JPH0439786A - Pen type bar-code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the pen type bar-code reader whose misreading rate is small and whose use convenience is satisfactory to an operator by constituting it so that plural pieces of scanning lines can be taken by a single scan. AN CONSTITUTION:The pen type bar-code reader is provided with a light source part 3 for emitting light onto a bar-code 2 from plural different optical paths along the bar-code scanning direction. Also, the bar-code reader is provided with decoder parts 11, 12 corresponding to each reflected light for converting each light reflected from the bar-code 2 an electric signal, deciding the validity of the bar-code 2 from each electric signal and outputting code information, and a deciding part 13 for deciding whether a code information output from each decoder part 11, 12 exists or not. That is, each decoder part 11, 12 inputs simultaneously bar-code read signals from different scanning lines, respectively and decides the validity of the bar-code 2, an when one decoder part in each decoder part 11, 12 reads correctly, code information is outputted from the deciding part 13. In such a way, the pen type bar-code reader which can improve the operability by lowering the probability of misreading of a single scan can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to an improvement of a pen-type barcode reader.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional pen-type barcode reader device. In the figure, (1) is the housing of the pen-type barcode reader device, and (2) is a line segment of different thickness in black and white. The constructed barcode, (3) is a light source that shines light on the readable barcode, (4) c) Explanation + 7) Optical path used for convenience,
(5) is a decoder unit that converts light into an electrical signal, develops it into binary data, and generates code information (6), which will be described later, while checking the validity of the data. (6) converts the contents of the barcode into bytes. This is code information expressed as data.

In addition, (A) is the housing (1) of the pen-type barcode reader device.
indicates the scanning direction indicating the direction in which the barcode (2) moves over the barcode (2).

Figure 4 shows the surface of barcode (2), (8)
is a spot which is a black stain on the white surface, (9) is a void which is a printing omission on the black surface, and (10) is a scanning line indicating the scanning path of the barcode reader, which is used for convenience of explanation.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the light incident on the barcode (2) from the light source (3) hits the white surface, it reaches the decoder section (5) along the optical path (4). When the light hits the black surface, it is absorbed and therefore does not reach the decoder section (5). Due to these differences, the decoder section (5) can read the barcode (2) by moving the housing (1) of the pen-type barcode reader device in the scanning direction (7). The decoder section (5) develops the black and white information received by light into binary data, and generates code information (6) while checking the validity of the data.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional pen-type barcode readers are configured as described above, so there is no problem if the barcode (2) is an ideal barcode (2) viewed with a certain scanning line (10), but in reality In the barcode (2), as shown in Figure 4, there may be spots (8) or voids (9), or the boundary between the white and black surfaces may be ambiguous. There is a possibility of misreading. A check digit is added to the barcode (2) to avoid misreading.
The decoder section (5) examines the check digit and, if it determines that the data is misread, invalidates the data and does not generate code information (6). In that case, the operator must repeat the barcode (2)
), avoiding spots (8) and voids (9), etc., and repeating the scan until valid code information (6) is obtained, which has the disadvantage that it takes time to obtain valid code information. there were.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is a pen that can improve operability by reducing the number of misreadings for the operator, thereby reducing the probability of misreading in one scan. The purpose is to obtain a type barcode reader device.

[Means for solving the problem] A pen-type barcode reader according to the present invention includes a light source section that emits light onto the barcode from a plurality of different optical paths along the barcode scanning direction, and a light source section that emits light onto the barcode from a plurality of different optical paths along the barcode scanning direction. A decoder unit corresponding to each reflected light that converts each light into an electrical signal, determines whether the barcode is correctly read from each electrical signal, and outputs code information, and a judgment unit that determines whether code information is output from each decoder unit. It is equipped with a section.

[Effect]

According to this invention, each decoder section inputs barcode reading signals from different scanning lines at the same time to determine whether the barcode is read correctly, and when one decoder section among the decoder sections reads the barcode correctly, the code information is determined. As a whole, the number of times the barcode reading operation is repeated due to misreading can be reduced.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, (11) is a decoder section A that converts light into an electrical signal, develops it into binary data, and decodes it into code information (6) while checking the validity of the data.
12) is a decoder section B having the same function as the decoder section A (11), and (13) is a judgment section that judges the data of the decoder section A (11) and the decoder section B (12).

Also, in the arrows shown at the top of Figure 1 to indicate the flow of data, (14) is code information A generated from decoder section A (11), and (15) is code information B generated from decoder section B (12). , (16) is code information C generated from the determining section (13).

Configure a pen-type barcode reader device as shown in Figure 1,
If the scanning points of decoder section A (11) and decoder section B (12) are shifted, two scanning lines can be obtained in one scan as shown in FIG.

At this time, code information A (14) and code information B (1
If 5) occurs, the determining unit (13) selects one of them and generates code information C (16). If only one of them occurs, the determining section (13) generates it as code information C (16), and if none occurs, it does nothing.

The effects of implementing this method will be described below.

If the misreading rate when scanning with one tree scanning line is n, then the misreading rate when scanning with two scanning lines is the probability that both trees cannot be read, so n2 Therefore, the correct reading rate with one scanning line The correct reading rate with 1-n two scanning lines is 1-n2 (1-n2)÷(1-n)=1+n Therefore, the correct reading rate improves by a factor of (1+n).

(However, O<n<1) In the above embodiment, an example is described in which there are two decoder sections, but if the decoder section is divided into a light receiving section and a decoder section, two light receiving sections may be provided, and the decoder section may be used in common. However, the same effect can be achieved as long as two scanning lines can be obtained by one scan by the operator.

Although the explanation has been made using two scanning lines for convenience, the principle is the same if there are three or four scanning lines, and the greater the number, the lower the probability of misreading.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a pen-type barcode reader that is easy to use and has a low rate of misreading can be obtained because it is configured to be able to take multiple scanning lines in one scan. effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pen-type barcode reader device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a barcode surface view showing a scanning image of the barcode reader, and FIG. 3 is a conventional pen-type barcode reader device. FIG. 4 is a barcode surface diagram showing an operational image of a conventional barcode reader. (1) is the housing of the pen-type barcode reader, (2) is the barcode, (3) is the light source, (4) is the optical path, (5) is the decoder section, (6) is the code information, and (7) is scanning direction, (8)
is a spot, (9) is a void, (10) is a scanning line, (1
1) is decoder part A, (12) is decoder part B,
(13) is the judgment unit, (14) is the code information A, (1
5) is code information B, and (16) is code information C. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A light source unit emits light onto the barcode from multiple different optical paths along the barcode scanning direction, converts each light reflected from the barcode into an electrical signal, and determines whether the barcode is correctly read from each electrical signal. 1. A pen-type barcode reader comprising: a decoder section corresponding to each reflected light that outputs code information; and a determination section that determines whether code information is output from each decoder section.