JP5045642B2 - Optical information reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical information reader.

Optical information readers such as bar code readers are configured using various electrical components, and generally labor saving is an issue. As a method for saving the labor of this type of optical information reader, for example, a method in which the illumination light source is turned off or intermittently driven when the reading operation is not performed, or the CPU is set in a sleep state is used. ing.
JP-A-7-55555

  As described above, it is preferable to detect the non-operating state and shift to the power saving mode in order to save the entire apparatus. However, the change from the non-operating state to the operating state or from the operating state is preferable. It is necessary to detect the change to the non-operating state quickly and accurately, and on the other hand, it is not preferable in terms of workability to involve a complicated operation in the detection.

  Conventionally, regarding the labor saving of the optical information reading apparatus, a configuration capable of appropriately responding to such a request has not been provided, and a configuration capable of effectively solving such a problem is currently required. .

  Note that there is a technique as disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a technique related to the present invention. Patent Document 1 is not intended to solve the above-described problem and is greatly different from the present invention. Differences between Patent Document 1 and the present invention will be described in detail later.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and in an optical information reading apparatus that can be switched between a predetermined mode and a power-saving mode that reduces power consumption, a change from an operating state to a non-operating state, or It is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration capable of detecting a change from a non-operating state to an operating state with high accuracy without involving complicated work.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes an image pickup means for picking up an information code, a decode means for decoding based on an image of the information code picked up by the image pickup means, and the image pickup means. And a case in which a reading port for guiding the reflected light from the information code to the image pickup means is formed, wherein the optical information reading device is attached to the reading port side of the case. A light quantity detection means, a second light quantity detection means attached to a side of the case different from the reading port, a first light quantity detected by the first light quantity detection means, and a second light quantity detection means. The comparison means for comparing the second light quantity, the predetermined first mode, and the second mode for reducing the power consumption of the optical information reading apparatus compared to the first mode are switched off. And means, wherein the switching means is characterized by switching between the second mode and the first mode based on a change in the comparison result of the comparing means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to the first aspect, the case has a configuration in which the reading port is oriented in a predetermined direction, and the first light quantity detecting means is the reading port. Is disposed on the lower side of the case when the opposite side is the upper side, and the second light amount detecting means is disposed above the first light amount detecting means. It is characterized by being.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the first light amount detecting means is provided in a light guide path communicating with the imaging means from the reading port in the case. It is characterized by being.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the imaging unit includes a light receiving sensor that receives the reflected light. The one light quantity detecting means is constituted by a light receiving element different from the light receiving sensor.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the imaging unit includes a light receiving sensor that receives the reflected light. One light quantity detecting means is also used by the light receiving sensor.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the optical information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the illumination means irradiates illumination light toward the reading port; and A first lighting control for the lighting means, and in the second mode, a second lighting control that consumes less power than the first lighting control or a lighting control means for stopping lighting of the lighting means; It is characterized by having.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the switching unit is configured such that the comparison result by the comparison unit is greater than the second light amount. The second mode is changed to the first mode when the first light quantity increase state indicates that the first light quantity increase state changes to the second light quantity increase state in which the second light quantity is greater than the first light quantity. It is characterized by switching.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to the seventh aspect, the switching means has changed the comparison result by the comparison means from the first light quantity increase state to the second light quantity increase state. When the second light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain time, the second mode is switched to the first mode.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the switching unit is configured such that the comparison result by the comparing unit is greater than the first light amount. It shows that the second light quantity increase state has changed from the second light quantity increase state to the first light quantity increase state in which the first light quantity is larger than the second light quantity, and the unsuccessful decoding period by the decoding means is a fixed period When reaching the above, the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the imaging unit includes a light receiving sensor including a plurality of light receiving elements that receive the reflected light. The first light quantity detecting means is also used by the light receiving sensor, and the comparing means uses the average value of the received light quantities of the plurality of light receiving elements as the first light quantity, and the first light quantity and the second light quantity. It is characterized by comparing the amount of light.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the switching unit is configured such that the comparison result by the comparing unit is greater than the first light amount. The second mode is changed to the first mode when the second light quantity increase state indicates that the first light quantity increase state is larger than the second light quantity. It is characterized by switching.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to the eleventh aspect, the switching means changes the comparison result by the comparison means from the second light quantity increase state to the first light quantity increase state. And when the first light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain time, the second mode is switched to the first mode.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reading device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the eleventh aspect, and the twelfth aspect, the switching unit is configured to display the comparison result by the comparing unit. The decoding means indicates that the first light quantity increased from the first light quantity larger than the second light quantity has changed to the second light quantity increased state in which the second light quantity is greater than the first light quantity. When the decoding non-execution period due to has reached a certain period, the first mode is switched to the second mode.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first light amount detecting means is attached to the reading port side, and the second light amount detecting means is attached to the side different from the reading port. Furthermore, the first light quantity detected by the first light quantity detection means and the second light quantity detected by the second light quantity detection means are compared, and the first mode and the second mode (first Mode in which power consumption is suppressed as compared with the mode 1). In this way, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the change from the mounting state to the gripping state, or from the gripping state to the mounting state, based on the change in the light quantity comparison result at the two positions, and trigger the change in the comparison result. By doing so, the mode can be appropriately switched without forcing the operator to perform complicated operations or diligent operations.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional technique for detecting ambient light and using the detection result for controlling a barcode reader. The technique of Patent Document 1 is similar to the present invention in that it detects ambient light, but detects ambient light change by comparing the amount of ambient light incident on a predetermined position with a predetermined value (predetermined value). Therefore, the configuration is greatly different from the configuration in which the change in the operation state is grasped by comparing the light amounts at the two positions as in the present invention, and the above-described effects specific to the present invention cannot be obtained.

  In addition, the technique of Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to use in various places where ambient brightness is different. For example, it is not possible to detect changes in ambient light where the ambient light quantity is always less than or equal to a predetermined value, and avoid increasing the burden of setting work even if you try to change the predetermined value each time depending on the location of use. I can't. On the other hand, the present invention does not compare the ambient light amount obtained at a predetermined position in the apparatus with a predetermined value, but acquires the light amount at two positions separated from each other and triggers the change of the comparison result as a mode switching trigger. It is said. Therefore, it is possible to quickly and accurately detect a change in the apparatus state (change in the operation state) without requiring a special setting change operation in various places with different brightness, and it is possible to perform the mode switching satisfactorily.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first light quantity detecting means is disposed on the lower side of the case when the side facing the reading port is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side, and the second light quantity detecting means is the first side. It is arranged above the light amount detection means. In this case, in either the rest mode in which the case lower side is placed toward the placement surface or the rest mode in which the case upper side is placed toward the placement surface, the placement state (rest state) ) To the gripping state, the comparison result between the first light amount and the second light amount is likely to change. Therefore, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the state (gripping state) in which the device according to the present invention is to be used by the operator, and return the device from the second mode.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first light quantity detecting means is provided in the light guide path that communicates from the reading port to the imaging means. As described above, when the first light amount detecting means is provided in the light guide path, the first light amount is likely to change greatly depending on the position and orientation of the reading port. Therefore, when the apparatus changes from the mounted state to the gripping state, The comparison result between the first light amount and the second light amount is further easily changed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the imaging means has a light receiving sensor, and the first light quantity detecting means is constituted by a light receiving element different from the light receiving sensor. In this way, the first light amount can be detected without depending on the operating state of the light receiving sensor.

  In the invention of claim 5, the imaging means has a light receiving sensor for receiving the reflected light, and the first light quantity detecting means is also used by this light receiving sensor. If it does in this way, the number of parts can be suppressed and it will become easy to aim at simplification of an apparatus configuration.

  The invention according to claim 6 performs the first lighting control for the lighting means in the first mode, and the second lighting control or lighting of the lighting means in the second mode with lower power consumption than the first lighting control. It is configured to cancel. In this way, good reading can be performed in the first mode, and power saving can be effectively achieved in the second mode. Then, the first mode and the second mode determined in this way can be switched at an appropriate timing based on the comparison result of the two light quantity detection means, and both improvement in reading workability and power saving can be achieved. realizable.

  The invention according to claim 7 changes from the first light quantity increase state (state where the first light quantity is larger than the second light quantity) to the second light quantity increase state (state where the second light quantity is larger than the first light quantity). In some cases, the second mode is switched to the first mode. In this way, when a resting method is employed in which the reading port is placed facing upward, a change from the resting state (mounting state) to the gripping state can be detected quickly and accurately, and the resting state (mounting) When the apparatus in the state) is gripped by the user, the apparatus can quickly return from the power saving mode (second mode).

  The invention according to claim 8 indicates that the comparison result has changed from the first light quantity increase state to the second light quantity increase state, and the second mode is changed from the second mode to the first mode when the second light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain period of time. It has been switched to. In this way, when a pause method is employed in which the reading port is placed facing upward, it can be effectively prevented from returning to the first mode due to the influence of noise or the like when placed. Further power saving can be measured.

  In the invention of claim 9, the comparison result changes from the second light quantity increase state (the second light quantity is larger than the first light quantity) to the first light quantity increase state (the first light quantity is larger than the second light quantity). The first mode is switched to the second mode when the change is indicated and the unsuccessful decoding period by the decoding means reaches a certain period. When the comparison result is as described above and the decoding unsuccessful period has reached a certain period, there is a high possibility that the reading port is placed with the reading port facing upward. In such a case, if the configuration is switched to the second mode, the hibernation state can be detected quickly and appropriately, and power saving can be effectively realized.

  The invention of claim 10 has a light receiving sensor comprising a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving reflected light, and the first light quantity detecting means is also used by this light receiving sensor. Then, the first light amount and the second light amount are compared with the average value of the received light amounts of the plurality of light receiving elements as the first light amount. In this way, a change in the comparison result due to noise can be effectively prevented, and a comparison result that more appropriately reflects the change in the light amount at the arrangement position of each light amount detection means can be obtained.

  In the invention of claim 11, the comparison result changes from the second light quantity increase state (the second light quantity is larger than the first light quantity) to the first light quantity increase state (the first light quantity is larger than the second light quantity). When the change is indicated, the second mode is switched to the first mode. In this way, when a resting method is employed in which the reading port is placed with the reading port facing downward, a change from the resting state (mounting state) to the gripping state can be detected quickly and accurately, and the resting state (mounting state) can be detected. When the device in the installation state is gripped by the user, it can be quickly returned from the power saving mode (second mode).

  The invention of claim 12 indicates that the comparison result has changed from the second light quantity increase state to the first light quantity increase state, and the second mode is changed to the first mode when the first light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain period of time. Switching. In this way, in the case where a resting method in which the reading port is placed downward is adopted, it is possible to effectively prevent returning to the first mode due to the influence of noise or the like in the placement state, Further power saving can be measured.

  The invention according to claim 13 indicates that the comparison result has changed from the first light quantity increasing state to the second light quantity increasing state, and the second mode is changed from the first mode when the decoding non-execution period by the decoding means reaches a certain period. Switch to mode. If the comparison result is as described above and the decoding unsuccessful period has reached a certain period, there is a high possibility that the reading port is placed in a downward state (pause state). In such a case, if the configuration is switched to the second mode, the hibernation state can be detected quickly and appropriately, and power saving can be effectively realized.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, an optical information reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the optical information reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the optical information reading apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of reading processing performed by the optical information reading apparatus of FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a state where the optical information reading device of FIG. 1 is not used (resting state), and FIG. 4B is a state in which the resting state is changed to a gripping state. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates schematically a mode that it changed. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration for the control circuit to obtain a comparison result obtained by comparing the first light amount and the second light amount.

First, the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2 is configured as an information code reader that reads a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code.

  The optical information reading apparatus 1 is configured such that a circuit unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 is accommodated in a case 2 shown in FIG. The case 2 is generally formed in a substantially longitudinal shape in a form in which the upper case 2a and the lower case 2b are coupled. In the example of FIG. 1, the reading for making illumination light and reflected light conduct to one end in the longitudinal direction. A mouth 5 is formed. The reading port 5 is configured as an opening that communicates the inside and the outside of the case 2, and a dustproof plate (not shown) that closes the opening of the reading port 5 is provided in the vicinity of the reading port 5. . Further, the case 2 has a configuration in which the tip end side where the reading port 5 is formed is bent with respect to the circuit accommodating portion side where the substrate 18 is accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical information reader 1 mainly includes an optical system such as an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 23, a filter 25, and an imaging lens 27, a memory 35, a control circuit 40, an operation switch 42, It is composed of a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) system such as the liquid crystal display device 46 and a power system such as a power switch 41 and a battery 49. Note that these are mounted on the substrate 18 or housed in the case 2.

  The optical system includes an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 23, a filter 25, an imaging lens 27, and the like. The illumination light source 21 functions as an illumination light source capable of emitting the illumination light Lf, and is configured by a red LED 21a (FIG. 1) and a condensing lens (not shown) provided on the emission side of the LED. In the present embodiment, illumination light sources 21 are provided on both sides of the light receiving sensor 23, and the illumination light Lf can be irradiated toward the reading object R via the reading port 5 (FIG. 1). . The reading object R corresponds to a display medium such as a packaging container, packaging paper, or label, for example, and a two-dimensional code is printed on the surface as an information code Q, for example.

  The light receiving sensor 23 is configured to receive the reflected light Lr irradiated and reflected on the reading object R or the information code Q. For example, the light receiving sensor 23 is a line sensor or area in which light receiving elements such as C-MOS and CCD are arranged. A sensor corresponds to this. The light receiving sensor 23 is mounted on the substrate 18 in such a manner that incident light incident through the reading port 5, the reflecting mirror 7, and the imaging lens 27 is received by the light receiving surface 23a. The light receiving sensor 23 corresponds to an example of “imaging means” and functions to image the information code Q.

  The filter 25 is an optical low-pass filter that allows passage of light having a wavelength less than or equal to the wavelength of the reflected light Lr, and can block passage of light that exceeds the wavelength, and the reading port 5 (FIG. 1) and the imaging lens 27. Between. Thereby, unnecessary light exceeding the wavelength equivalent of the reflected light Lr is prevented from entering the light receiving sensor 23. Further, the imaging lens 27 is constituted by, for example, a lens barrel and a plurality of condensing lenses housed in the lens barrel. In this embodiment, the reflected light Lr incident on the reading port 5 is condensed. The code image of the information code Q is formed on the light receiving surface 23a of the light receiving sensor 23.

  The microcomputer system includes an amplification 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, an operation switch 42, an LED 43, a buzzer 44, a liquid crystal display device 46, and a communication interface 48. Etc. This microcomputer system is configured around a control circuit 40 and a memory 35 that can function as a microcomputer (information processing apparatus), and the image signal of the information code Q imaged by the optical system described above is signaled in hardware and software. It can be processed.

  An image signal (analog signal) output from the light receiving sensor 23 of the optical system is input to the amplification circuit 31 and amplified by a predetermined gain, and then input to the A / D conversion circuit 33, and the digital signal is converted from the analog signal. Is converted to The digitized image signal, that is, image data (image information) is input to the memory 35 and stored in the image data storage area of the memory 35. The synchronization signal generation circuit 38 is configured to generate a synchronization signal for the light receiving sensor 23 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 that are used by the control circuit 40 in each processing such as arithmetic operation and logical operation. . The ROM stores in advance a predetermined program that can execute a reading process and the like that will be described later, and a system program that can control each piece of hardware such as the illumination light source 21 and the light receiving sensor 23.

The control circuit 40 is a microcomputer capable of controlling the entire optical information reading apparatus 1 and includes a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like, and has an information processing function. Various input / output devices (peripheral devices) are connected to the control circuit 40 via a built-in input / output interface. In this embodiment, a power switch 41, an operation switch 42, an LED 43, a buzzer 44, A liquid crystal display device 46, a communication interface 48, and the like are connected. The communication interface 48 can be connected to a host computer HST corresponding to the host system of the optical information reader 1.
In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of a “decoding unit” and has a function of performing decoding based on an image of the information code Q captured by the light receiving sensor 23 (imaging unit).

  The power supply system includes a power switch 41, a battery 49, and the like, and supply / cut-off of driving power from the battery 49 is controlled by turning on / off the power switch 41 managed by the control circuit 40. The battery 49 is a secondary battery that can generate a predetermined DC voltage, and corresponds to, for example, a lithium ion battery.

Next, a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical information reader 1 according to the present embodiment accommodates the above-described light receiving sensor 23 in a case 2, and an information code Q (FIG. 2) is attached to one end of the case 2. The above-described reading port 5 that guides the reflected light to the light receiving sensor 23 is formed. Further, the first light amount sensor 61 is provided on the reading port 5 side of the case 2 configured as described above, and the second light amount sensor 62 is provided on the side different from the reading port 5. The first light quantity sensor 61 used in the present embodiment is constituted by a light receiving element different from the light receiving sensor 23 constituting the imaging means, and detects the surrounding light quantity regardless of the operation state of the light receiving sensor 23. The structure to get.

  Each of the first light quantity sensor 61 and the second light quantity sensor 62 is configured by a light receiving element such as a photodiode, the first light quantity sensor 61 is disposed below the case 2, and the second light quantity sensor 62 is It is arranged above the first light quantity sensor 61. Throughout the specification, the longitudinal direction of the case 2 is defined as the front-rear direction, and the side where the reading port is provided in the front-rear direction is defined as the front side and the opposite side as the rear side. Further, the side facing the reading port in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is defined as the lower side, and the side opposite to the lower side in the orthogonal direction is defined as the upper side. In the example of FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the case 2 is shown as the X-axis direction, and the orthogonal direction (up-down direction) is shown as the Y-axis direction. In the example of FIG. 1, the reading port 5 has a horizontally long opening shape, and the longitudinal direction of the reading port 5 (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1) is the width direction, and the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the case 2. The direction perpendicular to any of the (X-axis directions) is the vertical direction.

  When determined in this way, the first light quantity sensor 61 is arranged on the lower side of the case 2 and the second light quantity sensor 62 is arranged on the upper side of the first light quantity sensor 61. Light is easily received by the second light quantity sensor 62, and light from below the case 2 is easily received by the first light quantity sensor 61.

  The first light quantity sensor 61 is provided in the light guide path 6 that communicates with the imaging means from the reading port 5 in the case 2, and is configured to receive external light that enters through the reading port 5. In the configuration of FIG. 1, a light shielding unit that blocks light from the illumination light source 21 may be provided between the illumination light source 21 and the first light quantity sensor 61 (for example, arranged as indicated by a one-dot chain line 63).

  The optical information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with the first light amount sensor 61 and the second light amount sensor 62 with the above-described configuration, and the first light amount detected by the first light amount sensor 61, The mode is switched based on the change in the comparison result with the second light quantity detected by the two light quantity sensor 62. In the following description, such mode switching control and the like will be described in detail.

  The reading process shown in FIG. 3 is performed using the above-described characteristic configuration. At the start of the process, first, lighting control for turning on the illumination light source 21 is performed (S1). Here, lighting of the illumination light source 21 is started when the illumination light source 21 is turned off at the start of the process of S1, and if the illumination light source 21 is already turned on at the start of the process of S1, the lighting is continued. . After S1, an image acquisition process is performed (S2), and the acquired image is decoded (S3).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the decoding is successful in the decoding process of S3 (S4). If the decoding is successful, the process proceeds to Yes in S4, and a decoding result output process is performed (S9). After S9, the process returns to S1 and the processes after S1 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S4 that the decoding has failed, the process proceeds to No in S4 to determine whether or not the decoding has succeeded for a certain period (that is, whether or not the unsuccessful decoding period has reached a certain period). Judgment is made (S5). The count start time of the decode unsuccessful period is the later of the reading process start time or the previous decode success time, and when the decode unsuccessful period counted from this count start time has reached a certain period Proceed to Yes in S5. On the other hand, if it is determined in S5 that the unsuccessful decoding period has not reached a certain period, the process proceeds to No in S5, and the processes after S1 are repeated. The decoding failure period may be counted by providing a timer circuit or by the CPU in the control circuit 40.

  When the process proceeds to Yes in S5, the second light quantity increase state from the second light quantity increase state in which the light quantity (second light quantity) detected by the second light quantity sensor 62 is larger than the light quantity detected by the first light quantity sensor 61 (first light quantity). It is determined whether or not the first light quantity increase state is greater than the second light quantity, and whether or not the first light quantity increase state has been maintained for a certain period of time (S6).

  Since the optical information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is used with the reading port 5 facing the reading object R as shown in FIG. 4B, the arrow in FIG. Illumination light (illumination light from factories, stores, etc.) and sunlight (when used outdoors or in places where sunlight is likely to enter) are likely to be incident on the second light quantity sensor 62 side. The light quantity sensor 61 is configured to face the reading object R and be covered with the case 2 on the side opposite to the reading object R. Therefore, at the time of use, the second light amount detected by the second light amount sensor 62 is larger than the first light amount detected by the first light amount sensor 61.

  On the other hand, when the reading port 5 is placed facing away from the placement surface 70 as shown in FIG. 4A when not in use, the second light quantity sensor 62 faces the placement surface 70 and the case 2. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4A, illumination light (illumination light from a factory, a store, etc.) or sunlight (outdoor or sunlight is likely to enter the first light quantity sensor 61 side. (When used in a place) becomes easier to enter. For this reason, the first light quantity detected by the first light quantity sensor 61 is larger than the second light quantity detected by the second light quantity sensor 62 when not placed as shown in FIG. . In the present invention, paying attention to such a usage pattern, it is determined in S6 whether or not the second light quantity increase state has changed to the first light quantity increase state, whereby the optical information reader 1 is placed in the placement state (pause). It is determined whether or not the state has been set.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the output value of the first light quantity sensor 61 and the output value of the second light quantity sensor 62 are compared by a comparator 65 (comparator or the like), and the comparison result is the CPU 40a constituting the control circuit 40. Is output. For example, when the output value of the first light amount sensor 61 exceeds the output value of the second light amount sensor 62 (that is, when the first light amount is larger than the second light amount), an H level signal is output from the comparator 65, and the second When the L level signal is output when the output value of the light amount sensor 62 exceeds the output value of the first light amount sensor 61 (that is, when the second light amount is larger than the first light amount), in S6, the H level signal is output. It is determined whether or not the first light quantity increase state has continued for a certain time or more by determining whether or not the light has continued for a certain time or more.

  If it is determined in S6 that the first light quantity increase state has been maintained for a certain time or longer, the process proceeds to Yes in S6, the illumination light source 21 is turned off, and the reading process is set to a stopped state (S7). At this time, the CPU of the control circuit 40 may be in a sleep state (for example, a state in which the CPU is intermittently driven or the operating power of the CPU is suppressed by reducing the CPU clock frequency).

  In the present embodiment, lighting of the illumination light source 21 is continued by the control of the control circuit 40 from the start of the process of S1 to the start of the process of S7, and this lighting continuous control is changed to “first lighting control”. It corresponds. On the other hand, when the process proceeds to Yes in S6, the lighting of the illumination light source 21 is stopped in S7 to save power.

  In the present embodiment, the state from the start of the process of S1 to the start of the process of S7 corresponds to the first mode, and the state from the start of the process of S7 to the start of the process of S1 is set to the second mode. It corresponds. Note that the process of S7 corresponds to a process of switching from the first mode to the second mode, and the process of S1 corresponds to a process of switching from the second mode to the first mode.

  As described above, in this embodiment, it is determined in S5 that the unsuccessful decoding period has reached a certain period, and in S6, the comparison result by the comparator 65 (comparison means) is changed from the second light quantity increase state to the first light quantity increase state. When it is determined that the first light quantity increase state has continued for a certain time or more, the first mode is switched to the second mode.

  After S7, from the first light quantity increase state (the state in which the first light quantity detected by the first light quantity sensor 61 is larger than the second light quantity detected by the second light quantity sensor 62), the second light quantity increase state ( It is determined whether or not the second light amount has changed to a state in which the second light amount is greater than the first light amount, and whether or not the second light amount increase state has been maintained for a certain time or longer (S8).

  As described above, the optical information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is easily placed as shown in FIG. 4A when not in use, and the reading port 5 is provided as shown in FIG. Since it is used toward the reading object R side, the second light amount sensor 62 detects the second light amount sensor 62 when the non-use state as shown in FIG. 4A changes to the use state as shown in FIG. The two light amounts are larger than the first light amount detected by the first light amount sensor 61. In the present invention, paying attention to such a usage pattern, it is determined whether or not the optical information reader 1 is in the usage state (gripping state) by determining whether or not the first light amount increase state is changed to the second light amount increase state in S8. ) Or not.

  If it is determined in S8 that the second light quantity increase state is maintained for a predetermined time or longer, the process proceeds to Yes in S8, returns to S1, performs the process of turning on the illumination light source 21, and repeats the processes after S1. On the other hand, if the second light quantity increase state is not maintained for a certain time or longer, the standby process of S8 No is repeated. The “certain time” in S6 and the “certain time” in S8 may be the same or different.

  In the present embodiment, the comparator 65 corresponds to an example of “comparison means”, and has a function of comparing the first light amount detected by the first light amount sensor 61 and the second light amount detected by the second light amount sensor. Have.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 that executes the processing of FIG. 3 corresponds to an example of “switching means”, and based on a change in the comparison result by the comparator 65 (comparison means), a predetermined first mode and The function of switching between the second mode and the second mode in which the power consumption of the optical information reading apparatus is reduced as compared with the first mode.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of a “lighting control unit”, performs the first lighting control for the illumination light source 21 in the first mode, and stops the lighting of the illumination light source 21 in the second mode. To function.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects can be obtained.
In the optical information reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the first light quantity sensor 61 is attached to the reading opening 5 side, and the second light quantity sensor 62 is attached to the side different from the reading opening 5. Further, the first light amount detected by the first light amount sensor 61 is compared with the second light amount detected by the second light amount sensor 62, and the first mode and the second mode (first mode) are compared based on the change in the comparison result. Mode in which power consumption is suppressed as compared with the mode 1). In this way, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the change from the mounting state to the gripping state, or from the gripping state to the mounting state, based on the change in the light quantity comparison result at the two positions, and trigger the change in the comparison result. By doing so, the mode can be appropriately switched without forcing the operator to perform complicated operations or diligent operations.

  Further, with respect to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the case 2, the first light amount sensor 61 is disposed on the lower side of the case 2 when the side facing the reading port 5 is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side. The second light quantity sensor 62 is disposed above the first light quantity sensor 61. In this case, in the case of either the resting mode in which the lower side of the case 2 is placed toward the placement surface or the resting mode in which the upper side of the case 2 is placed toward the placement surface, the placement state ( When the state changes from the resting state to the gripping state, the comparison result between the first light amount and the second light amount is likely to change. Therefore, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the state (gripping state) in which the device according to the present invention is to be used by the operator, and return the device from the second mode.

  In the present embodiment, the first light amount sensor 61 is provided in the light guide path 6 that communicates from the reading port 5 to the light receiving sensor 23 (imaging means). As described above, when the first light amount sensor 61 is provided in the light guide path 6, the first light amount is likely to change greatly depending on the position and orientation of the reading port 5, so that the apparatus changes from the mounted state to the gripping state. In addition, the comparison result between the first light quantity and the second light quantity is more likely to change.

  In the present embodiment, the first light amount sensor 61 is configured by a light receiving element different from the light receiving sensor 23. In this way, the first light amount can be detected without depending on the operation state of the light receiving sensor 23. For example, even when the CPU of the control circuit 40 is in the sleep state, the first light amount and the second light amount are detected. The comparison can be performed satisfactorily.

  Further, the first lighting control is performed on the illumination light source 21 in the first mode, and the lighting of the illumination light source 21 is stopped in the second mode. In this way, good reading can be performed in the first mode, and power saving can be effectively achieved in the second mode. Then, the first mode and the second mode determined in this way can be switched at an appropriate timing based on the comparison result of the two light quantity sensors, and both improvement in reading workability and power saving can be realized satisfactorily. it can.

  Further, when the first light quantity increasing state (the first light quantity is larger than the second light quantity) is changed to the second light quantity increasing state (the second light quantity is larger than the first light quantity), the second mode is set. To the first mode. In this way, when a resting method is employed in which the reading port 5 is placed facing upward, a change from the resting state (mounting state) to the gripping state can be detected quickly and accurately, and the resting state (mounting state) can be detected. When the device in the installation state is gripped by the user, it can be quickly returned from the power saving mode (second mode).

  In the present embodiment, the second mode is switched from the second mode to the first mode when the second light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain period of time. In this way, when a resting method is employed in which the reading port 5 is placed with the reading port 5 facing upward, it is possible to effectively prevent returning to the first mode due to the influence of noise or the like in the loading state. Therefore, further power saving can be measured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the comparison result by the comparator 65 changes from the second light quantity increase state (the second light quantity is larger than the first light quantity) to the first light quantity increase state (the first light quantity than the second light quantity). When the decoding unsuccessful period reaches a certain period, the first mode is switched to the second mode. When the comparison result is as described above and the decoding failure period reaches a certain period, there is a high possibility that the reading state is placed with the reading port 5 facing upward (resting state). In such a case, if the configuration is switched to the second mode, the hibernation state can be detected quickly and appropriately, and power saving can be effectively realized.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a reading process performed by the optical information reading apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the non-use state (rest state) of the optical information reading apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates roughly a mode that it changed to the holding state.

  The optical information reading apparatus according to this embodiment has the same hardware configuration as that shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, and the software processing is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, with regard to the hardware configuration, the detailed description will be omitted with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 as appropriate.

  In the optical information reading apparatus of the second embodiment, the reading process is performed in the flow as shown in FIG. In this reading process, the lighting process of the illumination light source 21 is first performed in S21, and then the image acquisition process is performed in S22. Then, the decoding process is performed on the image acquired in S22 (S23). In addition, the process of S21-S23 is the same as the process of S1-S3 (FIG. 3) of 1st Embodiment.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the decoding is successful in the decoding process of S24. If the decoding is successful, the output process of S29 is performed. Note that the determination process in S24 and the output process in S29 are the same as the determination process in S4 and the output process in S9 of the first embodiment, respectively. When the process proceeds to No in S24, it is determined whether the unsuccessful decoding period has reached a certain period (S25). The determination process in S25 is the same as the determination process in S5 of the first embodiment.

  When the process proceeds to Yes in S25, from the first light quantity increase state in which the light quantity (first light quantity) detected by the first light quantity sensor 61 is larger than the light quantity (second light quantity) detected by the second light quantity sensor 62, It is determined whether or not the second light amount has changed to a second light amount increase state in which the second light amount is greater than the first light amount, and whether or not the second light amount increase state has been maintained for a certain period of time (S26).

  When the optical information reader according to the present embodiment is placed with the reading port 5 facing the placement surface 70 as shown in FIG. 7A when not in use, the first light quantity sensor 61 is placed. The surface 70 is opposed to and covered with the case 2, and the second light quantity sensor 62 side has illumination light (illumination light from a factory, a store, etc.) or sunlight as indicated by an arrow in FIG. (When used outdoors or in a place where sunlight is likely to enter) is likely to be incident. For this reason, the second light quantity detected by the second light quantity sensor 62 is larger than the first light quantity detected by the first light quantity sensor 61 when not placed as shown in FIG. . In the present invention, paying attention to such a usage pattern, it is determined in S26 whether or not the first light quantity increase state has changed to the second light quantity increase state, so that the optical information reader 1 is placed in the placement state (pause). It is determined whether or not the state has been set.

  In use, since the optical information reading device is in various postures, it may be instantaneously changed to the second light quantity increase state. Accordingly, the predetermined time may be lengthened to some extent, or when the second light amount exceeds the first light amount by a certain value and the period exceeding the predetermined time reaches the predetermined time, the process may proceed to Yes in S26.

  If it is determined in S26 that the second light quantity increase state has been maintained for a predetermined time or longer, the process proceeds to Yes, the illumination light source 21 is turned off, and the reading process is set to a stopped state (S27). The processing of S27 is the same as S7 (FIG. 3) of the first embodiment. At this time, the CPU of the control circuit 40 is in a sleep state (for example, the CPU is intermittently driven or the CPU clock frequency is reduced). This may be a state in which the operating power of the CPU is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, lighting of the illumination light source 21 is continued by the control of the control circuit 40 from the start of the process of S21 to the start of the process of S27, and this lighting continuous control is referred to as “first lighting control”. Is equivalent to. On the other hand, when the process proceeds to Yes in S26, the lighting of the illumination light source 21 is stopped in S27 to save power.

  In the present embodiment, the state from the start of the process of S21 to the start of the process of S27 corresponds to the first mode, and the state from the start of the process of S27 to the start of the process of S21 is set to the second mode. It corresponds. Note that the process of S27 corresponds to a process of switching from the first mode to the second mode, and the process of S21 corresponds to a process of switching from the second mode to the first mode.

  Thus, in this embodiment, it is determined in S25 that the unsuccessful decoding period has reached a certain period, and in S26, the comparison result by the comparator 65 (comparison means) is changed from the first light quantity increase state to the second light quantity increase state. When it is determined that the second light quantity increase state has continued for a certain time or more, the first mode is switched to the second mode.

  After S27, it is determined whether or not the comparison result of the comparator 65 has changed from the second light quantity increase state to the first light quantity increase state, and whether or not the first light quantity increase state has been maintained for a certain time or more ( S28).

  The optical information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment changes from a non-use state (mounting state) placed as shown in FIG. 7A to a gripping state held by an operator. When the reading port 5 is directed toward the bright side (or when the second light amount sensor 62 is directed toward the dark side) as in b), the first light amount detected by the first light amount sensor 61 is the second. It becomes larger than the second light amount detected by the light amount sensor 62. Therefore, in this embodiment, whether or not the optical information reading apparatus 1 is in the use state (gripping state) is determined by determining whether or not the second light amount increase state is changed to the first light amount increase state in S28. Judging.

  If it is determined in S28 that the first light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain time or longer, the process proceeds to Yes in S28, returns to S21, performs the process of turning on the illumination light source 21, and repeats the processes after S21. On the other hand, if the first light quantity increase state is not maintained for a certain period of time, the standby process of S28 No is repeated. The “certain time” in S26 and the “certain time” in S28 may be the same or different.

  Also in this embodiment, the illumination light source 21 (FIG. 2) corresponds to an example of “illuminating means”, and the light receiving sensor 23 (FIG. 2) corresponds to an example of “imaging means”. The two light quantity sensors 62 correspond to examples of “first light quantity detection means” and “second light quantity detection means”, respectively. The control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of “decoding means”, “comparison means”, “switching means”, and “lighting control means”, and the comparator 65 (FIG. 5) corresponds to an example of “comparison means”.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, for example, the following effects can be obtained.
In this embodiment, the comparison result by the comparator 65 (FIG. 5) changes from the second light quantity increase state (the second light quantity is larger than the first light quantity) to the first light quantity increase state (the first light quantity than the second light quantity). The second mode is switched to the first mode in the case of indicating that the state has changed to a larger state. In this case, when a resting method is employed in which the reading port 5 is placed with the reading port 5 facing downward as shown in FIG. 7A, the gripping state (FIG. 7B) is changed from the resting state (mounting state). Change to the reference) can be detected quickly and accurately, and when the device in the resting state (mounted state) is gripped by the user, it can be quickly returned from the power saving mode (second mode).

  In the present embodiment, the second mode is switched to the first mode when the first light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain period of time. In this way, when the resting method of placing the reading port 5 facing downward is adopted, it is possible to effectively prevent returning to the first mode due to the influence of noise or the like in the placed state. Therefore, further power saving can be measured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the comparison result by the comparator 65 (FIG. 5) indicates that the first light quantity increase state has changed to the second light quantity increase state, and the decoding non-execution period reaches a certain period. The mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode. When the comparison result is as described above and the decoding unsuccessful period reaches a certain period, there is a high possibility that the reading port 5 is placed in a downward state (pause state). In such a case, if the configuration is switched to the second mode, the hibernation state can be detected quickly and appropriately, and power saving can be effectively realized.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the optical information reading apparatus according to the third embodiment. The present embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in terms of hardware in that the first light amount sensor 61 is omitted and the light receiving sensor 23 is also used as the second light amount detection means. The software processing may be performed as shown in FIG. 3 or may be performed as shown in FIG. 6. In the following description, as a representative example, the reading processing shown in FIG. The case where processing is performed will be described in detail.

  Even when the reading process of FIG. 3 is performed by the optical information reading apparatus 300 of the present embodiment, the processes of S1 to S5 and S9 are performed as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, when the determination process of S6 is performed, the light amount detected by the light receiving sensor 23 is set as the first light amount, and the first light amount and the second light amount detected by the second light amount sensor 62 are compared. Then, based on the comparison result, whether or not the second light amount increased state where the second light amount is larger than the first light amount has changed to the first light amount increased state where the first light amount is larger than the second light amount, and It is determined whether or not the first light quantity increase state has been maintained for a predetermined time or longer (S6). In other words, in the present embodiment, the light receiving sensor 23 has a function as an imaging unit and a function as a first light amount detecting unit. In S6, the light receiving sensor 23 is made to function as the first light amount detecting unit. Processing is in progress. Specifically, the first light amount and the second light amount are compared with an average value of received light amounts of a plurality of light receiving elements constituting the light receiving sensor 23 as a first light amount.

  If it is determined in S6 that the first light quantity increase state has been maintained for a certain time or longer, the process proceeds to Yes in S6, and the process of S7 is performed. Note that the processing of S7 is the same as in the first embodiment.

  After S7, it is determined whether or not the first light quantity increase state has changed to the second light quantity increase state, and whether or not the second light quantity increase state has been maintained for a certain period of time (S8). Also at this time, the light receiving sensor 23 is made to function as the first light quantity detecting means, and the average value of the received light quantities of the plurality of light receiving elements constituting the light receiving sensor 23 is used as the first light quantity. To determine whether or not the state in which the second light quantity exceeds the first light quantity has continued for a certain period of time (that is, whether or not the second light quantity increase state has continued for a certain period of time). If it is determined that the second light quantity increase state has continued for a certain time or more, the process proceeds to Yes in S8, and the processes after S1 are repeated as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, when the second light quantity increase state does not continue for a certain time or longer, the standby process of S8 No is repeated.

  In the present embodiment, since the first light quantity detection means is also used by the light receiving sensor 23, the number of parts can be suppressed, and the device configuration can be easily simplified. In addition, the first light amount and the second light amount are compared with the average value of the received light amounts of the plurality of light receiving elements constituting the light receiving sensor 23 as the first light amount. In this way, a change in the comparison result due to noise can be effectively prevented, and a comparison result that more appropriately reflects the change in the light amount at the arrangement position of each light amount detection means can be obtained.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, lighting of the illumination light source 21 is stopped in the second mode. However, the power consumption is suppressed compared to the lighting control (first lighting control) of the illumination light source 21 in the first mode in the second mode. The second lighting control may be performed. As 2nd lighting control, you may make it suppress the drive current which drives the illumination light source 21 from the time of 1st lighting control, and you may make it perform the intermittent drive which lights the illumination light source 21 regularly. .

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the first light quantity sensor 61 and the second light quantity sensor 62 are arranged on different sides has been described, but the arrangement form is not limited thereto. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 1, the first light quantity sensor 61 may be changed to be disposed near the reading port 5 in the light guide 6 (see reference numeral 61 ′ in FIG. 1). You may change so that it may provide in the surface on the opposite side to the one surface side in which the sensor 62 was provided (refer the code | symbol 61 "of FIG. 1). The 2nd light quantity sensor 62 can also be arrange | positioned in various places, for example, FIG. In this configuration, the second light quantity sensor 62 may be changed to be disposed on the outer surface near the reading port 5 (see reference numeral 62 ′), or may be changed to be disposed in the vicinity of the grip portion (reference numeral 62 ″). reference).

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the optical information reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the optical information reading apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of reading processing performed by the optical information reading apparatus of FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a state where the optical information reading device of FIG. 1 is not used (resting state), and FIG. 4B is a state in which the resting state is changed to a gripping state. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates schematically a mode that it changed. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration for the control circuit to obtain a comparison result obtained by comparing the first light amount and the second light amount. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a reading process performed by the optical information reading apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a non-use state (rest state) of the optical information reading apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a grip state from the rest state. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates schematically a mode changed to. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the optical information reading apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,300 ... Optical information reader 2 ... Case 5 ... Reading port 6 ... Light guide 21 ... Illumination light source (illumination means)
23. Light receiving sensor (imaging means)
40. Control circuit (decoding means, comparison means, switching means, lighting control means)
61 ... 1st light quantity sensor (1st light quantity detection means)
62 ... Second light quantity sensor (second light quantity detection means)
65 ... Comparator (comparison means)

Claims (13)

An imaging means for imaging the information code;
Decoding means for decoding based on the image of the information code imaged by the imaging means;
A case in which a reading port for accommodating the imaging unit and guiding reflected light from the information code to the imaging unit is formed;
An optical information reader comprising:
First light quantity detection means attached to the reading port side of the case;
Second light amount detecting means attached to a side of the case different from the reading port;
Comparison means for comparing the first light quantity detected by the first light quantity detection means with the second light quantity detected by the second light quantity detection means;
Switching means for switching between a predetermined first mode and a second mode in which the power consumption of the optical information reading device is reduced as compared with the first mode;
With
The optical information reading apparatus, wherein the switching unit switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a change in a comparison result of the comparison unit. The case has a configuration in which the reading port is oriented in a predetermined direction,
The first light quantity detection means is disposed on the lower side of the case when the side facing the reading port is the lower side and the opposite side is the upper side, and the second light quantity detection means is the first light quantity detection means. 2. The optical information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the optical information reading device is disposed above the light amount detection means.   3. The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first light amount detection unit is provided in a light guide path that communicates with the imaging unit from the reading port in the case. 4. The imaging means comprises a light receiving sensor that receives the reflected light,
4. The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first light quantity detection unit is configured by a light receiving element different from the light receiving sensor. 5. The imaging means comprises a light receiving sensor that receives the reflected light,
The optical information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first light quantity detection unit is also used by the light receiving sensor. Illuminating means for irradiating illumination light toward the reading port;
In the first mode, the first lighting control is performed on the lighting unit, and in the second mode, the second lighting control with lower power consumption than the first lighting control or the lighting unit is stopped. Lighting control means;
The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The switching means has a second light quantity in which the second light quantity is greater than the first light quantity from a first light quantity increase state in which the comparison result by the comparison means is greater in the first light quantity than in the second light quantity. The optical information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optical information reader is switched from the second mode to the first mode when it indicates that the state has increased.   The switching means indicates that the comparison result by the comparison means has changed from the first light quantity increase state to the second light quantity increase state, and when the second light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain time, The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second mode is switched to the first mode.   The switching means has a first light quantity in which the first light quantity is greater than the second light quantity from a second light quantity increase state in which the comparison result by the comparison means is greater in the second light quantity than in the first light quantity. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first mode is switched to the second mode when a decoding failure period by the decoding means reaches a certain period, indicating that the state has changed to an increase state. The optical information reading apparatus according to any one of the above. The imaging means includes a light receiving sensor including a plurality of light receiving elements that receive the reflected light,
The first light amount detecting means is also used by the light receiving sensor,
The said comparison means compares the said 1st light quantity and the said 2nd light quantity by making the average value of each received light quantity of the said some light receiving element into the said 1st light quantity. The optical information reading apparatus according to any one of the above.   The switching means has a first light quantity in which the first light quantity is greater than the second light quantity from a second light quantity increase state in which the comparison result by the comparison means is greater in the second light quantity than in the first light quantity. The optical information reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optical information reader is switched from the second mode to the first mode when it indicates that the state has increased.   The switching means indicates that the comparison result by the comparing means has changed from the second light quantity increase state to the first light quantity increase state, and when the first light quantity increase state is maintained for a certain time. The optical information reader according to claim 11, wherein the optical information reader is switched from a second mode to the first mode.   The switching means has a second light quantity in which the second light quantity is greater than the first light quantity from a first light quantity increase state in which the comparison result by the comparison means is greater in the first light quantity than in the second light quantity. The switch from the first mode to the second mode when the decoding non-execution period by the decoding means reaches a certain period, indicating that the state has changed to an increased state. The optical information reader according to any one of claims 11 and 12.

Images