JPH07302298A - Pen type bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the pen type bar code reader with which a bar code can be stably read by adopting it to any of bar codes on a plane, ones sealed in plastic with a deep depth of focus and ones on an uneven surface. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a housing 1, an optical system 5 composed of a light emitting part 2 for irradiating a bar code 9 with light, converging part 3 for converging reflected light from the bar code 9 and light receiving/photoelectric conversion part 4 for receiving converged light and converting received light to an electric signal, and a decode part 10 for processing the electric signal from the light receiving/photoelectric conversion part 4, and an image forming position due to the optical system 5 can be varied corresponding to the housing 1. Further, an input key part 7 is provided to switch the position of focal point of the optical system 5 on prescribed stages while being interlocked with a pen tip part 11 at the top end of the housing 11 each time the pen tip part 11 is pressed.

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, and more particularly to a bar code formed on a flat surface, a bar code enclosed in a case with a deep depth of focus, an uneven surface such as a bag. The present invention relates to a bar code reading device that can read a bar code and the like formed above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In business such as inventory management (ordering of goods and stocktaking), a mobile terminal device called a handheld terminal is used for the purpose of collecting and grasping data at the site when the data is generated.

The data collected by these handheld terminals is sent to a host computer (personal computer, office computer, etc.) installed in an office or the like for analysis / analysis.
Processed and used for management decision making and customer service.

For this reason, as a means for inputting data to a handheld terminal, bar code data input, which is quicker and more accurate than manual input using a keyboard and is easy to input, is widely used.

FIG. 12 is an external view of a conventional pen-type bar code reading device, in which reading is performed by tracing the bar code with a pen tip.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the structure of the above-mentioned conventional pen type bar code reader. In the figure, the light emitted from each light emitting element 2 inside the housing 1 is applied to the barcode 9 through the opening 8.

The irradiation light is reflected by the bar code 9, passes through the opening 8 again, is received by the condenser lens 3 provided inside the housing 1, is condensed by the photoelectric conversion element 4, and the photoelectric conversion is performed. The element 4 converts it into an electric signal corresponding to the amount of reflected light.

The converted electric signal is converted into numerical data by the decoding unit 5 and sent to a host device such as a handheld terminal (not shown).

In this case, assuming that the light emitting element is located at the position of the light receiving / photoelectric converting element 4, the best reading is made when the bar code is near the point (focus point) where this light is focused by the focusing lens 3. Done.

Since the pen-type bar code reader normally scans by contacting the bar code printing surface, it is designed so that the best reading can be performed when the bar code 9 is in the vicinity of the opening 8. Is normal.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the conventional pen type bar code reader.

In FIG. 14, the bar code 9 is irradiated with light from the light emitting section composed of the light emitting element 2, and the reflected light is received by the condenser lens 3 of the light receiving section, detected by the light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4, and converted into an electric signal. Convert to signal.

A red LED is usually used as the light emitting element 2. Further, the bar code information is coded, and the converted electric signal is converted into numerical data by the decoding unit 10.

The converted numerical data is sent to a host device such as a handheld computer (not shown) via the interface unit 14.

In such a conventional pen type bar code reader, the position of the condenser lens 3 and the position of the light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4 are fixed, and the opening 8 is brought too close to the bar code 9, On the contrary, if the barcode 9 is too far away from the focal point, the reflected light from the barcode 9 does not properly form an image on the light receiving / photoelectric conversion unit 4, and there is a problem that reading becomes impossible.

However, some of the actual bar codes are enclosed in a thick plastic protective case as shown in FIG. 15, and the bar code 9 is formed from the opening 8 of the pen type bar code reader. There are some things that become far away and the depth of focus becomes deep.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, in the case of a bar code printed on the uneven surface of a bag, it is difficult for the pen type bar code reading device to contact the bar code surface for scanning. However, it is necessary to scan the print surface slightly floating, and the barcode 9 is farther than the opening 8 of the pen-type barcode reader and the focus is lost.

In order to deal with such various products, a pen-type bar code reading device having a special depth of focus is also used. There is a problem that it is quite difficult to cover the bar code 9 in the protective case and on the uneven surface together.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional pen-type bar code reading device, and it is a flat bar code or a bar having a deep depth of focus enclosed in plastic. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional pen-type bar code reader which can handle both a code and a bar code on an uneven surface and can read a bar code stably.

[0020]

FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the first invention.

The first aspect of the present invention is a case 1 as shown in FIG.
And a light emitting unit 2 for irradiating the barcode 9 with light, a light collecting unit 3 for collecting the reflected light from the barcode 9, and a light receiving unit for receiving the collected light and converting the received light into an electric signal. An optical system 5 including a photoelectric conversion unit 4 and a decoding unit 10 that processes an electric signal from the light receiving / photoelectric conversion unit 4 are provided, and an image formation position by the optical system 5 is variable with respect to the housing 1. The input key section 7 is configured so as to interlock with the input key 7 and the pen tip section 11 or the optical system 5 and switches the focus position of the optical system 5 to a predetermined step each time the pen tip section 11 is pressed. Consists of

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the principle of the second invention.

A second aspect of the present invention is a housing 1, a light emitting section 2 for irradiating the bar code 9 with light, a light converging section 3 for condensing the reflected light from the bar code 9, and a condensing light. The optical system 5 includes an optical system 5 including a light receiving / photoelectric converting unit 4 for converting received light into an electric signal, and a decoding unit 11 processing an electric signal from the light receiving / photoelectric converting unit 4, and is connected by the optical system 5. The reflected light monitoring means 15 is configured so that the image position can be made variable with respect to the casing 1, and the reflected light from the barcode 9 is monitored and the depth of focus is switched to a predetermined step each time a certain value is reached. It is configured so that the depth of focus can be automatically switched.

A third aspect of the present invention is configured such that, in the first and second aspects, the focus position is not switched when the bar code 9 is correctly read.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the principle of the fourth invention.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a case 1 and a bar code 9.
a, 9b for irradiating light to a and 9b, and light collecting units 3a, 3b for collecting reflected light from the barcodes 9a, 9b,
And a plurality of optical systems 5a and 5b formed of light receiving and photoelectric converting units 4a and 4b for receiving the collected light and converting the received light into electric signals, and electric signals from the light receiving and photoelectric converting units 4a and 4b. It has decoding units 11a and 11b for processing,
The optical systems 5a and 5b are configured to have different depths of focus.

[0027]

In the first aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an input key 7 interlocking with the operation of the pen tip portion 11 of the pen-type bar code reader is provided, and the pen tip portion 11 is pressed to read the bar code. Then, the input key 7 is operated to change the depth of focus and perform reading.

The method for changing the depth of focus is such that the relative position of the pen tip portion 11 with respect to the housing 1 is fixed, and when the pen tip portion 11 is pushed down, the switch of the input key 7 operates, and the operation of the switch. Thereby, the optical system 5 is moved forward and backward to correct the depth of focus.

Thus, the operator can change the depth of focus by a simple operation of pressing the pen tip 11 to read the bar code. Further, when the reading is not normally performed, it is possible to change the depth of focus by the operation of pressing the pen tip portion 11 again, and a single barcode can be applied to various barcodes having different depths of focus. It becomes possible and the operability is remarkably improved.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second invention is based on the first invention.
In the pen type bar code reader of the invention of claim 1, the reflected light monitoring means 1 is provided.
5 is provided to monitor the reflected light, and when the reflected light changes by a certain value or more, the depth of focus is automatically switched so that the barcode 9 can be read.

As a result, the depth of focus of the pen-type bar code reader is automatically switched, so that the operation by the operator is not necessary and the operability is further improved.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in the first and second aspects, the depth of focus is fixed when the barcode 9 is correctly read, and the next and subsequent readings are performed with the depth of focus when the barcode was correctly read last time. Is to do.

This is because in the case of reading with a bar code, it is often the case that the same series of data is continuously read, for example, a bag and then a bag, so it is necessary to adjust the depth of focus for each reading. This is because there is nothing.

As a result, the reading operation is speeded up, the operation by the operator is further simplified, and the efficiency of the reading process is further improved.

The fourth invention (see FIG. 3) is provided with a plurality of reading devices having different depths of focus in one pen type bar code reading device, and when reading the bar code 9, the plurality of reading devices are simultaneously operated. Then, the bar code data is read, and at least one correctly read bar code data is output.

As a result, the structure of the apparatus is simplified, the depth of focus need not be adjusted, and the operability is significantly improved.

The plurality of optical system units 5a shown in FIG.
In the inside of 5b, as in the first invention of FIG.
a, 2b light condensing units 3a, 3b and photoelectric conversion units 4a, 4b are provided.

[0038]

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

FIG. 4 is a view showing the external appearance of the pen type bar code reading apparatus of the first invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing, and inside the housing 1, a light emitting section 2, a light collecting section 3, a light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4, etc. are provided.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a pen tip portion, and the relative positional relationship between the housing 1 and the pen tip portion 11 is fixed.
The depth of focus is adjusted by moving the internal optical system 5 back and forth.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an opening through which the bar code 9 is irradiated with light and the reflected light is received.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of the embodiment of the first invention.

The light from the pen-type bar code reader is the case 1
Light is emitted from the light emitting element (light emitting portion) 2 provided inside the light emitting device, and the emitted light is applied to the barcode 9 through the opening 8. The emitted light is reflected by the barcode 9, and is again received by the condenser lens (light receiving portion) 3 inside the housing 1 through the opening 8.

The received light is condensed at the tip of the light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4, and is converted by the light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4 into an electric signal corresponding to the amount of reflected light. The converted electric signal is converted into numerical data in the decoding unit 10 and sent to a host device such as a handheld terminal through an interface unit (not shown).

The pen tip 11 is linked with the input key 7 and has a switch function. When reading a barcode,
When the pen tip portion 11 comes into contact with the bar code 9 and is scanned, if the pen tip portion 11 is pressed against the bar code, the input key 7 operates, and the signal is detected by the key press detecting portion 13, and Based on this, an instruction for adjustment is issued from the optical system unit adjustment unit 12, and the depth of focus is adjusted.

The optical system unit 5 comprises a light emitting element 2, a condenser lens 3, and a light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4, and the optical system unit 5 is controlled by a signal from the optical system unit adjusting section 12 for adjustment. Alternatively, the pen tip portion 11 is moved forward and backward to obtain an optimum depth of focus.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram for explaining the operation of the first invention. In the figure, the light emitting unit 2 to the barcode 9
When the light is emitted to the photoelectric conversion unit 4, the reflected light is condensed by the condensing unit (condensing lens) 3 and is sent to the photoelectric conversion unit 4.

The signal converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 4 is sent to the decoding unit 10, and it is checked whether the decoding unit 10 correctly converted the numerical value. If it is correct, the interface unit 14
To the higher-level device.

On the other hand, when the reading is not correctly performed, the operator again operates the input key 7 by pressing the pen tip portion 11 while scanning, and the operation of the input key means that the key press detecting portion 13 is operated. Detected by.

The detected signal is sent to the optical system unit adjusting section 1
2, the optical system unit adjusting section 12 moves the optical system unit 5 forward and backward based on this signal to adjust the depth of focus.

Next, FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first invention. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, when the power of the pen-type bar code reader is turned on by the operator (step S11), the decode state initial value N = 0 is written in the memory (not shown) of the device (step S12).

Then, the scanning by the device is started (step S13), and the pen tip 11 is pushed down when the pen tip is brought into contact with the barcode 9 for operation (step S1).
4).

The pen tip 11 is a mechanical switch, and when the pen tip is pressed against the bar code, the switch of the input key 7 is turned on.

Then, it is judged whether or not the previous decoding was normally performed (step S15). If the previous decoding was not normally performed (N = 1), the focal depth is switched (step S16), and the step is performed. Proceed to S7.

On the other hand, when the previous decoding is normally performed, that is, when N = 1 is not satisfied, the step S is performed as it is.
Proceeding to 17, the scanning operation of the bar code 9 is finished (step S17). Of course, when reading is performed for the first time after the power is turned on, since N = 0, the depth of focus does not switch.

Then, the decoding unit 10 checks whether or not the signal is normally decoded (step S1).
8). When not decoded normally, N
= 1 is written (step S19), and then step S2
Go to 1.

On the other hand, when the decoding is normally performed, after writing N = 0 in the memory (step S20), it is determined whether or not the scanning is further continued (step S2).
1). The judgment is made by the operator.

As a result of the above determination, when the scanning is further continued, the process returns to step S13 and the scanning is repeated. On the other hand, at the end of scanning, the operator turns off the power of the scanner (step S22) and ends the process.

In reading a normal bar code, a bar code on a plane is next to a bar code on a plane.
There is a high probability that the same type of bar code will be scanned successively, such as a bar code enclosed in the same thick plastic case next to a bar code enclosed in the thick plastic case.

Therefore, when the decoding unit 10 determines that the reading is normally performed, the focal depth is not switched even if the key press detecting unit 13 detects that the barcode is scanned. , The decode state N = 0, 1 is stored in the memory.

Next, the second invention will be described. A second aspect of the invention is to make the depth of focus variable by moving the optical system 5 and to provide a reflected light monitoring means in the light receiving / photoelectric conversion unit 4 so that the reflected light automatically reaches a certain value each time. The reading is performed by switching the depth of focus to a predetermined level.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the essential parts of the second invention. In the present invention, a voltage monitoring unit 15 is provided in place of the input key 7 and the key press detection unit 13 of the first invention, and the bar code detection method by space detection is used to detect the reading operation.

The bar code detection method by space detection is
The fact that the scanning of the bar code is started is detected by utilizing the high reflectance of the space.

The reflected light is converted into an electric signal by the light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4, and its voltage is proportional to the amount of reflected light. If there is no bar code, the amount of reflected light is theoretically zero, so it is possible to determine whether space detection has been performed by monitoring this voltage.

In this embodiment, the position of the opening 8 is fixed with respect to the housing 1, and the depth of focus is switched by moving the optical system unit 5 forward or backward.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the voltage monitoring unit 15
When the space is detected by the optical system unit adjustment unit 1
2, an optical system unit 5 including a light emitting element 2, a condenser lens 3, and a light receiving / photoelectric converting section 4 is moved forward and backward.

As in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention, in normal reading, the barcode on the plane is followed by the barcode on the plane and the barcode enclosed in a thick plastic case. Next, the same type of bar code such as a bar code enclosed in the same thick plastic case is often scanned continuously.

Therefore, it is convenient to configure so that the depth of focus is not switched even if the space is detected when it is determined that the decoding section has normally read.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram for explaining the operation of the second invention. In the figure, the light emitting unit 2 to the barcode 9
When the light is emitted to the photoelectric conversion unit 4, the reflected light is condensed by the condensing unit (condensing lens) 3 and is sent to the photoelectric conversion unit 4.

The light reflected by the photoelectric conversion unit 4 is an electric signal (voltage).
Can be changed to This voltage is proportional to the reflected light. If there is no bar code, the amount of reflected light is theoretically zero, so if this voltage is monitored, it can be known whether space detection has been performed.

The result converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 4 is sent to the voltage monitoring unit 15 together with the date code unit 10.

When the voltage monitoring unit 15 detects a space, a signal indicating the detection is sent to the optical system unit adjusting unit 1.
2, the optical system unit adjusting section 12 advances and retracts the optical system unit 5 based on the signal to adjust the depth of focus.

On the other hand, even when the signal sent from the photoelectric conversion unit 4 to the decoding unit 10 cannot be correctly decoded, a signal indicating that fact is sent from the decoding unit 10 to the optical system unit adjusting unit 12, and as a result, The depth of focus is adjusted.

Next, the operation of the fourth invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the operator turns on the power of the apparatus (scanner) (step S31). Next, the decoding state initial value N = 0 is written in the memory (not shown) of the device (step S32).

When the apparatus starts scanning (step S33), the voltage monitoring unit 13 reads the photoelectric conversion voltage V of the reflected light detected by the light receiving / photoelectric conversion unit 4 (step S34), and the voltage is It is checked whether or not it is larger than the predetermined voltage value VH (step S35).

This is because the high reflectance is obtained when a space is detected.

In step 35, when the previous decoding was not normally performed (N = 1), the depth of focus is switched (step S36), and the process proceeds to step S37.

On the other hand, when the previous decoding is normally performed, that is, when N = 1 is not satisfied, the step S3 is performed as it is.
7, the scanning operation of the barcode 9 is finished (step S37).

Of course, when reading is performed for the first time after the power is turned on, the depth of focus is not switched because N = 0.

Then, it is checked whether or not the decoding operation of the decoding section 5 is normally performed (step S38).
If not normally decoded, N = 1 is written in the memory (step S39), and the process proceeds to step S41.

On the other hand, when decoded normally, after writing N = 0 in the memory (step S40), the process proceeds to step S41, and subsequently it is determined whether another barcode 9 is to be scanned again. Yes (step S41). In addition,
The judgment is made by the operator.

As a result of the above determination, when the scanning is further continued, the process returns to step S33 and the scanning process is repeated. On the other hand, at the end of the scan, the operator turns off the power of the scanner (step S42) and ends the process.

As described above, according to the present invention, by monitoring the reflected light, it is possible to provide a pen-type bar code reader capable of automatically adjusting the depth of focus and reading in an optimum state.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the fourth invention having a plurality of reading devices. In this embodiment, a plurality of readers having different focal lengths are incorporated in a single scanner, and the basic operation for reading by each scanner is the same as that of the first invention.

In the figure, the light emitted from the light emitting element 2a inside the housing 1 passes through the opening 8a and is applied to the barcode 9a. Similarly, the light emitted from the light emitting element 2b inside the housing 1 is applied to the barcode 9b through the opening 8b.

The light emitted from the plurality of scanners to the same bar code is generated by the different parts 9a of the bar code.
The light is reflected by 9b, passes through the openings 8a and 8b again, is received by the condenser lenses 3a and 3b inside the housing 1, is collected by the light receiving / photoelectric converting units 4a and 4b, respectively, and is converted into electricity according to the amount of reflected light. Converted to a signal.

The converted electric signal is transferred to the decoding unit 10a,
In 10b, each is converted into numerical data, and the correctly read data is output.

Therefore, since reading is performed simultaneously by the reading devices having different focal lengths, if either one of the decoding units 10a and 10b can read normally,
The data is output as read data of the device.

As a result, since the optical systems 5a and 5b having a plurality of depths of focus are simultaneously scanned, the barcode data having a shallow depth of focus, the barcode data having a large depth of focus, and the barcodes are scanned by a single scanner. It becomes possible to deal with bar code data of various conditions such as bar code data having irregularities on the surface, and a pen type bar code reading device with good operability can be provided.

It should be noted that if the collating unit 16 is provided and the two data are inconsistent despite the normal conversion into the numerical data in the respective decoding units 10a and 10b, it is judged as an error from the apparatus concerned. It is more effective to configure so as not to output the data.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention, a switch interlocking with the pen tip portion is provided to switch the focus position of the optical system to a predetermined step each time the pen tip portion is pressed during reading.

Alternatively, a means for monitoring the reflected light from the bar code is provided, and the depth of focus is automatically switched every time the reflected light reaches a certain value. Alternatively, by providing a plurality of optical systems with different depths of focus, it is possible to read various barcodes with different depths of focus with a single device.

As a result, it is not necessary to provide various pen-type bar code readers having different depths of focus, the cost can be reduced, and the operability is remarkably improved and the work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the second invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the fourth invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a pen-type barcode reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the first invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the first invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the first invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a second invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the fourth invention.

FIG. 12 is an external view of a conventional pen scanner.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional pen scanner.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an operation of a conventional pen scanner.

FIG. 15 is an example of a case where the depth of focus is deep.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a case where the barcode surface has irregularities.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Housing 2, 2a, 2b Light emitting element (light emitting part) 3, 3a, 3b Condensing lens (light condensing part) 4, 4a, 4b Light receiving / photoelectric converting part 5, 5a, 5b Optical system unit (optical system) 7 Input keys 8, 8a, 8b Openings 9, 9a, 9b Barcodes 10, 10a, 10b Decoding section 11 Pen tip section 12 Optical system unit adjusting section 13 Key press detecting section 14 Interface section 15 Voltage monitoring section (reflected light monitoring means) ) 16 Collating unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A housing (1), a light emitting section (2) for irradiating a bar code (9) with light, a light collecting section (3) for collecting reflected light from the bar code (9), and a collector. An optical system (5) consisting of a light-receiving / photoelectric conversion unit (4) that receives the emitted light and converts the received light into an electrical signal, and a decoding unit that processes the electrical signal from the light-receiving / photoelectric conversion unit (4). (10), and is configured so that the image formation position by the optical system (5) can be changed with respect to the housing (1), and the housing (1) and the pen tip (11) Or optics (5)
Each time the pen tip (11) is pressed, the optical system (5)
A pen-type bar code reading device comprising an input key unit (7) for switching the focus position of the device to a predetermined stage. 2. A housing (1), a light emitting part (2) for irradiating the bar code (9) with light, a light condensing part (3) for condensing reflected light from the bar code (9), and a concentrator. An optical system (5) consisting of a light-receiving / photoelectric conversion unit (4) that receives the emitted light and converts the received light into an electrical signal, and a decoding unit that processes the electrical signal from the light-receiving / photoelectric conversion unit (4). (11) is configured so that the image forming position by the optical system (5) can be changed with respect to the housing (1), and the reflected light from the barcode (9) is monitored. A pen-type bar code reading device comprising a reflected light monitoring means (15) for switching the depth of focus to a predetermined level each time a predetermined value is reached, and being capable of automatically changing the depth of focus. 3. The pen type bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein the focus position is not switched when the bar code (9) is correctly read. 4. A housing (1), a light emitting part (2a, 2b) for irradiating the bar code (9a, 9b) with light, and a light converging part for collecting the reflected light from the bar code (9a, 9b). (3a, 3b) and a plurality of optical systems (5a, 5b) consisting of a light receiving / photoelectric conversion unit (4a, 4b) that receives the collected light and converts the received light into an electrical signal, and the light receiving / photoelectric Decoding unit that processes the electrical signal from the conversion unit (4a, 4b)
(11a, 11b), wherein the optical systems (5a, 5b) have different depths of focus.