초록 ▼

A data symbol reading device has a casing which includes a hand grip and a head part. The casing includes signal processing circuits, a light source, an image sensing device, and an optical system. The optical system directs light reflected from a symbol reading area such that an image is formed on

A data symbol reading device has a casing which includes a hand grip and a head part. The casing includes signal processing circuits, a light source, an image sensing device, and an optical system. The optical system directs light reflected from a symbol reading area such that an image is formed on a light receiving surface of the image sensing device. An indication unit, comprised of five LEDs, is provided on an easily visible surface of the casing. If, in the reading process, it is determined that a data symbol is fully within the symbol reading area, a central LED is illuminated. However, if the data symbol is protruding outside the symbol reading area, one or more LEDs are illuminated to indicate the direction of protrusion.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A data symbol reader, comprising:a reading unit, said reading unit including an image sensing device and an optical system, said optical system forming an image of a two-dimensional data symbol on said image sensing device when said two-dimensional data symbol is in a sym

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A data symbol reader, comprising:a reading unit, said reading unit including an image sensing device and an optical system, said optical system forming an image of a two-dimensional data symbol on said image sensing device when said two-dimensional data symbol is in a symbol reading area of said data symbol reading device;evaluating means for evaluating if an entirety of said two-dimensional data symbol is within said symbol reading area based on the output of said image sensing device, said evaluation means evaluates if the entirety of a two-dimensional data symbol is within the symbol reading area by processing image signals received from the reading unit, storing the processed image signals in a memory, and extracting an outline of the data symbol from the image signals stored in the memory, wherein, if the extracted outline of the two-dimensional data symbol is a closed loop, the symbol is determined to be within the symbol reading area, and if the extracted outline is not a closed loop, the two-dimensional data symbol is determined to protrude from the symbol reading area, wherein outline extraction starts from a predetermined element of the outline of the two dimensional data symbol, detects adjacent elements of the outline in a first predetermined direction, and determines that a closed loop outline of the data symbol has been detected when repeated detection of adjacent elements in the predetermined direction results in detection of said predetermined element;recognizing means for recognizing a direction in which said two-dimensional data symbol protrudes from said symbol reading area, when said two-dimensional data symbol protrudes outside said symbol reading area;a control system, said control system comprising said evaluating means and said recognizing means;an indicator, responsive to said evaluating means, for indicating whether the entirety of said two-dimensional data symbol is within said symbol reading area; andwherein a direction in which said two-dimensional data symbol protrudes from the symbol reading area is evaluated based on an intersection of an outline of the two-dimensional data symbol image formed on the image sensing device and an outer frame of an effective picture element area of the image sensing device.