JPH11250171A - Optical reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To input information related to an article to be purchased, a program, etc., by using an optical method capable of quickly and easily executing information communication without using a keyboard. SOLUTION: An optical reader 10 has a lens 1, a lens driving part 2 for shifting the position of the lens 1, a light emitting element 3, a light receiving element 4, and a control part 5. The control part 5 controls at least the direction and distance of shifting the lens 1 by the lens driving part 2, optical data communication processing (e.g. IrDA communication) utilizing light emission from the element 3 and light reception by the element 4 and scanning processing (e.g. a function of a bar code reader) for receiving the reflected light of light generated from the element 3 by the element 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical reader having at least a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called personal computer has been useful for various kinds of information analysis, file management, and the like, and one of its features is that a keyword search can be performed instantaneously.

[0003] For this reason, for example, so-called compact discs (CD: trademark), video tapes, and other uses for personally categorizing and organizing information on various purchases (commodities and the like), and recording on video tapes, for example. If the personal computer is used for the purpose of personally classifying and organizing information related to the contents of the television program, the organization and management thereof can be easily and functionally performed.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned various purchases (commodities, etc.) are individually classified and arranged and managed using a personal computer, or recorded on a video tape. When the contents are individually classified and organized and managed, humans must input information on the contents of the purchases and recordings and information for organizing and managing the contents, for example, using a keyboard. .

[0005] That is, when a compact disc is taken as an example of a purchase, the title of a song or the name of an artist contained in the compact disc must be input using a keyboard. In this case, the name of the television program recorded on the video tape, the broadcast time, the broadcast time, and the like must be input using a keyboard.

[0006] Further, information on the contents of the various purchases (commodities and the like) to be input by the keyboard is required by humans, for example, from various sentences and pictures described in the package of the purchases. Information about the contents of a television program recorded on a videotape, for example, from a television program column such as a newspaper or a program magazine, a person can input a television program name, a broadcast time, and the like. The broadcast time must be read and generated.

[0007] Therefore, it is very troublesome to personally sort and sort the above-mentioned various purchases (commodities and the like) and personally sort recorded contents using a personal computer. It has become.

As a means for inputting data to a personal computer, in addition to the keyboard, for example, a so-called IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
ation), there is also an input / output means by optical communication using an infrared light data communication system. Therefore, if the input / output means by the optical communication can input the information on the purchased item or the program or the like, the input can be performed at high speed and easily without the trouble as the input by the keyboard.

However, the optical communication using the IrDA is
Since it is made for the purpose of communication between personal computers or its peripheral devices, it cannot be used as a means for humans to directly or indirectly input data. In any case, when inputting information about programs and programs, it is necessary to use a keyboard.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. For example, an optical method capable of performing high-speed and easy information communication without using a keyboard as information input means for a personal computer or the like. An object of the present invention is to propose an optical reading device capable of inputting information on, for example, purchases, programs, etc.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a lens, a lens driving means for moving the lens arrangement position, a light emitting means, a light receiving means, a moving direction and a moving amount of the lens arrangement position, and a light emitting means. The above-described problem is solved by having at least a control unit capable of controlling an optical data communication process or a scan process using a light receiving unit.

Here, the control means moves the lens before the light emitting means when performing the scanning process, and removes the lens from before the light emitting means when performing the optical data communication processing. The control means continuously emits light from the light emitting means when performing the scanning process, decodes the reflected light signal received by the light receiving means, and emits and receives light from the light emitting means when performing the optical data communication processing. Full-duplex communication or half-duplex communication using light reception by the Furthermore, the present invention provides data generated by the scanning process,
There is also provided a database unit that associates information related to the contents of a plurality of products and / or information related to a plurality of programs.

That is, according to the present invention, the optical data communication processing and the scanning processing can be performed by one optical reading device.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an optical reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the optical reading device 10
And the personal computer 20 are shown separately, but it is also possible to incorporate the optical reader 10 like a so-called notebook personal computer, for example.

In FIG. 1, an optical reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a lens 1, a lens driving section 2, a light emitting element 3, a light receiving element 4, a control section 5, a memory 6, and an I / F (interface) section 7. It consists of

The light emitting element 3 is composed of, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) that emits light such as infrared light, and the lens 1 is provided to narrow the light emitted from the light emitting element 3 to a light beam. .

The lens 1 can be moved in the direction of arrow M in FIG. 1 by a lens driving unit 2, and the lens driving unit 2 controls the lens 1 based on the control of the control unit 5. It is moved in front of the light emitting portion or driven in a direction to remove from the front of the light emitting portion. Therefore, lens 1
Moves to the front of the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 3, the light emitted from the light emitting element 3 is focused on the beam light by the lens 1, while the lens 1 is separated from the front of the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 3. Then, the light emitted from the light emitting element 3 becomes diffused light.

The light receiving element 4 is a reflected light emitted from the light emitting element 3 and reflected by some object, or a light emitted from the light emitting element 3 of another optical reading device 10, and further another personal computer or its personal computer. It is provided to receive light emitted from a light emitting unit such as a peripheral device.

The control unit 5 controls the direction and amount of movement of the lens 1 by the lens driving unit 2, controls the light emitting state of the light emitting element 3, and receives and decodes a light receiving signal from the light receiving element 4. To generate data.

The memory 6 includes a control program for the control unit 5 to control the driving of the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 4 and the driving control of the lens 1 in the lens driving unit 2. A function as a ROM (read only memory) for storing an operation program and the like when decoding the data, and a function as a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing data obtained by decoding the light receiving signal as necessary. Have The personal computer 20 holds the control and calculation programs, or the personal computer 2 without storing data obtained by decoding the light receiving signal.
When the data is directly transferred to 0, the memory 6 is not always necessary.

The I / F unit 7 is an interface for data communication between the optical reading device 10 and the personal computer 20. The I / F unit 7 is not always necessary when the optical reading device 10 is built in the personal computer 20 or when data is transmitted and received between the personal computer 20 and the optical reading device 10 by optical communication. Absent.

The personal computer 20 is a general so-called personal computer having a processor for signal processing, a database unit 21 composed of a hard disk and the like, a monitor (not shown), and controls the optical reading device 10.
Further, it analyzes and stores data supplied from the optical reading device 10 based on software stored in the database unit 21. The personal computer 20 manages, organizes, and edits data stored in the database unit 21.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the control program stored in the memory 6 or the personal computer 20 and the arithmetic program for decoding are executed by, for example, IrD.
The optical reading device 10 includes at least two types of programs: a program for operating for communication A and a program for operating the optical reading device 10 as, for example, a barcode reader.

That is, in the optical reading device 10, the memory 6 or the personal computer 20 is used.
By switching and using the programs stored by
It can operate for rDA communication or as a barcode reader. In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the IrDA communication operation and the barcode reader operation are realized by one optical reading apparatus 10 by switching the above-mentioned program, that is, software. It is also possible to provide a hardware configuration for performing the operation and a hardware configuration for performing the operation of the barcode reader in one optical reading device 10 and switch between them.

More specifically, when the optical reader 10 according to the present embodiment operates for IrDA communication, the control unit 5 controls the lens 1 so that the lens 1 comes off the front of the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 3. In addition, it controls the lens driving unit 2 and generates a modulation signal based on data to be transmitted (transmission data) supplied from the personal computer 20, and drives the light emitting element 3 by the modulation signal.

A light receiving signal from the light receiving element 4 (a light receiving signal that receives light from the light emitting element 3 of another optical reading device 10 or light emitted from another personal computer or a peripheral device thereof) is The control unit 5 decodes the received light signal to generate received data. This received data is transmitted to the personal computer 20
Will be sent to

On the other hand, when the optical reading apparatus 10 of the present embodiment operates as a bar code reader, the control unit 5 controls the lens 1 so that the lens 1 is located before the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 3 (that is, the light beam The lens driving unit 2 is controlled, and the light emitting element 3 is driven to emit light continuously.

A light receiving signal from the light receiving element 4 (a light receiving signal obtained by receiving reflected light obtained by scanning a bar code with a light beam) is sent to a control unit 5, which decodes the light receiving signal. Generate barcode data. This barcode data is sent to the personal computer 20.

FIG. 2 shows an optical reader 1 according to the present embodiment.
0 shows a flowchart in a case where 0 operates for IrDA communication and a case in which it operates as a barcode reader.

In FIG. 2, the optical reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is first set in step S1 to one for IrDA communication or a bar code reader. The setting may be performed by the personal computer 20, or may be performed by switching a changeover switch provided on the optical reading device 10, for example. If the bar code reader is set in step S1, the process proceeds to step S11, and IrDA
If the communication has been set, the process proceeds to step S21.

Here, in step S21, which proceeds when IrDA communication has been set in step S1, the lens 1 is first moved in a direction away from the front of the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 3. Thus, the light emitted from the light emitting element 3 is diffused without being focused on the beam light by the lens 1.

Next, in step S22, the light emitting element 3 is driven by a modulation signal based on data to be transmitted (transmission data) supplied from the personal computer 20, and another optical reading device 10 is used in the light receiving element 4. From the light emitting element 3 or light emitted from another personal computer or its peripheral device.

Thus, in step S23, data communication by full-duplex communication or half-duplex communication using the light reception of the light receiving element 4 and the light emission of the light emitting element 3 is performed.

On the other hand, in step S11, which proceeds when the bar code reader is set in step S1, the lens 1 is first moved to the position before the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 3. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitting element 3 is focused on the light beam by the lens 1.

Next, in step S12, the light emitting element 3 is caused to emit continuous light. That is, when scanning a barcode with a beam light in a barcode reader,
Since continuous light (light that is not intermittent) is required, the light emitting element 3 emits light continuously.

In step S13, the light receiving element 4 receives reflected light obtained by scanning the bar code with the light beam, that is, a reflected light pattern corresponding to the black and white pattern of the bar code.

In step S14, the light receiving signal generated by the light receiving element 4 receiving the reflected light pattern is analyzed, and information recorded as a bar code is read.

In step S15, the information (barcode data) read from the barcode is transferred to the personal computer 20.

In step S16, the personal computer 20 searches for data stored in the database unit 21 using the barcode data obtained from the optical reading device 10. That is, the database unit 21 stores a correspondence table between the barcode data and information corresponding to the barcode data.
In step S16, the information corresponding to the barcode data read by the optical reading device 10 is searched from the database unit 21.

Here, the information corresponding to the bar code data stored in the database unit 21 includes, for example, information on various types of purchases (commodities, etc.) such as compact discs, video tapes, and so-called G-codes. As described above, information related to the name of the television program, the broadcast time, and the broadcast time can be given as an example.

More specifically, taking a compact disc as an example, information corresponding to the bar code data stored in the database section 21 includes a bar code added to a package of the compact disc, for example. Information such as the name of a song or the name of an artist included in the compact disc can be listed.
By reading the bar code added to the package of the compact disc, the personal computer 20 can search for information such as a song name and an artist name contained in the compact disc.

In the case of recording on a video tape, for example, the information corresponding to the bar code data stored in the database unit 21 is described in, for example, a newspaper or a television program magazine. Information associated with a so-called G code, a television program name, a broadcast time, a broadcast time, and the like. Therefore, the optical reading device 10 according to the present embodiment uses G
If the code is read, the personal computer 20 can search for information such as the name of the television program recorded on the video tape, the broadcast time and the broadcast time.

The information stored in the database unit 21 may be supplied by online download such as the Internet, or may be supplied by a CD-ROM or the like.

As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, a keyboard is not used as information input means to the personal computer 20, and various purchases (commodities and the like) can be performed using the personal computer 20. Individually classifying and organizing and managing the contents recorded on the video tape, and personally classifying and organizing and managing the contents can be easily and quickly realized.

Further, in the present embodiment, information on compact discs, video tapes, and other various purchases (commodities, etc.) is previously associated with a barcode added to a package of the purchases in a database. Part 2
1 and stores information related to the television program name, broadcast time and broadcast time in the database unit 21 in association with a so-called G code described in a newspaper or a television program magazine. Information about those purchases (products, etc.)
There is no need to newly provide a bar code indicating information related to the television program name, broadcast time and broadcast time.

As described above, in the present embodiment, I
The two data exchange methods, that is, data exchange using communication dedicated to a personal computer such as rDA communication and data exchange using a medium used by a human such as a printed material such as a bar code reader can be shared by one device. Become like Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to save space and reduce costs.

A bar code can be used as an input method for constructing or searching a database or the like. In particular, since barcodes are attached to almost all products, for example, classification of compact discs, video tapes, records, etc. (personal arrangement of purchased items), management of recordings (eg, so-called G codes, etc. Table data can be quoted).

In this embodiment, the optical reading device 1
0 also functions as an IrDA communication device and a bar code reader, and the optical reading device 10 and the personal computer 2
Although the description has been made taking the relationship with 0 as an example, the optical reading device 10 of the present embodiment is connected to a remote controller (a so-called remote controller) of a general home appliance (for example, a video tape recorder or a television receiver). It is also possible to share the function of a barcode reader.

In this case, in the optical reading device 10 which also has the functions of the remote controller and the bar code reader, the read bar code data is transmitted to the home electric appliance using the function of the remote controller, whereby the bar code is read. The data will be input to home appliances.

[0052]

As described above in detail, in the present invention, at least the moving direction and the moving amount of the lens arrangement position and the optical data communication processing or the scanning processing using the light emitting means and the light receiving means are controlled. For example, without using a keyboard as information input means to a personal computer or the like, information relating to, for example, purchases, programs, and the like can be obtained by using an optical method capable of high-speed and easy information communication. Can be entered.

That is, according to the present invention, two functions of, for example, a bar code reader and the like and IrDA communication can be shared by one device, so that space and cost can be reduced. Further, according to the present invention, for example, a product database such as a compact disc is processed and, for example, a CD-R
By placing it on the OM or on the Internet and associating it with product barcode data, the creation of a personal database such as a purchased compact disc can be automatically performed by a personal computer simply by scanning the barcode.
Therefore, human input can be omitted,
A record catalog or the like can be made into a CD-ROM, for example, and its commercial value is obtained not only for simple search for purchase but also for use in organizing compact disks and the like after purchase.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an optical reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the optical reading apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 lens, 2 lens driving unit, 3 light emitting element,
4 light receiving element, 5 control unit, 6 memory, 7 I /
F section, 20 personal computer, 21 database section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lens, a lens driving unit for moving the lens arrangement position, a light emitting unit for generating light, a light receiving unit for receiving light, and a moving direction of the lens arrangement position by the lens driving unit Optical data communication processing using light emission from the light emitting means and light reception by the light receiving means, and scanning processing by receiving reflected light of light generated by the light emitting means by the light receiving means. An optical reading device, comprising: controllable control means. 2. The control means controls the lens driving means so as to move the lens before the light emitting means when performing the scanning processing, and controls the lens driving means when performing the optical data communication processing. 2. The optical reading device according to claim 1, wherein the lens driving unit is controlled so that the lens is detached from the front of the light emitting unit. 3. The control means, when performing the scan processing, causes the light emitting means to emit light continuously, decodes the signal of the reflected light received by the light receiving means, and performs the optical data communication processing. 2. The optical reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein full-duplex communication or half-duplex communication using light emission from the light emitting means and light reception by the light receiving means is performed. 4. A database unit in which data generated by the scan processing is associated with information related to the contents of a plurality of products and / or information related to a plurality of programs. The optical reader according to claim 1.