Non-decoded type bar code reading apparatus

A bar code reading apparatus for optically reading a bar code to output as bar code information a digital signal indicating widths of successively alternately arranged bars and spaces of said bar code with its high-level durations and low-level separations to a decoder for decoding said digital signal indicative of said bar code information, said apparatus comprising:

• a hand-operable housing;
• producing means for producing an image of said bar code within said housing;
• sensor means encased in said housing and equipped with a plurality of picture elements one-dimensionally arranged, for converting said image of said bar code into an electric signal at every picture element and for successively outputting said electric signals corresponding to said bar code;
• signal processing means provided in said housing for smoothing said electric signal output from said sensor means at every picture element and for converting said electric signals into a digital signal, said digital signal having alternate high-level portions and low-level portions, said portions having time periods corresponding to said widths of said bars and spaces of said bar code;
• width data producing means encased in said housing and responsive to said digital signal from said signal processing means, for producing a plurality of width data indicating said widths of said bars and spaces of said bar code on the basis of said high-level time periods and low-level time periods of said digital signal from said signal processing means;
• memory means encased in said housing for successively storing said plurality of width data produced by said width data producing means;
• classifying means encased in said housing for classifying said plurality of width data stored in said memory means into a plurality of groups;
• correction means encased in said housing for correcting said plurality of width data so as to narrow scattering of said width data in each of said groups classified by said classifying means and for outputting corrected width data;
• digital signal reproducing means encased in said housing for reproducing a digital signal having alternate high-level portions and low-level portions, said portions having time periods corresponding to said corrected width data output by said correction means;
• and
• signal outputting means encased in said housing for outputting said digital signal reproduced by said reproducing means to decoder located external to said housing.