Optical information reading device and optical information reading method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11308296-B2
Application number	US-202016817889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Apr 15, 2019
Publication date	Apr 19, 2022
Grant date	Apr 19, 2022

Abstract

An optical information reading device 100 includes an aiming module 60 configured to irradiate aiming light for instructing an imaging area of image data generated by an imaging module, a trigger switch 30 for starting imaging processing by the imaging module, an aiming switch 43 B for causing the aiming module 60 to irradiate the aiming light, and a reading unit 81 configured to read information of the symbol. The reading unit 81 is configured to, in an aiming state in which irradiation processing for the aiming light by the aiming module 60 is executed by operation of the aiming switch 43 B, detect that the trigger switch 30 is operated and read, based on the image data generated by the imaging processing of the imaging module, information of the symbol included in a predetermined partial area PA corresponding to an irradiation position of the aiming light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical information reading device comprising:
an imaging module configured to convert reflected light from a reading target symbol into an electric signal and generate image data;
an aiming module configured to irradiate aiming light for instructing an imaging area of the image data generated by the imaging module;
a trigger switch for starting imaging processing by the imaging module;
an aiming switch for causing the aiming module to irradiate the aiming light; and
a reading unit configured to read information of the symbol based on the image data generated by the imaging processing of the imaging module, wherein
the reading unit is configured to
determine whether the optical information reading device is in an aiming state in which irradiation processing for the aiming light by the aiming module is executed by operation of the aiming switch at a point in time when the trigger switch is operated, and read, based on the image data generated by the imaging processing of the imaging module, information of the symbol included in a predetermined partial area corresponding to an irradiation position of the aiming light upon determining that the optical information reading device is in the aiming state, the predetermined partial area being narrower than an imaging field of the imaging module.

2. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading unit is configured to, in the aiming state, read the information of the symbol included in the predetermined partial area including the irradiation position of the aiming light.

3. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading unit is configured to, in the aiming state, read the information of the symbol when the irradiation position of the aiming light overlaps a part of the symbol.

4. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading unit is configured to determine whether the optical information reading device is in a non-aiming state in which the irradiation processing for the aiming light by the aiming module is not executed by operation of the aiming switch when the trigger switch is operated, and read, based on the image data generated by the imaging processing of the imaging module, the information of the symbol included in an entire area corresponding to an entire imaging visual field of the imaging module upon determining that the optical information reading device is in the non-aiming state.

5. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading unit is configured to, in the aiming state, output only the information of the symbol included in the predetermined partial area in the information of the symbol included in an entire area corresponding to an entire imaging visual field of the imaging module when the trigger switch is operated.

6. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading unit is configured to alternately or continuously execute the imaging processing for an entire imaging visual field imaged by the imaging module and the irradiation processing for the aiming light by the aiming module when the trigger switch is operated.

7. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the reading unit is configured to, in the aiming state, alternately or continuously execute the imaging processing for the predetermined partial area and the irradiation processing for the aiming light by the aiming module when the trigger switch is operated.

8. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , further comprising a reading-mode switching unit configured to switch a regular center reading mode for, in both of the aiming state and a non-aiming state, reading the information of the symbol included in the predetermined partial area corresponding to the irradiation position of the aiming light when the trigger switch is operated, a regular normal reading mode for, in both of the aiming state and the non-aiming state, reading the information of the symbol included in an entire area corresponding to an entire imaging visual field of the imaging module when the trigger switch is operated, and a selective center reading mode for, in the aiming state, reading the information of the symbol included in the predetermined partial area corresponding to the irradiation position of the aiming light when the trigger switch is operated and, in the non-aiming state, reading the information of the symbol included in the entire area corresponding to the entire imaging visual field of the imaging module when the trigger switch is operated.

9. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display module including a rectangular display surface extended in one direction and including, as end edges along a longitudinal direction of the display surface, a first end edge for performing imaging and a second end edge on an opposite side of the first end edge; and
a grip part ranging from an inclined surface inclined from the display surface on the second end edge side of the display module, the grip part being inclined and extended in a direction away from the display surface in the longitudinal direction of the display surface, wherein
the aiming switch is disposed on the inclined surface between the display module and the grip part.

10. The optical information reading device according to claim 1 , wherein
the trigger switch and the aiming switch are configured by a common switch, and
the trigger switch is operated as the aiming switch according to a time of ON/OFF of the trigger switch.

11. An optical information reading method using an optical information reading device that images a reading target symbol by operating a trigger switch and reads the symbol, the optical information reading method comprising:
irradiating, by an aiming switch, on the reading target symbol, from an aiming module, aiming light for instructing an imaging area of image data generated by an imaging module by converting reflected light from the symbol into an electric signal;
determining whether the optical information reading device is in an aiming state in which irradiation processing for the aiming light by the aiming module is executed by operation of the aiming switch at a point in time when the trigger switch is operated; and
reading, based on the image data, information of the symbol included in a predetermined partial area corresponding to an irradiation position of the aiming light upon determining that the optical information reading device is in the aiming state, the predetermined partial area being narrower than an imaging visual field of the imaging module.

12. The optical information reading method according to claim 11 , wherein, in the reading the information of the symbol, the trigger switch is operated while the aiming switch is kept operated.

13. The optical information reading method according to claim 11 , wherein, in the reading the information of the symbol, in a non-aiming state in which the irradiation processing for the aiming light is not executed, the information of the symbol included in an entire area corresponding to an entire imaging visual field of the imaging module is read based on the image data generated by imaging processing of the imaging module by operating the trigger switch.

Assignees

• Keyence Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohori Hiroomi
• Izaki Tomomi

Classifications

• G06K7/1098

  the scanning arrangement having a modular construction · CPC title

• G06K7/1095

  the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like · CPC title

• G06K7/1404

  Methods for optical code recognition · CPC title

• G06K7/10861

  sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels (postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48) · CPC title

• G06K7/089

  hand-held scanners · CPC title