US3801957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic tire code reader
Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
•
Filing: 1972-08-14
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an automatic code reading system capable of automatically reading and formating for further use the identifying code contained on a particular item. The system is capable of ascertaining the identity of codes which are readily ascertainable by view of the human eye. Basically the invention teaches the use of a magnetically focused and deflectable electronic image storage tube to receive the image of the identifying code and compare that image with known images so as to effect an output of the image storage tube which will be indicative of the character of the code. The invention further provides a means for receiving the output of the image storage tube and converting that output into a format which may be readily used by peripheral equipment. Particularly, the invention teaches a digital output equivalent of the identifying code.
Inventors
- 👤 J Hogan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
The method of determining a particular code upon a given item, the code containing a plurality of characters comprising the steps of: a. storing the image of a universal word upon the storage grid of an image storage tube: b. passing the portion of the item containing the particular code before the storage tube in such a manner as to cast an image of that portion of the item onto the storage grid of the image storage tube, the output of the storage tube indicating the degree of correlation between the image of the stored universal word and the image of the portion of the item; c. stopping the passing of the portion of the item containing the particular code before the storage tube at that position where the output of the image storage tube indicates the higest degree of correlation; d. replacing the stored image of the universal word on the storage grid with the image of the particular code; e. serially reflecting the images of all the various characters of which the particular code may be comprised upon each of the individual images of the characters of the particular code on the storage grid so as to effect correlation functions at the output of the image storage tube; and f. sensing the output correlation functions of the data storage tube so as to detect the highest degree of correlation for each character of the particular code, the highest degree of correlation indicating that the character of the particular code is that character which, when its image was reflected onto the image of the character of the particular code, resulted in the highest degree of correlation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
277 words
The method of determining a particular code upon a given item, the code containing a plurality of characters comprising the steps of: a. storing the image of a universal word upon the storage grid of an image storage tube: b. passing the portion of the item containing the particular code before the storage tube in such a manner as to cast an image of that portion of the item onto the storage grid of the image storage tube, the output of the storage tube indicating the degree of correlation between the image of the stored universal word and the image of the portion of the item; c. stopping the passing of the portion of the item containing the particular code before the storage tube at that position where the output of the image storage tube indicates the higest degree of correlation; d. replacing the stored image of the universal word on the storage grid with the image of the particular code; e. serially reflecting the images of all the various characters of which the particular code may be comprised upon each of the individual images of the characters of the particular code on the storage grid so as to effect correlation functions at the output of the image storage tube; and f. sensing the output correlation functions of the data storage tube so as to detect the highest degree of correlation for each character of the particular code, the highest degree of correlation indicating that the character of the particular code is that character which, when its image was reflected onto the image of the character of the particular code, resulted in the highest degree of correlation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the various images are reflected into the image storage tube by means of a system of beam splitters and a reflecting lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the passing of the portion of the item containing the particular code before the image storage tube and the stopping of the passing is managed by a servo mechanism which is controlled by the output of the image storage tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein steps (e) and (f) are accomplished in such a manner as to serially correlate within the image storage tube the images of all the various characters of which the particular code may be comprised with the image of a single character of the particular code on the storage grid so as to determine from the output correlation function the identity of that single character and then repeating this procedure for the next single character of the particular code and so on until each of the individual characters of the particular code has been identified.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein steps (e) and (f) are accomplished in such a manner as to serially correlate one of the various characters of which the particular code may be comprised with all of the characters of the particular code and, after storing the information regarding the degree of correlation with regard to each of the characters of the particular code, correlating the next of the various characters of which the particular code may be comprised with all of the characters of the particular code and using the results of this correlation to update the stored information regarding the previous correlations and so on until each of the characters of which the particular code may be comprised has been compared with all of the characters of the code, at which time the stored information will reflect the identity of the particular code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for determining a particular code upon a given item, the code containing a plurality of characters, comprising: an image storage tube and control circuitry associated therewith providing a means of sensing, storing, and comparing optical images: an optical means operatively positioned in front of the tube for reflecting optical images into the image storage tube; a universal word projection system optically aligned with the storage tube for reflecting an image of a universal word through the optical means and upon the image storage tube such that the particular code may be aligned therewith; and a reference character set projection system optically aligned with the storage tube for reflecting the image of each of a plurality of reference characters upon the image storage tube so as to effect an output of the image storage tube which is a function of the correlation between the reference character and the individual characters of the particular code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for determining a particular code upon a given item, the code containing a plurality of characters, comprising: an image storage tube and control circuitry associated therewith providing a means of sensing, storing, and comparing optical images: an optical means operatively positioned in front of the tube for reflecting optical images into the image storage tube; a universal word projection system optically aligned with the storage tube for reflecting an image of a universal word through the optical means and upon the image storage tube such that the particular code may be aligned therewith; and a reference character set projection system optically aligned with the storage tube for reflecting the image of each of a plurality of reference characters upon the image storage tube so as to effect an output of the image storage tube which is a function of the correlation between the reference character and the individual characters of the particular code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the image storage tube comprises a magnetically focused and deflectable image storage tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 which includes means connected to the image storage tube for receiving, storing and updating the outputs of the image storage tube such that when any character of the particular code has been correlated with each of the characters of the reference character set projection system the identity of that character is determined and contained in said means for receiving, storing and updating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control circuitry includes a staircase generator connected to a deflection circuitry, for selecting the particular character of the code which is to be determined.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 which includes means for passing the given item before the image storage tube so that the image of the code may be reflected into the image storage tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 which includes a source of illumination so positioned with respect to the means to pass the given item before the image storage tube that a sharp contrast is created between the particular code and the given item.
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 |