US3622758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article labeling and identification system
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1970-11-09
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1990-11-09
Abstract
Abstract Binary coded designator labels are affixed to articles to identify them. The articles are optically scanned to detect the binary codes on the labels and the binary codes are decoded to provide automatic reading and recognition of the articles. Circuits are included for discriminating against signals produced in response to dirt or defects in the optically scanned surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph F Schanne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G06K7/01; G06K7/016; G06K7/0166; G06K7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for classifying articles comprising, in combination: means providing a plurality of coded designators with each one of said designators affixed to a corresponding article, said coded designators each exhibiting a plurality of information cells of first and second light-reflecting properties with the occurrence of transitions between said properties of a designator defining a binary number; means for deriving from each of said coded designators a readback signal which includes first and second levels corresponding to said first and second properties, respectively; and means for detecting transitions between said first and second levels to provide the binary number defined by said transitions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for classifying articles comprising, in combination: means providing a plurality of coded designators with each one of said designators affixed to a corresponding article, said coded designators each exhibiting a plurality of information cells of first and second light-reflecting properties with the occurrence of transitions between said properties of a designator defining a binary number; means for deriving from each of said coded designators a readback signal which includes first and second levels corresponding to said first and second properties, respectively; and means for detecting transitions between said first and second levels to provide the binary number defined by said transitions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for deriving a readback signal comprises a scanner for optically scanning said coded designators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said scanner comprises a laser beam source, and means for projecting said laser beam transversely across said designators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said information cells on said designators comprise a plurality of pairs of concentric annular rings with one annular ring of each pair exhibiting said first light-reflecting property and the other annular ring exhibiting said second light-reflecting property.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said transition detector comprises a slope detector for detecting positive and negative going slopes between said first and second levels in said readback signals.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for classifying articles comprising, in combination: means providing a plurality of coded designators with each one of said designators affixed to a corresponding article; said coded designators each exhibiting a plurality of information cells of first and second light-reflecting properties with the occurrence of transitions between said properties of a designator defining a binary number of a plurality of bits; said information cells on said designators including a plurality of paired couplets oF concentric annular rings with one annular ring of each couplet exhibiting said first light-reflecting property and the other annular ring exhibiting said second light-reflecting property; an optical scanner including a laser beam source; means for projecting said laser beam transversely across said designators, for deriving from each of said coded designators a readback signal which includes first and second levels corresponding to said first and second properties, respectively; a slope detector for detecting transitions between said first and second levels by detecting positive and negative going slopes to provide said binary number, said transition detector detecting extraneous slopes that correspond to the boundaries of said couplets when adjacent couplets repeat the same binary bit; and a valid slope separation circuit that is coupled to suppress output signals from said slope detector that correspond to said extraneous slopes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
212 words
A system for classifying articles comprising, in combination: means providing a plurality of coded designators with each one of said designators affixed to a corresponding article; said coded designators each exhibiting a plurality of information cells of first and second light-reflecting properties with the occurrence of transitions between said properties of a designator defining a binary number of a plurality of bits; said information cells on said designators including a plurality of paired couplets oF concentric annular rings with one annular ring of each couplet exhibiting said first light-reflecting property and the other annular ring exhibiting said second light-reflecting property; an optical scanner including a laser beam source; means for projecting said laser beam transversely across said designators, for deriving from each of said coded designators a readback signal which includes first and second levels corresponding to said first and second properties, respectively; a slope detector for detecting transitions between said first and second levels by detecting positive and negative going slopes to provide said binary number, said transition detector detecting extraneous slopes that correspond to the boundaries of said couplets when adjacent couplets repeat the same binary bit; and a valid slope separation circuit that is coupled to suppress output signals from said slope detector that correspond to said extraneous slopes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
The combination comprising: an article designator including a plurality of pairs of concentric annular rings with one ring of each pair exhibiting a first light reflectance and the other ring of each pair exhibiting a second light reflectance with a transition from said first to said second reflectance defining one binary digit and a transition from said second reflectance to said first reflectance defining the complementary binary digit; means for scanning said article designators to provide a readback signal including transitions in amplitude corresponding to said transitions in light reflectances; and means for detecting said transitions to ascertain the binary digits represented by said transitions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
The combination comprising: an article designator including a plurality of pairs of concentric annular rings with one ring of each pair exhibiting a first light reflectance and the other ring of each pair exhibiting a second light reflectance with a transition from said first to said second reflectance defining one binary digit and a transition from said second reflectance to said first reflectance defining the complementary binary digit; means for scanning said article designators to provide a readback signal including transitions in amplitude corresponding to said transitions in light reflectances; and means for detecting said transitions to ascertain the binary digits represented by said transitions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a system for classifying an article, in combination: a designator affixed to each article, said designator having a plurality of pairs of concentric rings exhibiting first and second light-reflecting properties; means for scanning said designator to produce a readback signal exhibiting transitions to and from first and second levels of amplitude corresponding to the transitions between said first and second light-reflecting properties; and a transition detector coupled to said scanner to detect said transitions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a system for classifying an article, in combination: a designator affixed to each article, said designator having a plurality of pairs of concentric rings exhibiting first and second light-reflecting properties; means for scanning said designator to produce a readback signal exhibiting transitions to and from first and second levels of amplitude corresponding to the transitions between said first and second light-reflecting properties; and a transition detector coupled to said scanner to detect said transitions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a system in which articles are identified by binary coded designators affixed thereto, in combination: means for scanning an article for reading from the designator the binary code recorded therein, said code comprising sequential signals representing binary digits; a register to which said signals are applied for storing the binary code read from a designator; and means responsive to a signal due to noise read by said scanning means for resetting said register.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a system in which articles are identified by binary coded designators affixed thereto, in combination: means for scanning an article for reading from the designator the binary code recorded therein, said code comprising sequential signals representing binary digits; a register to which said signals are applied for storing the binary code read from a designator; and means responsive to a signal due to noise read by said scanning means for resetting said register.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a system as set forth in claim 9 said last named means comprising means for sensing the time interval between two successive signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a system as set forth in claim 9, said means for scanning producing, when scanning a designator, sequential signals spaced not greater than a given time interval apart and said last-named means comprising means responsive to a first signal which is not followed by a second signal within said given interval of time for resetting said register.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a system as set forth in claim 9, said designators each comprising a plurality of adjacent, relatively light and relatively dark marks, and said means for scanning comprising means for scanning a beam of light over each designator and means responsive to the light reflected therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a system as set forth in claim 9, the light and dark marks of each designator comprising lines, one within the other, defining at least portions of concentric circles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |