Optical code generating apparatus

Claim 2

Optical code generating apparatus, comprising: a plurality of optically separate light conductive means for conducting light; each of said light conductive means having at least one input location at which light may enter and at least one output location at which light may exit therefrom; at least one movable light source input member carrying a coded array of light emitting source areas and mounted for movement into an active position in which said coded array of light emitting source areas illuminates the input locations of selected ones of said light conductive means; and at least one light responsive electric signal producing means for each said light conductive means and positioned to receive light from each said light conductive means at said output location thereon for producing an electric signal indicative of the illuminated condition thereof in response to illumination thereof by a said light emitting source area carried by said movable member.

Claim 3

Optical code generating apparatus, comprising: a plurality of light conductive means for conducting light, said light conductive means each having at least one first location at which light may enter said light conductive means and at least one second location at which light may exit therefrom; spacing means for maintaining said light conductive means in a spaced relationship to one another; at least one movable member mounted for translation between active and inactive controlled positions and intersecting a portion of a plane of each of said plural light conductive means at a said first location thereon; said movable member having a plurality of illuminating source areas for emitting light into selected ones of said plural light conductive means at said first location thereon, said source areas being located in a spaced relationship to one another, said spaced relationship of said illuminating source areas matching said spaced relationship of selected ones of said plural light conductive means to produce alignment between said illuminating source areas and a selected array of said light conductive means whenever said movable member is translated from said inactive controlled position to said active controlled position; and light responsive electrical signal producing means positioned with each of said plural light conductive means at said second location thereon for producing electrical signals indicative of the illuminated condition of each of said light conductive means in response to light from said illuminating source areas when said areas are carried into said first location by said movable member being moved to said active controlled position.

Claim 4

Optical code generating apparatus, comprising: a plurality of light conductive means for conducting light, said light conductive means each having at least one first location at which light may enter said light conductive means and at least one second location at which light may exit therefrom; spacing means for maintaining said light conductive means in a spaced relationship to one another; at least one movable member mounted for translation between active and inactive controlled positions and intersecting a portion of a plane of each of said plural light conductive means at a said first location thereon; said movable member having a plurality of illuminating source areas for emitting light into selected ones of said plural light conductive means at said first location thereon, said source areas being located in a spaced relationship to one another, said spaced relationship of said illuminating source areas matching said spaced relationship of selected ones of said plural light conductive means to produce alignment between said illuminating source areas and a selected array of said light conductive means whenever said movable member is translated from said inactive controlled position to said active controlled position; and light responsive electrical signal producing means positioned with each of said plural light conductive means at said second location thereon for producing electrical signals indicative of the illuminated condition of each of said light conductive means in response to light from said illuminating source areas when said areas are carried into said first location by said movable member being moved to said active controlled position.

Claim 5

A movable member as described in claim 2, wherein: said member is composed principally of a light conductive material which emits light from its surfaces in addition to conducting the light when ever said member is illuminated by a source of light; and said light emissive surfaces of said member have selected areas thereof made opaque to the transmission of light to form a coded array of separate light emissive source areas on said member.

Claim 6

A movable member as described in claim 2, wherein: said movable member is composed of material capable of carryinG light emissive illuminating sources; and said light emissive sources are electroluminent devices disposed in a coded array and provided with a source of electric current and carried by said member.

Claim 7

Optical code generating apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein: said spacing means comprises a layer of opaque material interposed between successive ones of said light conductive means; and said light conductive means comprises layers of light conductive material.

Claim 8

Optical code generating apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein: said movable member is composed principally of a light conductive material which emits light from its surfaces in addition to conducting the light, whenever said member is illuminated by said source of light; and said light emissive surfaces of said member have selected areas thereof made opaque to the transmission of light to form a coded array of separate light emissive areas on said member.

Claim 9

Optical code generating apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein: said movable member is composed of material capable of carrying light emissive illuminating sources; and said light emissive illuminating sources are electroluminent devices disposed in a coded array and provided with a source of electric current and carried by said movable member.

Claim 10

Optical code generating apparatus, comprising: n+ 1 sheets of light conductive material where n is the number of elements required in a code format, each of said sheets of light conductive material having at least one aperture at a first location thereon at which light may enter and at least one second location at which light may exit therefrom; spacing means for maintaining said sheets in a spaced relationship to one another; at least one movable illuminating member composed of light conductive and emissive material and having selected areas of its surface made opaque to light and being mounted for movement between an active and an inactive controlled position and intersecting a portion of the plane of each of said sheets of light conductive material, said selected areas of the surface of said movable illuminating member which are made opaque to light being chosen to leave a spaced array of light emissive areas on said surface; a source of light for illuminating a portion of said movable illuminating member; said spaced relationship of said light emissive areas matching said spaced relationship of selected ones of said sheets of light conductive material so that each of said light emissive areas will be brought into co-planar alignment with a portion of a plane of an individual sheet of said sheets of light conductive material when said movable illuminating member is moved from said inactive controlled position to said active controlled position; and a light responsive electric signal generator positioned at said second location on each of said sheets of light conductive material for producing electrical signals indicative of the illuminated condition of said sheets of conductive material produced by light from said emissive areas of said movable illuminating member when said emissive areas are carried into said apertures at said first locations on said sheets of light conductive material by said movable illuminating member being moved to said active controlled position.

Claim 11

Optical code generating apparatus, comprising: n+ 1 sheets of light conductive material where n is the number of elements required in a code format, each of said sheets of light conductive material having at least one aperture at a first location thereon at which light may enter and at least one second location at which light may exit therefrom; spacing means for maintaining said sheets in a spaced relationship to one another; at least one movable illuminating member composed of light conductive and emissive material and having selected areas of its surface made opaque to light and being mounted for movement between an active and an inactive controlled position and intersecting a portion of the plane of each of said sheets of light conductive material, said selected areas of the surface of said movable illuminating member which are made opaque to light being chosen to leave a spaced array of light emissive areas on said surface; a source of light for illuminating a portion of said movable illuminating member; said spaced relationship of said light emissive areas matching said spaced relationship of selected ones of said sheets of light conductive material so that each of said light emissive areas will be brought into co-planar alignment with a portion of a plane of an individual sheet of said sheets of light conductive material when said movable illuminating member is moved from said inactive controlled position to said active controlled position; and a light responsive electric signal generator positioned at said second location on each of said sheets of light conductive material for producing electrical signals indicative of the illuminated condition of said sheets of conductive material produced by light from said emissive areas of said movable illuminating member when said emissive areas are carried into said apertures at said first locations on said sheets of light conductive material by said movable illuminating member being moved to said active controlled position.

Claim 12

Optical code generating apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein: each of said sheets of light conductive material is optically isolated from each adjacent such sheet by an opaque barrier layer of material; and said opaque barrier layer serves as said spacing means between said sheets.

Claim 13

Optical code generating apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein: said movable member is composed of material capable of carrying light emissive illuminating sources; and said light emissive illuminating sources are electroluminent devices disposed in a coded array and provided with a source of electric current and cArried by said movable member.