Device for reading patterns displayed on a display unit

• US 4,999,617 A
• Filed: 12/19/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shindoh, Shigeru, Uemura, Susumu, Tomino, Tadashi, Yoneda, Shigeo, Yatsuzuka, Yasuhumi, Tsujioka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Application Number:
  US07/287,542
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 340/707, 340/706, 340/708, 340/712, 358/139, 358/10, 358/142, 235/462, 235/471, 235/437, 235/472, 250/568, 250/566, 250/549, 362/418
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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

Abstract

A coded information reading device for reading code pattern displayed on a CRT display unit of a television receiver and for outputing information signals corresponding to the code pattern includes a suction cup to be attached to the surface of the CRT display unit and a photo sensor integrally installed in the suction cup for reading the code pattern displayed on the CRT display unit.

Claims

1. A device for reading coded information patterns displayed on a display unit and outputting information signals corresponding to said coded patterns, comprising:

a substantially semi-spherical suction cup with a wide end and a narrow end, for attaching to a display surface of said display unit; and

photosensor means, integrally mounted within the narrow end of said substantially semi-spherical suction cup, for reading said coded information patterns,

said coded information patterns being bar code patterns utilized by a viewer.

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

a light transmitting tube supported by the narrow end of the substantially semi-spherical suction cup;

said photosensor means integrally installed in the light transmitting tube for reading the bar code pattern displayed on the display unit.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lens disposed within the substantially semi-spherical suction cup and between the photosensor means and the bar code pattern, for refracting light rom the bar code pattern toward the photosensor means.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for detecting whether or not the photosensor means is placed at a position for detecting the bar code pattern; and

means for warning when the photosensor means is not positioned so as to read the bar code pattern.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said substantially semi-spherical suction cup further comprises means for adjusting the distance between the display unit and the photosensor means.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

amplifying means for amplifying the information signal obtained from the bar coded information pattern displayed on the display unit, including means for changing the gain of the amplifying means based on the output of the amplifying means at the time of display of the code signal.

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

amplifying means for amplifying the information signal obtained from the bar coded information pattern displayed on the display unit, said amplifying means being provided with a plurality of ranges of gain assigned for input levels of he amplifying means, the respective ranges of gain having gains in common to at least two other ranges of gain.

8. The device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lens is a convex lens.

9. The device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lens is a concave lens.

10. The device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a narrow slit-like opening, disposed between said photosensor means and said display surface, for directing light from said bar coded pattern towards said photosensor to enhance the reading of said bar coded pattern.

11. The device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lens is integrally mounted within said substantially semi-spherical suction cup at a point between said narrow end and said wide end.

12. The device, as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

detecting means, connected to said photosensor means, for detecting whether or not said photosensor means is correctly positioned so as to read the displayed bar code pattern; and

warning means, connected to said detecting means, for indicating to a user, whether or not said photosensor means is correctly positioned.

13. The device, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said warning means is an LED.

14. The device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said LED is ON when said photosensor means is correctly positioned so as to read said displayed bar code pattern and said LED is OFF when said photosensor means is not correctly positioned.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially semi-spherical suction cup is made of a transparent material.

16. A device for reading coded information patterns displayed on a display unit and outputting information signals corresponding to said coded patterns, comprising:

a substantially semi-spherical suction cup with a wide end and a narrow end, for attaching to a display surface of said display unit; and

photosensor means, integrally mounted within the narrow end of said substantially semi-spherical suction cup, for reading said coded information patterns,

said coded information patterns being bar code patterns utilized by a viewer,

wherein said substantially semi-spherical suction cup comprises a marking portion for positioning the substantially semi-spherical suction cup at a position on the display unit so as to expose the photosensor to the bar code pattern.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said substantially semi-spherical suction cup is transparent so as to allow a user to position said marking portion over said bar code pattern.

18. The device, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said marking portion is substantially the same size and shape as the peripheral edges of said bar code pattern.