US3792235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal processing system for reading indicia over a wide depth of field
Assignee: Servo Corp of America
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Filing: 1971-12-22
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Automatic coded object identification system for reading labels of the type having retroreflective stripes arranged in a vertical array over a wide depth of field to two or more ranges (specifically three in the embodiment described herein). For each vertical scan of the stripes of a lebel by a scanner a set of electrical signals are produced. Each vertical scan also causes one of three processing control signals to be produced in succession. The electrical signals are amplified, shaped, and analyzed to determine if they meet prescribed limits as to pulsewidth measurements for proper label-derived signals. The process control signals control the values of amplification, shaping, and pulse-width measurement limits so that during three successive scans three sets of signals from a label are processed in three different manners. Each of the three process control signals causes the apparatus to optimally process the signals for a label located within a corresponding one of the three ranges. Thus, if a label is within one of the three ranges, the signals produced during one of three scanning operations will be properly processed. When signals are properly processed and found to meet the prescribed limits of pulse-width and other timing criteria, they are stored in a shift register until all the signal data on the label is accumulated. The accumulated data is checked in accordance with pattern recognition and parity checking schemes and if determined to be proper label-derived data it is transmitted to read out apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 A Durante
- 👤 F Macey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; B; B61; B61L; B61L25/00; B61L25/02; B61L25/04; B61L25/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
478 words
A system for processing information encoded in a label affixed to an object, said label comprising a plurality of radiation-reflecting code elements arranged in accordance with a predetermined code format to represent information pertaining to the object, said label being presented by said object to an information sensing means at a distance from the information sensing means; said system comprising information sensing means for repeatedly sensing the information encoded in the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of a label presented thereto and for producing sets of electrical signals representative of the information encoded in the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of the label, said information sensing means including scanning means for repeatedly scanning the radiation-reflecting elements of the label with an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation; and means arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the radiation-reflecting elements and operable in response to electromagnetic radiation received after reflection from the radiation-reflecting elements to produce a set of electrical signals representative of the information encoded in the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of the label during each operation of the scanning means to scan the raditaion-reflecting elements of the label; signal processing means including pulsE-width detection circuit means operable to measure the widths at predetermined amplitude points of the signals received from the information sensing means and means operable to process signals produced by the information sensing means in a first predetermined manner in response to a first control signal being applied thereto and to process signals produced by the information sensing means in a second predetermined manner in response to a second control signal being applied thereto; said signal processing means when operating to process signals in the first predetermined manner optimally processes signals produced by the information sensing means when a label is presented thereto within a first range of distances therefrom, and said signal processing means when operating to process signals in the second predetermined manner optimally processes signals produced by the information sensing means when a label is presented thereto within a second range of distances therefrom; means coupling said information sensing means and said signal processing means; additional signal processing means including storage means coupled to the signal processing means for storing a set of signals from the signal processing means; and signal checking means coupled to the storage means for examining signals stored in the storage means to determine whether said signals satisfy certain pre-established criteria and operable to cause the signals stored in the storage means to be read out from the storage means if the signals stored therein satisfy said pre-established criteria; and processing control means coupled to the information sensing means and to the signal processing means and operable in response to successive operations of the scanning means to scan the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of a label presented thereto to produce the first control signal and the second control signal in succession.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
478 words
A system for processing information encoded in a label affixed to an object, said label comprising a plurality of radiation-reflecting code elements arranged in accordance with a predetermined code format to represent information pertaining to the object, said label being presented by said object to an information sensing means at a distance from the information sensing means; said system comprising information sensing means for repeatedly sensing the information encoded in the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of a label presented thereto and for producing sets of electrical signals representative of the information encoded in the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of the label, said information sensing means including scanning means for repeatedly scanning the radiation-reflecting elements of the label with an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation; and means arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from the radiation-reflecting elements and operable in response to electromagnetic radiation received after reflection from the radiation-reflecting elements to produce a set of electrical signals representative of the information encoded in the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of the label during each operation of the scanning means to scan the raditaion-reflecting elements of the label; signal processing means including pulsE-width detection circuit means operable to measure the widths at predetermined amplitude points of the signals received from the information sensing means and means operable to process signals produced by the information sensing means in a first predetermined manner in response to a first control signal being applied thereto and to process signals produced by the information sensing means in a second predetermined manner in response to a second control signal being applied thereto; said signal processing means when operating to process signals in the first predetermined manner optimally processes signals produced by the information sensing means when a label is presented thereto within a first range of distances therefrom, and said signal processing means when operating to process signals in the second predetermined manner optimally processes signals produced by the information sensing means when a label is presented thereto within a second range of distances therefrom; means coupling said information sensing means and said signal processing means; additional signal processing means including storage means coupled to the signal processing means for storing a set of signals from the signal processing means; and signal checking means coupled to the storage means for examining signals stored in the storage means to determine whether said signals satisfy certain pre-established criteria and operable to cause the signals stored in the storage means to be read out from the storage means if the signals stored therein satisfy said pre-established criteria; and processing control means coupled to the information sensing means and to the signal processing means and operable in response to successive operations of the scanning means to scan the plurality of radiation-reflecting elements of a label presented thereto to produce the first control signal and the second control signal in succession.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signal processing means includes pulse-width checking means coupled to the pulse-width detection circuit means and to said storage means and operable to determine whether the measured signal widths are within prescribed limits and to cause signals received from the information sensing means to be stored in the storage means when the measured signal widths are determined to be within the prescribed limits; said pulse-width checking means including means coupled to the processing control means and operable to establish a first set of values for said prescribed limits when the first control signal is being produced by the processing control means and to establish a second set of values for said prescribed limits when the second control signal is being produced by the processing control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said processing control means includes first circuit means coupled to the scanning means and operable to produce an output signal in response to each operation of the scanning means to scan the radiation-reflecting elements of a label; and second circuit means operable in response to each output signal from the first circuit means to change the output of the processing control means from one control signal to another control signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
A system in ccordance with claim 3 including an amplifying means connected between said means of the information sensing means and said signal processing means for amplifying electrical signals produced by said means; and amplifying control means coupled to said amplifying means and to said processing control means and operable to cause said amplifying means to amplify signals applied thereto by a first amount in response to the first control signal being applied thereto and by a second amount in response to the second control signal being applied thereto; electrical signals produced by said means while the scanning means is scanning the radiation-reflecting elements of a label presented thereto within the firsT range of distances being amplified to within predetermined levels when amplified by said first amount and electrical signals produced by said means while the scanning means is scanning the radiation-reflecting elements of a label presented thereto within the second range of distances being amplified to within substantially the same predetermined levels when amplified by said second amount.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein the radiation-reflecting elements of a label are selected from retroreflective stripes of a first color, a second color, and a third color, and non-reflecting stripes of a fourth color, said stripes being arranged in a vertical array of paired combinations of stripes with each pair being separated vertically by a non-reflecting spacer; and the electromagnetic radiation is visible light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3617704A
Cited
US3701097A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |