JPH02224193A - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to read out also the code of an article having no auxiliary bar code by deciding the existence of auxiliary bar code when the comparing result between the sum of bar width existing on the position of the 1st character of the auxiliary bar code and the sum of bar width constituting the final character of a main code is included within a prescribed range. CONSTITUTION:A bar code reader is provided with a converter 1, a converting circuit 2, a memory 3, and a microprocessor 4. The microprocessor 4 compares the sum of the bar width of the final character with the sum of the bar width of the bar existing on the 1st character position of the auxiliary bar code, and when the compared result is included within the prescribed range, the addition of the auxiliary bar code to the end of a decoding bar code is decided. Even when the bar code reader is used in an environment mixing articles having auxiliary bar codes and articles having no auxiliary bar codes, both the bar codes can be read out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention provides a UPC (Universal Product Code) with an auxiliary bar code.
tCode), EAN (European
n Article Number>.

J AN (Japan vse Artiale Num
This invention relates to a barcode reading device that reads barcodes.

Some of the barcodes marked on conventional technical books and magazines include U.
Some have an auxiliary barcode added after the FO, EAN, and JAN codes. FIG. 2 shows an example in which an auxiliary barcode 2b is added to the JAN code 2a.

In conventional barcode reading devices, when reading a barcode in which an auxiliary barcode 2b is added to the main code, for example, JAN code 2a, the setting switch inside the barcode reader is set to the auxiliary barcode reading state. Main code 2 & auxiliary barcode 2b
It was only reading barcodes with .

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when a conventional barcode reading device is used in an environment where items with auxiliary barcodes and items without auxiliary barcodes coexist, it is difficult to read the attached codes. A problem arises in that the code that does not have ``is'' added to it cannot be read.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention provides a converter that receives reflected light from a barcode and converts the bar width information of the barcode into an electrical signal; A conversion circuit that converts a signal into numerical data corresponding to the bar width information, a memory that stores the numerical data, and a microprocessor that decodes and processes the numerical data stored in the memory,
Precisely, the microprocessor includes means for calculating the total bar width of the bars constituting the final character of the decoded barcode, and a means for calculating the sum of the bar widths of the bars constituting the final character of the decoded barcode, and a means for calculating the total bar width of the bars constituting the final character of the decoded barcode. means for calculating a total width; and means for comparing a total bar width of the final character with a total bar width of bars located at the first character position of the auxiliary barcode, and the comparison result is within a predetermined range. In this case, it is determined that an auxiliary barcode is added after the decoding barcode.

A second aspect of the present invention also provides a converter that inputs reflected light from a barcode and converts the bar width information of the barcode into an electrical signal, and converts the electrical signal into numerical data corresponding to the bar width information. It is equipped with a conversion circuit, a memory for storing the numerical data, and a microprocessor for decoding the numerical data stored in the memory, and the microprocessor is configured to determine the width of the bar constituting each character of the decoded barcode. means for calculating an average value; means for calculating a total bar width of bars located at the first character position of the auxiliary barcode following the decoding barcode; and an average value of the bar widths constituting each character and the auxiliary barcode. Barcode 1st
and means for comparing the total bar width of bars located at character positions, and if the comparison result is within a predetermined range, it is determined that an auxiliary barcode is added after the mJ decoding barcode. be.

Effects According to the first configuration of the present invention, the presence or absence of an auxiliary barcode following the main code is determined by the sum of the bar widths of the bars at the position of the first character of the auxiliary barcode and the width of the bar constituting the final character of the main code. If the comparison result is within a predetermined range, it is determined that the total sum is present.

Further, according to the configuration of the second invention, the presence or absence of an auxiliary barcode following the main code can be determined by the sum of the bar widths of the bars located at the position of the first character of the auxiliary barcode and the bar widths constituting each character of the main code. is compared with the average value of the bar widths, and if the comparison result is within a predetermined range, it is determined that the bar width is present.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 6.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a converter that inputs reflected light from a barcode and converts the bar width information of the barcode into an electrical signal. Specifically, one-dimensional C0D (Charge Cou
(ple Device) image sensor 11. Reference numeral 2 denotes a conversion circuit for converting the electric signal into numerical data corresponding to the bar width information, and specifically, it is composed of an amplifier circuit 21, a floating binarization circuit 22, and a pulse width counter 23.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a memory constituted by a memory section 31, which stores the numerical data. 4 is a microprocessor that decodes and processes the numerical data stored in the memory 3, and the timing circuit 14 is activated by instructions from the microprocessor 4.
gives a start command to the CCD image sensor 11. Further, the address control circuit 32 accesses the memory section 31 according to a command from the microprocessor 4. 13 is a light source LED for illuminating barcode reading /L/6. The reflected light from Parcode label A/6 passes through lens 12 to C.
It is input to the CD image sensor 11.

The processing flow of the first barcode reading device of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. As shown in Figures a and b, the microprocessor 4 commands the converter 1 to start scanning.
, take in the scanning result via the memory 3 (processing a),
Performs decoding processing of the main code (processing). If it cannot be deciphered, the process returns to process A and repeats the same process. If the decoding is OK, the total bar width X of the last character of the main code and the total Y of the bar width of the first character position of the auxiliary barcode are calculated (e), and the calculation results are compared (processing power). When the comparison result is within a predetermined range, in this embodiment, when the difference between the values of X and Y is within ±30 inches, the auxiliary barcode decoding process (processing key) begins. If the decoding of the auxiliary barcode is OK, the decoding results of the main code and the auxiliary barcode are processed to be sent), and the reading process is ended. If it cannot be deciphered, the process returns to process A again. When the comparison result is outside the predetermined range, in this example, the difference between the values of X and Y is ±30
% or more, the main code decoding result is transmitted (processing) and the reading process is ended. FIG. 4 shows the total sum X of the final character of the main code and the total bar width Y of the first character position of the auxiliary bar code. Figure a shows the case where there is an auxiliary barcode, and Figure 2a shows the case where there is no auxiliary barcode. In case B, the values of X and Y fall within the predetermined range, and in case b, Y does not fall within the predetermined range because it is noise from printing or the like.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show the processing flow of the second barcode reading device of the present invention. Similar to the processing flow in FIG. 3, the microprocessor 4 instructs the converter 1 to start scanning (processing a), and imports the scanning result via the memory 3 (processing b).
, performs the decoding process of the main code (processing). If it cannot be deciphered, the process returns to process A and repeats the same process.

If the decoding is OK, the average value W of the bar widths of the bars constituting each character of the main code is calculated (processed).

As shown in FIG. 6, W = (W + +W 2
Calculated from +---4-wn)/n. Wn is the sum of the bar widths of the bars constituting the n-th character. Hereinafter, similarly to FIG. 3, the total sum Y of the bar widths at the first character position of the auxiliary barcode is calculated (process (e)), and the calculation result is compared with W (process (i)). If the comparison result falls within a predetermined range, in this embodiment, when the difference between the values of W and Y is within ±3 degrees, the auxiliary barcode decoding process (processing key) begins. If the decoding of the auxiliary barcode is OK, the decoding results of the main code and the auxiliary barcode are processed to be sent), and the reading process is ended. If it cannot be deciphered, the process returns to process A again. If the comparison result is outside the predetermined range, the main code decoding result is transmitted (processing) and the reading process is ended. 6th
The figure shows a calculation method for calculating the average value W of the bar widths of the bars constituting each character of the main code. In this embodiment, w = (W, +W2+...10Wn)/8, but W is, for example, the average value of the total bar width Wn of the final character and the total bar width Wn-1 of the character immediately before it!
A similar effect can be obtained by setting = (Wn-1-1-wn1/2).

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, as described above, even when used in an environment where items with auxiliary barcodes and items without auxiliary barcodes coexist, both barcodes can be read. It has an excellent effect of making it possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a barcode reading device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode with an auxiliary barcode added, and FIGS. Flowchart showing an embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams showing an example of a barcode; FIGS. 5a and 5b are a flowchart showing an embodiment of the second invention; FIG. 6 is an example of a barcode. FIG. 1...Converter, 2...Conversion circuit, 3.
...Memory, 4...Microprocessor. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and 1 other person 2b
-Yaku B-cho〈-]-Door'' tongue, 5 Kamo No. 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) a converter that receives reflected light from a barcode and converts the bar width information of the barcode into an electrical signal; a conversion circuit that converts the electrical signal into numerical data corresponding to the bar width information; The barcode includes a memory for storing numerical data, and a microprocessor for decoding the numerical data stored in the memory, and the microprocessor is configured to calculate the sum of bar widths of bars constituting the final character of the decoded barcode. means for calculating the sum of bar widths of the bars at the first character position of the auxiliary barcode following the decoding barcode, and the sum of the bar widths of the last character and the bar at the first character position of the auxiliary barcode. means for comparing the sum of bar widths of the barcodes, and if the comparison result is within a predetermined range, it is determined that an auxiliary barcode is added after the decoding barcode. (2) a converter that receives reflected light from the barcode and converts the bar width information of the barcode into an electrical signal; a conversion circuit that converts the electrical signal into numerical data corresponding to the bar width information; The bar code includes a memory for storing numerical data, and a microprocessor for decoding the numerical data stored in the memory, and the microprocessor is configured to calculate an average value of bar widths constituting each character of the decoded barcode. means for calculating the total bar width of bars located at the first character position of the auxiliary barcode following the decoding barcode; an average value of the bar widths constituting each of the characters and the first character of the auxiliary barcode; means for comparing the sum of bar widths of bars at positions, and if the comparison result is within a predetermined range, a barcode reading device determines that an auxiliary barcode is added after the decoding barcode. .