Optical reader

Claim 2

An optical reader capable of recognizing both bar code and alphanumeric character formats by means of a single scanner unit having an image sensor including a two-dimensional array of photoelectric elements, a switching gate, whether an object binary pattern is in bar code or alphanumeric character format, and, thereafter, processing the binary pattern by means of bar code or alphanumeric character recognition circuits.

Claim 3

An optical reader for scanning and recognizing alphanumeric character and bar code formats by means of an image sensor with a two dimensional array of photoelectric elements comprising: means for obtaining a pattern of an alphanumeric character or a bar code format within sight of the image sensor; means for providing a binary pattern of a scanned object after digitalizing the output signal of each of the photoelectric elements in the sensor array; means for calculating a logical sum of "black" area in either of line or column segments of the binary pattern in order to detect the number of consecutive lines or columns having at least one photoelectric element detecting the presence of a character or bar code; object determination means for determining whether the object of the binary pattern is an alphanumeric character or a bar code based on the detected number of consecutive lines or columns having at least one photoelectric element in either of line or column segment; means for selecting one appropriate recognition means for either of a character or bar code according to the results of the determination means; first means for recognizing a character according to a binary pattern; counting means for scanning frequency or scanning cycle time by processing digital signal(s) generated from at least one photoelectric element; a second recognizing means for recognizing a bar code by processing both the degree and the order of occurrence of the digital signals outputted from at least one photoelectric element, and, switching gate means for operating either of the first or second recognition means according to the results of object determination means.

Claim 4

An optical reader for scanning and recognizing alphanumeric character and bar code formats by means of an image sensor with a two dimensional array of photoelectric elements comprising: means for obtaining a pattern of an alphanumeric character or a bar code format within sight of the image sensor; means for providing a binary pattern of a scanned object after digitalizing the output signal of each of the photoelectric elements in the sensor array; means for calculating a logical sum of "black" area in either of line or column segments of the binary pattern in order to detect the number of consecutive lines or columns having at least one photoelectric element detecting the presence of a character or bar code; object determination means for determining whether the object of the binary pattern is an alphanumeric character or a bar code based on the detected number of consecutive lines or columns having at least one photoelectric element in either of line or column segment; means for selecting one appropriate recognition means for either of a character or bar code according to the results of the determination means; first means for recognizing a character according to a binary pattern; counting means for scanning frequency or scanning cycle time by processing digital signal(s) generated from at least one photoelectric element; a second recognizing means for recognizing a bar code by processing both the degree and the order of occurrence of the digital signals outputted from at least one photoelectric element, and, switching gate means for operating either of the first or second recognition means according to the results of object determination means.

Claim 5

The optical reader according to claim 1 wherein the second recognition means recognizes a bar code by processing data of both the degree and frequency of scanning the object binary bar code pattern and by classification data on width and colour of the bar in the format, and by the order of occurrence of the colour and width of the bar in the format.