Patent Publication Number: US-2007119936-A1

Title: Barcode reader

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to a barcode reader, and particularly relates to a barcode reader that outputs some sort of sound upon successfully reading a barcode.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Barcodes are used to manage sales or stock of commodities. Barcode readers are used to read barcodes attached to the commodities. Some barcode readers make some sort of notifying sound (hereinafter, “confirmation beep”) upon successfully reading a barcode. If the operator of the barcode reader hears a confirmation beep, he/she decides that the barcode is read successfully, otherwise causes the barcode reader to again read the barcode.  
      The environments in which barcode readers are used can vary greatly. Some of the shops in which the barcode readers are used are small and others are big, some are quiet and others are noisy, some have only one barcode reader and others have a row of barcode readers. If a shop is small and quiet, an operator may clearly hear a confirmation beep of a barcode reader. However, if a shop is big and noisy, an operator may not clearly hear a confirmation beep of a barcode reader, and may unnecessarily perform reading operation again thereby reducing efficiency. Therefore, volume and tone of confirmation beeps made by barcode readers is important factor that determines efficiency.  
      Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2000-346700 discloses a barcode reader in which it is possible to adjust both volume and tone of confirmation beeps using one button. Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-352184 discloses a barcode reader in which it is possible to adjust volume and tone of confirmation beeps using separate buttons.  
      However, volume or tone control of confirmation beeps in the conventional barcode readers is not easy. Therefore, there is a need of a barcode reader in which it is possible to easily perform volume or tone control of confirmation beeps.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to at least solve the problems in the conventional technology.  
      According to an aspect of the present invention, a barcode reader that outputs a notifying sound upon successfully reading a barcode, includes a volume changing unit operable by a user to change a volume value indicative of an output volume level of the notifying sound; a volume setting changing unit that changes an output volume level of the notifying sound based on the volume value; a tone changing unit operable by the user to change a tone value indicative of an output tone level of the notifying sound; a tone setting changing unit that changes an output tone level of the notifying sound based on the tone value; and a beeping unit that outputs notifying sound at the volume level and the tone level.  
      The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of external appearance and configuration of a barcode reader according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the barcode reader shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic for explaining a correspondence between confirmation beep setting and confirmation beep setting lists according to the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a barcode reading process by the barcode reader shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5A  is a flowchart of a beep setting change process according to the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 5B  is a continuation of the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5A ;  
       FIG. 6  is schematic for explaining a correspondence between confirmation beep settings and confirmation beep setting lists according to a variant of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 7  is schematic for explaining a correspondence between confirmation beep settings and confirmation beep setting lists according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8A  is a flowchart of a confirmation beep setting change process according to the second embodiment; and  
       FIG. 8B  is a continuation of the flowchart shown in  FIG. 8A . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Exemplary embodiments of a barcode reader according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of external appearance and configuration of a barcode reader  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The barcode reader  100  includes a reading surface  101 . The reading surface  101  includes a reading glass window  102 . Light is irradiated through the reading glass window  102  on a barcode attached on a commodity and light reflected from the barcode is taken in also through the reading glass window  102  to thereby optically read the barcode. The barcode reader  100  includes a speaker  103  as a beeping unit, and a yellow light emitting diode (LED)  104 . When the barcode reader successfully reads a barcode, the speaker  103  outputs a confirmation beep and the light emitting diode (LED)  104  is lit so that an operator of the barcode reader comes to know that the barcode is successfully read.  
      The barcode reader  100  includes a volume changing button  105 . Volume of a confirmation beep can be changed by pressing down the volume changing button  105 . The volume of a confirmation beep can be changed in eight levels. Every time when the volume changing button  105  is pressed down, output volume is changed by one level.  
      The barcode reader  100  includes a tone changing button  106 . Tone of a confirmation beep can be changed by pressing down the changing button  106 . The tone of a confirmation beep can be changed in eight levels. Every time when the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, frequency of the confirmation beep is changed by a predetermined value.  
      On each surface of the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106 , a symbolic figure expressing the function of each button is printed. A figure imitating a speaker in a horn shape is printed on the surface of the volume changing button  105 , and a G treble clef is printed on the tone changing button  106 .  
      Thus, volume of a confirmation beep can be changed with the volume changing button  105  and tone can be changed with the tone changing button  106  only by pressing down the respective button.  
      The volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are both provided on the same side as the reading surface  101 . Thus, an operator can change a setting of volume and/or a tone of a confirmation beep easily without disturbing a checkout operation even during the checkout operation.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the barcode reader  100 . The barcode reader  100  includes the speaker  103 , the LED  104 , the volume changing button  105 , the tone changing button  106 , a controller unit  110 , a barcode reading unit  120 , a random access memory (RAM)  130 , a read-only memory (ROM)  140 , a electronically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM)  150 , a central processing unit (CPU)  160 , a I/F control unit  170 , a timing unit  180 , and a bus  190 .  
      The controller unit  110  controls the speaker  103 , the LED  104 , and a laser light emitting unit  121  and a light scanning unit  122  owned by the barcode reading unit  120 . When a barcode is successfully read, the controller unit  110  causes the speaker  103  to output a confirmation beep based on confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 , and lit the LED  104 .  
      Furthermore, the controller unit  110  receives operations from the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106 , and when the volume changing button  105  is pressed down, the CPU  160  executes processing related to a setting change in volume of a confirmation beep, while the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, the CPU  160  executes processing related to a setting change in a tone of a confirmation beep.  
      The barcode reading unit  120  optically reads a barcode  201  attached on a commodity  200 , and includes the laser light emitting unit  121 , the light scanning unit  122 , a mirror  123 , a condenser unit  124 , a light detecting unit  125 , and a signal light processing unit  126 .  
      The laser light emitting unit  121  emits a laser light L. The light scanning unit  122  is a rotating member such as a polygon mirror with a plurality of flat reflection surface. The light scanning unit  122  is rotated with a motor, to let the laser light L scan by reflecting the laser light L from the laser light emitting unit  121  with the rotating light scanning unit  122 . The mirror  123  is a stationary reflective member, a plurality of which is arranged inside the barcode reader  100 , and a scanning laser light L from the light scanning unit  122  is reflected on the mirror  123  and emitted towards the reading glass window  102 .  
      The condenser unit  124  is a reflective member forming a concave, and condenses a reflection R made from scanning laser light L diffused on a barcode  201 . The light detecting unit  125  detects intensity of condensed reflection R with the condenser unit  124 . The signal light processing unit  126  processes the light intensity of the reflection R detected by the light detecting unit  125  into binary data to produce barcode data corresponding to the barcode  201 .  
      This barcode data producing process by the barcode reading unit  120  is carried out in the following procedure. A laser light L emitted from the laser light emitting unit  121  is let scan by the rotating light scanning unit  122 , emitted via the mirror  123  and the reading glass window  102  to outside the barcode reader  100 , and radiated over a barcode  201  attached on a commodity  200 .  
      The laser light L radiated over the barcode  201  diffuses, and part of it returns back as a reflection R to inside the barcode reader  100  again via the reading glass window  102 . The reflection R is condensed by the condenser unit  124 , and the light detecting unit  125  detects intensity of condensed reflection R. Based on a detected result by the light detecting unit  125 , the signal light processing unit  126  produces barcode data corresponding to the barcode  201 . Thus, produced barcode data is stored in the RAM  130 .  
      The RAM  130  is a volatile memory to store barcode data produced by the signal light processing unit  126  in the barcode reading unit  120 . The ROM  140  is a memory with stored various programs for only reading for the CPU  160  to execute in order to operate the barcode reader  100 .  
      A procedure that the CPU  160  reads out each program from the ROM  140  and executes the program is described below in a simplified expression such that “the CPU  160  executes”.  
      The EEPROM  150  is a nonvolatile memory, which is electrically erasable and rewritable, and stores confirmation beep settings for setting volume and/or a tone of a confirmation beep emitted from the speaker  103 , and the like.  FIG. 3  is a schematic for explaining a correspondence between confirmation beep settings and confirmation beep setting lists according to the first embodiment.  
      Top table in  FIG. 3  depicts a format of confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 . As shown in the top table, in storage areas in the EEPROM  150 , six bits are allocated to settings of a confirmation beep, and lower three bits among them relate to volume settings, and upper three bits relate to tone settings.  
      Bottom table in  FIG. 3  depicts confirmation beep setting lists held in the controller unit  110 . As shown in the bottom table, the controller unit  110  holds eight output volume levels corresponding to eight volume values and eight output frequency levels corresponding to eight tone values.  
      To make the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep, the CPU  160  then reads out confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 , and transfers the read value to the controller unit  110 . The controller unit  110  then translates that value into output volume level or output tone level, makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep corresponding to the output volume level and output frequency level.  
      The controller unit  110  keeps eight output volume levels from Vol-0 to Vol-7. Vol-0 indicates volume OFF and Vol-7 indicates the maximum volume. Volume value 0 corresponds to volume level Vol-0 that indicates volume OFF, volume value 1 corresponds to volume level Vol-1 that is louder than Vol-0, and volume value 2 corresponds to volume level Vol-2 that is louder than Vol-1. Subsequently in a similar manner, as the volume value increases, corresponding volume level becomes louder. The maximum volume value 7 corresponds to the maximum volume level Vol-7.  
      When the volume changing button  105  is pressed down, the CPU  160  replaces a volume level in the confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 . In this operation, the volume value changes in order of 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , 7 as the volume changing button  105  is pressed down each time, to step up output volume. If the volume changing button  105  is pressed down when the volume value is 7, the volume value is reset to 0.  
      When the volume changing button  105  is pressed down and volume setting is changed, the CPU  160  makes the speaker  103  emit a beep sound at changed volume via the controller unit  110  at once. This allows an operator to confirm the changed volume at once.  
      The controller unit  110  keeps eight output frequencies, where tone value 0 corresponds to the minimum frequency level 600 Hz, tone value 1 corresponds to frequency level 750 Hz, and tone value 2 corresponds to frequency level 935 Hz. Subsequently in a similar manner, as the tone value increases, a corresponding frequency level becomes higher, and the maximum tone value 7 corresponds to the highest frequency level 2000 Hz.  
      When the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, the CPU  160  replaces a tone value in the confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 . In this operation, the tone value changes in order of 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , 7 as the tone changing button  106  is pressed down each time, to step up an output frequency. If the tone changing button  106  is pressed down when the tone value is 7, the tone value is reset to 0.  
      Furthermore, when the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, and a tone setting is changed, the CPU  160  makes the speaker  103  emit a beep sound with a changed tone via the controller unit  110  at once. This allows an operator to confirm the changed tone at once.  
      In addition, because volume values and tone values are stored in different storage areas in the EEPROM  150 , the values can be changed separately. This allows an operator to change a volume setting and atone setting separately, thereby improving convenience.  
      The CPU  160  is a central processing unit that controls each unit in the barcode reader  100 . The CPU  160  reads out computer programs stored in the ROM  140  and executes, for example, confirmation beep setting change process, in which settings of a confirmation beep to be emitted from the speaker  103  are changed.  
      The I/F control unit  170  transmits and receives data to and from a POS terminal  300  connected to the barcode reader  100 , and transfers barcode data produced by the barcode reading unit  120  to the POS terminal  300 .  
      The timing unit  180  counts time for which one or both of the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are continuously pressed down. When the CPU  160  starts to detect a pressed down motion of the volume changing button  105  and/or the tone changing button  106  via the controller unit  110 , the timing unit  180  starts to time the motion of the button(s), and when a release of the button(s) is detected, measured time is cleared. The bus  190  connects between the controller unit  110 , the RAM  130 , the ROM  140 , the EEPROM  150 , the CPU  160 , the I/F control unit  170 , and the timing unit  180 .  
      A POS terminal  300  executes processing, such as checkout of commodities. A POS terminal  300  is connected to a host machine (not shown), and the host machine collects information from a plurality of POS terminals located inside a store to manage commodity inventory controls and the likes.  
      Next, a barcode reading process performed by the barcode reader  100  is explained.  FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the barcode reading process. To begin, in the barcode reader  100 , the CPU  160  in the barcode reader  100  determines whether the barcode reader  100  is already initialized (step S 101 ). Specifically, the laser light emitting unit  121  and the light scanning unit  122  provided in the barcode reading unit  120  determine whether a barcode is ready to read a barcode.  
      If the barcode reader  100  is not initialized yet, the controller unit  110  starts emission of a laser light from the laser light emitting unit  121  and to drive a rotating motor equipped in the light scanning unit  122  (step S 102 ), and then the processing control is returned to step S 101 .  
      By contrast, when the barcode reader  100  is already initialized, the barcode reading unit  120  carries out a barcode data producing process, in which the barcode reading unit  120  produces barcode data corresponding to a barcode  201  attached on the commodity  200 , and stores the barcode data in the RAM  130  (step S 103 ).  
      The CPU  160  then determines whether barcode data is stored in the RAM  130  (step S 104 ), and, when barcode data is not stored, then the processing control is returned to step S 103  to repeat the same process until barcode data is produced by the barcode reading unit  120 .  
      When barcode data is successfully produced by the barcode reading unit  120  and the barcode data is stored in the RAM  130 , the CPU  160  then reads out a confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  (step S 105 ), transfers the confirmation beep settings to the controller unit  110 , and makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep at a volume level and a tone level corresponding to the confirmation beep settings, and changes a lighting color of the LED  104  from green to yellow (step S 106 ).  
      The CPU  160  then directs the I/F control unit  170  to transmit barcode data stored in the RAM  130  to a POS terminal  300 , so that the barcode data is transferred via the POS terminal  300  to a host terminal (not shown) (step S 107 ).  
      Subsequently, the CPU  160  determines whether information about error detection and/or alarm notice is received from each unit in the barcode reader  100  (step S 108 ); and when there is neither error detection nor alarm notice, operation goes back to step S 103 ; otherwise when information about error detection and/or alarm notice is received, the barcode reading process is terminated.  
      Next, a confirmation beep setting change process according to the first embodiment is explained below. FIGS.  5 A and  5 B is a flowchart of the confirmation beep setting change process. The confirmation beep setting change process is repeatedly executed with a certain interval during operation of the barcode reader  100 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5A , in the confirmation beep setting change process, processing related to a volume setting change is executed first. Precisely, the CPU  160  determines whether, based on the time count done by the timing unit  180 , the volume changing button  105  is pressed for a time that is longer than 30 milliseconds (step S 201 ).  
      When the volume changing button  105  is pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the CPU  160  determines that the volume changing button  105  is intentionally pressed down by an operator, and changes a volume setting. Precisely, the CPU  160  reads out a volume value from the EEPROM  150 , recognizes the value as a volume bit value I, and increments the volume bit value I (step S 202 ), and when a resultant value I becomes eight or more (step S 203 , NO), the value I is reset (step S 204 ). The CPU  160  then rewrites the volume value stored the EEPROM  150  to this changed volume bit value I (step S 205 ).  
      The CPU  160  then reads out a changed confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  (step S 206 ), transfers the changed confirmation beep settings to the controller unit  110 , and makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep at volume level and with a tone level corresponding to the changed confirmation beep settings as a setting confirmation beep (step S 207 ). After this processing is finished, operation is shifted to steps S 208  and afterward shown in  FIG. 5B .  
      By contrast, when the volume changing button  105  is not pressed down at all, or when the volume changing button  105  is not pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, operation goes to step S 208  shown in  FIG. 5B , to shift to processing related to a tone setting without changing volume setting.  
      The CPU  160  then executes processing related to a tone setting change. Precisely, the CPU  160  determines whether, based on the time count done by the timing unit  180 , the tone changing button  106  is pressed for a time that is longer than 30 milliseconds (step S 201 ).  
      When the tone changing button  106  is pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the CPU  160  determines that the tone changing button  106  is intentionally pressed down by an operator, and changes a tone setting. Precisely, the CPU  160  reads out a tone value from the EEPROM  150 , recognizes the value as a tone bit value J, and increments the tone bit value J (step S 209 ), and when a resultant value J becomes eight or more (step S 210 , NO), the value J is reset (step S 211 ). The CPU  160  rewrites the tone value stored the EEPROM  150  to this changed tone bit value J (step S 212 ).  
      The CPU  160  then reads out a changed confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  (step S 213 ), transfers the changed confirmation beep settings to the controller unit  110 , makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep at a volume level and with a tone level corresponding to the changed confirmation beep settings as a setting confirmation beep (step S 214 ), and terminates the confirmation beep setting change process.  
      By contrast, when the tone changing button  106  is not pressed down at all, or when the tone changing button  106  is not pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the confirmation beep setting change process is terminated without changing tone setting.  
      In the barcode reader  100 , the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are provided separately; when the volume changing button  105  is pressed down, a setting confirmation beep at changed volume is emitted from the speaker  103 ; while the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, a setting confirmation beep with a changed tone is emitted from the speaker  103 ; so that a confirmation beep can be adjusted by confirming a changed setting, and this allows an operator to obtain a confirmation beep at an own desired level quickly.  
      In the first embodiment, a confirmation beep emitted from the speaker  103  on the barcode reader  100  is made at a single frequency. However, a confirmation beep is not limited to a single frequency, it can also be configured to make two sounds at different frequencies continuously. In a variant, a case where two sounds at different frequencies are continuously made is explained.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic for explaining a correspondence between confirmation beep settings and confirmation beep setting lists according to the variant of the first embodiment. A format of a confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  shown in top table, and volume values and tone values in confirmation beep setting lists kept by the controller unit  110  shown in bottom table are similar to those in the first embodiment, therefore detailed explanation is omitted.  
      For an expedient purpose of simplified explanation below, a case where a beep is made at a single frequency is referred to as “the monotone mode”, while a case where two sounds at different frequencies are continuously made is referred to as “the multitone mode”.  
      As shown in the bottom table, the controller unit  110  holds eight frequencies, in which four tone values from 0 to 3 correspond to single frequencies, and the rest of the four tone values from 4 to 7 correspond to two different frequencies each. Precisely, when a tone value is between 0 and 3, the monotone mode is selected, while when a tone value is between 4 and 7, the multitone mode is selected.  
      When the multitone mode is selected, a beeping time period to emit a confirmation beep from the speaker  103  is halved to emit two sounds continuously at different frequencies, by differentiating the frequencies between the first half and the second half. For example, assuming that the tone value is 4, a beep is made from the speaker  103  at 1100 Hz in the first half, and at 800 Hz in the second half of a beeping time period.  
      When the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, the CPU  160  replaces a tone value in the confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 . In this operation, the tone value changes in order of 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , 7 as the tone changing button  106  is pressed down each time, an output frequency is changed within the monotone mode.  
      If the tone changing button  106  is pressed down when a tone value is 3, the tone value is changed to 4, and the monotone mode shifts to the multitone mode. Subsequently each time when the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, the tone value changes in order of 4, 5, 6, and 7, and an output frequency is changed within the multitone mode.  
      If the tone changing button  106  is pressed down when a tone value is 7, the tone value is reset to 0, and returns to the monotone mode again. Thus, when the tone changing button  106  is pressed down every four times, between the monotone mode and the multitone mode are switched back and forth.  
      Furthermore, when the tone changing button  106  is pressed down and a tone setting is changed, the CPU  160  makes the speaker  103  emit a beep sound with a changed tone via the controller unit  110  at once.  
      Thus, configuration provided with the monotone mode and the multitone mode enables selection of a confirmation beep from the two modes with the tone changing button  106  so that variation of selectable tones can be extended.  
      In the variant of the first embodiment, the barcode reader  100  is provided with the monotone mode and the multitone mode, however, when an operator desires to switch between the monotone mode and the multitone mode, the operator needs to press down the tone changing button  106  up to four times, which can be inconvenient in some circumstances. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a case where the monotone mode and the multitone mode can be switched with button operation once is explained. Hardware configuration of the barcode reader  100  according to the second embodiment is similar to the one according to the first embodiment, therefore detailed explanation is omitted.  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic for explaining a correspondence between confirmation beep settings and confirmation beep setting lists according to the second embodiment. Top table in  FIG. 7  is a format of confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 . The highest bit in the confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  are allocated to a multitone setting bit value, and multitone setting bit value 0 indicates the monotone mode, while 1 indicates the multitone mode. Two bits are allocated to a tone value and three bits are allocated to a volume value.  
      In the second embodiment, the monotone mode and the multitone mode are switched by pressing down the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  simultaneously. Precisely, when the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are simultaneously pressed down, the CPU  160  inverts a multitone setting bit value in the EEPROM  150 .  
      As a result, when the monotone mode is selected, the multitone setting bit value is changed from 0 to 1 to shift to the multitone mode. When the multitone mode is selected, the multitone setting bit value is changed from 1 to 0 to shift to the monotone mode. Thus, the monotone mode and the multitone mode can be switched.  
      The volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are, as shown in  FIG. 1 , arranged next to each other so that an operator can press down the two buttons  105  and  106  simultaneously. Thus, the operator can easily switch between the monotone mode and the multitone mode without disturbing checkout operation.  
      Because between the monotone mode and the multitone mode are switched by pressing down the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  simultaneously, the monotone mode and the multitone mode can be switched only with the two buttons  105  and  106 , and no additional button switching between the monotone mode and the multitone mode needs to be provided on the reading surface  101  of the barcode reader  100 .  
      Bottom table in  FIG. 7  is confirmation beep setting lists owned by the controller unit  110 . As shown in the bottom table, the controller unit  110  keeps four frequencies each separately in the monotone mode and the multitone mode corresponding to tone values. The output frequency levels are similar to those in the variant of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , however, in the second embodiment, when only the tone changing button  106  is pressed down, the monotone mode and the multitone mode are not switched, and a frequency is changed within the monotone mode or within the multitone mode.  
      Precisely, when the tone changing button  106  is pressed down each time, the CPU  160  changes a tone value in the confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  in order of 0, 1, 2, and 3; and then, because the tone values are four types, if the tone changing button  106  is pressed down when the tone value is 3, the tone value is reset to 0.  
      To make the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep, the CPU  160  reads out a confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150 , and transfers the read value to the controller unit  110 . Based on a volume value, a tone value, and a multitone setting bit value in the confirmation beep settings, the controller unit  110  then makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep at an output volume level corresponding to the volume value and at an output frequency corresponding to the tone level in a mode indicated by the multitone setting bit value.  
      When the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are simultaneously pressed down and the monotone mode and the multitone mode are switched, the CPU  160  makes the speaker  103  emit a beep sound in a changed mode via the controller unit  110  at once. This allows an operator to confirm which of the monotone mode and the multitone mode is applied as soon as the setting is changed.  
      In processing operations in a barcode reading process by the barcode reader  100  according to the second embodiment, a difference from the first embodiment is only that the CPU  160  reads out a multitone setting bit value, in addition to a volume value and a tone value, as the confirmation beep settings to be read out in step S 105  shown in  FIG. 4 , therefore detailed explanation is omitted.  
      Next, a confirmation beep setting change process according to the second embodiment is explained below.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  is a flowchart of the confirmation beep setting change process. As shown in  FIG. 8A , in the confirmation beep setting change process, the CPU  160  determines whether, based on the time count done by the timing unit  180 , the volume changing button  105  is pressed for a time that is longer than 30 milliseconds (step S 301 ).  
      When the volume changing button  105  is pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the CPU  160  also determines whether, based on the time count done by the timing unit  180 , the tone changing button  106  is pressed for a time that is longer than 30 milliseconds (step S 302 ).  
      When the tone changing button  106  is pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the CPU  160  determines that the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are simultaneously pressed down, and inverts a multitone setting bit value in the confirmation beep settings in the EEPROM  150  (step S 303 ). This results in switching between the monotone mode and the multitone mode.  
      By contrast, when the tone changing button  106  is not pressed down at all, or when the tone changing button  106  is not pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the CPU  160  determines that only the volume changing button  105  is pressed down, and changes a volume setting. Precisely, the CPU  160  reads out a volume value from the EEPROM  150 , recognizes the value as a volume bit value I, and increments the volume bit value I (step S 304 ), and when the resultant value I becomes 8 or more (step S 305 , NO), the value I is reset (step S 306 ). The CPU  160  then rewrites the volume value stored the EEPROM  150  to this changed volume bit value I (step S 307 ).  
      The CPU  160  then reads out a changed confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  (step S 308 ), transfers the changed confirmation beep settings to the controller unit  110 , and makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep at a volume level with a tone level in a beeping mode corresponding to the changed confirmation beep settings as a setting confirmation beep (step S 309 ). After this processing is finished, operation is shifted to steps S 310  and afterward shown in  FIG. 8B .  
      By contrast, when the volume changing button  105  is not pressed down at all, or when the volume changing button  105  is not pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, operation goes to step S 310  shown in  FIG. 8B , to shift to processing related to a tone setting without changing volume setting.  
      The CPU  160  then executes processing related to a tone setting change. Precisely, the CPU  160  determines whether, based on the time count done by the timing unit  180 , the tone changing button  106  is pressed for a time that is longer than 30 milliseconds (step S 310 ).  
      When the tone changing button  106  is pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the CPU  160  changes a tone setting. Precisely, the CPU  160  reads out a tone value from the EEPROM  150 , recognizes the read value as a tone bit value J, and increments the tone bit value J (step S 311 ), and when a resultant value J becomes 4 or more (step S 312 , NO), the value J is reset (step S 313 ). The CPU  160  then rewrites the tone value stored the EEPROM  150  to this changed tone bit value J (step S 314 ).  
      The CPU  160  then reads out a changed confirmation beep settings stored in the EEPROM  150  (step S 315 ), transfers the changed confirmation beep settings to the controller unit  110 , makes the speaker  103  emit a confirmation beep at a volume level with a tone level in a beeping mode corresponding to the changed confirmation beep settings as a setting confirmation beep (step S 316 ), and terminates the confirmation beep setting change process.  
      By contrast, when the tone changing button  106  is not pressed down all, or when the tone changing button  106  is not pressed down for a time longer than 30 milliseconds, the confirmation beep setting change process is terminated without changing tone setting.  
      Thus, the monotone mode and the multitone mode are switched when the volume changing button  105  and the tone changing button  106  are simultaneously pressed down, so that the monotone mode and the multitone mode can be switched easily, as well as atone setting can be adjusted more quickly.  
      In addition, in the variant of the first embodiment and in the second embodiment, a case where two sounds at different frequencies are continuously made is explained as the multitone mode, however, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other cases, such as a case where three or more sounds are continuously made, or a case where a chord is made by making sounds simultaneously at a plurality of frequencies.  
      According to the embodiments, a barcode reader is provide with a unit that changes a volume value for volume level by receiving a request to change volume of a confirmation beep from an operator, and makes a beep sound at a volume level corresponding to the changed volume value; and with a unit that is controllable separately from the former unit, changes a tone value for tones by receiving a request to change a tone of a confirmation beep from an operator, and makes a beep sound with a tone level corresponding to the changed tone value; thereby a confirmation beep can be adjusted with confirming a changed setting so that the operator can quickly obtain a confirmation beep at the own desired level.  
      Moreover, the barcode reader is configured to change a volume setting and/or a tone setting with button(s), and an operator can change volume and/or a tone of a confirmation beep only by pressing down button(s), so that convenience of operation can be improved.  
      Furthermore, the barcode reader includes a monotone mode that a beep is made at a single frequency, and a multitone mode that beep sounds at a plurality of different frequencies are continuously made; and it is configured to switch between the monotone mode and the multitone mode according to a tone value, so that variations of selectable tones can be extended.  
      Moreover, the barcode reader includes the monotone mode that a beep is made at a single frequency, and the multitone mode that beep sounds at a plurality of different frequencies are continuously made; and it is configured that when a request to switch between the monotone mode and the multitone mode is received from an operator, the monotone mode and the multitone mode are switched, and when a tone value is changed, a tone of a confirmation beep is changed without switching between the monotone mode and the multitone mode, so that the monotone mode and the multitone mode can be switched easily, as well as a tone setting can be adjusted more quickly.  
      Furthermore, the barcode reader is configured to accept a switching request when an operation of changing a volume setting and an operation of changing a tone setting are simultaneous, so that the monotone mode and the multitone mode can be switched only with the two buttons without another button provided separately for switching between the monotone mode and the multitone mode.  
      Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.