Hand held transducer insensitive to angular orientation

Claim 1

A pen-like read-out device for magnetically recorded digital data, including an elongated hollow casing having a pen-like outer configuration with open top and bottom ends, and a magnetic transducer fixedly mounted in said open bottom end, said transducer comprising: a. an outer core piece having an upper end, a lower end, and an axial bore extending therebetween; b. said outer core piece having at least a portion thereof adjacent said lower end tapered toward an apex located at said lower end, said apex having a generally circular axial opening leading to said bore; c. a rod-like inner core piece having first and second ends, with a coil mounted thereon between said ends; d. means mounting said inner core piece and said coil coaxially in the bore of said outer core piece and spaced therefrom, with said first end of said inner core piece extending into said axial opening to form a generally circular gap therebetween, the end of said gap lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said bore; e. gap spacer means in said gap; f. magnetically conductive means connecting said second end of said inner core piece to said upper end of said outer core piece; and g. electrical circuit means extending from said coil through said elongated hollow casing and out said open top and adapted to be connected to an operating console.