Abstract: An optical code reading process and a reading stability determining process are performed while suppressing an increase in the cost of a transfer system and avoiding a decrease in work efficiency. CCD performs imaging. Processor reads a one-dimensional code contained in image data taken by CCD, and outputs a signal when a reading process in which the number of reading successes related to the one-dimensional code reaches a determination reference value is completed. In addition, processor determines reading stability during a period from the first reading success to completion of the reading process and outputs predictive maintenance information (PMI) representing a determination result of reading stability.

Abstract: An optical code reading process and a reading stability determining process are performed while suppressing an increase in the cost of a transfer system and avoiding a decrease in work efficiency. CMOS performs imaging. Processor reads an optical code contained in image data taken by CMOS and outputs a signal upon success of reading of the optical code. Further, processor calculates a first contrast at the time of teaching and a second contrast at the time of reading success, and determines reading stability based on a decrease rate of the second contrast with respect to the first contrast.

Abstract: An optical code reading process and a reading stability determining process are performed while suppressing an increase in the cost of a transfer system and avoiding a decrease in work efficiency. CMOS performs imaging. Processor reads an optical code contained in image data taken by CMOS and outputs a signal upon success of reading of the optical code. Further, processor calculates a first contrast at the time of teaching and a second contrast at the time of reading success, and determines reading stability based on a decrease rate of the second contrast with respect to the first contrast.

Abstract: An optical code reading process and a reading stability determining process are performed while suppressing an increase in the cost of a transfer system and avoiding a decrease in work efficiency. CCD performs imaging. Processor reads a one-dimensional code contained in image data taken by CCD, and outputs a signal when a reading process in which the number of reading successes related to the one-dimensional code reaches a determination reference value is completed. In addition, processor determines reading stability during a period from the first reading success to completion of the reading process and outputs predictive maintenance information (PMI) representing a determination result of reading stability.

Abstract: In an optical information reader controlled by this controller, a laser beam originating in light emitted by a laser diode is reflected by a scan mirror to scan optical information of a bar code or the like, reflected light therefrom is received by a photodiode to be converted to an electrical signal, and the optical information is read by processing the signal. In the controller, a main amp having a characteristic that a gain changes according to a frequency of an input signal amplifies the electrical signal, a detector detects an analog signal resulting from the amplification, and from a. detection output thereof, a MPU (on/off frequency control circuit) detects level of the analog signal and adjusts the gain of the main amp by changing an on/off frequency of the laser diode caused by an APC circuit (light emission on/off circuit), according to the detected level.

Abstract: In an optical information reader controlled by this controller, a laser beam originating in light emitted by a laser diode is reflected by a scan mirror to scan optical information of a bar code or the like, reflected light therefrom is received by a photodiode to be converted to an electrical signal, and the optical information is read by processing the signal. In the controller, a main amp having a characteristic that a gain changes according to a frequency of an input signal amplifies the electrical signal, a detector detects an analog signal resulting from the amplification, and from a. detection output thereof, a MPU (on/off frequency control circuit) detects level of the analog signal and adjusts the gain of the main amp by changing an on/off frequency of the laser diode caused by an APC circuit (light emission on/off circuit), according to the detected level.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an amplifier in a bar code reader are disclosed, wherein the method may include receiving light at a photodiode within the bar code reader from a bar code being scanned by a scan mirror powered by a scan motor; converting the received light into an initial electrical signal; determining whether the scan motor is undergoing a change in direction; establishing a gain value for the amplifier based on an outcome of the determining step; and amplifying the initial electrical signal into an amplified signal using the established gain value.

Abstract: A system and method for reading a bar code are disclosed which may include transmitting light pulsed at a selected frequency to illuminate the bar code; converting light received at the bar code reader from the bar code into an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal through a signal conditioning circuit to filter and amplify the electrical signal, to thereby provide a conditioned electrical signal; sampling the conditioned electrical signal at the selected frequency; removing energy due to light scattering within a housing of the bar code reader from the sampled, conditioned electrical signal; generating one of a logical “1” and a logical “0” output based on a value of the signal generated by the step of removing; and resolving output from the step of generating into data indicative of information on the bar code.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an amplifier in a bar code reader are disclosed, wherein the method may include receiving light at a photodiode within the bar code reader from a bar code being scanned by a scan mirror powered by a scan motor; converting the received light into an initial electrical signal; determining whether the scan motor is undergoing a change in direction; establishing a gain value for the amplifier based on an outcome of the determining step; and amplifying the initial electrical signal into an amplified signal using the established gain value.

Abstract: A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.

Abstract: A system and method for reading a bar code are disclosed which may include transmitting light pulsed at a selected frequency to illuminate the bar code; converting light received at the bar code reader from the bar code into an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal through a signal conditioning circuit to filter and amplify the electrical signal, to thereby provide a conditioned electrical signal; sampling the conditioned electrical signal at the selected frequency; removing energy due to light scattering within a housing of the bar code reader from the sampled, conditioned electrical signal; generating one of a logical “1” and a logical “0” output based on a value of the signal generated by the step of removing; and resolving output from the step of generating into data indicative of information on the bar code.

Abstract: A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.

Abstract: A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.

Abstract: A terminal device of an apparatus to automatically introduce a target celestial object includes an input operation section executing a command operation on the apparatus. An image display section indicates a star map image in accordance with a display scale factor. The input operation section includes a rotation command means that executes a rotational driving of the astronomical telescope in a telescope control mode. A scale factor input means executes an input specification of the display scale factor for the displayed star map image, which corresponds to a position on a celestial sphere toward which the astronomical telescope is headed, while a speed of rotation of the astronomical telescope controlled by the rotation command means changes in accordance with a decreasing function of the display scale factor.

Abstract: An automatic introduction apparatus for automatically introducing a target celestial object by controlling a rotation of an astronomical telescope around at least two axes comprises: an image-capturing means capable of capturing an image of a celestial object at a plurality of focal distances; a celestial object database; an image processing section for extracting a set of information of each celestial object from the image of celestial object captured by the image-capturing means; and a celestial object identification means for identifying the celestial object whose image has been captured, by comparing the information of each celestial object extracted by the image processing sections with the celestial object information stored in the celestial object database.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a program update apparatus which carry out an updating process automatically in a device built-in system (in particular, in a system for an apparatus that needs to be always operated), and makes the system free from freezing. A downloaded new operation program is stored in a storage area that is separated from a storage area in which a previous operation program that has been operated is stored. Then, the new operation program 24 is activated so that an execution application is operated on the new operation program 24. In the event of a failure in activating the new operation program, the previous operation program is reactivated so that the system is operated on the previous operation program 21. Moreover, in a state where the new operation program or the previous operation program is successfully activated, if the execution application is not activated, the setting required for the execution application is recovered by a recovering application.

Abstract: An automatic introduction apparatus for automatically introducing a target celestial object by controlling a rotation of an astronomical telescope around at least two axes comprises: an image-capturing means capable of capturing an image of a celestial object at a plurality of focal distances; a celestial object database; an image processing section for extracting a set of information of each celestial object from the image of celestial object captured by the image-capturing means; and a celestial object identification means for identifying the celestial object whose image has been captured, by comparing the information of each celestial object extracted by the image processing sections with the celestial object information stored in the celestial object database.

Abstract: A program control apparatus ensuring real time response by ensuring execution of a process exclusively without locking the system includes a unit responsive to an application program interface call from a thread which interface requesting start of detection of presence/absence of a context switching, for setting a flag indicating presence/absence of a context switching to a state corresponding to absence of a context switching, a unit for setting, after said flag is set to the state corresponding to absence of a context switching and a scheduler switches context, the flag to a state corresponding to presence of a context switching, and a unit responsive to an application program interface call from the thread, which interface requesting termination of detection of presence/absence of a context switching, returning a value corresponding to the state of the flag to the thread.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a program update apparatus which carry out an updating process automatically in a device built-in system (in particular, in a system for an apparatus that needs to be always operated), and makes the system free from freezing. A downloaded new operation program is stored in a storage area that is separated from a storage area in which a previous operation program that has been operated is stored. Then, the new operation program 24 is activated so that an execution application is operated on the new operation program 24. In the event of a failure in activating the new operation program, the previous operation program is reactivated so that the system is operated on the previous operation program 21. Moreover, in a state where the new operation program or the previous operation program is successfully activated, if the execution application is not activated, the setting required for the execution application is recovered by a recovering application.