US3801776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical mark sense reader for tab cards
Assignee: Bourns Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-26
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-12-26
Abstract
Abstract An optical mark sense tab card reader which utilizes an improved fiber optical sensing head having a plurality of elongated sensing areas, the major axis of each of which is aligned at an acute angle to the direction of travel of the tabulation card being read. This allows the card reader to efficiently and reliably read information off of tab cards where the information is presented in either slanted or the standard to vertical mark areas.
Inventors
- 👤 E Goeppinger
- 👤 D Guthrie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An optical mark sense card reader for reading tabulation cards having a plurality of mark areas arranged in a predetermined column and row format comprised of: a. optical sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of indicia in the mark areas and including an optical sensing head having a plurality of slots, a plurality of bunches of illuminating fiber optic strands, a plurality of bunches of sensing fiber optic strands, and a light source located against one end of said illuminating bunches; the other end of each of said illuminating bunches and the end of each associated one of said sensing bunches being fixed together in a respective one of said slots to form a respective elongated sensing area; b. means for transporting cards across said sensing head such that said sensing areas are each aligned with a row of mark areas; c. data generating means for providing electrical signals indicative of the presence or absence of marks in the mark areas of a card, the other ends of said sensing bunches being routed to said data generating means, wherein at least some of said sensing areas have their major axis aligned at an acute angle theta to the direction of travel of said cards in a plane generally parallel to the plane of travel of a card.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
An optical mark sense card reader for reading tabulation cards having a plurality of mark areas arranged in a predetermined column and row format comprised of: a. optical sensing means for sensing the presence or absence of indicia in the mark areas and including an optical sensing head having a plurality of slots, a plurality of bunches of illuminating fiber optic strands, a plurality of bunches of sensing fiber optic strands, and a light source located against one end of said illuminating bunches; the other end of each of said illuminating bunches and the end of each associated one of said sensing bunches being fixed together in a respective one of said slots to form a respective elongated sensing area; b. means for transporting cards across said sensing head such that said sensing areas are each aligned with a row of mark areas; c. data generating means for providing electrical signals indicative of the presence or absence of marks in the mark areas of a card, the other ends of said sensing bunches being routed to said data generating means, wherein at least some of said sensing areas have their major axis aligned at an acute angle theta to the direction of travel of said cards in a plane generally parallel to the plane of travel of a card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A reader as in claim 1 wherein said strands of each associated illuminating bunch and sensing bunch are randomly mixed in their respective slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A reader as in claim 1 wherein said angle theta is approximately 24*-26*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A reader as in claim 1 wherein the portions of each of said respective illuminating and sensing bunches held in said slots are aligned at an acute angle phi in a vertical plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A reader as in claim 4 wherein said angle phi is approximately 14*-16*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A reader as in claim 1 further including speed monitoring means for providing an electrical signal indicative of the speed at which a card is traveling past said sensing head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A reader as in claim 6 wherein said transporting means includes at least one drive wheel which engages a card to transport it past said sensing head, said drive wheel having timing marks thereon; and said speed monitoring means includes a relatively fixed photosensitive device facing the timing marks on said drive wheel so as to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the frequency at which the timing marks pass in front of said photosensitive device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 1 further including means for monitoring the intensity of light transmitted through said illuminating bundles and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said data generating means includes a plurality of photosensitive means one of which is located adjacent an end of each of said sensing bunches, for providing pulsating electrical signals indicative of the presence or absence of light transmitted through its associated sensing bunch, means for converting each of the pulsating electrical signals into digital electrical signals, means for scanning and codifying the digital electrical signals, means for storing the information in the resultant signals and means for transmitting the stored information through an output terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |