JP6884514B2 - Optical information reader - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical information reading device that optically reads an information code such as a bar code.

Optical information readers that optically read information from information codes such as barcodes are now widely used in various fields such as the manufacturing industry. In the case of this optical information reading device, in order to ensure that the information possessed by the desired information code is read, the reading operation is often performed with the reading port and the information code in close proximity to each other. For example, when reading a barcode attached to a product using a portable reading device placed at a cash register in a store, the reading port of the reading device is in contact with the barcode to be read. By reading, it is possible to prevent reading of other barcodes that are different from the reading target. For example, an information code attached to a large object that cannot be lifted by hand is read at a certain distance.

However, in the above-mentioned reading device, when the reading port is brought into contact with or close to the information code or the product to which the information code is attached, the information code is hidden by the reading device and cannot be seen by the user. There is. Therefore, the user of the reading device cannot grasp the position of the information code with respect to the reading port, and there is a possibility that reliable reading processing cannot be performed. In particular, when reading a two-dimensional code, the reading process fails if only a part of the two-dimensional code is imaged because the reading port does not face the two-dimensional code at an appropriate position. ..

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, for example, a configuration such as the data symbol reading device 1 disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be considered. The data symbol reading device 1 has a casing 2 composed of a grip portion 21 and a head portion 22, and the head portion 22 has a housing 3 composed of side walls 32 to 35. Further, the side wall 32 is composed of a transparent plate-shaped optical component having an optical thin film on the back surface that selectively reflects the illumination light of the light source.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-326004

However, in a reading device such as Patent Document 1, at least a part of the housing also serves as a window for viewing the information code and a member that reflects the light from the information code and guides it to the condensing optical system. It has become. Therefore, the range of selection of the shape, material, and the like in the portion (side wall 32) constituting the visual window portion is limited, which complicates the structure of the reading device and causes the side wall 32 to be damaged when the side wall 32 is damaged. There will also be a need for repair.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration in which an information code can be visually recognized during a reading operation without using a member composed of a specific shape or material. And.

In order to achieve the above object, the optical information reading device according to the invention of claim 1 includes a main body portion provided with a reading port for passing illumination light and its reflected light.
A grip portion connected to a portion of the main body portion different from the portion where the reading port is formed and gripped by the user.
An imaging unit that optically images a predetermined imaging range through the reading port, and an imaging unit.
A decoding unit that performs an information code decoding process for decoding a two-dimensional code from an image in the imaging range captured by the imaging unit is provided.
Around the reading port, an extending portion extending toward the reading side of the reading port is provided.
The extension portion is formed by partially cutting off the tip portion of the extension portion, and has an opening that allows the passage of the user's line of sight, and the bottom surface is from below the reading port to the reading side. The opening is located between the two-dimensional code and the reading port .
The tip of the extension is attached to the medium surface when the user brings the tip into contact with the medium on which the two-dimensional code is attached in order to read the two-dimensional code. extending direction of the extending portion and said Rukoto to have a contact with tapered surface so as to obliquely.

In the invention of claim 1, an extension portion extending forward (that is, in a direction toward the two-dimensional code) is provided around the reading port, and the opening is partially cut off from the tip of the extension portion. For example, an opening is formed in a portion of the extension portion that is different from the grip portion side. The extending portion is formed so that the bottom surface extends from below the reading port to the reading side, and an opening is located between the two-dimensional code and the reading port. Therefore, when reading the two-dimensional code, even when the reading port is brought close to the two-dimensional code, the two-dimensional code can be visually recognized through the gap created by the opening of the extension portion. As a result, the user of the reading device confirms the position of the two-dimensional code from the side of the main body opposite to the gripping portion side through the gap created by the opening of the extending portion, and the position of the two-dimensional code is confirmed with respect to the reading port. It becomes easy to arrange the dimension code at a desired position where it is easy to read. Further, such a configuration can be realized without using a specific shape or material for the extending portion, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of members and simplify the structure of the reading device.
In particular , the tip of the extension portion is attached to the medium surface when the user brings the tip into contact with the medium on which the two-dimensional code is attached in order to read the two-dimensional code. It has a tapered surface that comes into contact with the extending portion so that the extending direction is oblique. When reading a two-dimensional code, the user can use this tapered surface as an auxiliary to tilt the extension part, that is, the reading device, which causes the illumination light to be specularly reflected in the optical system. The influence of can be reduced or eliminated.

In the invention of claim 2, the extending portion has an end portion on the reading side, and at least a part of the end portion is formed along one edge of the imaging range of the imaging unit. There is.
With such a configuration, the relative position of the two-dimensional code with respect to the reading port can be determined with reference to the position of the end portion of the extension portion along one edge of the imaging range of the imaging unit , and the two-dimensional code is imaged. It becomes easier to fit in the range. Therefore, it becomes easy for the reading device to read the two-dimensional code, and the success rate of reading can be increased.

In the invention of claim 3, the extending portion has a wall portion connected to the portion on the grip portion side, and the end portion of the wall portion on the reading side is along one edge of the imaging range of the imaging portion. It has a structure formed in.
With such a configuration, the relative position of the two-dimensional code with respect to the reading port can be determined with reference to the front end of the wall (that is, the end facing the two-dimensional code ), and the two-dimensional code can be determined. It becomes easier to fit in the imaging range.

In the invention of claim 4, the extending portion has a portion on the grip portion side, and the portion is formed so that the end portion on the reading side is formed along one edge of the imaging range of the imaging portion. It has become.
With such a configuration, it is possible to determine the relative position of the two-dimensional code with respect to the reading port with reference to the front end (that is, the end facing the two-dimensional code ) at the portion of the extension portion on the grip side. This makes it easier to fit the two-dimensional code within the imaging range.

In the invention of claim 5, the extending portion has a portion on the grip portion side, and the length of the portion at the end portion on the reading side is one edge of the grip portion side in the imaging range of the imaging unit. It is a structure formed so as to be substantially the same as the length of.
With such a configuration, the user of the reading device can use the width (grip) of the imaging range based on the length of the front end (that is, the end facing the two-dimensional code) at the grip side portion of the extension portion. Since the length of one edge on the part side) can be grasped, it becomes easy to fit the two-dimensional code in the imaging range.

In the invention of claim 6, the opening of the extending portion is formed so that the opening length in the front-rear direction in which the reading port and the two-dimensional code face each other increases as the distance from the grip portion increases. ..
With such a configuration, the opening width of the extending portion increases as the distance from the grip portion increases, and the two-dimensional code can be easily visually recognized from the side of the main body opposite to the grip portion side. On the other hand, the opening of the extension portion makes it easy to reduce the opening width of the portion close to the grip portion, and the strength of the connecting portion between the reading port and the extension portion can be maintained high.

In the invention of claim 7, the opening is the reading port with respect to the distance between the portion on the grip portion side around the reading port and the portion on the side opposite to the portion on the grip portion side. The opening length in the direction in which the two-dimensional code and the two-dimensional code face each other is at least 1/2 or more.
With this configuration, since the opening width of the opening is configured with more than a certain size with respect to reading opening, when bringing the reading opening in the two-dimensional code, the opening between the reading opening and the two-dimensional code It is possible to secure the minimum space in which the two-dimensional code can be visually recognized through the unit.

In the invention of claim 8, the opening is partially cut from the tip of the portion opposite to the portion on the grip portion side forming the tip portion of the extension portion toward the reading port side. One or more are provided. This makes it possible to diversify the method of forming the opening.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an optical information reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the upper right. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the optical information reader of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the optical information reader of FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the optical information reader of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the optical information reader of FIG. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the optical information reader of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of the optical information reading device of FIG. 1, together with a configuration according to a modified example. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the optical information reader of FIG. FIG. 9 is a right side view for explaining the configuration of the vicinity of the reading port of the optical information reading device of FIG. FIG. 10 is a right side view illustrating a state in which an information code formed on a display medium is read by the optical information reading device of FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view schematically showing a part of the optical information reading device in the state shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a front view schematically showing a part of the optical information reading device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a front view schematically showing a part of an optical information reading device having a configuration different from that of FIG. 12 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view illustrating a modified example of the opening formed in the extending portion. FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view illustrating a modified example of a configuration formed as an extension and providing an opening.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the first embodiment embodying the optical information reading device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.
The optical information reading device 10 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a reading device 10) according to the present embodiment is configured as a code reader that optically reads an information code C (see FIG. 8) such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. It has an appearance as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, and a circuit portion 20a made of various electric components or the like is mounted on a circuit board 20 or the like and housed inside the case 11. Further, the case 11 is composed of a first case 11a and a second case 11b, which are molding members made of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin. The reading device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is configured as a so-called gun type, and has a main body 12 and a main body 12 having a reading port 13 formed at an end thereof for passing illumination light and its reflected light. It is provided with a substantially tubular grip portion 15 which is connected to a portion different from the portion where the reading port 13 is formed and is gripped by the user.
Further, around the reading port 13 in the main body portion 12, a cross section intersecting the extending direction (front-back direction) is substantially formed so as to extend toward the front of the main body portion 12 from the wall portion forming the periphery thereof. A cylindrical extension portion 14 forming a rectangle is provided. When the reading device 10 is used, the tip portion of the extending portion 14 is directed to the information code C as shown in FIG. Further, the grip portion 15 extends longitudinally from the lower wall portion of the main body portion 12, and a trigger operation portion 42 (trigger switch) capable of pressing is arranged near the upper end portion of the grip portion 15, and the grip portion 15 is arranged. A cable 48a for an interface is assembled near the lower end of 15.

Next, the electrical configuration of the reader 10 will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 8, the circuit unit 20a housed in the housing mainly includes an optical system such as an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 28, and an imaging lens 27, and a microcomputer such as a memory 35 and a control circuit 40. It is equipped with a system (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer").

The optical system is divided into a floodlight optical system and a light receiving optical system. As shown in FIG. 7, the illumination light source 21 constituting the floodlight optical system functions as an illumination means capable of emitting illumination light Lf. For example, a red LED 21a and a lens 21b provided on the exit side of the LED 21a. It is composed of and. As can be seen from the illumination optical axis L1 shown in FIG. 7, the illumination light source 21 is arranged so as to irradiate the illumination light Lf so as to be inclined with respect to the imaging optical axis L2.

The light receiving optical system includes a light receiving sensor 28, an imaging lens 27, a reflecting mirror (not shown), and the like. The light receiving sensor 28 is configured as an area sensor in which light receiving elements that are solid-state image pickup elements such as C-MOS and CCD are arranged two-dimensionally, and has a light receiving surface as a rectangular light receiving region 28a. It is configured. The light receiving sensor 28 is mounted on the circuit board 20 so as to be able to receive the incident light incident through the reading port 13, the protective plate 26, and the imaging lens 27, and functions to image a predetermined imaging range. The light receiving sensor 28 can correspond to an example of the “imaging unit”. The imaging lens 27 functions as an imaging optical system capable of condensing incident light incident from the outside through the reading port 13 and forming an image on the light receiving surface of the light receiving sensor 28. In the present embodiment, after the illumination light Lf emitted from the illumination light source 21 is reflected by the information code C formed on the display medium R, the reflected light Lr is focused by the imaging lens 27, and the light receiving sensor 28 A code image is formed on the light receiving surface.

The microcomputer system includes an amplifier circuit 31, an A / D conversion circuit 33, a memory 35, an address generation circuit 36, a synchronization signal generation circuit 38, a control circuit 40, a trigger switch 42, a buzzer 44, a vibrator 45, a light emitting unit 46, and a communication interface 48. And so on. As the name implies, this microcomputer system is composed mainly of a control circuit 40 and a memory 35 that can function as a microcomputer (information processing device), and hardware the image signal of the information code captured by the above-mentioned optical system. It can process signals in terms of hardware and software.

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

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

The control circuit 40 is a microcomputer capable of controlling the entire reading device 10, and includes a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like. It can form an information processing device together with a memory 35 and has an information processing function. The control circuit 40 is configured to be connectable to various input / output devices (peripheral devices) via a built-in input / output interface. In the case of this embodiment, the trigger switch 42, the buzzer 44, the vibrator 45, and the light emitting light are emitted. The unit 46, the communication interface 48, and the like are connected. Thereby, for example, monitoring and management of the trigger switch 42, on / off of the sound of the buzzer 44 capable of generating a beep sound or an alarm sound, and drive control of the vibrator 45 capable of generating vibration that can be transmitted to the user of the reading device 10. The control circuit 40 performs lighting and non-lighting of the light emitting unit 46, communication control of the communication interface 48 that enables communication with an external device, and the like.
The control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of the “decoding unit”, and functions to perform information code decoding processing on the code image of the information code captured by the light receiving sensor 28.

Next, the configuration of the reading port 13 and the extending portion 14 of the reading device 10 will be described in detail.
In the present embodiment, the direction substantially along the longitudinal direction ND (see, for example, FIG. 2) in which the substantially tubular grip portion 15 extends is the vertical direction, and the main body portion 12 side of the grip portion 15 is the upper side. The opposite side is the lower side. Further, the direction orthogonal to or intersecting the vertical direction is the front-rear direction, the side of the grip portion 15 where the trigger switch 42 is provided is the front side, and the back side thereof is the rear side. In particular, the front side of the extension portion 14 in the front-rear direction is called the reading side or simply the front side. Further, the directions orthogonal to the vertical direction and the front-rear direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 3) are the horizontal direction (width direction), and the left-hand side when the reading device 10 is viewed from the front side is the left side and the right-hand side is the right side. .. As can be seen from FIG. 2, since the longitudinal direction ND of the grip portion 15 is slanted with respect to the extending direction of the main body portion 12, the above-mentioned vertical direction and front-rear direction are introduced for convenience of explanation. It is a thing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the reading port 13 has a structure in which the reading port 13 opens forward in a substantially rectangular shape on the front side of the main body portion 12. Further, around the reading port 13, an extending portion 14 extending from the wall portion forming the surrounding portion toward the front side of the main body portion 12 is provided. The extension portion 14 is installed for the main purpose of taking a certain distance toward the front of the information code C when the information code C is read from the reading port 13. When the reading device 10 is used, the information code C is present so as to be in contact with or away from the tip of the extending portion 14.
As will be described later, when the user uses the tip of the reading device 10, that is, the tip of the extending portion 14 toward the information code C, the extension portion 14 visually indicates the presence of the information code and the presence of the information code. / Or has an open portion 14a that functions as a defined gap or space for transmitting the line of sight (a configuration that allows the passage of the line of sight) so that the size can be confirmed.
Here, the structure of the extension portion 14 will be described in detail. The extension portion 14 is composed of an extension upper wall portion 14b, an extension side wall portion 14c, 14d, and an extension bottom wall portion 14e. Further, in the extending portion 14, an opening (notch) 14a is formed in a portion (a portion away from the grip portion 15) different from the portion on the grip portion 15 side. Specifically, the extension portion 14 has a structure without eaves, which is partially cut out or cut off from the anterior upper edge toward the posterior lower end.

Of the extending portion 14, the front-view inverted U-shaped portion extending toward the front side (the side facing the information code at the time of use) of the main body portion 12 on the rear side of the opening 14a extends. It is an upper wall portion 14b. Specifically, the extension upper wall portion 14b is formed on the upper side portion of the reading port 13 (the upper portion constituting the periphery of the reading port 13) and the portion above the substantially center position on both the left and right sides of the main body portion 12. It is composed of a part that extends toward the front side. Further, the extending upper wall portion 14b is configured to be inclined so that the front end portions (upper side portions of the opening 14a) on both the left and right sides of the extending upper wall portion 14b project forward as they go downward.

Further, among the extending portions 14, the portion on the gripping portion 15 side is the extending bottom wall portion 14e. That is, the extending bottom wall portion 14e has a substantially rectangular plate shape having a plate surface orthogonal to the vertical direction from the lower side portion of the reading port 13 (the lower portion constituting the periphery of the reading port 13) to the front side. It is configured to be extended. Further, the front end of the extending bottom wall portion 14e is formed so as to follow one edge of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range of the light receiving sensor 28. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the front end of the extending bottom wall portion 14e is along the lower edge AR1 of the cross section substantially perpendicular to the anteroposterior direction in the imaging range (or imaging field of view) AR. It is a composition. The imaging range is determined by the distance of the main body 12 from the projection optical system, but the imaging range AR referred to in the present embodiment is an imaging field obtained at the position of the tip of the extending portion 14.
Further, the extended bottom wall portion 14e is formed so that the length at the front end portion thereof is substantially the same as the length of the edge AR1 of the imaging range AR. Specifically, the length of the extending bottom wall portion 14e in the direction along the periphery of the reading port 13, that is, the length of the extending bottom wall portion 14e in the left-right direction (width direction) is the imaging of the light receiving sensor 28. It is formed so as to be substantially the same as the width in the left-right direction of the range.

Further, among the extending portions 14, the portions that are substantially perpendicular to the extending bottom wall portion 14e are the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d. That is, the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are configured to extend toward the front side of the main body portion 12 from the portions facing each other via the reading port 13 on the grip portion 15 side of the opening portion 14a. More specifically, the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are configured to extend forward in a substantially rectangular plate shape at a portion below the substantially center positions on both the left and right sides around the reading port 13, respectively. There is. Further, the front end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are formed along one edge of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range of the light receiving sensor 28. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the front end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are configured along the left and right edges AR2 and AR3 of the cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction in the imaging range AR, respectively. .. Further, the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are connected to the extending bottom wall portion 14e at their respective lower end portions, and are formed so as to be integrated with the extending bottom wall portion 14e.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, each of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d is on the front side, that is, on the front side, and an information code is attached to the display medium R (specifically, the display medium R at the time of use). It has a surface FF that abuts or faces the medium surface) at a distance. The front surface FF has a tapered surface that recedes rearward at a constant angle α from its tip TP toward the lower side. This inclination angle α can be defined as an angle between the normal line in the vertical direction passing through the position of the tip TP, and is a value of about 12 ° as an example. This tapered surface is provided with respect to the medium surface when the user brings the tip of the extending portion 14 into contact with the display medium R attached to the medium surface in order to read the information code C. The extension portion 14 is brought into contact with the extension portion 14 so that the extension direction is oblique. That is, the tapered surface is formed so that the optical system placed inside the main body 12 is not easily affected by specular reflection during use, and the inclination angle α thereof is appropriate in the geometrical relationship of the optical system. Can be set to any value.
The extending side wall portions 14c and 14d correspond to an example of the "wall portion connected to the grip portion side portion" of the present invention.

Further, the opening 14a of the extending portion 14 is formed so that the opening length (notch width) in the direction (front-back direction) in which the reading port 13 and the information code face each other increases as the distance from the grip portion 15 increases. There is. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the extension upper wall portion 14b of the extension side wall portions 14c and 14d is longer than the length A2 extending forward from the connecting portion of the extension upper wall portion 14b with the front end portion. The distance A3 between the upper side and the front end of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d is increased. With such a configuration, the angle θ1 formed by the side of the upper end portion of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d and the side of the front side end portion (upper side portion of the opening 14a) of the extending upper wall portion 14b is set. It is an obtuse angle.

Further, the opening 14a of the extending portion 14 is in the front-rear direction with respect to the distance between the portion on the grip portion 15 side around the reading port 13 and the portion on the side opposite to the portion on the grip portion 15 side. The opening length of the is at least 1/2 or more. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the length A2 is 1/2 with respect to the distance A1 between the upper end of the extension upper wall 14b and the front end of the extension bottom wall 14e. It is a configuration that becomes.

Next, the operation of reading the information code by the reading device 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 10, the reading device 10 is brought closer to the display medium R on which the information code C is formed so that the reading device 10 can reliably read the desired information code C (for example, QR code (registered trademark)). At this time, since the extension portion 14 formed around the reading port 13 has an opening 14a formed in a portion (a portion on the front side upper side) away from the grip portion 15, the display medium R and the extension portion 14 are extended. Even when the side wall portions 14c and 14d come into contact with each other, a gap (space) is formed between the display medium R and the extension portion 14 (more specifically, the opening portion 14a). Specifically, the display medium R and the extending upper wall portion 14b are separated by the length of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d in the front-rear direction, and the display medium R and the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are separated from each other. An opening portion that opens upward is formed by the extending upper wall portion 14b. Therefore, the user who grips the reading device 10 can see the front side of the reading port 13 from the upper side through the gap between the opening 14a of the extending portion 14 and the display medium R. By visually recognizing the information code C formed on the display medium R from above, the reading device 10 is moved to move the information code C to a desired position where the reading port 13 can easily read the information code C. Can be done.
At the time of this reading, the front FFs of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are tapered surfaces. Therefore, the user holds the reading device 10 so that the line LN along the tapered surface abuts on the display medium R as in the reading state shown by the virtual line R (LN) in FIG. The angle can be easily adjusted manually. As described above, specular reflection in the optical system can be prevented according to the inclination angle α of the tapered surface. When the specular reflection occurs, the control circuit 40 does not give an instruction to complete reading, so that the user waits for the instruction to complete reading while manually changing the angle of the extension portion 14 with respect to the display medium R. At the time of this manual angle change, the tapered surface can be used as an assisting means, and the reading state shown by the virtual line R (LN) in FIG. 10 can be easily achieved. As a result, it is possible to easily avoid the unreadable state due to specular reflection.

Further, as described above, the end portion of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d on the information code C side (front side) is along one edge (edge AR2, AR3) of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. It is structured so as to be formed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the display medium R and the front end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d face each other or come into contact with each other in the vicinity, the information code C for the imaging range AR is shown in FIG. It is possible to grasp the relative position of the in the left-right direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the reading port 13 is set to the information code C so that the left and right ends of the information code C are within the range sandwiched by the front side ends of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d, respectively. By arranging them so as to face each other, the information code C can be contained in the imaging range AR in the left-right direction. Further, by aligning the left and right ends of the information code C along the inner edges of the front side ends of the extension side wall portions 14c and 14d, respectively, the front side ends of the extension side wall portions 14c and 14d can be formed. It is a mark that maximizes the width in the left-right direction in the imaging range AR.

Further, as described above, the end portion of the extending bottom wall portion 14e on the information code C side (front side) is formed so as to be along one edge (edge AR1) of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. It is configured to be. Therefore, when the display medium R and the front end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d face each other in the vicinity or come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. 10, the user who grips the reading device 10 is on the upper side. By looking at the front end of the extension bottom wall portion 14e and the information code C through the gap between the opening 14a of the extension portion 14 and the display medium R (see FIG. 9), the imaging range AR It is possible to grasp the relative position of the information code C with respect to. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the user looks at the front of the reading port 13 from above at an angle of θ2, the lower edge of the information code C is more than the front end of the extended bottom wall portion 14e. The information code C can be contained within the imaging range AR by being positioned slightly above.
Further, for example, when the information code C is a barcode and the information code C is arranged in the longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, the information code C is parallel to the front end of the extending bottom wall portion 14e. By aligning the edges of the lower ends of the barcode, the barcode can be placed on the reading line to make it easier to read.

As described above, the front end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d and the extending bottom wall portion 14e extend along one edge of the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28 to read. The imaging range AR of the device 10 can be visually captured by these walls.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9 described above, the front side of the extended upper wall portion 14b in the extended side wall portions 14c and 14d with respect to the distance A1 between the extended upper wall portion 14b and the extended bottom wall portion 14e. The length A2 extending forward from the connecting portion with the end portion is 1/2, and the distance between the upper side of the extending upper wall portion 14b and the front end portion of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d. A3 is more than 1/2 of A1. Therefore, even when the display medium R and the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d come into contact with each other (see FIG. 10), the user can use the display medium R at an angle of θ2 (for example, 25 °) with respect to the display medium R as shown in FIG. From above, the inside of the space formed in front of the reading port 13 can be visually recognized.

Next, a case where the information code C is read so that the extension portion 14 comes into contact with the display medium R on which the information code C is formed will be described. Based on the above configuration, the user sets the reading device 10 so that the extending portion 14 comes into contact with the information code C at an appropriate position (a position where the information code C fits in the imaging range AR as shown in FIG. 11). After moving, the trigger switch 42 is pressed to start the reading process of the information code C. Here, since the extension portion 14 is provided so as to extend forward in the reading port 13, the reading port 13 is extended from the display medium R by the forward extension distance of the extension portion 14. Can be separated. Similarly, the grip portion 15 formed on the portion of the main body portion 12 opposite to the portion on which the reading port 13 is formed can also be separated from the display medium R by the extension distance by the extension portion 14. Therefore, the information code C or the display medium R and the hand of the user who grips the grip portion 15 are less likely to interfere with each other, and for example, the pressing operation of the trigger switch 42 can be smoothly performed. The reading operation is not hindered. With such a configuration, for example, even when the reading device 10 is placed at a predetermined position so that the reading port 13 faces downward, there is a gap between the grip portion 15 and the mounting surface due to the presence of the extending portion 14. Therefore, the user can grip the grip portion 15 and easily lift the reading device 10.

As described above, in the first embodiment, an extension portion 14 extending forward from the wall portion around the reading port 13 is provided around the reading port 13, and the grip portion 15 side of the extension portion 14 is provided. The opening 14a is formed in a portion different from the above. Therefore, even when the reading port 13 is brought closer to the information code C when reading the information code C, the user can use the information code C through the gap or space created by the opening 14a of the extension portion 14. And the size etc. can be visually recognized. As a result, the user of the reading device 10 confirms the position and size of the information code C through the gap created by the opening 14a, and arranges the reading device 10 at a desired position where the information code C can be easily read. It will be easier. Further, such a configuration can be realized without using a specific shape or material for the extending portion 14, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of members and simplify the structure of the reading device 10. it can.

Further, at least a part of the end portion of the extension portion 14 on the information code C side is configured to be along one edge of the image pickup range AR of the light receiving sensor 28.
With such a configuration, the relative position of the information code C with respect to the reading port 13 is determined with reference to the position of the end portion of the extending portion 14 along one edge of the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28 on the information code C side. This makes it easier to fit the information code C in the imaging range AR. Therefore, the information code C can be easily read by the reading device 10, and the reading success rate can be increased.

Further, in the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d connected to the portion on the gripping portion 15 side of the extending portion 14, the end portion on the information code C side is one edge (AR2, AR3) of the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. It is configured to be formed along the above.
With such a configuration, the relative position of the information code C with respect to the reading port 13 can be determined with reference to the end of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d on the information code C side, and the information code C can be set to the imaging range AR. It will be easier to fit in. Further, by locating the information code C along the end of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d on the information code C side, the information code C is placed in the imaging range AR by maximizing the imaging range AR. Can fit.

Further, the portion of the extension portion 14 on the grip portion 15 side (extension bottom wall portion 14e) has an end portion on the information code C side along one edge (AR1) of the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. It has a structure to be formed.
With such a configuration, the relative position of the information code C with respect to the reading port 13 can be determined with reference to the end portion of the extending bottom wall portion 14e on the information code C side, and the information code C is set to the imaging range AR. It will be easier to fit. Further, by locating the information code C along the end of the extending bottom wall portion 14e on the information code C side, the information code C is housed in the imaging range AR by maximizing the imaging range AR. be able to.

Further, the opening 14a of the extending portion 14 is formed so that the length in the direction (front-back direction) in which the reading port 13 and the information code C face each other increases as the distance from the grip portion 15 increases.
With such a configuration, the opening length of the extending portion 14 increases as the distance from the grip portion 15 increases, and the information code C can be easily visually recognized from the side of the main body portion 12 opposite to the grip portion 15 side. On the other hand, the opening 14a of the extending portion 14 makes it easy to reduce the opening length of the portion close to the grip portion 15, and the strength of the connecting portion between the reading port 13 and the extending portion 14 can be maintained high. ..

Further, the opening 14a has the reading port 13 and the information code with respect to the distance between the portion on the grip portion 15 side around the reading port 13 and the portion on the side opposite to the portion on the grip portion 15 side. The opening length in the direction facing C (front-back direction) is at least 1/2 or more.
With such a configuration, the opening length of the opening 14a with respect to the reading port 13 is formed to have a certain size or more. Therefore, when the reading port 13 is brought closer to the information code C, the reading port 13 and the information code C It is possible to secure a minimum gap (space) in which the information code C can be visually recognized through the opening 14a.

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

In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the extension portion 14 is cut out from the front side upper side of the extension portion 14 toward the posterior lower side is illustrated, but a portion different from the portion on the grip portion 15 side (extension bottom wall). The extending portion 14 may have another shape as long as the opening 14a is formed in at least a part of the portion (a portion other than the portion 14e).
For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in the extending portion 14 extending from the wall portion around the reading port 13 to the front side of the main body portion 12, a part on the upper right side may be cut out. That is, the extension portion 14 extends except for a part of the upper right portion of the reading port 13 (the upper right portion forming the periphery of the reading port 13).

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the extending portion 14 may be cut out except for the portion on the grip portion 15 side around the reading port 13. That is, only the extending bottom wall portion 14e extends from the periphery of the reading port 13. Further, in such a configuration, the length at the front end of the extending bottom wall portion 14e is substantially the length of the edge (AR1) on the grip portion 15 side of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. It may be formed to be the same. The user of the reading device 10 can grasp the width of the imaging range AR (the length of the edge on the grip portion 15 side) based on the length of the front end portion of the extension portion 14 on the grip portion 15 side. Therefore, it becomes easy to fit the information code C in the imaging range AR. Further, by aligning the left-right ends of the lower edge of the information code C with the left-right ends of the front end of the extension bottom wall 14e, the extension bottom wall The unit 14e serves as a mark that maximizes the width in the left-right direction in the imaging range AR.

Further, in the first embodiment, the configuration in which the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are formed in the reading port 13 is illustrated, but one of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d may be formed. When the extending side wall portion 14c is formed, the end portion on the front side (the side facing the information code) is along one edge (edge AR2) of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. When the extending side wall portion 14d is formed, the end portion on the front side thereof is formed so as to be along one edge (edge AR3) of a predetermined cross section in the imaging range AR of the light receiving sensor 28. To do. Even with such a configuration, the reading port 13 can be made to face the information code C at an appropriate position with reference to one of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d. Further, by locating the information code C along one of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d, the width of the imaging range AR in the left-right direction can be used as widely as possible.

Further, the opening 14a of the extending portion 14 described in the first embodiment described above can be further deformed into various shapes and structures. Representative examples of those modifications of FIGS. 14 and 15 are shown. The extension upper wall portion 14b of the extension portion 14 shown in FIG. 1 and the like is opened by cutting out or cutting out a part of the upper wall of the extension portion 14 and a part of both left and right walls from their tip portions. It corresponds to the remaining portion when the portion 14a is formed. A large number of examples can be envisioned for this notch or excision, typical examples of which are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
In the modified example shown in FIG. 14, a first opening is cut out or partially cut out in a substantially semicircular shape from the tip side to the rear side (reading port side) of the extension upper wall portion 14b of the extension portion 14. The portion 14a1 and the second opening 14a2 are formed. A plurality of these openings (first and second openings 14a1, 14a2) are juxtaposed in the left-right direction. In this configuration, it is desirable that the leftmost LF and the rightmost RT of the first and second openings 14a1 and 14a2 coincide with the left and right ends of the above-mentioned imaging range (imaging field of view) AR. This is to make it easier for the user to visually recognize the existence and size of the information code C through the gap or space formed by the first and second openings 14a1 and 14a2.
Further, in the modified example shown in FIG. 15, two rod-shaped bodies B1 and B2 forming the extending portion 14 are extended in the front-rear direction from each of the lower ends of the left and right wall portions of the reading port 13. The two rod-shaped bodies B1 and B2 are formed of, for example, resin, and are set to a length that allows an imaging range AR of a certain size to be obtained as described above. When the rod-shaped bodies B1 and B2 are formed, the upper, lower, left and right parts other than the rod-shaped bodies B1 and B2 are vacant. This vacant portion, especially the upper space, provides the user with an opening for viewing the code.
Even with these modified examples, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those enjoyed in the above-described first embodiment.

Further, in the first embodiment, the extension portion 14 may be configured such that a notched portion is covered with a transparent member so as to form an opening portion 14a. For example, a transparent member made of a resin material or the like may be connected to the opening 14a in the same shape as the notched portion in the extending portion 14. With such a configuration, even when the reading device 10 is brought close to the information code C, the information code C can be visually recognized through the transparent member, and it is possible to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the reading port 13. it can. Further, by using a soft silicon material or the like for the transparent member, it is possible to improve the cushioning property and increase the strength against impact.
Furthermore, in the reading device 10 of the first embodiment, as shown by the virtual line 26a in FIG. 7, the protective plate 26 may be tilted so that the upper portion is tilted forward with respect to the lower portion. This makes it easier to avoid the influence of specular reflection due to the illumination light in the light receiving system. This modification is similarly applicable not only to the first embodiment but also to the various modifications described above.

10 ... Optical information reader 12 ... Main body 13 ... Reading port 14 ... Extension 14a, 14a1, 14a2 ... Opening 14b ... Extension upper wall 14c, 14d ... Extension side wall (wall)
14e ... Extended bottom wall part 15 ... Gripping part 28 ... Light receiving sensor (imaging part)
40 ... Control circuit (decoding unit)
B1, B2 ... Rod-shaped body that provides an opening AR ... Imaging range C ... Information code

Claims (8)

A main body equipped with a reading port for passing illumination light and its reflected light,
A grip portion connected to a portion of the main body portion different from the portion where the reading port is formed and gripped by the user.
An imaging unit that optically images a predetermined imaging range through the reading port, and an imaging unit.
A decoding unit that performs an information code decoding process for decoding a two-dimensional code from an image in the imaging range captured by the imaging unit is provided.
Around the reading port, an extending portion extending toward the reading side of the reading port is provided.
The extension portion is formed by partially cutting off the tip portion of the extension portion, and has an opening that allows the passage of the user's line of sight, and the bottom surface is from below the reading port to the reading side. The opening is located between the two-dimensional code and the reading port .
The tip of the extension is attached to the medium surface when the user brings the tip into contact with the medium on which the two-dimensional code is attached in order to read the two-dimensional code. optical information reading apparatus according to claim Rukoto the extending direction of the extending portion having a contact with tapered surface so as to obliquely. The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the extending portion has an end portion on the reading side, and at least a part of the end portion is formed along one edge of the imaging range of the imaging unit. Optical information reader. The extending portion has a wall portion connected to the portion on the grip portion side, and the wall portion is formed so that the end portion on the reading side is formed along one edge of the imaging range of the imaging portion. The optical information reading device according to claim 2. A claim, wherein the extending portion has a portion on the grip portion side, and the portion on the reading side is formed so that an end portion on the reading side is formed along one edge of an imaging range of the imaging unit. 2 or the optical information reading device according to claim 3. The extending portion has a portion on the grip portion side, and the length at the end portion on the reading side of the portion is substantially the same as the length of one edge on the grip portion side in the imaging range of the imaging unit. The optical information reading device according to claim 4, wherein the optical information reading device is formed so as to be. Claims 1 to 5, wherein the opening is formed so that the opening length in the front-rear direction in which the reading port and the two-dimensional code face each other increases as the distance from the grip portion increases. The optical information reader according to any one of the following items. The opening is formed by the reading port and the two-dimensional code with respect to the distance between the portion on the grip portion side and the portion on the side opposite to the grip portion side around the reading port. The optical information reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the opening length in the opposite direction is at least 1/2 or more. The opening is provided one or more so as to be partially cut from the tip of the portion opposite to the portion on the grip portion side forming the tip portion of the extension portion toward the reading port side. The optical information reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the optical information reading device is characterized.

Images