US3809909A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for the automatic reading of curves
Assignee: GITAC
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Filing: 1973-06-29
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1993-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for the automatic reading of curves plotted on a chart or graph, more particularly tachograph curves of a vehicle as plotted on a tachograph disc. The system may read one or more curves simultaneously. It enables the curve or curves read off to be converted into the form of trains of electrical signals.
Inventors
- 👤 S Salet
- 👤 Montgolfier A De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K11/00; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for reading at least one curve plotted with polar coordinates on a circular recording disc and converting the readings into the form of significant electrical signals, said system comprising in combination: a support for said recording disc; drive means for rotating said support and said disc about an axis coincident with the central axis of said disc; means for measuring rotational displacement of said support; a light source; an optical reader assembly comprising an emitter optical fiber bundle having one of its ends disposed facing toward said light source; an assembly of a plurality of photo-electric detectors; a receiver optical fiber bundle disposed with one end facing toward said assembly of photo-electric detectors, said optical fibers of said receiver bundle being divided into a plurality of groups of fibers each of said groups comprIsing at least one optical fiber, and each of said groups being associated with a different one of said photo-electric detectors; the ends of said fiber bundles which are not disposed facing toward said light source and said photo-electric detectors respectively being combined and disposed facing toward said disc in a row radial to said coincident axes; and means for the sequential analysis of the electrical state of the outputs of said photo-electric detectors, said sequential analysis means being controlled by said means for measuring the displacement of said support.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for reading at least one curve plotted with polar coordinates on a circular recording disc and converting the readings into the form of significant electrical signals, said system comprising in combination: a support for said recording disc; drive means for rotating said support and said disc about an axis coincident with the central axis of said disc; means for measuring rotational displacement of said support; a light source; an optical reader assembly comprising an emitter optical fiber bundle having one of its ends disposed facing toward said light source; an assembly of a plurality of photo-electric detectors; a receiver optical fiber bundle disposed with one end facing toward said assembly of photo-electric detectors, said optical fibers of said receiver bundle being divided into a plurality of groups of fibers each of said groups comprIsing at least one optical fiber, and each of said groups being associated with a different one of said photo-electric detectors; the ends of said fiber bundles which are not disposed facing toward said light source and said photo-electric detectors respectively being combined and disposed facing toward said disc in a row radial to said coincident axes; and means for the sequential analysis of the electrical state of the outputs of said photo-electric detectors, said sequential analysis means being controlled by said means for measuring the displacement of said support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 1, in which said measuring means comprise: a grating composed of lines connected to said support; an auxiliary reader comprising an emitter optical fiber bundle, two receiver optical fiber bundles, a light source, two photo-electric detectors; and electronic means coupled to said photo-electric detectors for measuring relative displacement of said grating and said auxiliary reader by line counting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 2 in which said line grating is in the form of a gearwheel coaxial with said support and driven so as to rotate therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 1 which also comprises means for selectively detecting the state of excitation of the ends of said groups of fibers of said receiver bundle according to the position of said ends of said groups of fibers in relation to said radial direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 4 in which said selective detection means comprise logic gates operatively coupled to said photo-detectors and to at least one time signal source, the logic outputs of said logic gates actuating at least one counter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for reading at least one graphically plotted curve on a recording chart and converting the readings into the form of significant electrical signals, said system comprising, in combination: a support for said recording chart; drive means for displacing said support and said chart in the direction of one of the coordinates of the curve; means for measuring displacement of said support; a light source; an optical reader assembly comprising an emitter optical fiber bundle having one of its ends facing toward said light source; an assembly of a plurality of photo-electric detectors; a receiver optical fiber bundle disposed with one end facing toward said assembly of photo-electric detectors, said optical fibers of said receiver bundle being divided into a plurality of groups of fibers each of said groups comprising at least one optical fiber, and each of said groups being associated with a different one of said photo-electric detectors; the ends of said fiber bundles which are not disposed facing toward said light source and said photo-electric detectors respectively being combined and disposed facing toward said chart in a row transverse to the direction of displacement of said support and said chart; and means for the sequential analysis of the electrical state of the outputs of said photo-electric detectors, said sequential analysis means being controlled by said means for measuring the displacement of said support.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for reading at least one graphically plotted curve on a recording chart and converting the readings into the form of significant electrical signals, said system comprising, in combination: a support for said recording chart; drive means for displacing said support and said chart in the direction of one of the coordinates of the curve; means for measuring displacement of said support; a light source; an optical reader assembly comprising an emitter optical fiber bundle having one of its ends facing toward said light source; an assembly of a plurality of photo-electric detectors; a receiver optical fiber bundle disposed with one end facing toward said assembly of photo-electric detectors, said optical fibers of said receiver bundle being divided into a plurality of groups of fibers each of said groups comprising at least one optical fiber, and each of said groups being associated with a different one of said photo-electric detectors; the ends of said fiber bundles which are not disposed facing toward said light source and said photo-electric detectors respectively being combined and disposed facing toward said chart in a row transverse to the direction of displacement of said support and said chart; and means for the sequential analysis of the electrical state of the outputs of said photo-electric detectors, said sequential analysis means being controlled by said means for measuring the displacement of said support.
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) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |