JP4829504B2 - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a barcode reader, and more particularly, to a barcode reader that reads barcode data written on barcode labels existing at various distances from the barcode reader.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, bar code readers that can read up to a long depth have been commercialized by both semiconductor laser type and CCD type methods. In such a barcode reader, within a readable distance, a barcode label at a short distance from the barcode reader and a barcode label at a long distance from the barcode reader can be read.

  However, when barcode labels exist at long distances and short distances respectively, and barcode labels that exist at long distances are to be read, they are read into barcode labels at short distances that are not to be read. There is a possibility that the barcode data written on the barcode label at a short distance is erroneously read by irradiating the laser. In that case, if the barcode data written on the barcode label at a long distance is different from the barcode data written on the barcode label at a short distance, it can be recognized by limiting the reading code. However, if the barcode data is the same, recognition is impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of whether the barcode data read by the barcode reader is correct.

In recent years, from the barcode data read by the barcode reader, the width of the bar of the barcode symbol and the width of the space between the bars are detected, and from the detected result to the barcode label. A method is considered in which the read barcode data is validated when the distance is determined to be shorter than a preset distance (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-06-012514

  However, as to the method of determining the distance from the width of the detected bar code symbol bar and the width of the space between the bars described in Patent Document 1, how much bar code symbol bar width and bar There is a problem that it is necessary to associate in advance how far the width of the space between the bar and the bar corresponds, and the setting work for that is complicated. In addition, since the barcode data written on the barcode label that is determined to be closer than the preset distance is validated, the barcode data written on the barcode label that is far away cannot be validated. In addition, all bar code data written on bar code labels that are determined to be closer than a preset distance are validated, and even bar code data written on bar code labels that are not to be read are valid. There is a problem of making it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and only the barcode data written on the barcode label to be read is obtained without complicating the setting work. An object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reader that can be validated.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
In a barcode reader comprising at least reading means for reading barcode data written on a barcode label, and decoding means for decoding barcode data read by the reading means,
A memory for storing a preset distance range;
Distance measuring means for measuring a distance from the barcode reader to a barcode label to be read;
Whether the distance measured by the distance measuring means is within the distance range stored in the memory by comparing the distance measured by the distance measuring means with the distance range stored in the memory. Determining means for erasing the barcode data decoded by the decoding means when it is determined that the distance measured by the distance measuring means is not within the distance range stored in the memory ; ,
When the determination means determines that the measured distance is in the distance range, the transmission means transmits the barcode data decoded by the decoding means to a host device,
The distance measurement mode can be set, and the decoding means calculates the distance measured by the distance measurement means when the barcode reader reads the barcode label in the state where the distance measurement mode is set. It is characterized by setting as a range.

  In addition, the determination means erases the barcode data decoded by the decoding means when it is determined that the distance measured by the distance measurement means is not within the distance range.

A memory storing the distance range;
The determining means compares the distance measured by the distance measuring means with the distance range stored in the memory to determine whether the distance measured by the distance measuring means is within the distance range. It is characterized by judging.

  When the decoding means determines whether the barcode data read by the reading means is menu data including the distance range data, and determines that the barcode data is menu data including the distance range data The distance range data is stored in the memory.

  In the present invention configured as described above, when the barcode data written on the barcode label is read by the reading means, the distance between the barcode reader and the barcode label to be read by the distance measuring means. Is measured, and then the determination means determines whether or not the measured distance is within a preset distance range.If it is determined that the distance is within the distance range, the transmission means reads the reading means, The barcode data decoded by the decoding means is transmitted to the host device.

  In this way, only the barcode data written on the barcode label within the preset distance range is validated and transmitted to the host device, so the readable distance range is set freely and within the reading area. Even when bar code labels having different reading distances exist, only the bar code data described in the bar code labels existing in the limited distance range is recognized by the host device.

  As described above, in the present invention, when the barcode data written on the barcode label is read, the distance between the barcode reader and the barcode label to be read is measured, and the measured distance is determined in advance. Only when it is determined that it is within the set distance range, the read barcode data is sent to the host device, so it is written on the barcode label to be read without complicating the setting work. Only bar code data can be validated.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration to which a barcode reader of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the system reads the barcode data written on the barcode labels 101 and 102 by the barcode reader 103 and transmits the read barcode data to the host device 104 by the barcode reader 103. It is configured. Note that the barcode reader 103 and the host device 104 may be configured to perform communication by wire as shown in FIG. 1 or may be configured to perform communication by radio.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the barcode reader 103 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the barcode reader 103 shown in FIG. 1 includes a reading unit 201 that optically reads the barcode data written on the barcode labels 101 and 102, and an optical unit that reads the barcode data. A photoelectric conversion unit 202 that converts the read barcode data into an electrical signal, a decoding unit 203 that decodes a data character from the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 202, and a barcode label 101, A distance sensor 206 that is a distance measuring unit that measures the distance to the memory 102, a memory 207 that stores a distance range in which the barcode data can be read by the barcode reader 103, a distance measured by the distance sensor 206, and the memory 207. Read from the distance range stored in the A determination unit 204 for encoding data to determine whether valid, a transmission unit 205 is provided for transmitting bar code data is determined to be valid at decision unit 204 to the host apparatus 104.

  Hereinafter, processing when the barcode reader 103 configured as shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the barcode reader 103 configured as shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the system shown in FIG.

  Here, the bar code label 101 is a menu label including distance range data that can be read by the bar code reader 103, and the bar code label 102 is a bar code label on which normal bar code data is written.

  First, a description will be given of processing when the barcode reader 103, which is a menu label, is read as a reading target by the barcode reader 103 to set a distance range that the barcode reader 103 can read.

  In the reading unit 201 of the barcode reader 103, the barcode data written on the barcode label 101 is optically read (step S1). At the same time, the distance between the barcode reader 103 and the barcode label 101 is measured by the distance sensor 206 (step S2).

  Next, the barcode data optically read by the reading unit 201 is output to the photoelectric conversion unit 202 and converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 202 (step S3), and the white and black bar codes on the barcode label 101 are displayed. Is output to the decoding unit 203 as a signal subjected to patterning (binarization) processing.

  In the decoding unit 203, the type of barcode of the electric signal is determined, and the data character is decoded (step S4), and it is menu data including distance range data readable by the barcode reader 103 or normal barcode data. Is determined (step S5). Here, since the barcode data written on the barcode label 101 is read by the barcode reader 103, it is determined that the barcode data is menu data, and the distance range data that can be read by the barcode reader 103 is stored in the memory 207. (Step S6). The memory 207 is a non-volatile memory, and the contents can be rewritten as necessary.

  Next, processing when the barcode label 102 on which normal barcode data is written is read as a reading target by the barcode reader 103 will be described.

  In the reading unit 201 of the barcode reader 103, the barcode data written on the barcode label 102 is optically read (step S1). At the same time, the distance between the barcode reader 103 and the barcode label 102 is measured by the distance sensor 206 (step S2).

  Next, the barcode data optically read by the reading unit 201 is output to the photoelectric conversion unit 202 and converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion unit 202 (step S3), and the white and black bar codes on the barcode label 102 are displayed. Is output to the decoding unit 203 as a signal subjected to patterning (binarization) processing.

  In the decoding unit 203, the type of barcode of the electric signal is determined, and the data character is decoded (step S4), and it is menu data including distance range data readable by the barcode reader 103 or normal barcode data. Is determined (step S5). Here, since the barcode data described on the barcode label 102 is read by the barcode reader 103, it is determined that the barcode data is normal barcode data.

  Then, the determination unit 204 reads the distance range data readable by the barcode reader 103 stored in step S6 from the memory 207 (step S7), and the distance measured by the distance sensor 206 in step S2. The distance range data read from the memory 207 is compared, and it is determined whether or not the distance between the barcode reader 103 and the barcode label 102 is within a readable range (step S8).

  When it is determined that the distance between the barcode reader 103 and the barcode label 102 is within the readable distance range, the barcode data decoded by the decoding unit 203 is transmitted from the transmission unit 205 to the host device 104. It is transmitted (step S9).

  If it is determined that the distance between the barcode reader 103 and the barcode label 102 is outside the range of readable distance, the control unit 204 determines that the barcode data decoded by the decoding unit 203 is It is erased (step S10).

  Note that the light scanned or irradiated in the reading unit 201 may be laser light or LED light. As the photoelectric conversion unit 202, a light receiving element or a CCD can be considered.

  The distance sensor 206 may be constituted by an infrared LED and a phototransistor, or may be measured by ultrasonic waves or laser light.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a distance range that can be read by the barcode reader 103 is set by reading the menu label is shown. However, by reading the menu label, the barcode reader 103 is simply moved by the distance. A method is also conceivable in which the distance to the barcode label 102 that is set in the measurement mode and read in the distance measurement mode is set as a distance range that the barcode reader 103 can read.

  It is also conceivable that a switch for setting the barcode reader 103 to the distance measurement mode is provided, and the barcode reader 103 is set to the distance measurement mode by the switch to perform the same processing.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to barcodes but also to two-dimensional codes that have become popular in recent years.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure to which the barcode reader of this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the structure of the barcode reader shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the barcode reader having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the system shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

101, 102 Barcode label 103 Barcode reader 104 Host device 201 Reading unit 202 Photoelectric conversion unit 203 Decoding unit 204 Judgment unit 205 Transmission unit 206 Distance sensor 207 Memory

Claims (2)

In a barcode reader comprising at least reading means for reading barcode data written on a barcode label, and decoding means for decoding barcode data read by the reading means,
A memory for storing a preset distance range;
Distance measuring means for measuring a distance from the barcode reader to a barcode label to be read;
Whether the distance measured by the distance measuring means is within the distance range stored in the memory by comparing the distance measured by the distance measuring means with the distance range stored in the memory. Determining means for erasing the barcode data decoded by the decoding means when it is determined that the distance measured by the distance measuring means is not within the distance range stored in the memory ; ,
When the determination means determines that the measured distance is in the distance range, the transmission means transmits the barcode data decoded by the decoding means to a host device,
The distance measurement mode can be set, and the decoding means calculates the distance measured by the distance measurement means when the barcode reader reads the barcode label in the state where the distance measurement mode is set. A bar code reader that is set as a range. The barcode reader according to claim 1, wherein
A switch for setting the distance measurement mode;
The barcode reader is set to the distance measurement mode by setting the switch.

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