JPH0262681A - Code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain high-speed processing by obtaining timing for inputting data from an infrared ray receiving element group to a mode converting part by color information detected by a color light receiving element group and processed by an arithmetic processing part and deciding a code based on the output of a linear light receiving element. CONSTITUTION:When a fetched signal from the arithmetic processing part is inputted to a gate part, the output of an infrared ray receiving element group A is taken through an amplifier and the gate part into a buffer group provided in the mode converting part. The mode converting part is a circuit to decide to which light receiving element the signal is outputted in the infrared ray receiving element group A having a different spectral characteristic rise frequency. Namely, when the outputs of many light receiving elements a1, a2,..., an having spectral characteristics are taken in the buffer group of the mode converting part, it can be discriminated in which degree of frequency domain either the reflection or the transmission characteristic rise frequency of an infrared display part in a color code display body exists based on the signal level, and as the result, contents displayed by the infrared display part in the color code display body can be read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a code reader, and is particularly applicable to a field where information has been conventionally transmitted using coated information such as a barcode display, such as a production line. process management,
The present invention relates to a code reader suitable for use at supermarket cash registers, etc.

[Prior Art] Most code readers that have been used in the past are intended for monochrome barcode displays. In order to increase the amount of information, the coat is made in multiple colors.

However, the color code reader that reads the color code display detects the three primary colors or the near-infrared region contained in the printing paint, calculates the ratio of the three primary colors, and compares the results. Therefore, it has not been able to support high-speed processing at production sites.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The technical problem of the present invention is the invention or the problem to be solved by the inventor or by a separate proposal.
: J-94500), that is, overlapped with or close to the required number of arranged color display parts, and made to correspond to the color of the color display parts,
For each color, we use a color code display body that has an infrared display section with reflection or transmission characteristics in the near-infrared region or infrared region, which is displayed at two frequencies or with different materials, thereby transmitting information. To provide a coat sorter which can be used when recording color codes at high speed by a method different from that of conventional color harcoat reaters.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the coat sorter of the present invention targets a color code display body having the above-mentioned color display part and infrared display part, and has a color code display body having a color display part and an infrared display part, respectively. A group of infrared light-receiving elements having different rising frequencies in the outer region and a color light-receiving element group for detecting color information elements are arranged in parallel or in series, and the color light-receiving element group is obtained based on the output thereof. A threshold value is set for the color information value, and ``when the color information value is larger than the threshold value, the output of the infrared light receiving element group is connected to an arithmetic processing section that generates an acquisition signal for inputting the output to the mode conversion section; In the external light receiving element group,
It is constructed by connecting a conversion processing section that performs color determination according to the signal level taken in based on the L taken-in signal.

[Function] A color code display consisting of a color display section and an infrared display section provided corresponding to the color display section is targeted, and is detected by a group of color light receiving elements and processed by an arithmetic processing section. Based on the color information obtained, the data input from the infrared light receiving element group to the mode conversion unit is timed, and the coat judgment is performed based on the output of the line type light receiving element, which enables high-speed processing of color judgment. It comes.

Further, by using such a color code system, the displayed contents can be easily recognized by machines such as coat sorters and by the general public.

[Example] The coat sorter of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 reads a color code display separately proposed by the present inventor.

This separately proposed color code display body displays a required number of color display parts colored in appropriate colors in an array, overlaps or is close to these color display parts, and makes each color correspond to the color of the color display part. In particular, an infrared display section is provided in which the display is made of materials with different rise frequencies of reflection or transmission characteristics in the near-infrared region or infrared region.

In order to read such a color code display, the coat sorter is equipped with a stingy L in the near-infrared region or infrared region, as shown in FIG. 1(a) or (b), respectively.
Infrared receiving element group A with different frequencies (a, , a,
,...-, an) and, for example, r (red) g (green), b
Color light receiving element groups B (b+, bz, b:+) for detecting color information elements of the three primary colors (blue) are arranged in parallel or in 17 columns. The same figure (a) shows the output of the color light receiving element group B when the coat sorter moves. This is an example in which they are arranged in parallel so that the first input is input first. Also, the same figure (b
) is an example in which both light-receiving element groups are arranged in series so that the light is input from the two light-receiving element groups A and B at the same time.

An example of the spectral sensitivity characteristics of these photodetector groups is shown in Figure 2.
As shown in the figure, the spectral characteristics of the infrared light-receiving element group A are sensitive to near-infrared light or infrared light, and the spectral characteristics of the color light-receiving element group B are sensitive to visible light. Color light receiving element group B (b
+, bt, bz) are usually given spectral characteristics with a peak value on the side corresponding to the tristimulus m value, or each of the tristimulus values is made to correspond to one of the light receiving elements b+, bt, b3. There is no problem. In short, the three primary color component elements +g+
It is sufficient to obtain a signal corresponding to b. In addition, the number of infrared receiving element group A should be such that there is no particular limit or the processing speed of color judgment described below will not be affected. be.

FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of a coat reader that reads a C color code based on an L infrared light receiving element group A and a color light receiving element group B. In the same figure, one circuit configuration is shown as a hardware block diagram, or one
It can be configured with a microcontroller on a chip or processed by software.

In the codeleater shown in Fig. 3, color light receiving element group B has an amplifier including a photocurrent-voltage conversion circuit connected thereto, and necessary calculations are performed based on the output of the amplifier.
An arithmetic processing unit including a calculation unit and a comparison unit for processing the output of the arithmetic unit is connected. The arithmetic unit connected to the amplifier calculates the color information value, that is, the sum total (C=
r+g+b) and their respective ratios (r/c, g/c.

b/c), the information values necessary for color recognition are calculated. Also 1, J:2 four color information...
The value comparison unit manually calculates and sets vR values for those color information values through experiments, etc., compares the input color information values with those threshold values, and determines whether the color information value is the threshold value or not. Only when the value is larger than that, a clock is generated as an acquisition signal for inputting the output of the infrared light receiving element group A into a mode converter described below.

The comparison section may have a configuration as shown in detail in FIG. 4. In the figure, three ratios (r/c, g
/c, b/c) is compared with a threshold value in a comparator circuit, and when the signal is larger than the threshold value, the comparison result digital signal is input to an OR circuit, and this O
The R circuit outputs a high signal level when any of the comparison circuits has an output. Further, the output of the OR circuit and the output of the comparison circuit of the signal of the sum of the primary color components (c=r+g+b) are input to an AND circuit, and the output of the AND circuit is input to the monomulti. As a result, when both inputs to the AND circuit are at a high signal level, a captured signal is output from the monomulti to the conversion processing section described below.

This capture signal is a signal that is output for a certain period of time when an information value necessary for color recognition is detected in the color light receiving element group B. The timing d of the signal and the width of the signal are determined by experimental values. It can be decided.

On the other hand, the infrared light receiving element group A includes an amplifier including a photocurrent-to-voltage conversion circuit, a gate section into which the above-mentioned captured signal is manually input, and a mode conversion that performs color judgment according to the signal level captured through the gate section. A conversion processing section with a section is connected.

In this conversion processing section, when the input signal from the arithmetic processing section is input to the gate section, it is sent to the output of the infrared light receiving element group A or to the buffer group provided in the mode conversion section via the amplifier and gate section. It is captured.

The mode converter is a circuit that determines to which light receiving element the signal is output in the infrared light receiving element group A whose spectral characteristics have different rise frequencies as shown in the second UA. That is, when the outputs of a large number of light-receiving elements alrai+..., an having the spectral characteristics shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to read the content displayed by the infrared display section of the color code display body.

In this way, the color code display, which consists of a color display section displayed in color and an infrared display section provided corresponding to the color display section, is detected by the two-color light-receiving element group and arithmetic processing is performed. The color information processed in the
By adjusting the timing of data input from the infrared light receiving element group to the mode conversion unit and performing code judgment based on the output of the line type light receiving element, color judgment can be made much faster than conventional methods. I can do something.

In addition, by matching the rising frequency of the reflection or transmission characteristics of the color display part of the color code display part and the rising frequency of the reflection or transmission characteristic of the infrared display part, the content displayed by the color code display body can be seen not only by code readers but also by, for example, supermarkets. It can be easily judged and understood by ordinary people who work as cashiers etc.

In order to improve the reliability of reading the color code display, the above-mentioned code reader irradiates the display with near-infrared light or infrared light and collects the reflected light with a lens.
Fv'I! : It is possible to let light enter the child group.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the code reader of the present invention, which will be described in detail below, it is possible not only to speed up the reading process, but also to speed up the reading process, compared to already proposed color code readers that directly read the colors on the color code display body. The color code itself is not easily affected by noise such as external light and can be read with high reliability.Also, the color code itself allows many types of information to be stored in a small area by using color, and is easy to read by code readers and specialists. This makes it possible to display the content in a way that is easily understandable even by people who have no prior knowledge, making it easier to apply it to logistics and FA production lines.

Furthermore, since light in the near-infrared and infrared regions is used, information that needs to be kept confidential can be displayed on the color code display.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(a) and 1(b) are illustrations of the arrangement state of the infrared light receiving element group A and the color light receiving element group B in the code reader according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the above-mentioned light receiving element group A,
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the code reader according to the present invention, and FIG. A: Infrared light receiving element group, B: Color light receiving element group, al+82+...ran - Infrared light receiving element. ')I+b2. b3...Color light receiving element. Mysterious school

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Overlapping or close to the required number of arranged color display parts, corresponding to the color of the color display parts,
A code for reading a color code display body equipped with an infrared display section made of a material with a different rising frequency of reflection or transmission characteristics in the near-infrared region or infrared region for each color. In the reader, a group of infrared light receiving elements having different rising frequencies in the near-infrared region or infrared region, and a group of color light receiving elements for detecting color information elements are arranged in parallel or in series, and the above-mentioned color A capture signal for setting a threshold value for the color information value obtained based on the output of the light receiving element group, and capturing the output of the infrared light receiving element group into the mode converter when the color information value is larger than the threshold value. A code reader characterized in that: the code reader is connected to an arithmetic processing unit that generates an infrared light receiving element; and a conversion processing unit that determines a color according to a signal level captured based on the captured signal is connected to the infrared light receiving element group.