JPH07192076A - Pen-type bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a pen-type bar code reader whose assembling easiness is improved and characteristics are stable by using a composite photodetecting element for which a light emitting element and a photodetecting element are integrated and a light conductor suited to the composite photodetecting element. CONSTITUTION:This reader is constituted of the composite photodetecting element 11 for which the light emitting element 1 and a light receiving element 3 are integrated and the light conductor A12 for leading light emitted by the light emitting element 1 of the element 11 to a bar code sheet 6 and leading the reflected light of the bar code sheet 6 to the light receiving element 3. In this case, the light emitted by the light emitting element 1 passes through a restriction 2, the bar code sheet 6 is irradiated and the reflected light from the sheet 6 is inputted through the restriction 2 to the light receiving element 3. When this bar code reader is scanned on the sheet on which a bar code pattern is printed, the 'white' and 'block' of the printed pattern become the 'strong' and 'weak' of the reflected light and converted to the intensity of electric signals in the light receiving element 3. The electric signal is amplified and detected in a detection circuit, converted into prescribed logic signal and then sent to a control circuit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen-type bar code reader for manually scanning (scanning) a pattern recorded by a bar code to read the pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional pen-type bar code reader is LE
Optical elements such as a light emitting element such as D, a light receiving element such as a phototransistor or a photodiode, a lens for guiding the output light of the light emitting element to the barcode printing surface and guiding the reflected light of the barcode printing surface to the light receiving element, or an optical fiber. It was made up of dynamic structures.

[0003]

Therefore, it is difficult to physically and properly arrange circuit components such as a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor and an optical structure, and it takes much time to assemble. Was spent. Further, much time has been spent adjusting circuit constants for correcting electrical variations of circuit components and variations caused by physical conditions of optical structures and assembling.

[0004]

According to the present invention, by using a composite photodetecting element in which a light emitting element and a photodetecting element are integrated and a photoconductor adapted to the composite photodetecting element, the assembling property is improved and the characteristics are improved. The present invention provides a stable pen-shaped bar code reader.

The operation of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional conceptual diagram of a pen-type bar code reader to be realized by the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a light emitting element such as an LED serving as a light source, 2 is a diaphragm hole, 3 is a light receiving element such as a phototransistor, 4 is a detection circuit, 5 is a case, 6
Is a barcode sheet, that is, a sheet on which a barcode pattern is printed. In FIG. 1, the light emitted from the light emitting element 1 passes through the aperture hole 2 and is applied to the barcode sheet 6.
The reflected light from the sheet is input to the light receiving element 3 through the aperture. When the barcode reader is scanned on the sheet on which the barcode pattern is printed, “white” and “black” of the printed pattern become “strong” and “weak” of reflected light, and the intensity of the electric signal at the light receiving element 3 is weak. Is converted to. This electric signal is amplified and detected by a detection circuit, converted into a predetermined logic signal, and then sent to a control circuit (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows an example of the optical system configuration of a pen type bar code reader. FIG. 2A shows a half mirror 7.
It is an example using the lens 8 and. FIG. 2B shows an embodiment using transparent microspheres 9 such as glass and sapphire and the aperture 2. FIG. 2C shows an embodiment using a transparent microsphere 9, a diaphragm hole 2 and a lens 8. FIG. 2D shows an embodiment using a light guide 10 such as a glass fiber.

In any of the above cases, since the optical axes of the transparent microspheres, lenses, apertures, etc. are aligned, the dimensional accuracy is strict, the structure for holding them is complicated, and the manufacturing cost of the structural parts becomes high, It took a lot of time for assembly and adjustment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the optical system configuration of the first embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 is a composite photodetection element in which the light emitting element 1 and the light receiving element 3 are integrated, and 12 is light guided by the light emitting element 1 of the composite photodetection element to the bar code sheet 6 and reflected by the bar code sheet. The light guide A guides light to the light receiving element 3. Other reference numerals in FIG. 3 are the same as those in FIG.

The surface of the photoconductor A which is in contact with the surface of the composite photodetector is a substantially quadrangular plane, and it is a substantially triangular prism formed of ridges facing the plane and scanning on the bar code pattern. The shape is such that the distance is approximately the focal length of the composite photodetector.

The light guide A is arranged such that the rectangular plane is in contact with the surface of the composite photodetector and the opposite ridges are aligned with the arrangement direction of the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the composite photodetector. In FIG. 3, the A surface is a virtual surface that passes through the central portion along the arrangement direction of the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the composite photodetecting element 11 and the ridgeline of the photoconductor A, and the cross section of the A surface is shown in FIG. Show.
The plane B is a virtual plane that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements and the light receiving elements of the composite photodetector 11 and the ridgeline of the photoconductor A, and passes through the central portion of the composite photodetector and the photoconductor A.
A cross section of the plane is shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the optical system configuration of a second embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 11 denotes a composite photodetection element in which the light emitting element 1 and the light receiving element 3 are integrated, and 13 denotes light generated by the light emitting element 1 of the composite photodetection element 11 to the bar code sheet 6 and reflected by the sheet. The light guide B guides light to the light receiving element 3. Other symbols in FIG. 4 are the same as those in FIG.

In the photoconductor B, the surface in contact with the surface of the composite photodetector is a substantially quadrangular plane, and the cross section composed of a semi-cylindrical column facing the plane and scanning the bar code pattern is a plano-convex column. It has a shape such that the distance between the plane and the semi-cylindrical column is approximately the focal length of the composite photodetector.

The light guide B has a quadrangular plane in contact with the composite photodetecting element, and is arranged such that the axial directions of the opposing semi-cylindrical columns are aligned with the arrangement directions of the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the composite photodetecting element. 5, plane A is an imaginary plane that passes through the central portion along the arrangement direction of the light emitting element 1 and the light receiving element 3 of the composite photodetector 11 and the semi-cylindrical column of the light guide B, and FIG.
It shows in (a). The plane B is an imaginary plane which is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements 1 and the light receiving elements 3 of the composite photodetection element 11 and the ridgeline of the photoconductor B and passes through the central portions of the composite photodetection element 11 and the photoconductor B. FIG. 6 (b) is a sectional view taken along the plane B.
Shown in.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment according to the present invention. Reference numeral 14 is a bar code reader unit 15 for optically detecting a bar code pattern and converting it into a binary logic signal.
The pen-shaped bar code reader A is equipped with a speaker 16 and is connected to the control unit 18 by a connection cable 17. The control unit 18 sends the 2 transmitted from the barcode reader A.
It has a function of converting the value logic signal into a predetermined acoustic signal and transmitting it to the speaker 16.

According to the configuration of FIG. 7, the data transmitting means using the telephone can be easily constructed. That is, the barcode key is read by the barcode reader A, stored in the control unit 18, the speaker 16 equipped with the barcode reader is made to face the transmitter of the telephone handset, and then the control key for instructing the transmission operation of the control unit 18. A transmission signal sound is generated by the operation of 19. Since the barcode reader A is small and lightweight, the transmission operation can be easily carried out even while being held by hand.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. Reference numeral 20 denotes a bar code reader B having a bar code reader unit 15, a speaker 16 and a control key 19, which is connected to the control unit 18 by a connection cable 17.

According to the configuration of FIG. 8, the data transmitting means using the telephone can be easily constructed. That is, the barcode data is read by the barcode reader B, stored in the control unit 18, the speaker 16 equipped with the barcode reader is made to face the transmitter of the telephone handset, and then the control key 19 of the barcode reader B is operated. To transmit a command signal for generating an acoustic signal to the control unit 18, and cause the control unit 18 to transmit the acoustic signal to the speaker 16. Since the barcode reader B is small and lightweight, the transmission operation can be easily carried out even when it is held by hand.

FIG. 9 is a structural sectional view showing a fifth embodiment according to the present invention. That is, it is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a pen-shaped barcode reader with a sheet touch detection function. In FIG. 9, 11 is a composite photodetector, 12 (or 13) is the photoconductor A (or B) in Example 1 (or Example 2), which is fixed in the case 5 to form a bar code detector. is doing. The light emitting element and the light receiving element of the composite photodetection element 11 are connected to the power supply 21 and the detection circuit 4, respectively, and realize the same function as that of the first embodiment (or the second embodiment).

In FIG. 9, the pen housing 22 houses the bar code detecting section, the power source 21, the detecting circuit 4 and the switch 24 to form a pen type bar code reader.
There is an appropriate gap between the pen housing 22 and the case 5, and the case 5 can move up and down. The switch 24 detects that the case 5 has moved upward, and the power supply 2
1. The power of the detection circuit 4 or the control unit (not shown) is turned on. In normal times, the case 5 is pushed downward by the spring 23, and the user holds the pen housing 22 for reading the barcode, and the tip of the barcode detecting portion, that is, the tip of the case 5 contacts the barcode sheet. Then, the case 5 moves upward. The switch 24 detects this movement, and turns on the power source 21, the detection unit 4, or the control unit 18 (not shown). With this series of functions, when the pen is not used, that is, when the case 5 is pushed downward, the power source 21, the detection unit 4, or the control unit 18 (not shown) is turned off. Can be prevented.

[0020]

According to the present invention having the above constitution, the following great effects are obtained. (1) A pen-shaped bar code reader with extremely good assembling characteristics and stable characteristics is realized by using a composite light detection element in which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are integrated and a triangular or plano-convex light guide. it can. (2) By incorporating a speaker in the pen-type bar code reader, a signal tone can be easily transmitted from the transmitter of the telephone. (3) By providing the bar code reader with a built-in speaker with a control key, a signal sound can be generated without operating the control key of the control unit. (4) When the pen tip of a pen-shaped bar code reader is brought into contact with the pattern printing surface of the bar code sheet, the bar code detector that slides and a switch that detects the movement of the pen are used to turn on the power supply only when the pen is used. Turning it on enables power saving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing functions of a general pen-type barcode reader.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional pen-type barcode reader.

FIG. 3 is a first embodiment showing an optical system configuration of a triangular prism-shaped light guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a second embodiment showing an optical system configuration of a semi-cylindrical light guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a pen type bar code reader A with a built-in speaker according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a pen type bar code reader B with a built-in speaker according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a pen-type barcode reader with a sheet touch detection function according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... ・ Light emitting element 2 ・ ・ ・ ・ Aperture hole 3 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Light receiving element 4 ・ ・ ・ ・ Detection circuit 5 ・ ・ ・ ・ Case 6 ・ ・ ・ ・ Bar code sheet 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Half mirror 8 ・... Lens 9 ... Microsphere 10 ... Light guide 11 ... Composite photodetector 12 ... Light conductor A 13 ... Light conductor B 14 ... Pen bar code reader A 15・ ・ ・ Bar code reader 16 ・ ・ ・ Speaker 17 ・ ・ ・ Connection cable 18 ・ ・ ・ Control unit 19 ・ ・ ・ Control key 20 ・ ・ ・ Pen type bar code reader B 21 ・ ・ ・ Power supply 22 ・ ・ ・ Pen Housing 23 ・ ・ ・ Spring 24 ・ ・ ・ Switch

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Ogawa 3-18-3 Kamima, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Takamizawa Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A composite photo-detecting element in which a light emitting element as a light source and a light receiving element for converting light into an electric signal are integrated, and a pulsed analog voltage signal output from the light receiving element is amplified and compared with a reference level. Which has a detection circuit for converting into a binary logic signal and is located between the bar code pattern printed on an arbitrary bar code sheet and the surface of the composite photo detection element facing the bar code pattern. A surface that is in contact with the surface or a loose convex surface and a ridge line that faces the barcode pattern and that is in contact with or close to the barcode pattern and that is orthogonal to the sliding direction, has a substantially triangular cross section, and is in contact with the surface of the composite photodetector element. A pen shape in which a light guide whose distance between ridge lines facing each other is approximately the focal length of the composite photodetector is arranged with the ridge line aligned with the arrangement direction of the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the composite photodetecting element. Barco Reader. 2. A composite photo-detecting element in which a light emitting element as a light source and a light receiving element for converting light into an electric signal are integrated, and a pulsed analog voltage signal output from the light receiving element is amplified and compared with a reference level. Which has a detection circuit for converting into a binary logic signal and is located between the bar code pattern printed on an arbitrary bar code sheet and the surface of the composite photo detection element facing the bar code pattern. It is composed of a flat surface or a loose convex surface in contact with the surface, and a semi-cylindrical cylinder with a small radius that is in contact with or close to the bar code pattern and is orthogonal to the sliding direction facing the surface. The light guide is such that the distance of the semi-cylindrical column facing the surface in contact with the element surface is approximately the focal length of the composite photo-detecting element, and the axial direction of the semi-cylindrical column is aligned with the array direction of the light source and the light-receiving element of the composite photo-detecting element. Specially Pen-type bar code reader to be. 3. A pen-shaped bar code reader having a built-in speaker for generating a signal sound by an electric signal input from a control unit for controlling bar code reading. 4. A pen-shaped bar code reader comprising: a speaker for making a signal sound by an electric signal inputted from a control unit for controlling bar code reading; and a control key for sending an activation signal to the control unit. . 5. A pen type bar code reader having a bar code reading function, wherein a pen type bar code reader is provided with a switch for supplying power source power only when the tip of the pen is slid in the axial direction.