US3770942A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical bar coding scanning device
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1972-02-14
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract The scanning of documents bearing optical bar coding, particularly with hand-held scanning apparatus, is enhanced by an optical system effecting a pointed elongated aperture substantially parallel to the bars without constriction as to the orientation of the apparatus. A photosensitive diode arrangement of substantially circular configuration is divided into a multiple of radially extending pointed sectors isolated from each other, and diametrically collinear sectors are connected together as sector-couples. Light from the document striking the array of sector-couples produces a maximum on all sector-couples scanning the background and a minimum on one sector-couple or on at least a few sector-couples scanning bars against the background. The devices are effectively rotating under control of electronic circuitry for viewing the bars at a multiple of angular positions. Further electronic circuitry determines the sectorcouple having the minimum response and which selects that couple for the completion of the scanning operation or until disorientation dictates another selection. Several configurations effecting pointed aperture stops are disclosed. An alternate embodiment comprises a circular photosensitive section insulated from the sectors and located centrally of the sector couples. In this embodiment the photosensitive section is connected to the chosen sector-couple for improved resolution.
Inventors
- 👤 Murtry D Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovering information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a photosensitive device arranged for receiving light from said document being scanned, said photosensitive device having a configuration of a multiple of photosensitive sectors insulated from each other and having longitudinal axes radiating outwardly from the center of said device at relatively small angles with respect to the longitudinal axes of contiguous sectors, electronic circuitry additively connecting said sectors in couples comprising diametrically collinear sectors for generating electric levels proportional to the light received, and said photosensitive sectors having configurations in which lines defining the outer edges intersect at points remote from said center of said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovering information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a photosensitive device arranged for receiving light from said document being scanned, said photosensitive device having a configuration of a multiple of photosensitive sectors insulated from each other and having longitudinal axes radiating outwardly from the center of said device at relatively small angles with respect to the longitudinal axes of contiguous sectors, electronic circuitry additively connecting said sectors in couples comprising diametrically collinear sectors for generating electric levels proportional to the light received, and said photosensitive sectors having configurations in which lines defining the outer edges intersect at points remote from said center of said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1, and wherEin said photosensitive sectors extend from a circle of radius substantially one-half the distance from said center to said points remote from said center.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said photosensitive sectors each comprise two additional sectors intermediate said center and the contiguous first-said sector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 3 and wherein said two additional sectors have edges colinear to said outer edges of the contiguous first-said sectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said electric circuitry is arranged for imparting effective rotation at said pupil by connecting the couples of said photosensitive device sequentially.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2 and incorporating a photosensitive section insulated from said sectors and interposed therebetween at said center, and connections from said section to said electronic circuitry for increasing the effective area of said sector-couples.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 6 and wherein said section is circular in configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said sectors have substantially triangular configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said sectors have a substantially rhombic configuration extending outwardly from the center of said device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 9 and wherein said rhombic configuration is defined by lines of substantially equal length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said lines are arranged at an angle 2 theta with respect to each other where theta is 360*/2n and where n is the number of photosensitive sectors in said device, and said angle is subtended by a circle at the center of said device of diameter substantially equal to the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said lines are collinear with lines tangent to a circle of whose diameter 2R is substantially equal to the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said lines defining the outer edges of each of said photosensitive sectors lie at an angle subtended by a circle at the center of said device of diameter not greater than the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 3 and wherein said additional sectors are of substantially triangular configuration with two lines thereof tangent to a circle at the center of said device of diameter not greater than the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 6 and wherein said photosensitive section has a maximum dimension through the center of said device not greater than the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 7 and wherein said photosensitive section has a diameter not greater than the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 8 and wherein said sectors of triangular configuration have bases no wider than the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 9 and wherein said sectors have minor diagonals no greater than the minimum spacing to be resolved between said bars.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
Optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 1 incorporating a photosensitive section insulated from said sector and interposed therebetween at said center oF said device, and electric connections additively coupling said section to at least one sector-couple, said section having a maximum dimension through said center of said device not greater than the minimum spacing to be resolved between bars.
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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) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |