JPH0740284B2 - Optical information reader - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical information reading device for reading predetermined display information in a non-contact manner.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as display information, a plurality of line segments having a predetermined length are arranged in parallel, and a bar code that represents predetermined information by the thickness and interval of the line segment, a predetermined digit number, and the like are known. As the reading device, the optical type is often used.

Conventionally, for example, in a hand-held bar code reader, the bar code is read by bringing the reading surface of the device into contact with the bar code. In this way, in the case of reading the barcode by bringing the reading surface of the device into contact with the barcode, the barcode being read cannot be seen by the operator,
There is a problem that only a barcode with a length that fits on the reading surface can be read. Therefore, non-contact reading in which the device is read apart from the barcode can be considered. However, in this non-contact reading, since it is difficult to keep the positional relationship between the device and the bar code constant, it is possible to optimize the image forming state of the photoelectric conversion means that forms the reflected light of the bar code. difficult. That is, unless the image formation state is kept optimal, information cannot be read accurately in non-contact reading.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to provide an optical information reading device by which an operator can easily recognize the image formation state in the photoelectric conversion means.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of the present application, as shown in FIG. 1, includes an image forming unit having a lens for forming an image of reflected light of display information in which optical information is described, at a predetermined position; A photoelectric conversion means for outputting an electric signal according to the light intensity of light incident on the light receiving surface, and a photoelectric conversion means in the case, and the predetermined position and the position of the light receiving surface. So as to coincide with each other, a supporting means for movably supporting the lens in the case, and a light source for emitting a pair of beam-like lights, and the predetermined position and the When the position of the light receiving surface matches, the display information is displayed based on the irradiation unit that intersects the beam-like light from the light source at the position of the display information, and the electric signal from the photoelectric conversion unit. A technical means including a reading means for reading Adopted to.

[Action]

 The operation of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

First, the image forming means forms an image of the reflected light of the display information in which the optical information is described at a predetermined position, and the supporting means makes the predetermined position and the position of the light receiving surface coincide with each other. The lens of the image forming unit moves, and the photoelectric conversion unit outputs an electric signal according to the light intensity of the reflected light imaged at the predetermined position. Then, the reading means reads the display information based on the output electric signal.

At this time, in the irradiation means, a pair of beam-like light is emitted from the light source, and the pair of beam-like light is generated when the predetermined position and the position of the light receiving surface coincide with the movement of the lens. , Intersect at the position of display information. That is, the state in which the beam-shaped light intersects indicates that the image formation state by the lens is optimum, and therefore, if the display information is read in this state, the information can be accurately read.

〔The invention's effect〕

The optical information reading device according to the present invention allows the operator to visually recognize the state in which the beam-shaped light intersects, thereby recognizing that the image forming state is optimum, and the operator can accurately perform the non-contact reading operation. Information can be read, and reading work can be performed efficiently.

〔Example〕

A hand-held bar code reader to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the hand-held bar code reader of this embodiment.

The case 10a of the hand-held barcode reader 10 is provided with an opening 10b, and the inside of the case 10a has a configuration described below. Reference numeral 11 is a lens, 12 is an image sensor which is a one-dimensional solid-state image sensor, and 13 is a lens moving knob for moving the lens 11 in the direction of its main optical axis to change the objective distance to be imaged on the image sensor 12. . 14a,
Reference numeral 14b denotes an indicator light emitting diode (hereinafter, an indicator light emitting diode) that performs point illumination overlapping with an objective distance that changes according to the position of the lens 11.
It is called an LED), and is equipped with a lens for point illumination. Reference numeral 15 indicates the indicator LEDs 14a, 1 as the lens 11 moves.
4b is an LED moving mechanism that moves the optical axis of 4b, and includes a first arm 15a, a second arm 15b, a first arm 15a, and a first arm 15a that rotatably connects one end of the first arm 15a and the frame of the lens 11. The connecting portion 15c, the second connecting portion 15d that rotatably connects the first arm 15a and the second arm 15b, and the second arm 15b.
And a fulcrum portion 15e that rotatably supports one end on which the instruction LEDs 14a and 14b are supported.

A reading start switch 16 reads the image formed on the image sensor 12 when the switch is pressed.

Reference numeral 17 is an electronic circuit which is operated by the power supply 18, decodes the information read by the image sensor 12, and temporarily stores the information.

19 shows an example of a barcode.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

3 and 4 are cross-sectional views showing the states of the respective configurations of the handheld bar code reader 10 when the bar codes 19 have different lengths.

In the state of FIG. 3, the length of the bar code 19 is relatively short,
Since it is shorter than the length of opening 10b, opening 10b and barcode
It can be read by contacting with 19 almost. At this time, the lens moving knob 13 is moved to the rightmost side in the figure, and the lens 11 is also moved to the rightmost side. By moving the lens 11 to the right side, the two arms of the LED moving mechanism 15 move so as to close around the second connecting portion 15d,
The optical axes of the supporting LEDs 14a and 14b are directed inward. As a result, the point illumination by the pointing LED 14b and the point illumination by the pointing LED 14b overlap substantially in the vicinity of the opening 15b, and the position of the barcode 19 corresponding to the position of the lens 11 is designated.

In the state of FIG. 14, the bar code 19 is relatively long,
It is much longer than the length of the opening 10b. Therefore, the lens moving knob 13 is moved to the left side in the figure, and the lens 11 is moved to the left side, so that the range in which the image is formed on the image sensor 12 by the lens 11 is enlarged. LED moves when lens 11 moves to the left
The two arms of the moving mechanism 15 move to open and
The LEDs 14a and 14b are moved so as to open in the optical axis direction.

As a result, the point illumination by the instruction LED 14a and the instruction LED 14b
The point illumination by (1) moves farther from the opening 10b of the hand-held barcode reader 10 and overlaps with the lens 11 at a focusing distance on the image sensor 12. When the handheld bar code reader 10 is released and the reading start switch 16 is pushed to a distance where these point lights overlap, the bar code 19 is read.

Thus, according to this embodiment, even if the lengths of the barcode 19 are different, it is possible to deal with them by moving the lens 11, and moreover, along with the movement of the lens 11. Since the changing objective distance that the lens 11 can form an image on the image sensor 12 is indicated by the point illumination by the two indicating LEDs 14a, 14b, the reading error due to the blur of the image on the image sensor 12 can be reduced, and the work can be performed. Efficiency is improved.

Note that the distance at which the point lights of the two indicating LEDs 14a and 14b overlap is determined by the distance between the first arm 15a of the LED moving mechanism 15 and the second arm.
It is determined by the ratio of the lengths of 15b, and by appropriately determining this ratio, it is possible to match the change in the distance where the point illumination overlaps with the movement of the lens 11 with the objective distance.

Further, the point illumination is turned off when the reading start switch 16 is pressed so as not to hinder the reading of the image sensor 12.

The point illumination may be slightly shifted from the reading line of the image sensor 12.

In the embodiment described above, only two point lights are provided,
It is also possible to provide four or six of these and to make two of them as one set so as to overlap.

Further, not only point illumination, but overlapping on the reading line of the image sensor 12 at a position where the image sensor 12 is in focus 2
One line lighting may be used.

At the position where all of the plurality of point illuminations overlap or the position where the two line illuminations overlap, the parallelism between the image sensor 12 and the display information can be easily adjusted.

Further, the range of readable display information may be designated by two or more sets of point illumination.

In addition, the light source is not limited to the light emitting diode, but a laser or the like may be used.If the handheld barcode reader and the main body including the electronic circuit are connected by a cable, a heavy racer source is placed on the main body side. By providing a laser beam by providing an optical fiber through a cable, it is possible to provide an optical information reading device according to the present invention which is lightweight and has clear point illumination.

Also, in the stationary optical information reading device, the illumination according to the present invention may be performed when the device is adjusted or installed. With this configuration, it is not necessary to measure the distance from the optical information reading device to the display device, and the optical information reading device can be easily adjusted and installed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 3 and FIG.
The drawing is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the barcodes of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 have different lengths. 10 …… Handheld barcode reader, 11 …… Lens, 12…
… Image sensor, 13 …… Lens moving knobs, 14a, 14b
...... Instruction LED, 15 ...... LED moving mechanism, 16 …… Reading start switch, 17 …… Electronic circuit, 18 …… Power supply, 19 …… Bar code.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-59-154573 (JP, A) Actually opened 61-74150 (JP, U) Actually opened 58-183564 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming unit having a lens for forming an image of reflected light of display information having optical information formed on a predetermined position, and a light receiving surface on which light is incident, the light incident on the light receiving surface. A photoelectric conversion unit that outputs an electric signal according to the light intensity of, in the case, and the lens is movably provided in the case so that the predetermined position matches the position of the light receiving surface. Supporting means for supporting and a light source for emitting a pair of beam-like light, and when the predetermined position and the position of the light receiving surface coincide with the movement of the lens, the beam from the light source An optical information reader comprising: an irradiating unit that crosses a circular light at a position of the display information; and a reading unit that reads the display information based on the electric signal from the photoelectric conversion unit. .