Encoded symbol reader

• US 5,428,212 A
• Filed: 12/20/1993
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tani, Nobuhiro, Seo, Shuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPPERD, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US08/170,414
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 382/59, 235/472, 235/462
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

An encoded symbol reader capable of reading an illuminated encoded symbol having a two dimensional tessellated pattern code, includes a CCD for scanning a predetermined area and an LCD panel for displaying the area being scanned by the CCD. The LCD panel displays a positional relationship between the encoded symbol being scanned and the boundary of the predetermined area that is being scanned.

Claims

1. An encoded symbol reader capable of reading an illuminated encoded symbol comprises:

scanning means having a predetermined scanning area, said scanning means detects an optical image reflected by said encoded symbol and which is within said predetermined scanning area, said scanning means outputs data corresponding to said detected optical image;

conversion means for converting said data output by said scanning means into binary data;

decoding means for decoding said binary data, said decoding means outputting alphanumeric data corresponding to said binary data;

display means for displaying said data output,

whereby said display means displays a positional relationship between said encoded symbol and said scanning area and

switch means for switching said display means wherein before said switch means is pressed, said display means displays said scanning means output data and wherein after said switch means is pressed, said display means displays said alphanumeric data.

2. The encoded symbol reader of claim 1 which further comprises light emitting means for illuminating said encoded symbol.

3. The encoded symbol reader of claim 1 wherein said scanning means is disposed on a surface of said encoded reader which faces an encoded symbol, and said display means is disposed on another surface of said encoded symbol reader which away from said encoded symbol, said display means disposed to be in alignment with said predetermined scanning area.

4. The encoded symbol reader of claim 1 wherein said encoded symbol is a tessellated pattern code.

6. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 3, further comprising decoding means for decoding said image information into alphanumeric information, said display means including means for displaying said alphanumeric information.

5. An encoded symbol reader capable of reading an illuminated encoded symbol comprises:

scanning means having a predetermined scanning area, said scanning means detects an optical image reflected by said encoded symbol and which is within said predetermined scanning area, said scanning means outputs data corresponding to said detected optical image;

conversion means for converting said data output by said scanning means into binary data;

decoding means for decoding said binary data, said decoding means outputting alphanumeric data corresponding to said binary data;

display means for displaying said data output by said scanning means;

whereby said display means displays a positional relationship between said encoded symbol and said scanning area; and

processing means for processing said binary data to obtain data representing a peripheral boundary of said detected optical image.

7. An encoded symbol reader comprises:

scanning means that scans a predetermined area, said scanning means outputting data corresponding to a scanned image;

light emitting means for illuminating an area to be scanned by said scanning means;

conversion means for converting said data output by said scanning means into binary data;

processing means for processing said binary data, to obtain data representing a peripheral boundary of said output data;

display means for displaying said peripheral boundary data,

wherein said display means displays a positional relationship between said peripheral boundary data and said predetermined area.

8. The encoded symbol reader of claim 7 which further comprises decoding means for decoding said binary data, said decoding means outputting alphanumeric data corresponding to said binary data.

9. The encoded symbol reader of claim 8 which further comprises switch means, wherein before said switch means is pressed, said display means displays said binary data, and wherein after said switch means is pressed, said display means displays said alphanumeric data.

10. The encoded symbol reader of claim 7 wherein said scanning means is disposed on a surface of said encoded reader which faces an encoded symbol, and said display means is disposed on another surface of said encoded symbol reader which away from said encoded symbol, said display means disposed to be in alignment with said predetermined area.

11. An encoded symbol reader comprising:

an image sensor for photoelectrically converting light reflected by an encoded symbol into image information representative of the encoded symbol, said image sensor having a readable range for effectively reading the encoded symbol therein; and

display means for compressing the image information from said image sensor, and displaying the compressed image information with respect to said readable range.

12. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 11, wherein said display means comprises:

processing means for processing said image information into binary data;

extracting means for extracting outer edge information of said encoded symbol from said binary data; and

a display panel for displaying said outer edge information.

13. An encoded symbol reader comprising:

imaging means for producing an image signal from light reflected by an encoded symbol;

first processing means for generating image data representative of a two-dimensional pattern of the encoded symbol from said image signal;

second processing means for generating alphanumeric information borne by said encoded symbol from said image signal; and

display means for selectively displaying said image data and said alphanumeric information.