JP5167309B2 - Optical information reader - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stationary optical information reader capable of registering and collating data by reading a barcode.

Today, barcodes are used for purposes such as product code identification. A bar code can express strips of various widths adjacent to each other to express alphanumeric characters by a bar portion and a blank portion, for example, a universal product code.

In general, a bar code records desired information including alphanumeric characters by alternately arranging a bar having a low reflectance such as black and a blank portion having no print such as white and a portion having a high reflectance. It is used in a form in which a barcode is printed on a sticker and attached to an object as a barcode label or in a form directly printed on the object. The barcode and the space of the barcode are measured by scanning the barcode with a light beam such as a laser beam and detecting the reflected light with the light receiving element of the light receiving section. By decoding the obtained analog signal, the information encoded in the barcode is read.

Codes that are optical patterns include one-dimensional bar codes and two-dimensional codes (data symbols). There are various types of one-dimensional barcodes such as JAN (EAN) code usually attached to products, CODE39, ITF, Industrial 2of5, NW-7, CODE128, etc., which are mainly used in the United States. There are also UPC-A and UPC-E.

On the other hand, two-dimensional codes are roughly classified into a stack type and a matrix type. The stack type is a form in which one-dimensional barcodes are stacked, and usually has no information in the vertical direction. The matrix equation is a polygon (generally a square), and has a monochrome mosaic structure with black and white cells, and has information in the horizontal and vertical directions. Examples of the stack type include PDF417 and CODE49, and examples of the matrix type include a QR code, a data code, a vericode, and a CP code.

In order to read such an optical pattern, an optical information reader is used. For example, a barcode scanning device that scans a barcode is generally called a barcode reader or a barcode scanner.

A bar code scanning apparatus generally has a configuration as shown in FIG. The bar code scanning device shown in this figure includes a bar code reading unit 1 and a signal processing circuit 2, and scans a bar code label 3 on which a bar code is printed by the bar code reading unit 1 to detect reflected light. Then, the signal processing circuit 2 reads the information held in the barcode.

In FIG. 1, a laser projection circuit 4 irradiates light such as laser light onto a galvanometer mirror 5 and scans the reflected light on a bar code. The bar portion and the blank portion constituting the barcode have different reflectivities depending on black and white. The blank portion has a large amount of reflected light, whereas the bar portion has a small amount of reflected light. These reflected light amounts are condensed by the condenser mirror 6 via the galvanometer mirror 5 and taken out as a time-series analog signal by the band pass filter 7 and the photodiode as the light receiving element 8. The received analog signal is sent to the signal processing circuit 2.

The signal processing circuit 2 includes a light receiving circuit 9 that receives a signal from the barcode reading unit 1, an AC coupling circuit 14 that passes an AC component of the output of the light receiving circuit, and an AC component output signal obtained by the AC coupling circuit 14. An amplifying circuit 10, a filter circuit 11 for filtering the amplified signal, a binarizing circuit 12 for binarizing, and a decoding circuit 13 for decoding information recorded on the bar code. The decoding circuit 13 is generally composed of a CPU or the like, and is sent to the CPU as a digital signal binarized by the binarization circuit 12, and the CPU performs a decoding process with a program according to an algorithm.

Bar code readers are generally classified into a fixed type, a handheld type, and a stationary type in the system.
[Fixed bar code reader] This type is used for factory production lines and incorporation into machines. It is used by being arranged on the side surface or wall surface of the conveyor so that the reading area of the bar code reader is oriented with respect to the bar code affixed to the conveyed product on the production line. This type of bar code reader has a function of decoding bar code information and transmitting it to the host computer. In other words, the processing on the decoded data is generally performed on the host computer side, and the barcode reader portion does not have such a function.

[Handheld (handy terminal type) bar code reader] This type is used for product management and inspection in warehouses. This type is assumed to be carried by the user and used on site, so it is handy for convenient carrying, and the terminal itself has processing functions such as a product management program according to the purpose of use. It is characterized by having. That is, unlike the above-described fixed bar code reader, the operation is completed with only a hand-held bar code reader.

[Fixed type (table top type) barcode reader] This type is used for POS management at a cash register in a convenience store, and is also called a desktop type. This type of bar code reader transmits data to the host computer. Because it is shaped like a gun, it is sometimes called a “gun type” barcode reader. Hereinafter, also in this specification, a gun type designation is mainly used. Similar to the above-mentioned hand-held bar code reader, this type has a compact shape that is easy for the user to handle, but the difference is that the hand-held bar code reader has completed its own operation, whereas The code reader is different in that the operation is established in cooperation with the host. The reading part of a stationary barcode reader generally has only a barcode decoding function. In other words, the reading part of a fixed barcode reader can be regarded as a hand-held type. it can.

As described above, the gun-type bar code reader conventionally has only a function for reading and outputting a bar code, and the bar code reader alone cannot compare and collate the read data with predetermined data. It was. For this reason, in order to perform the collation work, it is necessary to use another device connected to the barcode reader.

Further, the gun type / barcode reader is usually provided with only a trigger switch, and no other switches are provided for operation. For this reason, even if the barcode reader itself has a useful function such as a function of registering the data read, it cannot be called up when necessary in the form of the conventional barcode reader. Without a means by which a necessary function can be easily read out by a user operation, even if it has a useful function, it cannot be fully utilized.

The present invention has been developed to solve such problems and improve the convenience of a gun-type bar code reader. The main object of the present invention is to improve the usability by providing a collation function that can be completed by a gun-type optical information reader, eliminating the need for an external device, and providing means for easily calling a useful function. The object is to provide a gun-type optical information reader.

In order to solve the above-described object, an optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a head unit provided with an irradiation unit for irradiating light on a barcode on the front surface, and extends downward from the head unit. In an optical information reader having a gun type shape, the head portion protruding forward from the light irradiation direction from the handle portion, provided in front of the boundary between the handle portion and the head portion. A trigger switch for giving an irradiation instruction and a predetermined pre-assigned by data communication with a host connected to the optical information reader provided on the upper surface opposite to the lower side where the handle portion of the head portion is provided The function switch for executing the function and the trigger switch operation are received, the irradiation unit is irradiated with light, the function switch operation is received and the predetermined function is set in advance. And control means for executing, control means, read from the bar code collating mode data and compares collating the previously stored registration data and outputs the collation result, registers the data of the bar code read The function of shifting to the registration mode stored as data can be executed based on the operation of the function switch and an instruction from the host .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature described in the first aspect, the function switch includes a front surface provided with the irradiation unit on the upper surface of the head unit. It is provided in the position close | similar to the back surface which opposes.

Furthermore, in the optical information reading device described in claim 3 of the present invention, in addition to the features described in claim 2, is the function assigned to the function switch on the upper surface of the head unit correctly executed? A display part for displaying whether or not is provided, and the display part is provided on the front side closer to the irradiation part than the function switch.

Furthermore, the optical information reader according to claim 4 of the present invention has a setting mode for changing a setting assigned to the function switch in addition to the feature described in claim 3. Sometimes the setting can be changed by reading a setting bar code different from a general bar code, and the display unit displays that the mode has been switched from the normal scan mode to the setting mode.

The optical information reading apparatus of the present invention can perform this function independently without connecting a device such as a host to the outside by enabling the collation mode to be executed by the stationary optical information reading apparatus main body. As a result, there is a merit that a simple collation operation can be performed only by the optical information reader. In addition, these functions can be effectively utilized by providing a switch that can call a function necessary for collation. In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to shift to the registration mode by interrupt processing even in any of the states of 1: N verification and 1: 1 verification, or these can be canceled at the time of the interlock operation. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use operating environment by making re-scanning easier.

Block diagram showing the configuration of the barcode scanner Block diagram showing operation in 1: N verification mode and 1: 1 verification mode Schematic showing the appearance of a gun-type stationary barcode reader Block diagram showing the flow of data read by the barcode reader Block diagram showing the transition process according to the state of the barcode reader Block diagram showing operation in 1: N collation mode and 1: 1 collation mode in which interlock function is executed

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify an optical information reader for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the optical information reader as follows. Moreover, the member shown by the claim is not what specifies the member of embodiment. In addition, the size and positional relationship of members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation.

In general, a bar code records desired information including alphanumeric characters by alternately arranging a bar having a low reflectance such as black and a blank portion having no print such as white and a portion having a high reflectance. It is used in a form in which a barcode is printed on a sticker and attached to the object as a barcode label 3 or in a form directly printed on the object. The barcode and the space of the barcode are measured by scanning the barcode with a light beam such as a laser beam and detecting the reflected light with the light receiving element of the light receiving section. By decoding the obtained analog signal, the information encoded in the barcode is read.

In the following embodiments, an example applied to a barcode scanning device will be described as an example of realizing the optical information reading device of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the barcode scanning device. For example, it can be used for two-dimensional codes and OCR for character recognition. In this specification, the bar code is used to mean including a one-dimensional bar code or a two-dimensional code (data symbol).

The operation of the barcode reader has two states: data registration and verification. The registration state is an operation for registering registration data that is collation source data. On the other hand, the collation state is an operation for comparing other read data with reference to registration data registered in the registration state.

As operation modes for switching between these two registration and collation states, two operation modes of 1: N collation mode and 1: 1 collation mode can be used. In the barcode reader, a control circuit constituted by a CPU or the like as a switching control means performs a desired operation by switching the above operation modes in a predetermined order in accordance with a user's designation. Hereinafter, the procedure executed by the control circuit will be described with reference to FIG.

[1: N Collation Mode] The 1: N collation mode is a mode for comparing and collating a plurality of pieces of collation data with respect to one registered data, as shown in FIG. After registering the registration data for the first time, in principle, the verification state is entered and only the verification operation is repeated. First, a registration operation is performed, the data of the barcode label 3 that is the collation source is read, and this data is stored as registration data. In subsequent scans, it is verified whether each read data is the same as the registered data. It can be said that it is suitable for situations where there are few types and many items of the same type are handled.

[1: 1 Collation Mode] The 1: 1 collation mode is a mode in which the collation operation and the registration operation are alternately switched as shown in FIG. After performing the registration operation and the collation operation similar to the 1: N collation mode, the operation returns to the registration operation in order to update the registration data without remaining in the collation state. That is, each time the collation operation is performed, the registration data of the collation source is updated. This mode of operation is suitable for situations where other types of items are handled in small quantities. In the 1: 1 collation mode, the mutual operations are alternately repeated such that the odd-numbered scan is the registration operation and the even-numbered scan is the collation operation.

Even if the present invention is in either the 1: N verification mode or the 1: 1 verification mode, it can immediately shift to the registration mode by performing an interrupt process. In order to interrupt, the function switch 17 which is an interrupt means is pressed.

[Function Switch] FIG. 3 shows the appearance of the main body of a gun-type stationary barcode reader as a barcode scanning device. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a rear view. The bar code reader shown in the figure is composed of a head portion 21 and a handle 22 extending below the head portion 21. The head unit 21 is provided with an irradiation unit 23 on the front side. The handle 22 is provided with unevenness on the entire surface so that the user can easily hold it with one hand, and a non-slip grip portion 28 is disposed on the rear side. The grip portion 28 is preferably made of rubber in order to obtain an anti-slip effect, and a plurality of protrusions are provided on the surface.

A trigger switch 17 is provided near the boundary between the handle 22 and the head portion 21. The trigger switch 17 is provided at a position where the user can operate with the index finger or the middle finger when the user operates the handle 22 by holding it. When the trigger switch 17 is pulled forward in the form of a trigger, the trigger means is turned on, and a trigger command is issued to the irradiation means.

On the upper surface of the head unit 21, an LED display unit 24 and a function switch 25 are provided. The function switch 25 is provided at a position where the user can operate with the thumb when the user grasps the handle 22. The function switch 25 is a push button and can be turned on by pressing it with a thumb from above. When the function switch 25 is pressed, an operation for performing a predetermined function set in advance is executed. The function switch is connected to the port of the CPU that controls the bar code reader. The function switch confirms the corresponding CPU port at a timing that needs to be checked, and determines whether the function switch is pressed. The operation at the time of collation is determined by a combination of the determination result and setting contents described later.

The function switch 25 may be a button that can be toggled ON / OFF or canceled by pressing the button continuously. The LED display unit 24 is for the user to check the operation state of the barcode, and expresses the operation state by a predetermined color, blinking, or the like. For example, when the function switch 25 is pressed and a predetermined operation is correctly executed, the emission color is changed to confirm that. Furthermore, visual effects may be enhanced by adding sound effects or voice guidance.

Since the present invention is characterized in that a function switch 25 other than the trigger switch 17 is provided in the bar code reader, the shape of the bar code reader is not specified in the above embodiments. As needed, the form used conventionally and the form developed in the future can be used as appropriate.

In this embodiment, an example in which only one function switch 25 is provided as shown in FIG. 3 is described, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, 2 or 3 or more function switches may be provided, and the arrangement location is not specified in the present embodiment, and it is provided in parallel with the position where the user operates with the thumb on the back of the barcode reader. Various forms are conceivable, such as providing a plurality of trigger switches in parallel with the trigger switch or in parallel below or above the trigger switch.

To assign a desired function to the function switch 25, the setting bar code is read. A special barcode label is prepared for each function, and the setting is automatically changed by the user selecting a setting barcode reader corresponding to the desired function and causing the barcode reader to read it. Is done. If the setting change is performed correctly, the LED display unit 24 notifies the user that the setting has been changed by blinking in blue. This method has the advantage that the settings can be changed very easily.

Alternatively, a bar code reader can be connected to a computer via an interface such as RS-232C, and data communication can be set by software from the computer. In this case, it is necessary to incorporate bar code reader setting software in the computer in advance.

[Function Assigned to Function Switch] In this embodiment, as a function to be executed when the function switch is pressed, there are a transition to a registration mode and an interlock release function. Each will be described below.

[Transition to Registration Mode (Registration / Verification Switching)] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a gun-type barcode scanner as a barcode reader. The barcode reader shown in this figure has a barcode reading unit 1 and a digital processing unit. When the barcode reader scans the barcode label 3, data processing is performed according to FIG. The data processing path varies depending on the state of scanning operation of the barcode reader. The barcode data read by the barcode reading unit 1 constituting the reading means is binarized, and the decoded barcode data is sent to the state-dependent discriminator. The state-dependent discriminator is a comparator provided in the barcode reader, detects whether the operation state of the barcode reader is the registration mode or the collation mode, and determines the data transmission destination according to this. When the barcode reader is in the registration state, the barcode data is input to the registration data memory. The registered data memory serves as a storage means, and is composed of a RAM provided in the barcode reader. The bar code data is stored in the registration data memory as registration data and used as a verification source at the time of comparison verification.

On the other hand, when the barcode reader is in the verification state, the barcode data is sent from the state-dependent discriminator to the verification device. The collator provided in the bar code reader constitutes a collating means, and compares the read bar code data with the registration data of the collation source. As a result of the collation, if it is determined that the collated data is the same as the registered data, collation OK is output. In addition to outputting only the collation determination result such as true / false, the registration data, the collation data, and the collation result data can also be output at the same time depending on the usage pattern.

On the other hand, if the collation data does not match the registered data as a result of collation, it is determined as NG and collation NG is output. These output data are sent to an external device and used for subsequent processing. In addition, the collation result can be externally displayed on an LED display unit or a display.

The state transition between registration and verification differs depending on the case of 1: N verification and 1: 1 verification. Hereinafter, these transition processes will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5A, in the case of 1: N collation, the registration bar code is scanned to scan the data, the registration state is shifted to the collation state, and the collation bar code is scanned to collate the data. . After the collation result is output, the collation bar code is scanned and collated by returning to the collation state. As described above, after the transition from the registered state to the collation state, the state remains in the collation state and is repeated.

On the other hand, in the case of 1: 1 verification, the registration state and the verification state are repeated as shown in FIG. That is, after the registration barcode is scanned in the same manner as described above, the collation barcode is scanned and collation is performed, and after the collation result is output, the registration state is returned. Thereafter, the registration state and the verification state are repeated. Thus, the transfer destination from the collation state differs between 1: N collation and 1: 1 collation.

In this embodiment, when the function switch to the registration state is assigned to the function switch, the operation returns to the registration state in any operation. In 1: N verification, in a normal operation, the verification state is repeated after completion of the registration state. However, it is possible to shift to the registration state by operating a function switch. For this reason, when the function switch is pressed when it is desired to update the registration data, the registration data can be changed to the registration state.

In 1: 1 verification, registration and verification operations are repeated even in normal operation, but if you want to register again without going to verification after registration, scan the function switch and stay in the registration status. Can do. For example, when registration data is registered by mistake, such as when data to be scanned is mistaken, registration can be performed again without shifting to the collation state, and the previous registration can be discarded. Since the registration source data is re-registered using this function, it can also be called a registration / collation operation temporary cancel function. This is different from the registration / collation switching function in the 1: N collation mode in which operation is restored after the collation operation. As described above, the function for shifting to the registered state basically executes the same operation in either case of 1: N or 1: 1 verification.

[Interlock Release Function] The function switch is also used as an interlock release means. Hereinafter, the interlock function and the releasing method thereof will be described with reference to FIG. Normally, any read data is automatically transmitted, and operations such as reading and transmission in the next stage are not interrupted. On the other hand, the interlock operation locks the operation when an abnormality such as a reading error occurs, and thereafter, the reading operation cannot be performed until the lock is released.

When the interlock is not performed, even if an error or failure occurs in reading, the operation of the barcode reader itself is not hindered, and normal operation is continued. For this reason, even if an error occurs, the user is not aware or easily overlooked. On the other hand, when the interlock is applied, if an abnormality occurs, the trigger is not activated from that point, so there is an advantage that the user can be surely confirmed. On the other hand, during the interlock operation, it is necessary to release the interlock state in order to resume the operation. This function plays the role of a release key. When the function switch 25 assigned to this function is pressed, the interlock is released. As described above, even when the interlock release function is assigned, basically the same operation is executed in either case of 1: N or 1: 1 verification.

FIG. 6A shows a state in which the interlock function is executed in the 1: N verification mode. When the interlock is not applied, the operation is the same as that shown in FIG. 5A. When the function switch is pressed according to the setting, the registration state can be updated and the registration data can be updated. If the result of collation is NG, the state shifts to the interlock state, and even if the trigger switch is operated, it is impossible to get out of this state. In this case, when the function switch is pressed, the interlock state is released and the collation state is restored.

On the other hand, FIG. 6B shows a state in which the interlock function is executed in the 1: 1 verification mode. When the interlock is not applied, the operation is the same as that in FIG. 5B. When the function switch is pressed according to the setting, the registration state can be changed to execute registration again. If the result of collation is NG, the state shifts to the interlock state, and even if the trigger switch is operated, it is impossible to get out of this state. In this case, when the function switch is pressed, the interlock state is released and the registration state is restored. In this way, the function to shift to the registration mode and the interlock release function can be executed by one function switch, so that the user can use the two functions depending on the situation by operating the same switch. It can be used very conveniently.

In addition to assigning this operation to the function switch, an interlock release switch may be separately provided as the interlock release means. In this case, another function can be assigned to the function switch.

As described above, in this embodiment, the user designates the function for shifting to the registration mode, or in addition to the interlock function, and sets the function switch to be assigned. The user can select and set a desired function in advance according to the usage status of the barcode reader, and can call it by a function switch when necessary. Of course, it is possible not to assign these functions to function switches. Depending on the working conditions, it may be desirable not to use the registration function or interlock function, so the presence or absence of the function, temporary suspension, or cancellation can be set according to the user's wishes. It is possible to prevent malfunctions that cause functions to operate.

To change the settings for assigning these functions to function switches, scan the dedicated setting bar code. The contents set by the setting bar code are stored in a memory inside the bar code reader main body, and are read out as needed to change the operation of the bar code reader main body. When the setting barcode is read and the setting mode is set to automatically switch to the setting mode, specify the barcode type for the setting barcode or specify the number of digits. Distinguish from barcode. Further, for example, the LED display, voice guidance, sound effect, etc. are used to notify the user that the normal bar code scan mode has been switched to the setting bar code scan mode. This method can be used easily and conveniently because it can be changed to a desired setting simply by scanning a dedicated setting bar code.

However, it is also possible to connect a bar code reader to a host computer via an interface such as RS-232C, and perform data communication to change settings such as function switch assignment. In this case, a predetermined communication command is input from the host side and set. The method of changing the setting by data communication from a computer can change the setting by directly specifying the setting item, so that the setting can be changed more quickly than the method of scanning the setting bar code. Further, when an external device such as a computer is connected to the host side, various commands can be exchanged by data communication. For example, when the interlock is applied, an interlock release command can be transmitted from the host side to the barcode reader. Alternatively, when it is desired to change the registration data, an instruction can be sent from the host side to the barcode reader to shift to the registration data change mode.

If the bar code reader of this embodiment is used, collation can be performed only with a gun type bar code reader. That is, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to connect an external device having a verification function. Of course, even if the external device connected to the host side has a verification function, the merit of the present invention is not impaired.

In addition, as a convenient function when performing collation work, a function for shifting to a registration mode for switching registration / collation is provided. Furthermore, a switch for calling up such a function with a simple operation is provided. This makes it possible to easily update the registration data at the collation destination during the 1: N collation operation, and when the registration is incorrect or unnecessary data is scanned during the 1: 1 collation operation. Alternatively, when it is desired to skip registration or collation for the next data, it is possible to cancel the previous registration, register desired data again, and update the unnecessary data.

Furthermore, it is possible to prevent oversight when NG occurs in the collation by the interlock function. However, if the interlock function is used, an interlock release function is required. For this reason, in this embodiment, the function switch can be used as an interlock release means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Barcode reading part 2 ... Signal processing circuit 3 ... Barcode label 4 ... Laser projection circuit 5 ... Galvano mirror 6 ... Condensing mirror 7 ... Band pass filter 8 ... Light receiving element 9 ... Light receiving circuit 10 ... Amplifying circuit 11 ... Filter circuit 12 ... Binarization circuit 13 ... Decoding circuit 14 ... AC coupling circuit 17 ... Trigger switch 21 ... Head part 22 ... Handle 23 ... Irradiation part 24 ... LED display part 25 ... Function switch 28 ... Grip part

Claims (4)

A gun type comprising a head part having an irradiating part for irradiating light on a bar code on the front surface and a handle part extending downward from the head part, wherein the head part protrudes forward in the light irradiation direction from the handle part In an optical information reader having a shape,
A trigger switch that is provided in front of the boundary of the grip portion with the head portion, and for giving an irradiation instruction to the irradiation portion;
A function for executing a predetermined function assigned in advance by data communication with a host connected to the optical information reading device, provided on the upper surface of the head portion opposite to the lower side where the handle portion is provided. A switch,
Control means for receiving an operation of the trigger switch and irradiating the irradiation unit with light, receiving an operation of the function switch and executing the predetermined function set in advance;
The control means compares and collates the read barcode data with previously stored registration data and outputs the collation result, and stores the read barcode data as the registration data. The optical information reading apparatus is capable of executing a function of shifting to (1) based on an operation of the function switch and an instruction from the host . The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function switch is provided at a position close to a back surface facing the front surface on which the irradiation unit is provided on the upper surface of the head unit. A display unit for displaying whether or not the function assigned to the function switch is correctly executed on the upper surface of the head unit is provided,
The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is provided on the front side closer to the irradiation unit than the function switch. In the function switch, the setting can be changed by reading a bar code for setting different from a general bar code in the setting mode for changing the setting assigned to the function switch.
The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display unit displays that the mode has been switched from a normal scan mode to the setting mode .

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