JPH0132148Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention is an improved hand scanner that allows the same hand scanner to read characters and symbols even if the size of the characters and symbols written on paper differ. It is.

As is well known, a hand scanner is used to scan characters, symbols, etc. 2 by being held in the operator's hand 1, as shown in Fig.
(hereinafter abbreviated as characters, etc.) is optically read by being moved on a paper surface 3 on which characters, etc. are written. To be more detailed, the housing 4
A lamp 5, a lens 6, an image sensor 7, and an amplifier circuit 8 are provided inside. and lamp 5
The irradiated characters 2 are imaged through a lens 6 onto an image sensor 7 formed by arranging photoelectric conversion elements in a planar manner. The formed image is converted into an electric signal and amplified by an amplifier circuit 8, and then sent to an identification processing section (not shown) and read.

By the way, in this prior art, the lens 6 is fixed, and the characters, etc. 2 on the paper surface 3 are magnified by a predetermined magnification and imaged on the image sensor 7. Therefore, if the text 2 is large, its image may be formed extending beyond the light-receiving area of the image sensor 7, and conversely, if the text 2 is small, the line width of the text may be too large for the image sensor 7's photosensitive area. In some cases, the image was formed smaller than the resolution of the conversion element, making it impossible to read characters, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hand scanner that can read characters even if they have different sizes. The present invention, which achieves this object, is based on the technical concept of making the lens or image sensor movable along the axial direction.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings. Note that parts that are the same as those in the prior art are given the same numbers and redundant explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing its appearance. As shown in both figures, a knob 9 is attached in this embodiment, and this knob 9 also protrudes outside the housing 4. When this knob 9 is rotated, the lens 6 is aligned with the optical axis by the engagement of a screw or the like. It's starting to move along. Specifically, a zoom lens is adopted as the lens 6. Therefore, by rotating the knob 9 attached to the lens 6,
The magnification of the image of the characters 2 formed on the image sensor 7 changes, and even if the characters 2 have different sizes, they can be read with the same hand scanner. Furthermore, when the characters 2 are small, the magnification can be increased to read them, so an image sensor 7 with a small number of photoelectric conversion elements can be used, contributing to cost reduction.

In the above embodiment, a zoom lens is used as the lens 6, but the same structure may be used in which a general lens is used instead of a zoom lens and the lens 6 and the image sensor 7 are movable in the optical axis direction. effect can be obtained.

As specifically explained above in conjunction with the embodiments, according to the present invention, since the lens or image sensor is attached movably along the optical axis, the magnification can be changed when forming images of characters, symbols, etc. Even if the sizes of characters, symbols, etc. differ, they can be read with the same hand scanner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a conventional hand scanner; FIGS. 2 and 3 relate to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the conventional hand scanner; The figure is a perspective view showing the external appearance. In the drawings, 2 is characters, symbols, etc., 3 is a paper surface, 6 is a lens, and 7 is an image sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a hand scanner that is an optical reading device that is equipped with a lens that forms an image of characters, symbols, etc. written on a sheet of paper onto an image sensor, the lens or image sensor is attached so as to be movable along the optical axis, and the image sensor is manually read from outside the hand scanner. A hand scanner characterized in that the lens or image sensor can be moved by.