Two-dimensional symbol data read apparatus

• US 5,631,457 A
• Filed: 08/14/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hisakatsu, Fukuda, Yoshio, Takizawa, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/514,669
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1473 error correction

Abstract

The symbol data read apparatus comprises a two-dimensional image pick-up device for picking up a bar-code symbol consisting of bars and spaces, as a two-dimensional image. A frame memory stores the two-dimensional image from the two-dimensional image pick-up device, as bar-code symbol data. A condition detect section detects a bar-code condition of the bar-code symbol from the bar-code symbol data stored in the frame memory. A decode section performs decode-processing to obtain original bar-code symbol data on the basis of bar-code condition data from the condition detect section and the bar-code symbol data from the frame memory. An output select section selectively outputs at least data other than the original bar-code symbol data out of the original bar-code symbol data and the other data than the original bar-code symbol data. The other data than the original bar-code symbol data includes inclination data concerning the bar-code symbol and a weighting value for every block.

Claims

1. A symbol data read apparatus comprising:

image pick-up means for picking up a bar-code symbol as a two-dimensional image, said bar-code symbol including at least one bar and at least one space;

memory means for storing the two-dimensional image picked up by the image pick-up means as bar-code symbol data;

condition detect means for detecting a bar-code condition of the bar-code symbol from the bar-code symbol data stored in the memory means;

decode means for performing decode-processing to obtain original bar-code symbol data on the basis of bar-code condition data detected by the condition detect means and the bar-code symbol data stored in the memory means; and

output select means for selectively outputting at least bar-code condition data.

2. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bar-code condition data includes a plurality of bar-code condition data items detected by the condition detect means.

3. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises inclination data concerning the bar-code symbol.

4. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises a weighting value for each of blocks constituting the bar-code symbol.

5. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises a PCS value outputted in units of code words.

6. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises a PCS value determination signal.

7. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises a number of errors of the bar-code symbol.

8. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises an error count number determined based on the weighting value for each of blocks constituting the bar-code symbol.

9. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the bar-code condition data comprises an error count number of errors for which error correction is failed, the errors being determined based on the weighting value for each of blocks constituting the bar-code symbol.

10. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for appropriately selecting and outputting at least one of the plurality of bar-code condition data items.

11. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition detect means includes means for determining whether or not the bar-code symbol has a proper width.

12. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising read means for reading the bar-code symbol data stored in the memory means, wherein a reading condition when reading is performed by the read means is changed.

13. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 12, wherein switching of the reading condition includes switching of an allowable width set value in units of blocks constituting the bar-code symbol.

14. A symbol data read apparatus according to claim 12, wherein switching of the reading condition includes switching of a number of scanning lines when the bar-code symbol is read out sequentially.

15. A symbol data apparatus comprising:

image pick-up means for picking up a bar-code as a two-dimensional image, said bar-code representing data including at least one bar and at least one space;

condition detect means for detecting a pick-up condition of the bar-code, as a numerical value, from the two-dimensional image obtained by the two-dimensional pick-up means, and for comparing the numerical value with a predetermined threshold value, thereby to detect a condition of the bar-code;

display means for displaying the condition of the bar-code detected by the condition detect means; and

decode means for performing decode-processing to obtain original symbol data on the basis of the two-dimensional image picked up by the two-dimensional image pick-up means.

16. A symbol data apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said condition detect means includes:

means for detecting, as the numerical value representing the condition of the bar-code, at least one of the following;

a) a bar width and a radiation light conversion rate,

b) a PCS value outputted in units of code words,

c) a weighting value for each of blocks constituting the bar-code,

d) a PCS value determination signal,

e) a number of errors of the bar-code,

f) an error count number determined based on the weighting value for each of blocks of the bar-code, and

g) an error count number of errors for which error correction is failed, the errors being determined based on the weighting value for each of blocks constituting the bar-code symbol; and

memory means for storing a threshold value corresponding to each of the above numerical values.

17. A symbol data apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the condition detect means includes means for determining a level of quality of the bar-code, based on the detected pick-up condition of the bar-code, and means for outputting a warning to the display means indicating a possibility that a reading error may occur, if the level of quality of the bar-code is determined to be equivalent to or lower than an experimentally determined level of quality at which an error may occur during future readings of the bar-code although the bar-code is still currently readable.