US3731064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data processing system and reader therefor
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Alpex Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-28
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1990-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A novel data processing means is provided comprising a technique for scanning a coded document in which the code appears as a row of printed lines of substantially equal length. The spaces between the individual lines in the row are of predetermined widths. These lines, in combination with the associated spaces of different widths constitute, for example, a binary code that is registered through a photosensitive system, i.e. a handheld reader which is drawn along the length of the document. The reader is characterized by its simplicity and absence of any moving parts; it has an extremely broad tolerance and produces a valid readout so long as it scans, i.e. crosses, any part of the line. Orientation of the reader during its scan stroke is immaterial; it may be held on any side. The reader has an area spot resolution which is no greater than the width of the thinnest space in the code grouping. Command signals, and logic circuits determine the character of the encoded digit under observation through the reader which has a self-contained source of illumination for the lines and spaces on the document. In response to line activation, the logic system displays a degree of self-learning that enables it to adjust to varying scan speeds and nevertheless decode the array with great accuracy.
Inventors
- 👤 R Berler
- 👤 N Alpert
- 👤 N Murthy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/01; G06K7/016; G06K7/0166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
An optically scannable coded document comprising a printed assemblage of lines of predetermined thicknesses on a background of contrasting color and in which the transverse dimensions of the spaces between the lines is also predetermined, said assemblage of lines and spaces being selected from one of two combinations consisting essentially of: A. an arrangement wherein the thickness of all of said lines of the code as a first indicia are maintained substantially constant while the spaces between the lines, as a second indicia, have a transverse dimension either relatively narrower or relatively wider than the first indicia, and B. an arrangement wherein the transverse dimension of all of said spaces between said lines as a first indicia are maintained constant while the lines as the second indicia have a thickness which is narrower or wider than said first indicia, said assemblage of indicia comprising lines and spaces being representative of bits of a binary notation and wherein the variations in the thickness of said lines and the transverse dimensions of said spaces are adapted to be translated into binary notation, the coded representation of each digit of said binary notation being modified by the incorporation of an additional bit indicia so that the printed indicia for each digit occupies substantially the same transverse area and being decodable electro-optically into binary intelliGible symbols.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
An optically scannable coded document comprising a printed assemblage of lines of predetermined thicknesses on a background of contrasting color and in which the transverse dimensions of the spaces between the lines is also predetermined, said assemblage of lines and spaces being selected from one of two combinations consisting essentially of: A. an arrangement wherein the thickness of all of said lines of the code as a first indicia are maintained substantially constant while the spaces between the lines, as a second indicia, have a transverse dimension either relatively narrower or relatively wider than the first indicia, and B. an arrangement wherein the transverse dimension of all of said spaces between said lines as a first indicia are maintained constant while the lines as the second indicia have a thickness which is narrower or wider than said first indicia, said assemblage of indicia comprising lines and spaces being representative of bits of a binary notation and wherein the variations in the thickness of said lines and the transverse dimensions of said spaces are adapted to be translated into binary notation, the coded representation of each digit of said binary notation being modified by the incorporation of an additional bit indicia so that the printed indicia for each digit occupies substantially the same transverse area and being decodable electro-optically into binary intelliGible symbols.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The code of claim 1 in which black lines are applied on a contrasting substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The code of claim 1 comprising a row of black lines of substantially uniform thickness on a white substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
A data processing system comprising: coded indicia consisting of a binary notation in which the bit elements of the coded indicia are represented by a row of printed lines of predetermined widths, as a first bit indicia, in combination with spaces between said lines, as the second bit indicia, said combination providing means for storing optically decodable data by proportionately varying the relative width of the second of said indicia to have a transverse dimension which is wider or narrower than the transverse dimension of said first indicia while maintaining the width of the other indicia relatively constant; electro-optical means for scanning said lines and spaces to produce an identifiable output pulse in response to said proportionate variation, a first up-down counter to register pulses proportionate to said variation and a second up-down counter operable when the next successive indicia of said code is optically scanned and the down count of said first counter has not been completed, and means for processing said pulses registered from the data encoded in said printed line and space combination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
A data processing system comprising: coded indicia consisting of a binary notation in which the bit elements of the coded indicia are represented by a row of printed lines of predetermined widths, as a first bit indicia, in combination with spaces between said lines, as the second bit indicia, said combination providing means for storing optically decodable data by proportionately varying the relative width of the second of said indicia to have a transverse dimension which is wider or narrower than the transverse dimension of said first indicia while maintaining the width of the other indicia relatively constant; electro-optical means for scanning said lines and spaces to produce an identifiable output pulse in response to said proportionate variation, a first up-down counter to register pulses proportionate to said variation and a second up-down counter operable when the next successive indicia of said code is optically scanned and the down count of said first counter has not been completed, and means for processing said pulses registered from the data encoded in said printed line and space combination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
A data processing system comprising a coded document having a format consisting essentially of a row of printed lines of equal thickness in combination with spaces between said lines which have a transverse dimension either greater or smaller than said line thickness, said combination by virtue of the variation in space and line width dimensions providing means for storing optically decodable data and being representative of a predetermined binary code; said binary code utilizing an equal number of zero and one bits for each digit; electro-optical means for scanning said lines and spaces to produce an identifiable output pulse in response thereto, a first up-down counter to register pulses proportionate to the width of said lines and a second up-down counter operable when the next successive space following a scanned line is relatively narrow, and means for processing said pulses to register the data encoded in said printed line and space combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
152 words
A data processing system comprising a coded document having a format consisting essentially of a row of printed lines of equal thickness in combination with spaces between said lines which have a transverse dimension either greater or smaller than said line thickness, said combination by virtue of the variation in space and line width dimensions providing means for storing optically decodable data and being representative of a predetermined binary code; said binary code utilizing an equal number of zero and one bits for each digit; electro-optical means for scanning said lines and spaces to produce an identifiable output pulse in response thereto, a first up-down counter to register pulses proportionate to the width of said lines and a second up-down counter operable when the next successive space following a scanned line is relatively narrow, and means for processing said pulses to register the data encoded in said printed line and space combination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
182 words
Means for storing data in the form of optically recognizable marks which are representative of a binary code and are adapted to be read by an optical scanner comprising: a plurality of printed lines of substantially uniform thickness imprinted on a substrate of contrasting color and arranged so that said lines are provided with spaces having one of two different widths between each line and consist of spaces which are narrow relative to said line thickness or spaces which are wide relative to said line thickness, to form a combination according to a predetermined code, the combination of lines and spaces for each digit of said code occupying substantially equal space, said lines each establishing a reference for an associated photo-optical scanning device which senses the next adjacent space in scanning sequence in order to identify the character of the information related to the thickness of said adjacent space, a first up-down counter to register pulses proportionate to the width of said lines and a second up-down counter operable only when the next successive space following a scanned line is relatively narrow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
Means for storing data in the form of optically recognizable marks which are representative of a binary code and are adapted to be read by an optical scanner comprising: a plurality of printed lines of substantially uniform thickness imprinted on a substrate of contrasting color and arranged so that said lines are provided with spaces having one of two different widths between each line and consist of spaces which are narrow relative to said line thickness or spaces which are wide relative to said line thickness, to form a combination according to a predetermined code, the combination of lines and spaces for each digit of said code occupying substantially equal space, said lines each establishing a reference for an associated photo-optical scanning device which senses the next adjacent space in scanning sequence in order to identify the character of the information related to the thickness of said adjacent space, a first up-down counter to register pulses proportionate to the width of said lines and a second up-down counter operable only when the next successive space following a scanned line is relatively narrow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
Means for storing data adapted to produce responses in an optical reading device comprising an array of printed lines and spaces wherein said lines as a first indicia are of relatively uniform width having an initial portion for initiating, through a first up-down counter, a response in the reading device and an end portion for producing an opposite response in the reading device, said responses being registered through a first up-down counter, second indicia consisting of spaces characterized by relative variation in width alternately interposed between said first indicia fOr producing in said reading device different responses said second indicia consisting of widths relatively narrower than said first indicia and widths relatively wider than said first indicia, said variation in said second indicia characterizing the stored data, and a second up-down counter operable to register responses only when said second indicia compared to said first indicia is relatively narrow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
Means for storing data adapted to produce responses in an optical reading device comprising an array of printed lines and spaces wherein said lines as a first indicia are of relatively uniform width having an initial portion for initiating, through a first up-down counter, a response in the reading device and an end portion for producing an opposite response in the reading device, said responses being registered through a first up-down counter, second indicia consisting of spaces characterized by relative variation in width alternately interposed between said first indicia fOr producing in said reading device different responses said second indicia consisting of widths relatively narrower than said first indicia and widths relatively wider than said first indicia, said variation in said second indicia characterizing the stored data, and a second up-down counter operable to register responses only when said second indicia compared to said first indicia is relatively narrow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Means in accordance with claim 7 characterized additionally by a self-learning capability which functions so that each increment of line and space provides a self-clocking unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Data storing means according to claim 7 wherein said first indicia and said other indicia further comprise individual data storage capacity therein exclusive of the data stored in said spacing between said indicia.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
Data storing means according to claim 7 wherein said first indicia and said other indicia further comprise printed lines, said line widths being greater than the spacing between said indicia to store one data bit and said line widths being less than the spacing between said indicia to store a different data bit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
Data storing means according to claim 7 wherein said first indicia and said other indicia comprise printed lines of predetermined width separated by spaces, said space widths being greater than the spacing between said indicia to store one data bit and said space widths being less than the spacing between said indicia to store a different data bit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
A merchandise ticket having data encoded thereon comprising a tag suitable for receiving printed ink impressions thereon, said ink impressions including a row of lines representative of bits of binary encoded digits, said lines being of a uniform width and having spaces therebetween, said spaces being a first width to represent one type of data bit and being a second width to represent another type of data bit, said ink impressions which form said lines and spaces being representative of a modified binary code in which each digit contains the same number of one bits and zero bits and one additional bit so that each digit combination occupies the same spacing irrespective of the type of data bits which comprise the digit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
A merchandise ticket having data encoded thereon comprising a tag suitable for receiving printed ink impressions thereon, said ink impressions including a row of lines representative of bits of binary encoded digits, said lines being of a uniform width and having spaces therebetween, said spaces being a first width to represent one type of data bit and being a second width to represent another type of data bit, said ink impressions which form said lines and spaces being representative of a modified binary code in which each digit contains the same number of one bits and zero bits and one additional bit so that each digit combination occupies the same spacing irrespective of the type of data bits which comprise the digit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ticket of claim 12 wherein the ink impressions are black print on a contrasting ticket substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A merchandise ticket according to claim 12 wherein said tag is approximately 1 inch wide and on the order of 3 inches long, said uniform line widths being about 0.015 inch wide and at least some of said spaces between said lines being about 0.01 inch and 0.02 inch in width.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A merchandise ticket according to claim 12 wherein at least one of said spaces is about 0.03 inches in width to indicate that the immediately preceding stored data is a particular type of data bit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
A data storage method comprising the steps of imprinting a ticket with an array of spaced lines of predetermined uniform width representative of encoded digits, spacing said individual lines each from the next adjacent of said lines in which some of said spacings are less than the width of at least one of said adjacent lines to indicate a first type of data bit and in which some of the other said spacings are greater than the width of at least one of said adjacent lines to indicate another type of data bit, each segment of said inscribed array which represents a digit having the same number of one bits and zero bits thereby occupying substantially the same space as any other segment in accordance with a modified binary code irrespective of the type of data bits which comprise the digit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
141 words
A data storage method comprising the steps of imprinting a ticket with an array of spaced lines of predetermined uniform width representative of encoded digits, spacing said individual lines each from the next adjacent of said lines in which some of said spacings are less than the width of at least one of said adjacent lines to indicate a first type of data bit and in which some of the other said spacings are greater than the width of at least one of said adjacent lines to indicate another type of data bit, each segment of said inscribed array which represents a digit having the same number of one bits and zero bits thereby occupying substantially the same space as any other segment in accordance with a modified binary code irrespective of the type of data bits which comprise the digit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
182 words
A data retrieval method comprising the steps of encoding a member by imprinting thereon an array of lines of predetermined uniform width, each of said lines being spaced from the next adjacent line by a distance that is greater or less than the width of said adjacent lines in accordance with a preestablished code, moving an optical reading device across said array of lines, counting forward with a first counter at a substantially fixed rate starting as the reading device intersects the beginning of, and during the time required to cross one of said lines and counting backward at said rate starting when the reading device intersects the end of said line and during the time required to cross at least a portion of the space adjacent to said line, registering the presence of a line or a space when said backward count is substantially equal to said forward count, and registering responses with a second counter which is operable only when the time required to cross the space adjacent to said line is less than the duration of the forward count.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
182 words
A data retrieval method comprising the steps of encoding a member by imprinting thereon an array of lines of predetermined uniform width, each of said lines being spaced from the next adjacent line by a distance that is greater or less than the width of said adjacent lines in accordance with a preestablished code, moving an optical reading device across said array of lines, counting forward with a first counter at a substantially fixed rate starting as the reading device intersects the beginning of, and during the time required to cross one of said lines and counting backward at said rate starting when the reading device intersects the end of said line and during the time required to cross at least a portion of the space adjacent to said line, registering the presence of a line or a space when said backward count is substantially equal to said forward count, and registering responses with a second counter which is operable only when the time required to cross the space adjacent to said line is less than the duration of the forward count.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 17 characterized by an adaptability to respond to the speed of movement of said reading device across said array of lines so that the said forward count increases or decreases respectively as the speed of movement of the reader decreases or increases.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 characterized by a self-learning capability in which a change in each line and space unit will provide a corresponding change in the clock count.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |