Encoded symbol reader with calculation of magnification

• US 5,559,318 A
• Filed: 03/16/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sukai Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/404,996
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 382/286, 382/298, 235/462, 235/463, 235/460, 235/454, 356/394
• US Class Current: 235/454
• 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

An encoded symbol reader for reading two-dimensional encoded symbols which can calculate a magnification of an image of the two-dimensional symbol. The encoded symbol is comprised of a n×n matrix of cells. The encoded symbol reader senses an image formed by an optical system, and detect a size of the formed image. Then, a magnification of the image is calculated based on the size of the image, and a length of the cell of the encoded symbol and a number of the cells.

Claims

1. An encoded symbol reader for reading a two-dimensional encoded symbol, said encoded symbol having a matrix of cells, said encoded symbol reader comprising:

means for reading an image of said encoded symbol, said reading means outputting an electrical signal corresponding to said read image;

means for processing said output electrical signal; and

means for storing information related to a processing of said output signal;

wherein said reading means comprises;

means for sensing said image; and

means for forming said image on said sensing means, and

wherein said processing means comprises;

means for detecting a size of said image formed on said sensing means; and

means for calculating a magnification of said image forming means based on said size of said image detected by said detecting means and a size of said encoded symbol.

2. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means comprises an optical system, said image forming means forming said image of said encoded symbol on said sensing means.

3. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing said magnification calculated by said calculating means.

4. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 3, further comprising means for storing a size of pixel of said sensing means, wherein said detecting means detects a number of pixels of said sensing means corresponding to a length of said image formed on said sensing means, and wherein said size of said image is detected based on the size and the number of said pixel of said sensing means.

5. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 4, wherein said calculating means calculates said magnification according to the following equation:

##EQU2## where, Nsp represents said number of pixels

Sp represents a length of said pixel

Lco represents said length of a cell

Nc represents said number of cells.

6. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 1, wherein said size of said encoded symbol is based on a length of a cell and a number of cells in said encoded symbol.

7. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for storing said length of a cell of said encoded symbol;

means for storing said number of said cells in encoded symbol; and

means for storing said number of said pixels corresponding to said size of said image.

8. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving data related to at least one of said length of a cell and a number of cells in said encoded symbol.

9. The encoded symbol reader according to claim 1, said encoded symbol reader having a plurality of operating modes including a magnification measurement mode, and means for initiating a measurement operation, and wherein when a magnification measurement mode is selected and said initiating means is operated, said magnification of said image forming means is measured.

10. An encoded symbol reader for reading a two-dimensional encoded symbol, said encoded symbol having a matrix of cells, said encoded symbol reader comprising:

means for forming an image of said encoded symbol;

means for sensing said formed image;

means for detecting a size of said image formed on said sensing means;

means for calculating a magnification of said formed image based on said size of said image detected by said detecting means, a length of a cell and a number of said cells in said encoded symbol; and

means for storing said measured magnification.

11. A method for determining a magnification of an encoded symbol reader for reading a two-dimensional encoded symbol, said encoded symbol having a matrix of cells, said method comprising the steps of:

forming an image of encoded symbol;

sensing said formed image;

detecting a size of said image;

calculating a magnification of said formed image based on said size of said image detected by said detecting step, and a length of said cell and a number of said cells in said encoded symbol; and

storing said measured magnification.

12. An encoded symbol reader for reading a two-dimensional encoded symbol, said encoded symbol having a matrix of cells, said encoded symbol reader comprising:

means for forming an image of said encoded symbol;

means for sensing said formed image;

means for storing image magnification, the number of cells in said matrix, and a size of said cells; and

means for decoding said encoded symbol in accordance with said image sensed by said sensing means, said image magnification, said number of cells, and said size of cells stored in said storing means.