JPH03273457A - Data collecting device and optical communication adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To favorably execute data collecting work by storing a reader unit and a data storage part in a case body, and further, providing a communicating means in the case body. CONSTITUTION:The reader unit 61 for reading a bar code and the data storage part to store data the bar code read by the reader unit 61 shows are stored in one case body 50, and thus, a whole device is integrated. Then, the delivery and the reception of the data between this device 40 and the host terminal device are attained by optical communication using a semiconductor laser light source 51 and a photodetector 57 to constitute the reader unit 61. Thus, since the data collecting device 40 is constituted into integrated structure and to be light, it is easily held by one hand, and the worability of data collection is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention is used for inventory management of products in warehouses, stocking/receiving management, etc., and uses laser light to read symbols such as characters and barcodes. The present invention relates to a data collection device that collects data and an optical communication adapter used therein.

<Prior art> Conventionally, for example, symbol reading devices such as barcode readers and optical character readers housed in a handheld housing have been used to read data stored in other portable housings via cables. Portable data collection devices are used that are connected to a processing unit. Such data collection devices are used, for example, for on-board sales on trains, and for product inventory and warehouse management in warehouses, and the data collected by this data collection device is transferred to host terminals such as relatively large computers. All data is input into a device and the computer performs various data processing.

Data is transferred to the higher-level terminal device by connecting the higher-level terminal device and the data collection device with a cable using a connector.

On the other hand, recently, devices have been used that make it easier to collect data by reading symbols by using reading devices that can read symbols without contact with a considerable distance between the device and the symbol surface. It looks like this. In this device that can read symbols in a non-contact state, the symbol surface on which the symbol is formed is scanned with a laser beam, and the reflected light from this laser beam scanning is detected by a light-receiving element such as a photodiode. Symbol readers are commonly used.

Since such devices use laser light, they can obtain a small spot even at a distant location, and can read not only nearby objects but also distant objects (with a wide reading depth).

Furthermore, since the laser beam is automatically scanned, there is no need to touch and move the tip of the cylinder unlike pen-type symbol reading devices, and unevenness or curvature of the symbol surface is not a problem, and the aim is to aim at the object to be read. This has the advantage that data collection can be easily performed simply by determining the

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In the data collection device as described above, the reading unit including the laser light source, the scanning mirror, the light receiving element, etc. is housed in one housing, and the reading unit is housed in the other housing. A data storage unit that performs processing such as data storage is housed. Therefore, when collecting data, the operator must hold the two housings separately, for example, holding the housing containing the data storage section with one hand and storing the reading device with the other hand. It was necessary to collect data while holding the casing. In this case, the operator's hands are occupied, making it impossible to collect data while performing other tasks (for example, holding a product with a symbol attached) with one hand. It is also conceivable to use a belt or a shoulder strap to hold the casing containing the data storage unit, but even in this case, the two casings would eventually be held at the same time by some means.

Furthermore, since the two housings are connected via a cable, the reading unit cannot be moved freely.
For this reason, there was a problem in that the workability of the reading operation was poor.

Furthermore, data is exchanged between the data collection device and the upper terminal device by connecting the two with a cable.
It required work to connect connectors, and the work involved in data transfer was complicated.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data collection device that can perform data collection work satisfactorily and simplify the work in data communication with equipment that processes the collected data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication adapter for data communication between the data collection device and a device that processes the collected data.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems> A data collection device according to claim 1 for achieving the above object includes a laser light source, a scanning device that scans a symbol surface on which a symbol is formed with a laser light from the laser light source. A reading unit having a light receiving means for detecting reflected light from a mirror and a symbol surface, and a data storage section storing data represented by symbols read by this reading unit are housed in one handheld housing. , Further, a communication means for modulating the laser beam in accordance with transfer data is provided within the housing.

According to such a configuration, the reading unit and the data processing section are integrated. Moreover, data communication between the device for processing the collected data is performed by modulating the laser light from the laser light source included in the reading unit using the communication means in accordance with the transferred data. There is no need to connect cables for data communication.

Further, in the data collection device according to a second aspect of the invention, the communication means modulates the laser beam only during a period in which the laser light is emitted from an aperture formed in a housing of the data collection device. In this way, data transfer is prevented from being performed during a period in which laser light is not emitted outside the housing, so data transfer can be ensured.

The data collection device according to claim 3 is characterized in that the scanning mirror comprises:
A mirror stopping means is provided for stopping the laser beam reflected by the scanning mirror at a position where it exits from the opening. According to such a configuration, the laser beam modulated in accordance with the transfer data can be reliably emitted from the opening of the housing, so that data can be transferred reliably and continuously.

The optical communication adapter according to claim 4 is an optical communication adapter used for data communication between the data collection device and a device that processes data collected by the data collection device, A fitting portion is formed into which a portion of the housing in which the opening is formed is fitted, and a modulated laser beam from the laser light source is guided through the opening, and the laser beam is diffused. The device includes a light diffusion filter, a light receiving element that receives the light diffused by the light diffusion filter, and a demodulating means that modulates the output signal of the light receiving element and provides it to the device.

With this configuration, the transfer data demodulated by the demodulation means is given to the device connected to the optical communication adapter. In addition, the light diffusion filter diffuses the laser light and transmits the light representing the transferred data, regardless of the slight misalignment between the optical path of the laser light from the laser light source and the light-receiving element of the optical communication adapter. Light can be reliably received by the light receiving element.

Furthermore, since there is a fitting part into which the opening formed in the housing of the data collection device is fitted, it is possible to eliminate the influence of noise light from the outside and to perform data transfer effectively by optical communication. can.

Further, an optical communication adapter according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a light emitting element that outputs modulated light corresponding to transfer data. This configuration allows data to be transferred from the external device to the data collection device. The modulated light from the light emitting element may be received by a light receiving means in the reading unit.

<Example> Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing examples.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data collection device 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This data collection device 4o includes a reading unit 61 for reading a barcode 53 formed on a symbol surface 54 such as the surface of a package of a product using a laser beam fl, and information represented by the barcode 53 read by the reading unit 61. A data storage unit (not shown) that performs processing such as data storage is housed in a pistol-shaped housing 50 at the same time.

The reading unit 61 includes a semiconductor laser light source 51, a collimating lens 52 for condensing the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 51 into substantially parallel light, and a bar code 53 using the laser light 11 from the collimating lens 52.
The polygon mirror 55 scans in the direction of the arrow 60 and the reflected light from the symbol surface 54! ! 2 through a condensing lens 56, and a light receiving element 57 that generates an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of received light. The polygon mirror 55 is, for example, a regular polygonal prism with each side surface serving as a deflection reflection surface, and is rotated around its axis at a constant angular velocity by a motor 59-.

In the housing 50, a grip part 5 is gripped by the operator.
0a is provided with a key input unit 65 for inputting variables and instructing various data processing, and a display unit 66 for displaying input data and the like. This display section 66 is constituted by, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The grip part 50a includes
A battery 67 is built-in for supplying power to the reading unit 6e, the data storage section, and the like. 68 is a reading lever operated by the operator when reading a barcode.

When the operator operates the reading lever 68, the polygon mirror 55 rotates, a laser beam is generated from the semiconductor laser light source 51, and the symbol surface 54 is scanned by the laser beam 11 emitted from the open lower part 0 formed in the housing 50. will be held. The reflected light 12 from the symbol surface 54 during this scanning is received by the light receiving element 57 from the open lower part 0 through the condensing lens 56. Since this light receiving element 57 generates an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light received, the barcode 53 can be read by shaping the electrical signal, discriminating the level at an appropriate slice level, and converting it into binary data. . The data represented by the read barcode 53 is stored in a memory (not shown) in the data storage unit described above, and data is thus collected by reading the barcode.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a basic configuration for transferring collected data to a host terminal device (not shown) such as a personal computer.

Data transfer is performed via an optical communication adapter 80 connected to a host terminal device via a cable. This optical communication adapter 80 has a holding portion 81 on which the data collection device 40 described above is placed and held. In this holding part 81, the tip part 50b in which the open lower part 0 is formed in the housing 50 of the data collection device 40 is mounted, and a fitting recess 83 which is a fitting part with an opening 82 formed in the bottom part is provided. It is provided.

In the vicinity of the aperture 82, a laser beam I! from the open lower portion 0 of the data acquisition device 40 is emitted. A light receiving element 85 from which l is guided through a light diffusion filter 84 is disposed, and a light emitting element 86 for transmitting data is also provided. This light emitting element 86 generates modulated light 13 corresponding to data to be transmitted, and this modulated light 13 is received by the light receiving element 57 of the data collection device 40.

With such a configuration, data transmission and reception between the host terminal device and the data collection device 40 is achieved by optical communication via the optical communication adapter 80. That is, when transmitting the data accumulated in the data collection device 40 to the host terminal device, the communication means (not shown) provided inside the data collection device 40 transmits the data by, for example, pulse-driving the semiconductor laser light source 51. , Laser light I! Modulation corresponding to the transfer data is applied to l. This modulated laser light ll is diffused by a light diffusion filter 84, and this diffused light is received by a light receiving element 85. The output signal of this light-receiving element 85 is demodulated by demodulation means (not shown) provided in the optical communication adapter 80, and this demodulated signal is given to the host terminal equipment via the cable 88.

Since the polygon mirror 55 is rotated as the laser beam ll is emitted, the laser beam I! reflected by the polygon mirror 55 is rotated. l is open only during a predetermined period from lower 0 to casing 5.
During the remaining period, the light is blocked by the inner wall surface of the housing 55.

Therefore, the laser beam fl can be received by the light receiving element 85 only during the predetermined period. Therefore, in this embodiment, a light receiving element (not shown) for receiving the laser light 11 from the polygon mirror 55 is provided in the housing 50 near one end in the scanning direction of the laser light 11 in the open lower 0. , the timing at which the laser beam il is emitted from the open lower 0 is detected. Then, based on the output of the light receiving element, the laser beam l! This laser beam I! is emitted from the open lower 0 only during the period when the laser beam I! (2) Modulation corresponding to the transferred data is applied. In this way, so to speak, data transfer is performed in multiple blocks. Data representing the beginning and end is added to each data block, and this allows a series of data to be transferred without error.

Since the polygon mirror 55 is rotated even when data is transferred by optical communication, the laser beam I! The optical path of the laser beam I! changes over time, and the light receiving element 85 is not necessarily located on the extension of the optical path. Since l is diffused, the light receiving element 85 can reliably detect this diffused light. This also means that the accuracy of the mounting position of the light-receiving element 85 does not have to be very high, which has the advantage that the configuration for mounting the light-receiving element 85 can be simplified.

The light emitting element 86 is used when data is transferred from the host terminal device to the data collection device 40. That is, when transferring some data such as a processing program to the data collection device 40, the processing program and the like are transmitted using the modulated light 13 from the light emitting element 86. This modulated light f3 is received by the light receiving element 57 of the data collecting device 40, and the communication means included in the data collecting device 140 demodulates the output signal of the light receiving element 57 and receives data.

This data is stored in the internal memory of the data storage unit. Since the light-receiving element 57 uses a high-performance one to read the barcode 53 well, the light-emitting element 86
Even if a cheap one is used, data transfer can be performed well. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tip portion 50b of the data collection device 40 is fitted into the fitting recess 83, so that the influence of noise light from the outside can be eliminated and optical communication can be performed satisfactorily.

In addition, in this example, laser light! Since there is no shielding member or the like that separates the modulated light 13 from the laser beam/
It is not possible to perform mutual communication using both light 11 and modulated light 13 at the same time, and only so-called half-duplex communication using either light 11 and modulated light 13 at the same time is possible. Simultaneous two-way communication is also possible if a shielding member is provided so that they can be distinguished.

As described above, according to the data collection device 4'-0 of this embodiment, the reading unit 61 for reading barcodes;
A data storage section for storing data represented by the barcode read by the reading unit 61 is housed in one housing 50, and the whole is integrated in this way. Data transmission and reception between this device 40 and higher-level terminal equipment is achieved by optical communication using a semiconductor laser light source 51, a light receiving element 57, etc. that constitute the reading unit 61. Therefore, since the data collection device 40 does not need to be provided with an interface for communication, the reading unit 61 and the data storage section are housed in the same housing 5 as described above.
Even if it is housed within 0, the entire structure can be made lightweight.

Therefore, the data collection device 40 has a one-piece structure and is lightweight, so it can be easily held with one hand. As a result, when collecting data, it is possible to hold one casing with one hand, thereby improving the workability of data collection. Furthermore, since the freedom of movement of the housing of the data collection device is not restricted by cables or the like, data collection by barcode reading can be performed even better.

In addition, compared to the conventional configuration in which a cable is connected with a connector and data is exchanged with the host device via this cable, there is no need to connect a connector, so data can be exchanged with the host device. The work involved in exchanging data can be simplified.

In this embodiment, in order to detect the timing at which the laser beam 11 is emitted from the open lower part 0, a light receiving element placed near one end of the open lower part 0 is used. Timing detection may also be performed. For example, when the polygon mirror 55 is composed of a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, the light generated from the light emitting element is incident on the deflection reflection surface of the polygon mirror 55, and the deflection reflection surface is directed in a predetermined direction. A reflective foot sensor is placed in which the reflected light is received by a light-receiving element.
If the predetermined direction is, for example, a direction corresponding to the rotational position of the polygon mirror 55 when the laser beam A'1 takes an optical path passing near one end of the open lower door 0, the timing at which the laser beam 11 is emitted from the opening "70" is determined. can be detected.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 59a of the motor 59 that rotationally drives the polygon mirror 55 has a cylindrical holding member in which a plurality of magnetic pieces (such as iron pieces) 90 are embedded in the circumferential surface at intervals in the layer direction. 91 is fixed. An electromagnetic bag [92 is disposed facing the circumferential surface of the holding member 91, and by energizing the electromagnetic device 92 while the polygon mirror 55 is rotating due to its inertia after the motor 59 is deenergized, The rotation of the polygon mirror 55 can be stopped by attracting the magnetic piece 9° to the electromagnet device 92. In this embodiment, the mirror stopping means includes the electromagnet device 192, the magnetic piece 90, and the like.

The buried position of the magnetic piece 90 is such that this magnetic piece 9o is in the electromagnetic bag [
92, the polygon mirror 5 is placed at a position where the laser beam 11 reflected by the deflection reflection surface 55a of the polygon mirror 55 can be emitted from the open lower 0 to the outside of the casing 50.
5 is chosen to be stopped.

With such a configuration, laser light can be generated in the same way as in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. When transmitting data by applying modulation corresponding to the data to be transferred to 1, the motor 59 is deenergized, the magnetic piece 90 is attracted to the electromagnet device 92, and the polygon mirror 55 is stopped at a predetermined rotational position. .

In this state, the laser beam I! 1 is definitely emitted from the open lower 0. Therefore, in this state, the device is loaded into the optical communication adapter 8o shown in FIG. 2, and the laser beam is emitted! If data is transferred by modulating (2), there is no need to transmit data intermittently as in the first embodiment described above, and data can be transmitted continuously. Optical communication adapter 8
0, the light diffused by the light diffusion filter 84 is guided to the light receiving element 85, so that the polygon-mirror 55
There is no need for strict f/g control of the position at which the rotation of the light receiving element 85 is stopped and the mounting position of the light receiving element 85.The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, when transferring data by stopping the rotation of the polygon mirror 55 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in the embodiment shown in FIG. However, other configurations for regulating the rotational position and stopping the polygon mirror 55 may be used. That is, it is also possible to stop the polygon mirror 55 at a predetermined rotational position by, for example, providing a rotary encoder in association with the motor 59 and controlling the rotation of the motor 59 based on the output of the rotary encoder.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, a polygon mirror is used as the scanning mirror, but other types, such as a galvano mirror, may be used. Other various design changes can be made within the scope of not changing the gist of the invention.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the data collection device of the present invention, since the reading unit and the data storage section are integrated, data collection work can be efficiently performed with one hand. That is, it is sufficient to hold one housing when collecting data. Furthermore, since no cables or the like are connected to the housing of the data collection device, its freedom of movement is not restricted, and therefore data collection work can be carried out even better. Moreover, since data transfer is performed using a laser light source or the like in which the reading unit exists, the entire structure can be made lightweight by eliminating an interface for data communication.

Further, by using the optical communication adapter of the present invention, data communication between the device that processes the collected data and the data collection device can be achieved through optical communication with the data collection device. Moreover, since it is not necessary to attach or detach the connector, the operation for data transfer can be simplified. In this optical communication adapter, light obtained by diffusing laser light from a data collection device with a light diffusion filter is guided to the light receiving element for receiving data, so the mounting precision of the light receiving element is not required to be very high. Furthermore, even when the optical path of the laser beam changes over time, the light representing the transferred data can be reliably received by the light receiving element.

Furthermore, when the optical communication adapter is provided with a light emitting element for data transmission and data is transferred from an external device to a data collection device, the modulated light from the light emitting element is used as a symbol in the reading unit of the data collection device. The light can be received by the light receiving means for reading, and no new configuration is required in the data collection device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of a data collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the configuration for data transfer, and FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a part of the data collection device of FIG. 40... Data collection device, 50... Housing, 51...
- Semiconductor laser light source, 54... Symbol surface, 55... Polygon mirror (scanning mirror), 57... Light receiving element (light receiving means), 61... Reading unit, 70... Aperture,
80... Optical communication adapter, 83... Fitting recess (fitting part), 84... Light diffusion filter, 85... Light receiving element, 86... Light emitting element, 90... Magnetic piece , 92...
Electromagnetic device (mirror stopping means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit having a laser light source, a scanning mirror for scanning a symbol surface on which a symbol is formed with a laser beam from the laser light source, and a light receiving means for detecting reflected light from the symbol surface; A data storage unit that stores data represented by symbols read by the unit is housed in a single handheld housing, and a communication means that modulates the laser beam in accordance with the transferred data is further provided within the housing. A data collection device characterized by: 2. An aperture is formed in the housing to emit a laser beam and guide reflected light from the symbol surface to the light receiving means, and the communication means emits the laser beam only during the period when the laser beam is emitted from the aperture. 2. The data collection device according to claim 1, wherein the data collection device modulates the light. 3. The data collection device according to claim 1, further comprising mirror stopping means for stopping the scanning mirror at a position where the laser beam reflected by the scanning mirror exits from the opening. 4. An optical communication adapter used for data communication between the data collection device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 and a device that processes data collected by the data collection device, comprising: A fitting portion is formed into which a portion of the housing in which the opening is formed is fitted, and a modulated laser beam from the laser light source is guided through the opening, and the laser beam is diffused. An optical communication adapter comprising: a light diffusion filter; a light receiving element that receives light diffused by the light diffusion filter; and demodulating means for demodulating the output signal of the light receiving element and providing it to the device. . 5. The optical communication adapter according to claim 4, further comprising a light emitting element that outputs modulated light corresponding to the transferred data.