Reader, program, and unit

Abstract

A reader includes a smartphone configured to read information from an image of a symbol included in a photographed image created by a camera module, and a unit attached to the smartphone. The unit includes a semiconductor laser to display a marker in a photographing range of the camera module. A user simply adjusts the orientation of the reader so that the marker overlaps on the symbol for reading processing of the smartphone, whereby information can be read from the symbol.

1 . A reader, comprising:
 a computer configured to analyze an image created by a camera module and read information from a symbol included in the image; and   a unit including a light source to display a marker indicating a range photographed by the camera module,   the unit being separate from the computer.   
     
     
         2 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the computer is a mobile terminal, and   the unit is externally attached to the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the unit includes the camera module, and   the unit transmits the image to the computer.   
     
     
         4 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the marker includes
 a range marker indicating a readable range of the symbol by the computer, and 
 a linear marker laterally extending in the range marker. 
   
     
     
         5 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the marker includes
 a range marker indicating a readable range of the symbol by the computer, and 
 a center marker indicating a center of the range marker. 
   
     
     
         6 . The reader according to  claim 4 , wherein the computer includes
 an acquisition unit configured to acquire the image from the camera module,   a detection unit configured to detect the linear marker included in the acquired image, and   a decoding unit configured to perform decoding of pixels at the detected linear marker.   
     
     
         7 . The reader according to  claim 4 , wherein the computer includes
 an acquisition unit configured to acquire the image from the camera module,   a detection unit configured to detect the range marker included in the acquired image, and   a decoding unit configured to perform decoding of pixels in the detected range marker.   
     
     
         8 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the camera module includes a focus adjustable lens, and   the computer includes
 a memory unit configured to store a correspondence between distance information indicating reading distances for the symbol and focusing positions of the lens, 
 an input unit configured to encourage a user to input the distance information, and 
 a setting unit configured to find a focusing position of the lens corresponding to the input distance information based on the correspondence and configure the camera module to move the lens to the focusing position. 
   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium with a program that makes the computer of the reader according to  claim 1  execute
 acquiring the image from the camera module, 
 detecting an image of the marker from the acquired image, and 
 when detecting an image of the marker, reading information from the symbol. 
 
     
     
         10 . A unit configured to operate with a computer configured to read information from a symbol included in an image created by a camera module, the unit comprising
 a light source configured to output a marker indicating a range photographed by the camera module.   
     
     
         11 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the photographing range by the camera module is set based on an image in which the marker is displayed.   
     
     
         12 . The reader according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the marker has a line shape.   
     
     
         13 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the marker includes a range marker indicating a specific range, the specific range being in the photographing range by the camera module, and   the computer is further configured to analyze only an image in the specific range and to omit analyzing an image other than the specific range.   
     
     
         14 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the marker has a line shape, and   the computer is further configured to analyze only an image of a part displayed the marker and to omit analyzing an image other than the part.   
     
     
         15 . The reader according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the camera module includes a focus adjustable lens, and   the computer is configured to move the lens to the focusing position corresponding to a reading distances for the symbol based on a user's input or the marker.