Method and apparatus for identifying objects

Claim 1

The method of identifying objects by means of data information, which objects may appear in random position and orientation and at random times in a particular area, comprising: providing to a surface of the objects a data field of particular orientation, the data field comprised of contrasting data markings arranged in at least one track; providing to the data field a unique position identification marking identifying location of the data field and beginning thereof and having characteristic to identify the angular orientation of the data track and having additional characteristic distinguishing the latter marking from the data markings; scanning the particular area by means of an electronically operated scanner which provides a signal train representing the scanning of the particular area, the signals representing random contrasts in the area when a data field is not in the area; searching in the signal train for a particular bit pattern in representation of presence of a position identification marking in the particular area by continuously attempting to decode progressing portions of the signal train as a bit sequence, including consistently ignoring any bits that may represent data markings, for detecting a particular location of the latter marking upon successfully decoding a bit sequence; electrically processing the signal train additionally to search for representation of the characteristic identifying the angular orientation of the data track; establishing first electrical signal on basis of the searching step in identifying for a location as a beginning of a data scan along the data track in dependence upon the detected location; establishing second electrical signal on basis of the searching and processing steps for identifying the said angular orientation of the data track; combining the first and second electrical signal representations for controlling data field scanning including the said scanner for data track reading in dependence upon and on basis of the said combined first and second signal representations; and reading the data track during the field scanning as provided on basis of said signal representations, by electrically processing the signal train as provided by the scanner.

Claim 2

The method of identifying objects by means of data information, which objects may appear in random position and orientation and at random times in a particular area, comprising: providing to a surface of the objects a data field of particular orientation, the data field comprised of contrasting data markings arranged in at least one track; providing to the data field a unique position identification marking identifying location of the data field and beginning thereof and having characteristic to identify the angular orientation of the data track and having additional characteristic distinguishing the latter marking from the data markings; scanning the particular area by means of an electronically operated scanner which provides a signal train representing the scanning of the particular area, the signals representing random contrasts in the area when a data field is not in the area; searching in the signal train for a particular bit pattern in representation of presence of a position identification marking in the particular area by continuously attempting to decode progressing portions of the signal train as a bit sequence, including consistently ignoring any bits that may represent data markings, for detecting a particular location of the latter marking upon successfully decoding a bit sequence; electrically processing the signal train additionally to search for representation of the characteristic identifying the angular orientation of the data track; establishing first electrical signal on basis of the searching step in identifying for a location as a beginning of a data scan along the data track in dependence upon the detected location; establishing second electrical signal on basis of the searching and processing steps for identifying the said angular orientation of the data track; combining the first and second electrical signal representations for controlling data field scanning including the said scanner for data track reading in dependence upon and on basis of the said combined first and second signal representations; and reading the data track during the field scanning as provided on basis of said signal representations, by electrically processing the signal train as provided by the scanner.

Claim 13

An apparatus for machine reading of information contained in a data field on a carrier which may appear at random times in random position and orientation in a particular area, the data composed of markings arranged in at least two parallel tracks of a data field, the data field identified by a position and orientation pattern and defining the position of the end or of the beginning of the data tracks as well as the angular orientation of the data tracks, comprising: first means for scanning the particular area along and in a raster scan for detecting the character and providing signals representing a starting point and direction of data read scanning from the point; second means connected to be responsive to the direction representing signals providing offset signals representing a transverse direction; third means for generating ramp signals for controlling a read scan in dependence upon said signals as provided by the first means to run in said direction from said point; high speed multiplexing means for superimposing the transverse offset signals upon the ramp signal for obtaining two parallel running scanning lines for scanning the two data tracks simultaneously and readout means operating in synchronism with the multiplexing means for providing two data tracks as scanned.

Claim 14

An apparatus for machine reading of information contained in a data field on a carrier which may appear at random times in random position and orientation in a particular area, the data composed of markings arranged in at least two parallel tracks of a data field, the data field identified by a position and orientation pattern and defining the position of the end or of the beginning of the data tracks as well as the angular orientation of the data tracks, comprising: first means for scanning the particular area along and in a raster scan for detecting the character and providing signals representing a starting point and direction of data read scanning from the point; second means connected to be responsive to the direction representing signals providing offset signals representing a transverse direction; third means for generating ramp signals for controlling a read scan in dependence upon said signals as provided by the first means to run in said direction from said point; high speed multiplexing means for superimposing the transverse offset signals upon the ramp signal for obtaining two parallel running scanning lines for scanning the two data tracks simultaneously and readout means operating in synchronism with the multiplexing means for providing two data tracks as scanned.

Claim 15

An apparatus for machine reading of information contained in a data field on a carrier whIch may appear at random times in random position and orientation in a particular area, the data composed of markings arranged in one or several parallel tracks in a data field, the data field identified by a position and orientation character and defining the angular orientation of the data track, comprising: electronic scanning equipment having particular disposition in relation to the particular area; first means for controlling said scanning equipment for scanning the particular area along a raster scan including plural scanning lines covering the particular area and including second means for providing digitized output signal in accordance with the optical content of the area as scanned; third means connected to the second means to be responsive to the output signal for detecting and decoding a particular bit pattern in the output signal and providing a pair of scan location signals in respresentation of a first particular point on the data field; fourth means connected to the second means to be responsive to the output signal for detecting a second particular signal pattern and providing a pair of scan location signals in representation of a second point in particular relation to the first particular point; fifth means connected to the third and fourth means for processing said pairs of scan location signals for obtaining representation on the direction of extension of tracks; read scan means distinct from the first means, connected to the third, fourth and fifth means for controlling the electronic scanning equipment for data field scanning in response to the spatial relation of the first and second points as provided by the fifth means to obtain data field readout scan covering said tracks; and means including the second means for obtaining digitized output signals as data signals during operation of the read scan means.

Claim 16

An apparatus for machine reading of information contained in a data field on a carrier whIch may appear at random times in random position and orientation in a particular area, the data composed of markings arranged in one or several parallel tracks in a data field, the data field identified by a position and orientation character and defining the angular orientation of the data track, comprising: electronic scanning equipment having particular disposition in relation to the particular area; first means for controlling said scanning equipment for scanning the particular area along a raster scan including plural scanning lines covering the particular area and including second means for providing digitized output signal in accordance with the optical content of the area as scanned; third means connected to the second means to be responsive to the output signal for detecting and decoding a particular bit pattern in the output signal and providing a pair of scan location signals in respresentation of a first particular point on the data field; fourth means connected to the second means to be responsive to the output signal for detecting a second particular signal pattern and providing a pair of scan location signals in representation of a second point in particular relation to the first particular point; fifth means connected to the third and fourth means for processing said pairs of scan location signals for obtaining representation on the direction of extension of tracks; read scan means distinct from the first means, connected to the third, fourth and fifth means for controlling the electronic scanning equipment for data field scanning in response to the spatial relation of the first and second points as provided by the fifth means to obtain data field readout scan covering said tracks; and means including the second means for obtaining digitized output signals as data signals during operation of the read scan means.

Claim 20

An apparatus for machine reading of information contained in a data field on a carrier which may appear at random times in random position and orientation in a particular area, the data composed of markings arranged in one or several parallel tracks in a data field, the data field identified by a position and orientation and character and defining at least one particular point in relation to the data track, comprising: first means for scanning the particular area along a raster scan including plural scanning lines covering the particular area and including second means for providing an output signal in accordance with the optical content of the area as scanned; third means connected to the second means for converting the output signal into train of bit signals; fourth means connected to the third means for searching for a particular bit pattern in representation of at least a portion of said character when scanned through; fifth means connected to the fourth means for controlling the first means to obtain a repeat scan through said character to obtain a verified representation of a data read scan starting point; sixth means connected to the third through fifth means for obtaining a pair of signals determining the direction of extension of the data tracks in the particular area; first and second ramp generators providing ramp sIgnals of the pair; and control means controlling scanning for data read-out from the starting point and in the direction in accordance with the signals as provided by the ramp generators.

Claim 21

An apparatus for machine reading of information contained in a data field on a carrier which may appear at random times in random position and orientation in a particular area, the data composed of markings arranged in one or several parallel tracks in a data field, the data field identified by a position and orientation and character and defining at least one particular point in relation to the data track, comprising: first means for scanning the particular area along a raster scan including plural scanning lines covering the particular area and including second means for providing an output signal in accordance with the optical content of the area as scanned; third means connected to the second means for converting the output signal into train of bit signals; fourth means connected to the third means for searching for a particular bit pattern in representation of at least a portion of said character when scanned through; fifth means connected to the fourth means for controlling the first means to obtain a repeat scan through said character to obtain a verified representation of a data read scan starting point; sixth means connected to the third through fifth means for obtaining a pair of signals determining the direction of extension of the data tracks in the particular area; first and second ramp generators providing ramp sIgnals of the pair; and control means controlling scanning for data read-out from the starting point and in the direction in accordance with the signals as provided by the ramp generators.