Abstract A device for reading information encoded in the form of bars of two widths. The device comprises an illuminating section for illuminating the bars and concentric detecting sections corresponding respectively in width to the width of the aforementioned bars. The detectors are physically related to the illuminating portion to detect the illumination of the bars thereby. The detectors may be optical fiber bundles. The innermost of the detectors is preferably columnar. A method of the invention consists of translating a row of bars of different widths into information bits by scanning the bars to illuminate the same and to pick up reflected light with two associated light detectors, the widths of which correspond, as noted above, to the width of the bars. The picked up light by the detectors is converted into electrical pulses, the magnitude of which is limited to form rectangular pulses of width corresponding to the aforesaid bars. The magnitude of the pulses generated by the wider detector is detected to generate pulses correponding only to the wider bars. The latter pulses are terminated in synchronism with the corresponding rectangular pulses. The bars are preferably made of one color.
A device for reading information encoded in the form of bars of at least two widths, said device comprising illuminating means for illuminating the bars, and a plurality of detecting means corresponding respectively in width to the widths of the bars and physically related to said illuminating means to detect the illumination of the bars by the illuminating means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A device for reading information encoded in the form of bars of at least two widths, said device comprising illuminating means for illuminating the bars, and a plurality of detecting means corresponding respectively in width to the widths of the bars and physically related to said illuminating means to detect the illumination of the bars by the illuminating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means is an optical fiber bundle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detecting means are concentrically arranged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the innermost of the detecting means is columnar.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for translating a row of bars of first and second widths into information bits, said method comprising scanning the bars to illuminate the same and to pick up reflected light with two associated light detectors the widths of which correspond to the widths of the bars converting the light picked up by the detectors into electrical pulses, limiting the magnitude of the pulses generated by the narrower detector to form rectangular pulses of widths corresponding to said bars, detecting the magnitude of the pulses generated by the wider detector and exceeding a predetermined magnitude whereby to generate pulses corresponding only to the wider bars, and terminating the latter said pulses in synchronism with the corresponding rectangular pulses.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for translating a row of bars of first and second widths into information bits, said method comprising scanning the bars to illuminate the same and to pick up reflected light with two associated light detectors the widths of which correspond to the widths of the bars converting the light picked up by the detectors into electrical pulses, limiting the magnitude of the pulses generated by the narrower detector to form rectangular pulses of widths corresponding to said bars, detecting the magnitude of the pulses generated by the wider detector and exceeding a predetermined magnitude whereby to generate pulses corresponding only to the wider bars, and terminating the latter said pulses in synchronism with the corresponding rectangular pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising arranging the detectors in concentric relation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 comprising making the bars of one color.