US3744025A — Optical character reading system and bar code fon…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 383 words

An optical reading device for scanning a series of spaced printed variables in the form of adjacent bars of different reflectivity to provide electrical output signals representative of each variable, said device comprising: a generally elongated main housing adapted to be held in one hand and having a forward tapered portion on the one end terminating at a tip means; a series of reflective light receiving means fixed in said tip means at aligned regularly spaced apart openings; light transmitting means comprising a plurality of glass fibers fixed at spaced apart locations within said tip means adjacent to each of said light receiving means and extending axially through said device; a rear housing portion on said main housing at the opposite end from said forward portion; at least three light sensitive signal producing elements mounted within said device, each being generally identically sensitive to the different reflectivity of said bars and each being positioned to receive light from one of said light reflecting means; support means in said main housing for holding in place each of said reflective light receiving means and said light transmitting glass fibers extending from said tip means, said light transmitting fibers from said tip means converging within said housing to form a bundle retained by said support means; at least three light sensitive signal producing elements mounted within said device, each being generally identically sensitive to the different reflectivity of said bars; plug means in said rear housing portion for retaining and positioning each of said light sensitive signal producing elements to receive light from one of said light reflecting means; a light pipe adapted for connection to an external light source comprised of substantially more glass fibers than said light transmitting means and having end portions retained by said plug means, said light pipe being in direct alignment with said bundle of light transmitting fibers thereby providing a cold light to said tip means; means for holding said main housing and said rear housing together so that said light sensitive elements are adjacent to and responsive to light from the inner ends of said reflective light receiving fibers from said tip means; and electrical lead means extending from said light sensitive elements for transmitting signals produced thereby in response to reflective lights from said light receiving means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 383 words

An optical reading device for scanning a series of spaced printed variables in the form of adjacent bars of different reflectivity to provide electrical output signals representative of each variable, said device comprising: a generally elongated main housing adapted to be held in one hand and having a forward tapered portion on the one end terminating at a tip means; a series of reflective light receiving means fixed in said tip means at aligned regularly spaced apart openings; light transmitting means comprising a plurality of glass fibers fixed at spaced apart locations within said tip means adjacent to each of said light receiving means and extending axially through said device; a rear housing portion on said main housing at the opposite end from said forward portion; at least three light sensitive signal producing elements mounted within said device, each being generally identically sensitive to the different reflectivity of said bars and each being positioned to receive light from one of said light reflecting means; support means in said main housing for holding in place each of said reflective light receiving means and said light transmitting glass fibers extending from said tip means, said light transmitting fibers from said tip means converging within said housing to form a bundle retained by said support means; at least three light sensitive signal producing elements mounted within said device, each being generally identically sensitive to the different reflectivity of said bars; plug means in said rear housing portion for retaining and positioning each of said light sensitive signal producing elements to receive light from one of said light reflecting means; a light pipe adapted for connection to an external light source comprised of substantially more glass fibers than said light transmitting means and having end portions retained by said plug means, said light pipe being in direct alignment with said bundle of light transmitting fibers thereby providing a cold light to said tip means; means for holding said main housing and said rear housing together so that said light sensitive elements are adjacent to and responsive to light from the inner ends of said reflective light receiving fibers from said tip means; and electrical lead means extending from said light sensitive elements for transmitting signals produced thereby in response to reflective lights from said light receiving means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The optical reading device as described in claim 1 wherein the distance between the opening center lines is less than the spacing between variables.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 56 words

The optical reading device as described in claim 1 wherein each of said light receiving means comprises the ends of a plurality of glass fibers secured in said tip means, said fibers for each said opening extending inwardly within said main housing to form a bundle that terminates adjacent to one of said light sensitive elements.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The optical reading device as described in claim 1 wherein said light sensitive elements are photo-transistors, and including means for mounting said photo-transistors at circumferentially spaced apart locations in said rear body portion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 66 words

The optical reading device as described in claim 1 wherein said tip means comprises a retaining member secured in the small end of said forward tapered portion and having an elongated, transverse slot, and means for securing the ends of said reflective light receiving fibers to form said openings with a generally rectangular shape and adjacent to the ends of groups of said light transmitting fibers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 190 words

An optical reading system comprising: a character block formed from a printing font comprised of spaced apart bars of reflective and non-reflective material and having a reset character at each end of the character block; an elongated portable reading probe means having a tip portion for scanning said character blocks from either end to the other in a direction transverse to said spaced apart bars; means for transmitting light to said probe tip portion; a series of signal generating light sensitive elements fixed within said probe, each being identically sensitive to the reflection characteristics of said bars; at least three light receiving means located at spaced apart openings in said tip portion and each extending to a different one of said signal generating light sensitive elements; and logic circuit means connected in said light sensitive elements and responsive to light output signals therefrom for producing decodeable data signals characteristic of the characters forming said block when it is scanned, said logic circuit including error checking means for preventing the release of outputs representing the characters of the character block scanned to said terminal means unless the scanning was accurately performed.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 190 words

An optical reading system comprising: a character block formed from a printing font comprised of spaced apart bars of reflective and non-reflective material and having a reset character at each end of the character block; an elongated portable reading probe means having a tip portion for scanning said character blocks from either end to the other in a direction transverse to said spaced apart bars; means for transmitting light to said probe tip portion; a series of signal generating light sensitive elements fixed within said probe, each being identically sensitive to the reflection characteristics of said bars; at least three light receiving means located at spaced apart openings in said tip portion and each extending to a different one of said signal generating light sensitive elements; and logic circuit means connected in said light sensitive elements and responsive to light output signals therefrom for producing decodeable data signals characteristic of the characters forming said block when it is scanned, said logic circuit including error checking means for preventing the release of outputs representing the characters of the character block scanned to said terminal means unless the scanning was accurately performed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 68 words

The system as described in claim 6 wherein said electronic logic circuit includes: means for counting the edges of tHe various bars in the character block that are passed by each said light receiving means and means for combining data on the edges counted with simultaneous information on the positions of the probe openings at a particular instant to identify the variables scanned and produce encoded character outputs.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system as described in claim 6 wherein said electronic logic circuit includes: means for producing outputs representing the characters of the character block in their proper sequence despite the direction of scanning of the probe.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 120 words

The system as described in claim 6 wherein said logic circuitry comprises: amplifier and buffer means connected to said light-sensitive signal producing means for forming logic compatible signals; directional orientation means connected to said buffer means for producing signals to determine the direction of scanning and orientation of the probe with respect to the character font; means for generating pulses when each said probe opening crosses an edge of a non-reflective bar in the character block; variable identifying means including counter means for utilizing signals from said pulse generating means for identifying variables of said printing font; and encoder-decoder means for combining outputs from said counter means for identifying characters comprised of two variables and producing a characteristic output therefor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system as described in claim 6 wherein said character block is comprised of a series of spaced apart characters each formed from a pair of variables having one or two non-reflective bars; a variable identifying means for identifying each successive pair of variables scanned; and character identifying means utilizing outputs from said variable identifying means for identifying the characters scanned.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system as described in claim 10 wherein said pair of variables has non-reflective end portions forming a human readable alpha-numeric character.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 203 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 6 wherein said logic circuit means comprises: means for producing logic compatible signals for each probe opening when positioned over a non-reflective bar of a character during scanning of a character block; first pulse generator means connected to said amplifier and buffer means for producing rising and falling edge pulses as certain of said probe openings move from reflective to non-reflective surfaces across a reset code character; directional and orientation means connected to said amplifier and buffer means and said pulse generator means for determining the relative direction of scanning and orientation of said probe with respect to the character block; multiplexor means for selecting circuitry that will produce data consistent with the actual order of characters in the block being scanned despite the direction of scanning; second pulse generator means for producing rising and falling edge signals for all variables as they are scanned; variable identifying means connected to said multiplexor means and said second pulse generator means for identifying pairs of variables as scanned and means for temporarily storing identified variables in pairs; and encoding and decoding means for receiving pairs of identified variables to identify and produce outputs for the characters scanned.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 12 wherein said logic circuit means includes a primary variable identifying means and a redundant variable identifying means for checking the accuracy of outputs produced during a scanning operation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 70 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 12 wherein said variable identifying means comprises: means for generating rising and falling edge signals for each variable scanned; means for counting the rising and falling edge signals generated as the variables are scanned by each probe opening; and means for simultaneously combining the counted edge signals with signals related to the position of the probe openings for identifying each variable scanned.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 76 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 6 wherein said logic circuit means comprises orientation means for producing outputs that determine which opening in the line of openings on said probe was the first one to see the character block and which reset character was seen by that opening; said orientation means including gate means responsive to scanning of a said reset character for producing master reset pulses for pre-resetting elements of said logic circuitry.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 72 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 15 including multiplexor means responsive to said orientation means for putting signals produced by said probe openings during scanning into the proper reading order despite the relative position of said probe and said block and the direction of scanning; said multiplexor means comprising two series of nand gates, each said nand gate being connected to a nor gate to provide a true output signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 79 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 16 including pulse generator means for producing rising or falling edge pulses from outputs produced by said multiplexor means for the first three probe openings; primary code-generating means each including counters for counting the edges of each variable in the character block as it is scanned by the probe openings; and reset means for resetting each said counter of said code-generating means to their initial state after each variable is scanned.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 74 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 17 wherein said logic circuit means includes pulse generator means for providing a clocking pulse for each counter in said code-generating means by the rising or falling edge pulse produced by the associated probe window; encoder means for converting the binary counter outputs of said code generating means to decimal form; and variable encoding means comprising independent circuit means for each variable of said printing font.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 18 wherein said printing font has six variables and each said variable encoding means comprises an independent circuit for each variable.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 79 words

The system as described in claim 19 wherein said variable encoding means comprises three circuits for the first three single bar variables each including a logic gate means and a first latch element, and three circuits for the other double bar variable of the printing font each comprised of a pair of latch elements and gate means between them connected to eliminate the generation of double clock pulses and provide a unique signal for each double barred variable scanned.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 42 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 15 including pre-resetting circuit means for receiving inputs from said orientation means indicating which reset character was scanned first and producing pre-reset pulses accordingly as each probe opening leaves the first scanned reset character.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 97 words

The optical reading system as described in claim 21 wherein said pre-resetting circuit means comprises a first section including latch means for receiving a master reset signal and logic gate means connected to said orientation means, said pulse generator means and also to said latch means for providing pre-resetting signals to all of said counters of said primary code-generating means and one counter of said redundant code-generating means, and a second section including two latch elements and gate means connected thereto to provide output pulses for pre-resetting the second and third counters of said redundant code-generating means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system as described in claim 6 wherein the space between the center lines of the probe openings is less than the space between adjacent variables of the character block being scanned.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 93 words

The system as described in claim 6 wherein said logic circuit means comprises a primary code generating means including three counters representing the first three adjacent openings of the probe which are first to pass over the character block; pre-resetting means for resetting the first of said three counters in response to falling edge signals obtained from the second probe opening and for resetting the second and third counters in response to the falling edge signals obtained from the third probe opening as the probe scans the character block in the forward direction.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 75 words

The system as described in claim 6 comprising an auxiliary memory circuit including a shift register for each of the variables of said printing font for temporarily storing two variables at a time; means for clocking said auxiliary memory circuit in response to each variable scanned; encoding means for receiving outputs from said auxiliary memory circuit in pairs and including gate means for combining variable pairs to identify the characters scanned and produce representative outputs.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 160 words

An optical reading system comprising: a character block formed from a printing font comprised of spaced apart bars of reflective and non-reflective material and having a reset character at each end of the character block; an elongated portable reading probe having a tip portion adapted to scan said character block from one end to the other in a direction transverse to said spaced apart bars; means for transmitting light from said probe tip portion; light receiving means located at spaced apart openings in said tip portion and extending to signal generating light sensitive elements fixed within said probe; logic circuit means connected to said light sensitive elements and responsive to output signals therefrom for producing decodable data signals characteristic of the characters forming said block when it is scanned; primary and redundant electronic circuit means; and error-checking circuit means utilizing said primary and redundant circuit means for providing an indication that the scanning of the character block was accurately performed.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 160 words

An optical reading system comprising: a character block formed from a printing font comprised of spaced apart bars of reflective and non-reflective material and having a reset character at each end of the character block; an elongated portable reading probe having a tip portion adapted to scan said character block from one end to the other in a direction transverse to said spaced apart bars; means for transmitting light from said probe tip portion; light receiving means located at spaced apart openings in said tip portion and extending to signal generating light sensitive elements fixed within said probe; logic circuit means connected to said light sensitive elements and responsive to output signals therefrom for producing decodable data signals characteristic of the characters forming said block when it is scanned; primary and redundant electronic circuit means; and error-checking circuit means utilizing said primary and redundant circuit means for providing an indication that the scanning of the character block was accurately performed.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system as described in claim 26 wherein said error-checking means comprises: means for counting and comparing the characters scanned by said primary and redundant circuits.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 69 words

The system as described in claim 26 wherein said logic circuit includes a primary circuit having variable identifying means and encoding-decoding means; said error-checking circuitry including error pre-reset signal generator means for pre-resetting components of the error-checking circuit before the first character of the block is scanned and means for counting and comparing the number of characters scanned in response to said variable identifying circuitry and said encoding-decoding circuitry.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 91 words

The system as described in claim 26 wherein said logic circuit includes primary and redundant circuits each with variable identifying means and encoding-decoding means in said primary circuit, said error-checking circuitry including first means for counting the characters scanned by said variable identifying means of said primary circuit; a second means for counting the characters identified by said encoding-decoding circuit; a third means for counting the characters scanned by said variable identifying means of said redundant circuit, and means for comparing the outputs of said first, second and third counting means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system as described in claim 29 including an auxiliary error-checking means comprising fourth means for counting the edges of the non-reflective bars in the character block that are scanned by each probe opening and fifth means for counting the bars of the variables scanned and means for comparing said fourth and fifth means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-02	1977-01-01	1977-07-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-02	1981-01-01	1981-07-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-02	1985-01-01	1985-07-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical character reading system and bar code font therefor

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