Optical information reading apparatus

[54] OPTICAL INFORMATION READING APPARATUS

[75] Inventors: Takesi Matusima, Nagoya; Atutosi Okamoto, Chita, both of Japan

[73] Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd., Kariya, Japan

[21] Appl. No.: 28,646

[22] Filed: Mar. 18,1987

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Mar. 18, 1986 [JP] Japan 61-60376

Sep. 4, 1986 [JP] Japan 61-208783

[51] Int. CI.4 G06K 7/10

[52] U.S. CI 235/472; 235/454;

235/462

[58] Field of Search 235/454, 462, 472, 463

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,918,028 11/1975 Humphrey et al 235/472

4,210,802 7/1980 Sakai 235/472

4,408,120 10/1983 Hara et al 235/462

4,409,470 10/1983 Shepard et al 235/472

4,488,678 12/1984 Hara et al 235/463

4,516,017 5/1985 Hara et al 235/472

4,528,444 7/1985 Hara et al 235/462

4,538,060 8/1985 Sakai et al 235/472

4,603,262 7/1986 Eastman et al 235/472

4,694,182 9/1987 Howard 235/472

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

60-171581 9/1985 Japan .

Primary Examiner—A. D. Pellinen

Assistant Examiner—Jeffrey A. Gaffin

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Cushman, Darby & Cushman

[57] ABSTRACT

A handheld reader for reading optical information such as a bar code contains a reading sensor. An image of the optical information is imaged by light reflected from the optical information, via a reflecting mirror, a lens and a diaphram member, onto the reading sensor so that the image is converted into an electric signal. A pair of LEDs are disposed on both sides of the image sensor so that the images thereof are imaged near the optical information by light from the LEDs through the diaphram member, the lens and the reflecting mirror. The LEDs and reading sensor are controlled so that the LEDs are disabled from emitting light while the reading sensor performs the reading operation of the optical information. Instead of LEDs, optical fibers can be used.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets