JP3580694B2 - Alarm for portable barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an alarm device that notifies a user of a drop in power supply voltage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable barcode reader, which is a kind of information reading apparatus, detects a voltage of a built-in power supply when a system is started (when power is turned on) or when the system is ended (when power is turned off). At this time, if the detected voltage has fallen below the predetermined voltage, the user is notified by alerting the user on the LCD display unit or alerting the user with a buzzer.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional barcode reader, a warning of a power supply voltage drop is issued when the system is started or the system is shut down. Sometimes you just leave and leave the place. In such a case, there is a problem that even if a warning of a drop in the power supply voltage is issued, the user is not at the place and cannot be recognized by the user.
[0004]
In recent years, in order to save power of the built-in power supply, the barcode reader has a function of automatically turning off the power when it detects that the user has not operated for a predetermined time (auto power-off function). There is a high possibility that the power is automatically turned off and a warning is displayed when the user is not near the barcode reader, and there is a problem that the user cannot accurately know the drop of the power supply voltage. .
[0005]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a portable barcode reader alarm device capable of accurately notifying a user of a power drop while detecting an accurate power supply voltage. It is intended for that purpose.
[0006]
[Means for achieving the object]
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a power supply, voltage detecting means for detecting a voltage of the power supply at predetermined intervals during operation , and an abnormal signal when the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detecting means is lower than a predetermined voltage. An abnormal signal output means for outputting an abnormal signal, a storing means for storing an abnormal signal, a use state detecting means for detecting a use state by a user, and an abnormal signal in the storage means when the use state detecting means detects the use state. And a notifying means for notifying the user of an abnormality in the power supply if the information is stored .
[0007]
With the above configuration, the voltage detecting means detects the voltage of the power supply at predetermined intervals during operation, determines whether the power supply voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage based on the detection result, and stores the fact if abnormal. Let the means memorize. Then, when the use state of the user is detected, that is, after judging that the user is near the alarm device, the abnormality of the power supply can be notified.
Therefore, by detecting the voltage of the power supply at every predetermined cycle during operation, it is possible to detect an accurate voltage after the power supply voltage is stabilized. There is an excellent effect that the power supply voltage can be accurately detected even with a stable device.
Moreover, even if an abnormality of the power supply is detected during the operation without the user, the fact is first stored in the storage means, and when the use state by the user is detected, that is, the user is near the alarm device. Since the power supply abnormality is notified after determining that the power supply abnormality is detected, the power supply abnormality can be accurately reported to the user even if the power supply abnormality is detected during operation without the user. .
In addition, the detection of the use state may be performed by detecting a reading start operation of the portable barcode reader by the user as in the invention of claim 2 or by the portable by the user as in the invention of claim 3. By detecting the gripping state of the mold barcode reader , there is an excellent effect that the power supply abnormality can be accurately notified without requiring the user to perform a special operation.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. The portable barcode reader shown in FIG. 1 has a gripping part 20 having a predetermined thickness, a horizontal width and a vertical length which can be gripped by a user in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a reading unit (not shown) built therein. The reading unit 10 has a substantially square planar shape protruding from the grip 20.
[0009]
The reading unit 10 has an opening 11 provided at the distal end thereof, and an LCD display 12 for displaying the contents of the read barcode and the contents of a numeric key unit 21 described later.
As shown in FIG. 4, a red light emitting diode (LED) 1 for irradiating a bar code with red light and a red light reflected by a bar code label are applied to a light receiving element (CCD) 2 inside the reading unit 10 as shown in FIG. An image forming lens unit (not shown) for forming an image, a light receiving element (CCD) 2 for converting red light imaged by the image forming lens into an electric signal corresponding to the light receiving intensity, And a controlling CPU 6.
[0010]
The CPU 6 controls the display contents of the above-described LCD display unit 12 and the audible alarm of the buzzer 3 in addition to the above-mentioned respective parts, and performs input operations of various keys and a trigger key 30 provided on the grip unit 20. Control. Then, a detection result of a voltage detection unit (corresponding to a voltage detection unit) 5 for detecting a voltage of the power supply 4 built in the grip unit 20 is input to perform an alarm operation. The details of this point will be described later.
Further, the CPU 6 corresponds to an abnormal signal output unit and a storage unit, and forms a use state detecting unit together with the numerical key unit 21 and the other key unit 22, and forms a notifying unit together with the buzzer 3.
[0011]
The grip portion 20 has a predetermined rectangular shape, a horizontal width and a vertical length so as to be gripped by a user's hand in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a substantially semicircular cross section on the bottom surface. The outer shape is easy to grasp.
On the upper surface of the gripper 20, a numerical key unit 21 including a point key (•) for manual input, a plurality of numerical keys from 0 to 9 and an enter key (ENT), and a plurality of numerical keys from F1 to F9 are provided. A function key unit 22 composed of function keys and another key unit 23 composed of a power key (PW), a backspace key (BS), a clear key (C), and a shift key (SF) are provided.
[0012]
Further, a trigger key (M1) 31 and a trigger key (M2) 32 for starting a barcode reading operation when pressed by a user are arranged on the upper surface of the grip portion 20.
A trigger key 30 is provided on one side surface of the boundary between the grip portion 20 and the reading unit portion 10 so as to protrude from the one side surface. The trigger key 30 is disposed above the two trigger keys 31 and 32 arranged on the upper surface of the gripper 20. Any one of these trigger keys 30, 31, 32 can be used. A reading start instruction is made even when a user selects and operates the apparatus.
[0013]
Next, the operation of the portable barcode reader configured as described above will be described. When the user operates the trigger key 30 with the right forefinger as shown in FIG. 2, or when the user operates the trigger key 31 with the left thumb as shown in FIG. 3, the start of barcode reading is instructed. .
Then, in the reading unit 10, red light is emitted from the LED 1 to the bar code label through the opening 11, and the reflected light is received by the CCD 2, converted into an electric signal, and output to the CPU 6. The CPU 6 reads the contents of the barcode based on the signal.
[0014]
The bar code is read as described above. Here, the power supply voltage notification will be described with reference to FIGS. The voltage detection of the power supply 4 is performed by the voltage detection unit 5, and the detection timing is performed during the operation (for example, every 10 minutes at the time of operation) in this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the detection data detected by the power supply detection unit 5 is input in step S100, the process proceeds to step S110 corresponding to an abnormal signal output unit, and the detected current voltage is set to a predetermined voltage (for example, operation). (Guaranteed voltage) or less. If the detected voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, the power supply 4 is determined to be normal and the process proceeds to step S130, the flag is cleared, and the process related to the voltage determination ends.
[0015]
However, if it is determined in step S110 that the detected voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, the power supply 4 is abnormal, so the process proceeds to step S120, a flag indicating the state is set, and the processing related to the voltage determination ends. .
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, in step S200 corresponding to the use state detecting means, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the trigger keys 30, 31, and 32. The processing is repeated until the user operates the trigger keys 30, 31, 32.
[0016]
When it is determined that the user has operated any of the trigger keys 30, 31, and 32, in step S210, it is determined whether or not a flag indicating a power supply voltage abnormality is set in the voltage determination process illustrated in FIG. judge. If the flag is not set, it is determined that the power supply voltage is normal, and the process is terminated without performing the alarm process.
[0017]
However, if it is determined that the flag is set, the power supply 4 is abnormal, and the process proceeds to step S220 corresponding to the notification means, and the LCD display unit 4 and the buzzer 3 inform the user of the voltage of the power supply 4. Notify that it has dropped. Then, the process proceeds to step S230 to clear the flag and end the process related to the warning notification.
Thus, even if a drop in the power supply voltage is detected during operation, the user operates the trigger keys 30, 31, and 32, that is, after detecting that the user is near the portable bar code reader, Since the notification operation of the voltage drop is performed, it is possible to accurately notify the user of the warning. Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the voltage of the power supply 4 is monitored at predetermined time intervals during operation, so that even if the power supply voltage drops during use, it can be accurately detected and reported.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, the notification operation of the power supply voltage drop is performed when the operation state of the trigger keys 30, 31, 32 by the user is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The operation of the key section 23 may be detected. Further, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a state in which the user holds the barcode reader is detected (for example, a gripping state detection by capacitance change detection using a touch switch as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-160580). ) May be detected, and the notification operation may be performed based on the detection timing. In short, in the present invention, not only the act of actually pressing the trigger key for use but also the `` use state '' including the act of grasping for use may be detected and a warning may be issued at that timing. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation state of a trigger key in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another operation state of the trigger key in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a connection relationship between CPUs in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of voltage determination in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of warning notification in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Buzzer 4 Power supply 5 Power supply detection unit 6 CPU
12 LCD display

Claims (3)

A power supply, voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the power supply at predetermined intervals during operation, and abnormal signal output means for outputting an abnormal signal when the power supply voltage detected by the voltage detection means is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage Storage means for storing the abnormal signal, use state detecting means for detecting a use state by a user, and when the use state detection means detects the use state, the abnormal signal is stored in the storage means. in the case that the portable bar code reader alarm system, characterized in that it comprises a notifying means for notifying an abnormality of the power source to the user. The alarm device for a portable barcode reader according to claim 1, wherein the use state detecting means detects a reading start operation of the portable barcode reader by a user . The portable barcode reader alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the use state detection means detects a gripping state of the portable barcode reader by a user.

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