Optical addressing system

Claim 1

An addressing system for an automatically controlled vehicle comprising: a light source; a plurality of address plates each mounted at respective appropriate locations along possible paths of movement of said vehicle, each of said address plates being formed of a flat sheet of opaque material to have an elongated bar at each end thereof and a plurality of shorter bars and spaces disposed intermediate said elongated bars, said elongated bars and said shorter bars and spaces cooperating to produce an optically readable address signal and an optically readable ''''Read Now'''' signal when said plate is illuminated by said light source; a reader head carried by said vehicle and having an elongated slot extending through said head positioned to pass about said address plates during movement of said vehicle; and a plurality of photoelectric means on said reader head corresponding in number to the number of bars and spaces on each of said address plates and communicating with said slot to optically read said address signal provided by each of said address plates upon detection of said ''''Read Now'''' signal from said address plates and converting said address signal into electrical signals.