JPH02280287A - Bar code signal generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely and stably input a bar code even when it is a long bar code by converting an inputted data string into a bar code pattern according to a prescribed encoding method, and emitting light and flashing it with the similar time ratio as that of the bar code pattern. CONSTITUTION:A bar code conversion circuit 13 converts data inputted from a data input circuit 14 into the bar code, and a LED driving circuit 12 converts the bar code into a control signal for the flashing of a LED 11 by developing the output of the bar code conversion circuit 13 in a time base. Therefore, a bar code reader 15 recognizes the light emission signal of the LED 11 as a bar code signal, and reads bar code information. Thereby, the bar code information can be acquired only by pressing the LED 11 with the bar code reader 15, and since no change occurs in speed due to manual input, even lengthy bar code information can be stably inputted.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention is intended to be used in combination with a barcode reading device (hereinafter referred to as barcode reader) used in a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR). This invention relates to a barcode signal generating device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 5 is a front view showing how programs are reserved using bar codes on a conventional VTR. 1 is a VTR that allows program reservations using bar codes; 2 is a wireless bar code reader;
3 is barcode information provided by printed materials such as television magazines.

Conventionally, the barcode information 3 is provided in advance as printed on paper, etc., and this printed barcode information 3
By tracing the barcode information 3 with the barcode reader 2, the barcode information 3 is transmitted to the VTRI, and operations such as program reservation can be performed on the VTRI. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the barcode reader 2, in which the light emitting diode 6
The light emitted from 1 passes through the light guide 62 and enters the lens 63.
The perbood information 64, which is a black and white striped pattern, is irradiated with the light, and the reflected light is similarly input from the lens 63 through the light guide 82 to the phototransistor 65. The phototransistor 66 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the input light to the transmitting circuit 6, and the transmitting circuit 66 converts the input electrical signal into a transmission signal such as infrared rays and transmits it to the light receiving section of the VTR.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when providing barcode information to a device having a barcode input device with the above configuration, there is a drawback that barcodes must be printed on all printed matter. be. Also, barcodes with different encoding methods could not be read. Furthermore, in order to input barcode information, it is necessary to accurately trace the printed barcode, so reading long barcodes has problems such as a lack of stability in principle. .

In view of the above, the present invention provides a light emitting means that emits light at the same time ratio as the barcode pattern, or a display device capable of changing light reflectance or light transmittance at the same time ratio as the barcode pattern. To provide a barcode signal generating device which displays a barcode pattern together with information such as characters on a screen, and allows the barcode to be input by simply placing a barcode input device thereon.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 of the present application provides a data input means for inputting a data string, and a data string manually inputted from the data input means to be encoded into a predetermined code. The present invention comprises a barcode conversion means for converting into a barcode pattern using a method, and a light emitting means that emits light at the same time ratio as the barcode pattern. It is equipped with a transmitting means that can change the light transmittance or the light reflectance at the same time ratio as the pattern.

Further, the invention of claim 4 of the present application includes a data input means for inputting a character data string and a barcode data string, and a data input means that separates the data string inputted from the data input means into a character data string and a barcode data string. a barcode converting means for converting barcode data into a barcode pattern according to a predetermined encoding method; a display for displaying characters or symbols by changing light reflectance or light transmittance; and the barcode converting means. The present invention is characterized by comprising barcode display means for simultaneously displaying character information and a barcode pattern on the display according to the output.

Effects The present invention has the above-described configuration so that barcode information is generated by inputting data from the data input means, and by changing the conversion means of the barcode conversion means, a barcode reading device with different encoding methods can be obtained. It can also correspond to

Further, even long barcode signals can be input stably with the barcode reading device fixed at a predetermined position without manual sweeping.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a bar code signal generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED), 12 is an LED driving circuit, 13 is a barcode conversion circuit, 14 is a data input circuit, and 15 is a conventional barcode reader.

The operation of the bar code signal generating device of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below.

The barcode conversion circuit 13 converts the data input from the data input circuit 14 into a barcode, and the LED drive circuit 12 develops the output of the barcode conversion circuit 13 on a time axis and controls the blinking of the LED II. Convert to signal. Therefore, the barcode reader 15 recognizes the light emission signal of the LED 11 as a barcode signal and reads the barcode information.

As described above, according to this embodiment, barcode information can be input simply by pressing the top of the LED II with the barcode reader 15, so there is no need to trace the surface of the barcode as in the past. . Furthermore, since there is no change in speed that occurs due to manual input as in the past, it becomes possible to stably input even long barcode information, which was difficult in the past. It goes without saying that by changing the contents of the barcode conversion circuit, it is possible to handle barcodes with different encoding methods.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a barcode signal generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 21 is a liquid crystal shutter that changes the transmittance of light according to an electric signal. 22 is a liquid crystal shutter 21.
23 is a liquid crystal shutter control circuit, and 24゜25.28 is a barcode conversion circuit, a data input circuit, and a conventional barcode reader, respectively, as in the first embodiment. It is.

The operation of the barcode signal generating device of this embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

The barcode conversion circuit 24 converts the data input from the data input circuit 25 into a barcode, and the liquid crystal shutter control circuit 23 expands the output of the barcode conversion circuit 24 on a time axis to open and close the liquid crystal shutter 21. Convert to control signal for.

When the liquid crystal shutter 21 is open, the light from the barcode reader 26 passes through the liquid crystal shutter 21, is reflected by the reflector 22, and returns, but on the other hand, when the liquid crystal shutter 21 is closed, the light from the barcode reader 26 passes through the liquid crystal Since the light is absorbed by the shutter 21, almost no light is reflected.

That is, since the liquid crystal shutter 21 can be electrically opened and closed according to the output of the barcode conversion circuit 24, the liquid crystal shutter 21 can be opened and closed in the same manner as a predetermined barcode pattern.
1, the barcode reader 26 can recognize this as a barcode signal and read the barcode information.

As described above, according to this embodiment, barcode information can be input simply by pressing the top of the liquid crystal shutter with the barcode input device, so there is no need to trace the surface of the barcode as before. . Furthermore, since there is no change in speed that occurs due to manual input as in the past, it is possible to stably input even long barcode information, which was difficult to do manually in the past.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a barcode signal generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, numeral 31 denotes a data input means for reading a data string, which includes a floppy disk 32 on which programs and data are recorded, and a floppy disk reader 3 for reading data from the floppy disk 32.
It is composed of 3.

34 is a barcode converting means for converting the input data string by the data inputting means 31 into a predetermined barcode pattern;
It is composed of a central processing unit 35 that processes data and a program memory 36. Reference numeral 37 denotes barcode display means for converting a barcode pattern into a displayable signal, and is comprised of a graphic memory 38 and a video signal conversion circuit 39. 3
10 is a display device that actually displays the barcode pattern;
For example, it is a liquid crystal display device. 311 is a barcode reader, and 312 is a VTR capable of inputting barcodes.

The operation of the barcode signal generating device of this embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

The floppy disk 32 has character data and barcode data related to program reservation information recorded in advance, and the floppy disk reader 33 reads the data from the floppy disk 32 and sends it to the central processing unit 35. The character data of the input data string sent from the data input means 31 is converted into predetermined character data according to the program procedure of the program memory 36, which is stored in the graphic memory 38.
The barcode data is converted into a predetermined barcode pattern and similarly written to the graphic memory 38. The video signal conversion circuit 39 sequentially reads character information and barcode patterns written in the graphic memory 38 and converts them into signals that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 310 and outputs the signals. It will display the output. In other words, the information written in the graphic memory is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 310. and,
LCD display device 310 with barcode reader 311
A barcode pattern is displayed (transmitted) by changing the reflectance or transmittance of light in a specific area of , that is, a part of the liquid crystal display device 310 at the same time ratio as the barcode pattern, as in the second embodiment. The VTR 312 can receive the signal sent from the barcode reader 311 and make a program reservation by instructing the barcode reader 311 to perform barcode detection and transmitting program reservation information to the VTR 312.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of the liquid crystal display device 310 in FIG. 3.

As described above, according to this embodiment, there is a device that reads a floppy disk as a data input means for inputting character data and barcode data, and a device that reads data read out according to a program procedure recorded in advance in a program memory and converts the data into character data. is a central processing unit that converts the barcode data into a predetermined barcode pattern as characters and delivers it to a display means consisting of a graphic memory and a video signal conversion circuit, and a central processing unit that converts the output of the display means into a predetermined barcode pattern, and converts the output of the display means into a predetermined barcode pattern. By providing a liquid crystal display device that displays (transmits) characters and barcode patterns using changes in the barcode, it is possible to simultaneously display character information and barcode information that can be read by a barcode reader. .

Also, the program memory 36 of the barcode conversion means 34
By changing the program, it is possible to support barcode reading devices using different encoding methods.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, any barcode can be expressed by changing the input data string, and any barcode can be expressed by changing the program of the barcode conversion means. Since it can be displayed even on the hood, it can be used for any device that has a barcode input device.

In addition, with conventional barcode input using manual sweep, stable input becomes difficult when the barcode becomes long, but with the barcode signal generator of the present invention, the barcode input device is fixed at a predetermined position on the barcode signal generator. Since there is no need to move the barcode, it is possible to input long barcodes reliably and stably, which has a great practical effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a barcode signal generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a barcode signal generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a barcode signal generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of a liquid crystal display device 310 showing a display example, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing a conventional bar code signal input state. , FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional per-food reader. 11... Light emitting diode, 12... Light emitting diode control circuit, 13.24... Barcode conversion circuit, 14.25... Data input circuit, 21...
Liquid crystal shutter shutter 122...Reflector, 93...Liquid crystal shutter control circuit, 31...Data input means, 34...Barcode conversion means, 37...Barcode display means, 310...Liquid crystal display device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) a data input means for inputting a data string; a barcode conversion means for converting the data string inputted from the data input means into a barcode pattern according to a predetermined encoding method; and a barcode pattern similar to the barcode pattern. A barcode signal generating device comprising: a light emitting means that flashes light at a time ratio of . (2) a data input means for inputting a data string; a barcode conversion means for converting the data string inputted from the data input means into a barcode pattern according to a predetermined encoding method; and a barcode pattern similar to the barcode pattern. 1. A barcode signal generating device comprising: transmitting means for changing light transmittance or light reflectance at a time ratio of . (3) The barcode signal generating device according to claim 2, wherein a liquid crystal shutter is used as the transmitting means. (4) a data input means for inputting a character data string and a barcode data string; and a data input means that separates the data string inputted from the data input means into a character data string and a barcode data string, and converts the barcode data into a predetermined code. a barcode converting means for converting into a barcode pattern according to a conversion method; a display for displaying characters or symbols by changing light reflectance or light transmittance; and a display for displaying characters or symbols on the display according to the output of the barcode converting means. A barcode signal generating device comprising barcode display means for simultaneously displaying information and a barcode pattern. (5) The bar code signal generating device according to claim 4, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.