JP2778884B2 - 2D code scanner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable two-dimensional code scanner for reading information of a two-dimensional code such as a multi-stage bar code or a matrix code printed on a print medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, for example, POS (point of sale)
s) When registering product information in a system, etc.,
A label on which a bar code in which product information is coded as shown in FIG. 7A is attached to a product, and the bar code on the label is read by a bar code scanner at the time of sale or the like. Was to be registered.

As a bar code scanner, for example, FIG.
Touch bar code scanner 1 shown in FIG.
Gun type barcode scanner 2 shown in (b), FIG. 8 (c)
And the like are known.

The touch-type bar code scanner 1 uses an apparatus by hand, is formed at the tip of the apparatus, and has an LED (ligh).
t emitting diode) light emitting unit and multiple Cs arranged in a row
The reading unit 1a composed of a CD (charge coupled device) element is brought into close contact with the barcode printed on the label, and the code reading switch 1b is turned on so that the LE is turned on.
The LED of the D light emitting section emits light, and the reflected light from the bar code is received by each CCD element to read the bar code. When the reading of the bar code is completed normally, the reading completion lamp 1c formed of an LED provided on the upper surface of the apparatus is turned on.

The gun type bar code scanner 2 uses the apparatus by hand, and has a reading section 2a formed of a laser emitting section and a CCD element formed at the upper front of the apparatus.
When the code reading switch 2b is turned on, the bar code printed on the label is scanned by the laser beam from the reading unit 2a, and the reflected light is received by the CCD element to read the bar code.

Further, the fixed bar code scanner 3 is
The apparatus is fixedly installed at a predetermined position for use, and a reading section 3a composed of a laser emitting section and a CCD element is formed on the front of the apparatus. The laser beam is emitted from the reading section 3a when a product passes through the front of the apparatus. Scans a barcode printed on a label, and receives the reflected light by a CCD element to read the barcode.

Each of the above-described bar code scanners is connected to a host computer that processes product information via a connection cable, and outputs the read bar code information to the host computer via the connection cable.
The host computer registers the product information based on the input barcode information.

[0008] As described above, the fields in which registration processing and the like of article information and information management and the like are performed using bar codes or the like obtained by coding predetermined information have spread to FA (factory autometion), distribution, and service industries. The types of information to be handled are also diverse, and tend to require large amounts of information.

Therefore, as the information amount increases, the information density that can be coded becomes insufficient because the information density of a single bar code is low. Therefore, in order to increase the information density and cope with the increase in the amount of information, a multi-stage barcode shown in FIG. 7B and a two-dimensional code shown in FIG. 7C have been developed.

As a device for reading such a multi-stage bar code or a two-dimensional code, a TV (television) camera type two-dimensional code scanner as shown in FIG. 9 is conventionally known. The TV camera type two-dimensional code scanner is connected to the TV camera 11 via a connection cable, and is connected to a host computer for processing information via a line (RS-232C line). Image processing device 12 and image processing device 1
2 and a TV monitor 13 connected by a connection cable.

In such a TV camera type two-dimensional code scanner, the TV camera 11 is set so as to face the surface of the label 14 affixed to the article on which the two-dimensional code is printed, and under normal room lighting. The two-dimensional code on the label 14 is photographed by the TV camera 11, and the image data obtained by the photographing is processed by the image processing device 12 to be converted into two-dimensional code information. This two-dimensional code information is transmitted to the host computer via the line. On the other hand, the captured image data is output to the TV monitor 13 via the connection cable as it is, and the captured image is displayed on the TV monitor 13.

[0012]

As described above, as a conventional device for reading a two-dimensional code, the above-described two-dimensional code scanner of a TV camera system is known. However, the TV camera 11, the image processing device 12, and the TV The device for the monitor 13 is required, and there is a problem that the whole device is large in weight and shape and expensive.

The label 1 faces the TV camera 11.
4 is set perpendicular to the optical path, and the focus of the TV camera 11 needs to be adjusted according to the distance between the TV camera 11 and the label 14. The TV camera 11 can be adjusted according to the brightness of indoor lighting. For example, there is a problem that it takes time to perform a setup before reading a two-dimensional code, such as adjusting the aperture of the camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-dimensional code scanner which is small, lightweight and inexpensive, and which can easily read a two-dimensional code in a short time.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a reading portion and a grip portion provided on an integrally molded portable frame, and the reading portion comes into close proximity to or close to the reading portion. A light emitting unit for irradiating light to the two-dimensional code printed on the printed printing medium, and a light emitting unit for irradiating light from the light emitting unit.
A reflected light angle conversion means for refracting or reflecting the reflected light from the two-dimensional code to the grip portion is provided. The grip portion receives the reflected light from the two-dimensional code and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of the reflected light. Two-dimensional reading means having a structure in which solid-state imaging devices are arranged two-dimensionally, and two-dimensional reading means via a reflected light angle converting means from a two-dimensional code on a print medium which is close to or close to the reading unit. An optical system mechanism composed of a lens and the like that forms an image of reflected light incident on the solid-state image pickup device at the position of the two-dimensional reading means, and an electric signal output from the two-dimensional reading means is input into image information. Image information conversion means for converting, code information analysis means for analyzing code information of a two-dimensional code from the image information from the image information conversion means, and code information obtained by the analysis of the code information analysis means to an external device Is provided with a code information output means for outputting.

[0016]

In the present invention having such a configuration, when the reading section of the apparatus is brought into close proximity to or near the two-dimensional code printed on the print medium, light from the light emitting section is irradiated on the two-dimensional code. You. The reflected light from this two-dimensional code is
Refracted or reflected to the grip by the reflected light angle conversion means,
The optical system mechanism forms an image at the positions of a plurality of solid-state imaging devices constituting the two-dimensional reading means.

Each solid-state image sensor of the two-dimensional reading means outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of reflected light formed by the optical system mechanism, and the image information converting means converts those electric signals into image information. I do. The code information analysis means analyzes the code information from the converted image information, and the analyzed code information is output to the external device by the code information output means.

[0018]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a two-dimensional handy scanner. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two-dimensional handy scanner, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the two-dimensional handy scanner.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an L-shaped frame integrally formed in a hollow structure with plastic or the like. One end is an opening having a small opening area, and the other end is a reading unit 22. The opening has a large opening area. A connection cable 23 including a power supply line and a signal line is inserted into a small opening at one end of the frame 21, and is fixed to the frame 21 by a protection member 24. A scan display L is provided above the frame 21.
An LED is embedded as an ED (light emitting diode) 25, and a code reading switch 26 for performing an operation of starting reading of a two-dimensional code is provided on a side surface of the frame 21.

The one end of the frame 21 on the side where the small opening is formed serves as a grip, and when the two-dimensional code of the reading unit 22 approaches or comes into close contact with the print medium on which the two-dimensional code is printed, The central axis of the grip portion is formed so as to be at least larger than 90 ° and about 110 ° with respect to a vertical line of the printing surface of the two-dimensional code.

Inside the reading section 22, which is a large opening at the other end of the frame 21, a light emitting section comprising an LED and a plastic diffusion lens for uniformly diffusing the light from the LED is provided. LED light emitting unit 2
7 are arranged in a circle or a regular polygonal shape close to a circle. Further, further inside the reading unit 22, an angle conversion mirror 28 as a reflected light angle conversion unit is provided with the reading unit 2.
It is installed at a predetermined angle with respect to the two directions. In addition,
Although the angle conversion mirror 28 is used here, a prism or the like may be used instead.

A circuit portion 29 electrically connected to the connection cable 23 and a two-dimensional CCD as two-dimensional reading means are provided inside the handle portion having a small opening at one end of the frame 21. (Charge coupled device)
30 are installed.

The circuit section 29 comprises a power supply interface circuit, a display LED / buzzer control section for controlling the scan display LED 25 and a buzzer described later, a CPU (central processing unit) constituting a control section main body, and various memories. It comprises a main control unit, a decoding unit, a code image processing circuit, an imaging signal processing circuit, and the like.
Each circuit of the circuit section 29 has a multilayer substrate structure, and is formed by mounting chip components constituting each circuit on one or both sides of each substrate.

The circuit section 29 and the two-dimensional CCD 30 are electrically connected to each other.
The CCD elements are arranged in a matrix (corresponding to the angle conversion mirror 28) in a matrix (effective pixels: 250,000 pixels, more than 400,000 pixels in order to correspond to a high-density two-dimensional code). Have been. Here, CC
Although the D element is used, another type of solid-state imaging element may be used instead.

The two-dimensional CCD 30 and the angle conversion mirror 2
A stop mechanism 31 for adjusting the amount of transmitted light, a combination lens 32, and a filter 33 for reducing unnecessary extraneous light are arranged in this order between the filter mechanism 8 and the filter 8. The focus of the combination lens 32 is set to 2 when a printing medium such as a label on which a two-dimensional code is printed approaches the reading unit 22 within 10 mm.
The contrast is adjusted so that the binarization of the dimensional code is possible.

Here, the combination lens 32 is used, but this is for minimizing the distortion generated in the received image, and an aspherical lens capable of minimizing the distortion may be used instead. Further, the combination lens 3
In 2, when the occurrence of ghost due to the reflection on the lens surface poses a problem, a lens whose surface is treated with an anti-reflection coating or the like may be used.

The aperture mechanism 31, the combination lens 32
The filter 33 constitutes an optical system mechanism.

The circuit section 29 is electrically connected to the code reading switch 26 and also electrically connected to a buzzer 34 provided inside the frame 21. The buzzer 34 changes the tone color or the number of times of sounding of the buzzer to notify the occurrence of an error, the completion of reading, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of the circuit section 29 of the two-dimensional handy scanner.
EEPROM storing program data and initial settings of processing performed by the CPU 41 constituting the main control unit
(Electrically erasable programmable read only mem
ory) 42, a DRAM (dynamic device) in which various memory areas used when the CPU 41 performs processing are formed.
andom access mem-ory) 43, a mask ROM (read only memory) in which a read format is stored corresponding to each type of attached two-dimensional symbol (two-dimensional code).
y) 44, a decode circuit (decode GA (gate array)) for converting read image data into code data based on a read format from the mask ROM 44
A serial I / F (interface) 46 connected to an external information processing apparatus such as a host computer via a serial line is connected to the CPU 41 via a system bus 47.

The code image processing circuit 48 and the two-dimensional CCD 30 are controlled and the two-dimensional CCD
The imaging signal processing circuit 49 for amplifying the signal from 0, the light source driver 50 for driving and lighting the LED 27a constituting the LED light emitting unit 27, the output signal from the code reading switch 26, the buzzer 34 and the scanning An I / O (input / output) port 51 for outputting a drive signal to the display LED 25 and an optional I / F 52 for performing communication relating to code data by wireless or infrared light are provided through the system bus 47 and the CPU 41. Is connected to

Therefore, in the circuit section 29, the display LED / buzzer control section is constituted by the I / O port 52, and the main control section is constituted by the CPU 41, the EEPR.
The decoding section includes the OM 42, the DRAM 43, and the serial I / F 46. The decoding section includes the mask ROM 44 and the decoding circuit 45.

The image signal converting circuit 49 and the code image processing circuit 48 constitute image information converting means, the mask ROM 44 and the decoding circuit 45 constitute code information analyzing means, and the serial I / F 46
Constitutes code information output means.

The code image processing circuit 48 has the configuration shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), an A / D (an) for digitally converting an image signal (each pixel signal) from the image signal processing circuit 49 is provided.
alogue / digital) conversion circuit 48a, a frame memory 48b in which digital data from the A / D conversion circuit 48a is binarized by a preset threshold value, and image data is mapped by the binarized data.
After performing processing such as density correction, enhancement processing, and smoothing on the image data mapped on the frame memory 48b, the image data of only the two-dimensional code is extracted, and the extracted image data The image processing circuit 48c performs processing such as rotation, feature extraction, and the like to convert the data into normal two-dimensional code image data. The A / D conversion circuit 48a and the frame memory 4
8b and the image processing circuit 48c are connected to the system bus 47, respectively.

Further, the image pickup signal processing circuit 49 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the signal processing circuit 49a is connected to the system bus 47 and receives and amplifies an output signal from the two-dimensional CCD 30;
A ROM (read only mem-or) storing information on the variation (defect) of each CCD element occurring during manufacturing in 30
y) 49b, a defect correction circuit 49c for correcting the reading timing of each CCD element based on the information stored in the ROM 49b, and a shutter for setting the reading time when the printing medium on which the two-dimensional code is printed is a moving body. The control circuit 49d, the defect correction circuit 49c, and the shutter
A timing generation circuit 49e for generating a read timing based on a signal from the control circuit 49d, based on the read timing generated by the timing generation circuit 49e,
In the two-dimensional CCD 30, a vertical driver 49f and a horizontal driver 4 for designating a CCD element to be read, respectively.
9g, the signal processing circuit 49 from the two-dimensional CCD 30
and a synchronization signal circuit 49h for controlling the timing of outputting the image signal to a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the option I / F 52 includes a waveform shaping circuit 52c connected to a transmitting modulation circuit 52a and a receiving demodulation circuit 52b provided for wireless communication, and a red shaping circuit 52c. Communication LED 52d for transmission and phototransistor 5 for reception provided for external light communication
2e and a driver circuit 52f connected thereto. The waveform shaping circuit 52c and the driver circuit 52f are connected to a system bus 47, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the reading process performed by the CPU 41.

First, the apparatus enters a standby state until the code reading switch 26 is turned on.
Is turned on, the LED 27a of the LED light emitting section 27 is turned on.
Is turned on by turning on electricity.

Next, as the processing of step 1 (ST1),
The reading operation is started by controlling the two-dimensional CCD 30 by the imaging signal processing circuit 49. The image signal read and amplified by the two-dimensional CCD 30 is binarized by a code image processing circuit 48 and transferred to a frame memory 48b.
Perform mapping of image data. The image data of only the two-dimensional code is cut out from the mapped image data, various code image processing is performed on the cut-out image data of only the two-dimensional code, and the image data is converted into regular two-dimensional code image data. To memorize.

The normal two-dimensional code image data stored in the DRAM 43 is transferred to the decoding circuit 45, and a decoding process for converting the two-dimensional code image data into two-dimensional code data is performed.

Here, the decoding process is completed normally (OK).
It is determined whether or not it has been done. If the decoding process cannot be completed normally, that is, if the data cannot be converted into two-dimensional code data, the process returns to the above-described step 1, and if the decoding process is completed normally, L
The power supply to the ED 27a is stopped and turned off, and the completion of reading is displayed by turning on the scan display LED 25, or the buzzer 34 is sounded to notify the user. Next, the two-dimensional code data obtained by the decoding process is transmitted to an information processing device such as a host computer via the connection cable 23 by the serial I / F 46.

Connection cable 2 by serial I / F 46
When the transmission of the two-dimensional code data is completed via the third processing, the processing returns to the first processing of the reading processing again.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, in order to read the two-dimensional code printed on the print medium by the two-dimensional code scanner, first, the two-dimensional code on the print medium is read by the reading unit of the two-dimensional code scanner. 22
The code reading switch 26 is turned on. At this time, L
The ED light emitting section 27 is turned on, the light from the LED light emitting section 27 is irradiated on the two-dimensional code on the print medium, and the reflected light from the two-dimensional code is converted by the angle conversion mirror 28 into a two-dimensional CC.
It is reflected in the direction of D30. This reflected light is applied to the filter 3
External light is reduced by 3, and an image is formed at the position of the two-dimensional CCD 30 by the combination lens 32 via the aperture mechanism 31.

Here, the formed reflected light is a two-dimensional CCD.
Each of the 30 CCD elements is converted into an electric signal of a voltage level corresponding to each received light amount. This electric signal is amplified at a predetermined timing by the image signal processing circuit 49 and transferred to the code image processing circuit 48 as an image signal.

The code image processing circuit 48 further cuts out the image data of only the two-dimensional code portion from the image data obtained from the image pickup signal, and performs various code processings on the cut-out image data of only the two-dimensional code portion. To convert it into regular two-dimensional code image data.

This regular two-dimensional code image data is DR
The decoding circuit 45 decodes the two-dimensional code based on the format of the type of the two-dimensional code stored in the AM 43 and stored in the mask ROM 44, and outputs it as two-dimensional code data to a host computer or the like via the connection cable 23. You.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the grip provided on one side of the L-shaped frame 21 integrally molded is provided with:
A two-dimensional CCD 30 having CCD elements arranged in a matrix; a filter 33; a combination lens 32 for imaging reflected light from the angle conversion mirror 28 at the position of the two-dimensional CCD 30; Image data is created based on the electric signal output from the three-dimensional CCD 30, the image data is analyzed, and two-dimensional code data is transmitted to the connection cable 2.
3 for output to the L-shaped frame 2.
An LED light emitting unit 27 for irradiating light to a print medium on which a two-dimensional code is printed, and an angle conversion mirror 28 for reflecting light reflected from the two-dimensional code in the direction of a grip unit, provided on a reading unit 22 provided on the other side of the first unit. With this arrangement, the apparatus for reading a two-dimensional code can be configured to be small, lightweight, and inexpensive. Further, the reading unit 22 of the apparatus is printed on a print medium on which the two-dimensional code is printed.
The reading operation is automatically performed by simply turning on the code reading switch 26 without having to adjust the aperture by adjusting the focus or changing the illumination for irradiating the print medium with light. Therefore, the two-dimensional code can be easily read in a short time. In addition, the reading unit 22 includes only the LED light emitting unit 27 and the angle conversion mirror 28, and the two-dimensional CCD 30, the filter 33, and the combination lens 3
2. Since the aperture mechanism 31 and the circuit unit 29 are provided in the grip unit, the weight of the reading unit 22 can be reduced as compared with the grip unit. Therefore, the operability when the reading unit 22 of the present apparatus approaches the print medium on which the two-dimensional code is printed becomes excellent.

[0047]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a two-dimensional code scanner which is small, lightweight, inexpensive, can easily read a two-dimensional code in a short time, and has excellent operability when reading a two-dimensional code.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a code image processing circuit and an imaging signal processing circuit of FIG. 3 of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an option I / F of FIG. 3 of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing the flow of a reading process of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of various codes.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional barcode scanner.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional two-dimensional code scanner.

[Description of References] 21 ... frame, 22 ... reading unit, 26 ... code reading switch, 27 ... LED light emitting unit, 28 ... angle conversion mirror, 29
... circuit part, 30 ... two-dimensional CCD, 32 ... combination lens.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A portable L-shaped frame integrally molded, one of which is a grip portion and the other of which is a reading portion, which is printed on a printing medium which is close to or close to the reading portion. A light emitting unit that irradiates the light to the two-dimensional code, and a reflected light angle conversion unit that refracts or reflects the reflected light from the two-dimensional code irradiated with the light from the light emitting unit to the grip unit, A two-dimensional reading unit having a structure in which a solid-state imaging device that receives reflected light from the two-dimensional code and outputs an electric signal according to the amount of the reflected light is two-dimensionally arranged on the grip portion; The reflected light incident on the two-dimensional reading means via the reflected light angle converting means from the two-dimensional code on the printing medium which is close to or close to the reading part is reflected by the solid-state imaging device of the two-dimensional reading means. Lens to image at position An optical system mechanism comprising: an electrical signal output from the two-dimensional reading means; an image information converting means for converting the electrical signal into image information; A two-dimensional code scanner, comprising: code information analysis means for analyzing code information of a code; and code information output means for outputting code information obtained by analysis of the code information analysis means to an external device.