JP3533398B2 - Portable terminal device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 【Technical field】

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable terminal device suitable for use in reading and processing information on a read object such as a bar code.

[Background technology]

In recent years, for example, a bar code including information about a product is attached to a product handled in a store such as a mass retailer, a convenience store, and a supermarket. By using a portable terminal device having a scanning function for reading a barcode, the store manager reads the barcode information attached to this product and performs information processing on the read barcode information. Through this, it is possible to manage goods such as receipts and payments of goods in stores and warehouse management.

The portable terminal device as described above is
An optical scanner unit (optical reading unit) that performs a scanning operation to obtain barcode information by irradiating the barcode with light and receiving the reflected light from the barcode, and the optical scanner unit The device body that processes information based on barcode information,
It is configured by connecting with a cable or the like.

Generally, the main body of the portable terminal device is provided with an input unit such as a ten-key pad for inputting data and operation commands, and an operator can perform predetermined information processing through this input unit. On the other hand, the optical scanner unit is provided with a trigger key, and when the trigger key is pressed, reading is started. Therefore, in operating this portable terminal device, the operator holds the device body in one hand and the optical scanner unit in the other hand, and operates the input unit and the trigger keys of the optical scanner unit. Since both processes are performed in parallel, both hands are always closed, and it is difficult to operate the apparatus body after collecting data with the optical scanner unit, resulting in deterioration of workability.

Therefore, for such a general portable terminal device, an optical scanner unit which can be integrated with the device body is individually developed, and the device body and the optical scanner unit are integrated. Therefore, it has been proposed to facilitate the operation of the apparatus body. However, in such a portable terminal device having a scanning function by mounting such an optical scanner unit on the device body and integrating the same, the operability and the operation may be different depending on the mounting position of the trigger key of the optical scanner unit. There is a problem that workability decreases.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and a portable type which is provided with a trigger key of an optical reading unit at a position that is easy for an operator to use and is improved in operability and workability. An object is to provide a terminal device.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

Therefore, the portable terminal device of the present invention is provided with an input section for inputting processing information including data and operation commands on the main body of the device, and irradiates a predetermined reading target with light to thereby predetermined A portable terminal device having a reading function by mounting an optical reading unit that receives the reflected light from the reading target of the reading target and obtains the reading information about the predetermined reading target in the main body of the device The trigger key operated when the reading operation by the optical reading unit is activated is assigned to the input unit on the apparatus main body , and the function as the trigger key is
Assigned to at least one key included in the group of keys
It is characterized by being assigned .

[0008] is et al., Portable terminal device of the present invention, while the trigger key is operated and a register for holding the trigger key operation information, the trigger key operation information in the register is held, reading operation in the optical reading unit A read operation drive unit, a timer that measures the elapsed time after the trigger key operation information is held in the register, and a monitoring operation when the elapsed time measured by the timer exceeds a predetermined monitoring time, or It is also possible to provide a reset processing unit that erases the trigger key operation information held in the register when the reading information of the predetermined reading target is obtained by the reading operation of the optical reading unit within the time <br / >-out that.

Further, in the portable terminal device of the present invention, if the optical reading unit has a dedicated trigger key already installed, the dedicated trigger key can perform the same function as the trigger key assigned to the input section. It In the above-mentioned portable terminal device of the present invention, a reading function is added by mounting the optical reading unit on the main body of the device and integrating them, and the optical reading unit irradiates a predetermined reading target with light. By receiving the reflected light from the predetermined reading target, the reading process of the reading target can be performed. At this time, the trigger key which is operated when starting up the reading operation by the optical reading unit, since the assigned to the input of the apparatus main body, the operator, Ru can be performed at the input operation of the trigger key .

Further, the function of the trigger key, Ri particular good split <br/> those light of the at least one key included in key group as the input unit, the operator can operate the trigger key in the input section You can Further, when the trigger key is operated, the trigger key operation information is held in the register, and while the trigger key operation information is held in the register, the reading operation drive unit causes the optical reading unit to execute the reading operation.

At this time, the time elapsed since the trigger key operation information is held in the register by the timer is measured,
When the elapsed time measured by this timer exceeds the predetermined monitoring time, or when the reading information of the predetermined reading target is obtained by the reading operation of the optical reading unit within the monitoring time, The reset key erases the trigger key operation information stored in the register.
It

Further, when a dedicated trigger key is already installed in the optical reading unit, the dedicated trigger key performs the same function as the trigger key assigned to the input section, so that the operator can also use the dedicated trigger key. Ru can be started as usual read operation.

As described above in detail, according to the portable terminal device of the present invention, the trigger key operated when the reading operation by the optical reading unit is activated is assigned to the input section on the main body of the device. so, will be able to set the trigger keys to easy-to-use position for the operator, Ru advantage there that the operability and workability can be greatly improved.
If the optical reading unit already has a dedicated trigger key, the dedicated trigger key performs the same function as the trigger key assigned to the input section, so the operator can switch between the dedicated trigger key and the input section depending on the situation. allocated trigger keys and can use both the increases the degree of freedom in operation by the operator, Ru advantages there which can drastically improve the operability and workability.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (A) Description of First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 20 is a portable terminal device of the first embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the scanning function is added by mounting the laser scanner unit 2 on the apparatus body and integrating them.

Here, the laser scanner unit (optical reading unit) 2 irradiates a predetermined reading target such as a bar code with light and receives reflected light from the reading target based on the operation of a trigger key described later. By doing so, the scanning operation for obtaining the read information about the barcode is performed, and it has a trigger control unit 14 for controlling such scanning operation (turning on / off the laser beam, etc.).

Further, the apparatus main body 1 is composed of a numeric keypad section 7, a display 21, a printer 23 and the like as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, CPU3, ROM4, RAM5, keyboard CPU6, ten key section 7, touch panel section 8, register 9, serial section 10, memory section 11, power supply section 12 and open connector 13 are provided.

Here, the CPU 3 is a portable terminal device 20.
It controls the whole as a whole and includes a timer 3A and a reset processing unit 3B which will be described later. Also, ROM4
Is for storing an initial program, etc.
Stores application execution data and user data, and the keyboard CPU 6 controls the ten-key unit 7 and the touch panel unit 8.

The numeric keypad section 7 and the touch panel section 8
Serves as an input unit for inputting processing information including data and operation commands. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the ten-key unit (ten-key group) 7 is composed of ten-keys and keys having other functions, and the touch panel unit 8 has a predetermined area on the display 21 on the apparatus body 1. The process information is displayed by touching it with a finger or the like.

In the present embodiment, at least one key (for example, "input" key) in the numeric keypad 7 is
A function as a trigger key that is operated when the scanning operation by the laser scanner unit 2 is activated is assigned. Further, the register 9 is set with “1” as the trigger key operation information when the key assigned to the trigger key in the numeric keypad 7 is pressed, and the trigger control of the laser scanner unit 2 is performed via the open collector 13. It is connected to the section 14.

While the open collector 13 holds “1” as the trigger key operation information in the register 9,
As a reading operation drive unit that is turned on and causes the potential of the preceding position A of the trigger control unit 14 to be 0, causing the trigger control unit 14 to operate and causing the laser scanner unit 2 to perform a scanning operation (reading operation). It has the function of. Therefore, in the laser scanner unit 2,
When the value of the register 9 is set to "1", the trigger control unit 14 is configured to perform a scan operation for obtaining read information of a predetermined read target.

Further, the timer 3A of the CPU 3 measures the elapsed time since the register 9 stores "1" as the trigger key operation information, and the reset processing unit 3B measures the elapsed time measured by the timer 3A. The trigger key held in the register 9 when the time exceeds a predetermined monitoring time or when the scanning operation of the laser scanner unit 2 obtains the read information about a predetermined reading target within the monitoring time. The operation information “1” is erased (actually reset to “0”).

The serial section 10 receives the read information of the predetermined read object from the laser scanner unit 2, and the memory section 11 temporarily stores the read information of the predetermined read object from the serial section 10. The power supply unit 12 supplies electric power required to operate the portable terminal device 20. In FIG. 3, the printer 23 prints the processing information in the portable terminal device 20.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above will be described below with reference to the flow chart (steps A1 to A7) shown in FIG. First, in the present embodiment, the numeric keypad section 7 of the portable terminal device 20 is used.
The trigger key for the laser scanner unit 2 is assigned to the appropriate key in advance (step A1). This trigger key assignment process is usually performed according to the user's request before the portable terminal device 20 is shipped to the user. You may make it allocate.

Then, when the trigger key is operated, that is, when at least one key included in the ten-key portion 7 assigned as the trigger key is pressed (YES route of step A2), the fact is recognized by the CPU 3 through the keyboard CPU 6. To be done. When the CPU 3 recognizes that the trigger key has been operated, the register 9 is set to "1" (step A3), the time monitoring by the timer 3A is started (step A4), and the reading read by the laser scanner unit 2 is started. The input of information to the serial unit 10 is awaited (step A6).

That is, the timer 3A monitors the time when "1" is set in the register 9 and if the data is not read within a certain time, the CPU 3
By the function of the reset processing unit 3B, "1" which is the trigger key operation information held in the register 9 is reset to "0" (from NO route of step A4 to step A5). After that, the laser scanner unit 2 is in a standby state for a scan operation start instruction until the key assigned with the function of the trigger key in the ten-key unit 7 is pressed (step A2).

In step A6, the timer 3A
When the data is read within a fixed time period during which monitoring is performed, the read data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 11, the CPU 3 performs data processing based on the read result, and the reset processing 3B causes the register 9 to perform the data processing. Is reset to "0" (step A7). Then, as in the case described above, until the key to which the function of the trigger key in the ten-key pad 7 is assigned is pressed,
The laser scanner unit 2 enters a standby state for a scan operation start instruction (step A2).

As described above, according to the portable terminal device of the first embodiment of the present invention, the trigger key of the laser scanner unit 2 is assigned to the ten-key portion 7 on the main body 1 of the device, which is easy for the operator to use. Since the trigger key is set at the position, there is an advantage that operability and workability can be greatly improved. (B) Description of Second Embodiment FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 30 denotes a portable terminal device of the second embodiment, and this portable terminal device 30 has a terminal main body 1 having the same function as that in the first embodiment, The laser scanner unit 32 (optical reading unit) differs from the first embodiment only in that the dedicated trigger key 15 is already installed.

In this case, the dedicated trigger key 15 of the laser scanner unit 32 has the same function as the key that functions as the trigger key assigned to the ten-key portion 7 of the terminal body 1. That is,
Even when this dedicated trigger key 15 is pressed,
Similar to the key functioning as the trigger key in the ten-key portion 7, "1" is set in the register 9 and the scan operation for obtaining the read information of a predetermined read object is performed.

The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above is shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6 (step B1).
~ B8) will be described below. First, also in the present embodiment, the trigger key for the laser scanner unit 32 is previously assigned to an appropriate key of the ten-key unit 7 in the portable terminal device 30 (step B1). Then, when the trigger key is operated, that is, at least one key included in the ten-key portion 7 assigned as the trigger key is pressed (YES route of step B2) or the dedicated trigger key 15 is pressed (step B3 YES
Route), CPU CPU6 to that effect through the CPU
Recognized in 3.

When the CPU 3 recognizes that the trigger key has been operated, thereafter, data is read from a predetermined reading target as in steps A3 to A7 in FIG. That is, CPU
By "3", "1" is set in the register 9 (step B
4), start time monitoring by the timer 3A (step B
5), waiting for input of the read information of the bar code information to the serial unit 10 (step B7).

If data is not read within the fixed time monitored by the timer 3A, the function of the reset processing unit 3B causes the trigger key operation information "1" held in the register 9 to be "0". Is reset to (from NO route of step B5 to step B6). afterwards,
Next, the laser scanner unit 32 is in the standby state for the scanning operation until the key assigned with the function of the trigger key in the numeric keypad 7 or the dedicated trigger key 15 is pressed (step B2 or the NO route of step B2 to step B3).

In step B7, the timer 3A
When data is read within a fixed time period during which the data is read by the CPU 3, the read data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 11, the CPU 3 performs data processing based on the read result, and the reset processing unit 3B registers the data. 9 is reset to "0" (step B8). Then, as in the case described above, until the key to which the function of the trigger key in the ten-key pad 7 is assigned is pressed,
The laser scanner unit 32 enters a standby state (from step B2 or the NO route of step B2 to step B
3).

As described above, according to the portable terminal device of the second embodiment of the present invention, when the trigger key of the laser scanner unit 32 is assigned to the ten-key portion 7 on the device body 1, the laser scanner unit 32 is provided. Even when the dedicated trigger key 15 is already installed in the keypad, the dedicated trigger key 15 performs the same function as the key that functions as the trigger key assigned to the ten-key portion 7, and therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment described above. , The trigger key is freely set in a position that is easy for the operator to use,
In addition to the advantage that the workability can be greatly improved, the operator can selectively use the dedicated trigger key 15 and the trigger key assigned to the ten-key portion 7 according to the situation, so that the operator can operate freely. This also has the advantage that operability and workability can be dramatically improved.

(C) Others In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the function as the trigger key is assigned to at least one key of the ten-key portion 7, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the display of the apparatus main body 1 is not limited to this. You may allocate to the touch-panel part 8 displayed on 21. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the laser scanner unit 2, which irradiates a predetermined reading target as a reading target with laser light, serves as an optical reading unit.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an optical reading unit having another type of optical system can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

[0035]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portable terminal device in a state where an optical scanner unit and a device body are integrated in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a terminal body according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 device main body 2, 32 laser scanner unit (optical reading unit) 3 CPU 3A timer 3B reset processing unit 4 ROM 5 RAM 6 keyboard CPU 7 numeric keypad unit (input unit) 8 touch panel unit (input unit) 9 register 10 Serial unit 11 Memory unit 12 Power supply unit 13 Open collector 14 Trigger control unit 15 Dedicated trigger key 20, 30 Portable terminal device 21 Display 23 Printer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-3-273458 (JP, A) JP-A-3-171248 (JP, A) JP-A-4-367961 (JP, A) JP-A-5- 120233 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 15/02 G06F 3/02 G06K ⁷ /00-7/14

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting processing information including data and operation instructions is provided on the main body of the apparatus, and a predetermined reading target is irradiated with light to receive reflected light from the predetermined reading target. A portable terminal device to which a reading function is added by mounting an optical reading unit that obtains read information about the predetermined reading target on the main body of the device to integrate the optical reading unit, The trigger key operated when the reading operation by the reading unit is activated is assigned to the input section on the apparatus main body , and the function as the trigger key is
At least one key included in the key group
A mobile terminal device characterized by being assigned
Place 2. A register that holds trigger key operation information when the trigger key is operated, and a reading operation drive that causes the optical reading unit to perform the reading operation while the trigger key operation information is held in the register. Section, a timer for measuring an elapsed time after the trigger key operation information is held in the register, and an elapsed time measured by the timer exceeding a predetermined monitoring time, or within the monitoring time. And a reset processing unit for erasing the trigger key operation information held in the register when the reading information of the predetermined reading target is obtained by the reading operation of the optical reading unit. wherein, the portable terminal apparatus according to claim 1. 3. If the optical reading unit is provided with a dedicated trigger key, the dedicated trigger key performs the same function as the trigger key assigned to the input section. The portable terminal device according to claim 1 or claim 2 .