Patent US3706887A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3706887A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical card reader
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-04
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1991-03-04
Abstract
Abstract The optical reader of the invention uses a discrete number of pulses to time the passage of each column position, samples hole data at four selected count positions and interrogates the samples to ascertain whether the condition of the samples indicates the presence or absence of data or an error condition. When valid data is sensed by data indications adjacent one end of the sample sequence, the interpreting circuit also indicates whether the presence of the hole occurred early or late with respect to nominal timing. In addition mark read data may be read at the same read station using selected samples that are interpreted as presence or absence of data or an error condition using the same interpreting circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome R Bickford
- 👤 James O Nicholson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/01; G06K7/016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A reader for reading documents having data recorded thereon in columns by passing said document past a read station comprising: a read station; column timing means for determining the presence and duration of passage of each said column at said read station; means for sensing document position for initiating said column timing means; data sensing means for generating a sequence, exceeding two in number, of intermediate data sensing output signals at each data location, said signals having a first condition when the presence of data is sensed and a second condition when the absence of data is sensed; and interpreting means for receiving said intermediate output signals and generating a first output signal indicative of data upon a first coincidence of intermediate output signal conditions, a second output signal indicating the absence of data upon a second coincidence of intermediate output signal conditions, and a third output signal indicative of an error condition upon receiving a third coincidence of intermediate output signal conditions, each combination of intermediate output signal first and second conditions causing said interpreting means to generate one of said first, second and third output signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A reader for reading documents having data recorded thereon in columns by passing said document past a read station comprising: a read station; column timing means for determining the presence and duration of passage of each said column at said read station; means for sensing document position for initiating said column timing means; data sensing means for generating a sequence, exceeding two in number, of intermediate data sensing output signals at each data location, said signals having a first condition when the presence of data is sensed and a second condition when the absence of data is sensed; and interpreting means for receiving said intermediate output signals and generating a first output signal indicative of data upon a first coincidence of intermediate output signal conditions, a second output signal indicating the absence of data upon a second coincidence of intermediate output signal conditions, and a third output signal indicative of an error condition upon receiving a third coincidence of intermediate output signal conditions, each combination of intermediate output signal first and second conditions causing said interpreting means to generate one of said first, second and third output signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The reader of claim 1 wherein said interpreting means generates said first output when consecutive intermediate output pulses less than a total of said sequence and adjoining one end of said sequence have said first condition and further comprising diagnostic means for determining such condition and indicating at which of the ends of said sequence said first condition intermediate output pulses occurred.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A reader for reading documents having data recorded thereon in the form of punched holes arranged in columns comprising a read station; column timing means for determining the presence and duration of passage of each said column at said read station; means for sensing an initial document position and initiating said column timing means; hole sensing means for generating a sequence of intermediate signals in excess of two during the transit of each document hole position past said read station, said signals indicating a first condition when sensing the presence of a hole and a second condition when sensing the absence of a hole; and interpreting means for examining said intermediate signals and generating a first output indicating the presence of a hole at a corresponding column position, a second output indicating the absence of a hole at said corresponding column position, and a third output indicative of an error condition at said corresponding column position in accordance with predetermined combinations of the incidence of said first and second conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
A reader for reading documents having data recorded thereon in the form of punched holes arranged in columns comprising a read station; column timing means for determining the presence and duration of passage of each said column at said read station; means for sensing an initial document position and initiating said column timing means; hole sensing means for generating a sequence of intermediate signals in excess of two during the transit of each document hole position past said read station, said signals indicating a first condition when sensing the presence of a hole and a second condition when sensing the absence of a hole; and interpreting means for examining said intermediate signals and generating a first output indicating the presence of a hole at a corresponding column position, a second output indicating the absence of a hole at said corresponding column position, and a third output indicative of an error condition at said corresponding column position in accordance with predetermined combinations of the incidence of said first and second conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The reader of claim 3 wherein a plurality of consecutive intermediate signals adjacent one end of said sequence having said first condition is indicative of data and further comprising diagnostic means generating a fourth output signal when one of the terminal intermediate signals indicates said second condition and said interpreting means generates said first output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The reader of claim 3 wherein said sensing means generates a sequence of four intermediate output signals at each column position timed to sense four locations symmetrically positioned about the nominal center line of a hole punched in such column position and said interpreting means generates said first output when a predetermined coincidence of intermediate signals occurs wherein less than all indicate said first condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The reader of claim 5 further comprising dIagnostic means generating a fourth diagnostic output said first output occurs when said first intermediate signal indicates a second condition and a fifth diagnostic output when said fourth intermediate signal indicates said second condition upon occurrence of said first output, whereby a determination may be made as to the deviation of the punched hole from a nominal position while still indicating the presence of data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
A reader in accordance with claim 3 which has the additional capability of reading optical marks using the same read station that further comprises format means for determining which of hole data and mark data may occur at each data position; first and second optical mark read means for respectively generating first and second mark outputs each having a first condition when the presence of a mark is sensed and a second condition when the absence of the mark is sensed; and means for imparting the first or second condition respectively to two consecutive of said intermediate signals which are at one terminal end of said sequence, whereby said interpreting means identifies the presence of mark and hole data in accordance with the determination provided by the said interpreting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
A reader in accordance with claim 5 which has the additional capability of reading optical marks using the same read station that further comprises format arranging means for determining which of hole data and mark data may occur at each data position; first and second optical mark read means for respectively generating first and second mark outputs each having a first condition when the presence of a mark is sensed and a second condition when the absence of the mark is sensed; and means for imparting the first or second condition respectively to two consecutive of said intermediate signals which are at one terminal end of said sequence, whereby said interpreting means identifies the presence of mark and hole data in accordance with the determination provided by the said interpreting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A reader in accordance with claim 8 wherein in the mark read mode the first and second mark outputs impart the one of said first and second conditions respectively to said first and second intermediate signals and said third and fourth intermediate signals have said second condition when said reader is operating in said optical mark read mode.
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) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |