JPH0836619A - Bar code reader and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly perform accurate reading without error by judging the presence of a combination or a type of demodulated data whose bar code reproduction is available in the case of synthesizing the demodulation data and synthesizing the data according to the combination so as to prevent adverse effect due to noise on paper or characters or the like. CONSTITUTION:A scanning extract means 10 scans a bar code with electromagnetic radiant ray such as a ray and extracts bar width data based on the reflection. A demodulation means 11 demodulates extracted bar width data to generate demodulated data and a combination judging means 12 judges the presence of the combination or its type of the demodulated data to be generated capable of reproducing the bar code. A synthesis means 14 synthesizes the demodulation data or characters to generate the demodulated data according to the combination. Since only the synthesis highly possible of reproducing the bar code is performed in this way, the bar code is read efficiently and quickly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reading apparatus and method for scanning a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam and reading the bar code or the like by its reflection. Scanners are used as devices for reading barcodes in POS systems of supermarkets.
This is for improving the reading performance of the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, UPC (Universal Produ
In a scanner device for reading a standard version of a bar code symbol for ct Code), as shown in FIG. 35, the bar code is scanned by a light beam, and a bar width data is extracted from the reflected light. An extracting unit 90, and a left-right block unit demodulating unit 91 that obtains demodulated data by performing demodulation for each of the left and right block units sandwiched by the bar code guard bar and the center bar based on the extracted bar width data, And a synthesizing means 92 for synthesizing the demodulated data demodulated for each of the left and right blocks.

In the conventional example, if the demodulated data demodulated by the left and right block unit demodulating means 91 for each of the left and right block units, which are considered to overlap, passes the modulus 10 check at best, the synthesizing means. 9
2 is to combine the bar width data. For example, as shown in FIG. 36 (a), the characters operated by the α beam of the scanning / extracting means 90 and demodulated by the left / right block unit demodulating means 91 are A, B, C, D, and β beam. Characters that can be demodulated by D, E, F, a, b, c, d,
If the values are e and f, since the "D" characters are overlapping, the synthesizing means 2 clears the modulus 10 check with the above two beams, and
F, a to f can be combined and barcodes can be read.

[0004]

In the bar code reading apparatus according to the conventional example, when the bar code is divided and read, the bar code data is collected until the demodulation can be performed when the guard bar and the center bar are detected. With respect to the combination in which the codes may be overlapped, if the modulus 10 check is passed at most, the bar width data is combined.

However, when the scanning / extracting means 90 scans a bar code, paper noise or characters are erroneously read as a bar code, or the bar code is deformed due to bending or bending of the paper. There is a risk of being erroneously read. For example, in FIG. 36B, the characters that can be demodulated by the α beam are A, B, C, D, and E ′, and the characters that can be demodulated by the β beam are D, E, F, a, b, c, d. The case of, e, f is shown.
Here, “E ′” indicates a case where E could not be completely scanned and was erroneously demodulated due to paper surface noise, characters, etc., and what appeared to be demodulated data was obtained. In this case, although the "D" character is common, it is not known which of the characters in the E character part is "E" or "E '", and the character at the end does not match.
It can not be combined, so the data of A ~ E'and D ~ f must be discarded, which is inefficient, time consuming, and there is a possibility that demodulation or reading will be performed with the wrong character I had a problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bar code reading apparatus and a method thereof which can prevent an adverse effect due to paper surface noise, characters, etc., and can perform accurate reading quickly without error. It is a thing.

[0007]

In order to solve the above technical problems, the first invention, as shown in FIG. 1, scans a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam, and from its reflection, the bar width. The scanning / extracting means 10 for extracting data, the demodulating means 11 for demodulating the extracted bar width data to create demodulated data, and the demodulated data created, whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code, or The combination determining means 12 for determining the type and the combining means 14 for combining the demodulated data or the characters forming the demodulated data according to the combination are included.

Here, the "electromagnetic radiation" may be light (visible light), infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, or the like. Further, there may be coherent light such as laser light having coherence, and normal light having no coherence. "A combination that allows the reproduction of barcodes"
Is a combination that can be obtained by combining demodulated data obtained from various scanning lines that cross the barcode to obtain uninterrupted demodulated data that can reproduce the meaning of the barcode. To this end, the scanning line crosses the bar forming the bar code without omission, and
Overlapping characters must be included between the demodulated data obtained by these scan lines.

The term "judgment of combination type" means any one of combinations of scanning lines that cross the barcode so that the barcode can be reproduced (for example, "divided reading type" shown in the embodiment). It is a judgment of whether or not. "Synthesis"
Is to reproduce one bar code data from a plurality of bar code data fragments. As shown in the embodiment, the combination is performed after checking that the data of the obtained overlapping portion is the same according to the combination of the demodulated data.

The second invention, as shown in FIG. 2, is a scanning / extracting means 10 for scanning a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as light rays and extracting bar width data from the reflection, and the extracted bar. The demodulation means 11 that demodulates the width data to create demodulation data, the combination determination means 12 that determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a barcode for the created demodulation data, and the type thereof, and the extracted above-mentioned Deviation evaluation means 13 for evaluating deviation of the bar width data from a predetermined standard;
The selection / combination means 15 for selecting the demodulated data or the characters forming the demodulated data based on the deviation and combining the selected demodulated data or characters according to the combination.
And

The "deviation from a predetermined standard" means a deviation within an allowable range from an optimum value of a standard such as a standard version defined by JIS or the like. For example, the following is shown. Distortion with adjacent character length forming the extracted bar width data (distortion) → first embodiment Character related delta distance distortion → second embodiment Character bar width distortion Adjacent character length distortion, Distortion related to character delta distance and bar width distortion are given priority.

As shown in FIG. 3, a third aspect of the present invention scans a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as light rays, and scans / extracts means 10 for extracting bar width data from its reflection, and the extracted bar. The demodulation means 11 that demodulates the width data to create demodulation data, the combination determination means 12 that determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a barcode for the created demodulation data, and the combination determination means 12, and the combined demodulation Demodulation status evaluation means 16 for evaluating the demodulation status of characters such as the number of data characters and demodulation position, and demodulated data or characters forming the demodulated data are selected based on the demodulation status, and the selected demodulated data is selected. Alternatively, it has a selecting and combining means 18 for combining the characters according to the combination.

Here, the "demodulation status" indicates the status such as the number and position of characters forming the demodulated demodulated data. For example, there are the following examples. Among the characters that form the bar width data, there is no common character and it is based on the data that excludes one data at the end of the character that cannot be combined. Pass several characters after passing the guard bar → center bar. Based on whether or not the bar width data has been generated, based on the situation that no wave error occurs, the fourth invention is to scan a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as light rays as shown in FIG. , Scanning / extracting means 10 for extracting bar width data from the reflection, and demodulating means 11 for demodulating the extracted bar width data to create demodulated data.
With respect to the created demodulated data, a combination judging means 12 for judging whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code or its type, and a deviation evaluating means for evaluating a deviation of the extracted bar width data from a predetermined standard. 19, demodulation status evaluation means 20 for evaluating the demodulation status of the character such as the number of characters forming the demodulated data and the demodulation position, and demodulation data or demodulation data is formed based on the deviation or the demodulation status. And selecting and synthesizing means 22 for selecting the characters and synthesizing the selected demodulated data or the characters according to the combination.

A fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, scans a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam and extracts bar width data from the reflection of the bar code (S1). Deviation from the predetermined standard is demodulated, the extracted bar width data is demodulated, demodulated data is created (S2), and the demodulated data created is the presence or absence of a combination capable of reproducing the bar code or the combination thereof. Determine the type (S
3), based on the evaluated deviation, demodulated data or characters forming the demodulated data are selected, and the selected demodulated data or characters are combined according to the combination (S4).

A sixth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, scans a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam and extracts bar width data from its reflection (S11), and extracts the bar width data. Is demodulated to generate demodulated data (S12),
With respect to the created demodulated data, it is judged whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing the bar code or its type (S13), and the number of characters forming the combined demodulated data,
The demodulation status of the character such as the demodulation position is evaluated (S1
4) Select the demodulated data or the character thereof based on the demodulation situation, and combine the selected demodulated data or character according to the combination (S15).

As shown in FIG. 7, a seventh aspect of the present invention scans a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam and extracts bar width data from its reflection (S21), and extracts the bar width data. Deviation from the predetermined standard is demodulated, and the extracted bar width data is demodulated to create demodulated data (S22). The type is determined (S23), and the demodulated data or character is combined according to the combination (S24).

The processing operation of the first invention and the seventh invention will be described. In step S21, the scanning / extracting means 10 scans the target bar code with a light beam or the like, and extracts bar width data from the reflection. Step S
At 22, the demodulation means 11 demodulates the plurality of extracted bar width data to create demodulated data.

Then, in step S23, the combination means 12 determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing the bar code or the type of the demodulated data thus obtained. In step S24, the synthesizing unit 14 checks the duplicated data and synthesizes the demodulated data or the characters forming the demodulated data according to the combination. The processing operation of the second invention and the fifth invention will be described.

In step S1, the scanning / extracting means 10
Scans the target bar code with a light beam or the like and extracts bar width data from the reflection. In step S2,
With respect to the plurality of extracted bar width data, the deviation evaluation means 13 evaluates the deviation of the bar width data from the predetermined standard with respect to the extracted bar width data. At that time, the demodulation means 11 demodulates the bar width data.

Then, in step S3, the combination judging means 12 judges whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing the bar code or the type of the demodulated data obtained by the demodulating means 11. In step S4, the selecting / combining means 15 selects effective data from the demodulated data or the characters forming the demodulated data based on the evaluated deviation and combines them according to the combination.

The processing operation according to the third and sixth inventions will be described. In step S11, the scanning / extracting means 10 scans the target bar code with a light beam or the like, and extracts bar width data from the reflection. In step S12, the plurality of extracted bar width data are demodulated by the demodulation means 11.

In step S13, the combination judging means 1
Reference numeral 2 determines the presence or type of the combination capable of reproducing the barcode in the demodulated data obtained by the demodulation means 11. In step S14, the demodulation situation evaluation means 16 evaluates the demodulation situation for the combination of the demodulated data.

For example, a situation is evaluated in which the demodulated data cannot be combined as they are because the duplicated parts are not the same, but can be combined except for one character at the extreme end and one character at the end of the character. Step S15
Then, the selecting / combining means 18 determines, according to the demodulation situation,
For example, the demodulated data combined by selecting the data excluding the leading edge and the trailing end of the character as effective data is performed.

With respect to the fourth aspect of the invention, both the evaluation of the shift according to the first aspect of the invention and the evaluation of the demodulation state according to the second aspect of the invention described above are performed, and demodulation data is synthesized based on the evaluation result.

[0025]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 8 shows an overall block diagram of a device configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the barcode reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a light receiving unit 2 that receives the reflected light from the barcode.
5, an A / D converter 26 for converting the received analog signal into a digital signal, a bar width counter 27, a bar code detection logic 28, and a bar width data group buffer 29 for holding a bar width data group. , A group of demodulation data buffers 42 for holding various types of demodulation data, a CPU 30 for encoding various controls and bar codes, a ROM 31 storing various programs, and control of line connection to a communication line Interface unit 32 and semiconductor laser 3 that emits laser light for scanning a barcode
4 and a laser driving unit 36 for driving the emission of the semiconductor laser
A polygon mirror 33 that rotates to scan the generated laser light on a bar code; a motor drive unit 35 that rotationally drives the polygon mirror 33; a speaker 37 that warns when an error occurs; Light emitting element 3
8 and a laser drive unit 36, a motor drive unit 35, a speaker 37, and a control unit circuit 39 for controlling the LED 38.

Further, the bar code detection logic 28
9, the CPU 30 is notified that the barcode demodulation unit 41, the barcode synthesis unit 43, the barcode check unit 44 for performing various checks, and the synthesis of the bar width data are completed. Bar width data composition completion notification unit 4
And 5. The barcode check unit 44 performs a modulus 10 check, an O / E configuration check, and a capture count check.

Here, the light receiving portion 25 and the A / D converter 2
6, a bar width counter 27, a bar width data group buffer 29, a semiconductor laser 34, a laser drive unit 36,
The polygon mirror 33, the motor drive unit 35 and the like correspond to the scanning / extracting unit 50. FIG. 10 shows a bar code reader according to the first embodiment. A scanning / extracting unit 50 that scans a bar code with a light beam to extract bar width data from the reflected light, a demodulation unit 51 that demodulates the extracted bar width data, and creates demodulated data, are created. With respect to the demodulated data, a combination determination unit 52 for determining whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code or its type, and an adjacent character length distortion corresponding to a deviation of the extracted bar width data from a predetermined standard are evaluated. An adjacent character length distortion evaluation unit 53 and a selection synthesis unit 55 that selects demodulation data or characters forming demodulation data based on the evaluated distortion and synthesizes the selected demodulation data or characters according to the combination. Have.

Here, the adjacent character length distortion evaluation section 53 corresponds to the deviation evaluation means 13, and the distortion corresponds to the deviation. The demodulation unit 51 and the adjacent character length distortion evaluation unit 53 correspond to the bar code demodulation unit 41, and the combination determination unit 52 and the selection / combination unit 55 correspond to the bar code composition unit 43.

Further, the "character" is, for example, a practical or coded representation of a number in a bar code symbol for common product codes, and 7 modules represent one character in a bar code. The “type” determined by the combination determination unit 52 will be described later. FIG. 11 shows distortion of adjacent character length.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the lengths of two characters adjacent to each other are "c1" and "c2". Then, the allowable range of the adjacent character length is 1.125 × c1 <c2 <0.875 × c1. At that time, the adjacent character length distortion evaluation unit 53
Shows the allowable range of 1.12 as shown in FIG.
Range of 5 × c1 and 1.1 × c1 and 0.9 × c1 and 0.875
The range of × c1 is the range with large distortion, and 1.1 × c1
When the distortion is evaluated with the range of 0.9 × c1 as the small distortion range, and the character of the bar width data extracted by one scanning line is evaluated as the large distortion according to the above criteria, the selecting / synthesizing unit 55 Excludes the characters of the demodulated data evaluated to have a large distortion and selects and synthesizes characters other than the character evaluated to have a large distortion as valid data.

The processing up to the detailed composition will be described later. Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A scanning / extracting unit 50 that scans a bar code with a light beam and extracts bar width data from the reflected light, and a demodulation unit 51 that demodulates the extracted bar width data and creates demodulated data.
With respect to the created demodulated data, a combination determination unit 52 for determining whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a barcode or its type, and a distortion of the delta distance is evaluated for each character of the extracted bar width data. It has a delta distance distortion evaluation unit 56, and a selecting / combining unit 58 that selects demodulated data or a character forming the demodulated data based on the delta distance distortion, and combines the selected demodulated data or character according to the combination. .

Here, the delta distance distortion evaluation section 56 corresponds to the deviation evaluation means 13, and the distortion corresponds to the deviation. Here, the “delta distance” means the sum (the number of modules) of the bar widths of the adjacent black bar and white bar as shown in FIG. 13A or FIG. 14A for each character ( T1 and T2), used when obtaining demodulated data from bar width data.

Further, FIG. 13B shows an allowable range that can be taken when each delta distance (T1, T2) has each module number. That is, the allowable range for the N module is N-0.5 to N + 0.5. Furthermore, FIG.
(C) shows the allowable range of the delta distance when the delta distance is 4 modules, and the cases where the distortion is large and the distortion is small. In the case of 4 modules, the permissible range is from 3.5 to 4.5 modules, of which 3.5 to 3.7 and 4.3 to 4.5 are large distortion ranges and 3.7 to 4.3 are small distortion cases. Indicates.

That is, in the case of N modules, N-0.5 to
The range of N-0.3 and N + 0.3 to N + 0.5 indicates a large strain amount, and the range of N-0.3 to N + 0.3 indicates a small strain amount. In this way, when the magnitude of the distortion is evaluated by the delta-distance distortion evaluation unit 56, the selection / synthesis unit 58 excludes the character with large distortion and selects the character with small distortion as valid data. Synthesis is performed. Further, FIG. 14B shows what number and parity each character has, depending on the combination of the delta distances T1 and T2.

In FIG. 14 (c), the shaded portions in FIG. 14 (b) have exactly the same relationship between T1 and T2, so that the widths of the black bars B1 and B3 for the numbers and the parities which could not be demodulated. Further shown is a table for identifying numbers and parity. The process up to detailed composition will be described later. 15 and 1 for the third embodiment.
6 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the bar code reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, the scanning / extracting section 50 which scans a bar code with a light beam and extracts bar width data from the reflected light.
And a demodulation unit 51 that demodulates the extracted bar width data to create demodulation data, and a combination determination unit 52 that determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a barcode for the created demodulation data or the type thereof. And a character number calculator 59 for calculating the number of characters forming the demodulated data, and a selecting / combining unit 61 for selecting demodulated data having a large number of characters and combining the selected demodulated data according to the combination. It is a thing.

FIG. 16A shows an example in which the scanning / extracting section 50 irradiates light onto the three scanning lines α, β, γ for the standard version of the bar code. Characters demodulated as a result of scanning with α scan line are displayed as A, B, C, D, E '.
And Here, E'indicates a character that was misread without the beam scanning E completely. Characters demodulated by the β scan line are D, E, F, a, b, c, d, e, f, and characters demodulated by the γ scan line are A, B, C, D.

The character number calculator 59 determines that the character numbers are in the order of β>α> γ.
Then, the selection / combination unit 61 sets priorities as demodulated data with higher effectiveness in the order of increasing number of characters, and selects data regarding β and α scanning lines with the highest priority as the effective data. Will be synthesized. However, when the presence or absence of duplication is checked at that time, since “E” and “E ′” are different in the E character part, the combination cannot be performed with β and α. Therefore, since β and γ having the next highest priority have an overlapping portion of “D”, this is selected as effective data and combined.

As another example of the third embodiment, FIG.
As shown in 6 (b) and 6 (c), for the same bar code, the characters obtained from a plurality of scanning lines and the number thereof (frequency fetching number) are stored and demodulated by the character number calculation unit 59. Number of characters (frequency)
Then, the selection / combination unit 60 eliminates characters with low frequency, selects characters with high frequency as valid data, and synthesizes demodulated data based on the selected character.

Here, in FIG. 16B, bit b7
~ Bit b5 records the capture count, bit b4 records parity configuration information (Odd / Even), bit b3 ~ bit
At b0, character data (0 to 9) is recorded. The upper column records demodulated data for the left block, and the lower column records demodulated data for the right block. Further, FIG. 16C (irrespective of the reference numerals in FIG. 16A) shows an example of a character obtained by two scanning lines and two storage buffers showing the number of times of capturing (demodulation number) of the character. Indicates. In the case of the storage buffer 1 demodulated as a result of being scanned by a certain scan line, A, B, C, D are selected as valid data, and E is excluded from the valid data because the number of fetches (demodulation number) is small. It In the case of the storage buffer 2 demodulated as a result of being scanned by another scanning line, A, B and C are selected as valid data, and D'is excluded from the valid data.

As a result, the sorting / combining unit 61 causes the ABC
D is synthesized. Next, a fourth embodiment is shown in FIG.
7 and FIG. 18 (a). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, a scanning / extracting unit 50 that scans a bar code with a light beam and extracts bar width data from the reflected light,
A demodulation unit 51 that demodulates the extracted bar width data to create demodulation data, and a combination determination unit 52 that determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a barcode for the created demodulation data or the type thereof. An end demodulation character detection unit 62 for detecting a character demodulated at an end of a series of character strings forming demodulated data corresponding to each scanning line.
And a selection / combination unit 64 that selects characters other than the characters demodulated at the end as effective data and combines the characters according to the combination.

For example, as shown in FIG. 18A, the characters demodulated by the α scanning line are A, B, C, D, and E ', and the characters demodulated by the β scanning line are C', D, and E '. E, a, b, c, d, e, f. When demodulated by the α scan line and the β scan line, the C and E characters at the ends may be imperfectly scanned, and thus the barcode may not be synthesized. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the end demodulated character C ′ detected by the end demodulated character detection unit 62,
E'is excluded and demodulated characters other than the character are
Select as valid data. That is, A, B, C,
D is the effective data, and for the β scan line, D, E, a, b, c,
Select d, e, f as valid data. As a result, the character D overlaps with each other and coincides with each other. Therefore, the data of α and the data of β are combined.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 18 (b). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, a bar code is scanned with a light beam to extract bar width data from the reflected light thereof, and the extracted bar width data is demodulated. Then, the demodulation unit 51 that creates demodulation data, the combination determination unit 52 that determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing the barcode for the created demodulation data, and the type of the combination, and among the combined demodulation data, A guard bar that detects the demodulated pass data that passes through both the guard bar and the center bar.
The center bar passage data detection unit 65 and the selection and synthesis unit 67 that preferentially selects the passage data detected by the detection unit 65 as valid data and synthesizes the data according to the combination.
Have and.

For example, in FIG. 18B, by the α scanning line, GB (guard bar) and CB (such as B, C, D, E, F, a, b, c, d, e, f) are displayed. The demodulated data that has passed both the center bar) is shown. In this case, the right block is completely scanned and the left block is only partially scanned. The β scan line gives A, B, C'demodulated data, the γ scan line gives A, B, C, D'demodulated data, and the δ scan line gives A ', B', C '. The case where demodulated data of 'is obtained is shown.

In this case, since the overlapping portions are all slightly different, it is impossible to synthesize the barcode. Further, even if scanning is performed outside the bar code like the δ scan line, there is a possibility that something like bar code data is generated due to noise or the like. On the other hand, a barcode that has passed both GB and CB like an α scan line is considered to have high reliability. Therefore, the guard bar / center bar passage data detection unit 65
When data that has passed both GB and CB is detected, the data obtained by the α scan line is given the highest priority, and then the priority is set in the order of γ, β, and δ. In this case, the selection / synthesis unit 67 synthesizes the character formed by the α scanning line and the character formed by the γ scanning line by using the overlap of B and C.

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 20, a scanning / extracting unit 50 that scans a bar code with a light beam and extracts bar width data from the reflected light, and a demodulation unit 51 that demodulates the extracted bar width data and creates demodulated data. With respect to the created demodulated data, a combination determination unit 52 for determining whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code or its type, and a black color when performing demodulation for each character of the extracted bar width data. Module number distortion evaluation unit 68 for evaluating distortion of the number of modules of bars or white bars from a predetermined standard
And a selecting / combining unit 70 that selects effective demodulated data based on the evaluated distortion of the number of modules and combines the demodulated data selected according to the combination.

Here, as shown in FIG. 21A, when the characters are demodulated by the delta distances T1 and T2, the shaded areas in FIG. 14B correspond to two characters each. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17C, it is necessary to calculate the number of modules of the characters (b character and d character) corresponding to the black bar width, and then make the determination.

In this embodiment, when the number of modules of the b character and the d character is calculated, it is determined whether the distortion is large or small. In FIG. 21 (c), as shown in the second embodiment, within the allowable range of each module number (N), the range of large distortion is (N-0.5) × c1 to (N-0.
3) The ranges of xc1 and (N + 0.3) xc1 to (N + 0.5) xc1 are defined.

Further, for example, in the case of FIG. 36 (b), the character demodulated as a result of being scanned by the α scanning line.
Among the characters A, B, C, D, E ′, when the character E ′ is evaluated as having a large distortion by the distortion measurement by the module distortion evaluation unit 68, the selection / combination unit 70 causes the demodulated character E ′ to be displayed. 'Is excluded from the valid data, and the valid data is only the characters A, B, C, D in the case of the α scan line, and the character D, which is demodulated as a result of being scanned by the β scan line by the selecting / synthesizing unit 70. E, F, a, b, c, d, e, f are combined and A,
B, C, D, E, F, a, b, c, d, e, f are obtained.

Next, a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 22, 23 and 18 (c). As shown in FIG. 22, a scanning / extracting unit 50 that scans a bar code with a light beam and extracts bar width data from the reflected light, and a demodulation that demodulates the extracted bar width data and creates demodulated data. Part 5
1, a combination determination unit 52 for determining the presence or absence of a combination capable of reproducing a barcode for the created demodulated data, and the extracted bar width data,
By monitoring for waveform breaks,
Wave error detector 71 for detecting a wave error
And a selecting / combining unit 73 that selects demodulated data in which no wave error occurs as effective data and combines the demodulated data selected according to the combination.

The term "wave error" as used herein means that label printing is defective when bar width data is extracted by alternately detecting edges of white bars or black bars due to rising or falling of an input waveform. Void / spot), label material (paper noise), PCS value, beam diameter (reading depth, label posture, etc.), black / white edge signals do not occur alternately, but white / white or black / black continue. It means that it occurs. This is also called waveform cracking, and it is impossible to judge which edge signal is correct.

Note that a wave error may occur in the margin part due to the characteristics of the analog circuit, and the wave error in the margin part is ignored. In FIG. 18 (c),
Characters that can be demodulated by scanning on α scan line are B, C, D, E, F, a, b, c, d, e, f, and characters that can be demodulated by scanning on β scan line are A , B, C, D (wave error occurrence) and the characters that can be demodulated by scanning the γ scan line are A and B.

In this case, it is possible to combine the characters demodulated by the α scan line and the β scan line, but D
A wave error has occurred after the character has been demodulated. Therefore, the data demodulated by the β scan line is considered to have low reliability. In this embodiment, the selection / synthesis unit 73
Removes the character string of the demodulated data including the character in which the wave error has occurred, and selects the character string of the demodulated data in which the wave error has not occurred as valid data. The selecting / synthesizing unit 73 synthesizes barcode data by using data in which no wave error occurs, that is, data of α scanning line and γ scanning line in FIG.

FIG. 23 shows a wave error according to this embodiment. Here, FIG. 10A shows a raw waveform due to reflected light received when the barcode is scanned with light. FIG. 23 (b)
(C) is the rising or falling of the raw waveform,
The detected white edge signal and black edge signal are shown. At that time, a wave error occurs in (b) and (c), and the white or black bar edge is not detected alternately.

FIG. 23 (d) shows a bar width signal obtained from the edge signals of (b) and (c). At the time of occurrence of the wave error, it is not known which waveform is correct, which may cause misreading of the bar width signal. At that time, since the white edge signal or the black edge signal continues, the waveform breakage detection signal (WER) is generated in synchronization with the trailing edge of the subsequent white edge signal or the black edge signal.

Next, the operation of the barcode reading apparatus and the reading method according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 24 shows an overall processing flow chart according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, in step S30, the bar code demodulation unit 41 including the demodulation unit 51, the adjacent character length distortion evaluation unit 53, and the delta distance distortion evaluation unit 56 operates from the bar width data group buffer 29 to the start guard bar and the center bar. Also, the end guard bar is detected, and the bar code demodulation process is performed.

In step S31, the combination determining unit 52 of the barcode synthesizing unit 43 performs a storing process for storing demodulated data separately for each demodulated data type based on the demodulated data obtained by the barcode demodulating process. At the same time, the character number (digit number) information is set in the pairing buffer shown in FIG. Here, the “pairing buffer” is information necessary for determining the presence or absence of a combination capable of reproducing a barcode or the type of the demodulated data created, that is, shown in FIG. It is a buffer that stores information corresponding to each digit number.

In step S32, the combination determining unit 52 of the barcode synthesizing unit 43, based on the digit number information of the pairing buffer, has the number of digits enough to form a combination that allows the barcode to be read by data synthesis. It is determined whether or not there is, and the type, that is, the divided reading type is determined. The “divisional reading type” will be described later. Step S
At 33, the barcode combining unit 43 compares the parity information and the character code of the overlapping characters.

In step S34, the bar-code synthesizing unit 43 creates demodulated data capable of performing a modulus 10 check if the data overlapping parts are the same in the comparison check of the data overlapping parts. In step S35, the barcode check unit 44 performs a modulus 10 check.

Next, the operation of the bar code detection logic unit 28 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 25, 26, 29 and 3.
It demonstrates based on 1-FIG. FIG. 25 shows the bar code demodulating process according to the first, second, fourth and sixth embodiments, that is, the process corresponding to step SA30 of FIG. The scanning / extracting unit 50 scans a bar code with a light beam, extracts bar width data from the reflected light, and holds the bar width data group buffer 29.

When the start guard bar is detected by the demodulation unit 51 of the bar code demodulation unit 41 provided in the bar code detection logic unit 28 of FIG. 8 in step S40, the first part of the bar code demodulation unit 41 is detected in step S41. The adjacent character length distortion evaluation unit 53 according to the embodiment of FIG.
As shown in (a), the first character length c1 is detected,
In step S42, the adjacent second character length c2 is detected. In step S43, the distortion evaluation section 53 evaluates the distortion. In order to evaluate the distortion, it is first checked whether or not the adjacent second character lengths c2 satisfy the following allowable range judgment formula. 1.125 × c1>c2> 0.875 × c1 If the second character length c2 satisfies the judgment formula of the permissible range, the process proceeds to step S44, and the distortion evaluation unit 5
3 then determines whether or not the distortion of the character length is large.

As described above, the distortion is judged by 1.125 × c1 <c2 <1.1 × c1 or 0.9 × c1 <c2.
It is judged based on whether or not it is within the range of <0.875 x c1. If it is within the range, it is determined that the distortion of the character length is large. If the distortion is large, the processing proceeds to step S45, and the distortion evaluation section 53 sets the "with distortion" flag.

If it is determined that the distortion is not large, the "distortion present" flag is not set. In this way, the distortion is determined up to the sixth character (step S4).
6). This means that the judgment is made on the block on one side of the barcode. When the check is completed up to the sixth character, the process proceeds to step S47, and the bar code demodulation process is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S43 that a certain character length c does not satisfy the judgment formula of the permissible range, the distortion is not evaluated, and the subsequent character check is not performed, and then the process is terminated. Then, the process proceeds to step S47, and the bar code demodulation process is performed on the characters up to that point. Step S48
If the demodulation process is successful, step S49
Then, it is judged whether the distortion is large at the time of demodulation. The success of the demodulation process depends on whether a meaningful code is actually obtained. If the demodulation process is not successful, the data demodulated up to that point is output.

Here, the "distortion at the time of demodulation" means, as shown in the second embodiment, distortion of delta distance or
As shown in the sixth embodiment, it is the distortion of the number of modules, which is evaluated by the delta distance distortion evaluation unit 56 or the module number distortion evaluation unit 68. When it is evaluated that the distortion is large, the process proceeds to step S50,
The delta distance distortion evaluator 56 or the module number distortion evaluator 68 sets a "distortion present" flag.

When the distortion is not large, "with distortion"
Without setting the flag, the process proceeds to step S51,
The number of characters that are OK in the adjacent character check in step S43 is recorded, and it is determined whether or not the demodulation of the number of bar width data has been completed. Step S52
Then, it is determined whether or not the number of demodulated characters is 6.

If the number of demodulated characters is not 6, the process proceeds to step S76 and demodulated data is output. If the number of demodulated characters is 6, the sixth character length is checked in step S53. If the sixth character length check is OK in step S54, the center bar is checked. If the check of the sixth character length of the demodulated data is defective, the process proceeds to step S76, and the demodulated data up to that point is output.

In step S55, the center bar is checked. If the center bar check is defective, the process proceeds to step S76, and demodulated data is output.
On the other hand, if the check is OK in step S56,
Proceeding to step S60 via the connector 1B, the seventh character length (the character of the other block) is checked. In step S61, the adjacent character length is checked against the eighth character length.

In the following, steps S61 to S73 are the same as the above-described processing for the first character to the sixth character, steps S41 to S54, and the first character to the sixth character in the right block are the left blocks. Of the seventh character to the twelfth character. Finally, step S55 for the center bar
Corresponding to step S56, the end guard bar is checked in step S74, and the demodulated data is output in step S76 regardless of whether the check result is “good” or “not good”.

On the other hand, returning to step S40, step S
At 40, if the start guard bar is not detected by the demodulation unit 51 of the bar code demodulation unit 41 provided in the bar code detection logic unit 28 of FIG. 8, that is, for example,
LGB or RGB at the end of the barcode in FIG. 18 (a)
If is not detected, the process proceeds to step S80 via the connector 1C, and the demodulation unit 51 determines whether the center bar is detected.

When the center bar is detected, the process proceeds to step S81, the sixth character length is checked, and then the seventh character length is checked in step S82. In this case, for example, the case where scanning is performed from the right block to the left block in FIG.
Hereinafter, the processes of steps S83 to S95 correspond to the processes of steps S41 to S54 and steps S61 to S73, and the processes of the seventh character to the twelfth character are performed.

If the check regarding the twelfth character length is "good" in step S95, the flow advances to step S96 to check the end guard bar, and whether the check is "good" or "non". The process proceeds to step S100 shown in FIG. 26 via the connector 2A. On the other hand, even when the check is “non” in step S93 and step S95, step S100 shown in FIG.
Proceed to.

As shown in FIG. 26, in step S100, the adjacent character length distortion evaluation unit 53 checks the adjacent character length for the sixth character length. Steps S100 to S112 are the same as steps S42 to S54 described above, and correspond to the processing of the sixth character to the first character.

In step S112, if the check of the first character length is "good", the process proceeds to step S113, but if the check is "not good", the process proceeds to step S76 of FIG. The demodulated data up to the second character is output. In step S114, the demodulation unit 51 checks the start guard bar, and if the check is "non", step S7 in FIG.
In step 6, the demodulated data is output.

On the other hand, when the check of the start guard bar is "good" in step S114, the process proceeds to step S115 to invalidate the main demodulation data. this is,
First, although the start guard bar is not detected in step S40, the check of the start guard bar is “good” in step S114 because it is inconsistent and there is a defect somewhere in the data. Because it is considered to be.

Incidentally, step S106 or step S11
If the demodulation is 0 and the demodulation is "non" or 6 characters have not been demodulated, the demodulated data up to the demodulated part is output in step S76 of FIG. On the other hand, in step S80 of FIG. 25, when the demodulator 51 does not detect the center bar, the process proceeds to step S120 of FIG. 26 via the connector 2B.

In step S120, it is determined whether the end guard bar is detected. When the end guard bar is detected, the process proceeds to step S121, and the twelfth character length is checked. If the end guard bar is not detected, the data demodulated up to that point is output in step S76 of FIG. Step S12
As described above, steps 1 to S134 are the same as steps S41 to S54, and correspond to the processing of the twelfth character to the seventh character.

If the 6 characters are not demodulated in step S132, the process proceeds to step S76 in FIG. 25, and the demodulated data up to that point is output. In step S134,
If the check is "good", the flow advances to step S135 to check the center bar. If the check is "non", the process proceeds to step S76 in FIG. 25, and the demodulated data demodulated so far is output.

If the check is "good" in step S136, the flow advances to step S137 to check the sixth character length. If the check is “not”, the process proceeds to step S76 in FIG. 25, and the demodulated data obtained so far is output. On the other hand, step S
If the check is “OK” in step 138, step S1
Proceeding to 39, the demodulated data obtained so far are invalidated.

This means that even though the center bar is not detected in step S80 of FIG. 25, not only the twelfth character to the seventh character but also the center bar and the sixth character exist, which causes a contradiction. Therefore, it is considered that these demodulated data have some defect. FIG. 27 shows the contents of the demodulation processing buffer of the demodulation data buffer group 42 which holds the demodulation data obtained as a result of the above demodulation processing.

Here, the arrow drawn in the area storing each demodulated data indicates the scanning direction. Each demodulated data has the contents as shown in FIG. 27 and is sequentially stored in the direction of the arrow. Each demodulated data is demodulated data after the left guard bar (LGB) is detected as shown in FIG. 9A, and right guard bar (RGB) is shown as shown in FIG.
Of the demodulated data after the detection of the center bar (CB), as shown in FIG. 7C, identification data for identifying whether the demodulated data of the center bar (CB) is detected, “01”, “02”, and “03”.
It consists of the number of left block demodulation characters and the number of right block demodulation characters, and the demodulation data of the left and right blocks.

Here, the number of left block demodulated characters and the number of right block demodulated characters are numbers indicating the maximum number of 6 characters in each block of the barcode of this example and the center bar or guard bar. When the center bar and guard bar are complete, "7" is applied. Each character of demodulated data is represented by 7 bits, and at the 7th bit,
Stores parity configuration information (O / E), and at the 6th bit,
Set "Distortion" flag that indicates the size of adjacent character length, delta distance, and distortion of each bar (distortion is large ... 1, distortion is small ... 0), and demodulation is not possible due to wave error at the 5th bit. Set if 4 bi
A character is represented by t to 1 bit.

At the end of the demodulated data, for example,
Data indicating the end of "#EEH" is set, and "7" in the number of demodulated characters is set when the center bar and guard bar are detected. When the demodulated data is not stored in the areas 80, 81, 82 (16 bytes) of the buffer shown in FIG. 26 for storing the demodulated data, for example, “# 0EEH” indicating that there is no storage is set.

When the demodulated data is obtained, in step S31 shown in FIG. 24, the combination judging section 52 of the bar code synthesizing section 43 is provided with the demodulated data in the demodulated data buffer group 42 shown in FIG. The storage process is performed in the storage buffer. FIG. 28 shows the contents of the storage buffer stored by the storage processing. Unlike the case where the demodulated data buffer configuration shown in FIG. 27 is randomly stored in the order of detection regardless of the type of demodulated data,
The storage buffer stored by the storage process shown in 8 is
The demodulated data is separately stored in the left block buffer shown in FIG. 11B, the right block buffer shown in FIG. 7C, and the CB detection buffer shown in FIG.

It should be noted that FIG. 10A shows the structure of an uninterrupted bar code which is the object of the present embodiment, and FIG.
The storage information of each character is shown. Further, the combination determination unit 52 sets the digit number (the number of characters A to F) information corresponding to each demodulated data in FIG. 29B in the above-mentioned pairing buffer shown in FIG. Based on the contents of the pairing buffer, the combination determination unit 5
In step 2, by judging the divisional reading type, it is judged whether or not there is a readable combination or its type.

In FIG. 29 (a), the "flag character" is a flag code assigned by the EAN committee to a bar code included in the EAN system such as JAN and is a data character. It regulates the module configuration. Here, the "division reading type" means
For example, it means a combination pattern obtained according to the scanning line pattern as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9A shows "two-division reading",
Guard bar (GB) → Center bar (C
The data that passes through B) and is missing in several characters is combined with the data that is missing in several characters by detecting the guard bar by the β scanning line. The figure (b) shows "3-1
"Divisional reading", in which each scanning line (α, β, γ) detects a left guard bar (LGB), a center bar (CB), and a right guard bar (RGB), and synthesizes data directed by several characters Is.

FIG. 10C shows "3-2 division reading", in which the guard bar and the center bar are detected by the complete one block data by the α scanning line and the β scanning line and the γ scanning line in the other block. After that, the missing data is combined with several characters. In the figure, the shaded portion represents an overlapping portion, and when synthesizing data, the data in this overlapping portion must be the same.

Next, with reference to FIG. 31, the operation of the divided read type determination process performed by the combination determination unit 52 of the barcode synthesis unit 43 will be described. Step S14
When 0, the determination unit 52 determines that the number of digits (the number of characters) of the left block of the left block buffer (LGBFXX) (the scanning line in which the left guard bar is first detected) shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not.

Here, the digit number "7" is set when the center bar and the guard bar are detected as described above. Therefore, when the number of digits of the left block of the left block buffer is "7", it means that the left block of the left block buffer is complete. If the number of digits is "7", the process proceeds to step S141, and it is determined whether the number of digits of the right block of the left block buffer is "7". If the number of digits is "7", it indicates that the right block of the left block buffer is also complete, and the process proceeds to step S142.
The left and right blocks are determined to be complete as the read type.

If the number of digits in the right block of the left block buffer is not "7" in step S141, the flow advances to step S143 to determine whether the number of digits in the right block of the right block buffer shown in FIG. Is determined. If the number of digits is determined to be "7", the left and right blocks after the detection of the left guard bar are incomplete, and the right block after the detection of the right guard bar is complete. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S144, and the reading type is half. It is determined to be block reading.

In step S143, it is determined whether the number of digits of the right block in the right block buffer is "7". If the number of digits is not "7", the process proceeds to step S145, and it is determined whether the sum of the number of digits of the right block of the left block buffer and the number of digits of the right block of the right block buffer is "7" or more. To be done. If the sum is "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S146, and it is determined that the read type is divided into two (the left block is complete).

In step S145, if the sum of the number of digits in the right block of the left block buffer and the number of digits in the right block of the right block buffer is not "7" or more (less than "7"), go to step S147. Then, it is determined whether the sum of the right block digit number of the CB detection buffer and the right block digit number of the right block buffer is "7" or more. If it is determined that the sum of the numbers of digits is “7” or more, the process proceeds to step S148, the read type is 3-2 division shown in FIG. 30, and it is determined that the left block is complete, and the combination is performed. It is judged as a possible combination of data.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the sum of the numbers of digits is not "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S163, and the pairing buffer, that is, the left block buffer, the right block buffer, and the BC detection buffer is stored. It is judged that the data cannot be combined. That is, the combination of data stored in these buffers is not judged as demodulated data to be combined.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S140 that the number of digits in the right block of the left block buffer is not "7", the process proceeds to step S150 via connector A.
In step S150, it is determined whether the number of digits of the right block in the right block buffer is "7". If the number of digits is "7", the process proceeds to step S151, and it is determined whether the sum of the number of digits of the left block of the left block buffer and the number of digits of the left block of the right block buffer is "7" or more. To be done.

When the sum of the numbers of digits is "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S152, and it is determined that the right block is a complete division into two and the combination of synthesizable data is the read type. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S151 that the sum of the number of digits is not "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S153, and the sum of the number of digits in the left block of the left block buffer and the number of digits in the left block of the CB detection buffer. Is determined to be "7" or more.

If the sum of the numbers of digits is "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S154, and it is determined that the right block is a complete 3-2 division as a read type and is a combination of synthesizable data. When it is determined in step S153 that the sum is not "7" or more, it is determined that the barcode cannot be read with the combination of the demodulated data stored in these buffer groups.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S150 that the sum of the numbers of digits in the right block of the right block buffer is not "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S60 via connector B.
Go to, and the number of digits in the left block of the right block buffer and C
It is determined whether or not the sum of the number of digits in the left block of the B detection buffer is "7" or more. If the sum is "7" or more, the process proceeds to step S161, and it is determined whether the sum of the number of digits in the right block of the CB detection buffer and the number of digits in the right block buffer is "7" or more.

If the sum is "7" or more, step S1
In step 62, it is determined that the reading type is 3-1 division,
The combination of the data is set as synthesizable data. When it is determined in step S160 or step S161 that the sum is less than "7", the process proceeds to step S163, and the combination of the data is determined to be unsynthesizable data.

As described above, in the case of two divisions,
When either part A or part F of FIG. 29B is “7” and the sum of part B and part F, or the sum of part A and part E is 7 or more, there is an overlapping part of one character or more, Pairing processing is performed assuming that combinations are possible. Further, in the case of 3-1 division, either the A part or the F part in the same figure (b) is not “7”, and the sum of the A part and the C part and the sum of the D part and the F part are different from each other. When the number is 7 or more, the pairing process is performed assuming that each character has one or more overlapping portions.

Further, in the case of 3-2 division, either the A part or the F part is "7", the sum of the B part and the F part, and the A part and the E part.
If the sum of parts is less than "7", the sum of parts A and C, and D
When the sum of the section and the F section is "7" or more, the pairing process is performed on the assumption that each character has one or more overlapping sections.
Next, the process of the operation of the selection / combination unit of the barcode composition unit 43 and the barcode check unit 44 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, in step S170,
The barcode combining unit 43 determines whether or not the division type of the combination of demodulated data described above is complete reading. If the reading type is complete reading, step S
In step 171, a parity (O / E) configuration check is performed using the left block data in the left block buffer. If the parity configuration check is "good", the process proceeds to step S172, and the modulus 10 check is performed on the left and right block data in the left block buffer.

When the parity structure check is "non", the demodulated data is considered to be defective, and the data is not combined. When the barcode combining unit 43 determines in step S170 that the division type is not complete reading, the process proceeds to step S173, and it is determined whether the division type is half block reading.

When it is determined that the divided reading is a half block, the process proceeds to step S174, and the O / E configuration check is performed using the left block data in the left block buffer. If the O / E configuration check is "good", the process proceeds to step S175, and the modulus 10 check is performed on the left block of the left block buffer and the right block of the right block buffer.

When the O / E configuration check is "non",
Since the demodulated data is defective, no synthesis is performed on the data. If it is determined in step S173 that the division type is not half block reading, the process proceeds to step S176.
It is determined whether or not the division type is two-division (left block complete) reading, that is, whether the left block is completely read.

In the case of division into two, the process proceeds to step S177, the left block data in the left block buffer is used,
Perform O / E configuration check. If the O / E configuration check is “good”, the flow proceeds to step S178, and the selection / synthesis unit checks the overlapping portion of the right block data of the left block buffer and the right block data of the right block buffer, and as described above. Perform a simple synthesis.

When the data is synthesized, step S1
Proceeding to 79, the bar code check unit 44 checks the modulus 10 of the right block data which is data-synthesized with the left block data in the left block buffer. If the checks in step S177 and step S178 are "non", the demodulated data is considered to be defective, and the data is not combined.

When the divided reading is not the two-divided reading (complete left block) in step S176, the process proceeds to step S180 via the connector A. In step S180, it is determined whether or not the division type is two-division reading (right block complete). When it is determined that the reading is divided into two (complete in the right block), the process proceeds to step S181, and the overlapping portion of the left block data in the left block buffer and the right block data in the right block buffer is checked and data combination is performed.

If the check is "good", the process proceeds to step S183, and the modulus 10 check is performed on the data-combined left block data and right block data. On the other hand, in step S181 and step S182, if the check is "non", the demodulated data is considered to be defective, and the data is not combined. Step S
If it is determined in 180 that the division type is not 2-division reading (right block is complete), the process proceeds to step S184.

In step S184, the division type is 3-1.
It is determined whether or not the reading is divided. If the division type is 3-1 division reading, the process proceeds to step S185, and the overlapping portion check and the data combination of the left block data of the right block buffer and the left block data of the CB detection buffer are performed. When the data is synthesized, the process proceeds to step S186,
The O / E configuration check of the data-combined left block is performed.

If the check is "good", step S
In step 187, the right block data in the CB detection buffer and the right block data in the left block buffer are checked for duplication and the data is combined. If the data combination is performed, the process proceeds to step S188, and the modulus 10 check is performed on the left and right block data obtained by the data combination.

On the other hand, steps S185 and S18
6 and the check in step S187 is "non", the demodulation data is defective and the data is not combined. If it is determined in step S184 that the division type is not 3-1 division reading, the process proceeds to step S190 via the connector B.

In step S190, the division type is 3-2.
It is determined whether or not the reading is divided. When it is determined that the divided reading is the 3-2 divided reading, the process proceeds to step S191, the left block data in the left block buffer is used, and O / E
Perform a configuration check. If the O / E configuration check is good, the process proceeds to step S192 to check the overlapping portion of the right block data of the CB detection buffer and the right block data of the right block buffer and perform data combination.

If data composition has been performed, step S
Proceeding to 193, the modulus 10 check is performed on the right block data that is data-combined with the left block data in the right block buffer. Steps S191 and S192
If the check is “non”, the demodulated data is considered to be defective, and the data is not combined.

If it is determined in step S190 that the division type is not 3-2 division reading (complete left block),
It proceeds to step S194. In step S194, it is determined whether the division type is 3-2 division reading. If it is determined to be 3-2 divided reading, the process proceeds to step S195.
In step S195, the left block data in the right block buffer and the left block data in the CB detection buffer are checked for overlap and data combination is performed.

If data composition has been carried out, the flow advances to step S196 to check the O / E configuration of the data-composed left block. If the check is good, the process proceeds to step S197, and a modulus 10 check is performed on the data-combined left block data and right block data in the right block buffer.

If the checks in steps S195 and S196 are "not", the demodulated data is considered to be defective, and the data is not combined. Subsequently, the operation of the combining process according to each embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
4 will be described. FIG. 33 shows a process flow chart according to the first, second, fourth and sixth embodiments.

The figure is applicable to any of the divided reading types of 2 division, 3-1, division and 3-2 division.
Further, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, a character demodulated as a result of scanning with two beams (α and β beams, for example, as shown in FIG. 17A) will be described. As shown in the figure,
In step S200, the synthesizing unit determines whether or not overlapping characters are the same data.

If it is determined that the data are the same,
Proceeding to step S201, the check of the duplicated portion of the data is set to "good" (OK). When it is determined in step S200 that the characters in the overlapping parts are not the same, the process proceeds to step S202 and the processes corresponding to the first, second and sixth embodiments are performed. That is, the sorting and combining units 55, 58,
Reference numeral 70 denotes an α beam, which is added to the character at the overlapping position among the demodulated data stored in the demodulated data buffer shown in FIG. Judgment is made based on the presence / absence of the flag “with distortion”.

When it is determined that the distortion is large, the process proceeds to step S203, and it is determined whether the character demodulated by the β beam (scanning line) has a large distortion in the overlapping character. If it is determined that the distortion is large, the process proceeds to step S204, and the selection / combination unit determines whether or not there is an overlapping part in the characters excluding the character having large distortion of two beams.

If it is determined that there is an overlapping portion, the process proceeds to step S205, and it is determined whether or not the overlapping portion characters have the same data (character and position). If the data are the same, the process proceeds to step S206, and the selection and synthesis unit performs data synthesis. On the other hand, step S20
4 and step S205, when it is determined that there is no overlapping portion, the demodulated data is considered to be defective, and data combination is not performed.

In step S203, if the distortion of the overlapping portion character is small in the character demodulated by the β beam, the process proceeds to step S220 via the connector A, and the character demodulated in the α beam and having a large distortion is removed. It is determined whether or not the character has an overlapping portion. If it is determined that there is an overlapping portion, step S221.
Then, it is determined whether or not the overlapped portions are the same data, and if they are the same data, data combination is performed in step S222.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S202 that the character demodulated by the α beam does not have a large distortion in the overlapping portion, the process proceeds to step S210 via the connector B. In step S210, it is determined whether or not the characters in the overlapping portion among the characters demodulated by the β beam have large distortion. If the distortion is large, step S2
Proceeding to step 11, it is determined whether or not there is an overlapping part in the characters excluding the character having a large β beam distortion. If there is an overlapping portion, data combination is performed in step S213, and if there is no overlapping portion, data combination is not performed.

When it is determined in step S210 and step S202 that the distortion of the overlapping portion due to the α beam and the β beam is small, it is determined in step S200 that there is no matching data at the end portion of the overlapping portion. Inconsistent with the judgment made, the data is judged to be the result of some defect, and the data synthesis is not performed. On the other hand, step S
If there is no coincident data at the end of the combined demodulated data at 200, the process proceeds to step S206, and as shown in the fourth embodiment, the leading end or the end of each beam is excluded. It is determined whether or not the duplicated character has an overlapping part, and if there is an overlapping part, step S20.
8, the data combination is performed, and if there is no overlapping part, the data combination is not performed.

Further, FIG. 34 shows a processing flow chart according to the third, fifth and seventh embodiments. FIG. 34 (a) corresponds to the third embodiment, and in step S230,
If the overlapping part data are the same, in step S231,
The check of the overlapping portion is regarded as good, and the data synthesis is performed. On the other hand, if the data of the overlapping portion is not the same, then in step S232, it is determined whether the characters of the overlapping portion are the same in the form of removing the character that has been fetched less frequently.
Data synthesis is performed in step S233.

Further, FIG. 34 (b) corresponds to the fifth embodiment and is effective when the division type is two divisions. In step S240, for example, of the demodulated data obtained as a result of scanning the scanning lines as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not the characters in the overlapping portion are the same data, and if the data in the overlapping portion are the same, step S24.
At 1, the check of the data duplication part is judged to be good, and the data synthesis is performed. If the duplicate characters are not the same data in step S240, the flow advances to step S242 to prioritize the demodulated data in which the guard bar and the center bar are detected, and to remove some characters of the end data of the demodulated data in which only the guard bar is detected.

In step S243, it is determined whether or not duplicate characters have the same data. When the overlapping part characters are the same data, the data is combined, and when the overlapping part characters are not the same data, the data is not combined. Further, FIG. 34C corresponds to the seventh embodiment, and the check of the duplicated portion of the data is the same in each of the divided reading type 2 division and 3-1 division.
In addition, in FIG. 34C, a character demodulated by two beams (α and β beams, for example, as shown in FIG. 18C) will be described for simplification of description.

At step S250, α beam (scan line)
It is determined whether the wave error flag is set in the demodulated data demodulated in. If the wave error flag is set, data synthesis is not performed.
On the other hand, if the wave error flag is not set, the process proceeds to step S251, and it is determined whether or not the wave error flag is set in the demodulated data demodulated by the β beam (scanning line). If the wave error flag is set, data synthesis is not performed. On the other hand, if the wave error flag is not set, it is determined in step S252 whether or not the characters in the overlapping portion are the same, and if they are the same data, step S253.
The data is synthesized in.

In the above embodiment, the divided reading type has been described only in the case of three types as shown in FIG. 30, but the present invention is not limited to this case, and various types of reproducibly scanning a barcode may be possible. . Further, in the above example, only the standard version of the bar code symbol of the UPC has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this case and can be applied to, for example, bar code symbols for physical distribution product codes.

[0130]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When synthesizing the demodulated data, determine the presence or type of combination that can reproduce the barcode, and according to the combination,
Perform synthesis. Therefore, as compared with the case of performing the synthesis immediately, only the synthesis with a high possibility of reproducing the barcode is performed, so that the barcode can be read efficiently and promptly.

Further, according to the present invention, when synthesizing the demodulated data, it is determined whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing the bar code, the type is evaluated, the deviation from the predetermined standard is evaluated, and based on the deviation, The demodulated data or characters forming the demodulated data are selected and combined. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of combinations of demodulated data required for data combination, so that the time required to complete the barcode reproduction is shortened, which is simple, efficient, and
In addition, the bar code can be quickly read.

Further, since characters that may be misread are excluded and only valid data that is not misread is selected, accurate and reliable reading can be performed. Furthermore, according to the present invention, not only is the presence or absence of a combination capable of reproducing a bar code or the type thereof determined, but also the number of characters in the combined demodulation data, the demodulation status of the character such as the demodulation position, etc. is evaluated, The demodulated data or the characters forming the demodulated data are selected and combined based on the demodulation situation.

Therefore, the number of combinations of demodulated data required for data combination can be reduced, so that the time required to complete the bar code reproduction is shortened, and the bar code can be efficiently and promptly read. be able to. Also, eliminate characters that may be misread,
Only valid data that is not likely to be misread is selected, so
Accurate and reliable reading can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram according to the second invention.

FIG. 3 is a principle block diagram according to a third invention.

FIG. 4 is a principle block diagram according to a fourth invention.

FIG. 5 is a principle flowchart according to the fifth invention.

FIG. 6 is a principle flow chart according to a sixth invention.

FIG. 7 is a principle flow chart according to a seventh invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a device configuration according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a main part of the barcode reading apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing distortion according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing distortion of delta distance according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing correspondence between delta distance and demodulated data according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of reading according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of reading according to fourth, fifth and seventh embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing distortion according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an overall process flow chart according to an embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart (1) showing the bar code demodulating process according to the first, second, fourth and sixth embodiments.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart (2) showing the bar code demodulating process according to the first, second, fourth and sixth embodiments.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a configuration of a buffer related to demodulation processing of demodulated data according to an embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a configuration of a buffer related to a storage process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the contents of a pairing buffer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing division reading types according to the embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing divided reading type determination processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing composite data creation and modulus 10 check processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a comparison process of data duplication parts according to the first, second, fourth, and sixth embodiments.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart according to third, fifth and seventh embodiments.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram according to a conventional example.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing reading according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, (50) ... Scanning / extracting means (scanning / extracting section) 11, (51) ... Demodulating means (demodulating section) 12, (52) ... Combination judging means (combination judging section) 13, 19, (53, 56) , 68) ... Deviation evaluation means (adjacent character length distortion evaluation section, delta distance distortion evaluation section, module number distortion evaluation section) 14 ... Combining means 15, 18, 22, (55, 58, 61, 64, 67,
70, 73) ... Selective synthesis means (selective synthesis section) 16, 20, (59, 62) ... Demodulation status evaluation means (character number calculation section, last demodulated character detection section, guard bar / center bar passing data detection section, wave error detection section) )

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A scanning / extracting means for scanning a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam and extracting bar width data from its reflection, and demodulation for demodulating the extracted bar width data to create demodulated data. Means, a combination judging means for judging whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing the bar code in the created demodulated data, and a combination means for combining the demodulated data or a character forming the demodulated data according to the combination. And a bar code reader. 2. A scanning / extracting means for scanning a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam and extracting bar width data from its reflection, and demodulation for demodulating the extracted bar width data to create demodulated data. Means, a combination judging means for judging whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code in the generated demodulated data, and a deviation evaluating means for evaluating a deviation of the extracted bar width data from a predetermined standard. And a selecting / combining unit that selects demodulated data or a character forming the demodulated data based on the deviation and combines the selected demodulated data or characters according to the combination. 3. Scanning / extracting means for scanning a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as light rays and extracting bar width data from its reflection, and demodulating the extracted bar width data to create demodulated data. A demodulation unit, a combination determination unit that determines whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a barcode in the created demodulation data, and a demodulation status of characters such as the number of characters of the demodulation data and the demodulation position. A bar code having demodulation status evaluation means for evaluating the demodulation status and selection / combination means for selecting the demodulation data or the characters forming the demodulation data based on the demodulation status and synthesizing the selected demodulation data or characters according to the combination. Reader. 4. Scanning / extracting means for scanning a bar code with electromagnetic radiation such as light rays, and extracting bar width data from its reflection, and demodulating the extracted bar width data to create demodulated data. Demodulation means, combination judgment means for judging whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code in the created demodulated data, and deviation evaluation for evaluating deviation of the extracted bar width data from a predetermined standard. Means, demodulation status evaluation means for evaluating the demodulation status of the character such as the number of characters forming the demodulated data, demodulation position, etc .; And a selecting / combining means for combining the selected demodulated data or characters according to the combination. 5. A bar code is scanned with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam, bar width data is extracted from its reflection, the deviation of the extracted bar width data from a predetermined standard is evaluated, and the bar width data is extracted. Demodulate bar width data,
Create demodulation data, determine whether or not there is a combination that can reproduce the barcode in the created demodulation data, or determine the type, and select the demodulation data or the characters that form the demodulation data based on the evaluated deviation. A barcode reading method for synthesizing selected demodulated data or characters according to the combination. 6. A bar code is scanned by electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam, bar width data is extracted from its reflection, the extracted bar width data is demodulated, demodulated data is created, and created. For the demodulated data, determine whether or not there is a combination that can reproduce the bar code or its type, evaluate the demodulation status of the characters such as the number of characters forming the combined demodulation data, the demodulation position, etc., and based on the demodulation status. A bar code reading method for selecting demodulated data or characters thereof and synthesizing the selected demodulated data or characters according to the combination. 7. A bar code is scanned with electromagnetic radiation such as a light beam, bar width data is extracted from the reflection, the deviation of the extracted bar width data from a predetermined standard is evaluated, and the bar width data is extracted. Demodulate bar width data,
A bar code reading method of creating demodulated data, determining whether or not there is a combination capable of reproducing a bar code in the created demodulated data, or its type, and synthesizing the demodulated data or character according to the combination.