US3714398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-mechanical read head
Assignee: Entrust Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-26
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical read head includes a plurality of juxtaposed scanning the card, for scanning raised or embossed characters, such as the embossed characters of a credit card. The juxtaposed elements are mounted between parallel side walls of the head and are free to move independently of each other. The walls extend downwardly and define a channel therebetween for receiving therebetween a line of embossed characters, the walls physically engaging the upper and lower extremes of the embossed characters. The path of travel of the card through the scan head, and thus the scan path of each scanning element, is thereby defined. Each of the scanning elements comprises an arm of resilient material including a scanning tip or wiper which is normally biased toward the surface of the card the arm thereby being deflected upwardly when the tip is raised upon engaging a segment of a character in its scan path. Electrical switching means associated with each element respond to the deflection thereof to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the mechanical scanning of segments of the character in the corresponding scan path. The plural, simultaneously produced output signals are then processed for character recognition.
Inventors
- 👤 A Brock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/04; G06K7/042; G06K7/047; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/22; G06V30/224
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning embossed charac-ters presented thereto on a carrier and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals for processing by automatic character recognition circuits, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for simultaneously effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, parallel scans of each embossed character to be recognized, said scanning elements each comprising an elongated resilient arm having a mounting and a free end and including a scanning tip adjacent said free end thereof; first and second fixed support means for said arms, said arms being positioned in juxtaposed relationship and secured in common at said mounting ends thereof to said first common support means for positioning the scanning tips associated with said free ends thereof in aligned relationship transversely of the direction of scan and projecting toward the carrier of the embossed characters; said second fixed support means being resiliently engaged by the free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning tips thereof at a uniform displacement from the background level of a carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned; and transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and selectively responsive to the deflection of the resilient arms thereof upon the scanning tips individually engaging a portion of an embossed character in the respectively corresponding scan paths thereof for producing an electrical output signal, said transducer means comprising an optical transducer means including means defining a plurality of independent light paths respectively corresponding to the number of scanning elements of said scan head, and light responsive means respectively associated with each of said light paths for reproducing an electrical output signal in accordance with the presence or absence of a light beam in that path, said light paths being uninterrupted in normally undeflected positions of the resilient arms of said scanning elements, and being selectively interrupted upon deflection of the resilient arm of the respectively corresponding scanning element in response to scanning of a character segment in the corresponding scan path thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning embossed charac-ters presented thereto on a carrier and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals for processing by automatic character recognition circuits, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for simultaneously effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, parallel scans of each embossed character to be recognized, said scanning elements each comprising an elongated resilient arm having a mounting and a free end and including a scanning tip adjacent said free end thereof; first and second fixed support means for said arms, said arms being positioned in juxtaposed relationship and secured in common at said mounting ends thereof to said first common support means for positioning the scanning tips associated with said free ends thereof in aligned relationship transversely of the direction of scan and projecting toward the carrier of the embossed characters; said second fixed support means being resiliently engaged by the free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning tips thereof at a uniform displacement from the background level of a carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned; and transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and selectively responsive to the deflection of the resilient arms thereof upon the scanning tips individually engaging a portion of an embossed character in the respectively corresponding scan paths thereof for producing an electrical output signal, said transducer means comprising an optical transducer means including means defining a plurality of independent light paths respectively corresponding to the number of scanning elements of said scan head, and light responsive means respectively associated with each of said light paths for reproducing an electrical output signal in accordance with the presence or absence of a light beam in that path, said light paths being uninterrupted in normally undeflected positions of the resilient arms of said scanning elements, and being selectively interrupted upon deflection of the resilient arm of the respectively corresponding scanning element in response to scanning of a character segment in the corresponding scan path thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
332 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning embossed charac-ters presented thereto on a carrier and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals for processing by automatic character recognition circuits, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for simultaneously effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, parallel scans of each embossed character to be recognized, said scanning elements each comprising an elongated resilient arm having a mounting and a free end and including a scanning tip adjacent said free end thereof; first and second fixed support means for said arms, said arms being positioned in juxtaposed relationship and secured in common at said mounting ends thereof to said first common support means for positioning the scanning tips associated with said free ends thereof in aligned relationship transversely of the direction of scan and projecting toward the carrier of the embossed characters; said second fixed support means being resiliently engaged by the free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning tips thereof at a uniform displacement from the background level of a carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned; and transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and selectively responsive to the deflection of the resilient arms thereof upon the scanning tips individually engaging a portion of an embossed character in the respectively corresponding scan paths thereof for producing an electrical output signal, said transducer means comprising an optical transducer means including means defining a plurality of independent light paths respectively corresponding to the number of scanning elements of said scan head, and light responsive means respectively associated with each of said light paths for reproducing an electrical output signal in accordance with the presence or absence of a light beam in that path, said light paths being uninterrupted in normally undeflected positions of the resilient arms of said scanning elements, and being selectively interrupted upon deflection of the resilient arm of the respectively corresponding scanning element in response to scanning of a character segment in the corresponding scan path thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
332 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning embossed charac-ters presented thereto on a carrier and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals for processing by automatic character recognition circuits, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for simultaneously effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, parallel scans of each embossed character to be recognized, said scanning elements each comprising an elongated resilient arm having a mounting and a free end and including a scanning tip adjacent said free end thereof; first and second fixed support means for said arms, said arms being positioned in juxtaposed relationship and secured in common at said mounting ends thereof to said first common support means for positioning the scanning tips associated with said free ends thereof in aligned relationship transversely of the direction of scan and projecting toward the carrier of the embossed characters; said second fixed support means being resiliently engaged by the free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning tips thereof at a uniform displacement from the background level of a carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned; and transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and selectively responsive to the deflection of the resilient arms thereof upon the scanning tips individually engaging a portion of an embossed character in the respectively corresponding scan paths thereof for producing an electrical output signal, said transducer means comprising an optical transducer means including means defining a plurality of independent light paths respectively corresponding to the number of scanning elements of said scan head, and light responsive means respectively associated with each of said light paths for reproducing an electrical output signal in accordance with the presence or absence of a light beam in that path, said light paths being uninterrupted in normally undeflected positions of the resilient arms of said scanning elements, and being selectively interrupted upon deflection of the resilient arm of the respectively corresponding scanning element in response to scanning of a character segment in the corresponding scan path thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient arms of said plurality of scanning elements include a corresponding plurality of respectively associated, successively displaced tabs projecting therefrom and aligned with the plurality of respectively corresponding light beam paths, each of said tabs being operable to interrupt the associated light beam path when the arm is deflected upwardly in response to the scanning tip thereof engaging a character segment in its corresponding scan path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: said plurality of light beam paths are parallel and extend transversely of said juxtaposed resilient arms, said paths being spaced longitudinally with respect to the lengths of said arms, and each said resilient arm includes aN aperture therein aligned with its respectively corresponding light beam path to normally maintain a light beam in that path in the undeflected position of the arm, and said arm interrupting the light beam path when deflected, and, further, each of said resilient arms which is of a length to extend into another of the light beam paths has provided therein a further aperture aligned with each said other light beam path for maintaining that light beam path in either of the normally undeflected, or deflected, positions thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
307 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning embossed characters presented thereto on a carrier and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals for processing by automatic character recognition circuits, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for simultaneously effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, parallel scans of each embossed character to be recognized, said scanning elements each comprising an elongated resilient arm having a mounting and a free end and including a scanning tip adjacent said free end thereof; first and second fixed support means for said arms, said arms being positioned in juxtaposed relationship and secured in common at said mounting ends thereof to said first common support means for positioning the scanning tips associated with said free ends thereof in aligned relationship transversely of the direction of scan and projecting toward the carrier of the embossed characters; said second fixed support means being resiliently engaged by the free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning tips thereof at a uniform displacement from the background level of a carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned; transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and selectively responsive to the deflection of the resilient arms thereof upon the scanning tips individually engaging a portion of an embossed character in the respectively corresponding scan paths thereof for producing an electrical output signal; and a pair of relatively rigid, elongated side walls spaced in parallel relationship to receive therebetween said plurality of juxtaposed resilient arms in corresponding parallel relationship; said side walls defining at first common ends thereof said first fixed support means; said resilient arms being secured at said mounting ends thereof to said first common ends of said parallel side walls; said second fixed support means extending transversely of, and being secured to said side walls at corresponding positions intermediate the ends of each thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
307 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning embossed characters presented thereto on a carrier and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals for processing by automatic character recognition circuits, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for simultaneously effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, parallel scans of each embossed character to be recognized, said scanning elements each comprising an elongated resilient arm having a mounting and a free end and including a scanning tip adjacent said free end thereof; first and second fixed support means for said arms, said arms being positioned in juxtaposed relationship and secured in common at said mounting ends thereof to said first common support means for positioning the scanning tips associated with said free ends thereof in aligned relationship transversely of the direction of scan and projecting toward the carrier of the embossed characters; said second fixed support means being resiliently engaged by the free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning tips thereof at a uniform displacement from the background level of a carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned; transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and selectively responsive to the deflection of the resilient arms thereof upon the scanning tips individually engaging a portion of an embossed character in the respectively corresponding scan paths thereof for producing an electrical output signal; and a pair of relatively rigid, elongated side walls spaced in parallel relationship to receive therebetween said plurality of juxtaposed resilient arms in corresponding parallel relationship; said side walls defining at first common ends thereof said first fixed support means; said resilient arms being secured at said mounting ends thereof to said first common ends of said parallel side walls; said second fixed support means extending transversely of, and being secured to said side walls at corresponding positions intermediate the ends of each thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising: resilient mounting means for said side walls for urging said side walls at the lower edges thereof toward the background of the carrier of the embossed characters to be scanned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said side walls define therebetween a channel of a height corresponding to the height of the embossed characters to be scanned and engaging therebetween the upper and lower edges of each character of a line thereof to be scanned, thereby to automatically align said line of characters for scanning of each character, in succession, by said scanning elements in said respectively corresponding parallel scan paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said side walls are reduced in thickness along the longitudinally extending lower edges thereof on the exterior surface of the side wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning raised characters presented by a support member and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals indicative of the scanned characters, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, substantially parallel scans of each raised character, each of said scanning elements having a mounting end and a free end including a scanning portion; a support assembly for supporting said pluralIty of scanning elements in juxtaposed relationship and securing said mounting ends of each of said scanning elements in common so that said scanning portions of said free ends thereof are disposed in a scanning relationship with respect to the raised characters, said support assembly including a spacing member being resiliently engaged by each of said free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning portions thereof at a selected spacing from the support member, and first and second side walls for supporting therebetween said plurality of scanning elements, each of said first and second side walls including a guide surface for directing the raised characters therebetween and for defining therebetween an active scanning area; transport means for receiving and transporting the support member with raised characters thereon to said support assembly whereby the raised characters are directed between said first and second side walls by said guide surfaces such that the raised characters are aligned with said plurality of scanning elements; and transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and responsive to the deflection of said scanning elements upon engaging a portion of a raised character for producing an electrical output signal indicative thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for mechanically scanning raised characters presented by a support member and producing in response to the scanning thereof electrical output signals indicative of the scanned characters, comprising: a plurality of scanning elements for effecting a corresponding plurality of displaced, substantially parallel scans of each raised character, each of said scanning elements having a mounting end and a free end including a scanning portion; a support assembly for supporting said pluralIty of scanning elements in juxtaposed relationship and securing said mounting ends of each of said scanning elements in common so that said scanning portions of said free ends thereof are disposed in a scanning relationship with respect to the raised characters, said support assembly including a spacing member being resiliently engaged by each of said free ends of said resilient arms for aligning said scanning portions thereof at a selected spacing from the support member, and first and second side walls for supporting therebetween said plurality of scanning elements, each of said first and second side walls including a guide surface for directing the raised characters therebetween and for defining therebetween an active scanning area; transport means for receiving and transporting the support member with raised characters thereon to said support assembly whereby the raised characters are directed between said first and second side walls by said guide surfaces such that the raised characters are aligned with said plurality of scanning elements; and transducer means associated with said plurality of scanning elements and responsive to the deflection of said scanning elements upon engaging a portion of a raised character for producing an electrical output signal indicative thereof.
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) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |