width are the same or approximate values, so in the next step S3, the appropriate value of the black thin bar width to the white thin bar width is determined. Ask. Then, the appropriate width of the white thick bar is obtained from the white thin bar width (step S4). Even in this case, the white thin bar width and the white thick bar width have a predetermined relationship according to the type of the barcode, and accordingly, an appropriate value of the white thick bar width is obtained in consideration thereof.
In addition, after analyzing the barcode information as described above and obtaining the black thin bar width and the white thin bar width, the white thick bar width is obtained from the white thin bar width. Since the white bar width is not uniform due to printing unevenness or the like, the appropriate white bar width is calculated for each scan.
[0012]
When the appropriate white bar width is obtained in this way, it is determined whether or not there is a blank exceeding the appropriate white bar width in the portion of the bar code information for one scan excluding the head and tail (step S5). . In this case, if two barcodes are irradiated with laser and even at least a part of an unintended barcode is read, the white bar width between the first barcode and the second barcode In step S5, it is determined whether or not two or more barcodes have been read simultaneously in one scan. Here, since the barcode information as shown in FIG. 7 is a case where one barcode is read, there is no blank exceeding the white bar width in the portion other than the head and tail. In step S11, the barcode information is decoded. If the barcode information is an appropriate barcode, the decoding result is displayed and output (step S12).
[0013]
On the other hand, if it is detected in step S5 that two barcodes have been read in one scan as shown in FIG. 8, the process proceeds to step S6, and either the right trigger key RT or the left trigger key LT is pressed. When the left trigger key LT is pressed, the identifier indicating the scanning direction incorporated at the head of the barcode information is referred to and it is determined whether the scanning is left scanning or right scanning (step S7). If the left trigger key LT is pressed and left scanning from the right to the left is performed, the blank front data exceeding the appropriate white bar width is deleted (step S8). FIG. 9A shows the data deletion portion in this case. In the barcode information shown in FIG. 8, the first half of the data is deleted when the left trigger key is pressed and left scanning is performed. If the left trigger key LT is pressed and right scanning is performed from left to right, the process proceeds to step S10, and the data behind the blank exceeding the appropriate white bar width is deleted. FIG. 9B shows the deleted portion of the data in this case. In the barcode information shown in FIG. 8, in the case of the right scan when the left trigger key is pressed, the latter half of the data is deleted. On the other hand, if it is detected in step S6 that the right trigger key RT is pressed, the process proceeds to step S9, where the scanning direction is discriminated with reference to the identifier in the bar code information, and as a result, from right to left. In the case of the left scan, the data behind the blank exceeding the appropriate white bar width is deleted (step S10). In the case of the left scan, the process proceeds to step S8, and the front data of the blank exceeding the appropriate white bar width. Is deleted. FIGS. 9C and 9D show portions where data is deleted from the barcode information of FIG. In this way, a part of the barcode information is deleted in response to the pressing of the right trigger key RT and the left trigger key LT and the left / right scan, so that only the remaining barcode information is decoded as valid data (step S11). If it is a proper barcode, the decoding result is displayed and output (step S12).
[0014]
As described above, in this handy terminal with a laser scanner, taking into account the distance from the laser scanner that reads the barcode by laser irradiation to the object to be read, the proximity state of the barcode, etc., two barcodes in the left and right direction are scanned one scan. In the case where there is a high possibility of being read at the same time, in addition to instructing the start of the scanning operation by pressing either the right trigger key RT or the left trigger key LT, either the left bar code or the right bar code is set as the reading target. Tell them what to do. In this state, the scanning operation is performed, and the barcode information for one scan obtained thereby is analyzed. As a result, when it is determined that two barcodes are included in one scan, Depending on which one of the right trigger key RT and the left trigger key LT is pressed, only one of the barcodes can be decoded as valid data. That is, when the right trigger key RT is pressed, the left barcode is ignored and only the right barcode is valid, and conversely, when the left trigger key LT is pressed, the right barcode is ignored and only the left barcode is valid. Only the target barcode can be selectively processed. The laser scanner is a laser scanning bar code reader whose scanning direction is alternately reversed left and right by a vibration type scanning mirror on the bar code. The scanning direction is left scan or right scan, right trigger key RT and left trigger key LT. Since valid data can be determined according to which one is pressed, it is possible to process only the target barcode even if the scanning direction is reversed alternately left and right. Further, the barcode information for one scan is analyzed, and as a result, when determining whether or not two barcodes are included in one scan, whether or not a blank exceeding a white bar width is included. Therefore, the determination can be made reliably, and the valid data can be determined reliably. In this case, since the white bar width is determined by analyzing the bar width of the bar code information, the blank size exceeding the white bar width is specified without being affected by the type of bar code or printing unevenness. It becomes possible to do.
[0015]
In the above-described embodiment, the right trigger key RT and the left trigger key LT are provided to enable only the left or right barcode, but three or more types of trigger keys may be provided. Further, the present invention is applied to a barcode scanner that reads a barcode, but may be a CCD scanner that reads a two-dimensional code such as a Carla code.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in response to a user operation, a position in which a data code among a plurality of adjacently arranged data codes is to be decoded is instructed to start a reading operation. Even when read simultaneously, it is possible to decode only the data code designated as a decoding target by the user, and to immediately notify the user of the decoding result of the data code intended by the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a handy terminal with a laser scanner.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a laser scanner.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a handy terminal with a laser scanner.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when decoding barcode information read every scan completion.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing that the left barcode becomes valid when the left trigger key LT is pressed when two barcodes are close to the left and right.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing that the right barcode becomes valid when the right trigger key RT is pressed when two barcodes are close to the left and right.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of barcode information obtained by scanning one barcode from left to right.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of barcode information obtained by scanning two barcodes from left to right.
9A is data deleted when the left trigger key LT is pressed in the left scan, FIG. 9B is data deleted when the right trigger key RT is pressed in the left scan, and FIG. ) Is data to be deleted when the left trigger key LT is pressed in the right scan, and (D) is a diagram illustrating data to be deleted when the right trigger key RT is pressed in the right scan.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 CPU
12 RAM
13 Storage Device 14 Storage Medium 17 Laser Unit 18 Laser Controller RT Right Trigger Key LT Left Trigger Key

Claims (3)

In response to a user operation, an instruction means for instructing which data code in a plurality of adjacently arranged data codes is to be decoded, and for causing a reading means for reading the data code to start a reading operation;
Determining means for determining whether or not a plurality of data codes are simultaneously read by the reading means;
When it is determined by the determining means that a plurality of data codes have been read, data code information other than the data code at the position indicated by the indicating means is obtained from the data code information read by the reading means. Delete means to delete,
Decoding means for decoding data code information remaining without being deleted by the deleting means;
A data code reading apparatus comprising: The instructing means includes a left trigger key for instructing to decode a data code located on the left side of two adjacently arranged data codes, and a data code located on the right side of the two adjacently arranged data codes. data code reader according to claim 1, characterized in that a configuration having the right trigger key to indicate that the decoding target. Against the computer,
In response to a user operation, instructing which data code in a plurality of adjacently arranged data codes is to be decoded, and causing a reading unit that reads the data code to start a reading operation;
A function of determining whether a plurality of data codes are simultaneously read by the reading unit;
A function of deleting data code information other than the data code at the indicated position from the data code information read by the reading means when it is determined that a plurality of data codes have been read;
A function of decoding data code information remaining without being deleted by the deletion;
A recording medium on which a program for realizing the above is recorded.

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