JPS605407Y2 - Close contact imaging device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a close-contact imaging device that images an object by coming into close contact with it.

For example, the conventional method for reading barcode labels in the P,0.5 (POlntOfSale) system is to stroke the barcode label with a light pen.
In some cases, a product with a barcode label is placed on a reading stand and the image is taken from below with a television camera to be read.

However, each of these methods has the following drawbacks.

That is, in the former case, when a barcode label is stroked with a light pen, it is necessary to stroke the entire set of codes at a substantially constant speed, and the operation requires a certain level of skill.

Furthermore, the latter method is difficult to apply to heavy products because it is necessary to place the product with the barcode label affixed on a reading stand.

This idea was made in view of the above points, and it is a close-contact imaging device that can be used to read barcode labels, etc., which is easy to handle, does not require any skill, and does not require lifting even heavy products. This is what we are trying to provide.

Hereinafter, this invention will be explained in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a base, which is composed of a plurality of pillars 11 having a certain height, a transparent cylindrical member 12 inserted between these pillars, and the like.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an imaging unit, which includes a lens 21 that focuses a light image of a subject (described later), and an image sensor 22 that is configured by arranging a large number of solid-state photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes in a plane.
, an amplifier 23 for amplifying the output signal of the image sensor 22, and a scan control circuit 24 for sequentially scanning each photodiode circuit of the image sensor 22 and extracting each signal.

30 is a connection line with an external device (not shown),
Consists of output signal lines, power supply lines, control signal lines, etc.

Further, 100 is a product, and an object to be read, such as a barcode label 101, is pasted on the product.

Next, the operation of the close-contact imaging device of this invention will be explained.

When the close-contact imaging device of the present invention is applied to the barcode label 101 placed on the product 100, the barcode label 1
01 is illuminated by ambient light, its light image is reflected in the transparent portion of the base section 10 and the lens 21 in the imaging section 20.
through which an image is formed on the image sensor 22.

At this time, since the distance between the barcode label 101 and the lens 21 is maintained constant by the base section 10, defocus does not occur.

The optical image of the barcode label 101 formed on the image sensor 22 as described above is sequentially scanned and extracted by the scan control circuit 24, amplified by the amplifier 23, and then taken out to the outside through the connection line 30. be done.

Note that in order to detect barcode information from an image signal, it is necessary to align the barcode alignment direction with the scanning line direction, but simply placing the close-contact imaging device in close contact with the barcode label will not allow these directions to match. Since there is no such thing, we will process it using the following methods.

In other words, there are two methods: performing scanning control to rotate the imaging scanning plane and transmitting information when the barcode alignment direction matches the scanning direction; There is a method in which the captured image signals are once recorded in a planar memory in a form similar to that used for image capture, and this is read out while changing the scanning plane, and information is transmitted when the barcode arrangement direction matches the scanning direction. be.

As described above, according to this invention, the imaging device is compact, and special illumination is not required even when performing close-contact imaging, and defocus does not occur.

In addition, since a solid-state image sensor is used in the imaging section, it is easy to handle because it does not produce microphonics due to impact unlike an image pickup tube.

Furthermore, since the imaging section is attached to the base having a transparent portion, it is possible to easily take an image of the subject in close contact with the subject.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the invention. 10 is a base part, 11 is a column, 12 is a transparent cylindrical member, 2
0 is an imaging unit, 21 is a lens, 22 is an image sensor, 2
3 is an amplifier, 24 is a scanning control circuit, 30 is a connection line, 10
0 is the product, and 101 is the barcode label.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A lens that focuses a light image of an object to be read; an image sensor that captures the light image focused by the lens, which is separated from a large number of solid-state photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a plane;
an imaging unit including an amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the image sensor and a scan control circuit that sequentially scans the image sensor; and a base unit that is provided between the imaging unit and the subject and has a transparent portion and a constant height. A close-contact imaging device comprising: the subject being a barcode label attached to a product; and the transparent portion being a transparent cylindrical member attached to a plurality of pillars.