Optical data sensing system

Claim 1

An apparatus for detecting data from a record member bearing coded data comprising: a probe having a reading end adapted to contact the record member and be scribed across the coded data; a light source; a lens means within said probe and having an optical axis; a first bundle of optic fibers having one end of said bundle operatively connected to said light source and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; transducer means; a second bundle of optic fibers having one end operatively connected to said transducer means and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; said ends of said first and second bundles of optic fibers terminating within said probe being located in a common plane which is perpendicular to said optical axis; a coupling member securing the ends of said first and second bundles of optic fibers in said common plane, said coupling member having means cooperating with said probe so as to adjustably position said common plane along said optical axis; said lens means being positioned along said optical axis between said common plane and said reading end; light from said source passing through said first bundle of fibers, through said lens means and out of said reading end to said record member, and light reflected from said record member passing through said reading end and through said lens means to said second bundle of fibers at said common plane and to said transducer where the light from said record member is converted to electrical signals corresponding to the coded data on the record member as said reading end traverses said record member.

Claim 2

An apparatus for detecting data from a record member bearing coded data comprising: a probe having a reading end adapted to contact the record member and be scribed across the coded data; a light source; a lens means within said probe and having an optical axis; a first bundle of optic fibers having one end of said bundle operatively connected to said light source and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; transducer means; a second bundle of optic fibers having one end operatively connected to said transducer means and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; said ends of said first and second bundles of optic fibers terminating within said probe being located in a common plane which is perpendicular to said optical axis; a coupling member securing the ends of said first and second bundles of optic fibers in said common plane, said coupling member having means cooperating with said probe so as to adjustably position said common plane along said optical axis; said lens means being positioned along said optical axis between said common plane and said reading end; light from said source passing through said first bundle of fibers, through said lens means and out of said reading end to said record member, and light reflected from said record member passing through said reading end and through said lens means to said second bundle of fibers at said common plane and to said transducer where the light from said record member is converted to electrical signals corresponding to the coded data on the record member as said reading end traverses said record member.

Claim 4

An apparatus for detecting data from a record member bearing coded data comprising: a probe having an optical axis and a reading end adapted to contact the record member; a light source; a first bundle of optic fibers having one end of said bundle operatively connected to said light source and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; transducer means; a second bundle of optic fibers having one end operatively connected to said transducer means and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; said ends of said first and second bundles of fibers terminating within said probe being located in a common plane which is perpendicular to said axis; a coupling member securing the ends of said first and second bundles of optic fibers in said common plane, said coupling member having means cooperating with said probe so as to adjustably position said common plane along the optical axis of said probe; a single lens positioned along said optical axis in said probe between said reading end and said common plane; light from said source passing through said first bundle of fibers, through said lens and out of said reading end to said record member, and light reflected from said record member passing through said reading end, and through said lens to said second bundle of fibers at said common plane and to said transducer means where the light reflected from said record member is converted into electrical signals corresponding to the coded data on the record member as said probe traverses said record member; and information processing means for decoding and checking on the validity of said signals from said transducer means; said coded data including a first recognition code at one end and a second recognition code at the opposite end and coded data bits therebetween with a fixed number of data bits of binary ones and zeros representing a character of the data on the record member; said information processing means comprising: code recognition circuit means; logic circuit means; shift register means; and error checking means; said code recognition circuit means being adapted to identify said first and second codes, and to cooperate with said logic circuit means so as to store the data bits in said shift register means in exactly the same relative sequence regardless of the particular direction in which said record member is traversed by said probe; and said error checking means to receive the data bits from said shift register means and including binary counter means for counting the bInary ones and zeros making up the fixed number of data bits of each character of the data and for producing an error signal when the fixed number of data bits is not present for each character of said coded data.

Claim 5

An apparatus for detecting data from a record member bearing coded data comprising: a probe having an optical axis and a reading end adapted to contact the record member; a light source; a first bundle of optic fibers having one end of said bundle operatively connected to said light source and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; transducer means; a second bundle of optic fibers having one end operatively connected to said transducer means and the remaining end thereof terminating in said probe; said ends of said first and second bundles of fibers terminating within said probe being located in a common plane which is perpendicular to said axis; a coupling member securing the ends of said first and second bundles of optic fibers in said common plane, said coupling member having means cooperating with said probe so as to adjustably position said common plane along the optical axis of said probe; a single lens positioned along said optical axis in said probe between said reading end and said common plane; light from said source passing through said first bundle of fibers, through said lens and out of said reading end to said record member, and light reflected from said record member passing through said reading end, and through said lens to said second bundle of fibers at said common plane and to said transducer means where the light reflected from said record member is converted into electrical signals corresponding to the coded data on the record member as said probe traverses said record member; and information processing means for decoding and checking on the validity of said signals from said transducer means; said coded data including a first recognition code at one end and a second recognition code at the opposite end and coded data bits therebetween with a fixed number of data bits of binary ones and zeros representing a character of the data on the record member; said information processing means comprising: code recognition circuit means; logic circuit means; shift register means; and error checking means; said code recognition circuit means being adapted to identify said first and second codes, and to cooperate with said logic circuit means so as to store the data bits in said shift register means in exactly the same relative sequence regardless of the particular direction in which said record member is traversed by said probe; and said error checking means to receive the data bits from said shift register means and including binary counter means for counting the bInary ones and zeros making up the fixed number of data bits of each character of the data and for producing an error signal when the fixed number of data bits is not present for each character of said coded data.