Bar code reader and game set using the same

• US 5,331,141 A
• Filed: 01/11/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: APE BV
• Original Assignee: APE BV
• Inventors: Kaneko, Fukashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Young, Adrian
• Application Number:
  US07/961,886
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/463, 235/467, 235/438, 235/375, 250/568
• US Class Current: 235/462.18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

Bar code data read from a bar code card (4) by a bar code reader (1) is inputted to a data processor (3). In this data processor (3), noise included in the bar code data is extracted or detected. The noise is detected by dividing the noise into noise which exists outside of a start guard bar and an end guard bar in a bar code and noise which exists between the start guard bar and the end guard bar. After the noise is detected, the data processor (3) decodes the bar code by ignoring the noise or decodes the bar code after removing the noise to correct the width of each of bars. A game set (5) also performs the same processing as that of the data processor (3) with respect to bar code data inputted from a bar code reader (10). In addition, the game set (5) uses the inputted bar code data for processing for a game.

Claims

1. A bar code reader for reading bar code data from a card-shaped bar code record medium on which a bar code is formed by alternately arranging first bars having a relatively bright color and second bars having a relatively dark color which represents a front identification symbol and a rear identification symbol and coded data arranged between the front identification symbol and the rear identification symbol, said coded data depending on the width of each of the bars, comprising:

an optical system having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for optically detecting a change in the color of each of the bars as said bar code record medium moves in relation to the optical system;

an aperture for regulating the relative positional relationship between said bar code and said optical system so that the longitudinal direction of each of the bars in said bar code is approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bar code record medium;

a counter for generating count value data for each detected bar corresponding to the width of each bar;

temporary storing means for temporarily storing the count value data for each bar;

judging means for judging if noise is included in the bar code data read from said bar code record medium depending on whether the total number of bars for which count value data are stored coincides with a predetermined number of bars; and

decoding means for decoding the bar code data read from said bar code record medium on the basis of each of said count value data stored in said temporary storing means in response to a judgment by said judging means that no noise is included in said bar code data.

2. The bar code reader according to claim 1, which further comprises

noise nullifying means, responsive to the judgment by said judging means that noise is included in said bar code data, for extracting the count value data corresponding to the noise from the counted value data stored in said temporary storing means and nullifying the same.

3. The bar code reader according to claim 2, wherein

said noise nullifying means comprises first noise nullifying means for nullifying noise which exists outside of said front identification symbol and said rear identification symbol.

4. The bar code reader according to claim 3, wherein

said first noise nullifying means comprises means for comparing the counted value data for one of said second bars with the count value data for one of said first bars to judge whether said second bar is noise and nullifying the counted value data for said second bar when the second bar is noise.

5. The bar code reader according to claim 3, wherein

said first noise nullifying means comprises means for comparing the counted value data for said second bar with the counted value data for another of said second bars closest to said second bar to judge whether said second bar is noise and nullifying the count value data for said second bar when said second bar is noise.

6. The bar code reader according to claim 2, wherein

said noise nullifying means includes second noise nullifying means for nullifying noise which exists between said front identification symbol and said rear identification symbol.

7. The bar code reader according to claim 6, wherein

said second noise nullifying means includes means for nullifying as noise the count value data for the bar having the smallest width for all the respective bars when the total number of bars exceeds the predetermined number.

8. The bar code reader according to claim 1, which further comprises:

distortion operating means for determining distortion data related to distortion of the widths of said first and second bars in said bar code data on the basis of the count value data of said front identification symbol and/or said rear identification symbol stored in said temporary storing means; and

correcting means for correcting distortion of the widths of said first and second bars in said bar code data based on said distortion data.

9. The bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein

said decoding means comprises means for decoding said bar code data on the basis of a combination of count value data corresponding to the widths of a plurality of bars in close proximity to each other.

10. The bar code reader according to claim 1 wherein

said decoding means decodes, when decoding of the bar code read from said bar code record medium is unsuccessful, the bar code by reversing the sequence of the count value data for each of the bars stored in said temporary storing means.

26. The bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein

said aperture comprises guiding means for guiding said bar code record medium with it being brought into contact with one side thereof.

11. A bar code reader connectable to an image display device for reading bar code data from a card-shaped bar code record medium on which a bar code formed by alternately arranging first bars having a relatively bright color and second bars having a relatively dark color which represents a front identification symbol and the rear identification symbol and coded data arranged between the front identification symbol and the rear identification symbol, said coded data depending on the width of each of the bars, comprising:

an optical system having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for optically detecting a change in the color of each of the bars as said bar code record medium moves in relation to the optical system;

an aperture for regulating the relative positional relationship between said bar code and said optical system so that the longitudinal direction of each of the bars in said bar code is approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bar code record medium;

a counter for generating count value data for each detected bar corresponding to the width of each bar;

temporary storing means for temporarily storing the count value data for each bar;

judging means for judging if noise is included in the bar code data read from said bar code record medium depending on whether the total number of bars for which count value data are stored coincides with a predetermined number of bars; and

decoding means for decoding the bar code data read from said bar code record medium on the basis of each of said count value data stored in said temporary storing means in response to a judgment by said judging means that no noise is included in said bar code data; and

bar code image signal generating means for generating an image signal of a bar code pattern of the bar code data decoded by said decoding means and applying the same to said image displaying device.

12. The bar code reader according to claim 11, which further comprises

noise nullifying means, responsive to the judgment by said judging means that noise is included in said bar code data, for extracting the count value data corresponding to the noise out of the counted value data stored in said temporary storing means and nullifying the same.

13. The bar code reader according to claim 12, wherein

said noise nullifying means comprises first noise nullifying means for nullifying noise which exists outside of said front identification symbol and said rear identification symbol.

14. The bar code reader according to claim 13, wherein

said first noise nullifying means comprises means for comparing the counted value data for one of said second bars with the count value data for one of said first bars to judge whether said second bar is noise and nullifying the counted value data for said second bar when the second bar is noise.

15. The bar code reader according to claim 13, wherein

said first noise nullifying means comprises means for comparing the counted value data for said second bar with the counted value data for another of said second bars closest to said second bar to judge whether said second bar is noise and nullifying the count value data for said second bar when said second bar is noise.

16. The bar code reader according to claim 12, wherein

said noise nullifying means includes second noise nullifying means for nullifying noise which exists between said front identification symbol and said rear identification symbol.

17. The bar code reader according to claim 16, wherein

said second noise nullifying means includes means for nullifying as noise the count value data for the bar having the smallest width for all the respective bars when the total number of bars exceeds the predetermined number.

18. The bar code reader according to claim 11, which further comprises:

distortion operating means for determining distortion data related to distortion of the widths of said first and second bars in said bar code data on the basis of the count value of said front identification symbol and/or said rear identification symbol stored in said temporary storing means; and

correcting means for correcting distortion of the widths of said first and second bars in said bar code data based on said distortion data.

19. The bar code reader according to claim 11, wherein

said decoding means comprising for decoding said bar code data on the basis of a combination of count value data corresponding to the widths of a plurality of bars in close proximity to each other.

20. A game set connectable to an image display device for reading bar code data from a card-shaped bar code record medium on which a bar code formed by alternately arranging first bars having a relatively bright color and second bars having a relatively dark color which represents a front identification symbol and a rear identification symbol and coded data arranged between said front identification symbol and said rear identification symbol, said coded data depending on the width of each of the bars and being used as input data for a game, comprising:

an optical system having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for optically detecting a change in the color of each of the bars as said bar code record medium moves in relation to the optical system;

an aperture for regulating the relative positional relationship between said bar code and said optical system so that the longitudinal direction of each of the bars in said bar code is approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bar code record medium;

a counter for generating count value data for each detected bar corresponding to the width of each bar;

temporary storing means for temporarily storing the count value data for each bar;

judging means for judging if noise is included in the bar code data read from said bar code record medium depending on whether the total number of bars for which count value data are stored coincides with a predetermined number of bars;

decoding means for decoding the bar code data read from said bar code record medium on the basis of each of said count value data stored in said temporary storing means in response to a judgment by said judging means that no noise is included in said bar code data;

bar code image signal generating means for generating an image signal of a bar code pattern of the bar code data decoded by said decoding means and applying the same to said image displaying device; and

game image signal generating means, utilizing the bar code data decoded by said decoding means as input data, for generating an image signal for the progress of the game on the basis of the input data and applying the image signal to said image displaying device.

21. The game set according to claim 20, which further comprises

noise nullifying means, responsive to the judgement by said judging means that noise is included in said bar code data, for extracting the count value data corresponding to the noise out of the counted value data stored in said temporary storing means and nullifying the same.

22. The game set according to claim 21, wherein

said counter, said judging means, said noise nullifying means, said decoding means, said bar code image signal generating means, and said game image signal generating means comprise program storing means for storing program data and program executing means for executing the program data stored in said program storing means,

said program storing means storing

a judgement program for judging whether noise is included in the bar code data read from said bar code medium depending on whether the total number of bars for which count value data are stored coincides with said predetermined number of samples,

a noise nullification program, responsive to judgment that noise is included in said bar code data in accordance with said judgment program, for extracting the count value data corresponding to the noise out of the count value data and nullifying the same,

a decoding program, responsive to judgment by said program executing means that no noise is included in the bar code data in accordance with said judgment program, for decoding the bar code data read from said bar code record medium on the basis of each of said count value data stored in said temporary storing means,

a bar code image signal generation program for generating an image signal of a bar code pattern of the bar code data decoded in accordance with said decoding program and applying the same to said image displaying means, and

a game image signal generation program, utilizing the bar code data decoded in accordance with said decoding program as input data for processing for the game, for generating an image signal during the progress of the game on the basis of the input data and applying the same to said image displaying means.

23. The game set according to claim 22, wherein

said program storing means is contained in a cartridge detachably mounted on a body housing of said game set,

the body housing of said game set comprising a writable and readable memory as said temporary storing means.

24. The game set according to claim 23, wherein

said program storing means further comprises

an update program for starting the game using the bar code data read from said bar code record medium before the start of the game and decoded in accordance with said decoding program as initial data of the game and updating the game related data in said writable and readable memory with the progress of the game;

and

a game related data output program for updating the game related data written in said writable and readable memory in accordance with said update program.

25. The game set according to claim 20, wherein

said optical system is constructed detachably from the body housing of said game set.