Self-timing encoded tag reader

Claim 1

Apparatus for reading a tag having photosensible markreceiving positions arranged in at least one circular pattern symmetrically relative to an aligner formed on the tag, said apparatus comprising: a support, means mounted on said support and cooperable with said aligner for properly locating a tag in a read position, sensing means rotatably mounted to said support in photosensing relationship to the circular pattern of a tag located at said read position for sequentially photosensing the mark-receiving positions of said pattern, unitary clock signal generating means, including a clock member rotatably mounted on said support for rotation in synchronism with said sensing means for generating clock signals at a rate constituting a specified multiple of the rate at which said mark-receiving positions are sequentially photosensed by said sensing means, common drive means for concurrently initiating rotation of, and synchronously rotating, said sensing means and said clock member for causing said clock member of said unitary clock signal generating means to continuously generate clock signals throughout said entire sequential photosensing beginning with initiation of rotation of said clock member, and sampling means responsive to said clock signals and a single sensing of start mark information located in said circular scan path on said tag for producing sampling signals in synchronism with only selected one of said clock signals.

Claim 5

The method of generating sampling signals in synchronism with the sequential photosensing of circularly arranged mark-receiving positions located on a tag to facilitate sampling of signals produced when the marks are sensed by a reader having a transducer movable relative to a tag which is properly located at a read station by alignment means associated therewith, comprising the steps of: rotating in a circular path a scanning transducer arranged in photosensing relationship to said mark-receiving positions of a tag to thereby sequentially sense marks in said mark-receiving positions, rotating a clock member in synchronism with said scanning transducer and in response thereto continuously generating clock signals during said entire sequential sensing at a rate constituting a specified multiple of the rate at which said mark-receiving positions are sequentially photosensed by said sensing means, generating, in response to said clock signals and a single sensing of start mark information on said tag located in said circular scan path, sampling signals in synchronism with only selected ones of said clock signals and processing said sampling signals an the output of said scanning transducer to provide samples of said transducer output which are in synchronism with the rotational movement of said scanning transducer relative to said circularly arranged mark-receiving positions on said tag.

Claim 6

The method of generating sampling signals in synchronism with the sequential photosensing of circularly arranged mark-receiving positions located on a tag to facilitate sampling of signals produced when the marks are sensed by a reader having a transducer movable relative to a tag which is properly located at a read station by alignment means associated therewith, comprising the steps of: rotating in a circular path a scanning transducer arranged in photosensing relationship to said mark-receiving positions of a tag to thereby sequentially sense marks in said mark-receiving positions, rotating a clock member in synchronism with said scanning transducer and in response thereto continuously generating clock signals during said entire sequential sensing at a rate constituting a specified multiple of the rate at which said mark-receiving positions are sequentially photosensed by said sensing means, generating, in response to said clock signals and a single sensing of start mark information on said tag located in said circular scan path, sampling signals in synchronism with only selected ones of said clock signals and processing said sampling signals an the output of said scanning transducer to provide samples of said transducer output which are in synchronism with the rotational movement of said scanning transducer relative to said circularly arranged mark-receiving positions on said tag.

Claim 7

The method of generating sampling signals in synchronism with the sequential photosensing of circularly arranged mark-receiving positions located on a tag to facilitate sampling of signals produced when the marks are sensed by a reader having a transducer movable relative to a tag which is properly located at a read station by alignment means associated therewith, comprising the steps of: initiating rotation, and continuously rotating, in a circular path, a scanning transducer arranged in photosensing relationship to said mark-receiving positions of a tag to thereby sequentially sensed marks in said mark-receiving positions, initiating rotation, and continuously rotating, a clock member in synchronism with said initiation of rotation, and continuous rotation of, said scanning transducer and in response thereto initiating and continuously generating clock signals during said entire sequential sensing, starting with said initiation of rotation of said transducer and clock member, at a rate constituting a specified multiple of the rate at which said mark-receiving positions are sequentially photosensed by said sensing means, generating, in response to Said clock signals and a single sensing of start mark information on said tag located in said circular scan path, sampling signals in synchronism with only selected ones of said clock signals and processing said sampling signals and the output of said scanning transducer to provide samples of said transducer output which are in synchronism with the rotational movement of said scanning transducer relative to said circularly arranged mark-receiving positions on said tag.

Claim 8

The method of generating sampling signals in synchronism with the sequential photosensing of circularly arranged mark-receiving positions located on a tag to facilitate sampling of signals produced when the marks are sensed by a reader having a transducer movable relative to a tag which is properly located at a read station by alignment means associated therewith, comprising the steps of: initiating rotation, and continuously rotating, in a circular path, a scanning transducer arranged in photosensing relationship to said mark-receiving positions of a tag to thereby sequentially sensed marks in said mark-receiving positions, initiating rotation, and continuously rotating, a clock member in synchronism with said initiation of rotation, and continuous rotation of, said scanning transducer and in response thereto initiating and continuously generating clock signals during said entire sequential sensing, starting with said initiation of rotation of said transducer and clock member, at a rate constituting a specified multiple of the rate at which said mark-receiving positions are sequentially photosensed by said sensing means, generating, in response to Said clock signals and a single sensing of start mark information on said tag located in said circular scan path, sampling signals in synchronism with only selected ones of said clock signals and processing said sampling signals and the output of said scanning transducer to provide samples of said transducer output which are in synchronism with the rotational movement of said scanning transducer relative to said circularly arranged mark-receiving positions on said tag.