JPS6373488A - Bar code reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow to increase the number of columns of a character included in a bar code by providing a means to display plural types of bar codes arranged in the direction orthogonal to the arranging direction of a bar to constitute the bar code on the same merchandise and to prohibit the synthesization of the data read from different types of bar codes. CONSTITUTION:At a bar code reading device, a switch to select either of a through mode and a synthetic mode is provided. Plural types of bar codes 1a and 1b are displayed on the same merchandise and the through mode is selected. Thus, the possibility that the data read from different types of bar codes are synthesized is eliminated, and the data only composed of upper step left side data 1aL and upper step right side data 1aR or lower step left side data 1bL and lower step right side data 1bR can be fetched.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] There is a limit to the number of products that can be identified by 8 to 13 digit characters included in the same barcode. Therefore, multiple types of barcodes are displayed in parallel on the same product to increase the number of digits of characters that can be used to identify products.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a barcode reading device for reading barcodes displayed on products, and more particularly to a barcode reading method that makes it possible to increase the number of digits of characters included in a barcode.

A bar that reads barcodes displayed on products is used as an information input device (PO5-terminal) to reflect data when product sales occur in inventory management and purchasing, promote sales operations, and save labor. Code reading devices are widely used.

However, regular barcodes consisting of 8 to 13 digit characters encoded by a combination of black bars and white bars of different thicknesses have a limit to the number of products that can be identified. At sales counters, etc., it is desired to develop a barcode reading method that can increase the number of digits of characters.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional barcode reading method.

fIS4 diagram (al is JAN (Japanese
8-digit barcode based on Article Number) code, Figure 4 (b) is the same <1 based on JAN code
It shows a 3-digit barcode. As shown in the figure, the barcode 1 consists of a black bar and a white bar (the part sandwiched between the black bars) of different thicknesses, and the characters in each digit are encoded by the combination of the bars, and by the construction of the characters. It is organized so that products can be identified.

In addition, the barcode 1 is divided into two areas, left and right, by a center bar consisting of two thin black bars 11 and three thin white bars 12, and an 8-digit barcode has 4-digit characters in each of the left and right areas. The 13-digit barcode contains 7 and 6 characters in the left and right regions, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), the barcode reading device uses a light source 2.
Coherent light 3 emitted from the bar code 1 is irradiated via a scanning device 4 to the barcode 1, and the reflected light is again focused on a photodetector 5 via the scanning device 1 and converted into an electrical signal.

Such a barcode reading device has two demodulation modes, a penetration mode and a composite mode, and the scanning method of the coherent light 3 differs depending on each demodulation mode.

Penetration mode is coherent light 3 irradiated on barcode 1
By scanning as shown by arrow A, as shown in Fig. 5 ('b
), the data IL included in the left area of barcode 1 is followed by the data IR included in the right area.
can be read.

On the other hand, in the synthesis mode, the coherent light 3 irradiated on the barcode 1 is scanned diagonally as shown by arrows B and C, and the data included in the left and right @ areas read separately by each scan is read in the reading device. The data are combined into one piece of data as shown in Figure 5 (C1).

In these two demodulation modes, in the penetration mode, it is necessary to match the scanning direction of the coherent light 3 and the arrangement direction of the bars so that the coherent light 3 passes over all the bars that make up the barcode 1, which is a restriction in handling. The conditions are great. On the other hand, in the synthesis mode, the coherent light 3 only needs to pass over either the left or right region, so there are fewer constraints on matching the scanning direction of the coherent light 3 with the bar arrangement direction.

Therefore, conventional barcode reading devices are easy to handle.
It uses a barcode reading method using composite mode.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing problems in the conventional barcode reading method.

According to the JAN code, the first two digits are characters that indicate nationality (the code for Japan is 49), and the characters that can be used to identify products are 6 digits for 8-digit barcodes and 11 digits for 13-digit barcodes. It is.

For general purposes, this number of digits is sufficient, but in clothing stores that handle a large variety of products, 11 digits is not enough for characters that can be used to identify products, so for example, as shown in Figure 6 (a). As shown in , there are two types of barcodes la, which are divided into two regions, one on the left and one on the right.
Attempts have been made to display lbs in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bars are arranged.

When such a barcode is read by a device designed based on the conventional barcode reading method, as shown in FIG.
In addition to combining the data 1bL on the lower left side and the data 1bR on the lower right side, there is a possibility that the data 1aL on the upper left side and the data 1bR1 on the lower right side, or the data 1bL on the lower left side and the data 1aR on the upper right side are combined6. There is no problem if the data 1aL on the left side of the upper row and the data 1aR on the right side of the upper row are combined, the data 1bL on the left side of the lower row and the data 1bR on the lower row right side are combined.
If the data 1aR on the upper right side are combined, it is clearly a misreading. That is, when a device designed based on the conventional barcode reading method reads barcodes displayed in parallel, misreading occurs.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the barcode reading method according to the present invention.

The above problem arises because the data obtained from the left and right areas of two types of barcodes are configured so that they can be freely combined, and the barcode is configured as shown in Figure 1 (a). A plurality of ffI! arrayed in a direction perpendicular to the bar array direction! This problem is solved by the barcode reading method of the present invention, which displays the barcodes la and lb of 1 on the same product and at least provides a means for prohibiting the combination of data read from different types of barcodes in the reading device.

[Effect]

In FIG. 1(b), for example, data 1aL on the left side of the upper row, data 1aR1 on the right side of the upper row, or data 1b on the left side of the lower row.
Only data in which the data in the left and right areas are included in the same barcode, such as L and data 1bR on the right side of the lower row, is imported, such as data 1aL on the left side of the upper row and data 1bR1 on the right side of the lower row, or data 1bL on the left row of the lower row and data 1aR on the upper right row, etc. ,
By providing a reading device with means for inhibiting the combination of data read from different types of barcodes, misreading caused by displaying barcodes in parallel can be eliminated, and the number of digits of characters can be increased by displaying them in parallel.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 2, the barcode reading device is provided with a switch for selecting either the penetration mode or the combination mode,
By displaying multiple types of barcodes LA and LB on the same product and selecting the penetration mode, there is no possibility that the data read from different barcodes will be combined, and the data 1aL on the left side of the upper row and the data on the right side of the upper row 1a
Only data consisting of R1 or data 1bL on the lower left side and data 1bR on the lower right side can be captured.

In addition, in Fig. 3, for multiple types of barcodes la and lb, a code indicating the type of each barcode is attached to the first digit of the left and right areas, and the data included in the left and right areas read separately. When composing data, the codes indicating the barcode types are checked, thereby prohibiting the compositing of data read from different types of barcodes. For example, the upper barcode adds data starting with an even number to the left and right areas, and the lower barcode adds data starting with an odd number to the left and right areas, and prohibits the combination of data starting with an even number and data starting with an odd number. Accordingly, only the data consisting of the upper left data 1aL and the upper right data 1aR1 or the lower left data 1bL and the lower right data 1bR can be captured.

As a result, misreading caused by displaying barcodes in parallel is eliminated, and the number of digits of characters can be increased by displaying barcodes in parallel.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a barcode reading method that makes it possible to increase the number of digits of characters included in a barcode.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the barcode reading method according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 5 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional barcode reading method, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing problems in the conventional barcode reading method. (a) L scale (b) The present invention lKonauba'-Ko\kiSomasakata6〉VutachiriThe same figure 1Kiritsuki - Ichijioka Ita jΣ1S figure 2 R < (1) (b) 4th m (b) (C) Dimensions, 4 knowledge bar J-) a small amount r people Σ development diagram 35 Figure < a) R (b) Ien Zhu M゛-Code Reading H nu direction '8 (Aroma μ door,?
Figure 6 shows

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a barcode reading device that irradiates a barcode displayed on a product with coherent light via a scanning device and reads the barcode, the barcode is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of bars constituting the barcode. A barcode reading method characterized in that a plurality of arranged barcodes are displayed on the same product, and a reading device is provided with a means for at least prohibiting the combination of data read from different types of barcodes.