US3811033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Coded record interpreting system
Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
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Filing: 1971-06-29
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Granted: 1974-05-14
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Expires: 1991-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A machine readable, binary coded record or label includes N alternating bars and spaces of different reflectivity in which the widths of the bars and spaces are assigned one of two values representing a binary ''''1'''' or a binary ''''0.'''' Gates controlled by bar and space widths gate clock pulses in sequence into N width registers to determine and store widths of the bars and spaces forming a complete code. The average width of these same bars and spaces is also determined by coupling the total number of clock pulses supplied to the width counters through a divideby-N counter to a comparison register. The average width stored in the comparison register is then compared in a comparator with the actual widths of the individual bars and spaces stored in the width registers to determine the ''''1'''' and ''''0'''' significance of the bars and spaces. The determined bits are collected in a character register and transferred to a message register or output device.
Inventors
- 👤 J Vanderpool
- 👤 C Herrin
- 👤 R Humbarger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/01; G06K7/016; G06K7/0166; G06K7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for decoding records encoded in areas of different widths comprising record reading means for providing bit signals representing the widths of the areas, a plurality of width registers for storing the widths of different areas, a clock pulse source, steering means controlled by the bit signals for supplying different numbers of clock pulses to the plurality of width registers to store different area width representations in the width registers, a reference register, gate means controlled by the bit signals for supplying clock pulses to the reference register representing the average width of the areas stored in the width registers, and comparator means having inputs coupled to the width registers and to the reference register for establishing the relation between the average width and the stored widths of the iNdividual areas to decode the record.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for decoding records encoded in areas of different widths comprising record reading means for providing bit signals representing the widths of the areas, a plurality of width registers for storing the widths of different areas, a clock pulse source, steering means controlled by the bit signals for supplying different numbers of clock pulses to the plurality of width registers to store different area width representations in the width registers, a reference register, gate means controlled by the bit signals for supplying clock pulses to the reference register representing the average width of the areas stored in the width registers, and comparator means having inputs coupled to the width registers and to the reference register for establishing the relation between the average width and the stored widths of the iNdividual areas to decode the record.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for interpreting a record having plural bit characters encoded with areas of different sizes representing different bit values comprising record reading means for reading the record and providing bit signals representing the sizes of the individual areas, a plurality of reference means each controlled by the bit signals and each establishing a distinct reference size indication based on bit signals representing different combinations of individual areas, and control means controlled by the bit signals and the different reference means for comparing the sizes of different combinations of individual areas against the reference size indications provided by different ones of the plurality of reference means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for interpreting a record having plural bit characters encoded with areas of different sizes representing different bit values comprising record reading means for reading the record and providing bit signals representing the sizes of the individual areas, a plurality of reference means each controlled by the bit signals and each establishing a distinct reference size indication based on bit signals representing different combinations of individual areas, and control means controlled by the bit signals and the different reference means for comparing the sizes of different combinations of individual areas against the reference size indications provided by different ones of the plurality of reference means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for interpreting a record having a plural character message with a start code and character codes each encoded with areas of different sizes representing different bit values comprising record reading means for reading the record and providing bit signals representing the sizes of the individual areas, a plurality of reference means each controlled by the bit signals and each establishing a distinct reference size indication based on bit signals representing different combinations of individual areas, first control means controlled by the bit signals and the different reference means for comparing the sizes of different combinations of individual areas with the reference size indications provided by different ones of the plurality of reference means to decode the bit values, detecting means supplied with the detected bit values for detecting a start code, second control means controlled by the bit signals and one of the reference means for comparing the sizes of the individual areas with one of the reference size indications to decode bit values, and means controlled by the detecting means for inhibiting operation of the first control means and enabling operation of the second control means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for interpreting a record having a plural character message with a start code and character codes each encoded with areas of different sizes representing different bit values comprising record reading means for reading the record and providing bit signals representing the sizes of the individual areas, a plurality of reference means each controlled by the bit signals and each establishing a distinct reference size indication based on bit signals representing different combinations of individual areas, first control means controlled by the bit signals and the different reference means for comparing the sizes of different combinations of individual areas with the reference size indications provided by different ones of the plurality of reference means to decode the bit values, detecting means supplied with the detected bit values for detecting a start code, second control means controlled by the bit signals and one of the reference means for comparing the sizes of the individual areas with one of the reference size indications to decode bit values, and means controlled by the detecting means for inhibiting operation of the first control means and enabling operation of the second control means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
169 words
A system for decoding a character encoded on a record in N areas of different widths comprising record reading means for providing N bit signals representing the widths of the areas, a plurality of N width registers for storing the widths of N different areas, a clock pulse source, first steering means controlled by the bit signals for supplying different numbers of clock pulses to the plurality of width registers to store different area width representations in the width registers, a reference register, gate means controlled by the bit signals for supplying clock pulses to the reference register representing the average width of the N areas stored in the width registers, comparator means coupled to the reference register for establishing the relation between the average width and the stored widths of the individual areas to decode the record, and second steering means coupled between the N width registers and the comparator means for supplying the different widths stored in the N width registers to the comparator means in sequence.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
169 words
A system for decoding a character encoded on a record in N areas of different widths comprising record reading means for providing N bit signals representing the widths of the areas, a plurality of N width registers for storing the widths of N different areas, a clock pulse source, first steering means controlled by the bit signals for supplying different numbers of clock pulses to the plurality of width registers to store different area width representations in the width registers, a reference register, gate means controlled by the bit signals for supplying clock pulses to the reference register representing the average width of the N areas stored in the width registers, comparator means coupled to the reference register for establishing the relation between the average width and the stored widths of the individual areas to decode the record, and second steering means coupled between the N width registers and the comparator means for supplying the different widths stored in the N width registers to the comparator means in sequence.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for interpreting a record having plural bit characters encoded with areas of different widths representing different bit values comprising record reading means for reading the record and providing bit signals representing the sizes of the individual areas, a plurality of width storage means controlled by the bit signals to store indications of the widths of different areas, a plurality of reference storage means each controlled by the bit signals and each establishing a distinct reference width indication based on bit signals representing different combinations of individual areas, a comparator for comparing one reference width indication with a number of stored area width indications, and control means coupled to the width storage means and the reference storage means for rendering different ones of the reference storage means effective to coNtrol the comparator in combination with different sequences of width storage means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for interpreting a record having plural bit characters encoded with areas of different widths representing different bit values comprising record reading means for reading the record and providing bit signals representing the sizes of the individual areas, a plurality of width storage means controlled by the bit signals to store indications of the widths of different areas, a plurality of reference storage means each controlled by the bit signals and each establishing a distinct reference width indication based on bit signals representing different combinations of individual areas, a comparator for comparing one reference width indication with a number of stored area width indications, and control means coupled to the width storage means and the reference storage means for rendering different ones of the reference storage means effective to coNtrol the comparator in combination with different sequences of width storage means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for interpreting bar-encoded records in which fixed-width characters are represented by a fixed number greater than two of variable-width bars and spaces, said system comprising record scanning means for scanning said record and for signalling at the beginning and end of each bar and space, first timing means controlled by said record scanning means for generating digital representations of the time required to scan each bar and space, register means connected to said first timing means for storing a number of said digital representations at least equal to the number of bars and spaces which represent a character, counting means controlled by said record scanning means for counting the bars and spaces and for signalling the end of a character scan after a predetermined number of bars and spaces have been scanned, second timing means controlled by said counting means for generating a digital representation of the time it takes for a complete character to be scanned, and comparison means connecting to said register means and to said second timing means and placed into operation by said counting means for comparing the digital representations in said register means to the digital representation in said timing means and for presenting the result of the comparison in digital form as a representation of the character which has just been scanned.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for interpreting bar-encoded records in which fixed-width characters are represented by a fixed number greater than two of variable-width bars and spaces, said system comprising record scanning means for scanning said record and for signalling at the beginning and end of each bar and space, first timing means controlled by said record scanning means for generating digital representations of the time required to scan each bar and space, register means connected to said first timing means for storing a number of said digital representations at least equal to the number of bars and spaces which represent a character, counting means controlled by said record scanning means for counting the bars and spaces and for signalling the end of a character scan after a predetermined number of bars and spaces have been scanned, second timing means controlled by said counting means for generating a digital representation of the time it takes for a complete character to be scanned, and comparison means connecting to said register means and to said second timing means and placed into operation by said counting means for comparing the digital representations in said register means to the digital representation in said timing means and for presenting the result of the comparison in digital form as a representation of the character which has just been scanned.
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) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |