Bar code reader

Abstract: A compact, lightweight, low cost bar code reader with improved operating characteristics includes a light diverter (9) which reflects or refracts light emitted from the light sources (2) to the bar code label (1). The light sources (2) are located inside the boundary line (L1) of the mirror reflection area and the light diverter (9) is located outside the line (L1). As a result, mirror reflection does not occur with this bar code reader even if the light sources (2) and associated cylindrical lens (3) are disposed within the mirror reflection volume.

Description: The present invention relates to a bar code reader for reading bar codes. The basic structure of a bar code reader according to a first example of the prior art is shown in Fig. 4. Shown in Fig. 4 are the bar code label 1, plural light sources 2, and a cylindrical lens 3 for focusing the light emitted from the light sources 2. Also shown are the projector P comprising the light sources 2 and cylindrical lens 3, and receptor Q comprising a detector reflecting mirror 4, imaging lens 5, and image sensor 6. Circuitry 7 is also provided inside the case 8. Note that the light path from the light sources 2 to the image sensor 6 is shown by the dot-dash line in Fig. 4. Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B show the distance (path length) from the image sensor 6 of the receptor Q to the bar code label 1. Assuming that the bar code label 1 is a mirror, the image sensor 6 may capture anything that falls in the area between lines L1 and L2. Such an area is called a mirror reflection area. In other words, the mirror reflection area is an area viewed from the image sensor 6 and reflected on the bar code label 1. Depending on the material which the bar code label 1 is made of, the surface of the bar code label 1 may be smooth as in mirror or irregular as in paper. When the bar code label surface is smooth, it may show regular reflection or total internal reflection, causing the image sensor 6 to capture an image of articles that falls within the mirror reflection area. Note that the distance (path length) from the image sensor 6 to the bar code label 1 shown in Fig. 5A is three times the path length shown in Fig. 5B. Note, further, that the detector reflecting mirror 4 has been deleted from Fig. 5A and 5B for simplicity only, and the relationship between the bar code label 1, imaging lens 5, and image sensor 6 in Figs. 5A and 5B is the same as that shown in Fig. 4. If the light sources 2 are placed within the mirror reflection area, i.e., the area between lines L1 and L2, in Fig. 5A or 5B, light from the light sources 2 is reflected from the bar code label 1 with total or nearly total internal reflection, provided that the surface of the bar code label 1 is smooth and resistant to irregular reflection, such as when the label is printed on a laminated paper. Because light reflected with total or nearly total internal reflection is stronger than irregularly reflected light, the output of the image sensor 6 is saturated as shown by peaks J and K in Fig. 6A. when this occurs the information contained in the bar code label 1 cannot be correctly determined, and bar code reading is disabled. Note that the waveform shown in Fig. 6A was obtained using a linear image sensor for the image sensor 6 and two LEDs as the light sources 2 disposed in the mirror reflection area. The positions of the light sources 2 as seen from the front of the bar code reader generating the image sensor output voltage shown in Fig. 6A are shown in Fig. 6B where 2J and 2K are the LEDs. To avoid the light source mirror reflection area of bar code label 1, the light sources 2 are located outside the mirror reflection area. Referring to Fig. 5B, the front (beginning) of the bar code label 1 as seen from the bar code reader during bar code reading is point A, the bar code end is point B, and the distances from points A and B to point b at distance D1 from point A are lengths L7 and L8. The distances from points A and B to point c at distance D2 from point A are lengths L3 and L4. In Fig. 5A the distance from point A to point a is L5, and the distance from point B to point a is L6. When the luminance distribution obtained by the bar code reader of Fig. 5A is considered as one standard luminance distribution, the same standard luminance distribution is obtained in the case of Fig. 5B when the light source 2 is located at point c. Specifically, in the case of Fig. 5A, the distance from the image sensor 6 to the bar code label 1 is 3M, and the light sources 2 is located at point a. In the case of Fig. 5B, the distance from the image sensor 6 to the bar code label 1 is M, and the light sources 2 is located at point c. Point c is selected at such a point as to satisfy the same distance ratio as L6/L5. Thus, L6/L5 = L4/L3. If the light sources 2 are placed at any point which does not have the same distance ratio as L6/L5, such as at point b in which L6/L5 < L8/L7, the same standard luminance distribution can not be obtained. To avoid mirror reflections, conventional bar code readers have been constructed as shown in Fig. 4 to increase the distance (path length) from the image sensor 6 to the bar code label 1 (first construction), or the distance (path length) from the image sensor 6 to the bar code label 1 has been shortened by means of a second construction as shown in Fig. 7. In this second construction the light sources 2 are offset outside the mirror reflection area farther from the center of the reading aperture. The problems with the conventional bar code readers shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 include a large physical shape, a poor design aesthetic, and greater bar code reader weight resulting in poor operability. A further general problem with increasing the distance (path length) from the image sensor 6 to the bar code label 1 with a design as shown in Fig. 4 is that good surface precision and installation precision are required with the detector reflecting mirror 4 because of limitations on the case design and component placement. These requirements result in increased bar code reader cost. A further example of a prior art bar code reader in which the light from the light source is reflectable by the bar code label onto the sensor is disclosed in US-A-5430285. Accordingly, the invention consists in a bar code reader including a case, a projector comprising a light source, said projector for projecting light onto a bar code label, a receptor comprising an image sensor, said receptor for detecting light reflected from the bar code label and imaging the reflected light on said image sensor, the total area viewable by the image sensor and reflected from the bar code label being referred to as the mirror reflection area, and circuitry for receiving data from said image sensor and reading the bar code, characterised in that the projector comprises said light source disposed within the mirror reflection area , a shield for preventing light from said light source impinging directly on to said bar code label, and a light diverter disposed outside said mirror reflection area for reflecting the light from the light source to illuminate said bar code label. By disposing the light source and cylindrical lens inside the mirror reflection area, the bar code reader can be made compact. The light diverter can be either a mirror or a prism. When the prism is used, the spectral characteristics of the prism can select from the light emitted by the light source and emit to the bar code label only light of a particular effective wavelength. It is therefore possible to prevent emitting light of unnecessary wavelengths to the bar code label, and thereby reduce blurring caused by chromatic aberrations of the imaging lens. Preferred embodiments of bar code readers in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a partial side view of a bar code reader according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a partial side view of a bar code reader according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a partial side view of a bar code reader used to compare the case profiles of a conventional bar code reader and the bar code reader according to the first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a partial side view of a bar code reader according to the prior art. Fig. 5A is a simplified illustration of the mirror reflection area and the relationship to the distance (path length) from the image sensor to the bar code label. Fig. 5B is a diagram similar to Fig. 5A, but for a shorter distance (path length) from the image sensor to the bar code label. Fig. 6A is a waveform diagram showing the output voltage of the image sensor when mirror reflection occurs. Fig. 6B is a diagram showing the position of the light sources as seen from the front of the bar code reader when the waveform shown in Fig. 6A results. Fig. 7 is a partial side view of a bar code reader according to another example of the prior art. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Note that like parts in Figs. 1 - 3 and Figs. 4 - 7 used above to describe the prior art are referenced below using the same references. Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a partial side view of a bar code reader according to the first embodiment of the invention. Shown in Fig. 1 are the bar code label 1, plural light sources 2, which may be LEDs or semiconductor lasers, and a cylindrical lens 3 for focusing the light emitted from the light sources 2. Note that the cylindrical lens 3 is needed depending upon the type of light sources 2 used, and is therefore not always provided. Also shown is a projector P1 comprising the light sources 2, cylindrical lens 3, shield 11, and light reflector 9. A receptor Q is also provided which comprises an imaging lens 5, and image sensor 6. Circuitry 7 is also provided inside a case 8 for receiving data from the image sensor 6 and reading the bar code. Note that the light path from the light sources 2 to the image sensor 6 is shown by the dot-dash line in Fig. 1. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the light reflector 9 is a mirror for reflecting and emitting to the bar code label 1 light emitted from the light sources 2 and focused on the mirror 9 by a cylindrical lens 3. Note that a plurality of, such as two, light sources 2 are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the sheet on which Fig. 1 is drawn. The shield 11 has such a length as to completely cut the light emitted from the light source 2 and the lens 3 directly impinging to the bar code label 1. Mirror reflection (regular reflection) by the bar code label 1 occurs if the light source is inside the mirror reflection (regular reflection) area, the light boundary of which is indicated by double-dot-dash lines L1 and L2 as seen in Fig. 1. In other words, assuming that the bar code label 1 is a mirror, anything which falls between the boundary lines L1 and L2 can be captured by the image sensor 6. If the light sources 2 are positioned within the boundary lines L1 and L2 without any shield and aimed directly to the bar code label 1, the light reflected from the bar code label 1 would directly impinged on the image sensor 6, resulting in unwanted light spots in the image captured by the image sensor 6. According to the present invention, to avoid the direct light impingement from the light sources 2 to the image sensor 6, the light emitted from the light sources 2 is directed toward outside the boundary line L1 and reflected by the reflector 9 which is located outside the boundary line L1. According to the present invention, a light reflector 9 is used to reflect the light from the light sources 2 to the bar code label 1, thereby illuminating the bar code label 1 as though the light sources 2 and cylindrical lens 3 are physically located outside the mirror reflection area, i.e., the area between lines L1 and L2. According to the present invention, the case 8 can be designed such that the walls located around the light path can be aligned relatively close to the boundary line L1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with at least a space kept between the line L1 and the wall of the case 8 to dispose the light reflector 9. Embodiment 2 Fig. 2 is a partial side view of a bar code reader according to the second embodiment of the invention. Note that like parts are identified by the same reference numbers in Fig. 2 and Fig. 1. This embodiment differs from the first above in using an optical reflector 10, which is a prism in this example. Light from the light sources 2 passes through the cylindrical lens 3, is refracted by the reflector 10, and emitted from the reflector 10 to illuminate the bar code label 1. As shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2, the projector P2 of this embodiment comprises the light sources 2, cylindrical lens 3, and reflector 10. Note, further, that the light path from the light sources 2 to the image sensor 6 is shown by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. It should be noted that while an area sensor is preferably used for the image sensor 6 in both the first and second embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a linear image sensor can be used. Linear or 2D bar code labels 1 can also be used. A detector reflecting mirror 4, such as shown in Fig. 4, can also be used for bar code reader design considerations, including to reduce the height. Details of the circuitry 7, the reading-completed buzzer and LED, and cable for communicating with the point-of-sale station or host have also been omitted from the figures for simplicity. The differences between a bar code reader using a light reflector 9 according to the first embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 1, and a conventional bar code reader not using a light reflector 9 as shown in Fig. 7, are described next below with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 are shown the positions of the light sources 2 and cylindrical lens 3 in the first embodiment of the invention and the prior art, and the corresponding shapes of the case 8. Note further that in Fig. 3 the solid line indicates the case profile in the present invention, and the dot-dot-dash line indicates the profile of the conventional case 8. As indicated by arrow S in Fig. 3, the case 8 can be made obviously smaller by providing a light reflector 9 according to the present invention. As described above, the bar code reader according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be made smaller because the light source can be disposed inside the mirror reflection area. This provides a greater degree of design freedom, reduces bar code reader weight and thus improves operability. This effect is greater in a bar code reader using an area image sensor rather than a linear image sensor because the regular reflection area of an area image sensor is greater than that of a linear image sensor. In addition, by shortening the distance (path length) from the image sensor to the bar code label the need for a reflecting mirror for detection is eliminated. While a mirror is used as the light reflector, the installation and surface precision requirements of the light reflector are not as great as those of the reflecting mirror for detection, and the cost can therefore be reduced. The light reflector is also less affected by soiling. Furthermore, by selecting the wavelength (color) of light emitted to the bar code label using the spectral characteristics of the prism in a bar code reader according to the second embodiment of the invention, the effects of chrominance aberrations of the imaging lens are reduced by emitting light that is closer to single wavelength light. Blurring is therefore reduced and bar code label reading performance is enhanced.

Claims: A bar code reader including a case (8), a projector (P1; P2) comprising a light source (2,3), said projector for projecting light onto a bar code label (1), a receptor (Q) comprising an image sensor (6), said receptor for detecting light reflected from the bar code label (1) and imaging the reflected light on said image sensor (6), the total area (L1-L2) viewable by the image sensor (6) and reflected from the bar code label (1) being referred to as the mirror reflection area, and circuitry (7) for receiving data from said image sensor (6) and reading the bar code, characterised in that the projector (P1; P2) comprises said light source (2, 3) disposed within the mirror reflection area (L1-L2), a shield (11,12) for preventing light from said light source impinging directly on to said bar code label, and a light diverter (9;10) disposed outside said mirror reflection area for reflecting the light from the light source (2,3) to illuminate said bar code label (1). A bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein said light diverter is a mirror (9). A bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein said light diverter is a prism (10). A bar code reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said image sensor (6) is an area image sensor. A bar code reader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said case (8) has a wall located close but outside a boundary (L1) of said mirror reflection volume, and said light diverter (9; 10) is located between said boundary (L1) and said wall.

Inventors: INOUE KATSUSHI, KOBAYASHI KEIICHI, TSURUZONO MASAKAZU, YOSHIOKA TOSHIHIRO, INOUE, KATSUSHI, KOBAYASHI, KEIICHI, TSURUZONO, MASAKAZU, YOSHIOKA, TOSHIHIRO
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G06K7
IPC codes: G06K7