Electrical information recognition and retrieval

Claim 2

Apparatus for electrically reading an information carrying member having information on at least one side thereof and defined by surface level transitions from a reference surface on said one side and comprising: electrical means for establishing a flow of current to set up an electric potential on said reference surface; electrically conductive probe means positioned proximate to and spaced from said reference surface; means for imparting relative movement between said probe means and said member such that said probe means scans along a path spaced from said reference surface so that a characteristic current is caused to flow in said probe means as said probe means scans past a said surface level transition, and detector means connected to said probe means and responsive to a said characteristic current for providing an output indication representative of the detection of a said surface level transition.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electric potential establishing means comprises means for establishing an electric charge on at least said reference surface.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said electric charge establishing means includes charge depositing means and high voltage direct current supply means connected to said depositing means to provide an electric charge on said reference surface.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said characteristic current exhibits a first characteristic as said probe means scans past a said surface level transition directed toward said probe means and a second characteristic as said probe means scans past a said surface level transition directed away from said probe means, said detector means including means responsive to said first and second current characteristics for providing a said output indication in dependence upon the direction of a detected said surface level transition.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said detector means includes circuit means for providing a first level signal in response to each said first current characteristic and a second level signal in response to each said second current characteristic.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including logic circuit means for decoding a pattern of said first and second level signals developed as said probe means scans a path past a plurality of said surface level transitions to obtain decoded signals representative of the information presented by said surface level transitions.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, including first means responsive to the first of said level signals exhibiting a particular one of said levels for providing a first signal representative of the detection of the surface level transition defining the lead edge of said information carrying member.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first means includes means for controlling said first signal to exhibit a first time duration.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said logic circuit means includes gate means for activating said logic means to respond to said level signals for a time duration corresponding with said first time duration.

Claim 11

Apparatus for electrically reading an information carrying member constructed of electrical insulating material and having information carried on at least one side thereof and defined by surface level transitions from a reference surface on said one side and comprising: a support member having an electrically conductive surface for supporting a said information carrying member with said one side thereof facing in an opposite direction from said electrically conductive surface; means for establishing an electric surface charge on at least said reference surface on said one side of said member; electrically conductive probe means positioned proximate to but spaced from said conductive surface by a distance sufficient to be spaced from said one side of said member when said member is interposed between conductive surface and said probe means, means for imparting relative movement between said probe means and a said supported information carrying member so that said probe means scans along a path corresponding to but spaced from said one side of said information carrying member such that a characteristic electric current is caused to flow in said probe means and exhibiting a binary nature of one binary level and a second binary respectively dependent upon whether said probe is scanning past a surface level transition in a first direction or a second direction relative to said probe means, and binary level decoding means for providing an output representation of the information represented by said surface level transition in dependence upon the binary levels of said characteristic currents.

Claim 12

Apparatus for electrically reading an information carrying member constructed of electrical insulating material and having information carried on at least one side thereof and defined by surface level transitions from a reference surface on said one side and comprising: a support member having an electrically conductive surface for supporting a said information carrying member with said one side thereof facing in an opposite direction from said electrically conductive surface; means for establishing an electric surface charge on at least said reference surface on said one side of said member; electrically conductive probe means positioned proximate to but spaced from said conductive surface by a distance sufficient to be spaced from said one side of said member when said member is interposed between conductive surface and said probe means, means for imparting relative movement between said probe means and a said supported information carrying member so that said probe means scans along a path corresponding to but spaced from said one side of said information carrying member such that a characteristic electric current is caused to flow in said probe means and exhibiting a binary nature of one binary level and a second binary respectively dependent upon whether said probe is scanning past a surface level transition in a first direction or a second direction relative to said probe means, and binary level decoding means for providing an output representation of the information represented by said surface level transition in dependence upon the binary levels of said characteristic currents.

Claim 19

Apparatus for electrically reading an information carrying member having information on at least one side thereof and defined by surface level transitions from a reference surface on said one side and comprising: corona electrode charger means spaced from said one side of said member for establishing a flow of current to set up an electric potential charge on said one side as the charger means is moved relative to said one side; electrically conductive probe means positioned proximate to and spaced from said reference surface; means for imparting relative movement between said probe means and said member such that said probe means scans along a path spaced from said reference surface so that a characteristic current is caused to flow in said probe means as said probe means scans past a said surface level transition, and detector means connected to said probe means and responsive to a said characteristic current for providing an output indication representative of the detection of said surface level transition.

Claim 20

Apparatus for electrically reading an information carrying member having information on at least one side thereof and defined by surface level transitions from a reference surface on said one side and comprising: corona electrode charger means spaced from said one side of said member for establishing a flow of current to set up an electric potential charge on said one side as the charger means is moved relative to said one side; electrically conductive probe means positioned proximate to and spaced from said reference surface; means for imparting relative movement between said probe means and said member such that said probe means scans along a path spaced from said reference surface so that a characteristic current is caused to flow in said probe means as said probe means scans past a said surface level transition, and detector means connected to said probe means and responsive to a said characteristic current for providing an output indication representative of the detection of said surface level transition.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said electric charge establishing means includes conductive means electrically connected to said supply means and having one end thereof adapted to make frictional and electrical contact with said surface so that movement of said conductive means along said surface provides transfer of electric charge thereto.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said conductive means exhibits sufficient resiliency to enable it to make substantial surface area contact with said surface.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, including a conductive member positioned on the opposite side of said information on carrying member, and means for establishing a reference potential on said conductive member.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said conductive member is a support plate for supporting said information member when positioned with its said one side facing in an opposite direction from said support plate.