JPH11282946A - Radio communication type two-dimensional code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small code reader which consumes small electric power and has an excellent handy function by adding a photoelectric transducer, an A/D conversion means, etc., to the slave unit of a reader side and adding an image processing circuit, a decoder, etc., to the master unit of a computer side. SOLUTION: The CCD camera 10 of a slave unit 3 placed at a reader side reads a coded image to be recorded with a two-dimensional contrast and outputs analog data. Then an A/D conversion circuit 12 converts the analog data into digital data, and a transmitter 17 and an antenna 18 transmit the digital data. Meanwhile, an antenna 20 and a receiver 21 of a master unit 5 placed at a computer side receive the digital data. An image processing circuit 13 processes the received digital data. A decoder 14 decodes the processed digital data outputted from the circuit 13 and outputs the decoded character data to a computer 15. The circuit 13 and the decoder 14 are not arranged in the unit 3, thus a small and light a handy part is made small and light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a two-dimensional code reader for reading an image recorded on a print medium by converting a character or the like into a two-dimensional code and transmitting the image data by wireless communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A two-dimensional code is obtained by coding character information or the like in two-dimensional light and dark, and is more information-intensive than a one-dimensional light and dark code such as a conventionally used bar code. Recently, attention has been paid to the rapid increase in the amount. As shown in FIG. 6, one example of the two-dimensional code is a cutout symbol mark C displayed at three of the four corners of the square display area 1 and the lightness and darkness inside D are coded characters. Such a two-dimensional code
Like a conventional barcode, it is recorded on a print medium such as paper, distributed or stored, read by a two-dimensional code reader with a photoelectric conversion element such as a video camera, laser scanner, or manual scanner, and restored to character information. The data is transferred to a computer and used as management information.

As a two-dimensional code reader, for example, a CCD
When a video camera having (charge-coupled device) elements is employed, the image data captured by the camera tilt or lens distortion may be reduced even though the display area 1 should be an upright square (see FIG. 6). FIG.
(A), trapezoidal shape (b), curved shape (c), and the like, which are not necessarily faithful to the original image. The character information cannot be correctly restored from the image data of the two-dimensional code without correcting these defects. Modification and processing of image data and restoration of character information can also be performed by software processing in the computer. However, if the two-dimensional code reader is highly independent of the computer (for example, if a unique display function or memory function is used) Character information must be restored before the image data is transferred to the computer.

[0004] The flow of data when character information is restored from image data and then transferred to a computer is as follows.
The description using the block diagram of FIG. 8 is roughly as follows. The analog data output from the CCD 10 is signal-shaped by an AGC (automatic gain control circuit) 11, and
The data is converted into digital data by a D (analog-digital conversion circuit) 12. This digital data is stored in the image processing circuit 1
After necessary processing such as correction and processing is performed in step 3, the decoder 14 decodes the character code. This character-coded data is input to the computer 15.

Heretofore, there has been a two-dimensional code reader incorporating a wireless communication device. In the wireless communication, in FIG. 8, the data decoded by the decoder 14, that is, the character-coded data to be input to the computer 15 is sent from the transmitter on the reader side (slave unit), and the data on the computer side (master unit) is transmitted. It is received by the receiver.

[0006]

The conventional wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader described above includes a large number of circuits in the slave unit, so that the slave unit is large in size, consumes a large amount of power, and has a handy function. It was hard to say what was important.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader which is small in size, consumes little power, and emphasizes a handy function.

[0008]

A wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, reads a code image recorded in two-dimensional light and dark into a slave unit on the reader side. A photoelectric conversion unit that outputs analog data, a circuit that converts the analog data to digital data, and a transceiver that oscillates the digital data,
A transmitter / receiver for receiving digital data to a master unit on a computer side, an image processing circuit for processing the received digital data, and a processor for decoding processed digital data output from the image processing circuit and converting the character data to a computer And a decoder for outputting to

This wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader includes a circuit from photoelectric conversion means to an image processing circuit.
Since the image processing circuit and the decoder occupying a considerable part are not arranged in the slave unit, the handy part can be reduced in size and weight, and the power consumption can be reduced. On the other hand, since the master unit in which the image processing circuit and the decoder are arranged is fixedly installed, the influence of the increase in the size and the increase in power consumption due to the arrangement of the decoder is negligible. Although transmitting the analog image before converting the code image into digital data as it is enables the analog-to-digital conversion circuit to be transferred from the slave unit to the master unit, the amount of data transmitted and received wirelessly becomes enormous. Is not preferred.

A wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader according to the present invention comprises a photoelectric conversion means for reading a code image recorded in two-dimensional light and dark and outputting analog data to a slave unit on the reader side; A circuit for converting the digital data, an image processing circuit for processing the digital data, and a transceiver for oscillating processed digital data output from the image processing circuit. It has a transmitter / receiver for receiving, and a decoder for decoding the received digital data and outputting the character data to a computer.
In this wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader, the handy portion can be reduced in size and weight because the decoder is not arranged in the slave unit.

In the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of the present invention, means for compressing the digital data is provided at a stage preceding the transceiver of the slave unit, and compression / decompression means is provided at a stage subsequent to the transceiver of the master unit. Is preferred. Since the data output from the image processing circuit is the data obtained by binarizing the entire code image, the amount of information is large, but the data compression function is added to the slave unit and the compression / decompression function is added to the master unit. As a result, the data oscillated from the transceiver is reduced, and the communication time is shortened.

Further, the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of the present invention can be properly implemented by arranging a plurality of slave units for one master unit. The fixedly installed master unit can greatly increase the processing capacity as compared with the slave unit in the handy part, and can be operated efficiently by arranging a large number of slave units. In particular, with such a configuration, data sent from a plurality of slave units can be processed and restored by one image processing circuit and a decoder arranged in the master unit, which is efficient.

Further, in the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of the present invention, it is preferable that both the transceiver of the slave unit and the transceiver of the master unit are both transceivers. By using the transmission / reception device as described above, the restored character data can be sent from the master device to the slave device, and this data can be used when a display or a warning device is attached to the slave device.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader to which the present invention is applied. This wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader includes a handy (hand-held) portion, that is, a child device 3 and a fixedly installed master device 5. A video camera (CCD) 10 having a charge couple device and an automatic gain control circuit (AGC)
11, an analog-digital conversion circuit (A / D) 12, a transmitter (RF) 17, and an antenna 18 are arranged. An antenna 20, a receiver (RF) 21, an image processing circuit 13, and a decoder 14 are arranged in the base unit 5. The decoder 14 is connected to a computer 15.

The image photographed by the CCD camera 10 is shown in FIG.
, The number of photoelectric conversion elements (the number of pixels) of the CCD camera 10 is 512 ×
512 pixels (bits) = 262 Kb is sufficient, and the camera 10 itself may be a monochrome camera. Since the distortion of the objective lens of the camera 10 is also corrected by the image processing circuit 13, some distortion is allowed. The automatic gain control circuit 11 amplifies an analog signal of an image output from the CCD camera 10 and shapes the waveform, and a commercially available discrete chip can be used.

The image processing circuit 13 is preferably constituted by a RICS microcomputer from the viewpoint of processing speed, and it can cut out three symbol symbols C from the image digital data of the display area 1 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Recognized,
It has the function of rearranging and outputting image digital data so that they are aligned. The decoder 14 includes the image processing circuit 1
A character code is output by referring to the brightness (see FIG. 6) of the inside D of the display area 1 of the image digital data input from the display area 3 and a code table stored in advance.

The transmitter 17 is a digital transmitter and has a digital modulation circuit and an oscillator. The receiver 21 is a digital receiver and has a tuner and a digital demodulation circuit.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of this embodiment
, The analog-digital conversion circuit 12 and the transmitter 17
And a data compression circuit 23 is inserted between them. A compression / decompression circuit 24 for decompressing compressed data is inserted after the receiver 21 of the master unit 5, that is, between the receiver 21 and the image processing circuit 13.

The wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of this embodiment operates as follows.

When a two-dimensional code as shown in FIG. 6 is photographed by the CCD camera 10 of the slave unit 3, an analog signal corresponding to the brightness is output. This analog signal is amplified and shaped by the automatic gain control circuit 11. In the case where the CCD camera 10 is rotated, for example, during shooting with the CCD camera 10, as shown in FIG. Has been output. The analog signal input from the automatic gain control circuit 11 to the analog-digital conversion circuit 12 is converted into a digital signal, and the data compression circuit 23 compresses the signal. The compressed data is modulated into a transmission wave by the transmitter 17 and oscillated from the antenna 18.

The receiver 21 of the master unit 5 receives the transmission wave via the antenna 20 and demodulates the wave into a digital signal. The demodulated digital signal is analog-decompressed by a compression / decompression circuit 24.
The digital signal is decompressed into a digital signal equivalent to the digital signal output from the digital conversion circuit 12 and input to the image processing circuit 13. The inclination described above in the image processing circuit 13 (see FIG. 7A)
And the like are corrected to become upright square image data. The decoder 14 restores the character code from the brightness (see FIG. 6) of the digital signal of the image data and outputs the character code to the computer 15. The computer 15 uses the character code data as management information in a conventional manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader has a configuration in which an image processing circuit 13 is disposed in a parent device 5 on the computer side and an image processing circuit is omitted in the child device 3 on the reader side. Good. In this case, the handset 3 is slightly heavier than the device of FIG.

The transmitter 17 of the slave 3 of the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the receiver 21 of the master 5 are replaced with the slave 3 as shown in FIG. , A transmission / reception device (RF) 27 and the master device 5 may employ a transmission / reception device (RF) 28. Transmitter / receiver 2
7 and the transmission / reception unit 28 are homogeneous digital transmitters, and include a digital modulation-demodulation circuit, an oscillator, and a tuner. The transmission / reception unit 28 of the master unit 5 is connected to the output of the decoder 14. A liquid crystal display (LED) 25 is connected to the transceiver 27 of the slave unit 3.

In the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the character code output from the decoder 14 of the base unit 5 is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 28 of the base unit 5 to the transmission / reception unit 27 of the handset 3. It is transmitted wirelessly. Then, the character restored from the two-dimensional code photographed by the CCD camera 10 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 25 of the child device 3. In this wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader, a display lamp, a warning sound generator, or the like may be employed instead of the liquid crystal display 25.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader, one base unit 5 which is fixedly installed corresponds to a handset unit 3 ₁ , 3 _2.
33. _Three or more units may be provided.

[0027]

As described above in detail, in the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader to which the present invention is applied, since the weight part of the circuit to be constituted is arranged in the base unit, the handset part of the handset is not used. It is small, consumes little power, and is handy. Also, the battery mounted on the slave unit has a long life. On the other hand, since the base unit in which the heavy portion of the circuit is arranged is inherently fixedly installed, it is hardly affected by the weight increase, and a commercial power supply can be used as the power supply. Therefore, the effect of power consumption is very small.

Further, even with such a circuit configuration, the accuracy of the character code restored from the two-dimensional code does not fluctuate. Further, a slight change in the circuit allows a warning or the like to be issued in the slave unit, and the weight of the circuit can be used more efficiently by using a large number of slave units in the master unit 1.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader.

FIG. 3 is a partial block diagram of another embodiment of the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader.

FIG. 4 is a partial block diagram of another embodiment of the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader.

FIG. 5 is a partial block diagram of another embodiment of the wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a two-dimensional code read by a wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display area of a two-dimensional code captured by a CCD camera of a wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a conventional two-dimensional code reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a two-dimensional code display area, 3 is a slave, 5 is a master, 1
0 is a CCD camera, 11 is an automatic gain control circuit, 12 is an analog-digital conversion circuit, 13 is an image processing circuit, 14
Is a decoder, 15 is a computer, 17 is a transmitter, 18
20 is an antenna, 21 is a receiver, 23 is a data compression circuit, 24 is a compression / decompression circuit, 25 is a liquid crystal display, 27.2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a transmission / reception device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A photoelectric conversion means for reading a code image recorded in two-dimensional light and dark and outputting analog data, a circuit for converting the analog data to digital data, and a circuit for converting the digital data into digital data. A transmitter / receiver for transmitting digital data to a parent device on the computer side, an image processing circuit for processing the received digital data, and processed digital data output from the image processing circuit And a decoder for decoding the character data and outputting the character data to a computer. 2. A photoelectric conversion means for reading a code image recorded in two-dimensional light and dark and outputting analog data to a slave unit on the reader side, a circuit for converting the analog data into digital data, and a circuit for converting the digital data into digital data. An image processing circuit that performs processing, a transceiver that oscillates processed digital data output from the image processing circuit, a transceiver that receives digital data to a parent device on the computer side,
A wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader having a decoder for decoding the received digital data and outputting the character data to a computer. 3. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for compressing said digital data at a stage preceding said transceiver of said slave unit, and means for decompressing said digital data at a stage subsequent to said transceiver of said master unit. 2. A wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader according to item 1. 4. The wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the slave units are arranged for one of the master units. 5. The wireless communication type two-dimensional code reader according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver of the slave unit and the transceiver of the master unit are both transmission / reception units.