Abstract: A demodulated data storage buffer is stored with bar width data sets obtained by scanning a coupon code with a scan optical system. A CPU first executes a demodulating process on these bar width data sets in accordance with a demodulation algorithm in a WPC code system. If an end guard bar (RGB) of the WPC code is contained in the demodulated data by the demodulating process, the demodulating process is executed on the same bar width data sets in accordance with a demodulation algorithm in a CODE 128 code system.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a plurality of states, and includes a detection mechanism for detecting an external light and outputting a detection signal indicative of an intensity of the external light, a transition mechanism for making a state transition from a first state to a second state which is different from the first state and vice versa depending on the detection signal, and a varying mechanism for varying a light detection sensitivity of said detection mechanism depending on the detection signal when the state transition is made by said transition mechanism.

Abstract: Bar with count values indicating widths of white and black bars, which are reciprocally obtained, are input to buffers connected in series at 16 stages. The bar width count values written to those buffers are sequentially shifted each time a new bar width count value is input. A comparing circuit compares the widths of the adjacent bars in the same color with each other and checks whether or not a ratio therebetween falls within a range of 0.2-5.0 times as large as each other. Results of the comparisons by this comparing circuit are written to result registers connected in series at 13 stages. The check-results written to those result registers are sequentially shifted each time a new bar width count value is input. Accordingly, if all the check results written to all the result registers indicate an "in-range" state, it follows that the fifteen or more bars consecutively meet a bar code condition. Hence, the counter lets an AND gate open.

Abstract: A bar-code reader and a bar-code reading method each of which can perform an accurate, quick reading operation. The bar-code reader scans a bar-code with electromagnetic radioactive rays and then extracts data regarding a bar-width thereof based on the reflected rays; demodulates the bar-width data and creates the demodulated data; judges the presence or absence of a bar-code reproducible combination in the demodulated data and judges the type of combination when the reproducible combination exists; and synthesizes the demodulated data or the character forming the demodulated data according to the type of combination. The bar-code reader and bar-code reading method can be applicable to scanners such as POS systems used in supermarkets, distribution industries, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ambient light detector that detects a change in light amount of ambient light. The ambient light detector consists of ambient light detecting means for detecting light entering from circumferences and outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the light amount thereof; amplifying means for amplifying the output from the ambient light detecting means; signal producing means for producing a slice level signal based on the output from the amplifying means; comparing means for comparing the output of the amplifying means with the slice level signal; and judging means for judging the level of the output from the amplifying means and then outputting a control signal to control the amplifying factor of the amplifying means, according to the judging result. Ambient light can be stably detected without depending on installation mode or external environment.

Abstract: When bar code data of a left or right block flanked by a guard bar and a center bar is input, several characters including the first character are demodulated, and a decision is made as to whether demodulation should be continued or not. If demodulation has already been performed a specified number of times, or demodulation free from significant distortion has already been performed, on the block currently subjected to demodulation, the demodulation process is discontinued and demodulation is not performed on the remaining characters.

Abstract: A process for reading optical codes includes reading an optical code by irradiating a scan ing beam onto an optical code and detecting a reflected beam of the scanning beam from the optical code. A determination is made if the optical code and an optical code reader are moving relative to each other, and data of the optical code are invalidated if it is determined that the optical code and the optical code reader are moving relative to each other, and data of the optical code are validated if it is determined the optical code and the optical code reader are not moving relative to each other.

Abstract: A proximity sensor receives light beams reflected from a goods. A proximity sensor control unit determines that the goods exists when a light quantity of the reflected light received by the proximity sensor exceeds a determination threshold value. The determination threshold value increases as elapsed time since the bar code was read last time becomes longer, and, as a result, a detection sensitivity decreases. A CPU restores a duty of irradiation of the laser beam back to 100% and resumes rotations of a motor for driving an operation optical system when the proximity sensor control unit determines that the goods exists.

Abstract: A bar-co reader and a bar-code reading method each of which can perform an accurate, quick reading operation. The bar-code reader scans a bar-code with electromagnetic radioactive rays and then extracts data regarding a bar-width thereof based on the reflected rays; demodulates the bar-width data and creates the demodulated data; judges the presence or absence of a bar-code reproducible combination in the demodulated data and judges. the type of combination when the reproducible combination exists; and synthesizes the demodulated data or the character forming the demodulated data according to the type of combination. The bar-code reader and bar-code reading method can be applicable to scanners such as POS systems used in supermarkets, distribution industries, and the like.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a plurality of states, and including a detection mechanism for detecting an external light and outputting a detection signal indicative of an intensity of the external light, a transition mechanism for making a state transition from a first state to a second state which is different from the first state and vice versa depending on the detection signal, and a varying mechanism for varying a light detection sensitivity of the detection mechanism depending on the detection signal when the state transition is made by the transition mechanism.

Abstract: A binary device suitable for a bar code reader performs a binary signal conversion, without depending on a laser beam scanning rate.

Abstract: A bar code recognizing/demodulating circuit compares with each other a demodulated data string including a start bar but excluding an end bar and a demodulated data string including the end bar but excluding the start bar among a variety of demodulated data strings obtained by a scan/convergence optical system scanning a bar code. A total sum of the numbers of digits of the two demodulated data strings is detected, and whether the total sum is larger than the number of digits of the bar code to be read is checked. If larger than the number of digits of the bar code, whether data of overlapped portions of the two demodulated data strings coincide with each other is checked. If coincident, demodulated data corresponding to the whole bar code are synthesized based on the two demodulated data strings.

Abstract: A demodulated data storage buffer stores bar width data sets obtained during one scan with laser beams L through a scan optical system. A CPU sequentially demodulates these bar width data sets and stores the demodulated data storage buffer with the bar width data sets as a series of demodulated data strings. The CPU compares respective items of demodulated data with each other that are included in the demodulated data string and preferentially treats, as effective data, the demodulated data based on "continuous reading" and the "block reading". The CPU conceives as noise data the demodulated data logically impossible from a mutual relationship between these items of demodulated data and deletes the same demodulated data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser control method used preferably for a reading control system such as a bar code reading device and to a semiconductor laser control device employing the above method. The object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor laser control device which can be controlled based on the output of a semiconductor laser, provides a stable laser output in a noise environment, enables easy output adjustment, and is immune to external thermal or electrical noises. In the semiconductor laser control method where the light amount of a light amount to current controllable semiconductor laser is subjected to a feedback control with a predetermined time constant while it is monitored, when the light amount is less than a predetermined value, the semiconductor laser is subjected to an feedback control with a first time constant. When the light amount is more than a predetermined value, the semiconductor laser is subjected to a feedback control with a second time constant.

Abstract: A process for reading optical codes includes reading an optical code by irradiating a scanning beam onto an optical code and detecting a reflected beam of the scanning beam from the optical code. A determination is made if the optical code and an optical code reader are moving relative to each other, and data of the optical code are invalidated if it is determined that the optical code and the optical code reader are moving relative to each other, and data of the optical code are validated if it is determined the optical code and the optical code reader are not moving relative to each other.

Abstract: A CPU demodulates data obtained by a "continuous reading", data obtained by a "block reading" and data obtained by a "divided reading" among a variety of bar width data sets stored in a bar width data set storage buffer before demodulated data corresponding to a whole bar code are first synthesized. Once the demodulated data corresponding to the whole bar code are synthesized, whether the data used for the synthesization include the data obtained by the "divided reading" is checked. Then, if the data used for the synthesization do not include the data obtained by the "divided reading", only the data obtained by the "continuous reading" and the data obtained by the "block reading" are demodulated.

Abstract: A DMA controller DMA-transfers a bar width data set generated by a bar width counter to an external RAM. The DMA controller simultaneously DMA-transfers the bar width data set written in the external RAM to an internal RAM. An MPU reads the bar width data set written in the internal RAM at a high speed and demodulates the read bar width data set between the reading processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser control method used preferably for a reading control system such as a bar code reading device and to a semiconductor laser control device employing the above method. The object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor laser control device which can be controlled based on the output of a semiconductor laser, provides a stable laser output in a noise environment, enables easy output adjustment, and is immune to external thermal or electrical noises. In the semiconductor laser control method where the light amount of a light amount to current controllable semiconductor laser is subjected to a feedback control with a predetermined time constant while it is monitored, when the light amount is less than a predetermined value, the semiconductor laser is subjected to an feedback control with a first time constant. When the light amount is more than a predetermined value, the semiconductor laser is subjected to a feedback control with a second time constant.

Abstract: A bar code scanner includes a detection unit for detecting light reflected from a bar code and generating a detection signal, a conversion unit for generating detected bar code data based on the detection signal, an input interface unit receiving external bar code data generated externally, a data control unit for generating output bar code data by using the detected bar code data and/or the external bar code data from the input interface unit, and an output interface unit for sending out the output bar code data.

Abstract: A binarizing circuit includes a binary signal generating unit for generating a binary signal from an input signal, supplied from an external unit, in accordance with a processing characteristic, a detecting unit for detecting a state of the input signal, and a control unit for controlling, based on the state of the input signal detected by the detecting unit, the processing characteristic in accordance with which the binary signal generating unit generates the binary signal from the input signal. The bar-code reader includes a reading unit for optically reading an article on which a bar code is formed, the above binarizing circuit, and a decoding unit for decoding the binary signal output from the binarizing circuit so that data represented by the bar code is obtained.