JPS62143191A - Optical information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve maneuverability by forming a storage means for temporarily storing reading data and a control means for emitting an illuminating means like pulses and converting light into an optical signal to send the optical signal. CONSTITUTION:The storage means 21 temporarily stores information decoded by a microcomputer 20 up to the transfer of the information. A hand reader is arranged on a bar code label 6 by hand and a red light emitting diode 4 is emitted like a pulse to irradiate red illuminating light to the label 6 through an illumination condenser lens 5. The reflection factors based on the light illumination are changed in accordance with white and black bars on the label 6 and the distribution of light intensity forms a bar code video on the reading line of an image sensor 11 in the rectangular direction to the respective bars through an optical system consisting of a plane reflector 8, a lens 9 and a diaphragm 10 correspondingly to the bar code 7. Thereby, the bar code video can be converted into an electric signal by reading action based on electronic scanning of the image sensor 11. Consequently, the maneuverability and working efficiency can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to barcodes printed on recording media such as labels,
The present invention relates to an optical information reading device that reads optical information such as characters.

[Conventional technology]

In the conventional optical information reading device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-2112
As shown in Publication No. 77, etc., a cable is provided between the optical information reading device 1 and the host computer, and the optical information read by the optical information reading device is sent to the host computer 1-compib, computer, etc. via the cable. - transferred to the computer for processing and storage.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in this case, there are problems such as cable breakage and deterioration of operability due to the presence of the cable.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems, and eliminates the need for a cable for transmitting the arithmetic number information from the reading section that reads the optically read information to the external (W) device, and the operation of the reading section. The purpose is to improve sexuality.

[Means for solving problems]

To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising an illumination means for illuminating the information to be read, an imaging optical system for forming an image reflected by the illumination means, and a reading means for converting the image into an electric signal. A storage means for temporarily storing data read by the reading means; and a control means for reading the data stored in the storage means at the time of information transfer, causing the illumination means to emit light in a pulsed manner in accordance with the data, converting it into an optical signal, and transmitting it. and.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, the read data obtained by reading the information to be read by the reading section is temporarily stored in the storage means, the illumination means is also used for data transmission when not reading, and the storage means is stored in the storage means. Data is converted into an optical signal in the form of a pulse and sent to the outside, and information is transferred using the optical signal.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the connection state at the time of information transfer. l is a handheld reader that reads barcodes,
Stores information, transmits information, etc.

A signal conversion device 2 converts an optical signal into an electrical signal or an electrical signal into an optical signal. A host computer 3 processes and stores information transferred from the handheld reader 1.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway configuration diagram of the handheld reader.

4 is a high-intensity red light emitting diode used as a light source constituting illumination means having an illumination and optical signal generation state;
The illumination condenser lens condenses the illumination light from the light emitting diode 4 to provide uniform illumination over a predetermined range. 6 is a label of the recording medium on which a barcode 7 of optical information is printed.

8 is a plane reflecting mirror that reflects the light reflected from the barcode label 6 and changes its direction. A lens 9 collects the reflected light from the barcode label 6, passes through an aperture member 10, and forms a barcode image at a predetermined position. 11
is an image sensor that constitutes the reading means, and it uses a large number of photo sensors.
-It is one-dimensional with elements arranged in a line. Reference numeral 12 denotes a battery that serves as a power source for the handheld reader. Reference numeral 13 denotes an electronic circuit for electronically controlling the hand-held reader 1. 14 is the numeric keypad,
Enter information other than that recorded in the barcode (number of pieces, etc.). A reading start switch 15 instructs to start reading.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the signal conversion device. A photo element 16 converts an optical signal from a reader into an electrical signal.

17 is a light emitting diode, which converts an electrical signal into an optical signal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit section.

18 is an analog amplifier that amplifies the electrical signal obtained by the image sensor 11. Reference numeral 19 denotes a signal processing section, which includes a sample and hold circuit for processing the output signal of the analog amplifier 18, a low-pass filter, a binarization circuit, and the like. 20 is a microcomputer, and a signal processing section 19
It executes arithmetic processing based on the signal obtained in , reads the barcode, and at the same time controls the light emitting pulse width of the light emitting diode according to the information to be transmitted during information transfer. A memory 21 serves as a storage means, and temporarily stores information processed by the microcomputer 20 until the information is transferred.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

Now, place the hand-held reader 1 in the position shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the barcode label 6, and press the reading start switch 15.
By this operation, the red light emitting diode 4 is brought into a pulsed light emitting state as shown in FIG. 5(a).

The red illumination light generated by this emission passes through the illumination condensing lens 5 and is irradiated onto the barcode label 6.

Due to this light illumination, the reflectance varies according to the white bar and black bar on the barcode label 6, and the intensity distribution of the light changes depending on the barcode 7. Aperture 10
A barcode image in a direction orthogonal to each bar is imaged onto a reading line on which photo elements of the image sensor If are lined up through the optical system.

Therefore, the barcode image can be converted into an electrical signal by the electronic scanning reading operation of the image sensor 11. That is, since the lock is sent repeatedly as it is necessary to drive the image sensor 11, the image sensor 11 repeats the electronic scanning operation until the reading is completed, and continuous scanning is performed. The electrical signal output from the image sensor 11 is amplified by an analog amplifier 18, and the signal processing unit 1
9 and input into the microcomputer 20. Based on this captured bar width information 114, arithmetic processing is executed according to a predetermined arithmetic program, and a reading operation is performed. The decoded information is stored in memory 21. When there are many of the same items, work efficiency can be improved by reading one barcode and inputting the number using the numeric keypad 14.

On the other hand, when transferring information stored in the memory 21 to the host computer 3, as shown in FIG.
Signal conversion device 2. Connect host computer 3. When the hand-held reader 231 is put into the transmitting state by inputting from the numeric keypad 14, the microcomputer 20 processes the information in the memory 21, and according to the result, the light emitting diode 4 is activated as shown in FIG.
The light is emitted in pulses as shown in the figure, and information is transferred serially.

The signal conversion device 2 receives this light using the photo element 16, converts it into an electrical signal, and then transmits it to the host computer 3. The host computer 3 processes information and writes tα.

When sending a response to information from the handheld reader 1 from the host computer 3 to the handheld reader 1, the electrical signal sent from the host computer 3 is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting diode 17 of the signal converter 2. Ru.

In this case, parallel information transfer is performed by individually causing the plurality of light emitting diodes 17 to emit light. The handheld reader 1 reads this light using the same procedure as when reading a barcode.

Here, the optical information is exemplified as a barcode, but other codes, characters, etc. may be used as the optical information.

Furthermore, although a light emitting diode is used as the illumination means, a discharge tube such as a xenon lamp may also be used.

Further, although a one-dimensional image sensor is illustrated as an example of a reading sensor, a planar two-dimensional image sensor may also be used.

Further, although parallel communication has been illustrated as communication from the host computer to the hand-held reader, serial communication may also be used.

Furthermore, although a hand-held device is illustrated as an example, the present invention may be applied to a stationary type device in which an optical information recording medium is moved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the optical object to be read
There is no need for a cable for transmitting information from the reading section that reads the ¥ information to external equipment, which improves the operability and work efficiency of the reading section. It has the excellent effect of being able to be used for both purposes and downsizing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing the connection state of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway configuration diagram showing the detailed configuration of its main parts, and FIG. 3 is the signal change I'A device in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the electronic circuit in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 5(ar) and 5(b) are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of the present invention. ...Handheld reader, 2...Signal converter, 3...
Host computer, 4... Light emitting diode serving as illumination means, 7... Barcode 111 for information to be read.
;Image senna serving as a means for collecting nine items, 12...power supply, 1
3...Electronic circuit, 20...Microcomputer serving as control means, 21...Memory serving as storage means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Illumination means for illuminating optically recorded information to be read;
an imaging optical system that forms a reflected image of the information to be read by this light illumination on a predetermined reading position; and an imaging optical system that images the reflected image of the information to be read by this light illumination at a predetermined reading position; An optical information reading device comprising: a reading means for reading the contents of the reading means; a storage means for temporarily storing the data read by the electric signal from the reading means; and a storage means for reading out the data stored in the storage means at the time of information transfer; An optical information reading device characterized by comprising: control means for causing the illumination means to emit light in a pulsed manner according to data, converting the light into an optical signal, and transmitting the light signal.