Abstract A cathode-ray tube for electro-optically reading a moving manuscript. The tube includes a long and thin strip of juxtaposed light-conducting fibers extending through its face with corresponding opposite ends of the fibers disposed internally and externally of the tube envelope. Internal ends of the fibers are coated with a light sensitive electron-emissive material which is surrounded by a layer of electroluminous material. A manuscript moved across the strip of light-conducting fibers externally of the tube is read by scanning the coating of electroluminous material along the length of the strip of fibers with an electron beam produced within the tube. Light from the luminous layer, in passing through the tube face, illuminates the manuscript along the outer face of the strip of light-conducting fibers and light reflected from the manuscript in amounts characterized by the subject matter to be read therefrom is transmitted back into the tube by the strip of light-conducting fibers. The light sensitive electron-emissive material at the innermost ends of the fibers emits a pattern of electrons corresponding to the pattern of intensities of light received thereby. These electrons are collected by a target within the tube and produce an electrical charge in the target which may be used as an electrical reading signal per se or converted into other forms of reading information.
An electro-optical manuscript reader comprising: a cathode-ray tube having a transparent face and means for causing a beam of electrons to scan across said face; a strip of juxtaposed light-conducting fibers extending through said face with corresponding opposite ends of the fibers respectively disposed inwardly and outwardly of the tube; a coating of electroluminous material on said face surrounding said inwardly disposed ends of said fibers, said luminous material being emissive to light for illuminating a manuscript moved across said outwardly disposed ends of said fibers when said luminous material is scanned by said electron beam; a coating of light-sensitive electron-emissive material on said inwardly disposed ends of said fibers, said last mentioned coating being emissive to electrons when illuminated by light reflected from said manuscript and rendered incident thereupon by transmittance through said fibers; and a target adjacent said coated ends of said fibers for receiving electrons emitted by said electron-emissive material for use as an electrical reading of said manuscript.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
An electro-optical manuscript reader comprising: a cathode-ray tube having a transparent face and means for causing a beam of electrons to scan across said face; a strip of juxtaposed light-conducting fibers extending through said face with corresponding opposite ends of the fibers respectively disposed inwardly and outwardly of the tube; a coating of electroluminous material on said face surrounding said inwardly disposed ends of said fibers, said luminous material being emissive to light for illuminating a manuscript moved across said outwardly disposed ends of said fibers when said luminous material is scanned by said electron beam; a coating of light-sensitive electron-emissive material on said inwardly disposed ends of said fibers, said last mentioned coating being emissive to electrons when illuminated by light reflected from said manuscript and rendered incident thereupon by transmittance through said fibers; and a target adjacent said coated ends of said fibers for receiving electrons emitted by said electron-emissive material for use as an electrical reading of said manuscript.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electro-optical manuscript reader according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said cathode-ray tube face surrounding said strip of light-conducting fibers is comprised of a multiplicity of other juxtaposed light-conducting fibers and said coating of electroluminous material is disposed on ends of said other fibers within said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electro-optical manuscript reader according to claim 2 wherein said other light-conducting fibers are each tapered with the largest ends thereof disposed inwardly of said tube and having said coating of electroluminous material thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electro-optical manuscript reader according to claim 1 wherein said strip of light-conducting fibers is annular in configuration.