US3689898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Information processing system
Assignee: Servo Corp of America
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Filing: 1971-04-29
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1991-04-29
Abstract
Abstract An information processing system in which data is encoded in labels having an array of stripes arranged in a plurality of selected stripe-pair code combinations; the first stripe of each pair being an orange, blue or white retroreflective stripe and the second stripe of each pair being an orange, blue, or white retroreflective stripe or a black non-retroreflective stripe. The stripes are scanned by a beam of light and the reflected light from the retroreflective stripes is employed to generate pulse signals representative of the data encoded in the label. The pulse signals generated by the scanning of the first stripe of a stripe-pair are stored in a first set of flip-flops and the pulse signals, if any, generated by the scanning of second stripe of a stripe-pair are stored in a second set of flip-flops. To load the pulse signals corresponding to the first stripe of a stripe-pair, a control signal to the first set of flip-flops, for enabling the pulse signals to be loaded therein, is produced by first loading circuitry in response to the leading edge of a pulse signal as the stripe-pair is scanned. To load the pulse signals corresponding to the second stripe of a stripe-pair, a control signal to the second set of flip-flops, for enabling the pulse signals to be loaded therein, is produced by second loading circuitry only if the pulse signals occur a predetermined period after the leading edge of a pulse signal derived from the first stripe of a strip-pair. The predetermined period (15 microseconds) is equal to the maximum width of a pulse signal generated by a single stripe, and therefore causes pulse signals generated by the scanning of the second stripe of a stripe-pair to be loaded into the second set of flip-flops. The second loading circuitry includes a first difference circuit to which the various pulse signals are applied. The pulse signals are also delayed by 15 microseconds and applied to the first difference circuit. The output of the first difference circuit is the difference between the pulse signals and the delayed pulse signals. The pulse signals and the output of the first difference circuit are applied to a second difference circuit. Thus, the second difference circuit produces an output pulse during the period the second stripe of a stripe-pair is being scanned, but only if the second stripe is reflective. This output pulse is coupled to the second set of flip-flops for causing pulse signals generated by scanning of the second stripe to be loaded therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis H Stites
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
415 words
A system for processing information relating to an object comprising a plurality of code elements associated with the object and arranged in a predetermined coded pattern to represent information relating to the object, said plurality of code elements being arranged in pairs, some of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element not capable of being sensed and others of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element also capable of being sensEd; information sensing means for sensing in succession the information encoded in the plurality of code elements and operable in response to sensing the information encoded in the code elements to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element of a pair of elements having a second element which is not capable of being sensed, and operable to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element and a second pulse signal in response to sensing the second element of a pair of elements having a second element which is capable of being sensed; first gating circuit means operable in response to said first pulse signal to produce a corresponding first gating signal within the period of occurrence of the first pulse signal; second gating circuit means operable to receive pulse signals from said information sensing means, said second gating circuit means being operable to delete the portion of the pulse signals occurring during the period after the leading edge of said first pulse signal for a duration equal to the predetermined maximum allowable duration of said first pulse signal, and being operable in response to the presence of a remaining portion of the pulse signals after deleting said firstmentioned portion to produce a second gating signal during the remaining portion of the pulse signals; first data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the first gating circuit means, said first data storage means being operable to store data represented by the first pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said first gating signal from said first gating circuit means; and second data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the second gating circuit means, said second data storage means being operable to store data represented by the second pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said second gating signal from said second gating circuit means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
415 words
A system for processing information relating to an object comprising a plurality of code elements associated with the object and arranged in a predetermined coded pattern to represent information relating to the object, said plurality of code elements being arranged in pairs, some of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element not capable of being sensed and others of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element also capable of being sensEd; information sensing means for sensing in succession the information encoded in the plurality of code elements and operable in response to sensing the information encoded in the code elements to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element of a pair of elements having a second element which is not capable of being sensed, and operable to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element and a second pulse signal in response to sensing the second element of a pair of elements having a second element which is capable of being sensed; first gating circuit means operable in response to said first pulse signal to produce a corresponding first gating signal within the period of occurrence of the first pulse signal; second gating circuit means operable to receive pulse signals from said information sensing means, said second gating circuit means being operable to delete the portion of the pulse signals occurring during the period after the leading edge of said first pulse signal for a duration equal to the predetermined maximum allowable duration of said first pulse signal, and being operable in response to the presence of a remaining portion of the pulse signals after deleting said firstmentioned portion to produce a second gating signal during the remaining portion of the pulse signals; first data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the first gating circuit means, said first data storage means being operable to store data represented by the first pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said first gating signal from said first gating circuit means; and second data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the second gating circuit means, said second data storage means being operable to store data represented by the second pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said second gating signal from said second gating circuit means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
419 words
A system for processing information relating to an object comprising a plurality of code elements associated with the object and arranged in a predetermined coded pattern to represent information relating to the object, said plurality of code elements being arranged in pairs, some of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element not capable of being sensed and others of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element also capable of being sensed; information sensing means for sensing in succession the information encoded in the plurality of code elements and operable in response to sensing the information encoded in the code elements to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element of a pair of elements having a second element which is not capable of being sensed, and operable to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element and a second pulse signal in response to sensing the second element of a pair of elements having a second element which is capable of being sensed; first gating circuit means operable in response to said first pulse signal to produce a corresponding first gating signal within the period of occurrence of the first pulse signal; second gating circuit means operable to receive pulse signals from said information sensing means including means operable to produce pulse signals delayed for a duration equal to the maximum allowable duration of said first pulse signal, first subtraction means operable to subtract the delayed pulse signals from the pulse signals thereby providing an output pulse coinciding with the first pulse signal, and second subtraction means operable to subtract the output pulse of the first subtraction means from the pulse signals thereby to produce a second gating signal only during the occurrence of said second pulse signal; first data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the first gating circuit means, said first data storage means being operable to store data represented by the first pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said first gating signal from said first gating circuit means; and second data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the second gating circuit means, said second data storage means being operable to store data represented by the second pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said second gating signal from said second gating circuit means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
419 words
A system for processing information relating to an object comprising a plurality of code elements associated with the object and arranged in a predetermined coded pattern to represent information relating to the object, said plurality of code elements being arranged in pairs, some of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element not capable of being sensed and others of the pairs of code elements including a first element capable of being sensed and a second element also capable of being sensed; information sensing means for sensing in succession the information encoded in the plurality of code elements and operable in response to sensing the information encoded in the code elements to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element of a pair of elements having a second element which is not capable of being sensed, and operable to produce a first pulse signal in response to sensing the first element and a second pulse signal in response to sensing the second element of a pair of elements having a second element which is capable of being sensed; first gating circuit means operable in response to said first pulse signal to produce a corresponding first gating signal within the period of occurrence of the first pulse signal; second gating circuit means operable to receive pulse signals from said information sensing means including means operable to produce pulse signals delayed for a duration equal to the maximum allowable duration of said first pulse signal, first subtraction means operable to subtract the delayed pulse signals from the pulse signals thereby providing an output pulse coinciding with the first pulse signal, and second subtraction means operable to subtract the output pulse of the first subtraction means from the pulse signals thereby to produce a second gating signal only during the occurrence of said second pulse signal; first data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the first gating circuit means, said first data storage means being operable to store data represented by the first pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said first gating signal from said first gating circuit means; and second data storage means coupled to said information sensing means and to the second gating circuit means, said second data storage means being operable to store data represented by the second pulse signals from the information sensing means in response to said second gating signal from said second gating circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
696 words
An electro-optical label reading system for reading labels having data encoded therein by an array of stripes arranged in pairs, some of the pairs of stripes including a first stripe capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation and a second stripe not capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation and others of the pairs of stripes including a first stripe capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation and a second stripe also capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation, said system including scanning means operative to scan a beam of electromagnetic radiation across the stripes of a label; means for generating electrical signals in response to electromagnetic radiation reflected from the stripes of a label; means connected to said means for generating electrical signals and operable in response to signals therefrom to provide at a pulse signal terminal a first pulse during the period the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the first stripe when the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across a pair of stripes having a second stripe which is not capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation, and operable in response to signals therefrom to provide at the pulse signal terminal a first pulse during the period the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the first stripe and a second pulse during the period the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the second stripe when the beam of light scans across a pair of stripes having a second stripe which is capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation; first storage means connected to said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by the first stripe of a pair of stripes of said label, and operable to store data therein in response to a control signal applied therefor; second storage means connected to said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by the second stripe of a pair of stripes of said label, and operable to store data therein in response to a control signal applied therefor; first control means connected to said means for generating electrical signals and said first storage means and operable in response to electrical signals generated when the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the first stripe of a pair of stripes to produce a control signal causing the first storage means to store data represented by the electrical signals; second control means comprising a delay means connected to said pulse signal terminal for providing a delay equal to the maximum allowable period for a beam of electromagnetic radiation to scan across a single stripe of said label; first difference means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first difference means being operable to produce an output signal at its output terminal representative of the difference between the input signals at its first and second input terminals; the first input terminal of the first difference means being connected to said pulse signal terminal and the second input terminal being connected to the delay means, whereby a pulse is produced at the output terminal of the first difference means during the presence of said first pulse at the pulse signal terminal; second difference means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said second diffErence means being operable to produce an output signal at its output terminal representative of the difference between the input signals at its first and second input terminals; the first input terminal of the second difference means being connected to said pulse signal terminal and the second input terminal of the second difference means being connected to the output terminal of the first difference means, whereby no pulse is produced at the output terminal of the second difference means during the presence of said first pulse at the pulse signal terminal and whereby a pulse is produced at the output terminal of the second difference means during the presence of said second pulse at the pulse signal terminal; and means coupling the output terminal of the second difference means to the second storage means and operable to produce a control signal causing the second storage means to store data represented by electrical signals during the presence of a pulse at the output terminal of the second difference means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
696 words
An electro-optical label reading system for reading labels having data encoded therein by an array of stripes arranged in pairs, some of the pairs of stripes including a first stripe capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation and a second stripe not capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation and others of the pairs of stripes including a first stripe capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation and a second stripe also capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation, said system including scanning means operative to scan a beam of electromagnetic radiation across the stripes of a label; means for generating electrical signals in response to electromagnetic radiation reflected from the stripes of a label; means connected to said means for generating electrical signals and operable in response to signals therefrom to provide at a pulse signal terminal a first pulse during the period the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the first stripe when the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across a pair of stripes having a second stripe which is not capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation, and operable in response to signals therefrom to provide at the pulse signal terminal a first pulse during the period the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the first stripe and a second pulse during the period the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the second stripe when the beam of light scans across a pair of stripes having a second stripe which is capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation; first storage means connected to said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by the first stripe of a pair of stripes of said label, and operable to store data therein in response to a control signal applied therefor; second storage means connected to said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by the second stripe of a pair of stripes of said label, and operable to store data therein in response to a control signal applied therefor; first control means connected to said means for generating electrical signals and said first storage means and operable in response to electrical signals generated when the beam of electromagnetic radiation scans across the first stripe of a pair of stripes to produce a control signal causing the first storage means to store data represented by the electrical signals; second control means comprising a delay means connected to said pulse signal terminal for providing a delay equal to the maximum allowable period for a beam of electromagnetic radiation to scan across a single stripe of said label; first difference means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first difference means being operable to produce an output signal at its output terminal representative of the difference between the input signals at its first and second input terminals; the first input terminal of the first difference means being connected to said pulse signal terminal and the second input terminal being connected to the delay means, whereby a pulse is produced at the output terminal of the first difference means during the presence of said first pulse at the pulse signal terminal; second difference means having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said second diffErence means being operable to produce an output signal at its output terminal representative of the difference between the input signals at its first and second input terminals; the first input terminal of the second difference means being connected to said pulse signal terminal and the second input terminal of the second difference means being connected to the output terminal of the first difference means, whereby no pulse is produced at the output terminal of the second difference means during the presence of said first pulse at the pulse signal terminal and whereby a pulse is produced at the output terminal of the second difference means during the presence of said second pulse at the pulse signal terminal; and means coupling the output terminal of the second difference means to the second storage means and operable to produce a control signal causing the second storage means to store data represented by electrical signals during the presence of a pulse at the output terminal of the second difference means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An electro-optical label reading system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the second control means includes threshold level setting means connected to the pulse signal terminal for establishing a threshold level greater than the level present at the pulse signal terminal during the absence of pulses thereat; and the means coupling the output terminal of the second difference means to the second storage means includes comparator means having an input connected to the output terminal of the second difference means, an input connected to the threshold level setting means, and an output connected to the second storage means, said comparator means being operable to produce a control signal at its output causing the second storage means to store data when a pulse at the output terminal of the second difference means exceeds the threshold level from the threshold level setting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electro-optical label reading system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the stripes capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation are of retroreflective material; and the electromagnetic radiation is visible light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electro-optical label reading system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the stripes capable of reflecting electromagnetic radiation are selected from stripes capable of retroreflecting visible light of a first color, a second color, and both said first and second colors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electro-optical label reading system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the means for generating electrical signals includes first means for producing a pulse in response to light of the first color reflected from a stripe, and second means for producing a pulse in response to light of the second color reflected from a stripe; and the means connected to said means for generating electrical signals includes an OR gate having a first input connected to said first means of said means for generating electrical signals, a second input connected to said second means of said means for generating electrical signals, and an output connected to the pulse signal terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electro-optical label reading system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the first storage means includes a first storage element connected to the first means of said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by light of the first color reflected from the first stripe of a pair of stripes, and a second storage element connected to the second means of said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by light of the second color reflected from the first stripe of a pair of stripes; and the second storage means includes a first storage element connected to the first means of said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by light of the first color reflected from the second stripe of a pair of stripes, and a second storage element connected to the secOnd means of said means for generating electrical signals for storing data represented by light of the second color reflected from the second stripe of a pair of stripes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
220 words
An electro-optical label-reading system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the first control means includes a first trigger circuit connected to the first means of said means for generating electrical signals and operable to produce an output signal during a pulse therefrom, a second trigger circuit connected to the second means of said means for generating electrical signals and operable to produce an output signal during a pulse therefrom, an OR gate connected to the first trigger circuit and to the second trigger circuit, said OR gate being operable to produce an output signal during an output signal from the first trigger circuit and being operable to produce an output signal during an output signal from the second trigger circuit, and a one-shot multivibrator circuit connected to the OR gate and to the first and second storage elements of the first storage means and operable in response to the leading edge of an output signal from the OR gate to produce said control signal of duration less than the period for the beam of light to scan across a stripe thereby causing the first and second elements of the first storage means to store data represented by the presence or absence of light of the first and second color, respectively, reflected from the first stripe of a pair of stripes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electro-optical label reading system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the second control means includes a threshold level setting circuit connected to the pulse signal terminal for establishing a threshold level greater than the level present at the pulse signal terminal during the absence of pulses thereat; and the means coupling the output terminal of the second difference means to the second storage means includes a comparator circuit having an input connected to the output terminal of the second difference means, an input connected to the threshold level setting circuit, and an output connected to the first and second storage elements of the second storage means, said comparator circuit being operable to produce said control signal at its output when a pulse at the output terminal of the second difference means exceeds the threshold level from the threshold level setting circuit thereby causing the first and second elements of the second storage means to store data represented by the presence or absence of light of the first and second colors, respectively, reflected from the second stripe of a pair of stripes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |