US3774014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printed code scanning system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Alpex Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-20
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1992-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A novel data processing system especially useful at check-out counters is provided that comprises a readout apparatus for sensing a printed code, which is placed on articles of merchandise, e.g. a binary code, which appears as an array of printed lines and spaces. The system includes a camera-type image detecting reader which may be situated at a location remote from the counter on which the merchandise is being conveyed; the camera reader comprises a suitable electronic image scanning device such as a vidicon tube or other image scanning tube which uses similar deflection means. The image scanning reader has a photosensitive area upon which an optical image is focused and functions so that the photosensitive area is scanned with a raster type sweep pattern which rotates continuously to provide electrical sampling of the optical image. Orientation means is incorporated within the reader so that regardless of the orientation of the label with the printed code to be read, the raster type sweep pattern will align itself with the coded strip to provide the desired readout. Each line of the raster represents a potential reading scan in the field into which the printed code to be read is positioned; when the rotation of the raster coincides with an entire traverse of all the bits of the printed code to be read, a readout is registered. The image scanning tube senses the variations in light intensity caused by the image of the coded marks falling on the photosensitive area as the array of marks is scanned by the raster type sweep pattern; these variations produce an electrical signal representative of the printed code. Command signals and logic circuits determine the character of the encoded digits under observation through the reader which, in addition to the image scanning tube, preferably includes a source of illumination whose light projection coincides with the field of view at the label scanning zone.
Inventors
- 👤 R Berler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A coded mark sensing system for automatically reading randomly oriented encoded indicia in the form of printed (marks) spaced lines comprising an electronic image scanning tube having a photo sensitive area upon which an optical image is focused and scanned with a raster type sweep pattern to provide electrical sampling of the optical image, a lens system on said scanner to focus the optical image of said lines onto said photo sensitive area in said image scanning tube, means to carry the encoded indicia for sensing, within view of the scanning tube to stimulate said photo sensitive portion of said scanner, means operative to automatically orient said raster scanning pattern with the image of the printed (marks) lines by continuously rotating the image of said coded indicia relative to said raster scanning pattern in order to produce an output signal that corresponds to said indicia, means for converting said output signal into binary coded signals and means for converting said binary coded signals into recognizable symbols.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A coded mark sensing system for automatically reading randomly oriented encoded indicia in the form of printed (marks) spaced lines comprising an electronic image scanning tube having a photo sensitive area upon which an optical image is focused and scanned with a raster type sweep pattern to provide electrical sampling of the optical image, a lens system on said scanner to focus the optical image of said lines onto said photo sensitive area in said image scanning tube, means to carry the encoded indicia for sensing, within view of the scanning tube to stimulate said photo sensitive portion of said scanner, means operative to automatically orient said raster scanning pattern with the image of the printed (marks) lines by continuously rotating the image of said coded indicia relative to said raster scanning pattern in order to produce an output signal that corresponds to said indicia, means for converting said output signal into binary coded signals and means for converting said binary coded signals into recognizable symbols.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic image scanning tube is a vidicon type tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic image scanning tube is an image orthicon type tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic image scanning tube is an image dissector type tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the image tube scanner is located at a position remote from said coded indicia.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 employed in conjunction with a retail merchandise checkout counter wherein the means to carry the spaced lines for sensing comprises labels affixed to the articles of merchandise said merchandise being transported so that the coded label thereon is carried within view of said scanner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the label scanner is situated above a checkout counter over which articles of merchandise are transported.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the label scanner is situated below a conveying surface over which said merchandise is transported, said surface having a viewing window through which labels affixed to the bottom of merchandise may be viewed from below.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the label scanner is positioned to one side of said checkout counter over which articles of merchandise are transported and positioned so as to sense a coded label affixed on one side of said merchandise.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said scanner is multiplexed in combination with at least one other scanner at a different checkout station or counter so that only a single readout per labelled article of merchandise occurs at a checkout station in which said scanner is positioned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for reading printed coded indicia in the form of lines and spaces comprising in combination a scanner wherein a photo sensitive target area is scanned by a raster type sweeping pattern, means to rotate continuously the optical image of the coded indicia relative to the raster sweeping pattern, electronic means to scan the image of said coded indicia which is positioned within view of said scanner and focused onto the photo sensitive area, means to produce electrical output signal impulses which correspond to said coded indicia that are produced by said scanning action, and means for converting said output signals into predetermined intelligible symbols.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for reading printed coded indicia in the form of lines and spaces comprising in combination a scanner wherein a photo sensitive target area is scanned by a raster type sweeping pattern, means to rotate continuously the optical image of the coded indicia relative to the raster sweeping pattern, electronic means to scan the image of said coded indicia which is positioned within view of said scanner and focused onto the photo sensitive area, means to produce electrical output signal impulses which correspond to said coded indicia that are produced by said scanning action, and means for converting said output signals into predetermined intelligible symbols.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein orientation of the raster pattern with the optical image of the coded indicia is affected by rotating the scan pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the orientation of the raster pattern with the optical image of the coded indicia is effected by rotating the optical image.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for converting encoded indicia into intelligent data comprising an image scanning tube which has a photo sensitive area upon which an optical image of the encoded data is focused, electronic means functioning to scan said photo sensitive area with a raster type sweep pattern to provide optical image sampling, a label having encoded indicia in the form of printed lines and spaces which are representative of a binary code, means to automatically provide relative and continuous rotation between said sweeping raster pattern and the optical image to cause registration of label indicia with the sweeping scan lines of the raster pattern and thereby to produce electrical output signals corresponding to said indicia, and means for converting said output signals into intelligible symbols.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for converting encoded indicia into intelligent data comprising an image scanning tube which has a photo sensitive area upon which an optical image of the encoded data is focused, electronic means functioning to scan said photo sensitive area with a raster type sweep pattern to provide optical image sampling, a label having encoded indicia in the form of printed lines and spaces which are representative of a binary code, means to automatically provide relative and continuous rotation between said sweeping raster pattern and the optical image to cause registration of label indicia with the sweeping scan lines of the raster pattern and thereby to produce electrical output signals corresponding to said indicia, and means for converting said output signals into intelligible symbols.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said means for orienting said raster sweeping pattern with said encoded indicia comprises a motorized rotating dove prism through which light rays of said encoded indicia are transmitted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said means for orienting said sweeping raster pattern with said encoded indicia comprises means for mechanically rotating the deflection yoke of the image scanning tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said means for orienting said sweeping raster pattern with said encoded indicia includes in combination a yoke of said image scanning tube with two sets of deflection coils to generate a rotating raster type sweep pattern as a result of two-phase waveform currents applied to each set of the deflection coils.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said encoded indicia is scanned by at least two sweeps of said raster pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said label comprises a plurality of distinct encoded indicia which are essentially simultaneously scanned by said raster sweeping pattern.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for converting printed encoded indicia, which is formed of lines and spaces and is randomly oriented with respect to the scanner, into intelligent data which comprises passing said encoded indicia within view of an image scanning tube which has a photo sensitive area upon which an image of said coded indicia is formed, scanning said photo sensitive area with a raster sweeping pattern, orienting said raster sweeping pattern with the randomly oriented encoded indicia by providing automatic relative continuous rotation between the coded indicia image and the raster scan pattern and thereby effecting registration between the image focused on the photo sensitive area of the tube and the raster pattern, and converting the electrical signals from the scanning of said image into intelligible symbols.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for converting printed encoded indicia, which is formed of lines and spaces and is randomly oriented with respect to the scanner, into intelligent data which comprises passing said encoded indicia within view of an image scanning tube which has a photo sensitive area upon which an image of said coded indicia is formed, scanning said photo sensitive area with a raster sweeping pattern, orienting said raster sweeping pattern with the randomly oriented encoded indicia by providing automatic relative continuous rotation between the coded indicia image and the raster scan pattern and thereby effecting registration between the image focused on the photo sensitive area of the tube and the raster pattern, and converting the electrical signals from the scanning of said image into intelligible symbols.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the coded indicia comprises a linear array of printed lines and spaces of predetermined thicknesses and wherein the readout is effected as said lines and spaces which comprise the coded indicia are intersected substantially perpendicularly by said scan lines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the coded indicia comprises a concentric array of printed lines and spaces of predetermined thicknesses and wherein the readout is effected when one or more scan lines of the raster sweeps diametrically through said concentric array of lines and spaces.
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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) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |