JPH03268023A - Bar-code reading method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a barcode reading method, an object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reading method that controls lighting of a barcode reading light source only for a necessary period and extends the replacement period. , detecting the entry of an article, turning on the barcode reading light source and holding it for a predetermined time (Ta); and detecting a part of the barcode of the article, turning on the light source for a predetermined time (r).
h) As soon as the demodulation of the bar is completed within the extended lighting time (rh) of the light source,
The light source is turned off when the time is over if the light source is not completed.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a bar food reading method.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, laser scanners, which scan using a laser as a light source, have been widely used to read barcodes indicating product types, prices, etc. written on labels attached to goods. used. H
The aNm tube requires a high voltage power supply and a large amount of electric power, making the device bulky, but it has the advantage of a long life. In other words, the lifespan of a small semiconductor laser as a light source of the same type is 300 years.
10000 hours compared to about 0 hours -
It's for a reason. However, since it takes 2 to 3 seconds to establish the starting characteristics, the lamp is used by being turned on continuously for a certain period of time.

Figures 4 - ■ are explanatory diagrams of the prior art F), Ha)
The b laser [■] is turned on continuously, and during that time the article sensor [
■ After detecting the entry of the item (by), barcode detection (by
Demodulation) [■] is carried out, and as a result, the data switch is constantly lit, and during this period, articles can be entered at any time.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional method using the HeNo tube described above has the drawbacks of high voltage (for example, t2zl'), large power, and large size, so it is desirable to overcome the drawbacks of semiconductor lasers and use them effectively.

Semiconductor lasers include visible semiconductor lasers with relatively long wavelengths and infrared semiconductor lasers with relatively short wavelengths (nearly HaN-lasers (85% wavelength)).

All of these have the advantage of being compact with a power supply of about 5Y, but if you use the same reading method as the above-mentioned Toto and IhN-Razu, their lifespan will be only about one-third as long. The present inventor has focused on the fact that by controlling the lighting of the light source for barcode reading only during the necessary period, the replacement period, that is, the apparent life of the light source can be extended. In particular, HeNo is used as a light source for barcode reading (barcode reading).
Since high-speed ON-OFF control, which is impossible with a tube, is possible, we considered selectively controlling only the period when an article enters and the laser needs to be turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to a semiconductor laser as a light source for reading barcodes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reading method in which the light source for barcode reading is controlled to be turned on only for a necessary period, thereby extending the replacement period.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, as shown in the principle explanatory diagram of FIG. 1, there is a step of detecting the entry of an article, turning on a light source for barcode reading and holding it for a predetermined time (Ta), and reading the barcode of the article. If part of the lighting time of the light source is detected, the lighting time of the light source is extended by a predetermined time (T&), and if demodulation of the barcode is completed within the extended lighting time of the light source (T&), immediately, or if it is not completed, The light source is turned off at the time of time-out.

[For production]

As shown in Figure 1 (6), if there is only an article and no barcode, the light source for barcode reading is turned on [■] when the article is detected [■], and if there is no barcode and the time is over. Time [■
], turn off this light source [■].

Next, as shown in (6) in the same figure, if the item has a barcode, this light source is turned on [■] when the item is detected [■].
Ta is counted by timer A [■], and when the barcode is detected [■], the lighting time of this light source is extended by T& with the tie (J) [■], and when the demodulation of the barcode is completed [■■
], turn off this light source [■], and transfer the result as data [■].

As described above, depending on whether or not there is a barcode on the article that has entered, the on/off control is performed so that the minimum lighting time of the light source is achieved.

〔Example〕

Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, under the control of an MPU 10, a gate sensor article detection section 11 detects the entry of an article, and in response to this detection, a semiconductor laser (as a light source for barcode reading) is turned on by a laser control section 12. (hereinafter referred to as a laser) is turned on. As a result of this lighting, the barcode is irradiated, and the reflected light enters the barcode detection section 14tC, and the barcode is detected. At the same time, tie w, A (set time?',) 15 is activated. If there is no barcode, the light is turned off at the expiration of the set time T6. When a part of the bar code is detected by the bar code detection 1114, a timer B (set time Tk) 15 is activated to extend the lighting time of the laser. Then, when the bar code demodulation section 16 completes the demodulation of the bar code, the laser is turned off. If the demodulation is not completed, it is determined that the barcode has been left unattended, and after the set time T6 has elapsed, the barcode is turned off and the result of the barcode demodulation is sent to the data transfer unit 17] to the host device (for example, pos. ).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

In the figure, the article is detected by the gate sensor when the article enters after the start, and the laser is turned on and the timer A is activated.

After that, the barcode is detected, and if the time is over, the laser is turned off, but if the barcode is detected, the timer B
The laser is turned off immediately after demodulation is completed. If demodulation is not completed and timer B times out, the laser is turned off.

The waveform diagram in this flow is shown in FIG. In the above embodiments, a semiconductor laser is used as the light source for barcode reading, but the present invention is not limited to the semiconductor laser, and any other light source may be used as the barcode reading light source.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to improve the original lifespan of the light source for barcode reading, and in particular, in the case of semiconductor lasers, by utilizing their good switching characteristics, Only the limited lighting time is set to 0N.
-OFF control makes it possible to significantly extend the replacement period, that is, the apparent lifespan. Conventional HmN-lasers have poor startup characteristics, so they are used by switching on at the beginning of business hours and turning off at the end of business hours, and if the number of articles entering during that time is small, the efficiency of use becomes extremely poor. Therefore, the effect of the present invention is that the replacement period, that is, the apparent lifespan of the semiconductor laser can be made longer than that of the HaN laser.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 (a) and (6) are explanatory diagrams of the principles of the present invention, Figure 2 is a fJA diagram of the configuration of the embodiment, Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment, and Figure 4vA is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. Deta, in the figure, 1
0 is an MPU, 11 is a gate sensor article detection section, 12 is a laser control section, 13 is a timer A 114 is a barcode detection section, 15 is a timer B 116 is a barcode demodulation section, and 17 is a data transfer section. (a) No barcode

Claims (1)

[Claims] A process of detecting the entry of an article, turning on the barcode reading light source and holding it for a predetermined time (Ta), and a process of turning on the light source for a predetermined time (T) when a part of the barcode of the article is detected.
b) As soon as the demodulation of the barcode is completed within the extending process and the extended lighting time (Tb) of the light source,
The barcode reading method further comprises the step of turning off the light source at the time of time-out when the barcode reading method is not completed.