JPH0380388A - Bar code reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve reading efficiency by recognizing first and second block data as a series of bar code data when the first block data is read again within prescribed time with a timer means after reading the second block data. CONSTITUTION:Even when the data of the first block is read and the data of the second block is read after the lapse of the prescribed time, the data of the second block is preserved with a block data holding means 8, and third data to be read next is awaited. When the third data exists within the prescribed time T2 after reading the data and is the same data as the one of the first block, it is judged that the data of the second block sandwiched between the data of the first block and that of the third block is the one in the same bar code as that of the first block, and the data of the first and second blocks are recognized as a series of bar code data. In such a way, the regulation of a time interval for the recognition of the data as a series of bar codes can be performed flexibly, which improves operability.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Table of Contents] Overview Industrial Application Fields Prior Art (Figures 4 to 6) Means for Solving the Problems to be Solved by the Invention (Figure 1) Working Examples (Figures 2 and 3) Effects of the invention [Summary] Regarding the barcode reading method, it is now possible to confirm that it is a series of barcode data even after a predetermined period of time has passed after one barcode block is read. This bar code is configured to improve the reading efficiency of bar code data by scanning a bar code having bar blocks with a light beam and converting the bar code data obtained by a bar code data generation means into a series of bar code data. In the code reading method, means for holding first block data and second block data;
It comprises timer means for measuring at least two predetermined times, and when the first block data is read and the second block data is read after the first predetermined time by the timer means has elapsed, these data is held in the holding means, and when the first block data is read again within a second predetermined time by the timer means after reading the second block data,
The first block data and the second block data are configured to be recognized as a series of barcode data.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a barcode reading method.

In recent years, the use of barcodes has become popular, as exemplified by POS systems in the distribution industry, and from the perspective of improving productivity, there is a growing need for barcode reading devices that are easier to operate. There is.

Standards for barcodes are determined by the JIS, but they are generally divided into multiple blocks, and each block is read separately and combined to form a series of barcode data. Therefore, it is necessary to verify that the separately read block data is part of a series of barcode data.

In particular, due to the need to expand the range of barcode usage, two-stage barcodes, that is, barcodes consisting of four blocks, have recently been tested. It has a lot to do with operability (operability).

[Conventional technology]

Before explaining the conventional reading method, the structure of a barcode will be briefly explained.

FIG. 5 shows a typical barcode.

In FIG. 5, 51 is a left block and 52 is a right block, which constitute blocks on the left and right sides of the barcode, respectively, with the center bar 53 of 5 modules as a boundary. , 54 is the left guard bar and 55 is the right guard bar.
, each consisting of three modules.

S6 is a portion representing the data characters of the left block, and 57 is a portion representing the data characters of the right block. The l data character is made up of 7 modules, which are combinations of a total of 7 white or black bars, and the numbers 0 to 9 are represented by the characters consisting of this particular combination. Further, even parity and odd parity are determined by the even/odd times the sum of the widths of the black bars of the module width, and odd parity and even parity codes are assigned to each number O to 9.

The left block is made up of characters including odd parity and even parity, and the right block is made up only of odd parity characters.

Since the data character configurations of the right and left blocks are different in this way, it is possible to determine whether the data belongs to the right block or the left block by verifying the read data. can.

In order to expand the range of use of barcodes, a two-stage barcode as shown in FIG. 6 has been established. This barcode has a two-stage structure instead of the one-stage barcode shown in FIG. 5, and in the end, the barcode is composed of four blocks.

A conventional barcode reading method will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 4.

The barcode is read using multiple beams A, which are read beams several times, as shown in FIG.

B, C, D, etc. are read out. Then, the results of reading by a plurality of beams are integrated and recognized as one barcode data. That is, in the case shown in FIG. 5, the left block is read by beam A, beam B1, and beam D, and the right block is read by beam C.
Combine the data from the left block with the data from the right block.

In the conventional example, a predetermined time is defined from when the first block is read to when the second block is read, and only when the second block is read within that time, a series of barcodes is read. It is said that it is. This prevents data from completely different barcodes from being combined into a series of barcode data.

To explain this point in more detail with reference to FIG. 4, even if reading by beam B is performed within a predetermined time after reading by beam A, reading by beam will also result in left blocks (L and B). , and not a series of barcodes.

Then, the next beam C moves the right block (R-B
) even if reading is performed, if reading by beam C is performed for a predetermined time T1, it is determined that the data by beam C forms a series of barcode data with the data by the previous beams A, B. Instead, the data from beam C is discarded at that point.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional example described above, even if the first block is read and then the second block is read, a predetermined time or more elapses between reading the first block and reading the second block. If this happens, the barcode data will not be recognized as a series of barcode data and will be treated as a reading failure.

The present invention has been made in view of these points,
In the case of a series of barcode data, even if a predetermined time elapses between reading the first and second blocks, if the same data as the previous one is read within the predetermined time next time. , the purpose is to provide a more flexible barcode reading method that does not treat reading failures.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 shows a principle diagram of the barcode reading method of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a barcode data generation means, 5 is a timer means for measuring the predetermined time TI and T2, and 8 is for holding the data of the first block and the data of the second block. holding means 4 determines whether the data block obtained by the barcode data generating means 1 belongs to the left block or the right block;
Furthermore, it is a control section for controlling each of the above-mentioned parts.

[Effect]

Data 1 of the first block is read and a predetermined time T1
Even if data 2 of the second block is read after the elapsed time,
Instead of discarding data 2 as in the past, it is stored in the block data holding means 8 and waits for the third data to be read next. If there is, and it is the same data as data 1, data 2 sandwiched between data 1 and data 3 will be judged as data in the same barcode as data 1, and data 2 will be read next. (It is determined that the data is not obtained by beam scanning the barcode.)
, recognizes data 1 and data 2 as a series of barcode data. As a result, the time interval for recognizing a series of barcodes can be flexibly defined, and the operability can be improved.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers, so a detailed explanation of those parts will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the barcode data generation means 1 includes a photoelectric conversion unit 1a that receives reflected light from a barcode scanned by a light beam, and an A/D that receives the output of the photoelectric conversion unit 1a and converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The converting unit 1b is composed of a demodulating unit IC that receives the output of the A/D converting unit 1b and converts it into numerical data, and the control unit 4 is connected to the block detecting unit 42, and the human data is the first (or second) block data. A left/right determining unit 43 that determines whether the left block is the left block or the right block is the second (or first) block data; a comparison determining unit 44 that compares and determines whether the data in the memory and the input data are the same;
A write control section 45 controls writing to the memories 8a and 8b, which are block data holding means, a succession control section 46 controls reading from the memories 8a and 8b, and a serialization control section 46 which combines the right block data and the left block data and writes them sequentially. A control section 47 for obtaining barcode data of In addition to the two timers 5a and 5b, a third timer 50 for measuring a predetermined time T3 is provided for the second embodiment. Note that the block detection section 42, the left/right determination section 43, the comparison section 44, and the alignment section 47 are used as conventional technology, and in FIG. 0, the functions are achieved by a processor and a program that operates it.
Control right memory 8a and left memory 8b? Although it is written in the i1 section 4 block, it is actually an external memory. Although three timers are provided in FIG. 2 as described above, it goes without saying that two timers may also be used.

In FIG. 2, line segments marked with → indicate the flow of data, and line segments marked with - indicate the flow of control signals.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

First, the operation of the first embodiment in which two timers are provided will be explained. Beam A, beam B, and beam C in Figure 3
The five beams D correspond to beams A1, B1, C, and D in FIG. 5, respectively.

When the beam scans the barcode, the reflected light is converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric converter 1a,
The signal is sent to the control section 4 via the D conversion section 1b and the demodulation section 1c. The demodulation section 1c discriminates the data by block and sends it to the control section 4, but the professional/tsuku detection section 42 in the 1116 section 4 receives this data and sends a block detection signal to the central control section 41.

The central control unit 41 receives this block detection signal and operates the timer 53. At the same time, the left and right determining section 43
Determine whether this block data belongs to the right block or the left block, and write the data according to the result M? 11 section 45 to the right or left memory 8a or 8b.

Next, when data from the beam B enters the control section 4 in the same manner as described above, the block detection section 42 transmits the input of this block data to the central control section 41. When this beam B scans the barcode within a predetermined time T1 and the read data is input to the control unit 4, the central control unit 4
1, and the central control unit 41 receives the determination result from the comparison determination unit 44 that the block data is the same as the previously read block data, and resets the timer 53 and restarts it. In this case, since the data read by beam B is the same left block data as the data by beam A, the data in the left memory 8b is held as is under the control of the central control unit 41.

When the data of the right block by beam C is input to the forcing unit 4 after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the input of beam B, the central control unit 41 determines that T1 has elapsed due to the time-over signal from the timer 53. I am aware of this.
Although it is data after 1 lapse of time, this data is temporarily held in the right memory 8a without being stored.Then, the timer T2 is started under the control of the central control unit 4.Then, the next data input is performed as it is. will have to wait.

(Note that, after the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, when scanning is performed with the beam C' instead of the beam C as described above and the data of the left block is input to the control unit 4, the central control unit 41
The activation of the timer T2 is suspended until the data of the right block is input without starting the timer T2. ) The data by the next beam D is manually input within a second predetermined time T2 (this time T2 is recognized by the central control unit 41) after the data is read by the beam C, and
If the comparison/judgment unit 44 determines that the data from this beam D is the same as the previously read left block data, the data in the left memory 8b and the data previously stored in the right memory 8a are synthesized as a series of barcode data by the synthesis section 47 and recognized. Beam D
If the data by the beam D' is determined to be the right block, the data in the memories 8a and 8b is not adopted under the control of the central control unit 41.

However, if it is within the second predetermined time T2, beam scanning is continued and data reading continues until the same data as the previously read left block data is obtained.

The operation at this time will be explained. When the data from the beam D enters the left/right determining section 43 and is determined to be data for the left block, the central control section 4 confirms that the data is within the predetermined time T2 and controls the successive control section 46. However, even if the data in the left memory 8b is read out, the data remains in the memory 8b. ), and sends this to the comparison/judgment section 44. On the other hand, the data from the beam D that has just been read is sent to the comparison/judgment section 44, so it compares the two,
It will be determined whether they are the same.

Upon receiving the signal indicating that they are the same from the comparison/determination section 44, the central control section 41 controls the readout control section 46 to read the left memory 8b.
, sequentially reads data from the right memory 8a and sends it to the synthesis section 47. The output of the synthesis section 47 is recognized as a series of barcode data.

If the comparison/determination unit 44 determines that the data are not the same, beam scanning is performed until the time T2 is exceeded, reading of the data is continued until identical data is obtained, and the data is sent to the synthesis unit 47 in the same manner as in the above-mentioned operation. If the time T2 is exceeded without obtaining non-identical data, the data reading ends and the data in the memories 8a and 8b is not adopted under the control of the control unit 41. Note that when the left vermicelli block data is read within the predetermined time Tl, it is synthesized in the same manner as described above, and a modulus 10 check is performed using the check digit. If the check result is "positive", the data is checked by beam scanning. The reading ends, but if the check result is "no", if the time T1 has not elapsed, beam scanning continues reading the data, and the above-mentioned operations, that is, storing the data in the memories 8a and 8b, and performs subsequent operations including temporarily holding read data after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed, determining the identity of read data within a second predetermined time T2 and data that has already been read, and combining.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment using the timer 5c that measures the third predetermined time T3 will be described.

The operation in this case is essentially the same as in the first embodiment described above, but from the time when data is read by beam B to the time when data is read by beam C,
A third predetermined time T3 is set in advance. That is,
When the timer 5a times out, the central control unit 41 starts the timer 5c, and only when the read data by the beam C is within a predetermined time T3, the data by the beam C is stored in the memories 8a and 8b under the control of the central control unit 41. Let me remember,
If the data is read after T3 has elapsed, the data read so far is canceled and the reading is deemed to have failed, and under the control of the central control unit 41, a display to that effect (not shown) is displayed and the operation is performed again (
reading). Note that the beam C within the predetermined time T3.
After the data obtained is stored in the memory 8a or 8b, the data is read by the beam D in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

In other words, when the block detection section 42 notifies the central control section 41 of the detection of read block data by the beam C, the central control section 41 starts the timer 5b and
If the same left block data as the left block data that has already been read into the memories 8a and 8b is read into the memories 8a and 8b,
The right and left block data are combined as a series of barcode data as described above. In the above two embodiments, after synthesis in the synthesis section 49, the modulus is 10 by the check digit.
A check is performed to determine whether the synthesized data is correct or not.
If it is correct, it will be sent to the POS system, and if it is not, it will be sent to the POS system.
Not sent to the system.

The above explanation is for a - stage barcode, but it is clear that the same operation can be performed for a two stage barcode as well, and in this case four blocks (these four) Identification of whether the lock belongs to the first bar code or the second bar code can be made using a conventional technique. ), further reading flexibility can be expected.

In the above embodiment, the predetermined time T1 is about 300ξ seconds, T2 is about 200 milliseconds, and T3 is about 200ξ seconds, but it goes without saying that the predetermined time is not limited to these and can be freely selected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the time interval between blocks to be read is flexibly defined, it is possible to absorb differences in block acquisition time due to operator operations and improve operability.

This is particularly effective in the case of barcodes that have four blocks in a two-stage configuration. In other words, in the conventional method, when only three blocks are read in the case of a two-stage block, and the reading of the remaining one block is delayed, the read data of the first three blocks is discarded, but with the present invention, this problem can be avoided. It can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the present invention in detail, and Fig. 4 is a diagram explaining the conventional operation. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode and its reading, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a two-stage barcode V. 1--Barcode generation means 4-Control unit 5--Timer means 8--Block data holding means Fig. 1 Mitsuaki Honse's movement A4 voice 1 Fig. 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a barcode reading method in which a barcode having bar blocks is scanned with a light beam and barcode data obtained by the barcode data generation means (1) is converted into a series of barcode data, means (8) for holding block data and second block data; and timer means (5) for measuring at least two predetermined times.
), when the first block data is read and the second block data is read after the first predetermined time by the timer means (5) has elapsed, these data are stored in the holding means (8). ), and when the first block data is read again within a second predetermined time by the timer means (5) after reading the second block data, the first block data and A barcode reading method characterized by recognizing second block data as a series of barcode data.