Abstract: An information reader includes a reader main unit and a case. The case houses therein an inner pad serving as an electrostatic capacity type of switch used by an operator to enable an information reading unit to read information. The inner pad is assembled within the case to be directed toward a touch detection region of the case. A switch unit, which is separated from the reader main unit, is provided with a touch electrode pad to which electrical charge is applied in response to an operator's touch operation, a wiring line one of whose both ends is electrically connected to the touch electrode pad, and a transmission pad to which the other end is electrically connected. The transmission pad is assembled with the case on the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: An information reader includes a reader main unit and a case. The case houses therein an inner pad serving as an electrostatic capacity type of switch used by an operator to enable an information reading unit to read information. The inner pad is assembled within the case to be directed toward a touch detection region of the case. A switch unit, which is separated from the reader main unit, is provided with a touch electrode pad to which electrical charge is applied in response to an operator's touch operation, a wiring line one of whose both ends is electrically connected to the touch electrode pad, and a transmission pad to which the other end is electrically connected. The transmission pad is assembled with the case on the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an information code and an information code reader. In information code, a plurality of light-colored modules exhibiting the reflective characteristics of light color when light of a second wavelength band different from light of a first wavelength band is radiated and a plurality of dark-colored modules exhibiting the reflective characteristics of dark color when the light of a second wavelength band is radiated are arranged in a code region. The information code includes a masked portion disposed in a predetermined region of the code region in which light is intercepted and prevents the corresponding information code from being read, and configured to, when the light of a second wavelength band is radiated, allow light reflected from the modules of the corresponding code region to pass therethrough and thereby interrupt the light of a first wavelength band.

Abstract: A system reads an information code formed on a medium. The code has light modules and dark modules. The areas of the light modules are produced as inversion areas inverted light reflection characteristics. The areas of the dark module areas are produced as non-inversion areas non-inverting light reflection characteristics. A reader emits illumination light of wavelengths including infrared light wavelengths to the code, and images the code under the illumining light emission. The inversion areas, that is, the light module areas, can be dark under the visible light, but can be a light color due to its inverted light reflection characteristics. The light modules can thus be imaged by the reader under the illumining light emission, providing distinguishable detection of the inversion and non-inversion areas, allowing the light and dark modules to be extracted for decoding.

Abstract: In an apparatus for optically reading a graphic symbol composed of a plurality of optically identifiable unit sections of information, a first image pickup unit has a first photodetector and picks up a first optical image of the graphic symbol based on light detected by the first photodetector. A second image pickup unit has a second photodetector and configured to pick up a second optical image of the graphic symbol based on light detected by the second photodetector. A correcting unit corrects a light intensity level of at least one section of one of the first and second optical images based on a light intensity level of at least one section of the other of the first and second optical images. The at least one section corresponds to at least one of the unit sections of information of the graphic symbol.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an information code and an information code reader. In information code, a plurality of light-colored modules exhibiting the reflective characteristics of light color when light of a second wavelength band different from light of a first wavelength band is radiated and a plurality of dark-colored modules exhibiting the reflective characteristics of dark color when the light of a second wavelength band is radiated are arranged in a code region. The information code includes a masked portion disposed in a predetermined region of the code region in which light is intercepted and prevents the corresponding information code from being read, and configured to, when the light of a second wavelength band is radiated, allow light reflected from the modules of the corresponding code region to pass therethrough and thereby interrupt the light of a first wavelength band.

Abstract: A system reads an information code formed on a medium. The code has light modules and dark modules. The areas of the light modules are produced as inversion areas inverted light reflection characteristics. The areas of the dark module areas are produced as non-inversion areas non-inverting light reflection characteristics. A reader emits illumination light of wavelengths including infrared light wavelengths to the code, and images the code under the illumining light emission. The inversion areas, that is, the light module areas, can be dark under the visible light, but can be a light color due to its inverted light reflection characteristics. The light modules can thus be imaged by the reader under the illumining light emission, providing distinguishable detection of the inversion and non-inversion areas, allowing the light and dark modules to be extracted for decoding.

Abstract: In a laser radar apparatus, a laser beam generator that generates a laser beam and an optical detector that detects reflected light that has been reflected by an object in a field to be observed. A deflection performing means, provided with one or more deflection means each rotatable on a given central axis thereof, for enabling the deflection means to deflect the laser beam to the field and to deflect the reflected light toward the optical detector. A drive means driven to rotate the deflection means. A direction changing means changes a direction of the laser beam from the deflection means is changed in a direction of the central axis. A control means controls an operation of the direction changing means.

Abstract: An information reader has blocks of bright field illuminating units illuminating an information code directly marked on an object with first lights to regularly reflect the lights on the code, blocks of dark field illuminating units illuminating the code with second lights to irregularly reflect the lights on the code, an optical system, and a control section lighting the blocks of bright and dark field illuminating units by turns or simultaneously. The optical system forms an image of the code from each of the first and second lights or a combination of the first and second lights reflected on the code and reads the code from the images. The first lights are transmitted along an optical axis of the optical system. The second lights are transmitted toward the optical axis while slightly shifted toward the code.

Abstract: A laser radar including laser beam generating means, photo detecting means, a mirror, light deflecting means, and rotation driving means. The laser beam generating means emits a laser beam having an axis thereof. The photo detecting means detects a reflected laser beam that is reflected back by an object. The mirror includes a through-hole that passes the laser beam and a reflecting surface that reflects a reflected laser beam reflected back by the object toward the photo detecting means. The light deflecting means deflects the laser beam toward a measuring region and reflects the reflected laser beam from the object toward the mirror. The rotation driving means rotates the light deflecting means so as to direct the laser beam toward the measuring region.

Abstract: There is provided a laser radar apparatus including laser beam generating means, photo detecting means, a mirror assembly, light deflecting means, and rotation driving means. The laser beam generating means emits a laser beam having an axis thereof. The photo detecting means detects a reflected laser beam that is reflected back by an object. The mirror assembly includes a through-hole that transmits the laser beam and a reflecting surface that reflects a reflected laser beam reflected back by the object toward the photo detecting means. The light deflecting means has a flat mirror surface and a concave-shaped mirror surface, and reflects the laser beam toward a measurement range and deflects the reflected laser beam from the object toward the mirror assembly. The rotation driving means rotates the light deflecting means so as to direct the laser beam toward the measurement range.

Abstract: There is provided a laser radar apparatus including laser beam generating means, photo detecting means, a mirror assembly, light deflecting means, and rotation driving means. The laser beam generating means emits a laser beam having an axis thereof. The photo detecting means detects a reflected laser beam that is reflected back by an object. The mirror assembly includes a through-hole that transmits the laser beam and a reflecting surface that reflects a reflected laser beam reflected back by the object toward the photo detecting means. The light deflecting means has a flat mirror surface and a concave-shaped mirror surface, and reflects the laser beam toward a measurement range and deflects the reflected laser beam from the object toward the mirror assembly. The rotation driving means rotates the light deflecting means so as to direct the laser beam toward the measurement range.

Abstract: In a laser radar apparatus, a laser beam generator that generates a laser beam and an optical detector that detects reflected light that has been reflected by an object in a field to be observed. A deflection performing means, provided with one or more deflection means each rotatable on a given central axis thereof, for enabling the deflection means to deflect the laser beam to the field and to deflect the reflected light toward the optical detector. A drive means driven to rotate the deflection means. A direction changing means changes a direction of the laser beam from the deflection means is changed in a direction of the central axis. A control means controls an operation of the direction changing means.

Abstract: There is provided a laser radar including laser beam generating means, photo detecting means, a mirror, light deflecting means, and rotation driving means. The laser beam generating means emits a laser beam having an axis thereof. The photo detecting means detects a reflected laser beam that is reflected back by an object. The mirror includes a through-hole that passes the laser beam and a reflecting surface that reflects a reflected laser beam reflected back by the object toward the photo detecting means. The light deflecting means deflects the laser beam toward a measuring region and reflects the reflected laser beam from the object toward the mirror. The rotation driving means rotates the light deflecting means so as to direct the laser beam toward the measuring region.

Abstract: An information reader has blocks of bright field illuminating units illuminating an information code directly marked on an object with first lights to regularly reflect the lights on the code, blocks of dark field illuminating units illuminating the code with second lights to irregularly reflect the lights on the code, an optical system, and a control section lighting the blocks of bright and dark field illuminating units by turns or simultaneously. The optical system forms an image of the code from each of the first and second lights or a combination of the first and second lights reflected on the code and reads the code from the images. The first lights are transmitted along an optical axis of the optical system. The second lights are transmitted toward the optical axis while slightly shifted toward the code.

Abstract: In an apparatus for optically reading a graphic symbol composed of a plurality of optically identifiable unit sections of information, a first image pickup unit has a first photodetector and picks up a first optical image of the graphic symbol based on light detected by the first photodetector. A second image pickup unit has a second photodetector and configured to pick up a second optical image of the graphic symbol based on light detected by the second photodetector. A correcting unit corrects a light intensity level of at least one section of one of the first and second optical images based on a light intensity level of at least one section of the other of the first and second optical images. The at least one section corresponds to at least one of the unit sections of information of the graphic symbol.

Abstract: Two-dimensional code image is read with a two-dimensional CCD, and displayed on an LCD. Keys or a touch panel can input a message regarding the read image by hand. The read image and the message displayed on the LCD are stored in the EEPROM with relationship therebetween.

Abstract: An improved structure of an optical information code reader which is compact in size and may be manufactured at low costs. The code reader includes an optical mechanism disposed to define an optical path along which a return of light from an information code travels from a window formed in a reader body to an optical sensor. The optical mechanism including a plurality of reflecting mirrors arranged to reverse orientation of the optical path between the window and the optical sensor, thereby resulting in a decrease in length of the optical mechanism which allows the overall size of the code reader to be decreased. The reader body is so designed as to enable different types of optical units and different types of head covers to be mounted selectively, thereby allowing different types of code readers to be manufactured at low costs.

Abstract: Two-dimensional code image is read with a two-dimensional CCD, and displayed on an LCD. Keys or a touch panel can input a message regarding the read image by hand. The read image and the message displayed on the LCD are stored in the EEPROM with relationship therebetween.

Abstract: A 2-dimensional code reader includes a camera for scanning a surface which carries a 2-dimensional code thereon, an amplifier for amplifying electric signals fed from the camera, a device for identifying a code-region out of the scanned surface and a device for detecting information contained in the 2-dimensional code. The amplifying rate or gain is controlled according to a signal level representing a brightness of the identified code-region, not depending on a brightness of a whole scanned surface. The amplifier may includes an automatic gain controller which controls the amplifying rate according to the brightness of the whole scanned surface. In this case, the amplifying rate is adjusted based on an areal ratio of the code-region to the whole scanned surface area to obtain a clear image of the code, irrespective of the brightness of the scanned surface. Some symbol marks may be included in the 2-dimensional code in order to effectively identify the code-region on the scanned surface.