Optical information reading device

• US 10,262,177 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Nagata, Hidezumi, Tajika, Taichi, Ohori, Hiroomi, Nomi, Taiga
• Primary Examiner(s): St Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/849,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20180239938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 235 11, 235 14, 235 15, 235 23, 23546211, 23546215, 23546223
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10752 Exposure time control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

[Object] To enhance accuracy at the time of setting with consideration of a cell size of a code when an exposure time is automatically set. [Means to solve the problems] An upper limit of an exposure time of an imaging part as a restriction condition for reading a code attached to a workpiece is calculated based on a moving speed of the workpiece, which is inputted by an input part, and a cell size, which is calculated by a cell size calculation part. An exposure time of the imaging part is set within the restriction condition by analyzing a plurality of images, which includes a code and is obtained by taking images multiple times by changing the exposure time of the imaging part.

Claims

1. An optical information reading device comprising:

an imaging part including an imaging element which takes an image of a code attached to a workpiece which moves;

an input part inputting a moving speed of the workpiece;

a cell size setting part setting a size of a cell which constitutes the code on the image obtained by the imaging part;

an imaging condition setting part having a first function and a second function,

the first function calculates an upper limit of an exposure time of the imaging part as a restriction condition for reading the code attached to the workpiece based on the moving speed inputted by the input part and the size of a cell set by the cell size setting part, and

the second function sets the exposure time of the imaging part within the upper limit calculated as the restriction condition by the first function, by analyzing a plurality of images, each of which includes a code and is obtained by taking images multiple times by changing the exposure time or the gain of the imaging part; and

a decoding part decoding a code included in an image, which is newly obtained by the imaging part using the exposure time which is set by the second function of the imaging condition setting part.

2. The optical information reading device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a distance setting part obtaining a distance from the imaging part to the code; and

a characteristic information storage part storing a first characteristic information which determines a visual field range of the imaging part in response to the distance from the imaging part to the code;

wherein the cell size setting part calculates a cell size based on the code included in the image which is taken by the imaging part, the distance obtained by the distance setting part, and the first characteristic information stored in the characteristic information storage part.

3. The optical information reading device according to claim 2, wherein the characteristic information storage part stores a second characteristic information which determines a focusing range in response to a separation distance from the imaging part, and

the input part is configured to input variation information related to a variation width of the distance from the imaging part to the code,

the optical information reading device further comprising:

a recommended separation distance determination part calculating a recommended separation distance between the optical information reading device and the code based on the second characteristic information stored in the characteristic information storage part, the cell size which is set in the cell size setting part, and the variation information which is inputted by the input part; and

a display part displaying the recommended separation distance which is calculated by the recommended separation distance determination part.

4. The optical information reading device according to claim 2, wherein the imaging part is provided with an optical system, which includes a focusing lens, and an autofocus mechanism, which adjusts a focusing position by the focusing lens,

the optical information reading device further comprising:

a correspondence relation storage part storing a correspondence relation between an adjustment amount of the focusing lens by the autofocus mechanism, and the distance from the imaging part to the code;

wherein the distance setting part is configured to obtain the distance from the imaging part to the code based on the adjustment amount when a focusing by the focusing lens is completed, and the correspondence relation.

5. The optical information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition setting part is configured to set a gain by analyzing the plurality of images obtained by taking images multiple times by changing the gain to the imaging part, and

the decoding part is configured to decode a code included in an image, which is newly obtained by the imaging part by using the gain which is set by the imaging condition setting part.

6. The optical information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging condition setting part is configured to take images of a code multiple times by the imaging part by changing the exposure time within the restriction condition.

7. The optical information reading device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a parameter setting storage part storing setting information including a parameter which represents the exposure time set by the second function of the imaging condition setting part;

wherein

the decoding part decodes a code included in an image, which is newly obtained by the imaging part using the exposure time represented by the parameter stored in the parameter setting storage part.