JPH06230880A - Coordinate input pen with barcode reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a coordinate input pen with a bar code reader that can easily perform pen input and bar code input with one device. A resonance circuit 11 for detecting the coordinates of the pen computer main body 1 is provided at one end of the input pen main body 2, and a bar code reading section 12 for reading a bar code is arranged at the other end. By changing the direction of the up and down, you can easily input the pen and barcode with one device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input pen with a bar code reader suitable for a pen coordinate input computer,
In particular, the present invention relates to a coordinate input pen with a barcode reader capable of inputting data to a pen coordinate input computer by switching the barcode reading function and the coordinate input function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a portable pen coordinate input computer has been developed which is capable of inputting data on the spot of work performed at a work site such as manufacturing or sales. For example, a coordinate input pen having a coordinate input function and a pen computer main body including a digitizer for detecting coordinates and a liquid crystal display are configured. For example, the operator touches the digitizer on a predetermined item displayed on the liquid crystal display with the coordinate input pen. Data is thereby input.

On the other hand, as a device for easily inputting data, there is also proposed a so-called POS terminal device for inputting a product type and an amount of money by reading a bar code attached to a product or the like with a bar code reader. A method of inputting data from a plurality of wireless bar code readers is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-170289.

[0004]

The above-described prior art device does not consider providing the pen input function and the bar code input function with the same input device.
For the user, pen input and bar code input cannot be performed with the same device, which causes inconvenience in terms of usability. For example, when managing product inventory in a warehouse using the above-mentioned portable pen coordinate input computer, from the product name list displayed on the liquid crystal display, the product name is attached to the product with a barcode. It is inconvenient in terms of usability because the product name to be input must be selected and input or by handwritten character recognition.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned inconveniences of the prior art, and to provide a coordinate input pen with a bar code reader capable of easily performing pen input and bar code input with one device. Is.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a coordinate input pen for detecting coordinates on a display screen of a pen coordinate input computer by resonance of a resonance circuit arranged at one end of an elongated shape. The first feature is that a bar code reading unit for reading a bar code is provided at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen.

Further, in the coordinate input pen with the bar code reader according to the present invention, in addition to the bar code reading section, the bar code read by the bar code reading section and the pen coordinates read by the resonance circuit are transmitted to the pen coordinate input computer. A second feature is that a signal transmission unit for performing the operation is provided.

Further, the coordinate input pen with a bar code reader according to the present invention includes, in addition to the bar code reading section and the signal transmitting section, a pressure sensor for detecting that an operator grips the coordinate input pen, and the pressure sensor. A third aspect is to provide a power supply control unit that turns on the power when the operator's grip is detected and disconnects the power after a lapse of a predetermined time from when the operator detects that the operator is not gripping the pressure sensor. Characterize.

Further, in the coordinate input pen with a bar code reader according to the present invention, in addition to the bar code reading section and the signal transmitting section, a pressure sensor for detecting that an operator grips the coordinate input pen and the resonance circuit side are provided. The function of the resonance circuit and the signal transmitting unit is enabled when the bar code reader is oriented in the direction of gravity, and the bar code reader and the bar code reader when the bar code reader is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity or in the direction of gravity. The function switching circuit that activates the function of the signal transmitting unit and the circuit that is validated by the function switching circuit when the operator's grip is detected by the pressure sensor are turned on, and the operator grasps by the pressure sensor. A fourth feature is that the power supply control unit cuts off the power supply after a lapse of a predetermined time from the time when it is detected that the power supply has not been detected.

[0010]

In the coordinate input pen with the bar code reader according to the first feature, a bar code reading section for reading a bar code is provided at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen, and the operator changes the direction of the coordinate input pen. This makes it possible to easily perform pen input and bar code input with one device.

In the coordinate input pen with a bar code reader according to the second feature, in addition to the bar code reading section, the bar code read by the bar code reading section and the pen coordinates read by the resonance circuit are input as the pen coordinate. By providing the signal transmitting unit for transmitting to the computer, the operator can change the direction of holding the coordinate input pen to perform pen input and barcode input wirelessly with one device.

Further, a coordinate input pen with a bar code reader, which is a third feature of the present invention, has a pressure sensor for detecting that the operator has gripped the coordinate input pen and a power source when the operator's grip is detected by the pressure sensor. While the operator is not using the coordinate input pen, a power supply control unit is provided that turns off the power after a predetermined time has elapsed from when the operator has turned on the pressure sensor and detects that the operator has not gripped the coordinate input pen. Power consumption can be reduced.

The coordinate input pen with a bar code reader, which is the fourth feature, enables the functions of the resonance circuit and the signal transmitting unit when the resonance circuit side is oriented in the direction of gravity, and the bar code reading unit side is in the direction of gravity. A function switching circuit for activating the functions of the bar code reading unit and the signal transmitting unit when it is oriented in a direction perpendicular to or relative to the gravity direction, and the function switching when the operator's grip is detected by the pressure sensor. The pen coordinate input function is provided by the operator by providing a power control unit that turns on the power of the circuit validated by the circuit and turns off the power after a lapse of a predetermined time from when the operator's non-grasping is detected by the pressure sensor. It is possible to perform pen input and bar code input with one device without having to be aware of switching between the and bar code input functions.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a pen coordinate input computer including a coordinate input pen with a barcode reader according to this embodiment. The pen coordinate input computer according to the present embodiment comprises a pen input computer main body 1 for displaying predetermined items and coordinate input, and a bar code reader-equipped coordinate input pen main body 2 having a bar code input function and a pen coordinate input function described later. Composed. The pen input computer main body 1 includes a liquid crystal display 5 for displaying predetermined items,
A digitizer 4 including an antenna coil 9 and a sensor plate 8 arranged below the liquid crystal display 5, a signal receiving section 7 for receiving a bar code signal from the coordinate input pen main body 2 with a bar code reader, and a control not shown. The coordinate input pen main body 2 with a barcode reader includes a barcode reading unit 12 for reading a barcode and a barcode read by the reading unit 12. A barcode recognition unit 13 for recognizing,
A signal conversion circuit 14 for converting the bar code signal into a digital signal, a resonance circuit 11 for inputting coordinate positions by resonating with the antenna coil 9 of the pen input computer main body 1, and a signal from the resonance circuit 11 A coordinate recognition unit 21 for recognizing the coordinates, and the signal conversion circuit 14
The signal from the signal receiving unit 7 of the computer body 1 described above.
And a signal transmission section 15 for transmitting the signal.

As shown in FIG. 6 showing the details and FIG. 7 showing the waveforms, the bar code reading portion 12 of the main body 2 of the coordinate input pen with the bar code reader transmits the sensor light for reading the bar code to the pulse generated by the pulse generator 37. A light emitting portion 24 that emits light in response to the signal 29, and is arranged in an annular shape around the light emitting portion 24,
Light receiving sensor 2 for receiving the light reflected by the bar code 40 on the bar code paper 26 as a reception pulse signal 30.
5, and an amplifier circuit 27 for amplifying the received pulse signal 30
And a filter 28 for outputting the external light removal pulse signal 31 from which the noise 36 due to the external light is removed, the received pulse signal 30 received by the light emitting sensor 25 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 27, and the noise 36 is further filtered by the filter 28. The external light removal pulse signal 31 removed by is output, the recognition circuit 13 recognizes the pulse signal 31, and the signal conversion circuit 14 digitally converts the digital signal 32 to be transmitted by the signal transmission unit 15. .

The pen coordinate input computer thus constructed selectively positions the resonance circuit 11 side of the coordinate input pen main body 2 on the liquid crystal display 5 of the main body 1 as shown in FIG. Then, the resonance circuit 11 resonates with the electromagnetic field generated from the antenna coil 9, and the antenna coil 9 receives the electromagnetic field due to the resonance of the resonance circuit 11 after the generation of the electromagnetic field by the antenna coil 9 is stopped. By repeating the exchange of the electromagnetic field of the resonance circuit 11 and the resonance circuit 11, the coordinate recognizing unit 21 detects the position on the liquid crystal display 5 where the coordinate input pen body 2 is located, and the coordinates are input.

Next, when the operator inputs a bar code of a product or the like, the operator grips the coordinate input pen main body 2 and scans the bar code 40 by the bar code reading section 12 to generate the bar code. After the barcode recognizing unit 13 recognizes 40, the signal transmitting unit 15 transmits the barcode signal digitally converted by the signal converting circuit 14 to the signal receiving unit 7 of the pen input computer main body 1 to thereby obtain the barcode signal of the product or the like. Computer body 1
Can be entered. The switching between the pen input function and the bar code input function can be arbitrarily selected by a switch provided on the computer body 1 or the pen body 2. As described above, in the pen coordinate input computer according to the present embodiment, the bar code reader-equipped coordinate input pen main body 2 is provided with the bar code reader function and the bar code signal transmitting function, and the pen input computer main body 1 is provided with the bar code signal receiving function. By adding 1
It is possible to easily perform pen input and bar code input with a single device.

Now, the pen coordinate input computer in the above-mentioned embodiment is the coordinate input pen main body 2 with the bar code reader.
For wireless, it is desirable that the power supply unit 16 is composed of a battery to reduce power consumption. Next, an embodiment of the coordinate input pen body with reduced power consumption will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a coordinate input pen main body with a bar code reader having a function of cutting off power when the operator is not using the pen. The input pen main body is the resonance circuit 11 and the bar code described in the above embodiment. In addition to the reading unit 12, the barcode recognition unit 13, the power supply unit 16 and the like, a pressure sensor 17 is arranged around the pen case unit 10 that houses them, and the pressure of the pressure sensor 17 and the time by the timer monitoring circuit 19 are set. It is characterized in that a power supply control unit 20 for performing power supply on / off control with monitoring as a factor is provided.

In this coordinate input pen body with a bar code reader, when the operator grips the pen body as shown in FIG. 4 showing the circuit configuration, the pressure identification circuit 18 inputs the pressure from the pressure sensor 17. The power supply control unit 20 supplies power to the resonance circuit 11 and the coordinate recognition circuit 21 on the coordinate recognition side, and also supplies power to the barcode reading unit 12 and the barcode identification unit 13 on the barcode reading side to input data. When the pressure identification circuit 18 identifies that the pressure sensor 17 is not gripped, the power supply control circuit 20 is configured to stop the power supply to each circuit after a predetermined time has elapsed by the timer monitoring circuit 19. There is.

That is, in this coordinate input pen body with a bar code reader, the pressure sensor 17 detects the pressure gripped when the operator performs pen input or bar code input,
The power supply control unit 20 maintains the power-on state of each circuit while pressure is being applied, and pressure non-detection, that is, a predetermined time counted by the timer monitoring circuit 19 after the operator releases the pen body 2. When the coordinate input pen body is not used, power consumption can be prevented by operating the power source other than the pressure sensor system afterwards. still,
The main body of the coordinate input pen according to the present embodiment has a built-in conversion circuit and a signal transmitting unit for converting a bar code signal into a digital signal as in the above-described embodiments, but the illustration is omitted to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment. The explanation is omitted.

In the pen coordinate input computer according to the above-described embodiment, there is one in which the pen input function and the bar code input function are switched by the switch operation by the operator. The device itself discriminates the function switching and switches the function. However, this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing a coordinate input pen main body with a bar code reader that automatically switches between the pen input function and the bar code input function according to the usage pattern of the operator. This input pen main body is described in the above embodiment. In addition to the resonance circuit 11, the bar code reading unit 12, the bar code recognition unit 13, the power supply unit 16, the pressure sensor 17, and the like, a weight switch 23 that detects the direction of the pen case unit 10 and the weight switch 23 detect the weight switch 23. A function switching circuit 22 for switching the function depending on the direction is provided, and the function switching circuit 22 switches between the pen input function and the bar code input function according to the attitude of the pen body 2. This coordinate input pen main body with a bar code reader detects the vertical direction of the pen main body 2 by the weight switch 23 when the operator holds the pen main body as shown in FIG. 5 showing the circuit configuration, and in response to this detection. The function switching control circuit 22 is the resonance circuit 1 on the coordinate recognition side.
1 and the coordinate recognition circuit 21 are supplied with power to make them valid, or the bar code reading section 12 and the bar code identification section 13 on the bar code reading side are supplied with power to be made valid. The data identified by the circuit 13 or 21 is digitized by the signal conversion circuit 14 and then transmitted by the signal transmitting unit 15 to the signal receiving unit 7 on the pen computer main body side.

The structure of the weight switch 23 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a hollow portion 56 including weights 54 and sensors 51 to 53 for detecting the positions of the weights 54 in an internal space having a rhombic cross section, and a function switching instruction by the weight position detection of the sensors 51 to 53 of the hollow portion 56. Switching unit 55
And the sensor 53 is arranged on the resonance circuit 11 side of the coordinate input pen body, and the sensor 52 is arranged on the bar code reading section 12 side of the coordinate input pen body.
In the weight switch 23 configured in this manner, for example, when the operator inputs the coordinate pen, the weight main body is held with the resonance circuit 11 side facing downward so that the weight 54 in the hollow portion 56 becomes the sensor 53. The bar code reading unit 12 of the main body of the coordinate input pen is detected so that the operator can input the coordinate pen by touching due to gravity and input the bar code by the operator.
By holding the side downward or horizontally, it is detected that the weight 54 comes into contact with the sensor 52 or 51 by gravity and performs bar code input, and the switching unit 55 instructs the function switching. The sensor 51 is designed, for example, in consideration of holding the pen body horizontally when an operator reads a bar code attached to the side surface of a product. Further, although the timer monitoring circuit is not shown in the present embodiment, a timer monitoring circuit for turning off each power source after a predetermined time has elapsed after the pressure sensor 17 detects that the operator is not holding the pen body is provided. Is also included.

In the bar code reader-equipped coordinate input pen main body thus constructed, the pressure sensor 17 detects the gripping force by the operator holding the coordinate input pen main body and turns on the power supply section 16. With weight switch 2
The position of the weight 54 in 3 detects whether the operator's usage pattern is a pen input function or a bar code input function, and the function switching circuit 22 switches the function according to an instruction from the weight switch 23. For example, when the operator holds the pen body with the resonance circuit 11 side down to input the pen coordinates, the weight 54 in the weight switch 23 contacts the sensor 53 and the function switching circuit 22 causes the pen coordinate input function. Resonance circuit 11 and the like and signal transmitting section 15
Is turned on and the pen input coordinates are transmitted to the main body of the pen input computer in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the bar code reading unit 12 is used for the operator to input the bar code.
When the pen main body is held with its side horizontal or down, the weight 54 in the weight switch 23 has the sensor 51 or 52.
The function switching circuit 22 keeps the bar code recognizing section 13 and the like for performing the bar code input function and the signal transmitting section 15 in the ON state by transmitting the bar code data to the pen input computer main body as in the above embodiment. It works.

As described above, the main body of the coordinate input pen with the bar code reader according to the present embodiment detects the usage form of the operator by the weight switch 23, and the switching circuit 22 switches between the pen input function and the bar code input function. The operator can perform pen coordinate input and barcode input without being aware of function switching. Further, the power consumption of the cordless input pen body can be reduced because the pressure sensor 17 and the weight switch 23 turn the power on / off according to the usage form of the operator.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the weight switch 23 shown in FIG. 8 is used to detect the usage form of the operator has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this weight switch structure and other structures. It may be a switch that detects the usage pattern of. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which data is wirelessly transmitted and received to and from the pen coordinate input computer main body has been described, but the present invention is not limited to wireless communication, and may be, for example, the center of the pen main body as long as the operation of the operator is not hindered. It may be a wired one that is rotatably coupled.

[0026]

As described above, the coordinate input pen with the bar code reader according to the first feature of the present invention has the bar code reading portion for reading the bar code at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen. By changing the direction of the coordinate input pen, the operator can easily perform pen input and bar code input with one device. In addition, the coordinate input pen with the barcode reader according to the second feature is operated by providing a signal transmitting unit for transmitting the read barcode and pen coordinates to the pen coordinate input computer in addition to the barcode reading unit. By changing the direction in which the person holds the coordinate input pen, pen input and bar code input can be performed wirelessly with one device.

A coordinate input pen with a bar code reader, which is a third feature of the present invention, is a pressure sensor for detecting that the operator has gripped the coordinate input pen, and when the operator's grip is detected by the pressure sensor. The coordinate input pen is used by the operator by providing a power supply control unit that turns off the power after a lapse of a predetermined time from when the power sensor is turned on and the pressure sensor detects that the operator is not gripping. It is possible to reduce power consumption while not in use. The fourth feature of the coordinate input pen with barcode reader is that the functions of the resonance circuit and the signal transmission unit are enabled when the resonance circuit side is directed downward, and the bar code reading unit moves downward or horizontally. Turn on the power of the function switching circuit that activates the functions of the barcode reading unit and the signal transmission unit when it is directed, and the circuit that is activated by the function switching circuit when the operator's grip is detected by the pressure sensor. However, by providing a power control unit that turns off the power after a predetermined time has elapsed from when the pressure sensor detects that the operator is not gripping, the operator can switch between the pen coordinate input function and the bar code input function. It is possible to easily perform pen input and bar code input with one device without being aware of it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a pen coordinate input computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a coordinate input pen with a barcode reader according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a coordinate input pen with a barcode reader according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the coordinate input pen with the barcode reader shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the coordinate input pen with the barcode reader shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of a barcode reading unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a barcode reading unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the weight switch according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pen input computer main body, 2 ... Coordinate input pen main body with bar code reader, 4 ... Digitizer, 5 ... Liquid crystal display, 6 ... Power supply section, 7 ... Signal receiving section, 8 ... Sensor plate,
9 ... Antenna coil, 10 ... Pen case part, 11 ... Resonance circuit, 12 ... Bar code reading part, 13 ... Bar code recognition part, 14 ... Signal conversion circuit, 15 ... Signal transmitting part, 16 ... Power supply part, 17 ... Pressure Sensor, 18 ... Pressure identification circuit, 19 ...
Timer monitoring circuit, 20 ... Power supply control unit, 21 ... Coordinate recognition unit, 22 ... Function switching circuit, 23 ... Wait switch, 2
4 ... Light emitting part, 25 ... Light receiving sensor, 26 ... Bar code paper,
27 ... Amplifying circuit, 28 ... Filter, 29 ... Transmitting pulse signal, 30 ... Received pulse signal, 31 ... External light removing pulse signal, 32 ... Digital signal, 33 ... Timing signal, 3
4 ... Received pulse signal high level part, 35 ... Received pulse signal low level part, 36 ... Received pulse noise, 37 ... Pulse generator, 51-53: Sensor, 54: Weight, 5
5: switching part, 56: hollow part.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Okachi 1 Ikegami Ichigami, Haruoka-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi Hitachi Asahi Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kubo St. Aichi Ikegami-cho, Owariasahi-shi, Aichi Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. In Asahi Electronics (72) Inventor Mitsunari Kano 1 Ikegami, Haruoka-cho, Owari-Asahi-shi, Aichi Hitachi Ltd. Office Systems Division

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate input pen for detecting coordinates on a display screen of a pen coordinate input computer by resonance of a resonance circuit arranged at one end of the elongated coordinate input pen, wherein a bar code is provided at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen. A coordinate input pen with a bar code reader, which is provided with a bar code reading unit for reading. 2. A coordinate input pen for detecting coordinates on a display screen of a pen coordinate input computer by resonance of a resonance circuit arranged at one end of an elongated shape, the coordinate input pen being arranged at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen, A bar code reading section for reading a bar code, and a signal transmitting section for transmitting the bar code read by the bar code reading section and the pen coordinates read by the resonance circuit to a pen coordinate input computer. Coordinate input pen with reader. 3. A coordinate input pen for detecting coordinates on a display screen of a pen coordinate input computer by resonance of a resonance circuit arranged at one end of an elongated shape, the coordinate input pen being arranged at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen, A bar code reading unit for reading a bar code, a signal transmitting unit for transmitting a bar code read by the bar code reading unit and a pen coordinate read by a resonance circuit to a pen coordinate input computer, and an operator grips the coordinate input pen. The pressure sensor that detects that the pressure sensor is turned on, and the power is turned on when the operator grasps the pressure sensor, and the power is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed from when the operator detected that the operator was not grasping the operator. A coordinate input pen with a bar code reader, which is provided with a power supply control unit. 4. A coordinate input pen for detecting coordinates on a display screen of a pen coordinate input computer by resonance of a resonance circuit arranged at one end of an elongated shape, the coordinate input pen being arranged at the other end of the elongated coordinate input pen, A bar code reading unit for reading a bar code, a signal transmitting unit for transmitting a bar code read by the bar code reading unit and a pen coordinate read by a resonance circuit to a pen coordinate input computer, and an operator grips the coordinate input pen. The function of the resonance circuit and the signal transmission unit is enabled when the resonance circuit side is oriented in the gravity direction, and the bar code reading unit side is in a direction perpendicular to the gravity direction or gravity. The operator's grip is detected by the pressure sensor and a function switching circuit that activates the functions of the barcode reading unit and the signal transmission unit when facing the direction. And a power control unit for turning on the power of the circuit enabled by the function switching circuit and turning off the power after a lapse of a predetermined time from when the pressure sensor detects that the operator is not gripping. A coordinate input pen with a barcode reader.