WO2009096711A2

WO2009096711A2 - Barcode scanner and barcode reading method

Info

Publication number: WO2009096711A2
Application number: PCT/KR2009/000429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin Tae Kim
Original assignee: Bluebird Soft Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-01-29
Filing date: 2009-01-29
Publication date: 2009-08-06
Also published as: KR20090083231A; WO2009096711A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a barcode scanner and a barcode reading method. The barcode scanner of the present invention includes a laser scanner for outputting first data through laser scanning, an image scanner for outputting second data through image scanning, and a processor connected to the laser scanner and the image scanner that controls the operation of the laser scanner and the operation of the image scanner. Whereby, the barcode scanner of the present invention is capable of reading one-dimensional barcodes and two-dimensional barcodes and improving barcode reading speed.

Description

Barcode Scanner and Barcode Reading Method

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a barcode scanner and a method of reading the same, and a barcode scanner capable of reading one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes in a single device and a method of reading the same.

The barcode consists of a combination of optically readable black bars and white spaces, and contains information such as the manufacturer, the type of product, and the price. The bar code makes it easy to sell and manage the product. It is used.

Since the one-dimensional barcode has a structure in which black bars and white spaces are arranged in one dimension, it is easy to receive and read the light reflected from the one-dimensional barcode, but there is a limit to expressing a large amount of information.

In order to receive and read the light reflected from the one-dimensional barcode, the thickness and spacing of the black bar and the white space must be greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The size of the information is inevitably increased, and as the size of the one-dimensional barcode increases, the reading device for reading it also becomes large, which makes it practically impossible to use.

Therefore, a two-dimensional bar code with black bars and white spaces arranged in two dimensions has been proposed and used. In the case of such two-dimensional barcodes, the thickness and spacing of the black bars and white spaces are so small that it is difficult to read them optically. Therefore, an apparatus for reading a two-dimensional bar code generally uses a method of capturing an image of a two-dimensional bar code and then comparing and calculating pixel information of the photographed two-dimensional bar code.

Due to the difference between the reading methods of the 1D and 2D barcodes, the scanning time and decoding time of the 2D barcode are generally longer than that of the 1D barcode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reader capable of laser scanning and image scanning, and to quickly read information obtained by laser scanning and image scanning, and a method of reading the same.

According to the present invention, it is possible to read regardless of the type of barcode, and the reading speed is improved due to the scanning and decoding processing in parallel, and there is no need to separately install a laser scanner and an image scanner.

1 is a perspective view according to an embodiment of a barcode scanner according to the present invention;

2 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of a barcode scanner according to the present invention;

3 is a signal flow diagram of a barcode scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a signal flow diagram of a barcode scanner according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

5 and 6 are signal flow diagrams according to the decoding success of FIG.

A barcode scanner according to the present invention for achieving the object of the present invention, a laser scanner for outputting the first data through the laser scan, an image scanner for outputting the second data through the image scan, and the laser scanner and the image scanner And a processor connected to and controlling the operation of the laser scanner and the operation of the image scanner.

Meanwhile, the barcode reading method according to the present invention alternates between a first scan step of acquiring first data using a laser, a second scan step of acquiring an image by acquiring an image, and the first scan and the second scan. Controlling to be done as an enemy.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view according to an embodiment of a barcode scanner according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the barcode scanner includes a laser scanner 130 for laser scanning, an image scanner 140 for scanning an image, and a processor (not shown) connected to the laser scanner 130 and the image scanner 140. . The barcode scanner may further include an interface (not shown) that receives a user input and transmits a signal to the processor 100.

The laser scanner 130 includes a laser generation module (not shown) for generating a laser and a scan window 132 for irradiating a laser to a barcode and scanning the reflected light. The laser scanner 130 scans the reflected light through the scan window 132, converts the reflected light into a digital signal, and transmits the converted light to the processor 100.

The image scanner 140 captures an image through a camera 142 which captures an image, for example, photographs a barcode, converts the barcode into a digital signal, and transmits the barcode to the processor 100. The image scanner 140 may include at least one lighting device 144 for lighting during image capturing.

The processor 100 is connected to the laser scanner 130 and the image scanner 140 to control the operation of each of the two

scanners

130 and 140. The processor 100 reads a barcode by decoding the output data of the laser scanner 130 and the output data of the image scanner 140.

2 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of a barcode scanner according to the present invention.

1 and 2, the barcode scanner includes a laser scanner 130 for laser scanning, an image scanner 140 for scanning images, and a processor 100 connected to the laser scanner 130 and the image scanner 140. Include. The barcode scanner may further include an interface 150 that receives a user input and transmits a signal to the processor 100.

The laser scanner 130 includes a laser generation module 135 for generating a laser and a scan window 132 for irradiating the laser and scanning the reflected light. The laser scanner 130 transmits the reflected light scanned through the scan window 132 to the processor 100 as first data converted into a digital signal.

The image scanner 140 transmits the captured image through the camera 142 which captures the image to the processor 100 as second data converted into a digital signal. The image scanner 140 may include at least one lighting device 144 for lighting during image capturing.

scanners

For data for barcode recognition, the processor 100 alternately executes a laser scan and an image scan. This alternating execution is repeated until decoding succeeds. This is because laser scans or image scans often do not provide accurate data. If the decoding is not successful due to damage to the barcode, laser scan and image scan may be alternately repeated indefinitely. In order to prevent such an infinite loop, the processor 100 may terminate the scan when the laser scan or the image scan exceeds a predetermined number of times.

The processor 100 may first execute a laser scan whose scan rate and decoding rate are relatively faster than the image scan. In addition, the processor 100 may control the image scan to be executed after scanning the reflected light for each predetermined number of laser scans.

The processor 100 may include a first processor 110 that controls the execution of the laser scanner 130 and a second processor 120 that controls the execution of the image scanner 140. One of the first processor 110 and the second processor 120 may be the main to control the other.

The first processor 110 may decode the first data, and the second processor 120 may decode the second data. By performing the decoding processing in parallel, the overall decoding time can be reduced. The decoding time can be shortened, reducing the barcode reading time.

The laser generation module 135 may irradiate the laser so that the photographing position is displayed when the image scanner 140 scans the image. Therefore, the image scanner 140 does not have to separately include an amer for indicating a barcode position.

The barcode scanner may further include an interface 150 responsive to the scan start request. The interface 150 transmits the scan start request to the processor 100 when it is input. The processor 100 may control to execute from the laser scan in response to the scan start signal.

3 is a signal flow diagram of a barcode scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3, the barcode scanner includes a laser scanner 130, an image scanner 140, and a processor 100.

The processor 100 receives a scan start signal from the interface 150, and the processor 100 transmits a scan start signal for executing a laser scan to the laser scanner 130 (S210).

The laser scanner 130 starts a laser scan on the scan target, for example, a barcode, in response to the scan start signal (S215). When the laser scanner 130 ends (S220), the laser scanner 130 transmits a laser scan end signal to the processor 100 (S225). The laser scanner 130 transmits the first data through the laser scan to the processor 100 (S235).

The processor 100 requests the image scanner 140 to execute a scan in response to the laser scan end signal (S230).

The image scanner 140 receives a scan request and starts scanning an image (S250). When the image scanner 140 ends (S255), the image scanner 140 transmits an image scan end signal to the processor 100 (S260).

During the image scan operation of the image scanner 140, the processor 100 starts decoding the first data (S240). If the processor 100 succeeds in decoding the first data, the image scanning operation is stopped. This may cause the processor 100 to interrupt an interruption of the scan to stop the scan operation of the image scanner 140. If decoding of the first data fails (S245), the processor 100 waits until the image scan end signal is received, and then requests the laser scanner 130 to execute scanning (S265).

The laser scanner 130 starts the laser scan according to the scan request (S280). During the laser scan, the processor 100 starts decoding the second data (S290). If the decoding of the second data succeeds, an interruption of the scan stop is applied to the laser scanner 130. When a scan stop interrupt occurs, the decoded value is returned and all scan or decoding operations related to the scan are stopped, for example.

If decoding of the second data fails in the processor 100 (S295), the laser scanner 130 ends the laser scan without interruption (S285). When the laser scan ends, the laser scanner 130 transmits a laser scan end signal to the processor 100 (S300). In addition, the laser scanner 130 transmits the first data to the processor 100 for decoding (S320). When the processor 100 receives the laser scan end signal, the processor 100 requests a scan from the image scanner 140 (S310).

As described above, if decoding continues to fail, an infinite loop may occur. To prevent this, the barcode scanner may further include a counter for increasing the count to stop the barcode reading (control of scanning, decoding, etc.) when a certain number of times is repeated.

4 is a signal flow diagram of a barcode scanner according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 and 6 are signal flow diagrams according to the decoding success of FIG. See FIG. 2.

2 and 4, the barcode scanner includes a laser scanner 130, an image scanner 140, a first processor 110, and a second processor 120.

The processor 100 may include a first processor 110 controlling the execution of the laser scanner 130 and a second processor 120 controlling the image scanner 140. One of the first processor 110 and the second processor 120 may be the main to control the other. In the present embodiment, the first processor 110 is set to be main.

The first processor 110 receives a scan start signal from the interface 150, and the first processor 110 transmits a scan start signal for executing a laser scan to the laser scanner 130 (S410).

The laser scanner 130 starts the laser scan in response to the scan start signal (S415). When the laser scanner 130 ends the laser scan (S420), the laser scanner 130 transmits a laser scan end signal to the first processor 110 (S425). The laser scanner 130 transmits the first data through the laser scan to the first processor 110 (S435).

When the first processor 110 receives the laser scan end signal, the first processor 110 transmits the laser scan end signal to the second processor 120 in order to scan an image (S427). The second processor 120 requests the image scanner 140 to execute a scan in response to the laser scan end signal (S430).

The image scanner 140 receives a scan request and starts scanning an image (S450). When the image scanner 140 ends (S455), the image scanner 140 transmits an image scan end signal to the second processor 120 (S460).

During the image scan operation of the image scanner 140, the first processor 110 starts decoding the first data (S440). If the first processor 110 succeeds in decoding the first data, the first processor 110 stops the image scanning operation. This may cause the first processor 110 to interrupt the scan stop, thereby stopping the scan operation of the image scanner 140 on the second processor 120.

Referring to FIG. 5, a signal flow diagram when the decoding succeeds in the first processor 110 is shown. For the interruption, the first processor 110 transmits the first execution end signal to the second processor 120 (S620) when the first decoding, which is decoding of the first data, is successful (S610). When the second processor 120 receives the first execution end signal, the second processor 120 transmits a stop signal for stopping the scan operation of the image scanner 140 (S630). When receiving the stop signal, the image scanner 140 stops scanning the image (S640).

If decoding of the first data fails (S445), the first processor 110 waits until the image scan end signal is received, and then requests the laser scanner 130 to execute the scan (S465).

The laser scanner 130 starts the laser scan according to the scan request (S480). During the laser scan, the second processor 120 starts the second decoding, which is the decoding of the second data (S490). If the decoding of the second data succeeds, an interruption of the scan stop is applied to the laser scanner 130. Or, if a scan stop interrupt occurs, the decoded value is returned and all scan or decoding operations related to the scan are stopped, for example.

6 shows a case where the second decoding is successful. Referring to FIG. 6, the laser scan of the laser scanner 130 may be finished before the decoding of the second processor 120. Image decoding, which takes images and analyzes them, can be relatively longer than laser scans. In this case, the first processor 110 receives the laser termination signal and the first data of the laser scanner 130 (S500 and S520) and starts the first decoding, which is decoding of the first data (S610). In other words, while the second decoding continues, the first decoding may overlap. If either of the first processors 110 and the second processor 120 decodes together, the decoding may be interrupted by generating an interrupt when the decoding succeeds. In the present embodiment, the second processor 120 succeeds in the second decoding (S620), and transmits the second end signal to the first processor 110 (S630). Upon receiving the second end signal, the first processor 110 stops the first decoding (S640).

If decoding of the second data fails in the second processor 120 (S495), the laser scanner 130 ends the laser scan without interruption (S485). When the laser scan is finished, the laser scanner 130 transmits a laser scan end signal to the first processor 110 (S500). In addition, the laser scanner 130 transmits the first data to the first processor 110 for decoding (S520). The first processor 110 transmits the laser end scan signal to the second processor 120 (S505). When the second processor 120 receives the laser scan end signal, the second processor 120 requests a scan from the image scanner 140 (S510).

The present invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. And functional programs, codes and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily inferred by programmers in the art to which the present invention belongs.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention can be used in a barcode scanner and a barcode reading method using the scanner.

Claims

A laser scanner for outputting first data through a laser scan;

An image scanner for outputting second data through an image scan; And

A processor connected to the laser scanner and the image scanner, the processor controlling the operation of the laser scanner and the operation of the image scanner.
The method of claim 1,

The processor alternately causing the laser scan and the image scan to be executed.
The method of claim 1,

The processor controls the laser scanner such that the laser scan is performed first.
The method of claim 1,

The processor to decode the first data and the second data.
The method of claim 3, wherein

And the processor stops the laser scan and the image scan if the decoding of any one of the first data and the second data succeeds.
The method of claim 1,

The barcode scanner further includes an interface for outputting a scan start signal in response to a scan start request,

The processor may include: a first processor configured to execute the laser scan in response to one of the scan start signal and the image scan end signal, and output a laser scan end signal when the laser scan ends; And

And a second processor to execute the image scan in response to the laser scan end signal, and output the image scan end signal when the image scan ends.
The method of claim 6,

The first processor decodes the first data,

The second processor to decode the second data.
The method of claim 7, wherein

The first processor transmits a first execution end signal to the second processor when decoding of the first data succeeds.

And the second processor terminates any one of the image scan and the decoding of the second data upon receiving the first execution end signal.
The method of claim 7, wherein

The second processor transmits a second execution end signal to the first processor when the decoding of the second data succeeds.

And the first processor terminates any one of the laser scan and the decoding of the first data when the second execution end signal is received.
The method of claim 1,

And a counter for transmitting a signal to the processor to terminate the laser scan and the image scan when the number of executions of any one of the laser scan and the image scan exceeds a preset number.
The method of claim 1,

The laser scanner has a laser generating module for irradiating a laser,

The laser generation module is a barcode scanner for irradiating the laser so that the scan position is displayed when scanning the image scanner.
A first scanning step of obtaining first data using a laser;

A second scanning step of taking an image to obtain second data; And

And controlling the first scan and the second scan to alternate.
The method of claim 12,

Decoding the first data and the second data; And

And stopping the first scan and the second scan if the decoding of any one of the first data and the second data succeeds.