Patent US3198288A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3854035A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3854035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for reading coded information
Assignee: Dayco Products Canada Inc
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Filing: 1972-07-31
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1992-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A surface containing encoded information bordered by bars where both the bars and the information contrast with a background is detected as to location and the information read by sampling the video scan output of a television camera. The effects of motion may be minimized by producing a strobed image in the television camera.
Inventors
- 👤 A Tyler
- 👤 W Lower
- 👤 M Taylor
- 👤 R Forsyth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/10; B07C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface movable along a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said information marks, on the one hand, contrast with said background, on the other hand; providing a television camera, whereby the image formed in said camera is scanned, moving said surface through the field of view of said camera; obtaining the scan output signal resulting from scanning such image; determining, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said location and information marks, on the one hand, and the signal resulting from said background, on the other hand, whereby analysis will determine the presence, location and orientation of said information marks on each line, responsive to the detection of the presence, location and correct orientation of said location marks, producing on said camera, an image through illumination for a period short enough to avoid ambiguity in said information marks, due to movement, thereof relative to the televisions camera, converting, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, the electrical video output resulting in such scan into a two level signal wherein one level will include the result of scanning the image of said background, and the other level will include the result of scanning the image of said information marks; producing an output which provides a series of pulses at the said regular intervals during the existence of one of said levels, and the absence of such pulses at the other of such levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface movable along a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said information marks, on the one hand, contrast with said background, on the other hand; providing a television camera, whereby the image formed in said camera is scanned, moving said surface through the field of view of said camera; obtaining the scan output signal resulting from scanning such image; determining, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said location and information marks, on the one hand, and the signal resulting from said background, on the other hand, whereby analysis will determine the presence, location and orientation of said information marks on each line, responsive to the detection of the presence, location and correct orientation of said location marks, producing on said camera, an image through illumination for a period short enough to avoid ambiguity in said information marks, due to movement, thereof relative to the televisions camera, converting, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, the electrical video output resulting in such scan into a two level signal wherein one level will include the result of scanning the image of said background, and the other level will include the result of scanning the image of said information marks; producing an output which provides a series of pulses at the said regular intervals during the existence of one of said levels, and the absence of such pulses at the other of such levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
301 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface movable along a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said information marks, on the one hand, contrast with said background, on the other hand; providing a television camera, whereby the image formed in said camera is scanned, moving said surface through the field of view of said camera; obtaining the scan output signal resulting from scanning such image; determining, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said location and information marks, on the one hand, and the signal resulting from said background, on the other hand, whereby analysis will determine the presence, location and orientation of said information marks on each line, responsive to the detection of the presence, location and correct orientation of said location marks, producing on said camera, an image through illumination for a period short enough to avoid ambiguity in said information marks, due to movement, thereof relative to the televisions camera, converting, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, the electrical video output resulting in such scan into a two level signal wherein one level will include the result of scanning the image of said background, and the other level will include the result of scanning the image of said information marks; producing an output which provides a series of pulses at the said regular intervals during the existence of one of said levels, and the absence of such pulses at the other of such levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
301 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface movable along a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said information marks, on the one hand, contrast with said background, on the other hand; providing a television camera, whereby the image formed in said camera is scanned, moving said surface through the field of view of said camera; obtaining the scan output signal resulting from scanning such image; determining, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said location and information marks, on the one hand, and the signal resulting from said background, on the other hand, whereby analysis will determine the presence, location and orientation of said information marks on each line, responsive to the detection of the presence, location and correct orientation of said location marks, producing on said camera, an image through illumination for a period short enough to avoid ambiguity in said information marks, due to movement, thereof relative to the televisions camera, converting, at regular predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, the electrical video output resulting in such scan into a two level signal wherein one level will include the result of scanning the image of said background, and the other level will include the result of scanning the image of said information marks; producing an output which provides a series of pulses at the said regular intervals during the existence of one of said levels, and the absence of such pulses at the other of such levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
159 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface movable along a locus relative to a television camera wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of marks of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, comprising the steps of: providing a television camera, moving said surface along said locus relative to said camera to pass through the field of view thereof, responsive to the presence of said image within said field of view, analyzing the signal resulting from the scan of the image in said television camera, determining whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined regular intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of such marks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface movable along a locus relative to a television camera wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of marks of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, comprising the steps of: providing a television camera, moving said surface along said locus relative to said camera to pass through the field of view thereof, responsive to the presence of said image within said field of view, analyzing the signal resulting from the scan of the image in said television camera, determining whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined regular intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of such marks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 where the illumination creating an image in said camera is limited to intervals short, relative to the time for said marks to move a distance sufficient to cause ambiguity on said information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the creation of an image in said camera is limited to intervals less than the interval between frame scans in the television camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface wherein information is identified and located by the presence or absence of marks in a predetermined arrangement and orientation of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, comprising the steps of: providing a television camera, forming an image therein, moving said surface relative to said camera to pass through the field of view thereof, determining at predetermined regular intervals during the scanning of a line along said image whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface wherein information is identified and located by the presence or absence of marks in a predetermined arrangement and orientation of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, comprising the steps of: providing a television camera, forming an image therein, moving said surface relative to said camera to pass through the field of view thereof, determining at predetermined regular intervals during the scanning of a line along said image whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said information marks are arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship on said surface to at least one location line arranged to extend in a direction within a predetermined angle of a direction, which in the camera image, is a perpendicular to the scan, identifying by said interval determinations, the intersection of a scan line with a location line, determining from the number of lines in a frame in which said identification is made, the presence of said information within said image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
Method of determining the presence of a pattern within the field of view of a television camera, wherein the pattern includes a location portion comprising lines of predetermined relative orientation, dimension, and spacing contrasting with a background comprising the steps of: providing a television camera, moving said surface relative to said camera to pass through the field of view thereof, where the location portion is arranged within a predetermined range of angles relative to the scanning direction of said camera, analyzing the scan output signal resulting from scanning the image formed in said television camera, providing a two-level signal with the level determined by whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, where said predetermined level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, identifying from the two level signal, the intersection of a scan line with said location marks, counting the number of said predetermined intervals between a line of said location portion and the edge of the scan frame, on at least two of said scan lines of predetermined spacing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
Method of determining the presence of a pattern within the field of view of a television camera, wherein the pattern includes a location portion comprising lines of predetermined relative orientation, dimension, and spacing contrasting with a background comprising the steps of: providing a television camera, moving said surface relative to said camera to pass through the field of view thereof, where the location portion is arranged within a predetermined range of angles relative to the scanning direction of said camera, analyzing the scan output signal resulting from scanning the image formed in said television camera, providing a two-level signal with the level determined by whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, where said predetermined level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, identifying from the two level signal, the intersection of a scan line with said location marks, counting the number of said predetermined intervals between a line of said location portion and the edge of the scan frame, on at least two of said scan lines of predetermined spacing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks of predetermined dimensions in locations having a predetermined relationship to each other where said information marks contrast with their background, the steps comprising: providing a television camera; responsive to the location of said information in the field of view of said camera, in a predetermined range of orientations relative thereto, scanning the image of said information, determining at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background; where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
147 words
Method of extracting information encoded on a surface wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks of predetermined dimensions in locations having a predetermined relationship to each other where said information marks contrast with their background, the steps comprising: providing a television camera; responsive to the location of said information in the field of view of said camera, in a predetermined range of orientations relative thereto, scanning the image of said information, determining at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background; where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, where the illumination creating an image in said camera is limited to intervals short, relative to the time for said marks to move a distance sufficient to cause ambiguity on said information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the creation of an image in said camera is limited to intervals less than the interval between frame scans in the television camera.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
Method of using a television camera in the extraction of information encoded on a surface, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said information marks contrast with said background, providing a television camera, moving said surface through the field of view Of said camera, controlling the image forming illumination reaching said camera so that the image formed therein are formed in a time interval not greater than the interval between frames of the camera television scan, scanning such images, determining whether the output signal resulting from said scan is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along such image, where said level is selected to discriminate between signals resulting from said background and the signals resulting from said marks, where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
173 words
Method of using a television camera in the extraction of information encoded on a surface, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said information marks contrast with said background, providing a television camera, moving said surface through the field of view Of said camera, controlling the image forming illumination reaching said camera so that the image formed therein are formed in a time interval not greater than the interval between frames of the camera television scan, scanning such images, determining whether the output signal resulting from said scan is above or below a predetermined level at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along such image, where said level is selected to discriminate between signals resulting from said background and the signals resulting from said marks, where said determination is made at regular intervals along a scanned line, short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
288 words
Means for detecting information encoded on a surface movable in a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, in the illumination provided for forming an image in said television camera wherein location marks of predetermined dimension indicating the location and orientation of said information marks also contrast with said background, the combination comprising: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface, means for determining at a plurality of predetermined regularly time-spaced intervals, whether the scan output of said camera is above or below a predetermined level where said level is selected to discriminate between the scan signal resulting from said marks, and the scan signal resulting from said background, where said intervals are selected to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks, means for analyzing the results of said determination and ascertaining whether said information marks are within said field of view, means responsive to the detection of the location of said information on an image in said camera, to produce an image therein; over an interval short relative to the time taken for said information marks to travel a distance to create ambiguity therein in said television image, means for converting at predetermined time spaced intervals, short relative to the time to scan an information mark, the electrical video output resulting from scanning said short interval image, into a pulse signal occuring where the pulse has one level corresponding to the scanning of an information mark, and another level corresponding to the scanning of said background.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
288 words
Means for detecting information encoded on a surface movable in a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, in the illumination provided for forming an image in said television camera wherein location marks of predetermined dimension indicating the location and orientation of said information marks also contrast with said background, the combination comprising: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface, means for determining at a plurality of predetermined regularly time-spaced intervals, whether the scan output of said camera is above or below a predetermined level where said level is selected to discriminate between the scan signal resulting from said marks, and the scan signal resulting from said background, where said intervals are selected to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks, means for analyzing the results of said determination and ascertaining whether said information marks are within said field of view, means responsive to the detection of the location of said information on an image in said camera, to produce an image therein; over an interval short relative to the time taken for said information marks to travel a distance to create ambiguity therein in said television image, means for converting at predetermined time spaced intervals, short relative to the time to scan an information mark, the electrical video output resulting from scanning said short interval image, into a pulse signal occuring where the pulse has one level corresponding to the scanning of an information mark, and another level corresponding to the scanning of said background.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
Means for detecting information encoded on a surface, movable on a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of marks of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface, means for determining at a plurality of predetermined time-spaced intervals, whether the scan output of said camera is above or below a predetermined level where said level is selected to be between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background; where said intervals are selected to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short, relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
130 words
Means for detecting information encoded on a surface, movable on a locus relative to a television camera, wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of marks of predetermined dimension contrasting with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface, means for determining at a plurality of predetermined time-spaced intervals, whether the scan output of said camera is above or below a predetermined level where said level is selected to be between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background; where said intervals are selected to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short, relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
Means as claimed in claim 13 wherein means are provided to ensure that the image formed by said camera for such scan is formed in a time interval small relative to the time for sufficient movement of said information relative to said camera to cause ambiguity in said information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
165 words
Means for detecting information encoded on a surface movable in a locus relative to a television camera wherein the information is identified and located by the presence or absence of marks of predetermined dimension in a predetermined orientation contrasting in the illumination provided fOr the television camera with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface, means for receiving the scan output of said television camera and producing therefrom at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, a binary signal whose level is determined by whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, where said intervals are selected to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short, relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
Means for detecting information encoded on a surface movable in a locus relative to a television camera wherein the information is identified and located by the presence or absence of marks of predetermined dimension in a predetermined orientation contrasting in the illumination provided fOr the television camera with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface, means for receiving the scan output of said television camera and producing therefrom at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line along said image, a binary signal whose level is determined by whether the scan output signal is above or below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to discriminate between the signal resulting from said marks and the signal resulting from said background, where said intervals are selected to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short, relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
Means as claimed in claim 15 wherein said surface information marks are in a predetermined spatial relationship on said surface to a pattern defining a direction which in the camera image is within a predetermined angle of a perpendicular to the scan, means for analyzing said binary signal and identifying the intersection between a scan line and said pattern when said defined direction is within said predetermined angle, means for determining from the scan lines in a frame wherein said identification is made, the presence of said information marks within marks said frame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
146 words
Means for determining the presence of a pattern movable relative to and through the field of view of a television camera wherein the pattern includes a portion having lines of predetermined relative orientation and spacing contrasting with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said movable pattern; means for receiving the scan output of said television camera and producing at a plurality of predetermined intervals per line of said scan, a signal having one of two levels determined by whether said scan signal is above or below a predetermined level, means for analyzing said two level signal to identify the intersection of a scan line with said pattern, means for determining from the scan lines wherein such intersection has been identified when said pattern is located in said field of view.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
146 words
Means for determining the presence of a pattern movable relative to and through the field of view of a television camera wherein the pattern includes a portion having lines of predetermined relative orientation and spacing contrasting with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said movable pattern; means for receiving the scan output of said television camera and producing at a plurality of predetermined intervals per line of said scan, a signal having one of two levels determined by whether said scan signal is above or below a predetermined level, means for analyzing said two level signal to identify the intersection of a scan line with said pattern, means for determining from the scan lines wherein such intersection has been identified when said pattern is located in said field of view.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
Means as claimed in claim 17 wherein means are provided to ensure that the image formed by said camera for such scan is formed in a time interval small relative to the time for sufficient movement of said information relative to said camera to cause ambiguity in said information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
148 words
Means for determining the presence of a pattern movable relative to and through the field of view of a television camera wherein the pattern includes an unchangeable portion having lines of predetermined relative orientation and spacing contrasting with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface; means for receiving the scan output of said television camera and producing at a plurality of predetermined intervals per line of said scan, a signal having one of two levels determined by whether said scan signal is above or below a predetermined level, means for analyzing said two level signal to identify the intersection of a scan line with said pattern, means for counting for at least two predetermined scan lines, the interval between a predetermined line of said pattern and an edge of said frame.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
148 words
Means for determining the presence of a pattern movable relative to and through the field of view of a television camera wherein the pattern includes an unchangeable portion having lines of predetermined relative orientation and spacing contrasting with a background, comprising in combination: a television camera arranged to have a field of view including a portion of the locus of said surface; means for receiving the scan output of said television camera and producing at a plurality of predetermined intervals per line of said scan, a signal having one of two levels determined by whether said scan signal is above or below a predetermined level, means for analyzing said two level signal to identify the intersection of a scan line with said pattern, means for counting for at least two predetermined scan lines, the interval between a predetermined line of said pattern and an edge of said frame.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
207 words
Means for extracting by means of a television camera, information encoded on a surface wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks of predetermined dimension in locations having a predetermined relationship to each other where said information marks contrast with their background, in the illumination provided for said camera, comprising, in combination: a television camera, arranged in relation to said surface so that said surface will pass through the field of vieW of said camera, means for determining at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line by said camera whether the scan line is above or below a predetermined level, wherein said level is selected to be between the level resulting from the scanning of said marks and the level resulting from said background, where said means is designed to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short, relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks, means resulting from said determination, for providing an output signal at times corresponding to said intervals, having one value corresponding to values above a predetermined level and another value corresponding to values below said predetermined level, means for analyzing said signal to determine the presence and location of said marks.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
207 words
Means for extracting by means of a television camera, information encoded on a surface wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks of predetermined dimension in locations having a predetermined relationship to each other where said information marks contrast with their background, in the illumination provided for said camera, comprising, in combination: a television camera, arranged in relation to said surface so that said surface will pass through the field of vieW of said camera, means for determining at predetermined intervals during the scanning of a line by said camera whether the scan line is above or below a predetermined level, wherein said level is selected to be between the level resulting from the scanning of said marks and the level resulting from said background, where said means is designed to provide that the scan distance between said intervals is short, relative to the dimension in the scanning direction of said marks, means resulting from said determination, for providing an output signal at times corresponding to said intervals, having one value corresponding to values above a predetermined level and another value corresponding to values below said predetermined level, means for analyzing said signal to determine the presence and location of said marks.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
Means as claimed in claim 20 wherein means are provided to ensure that the image formed by said camera for such scan is formed in a time interval small relative to the time for sufficient movement of said information relative to said camera to cause ambiguity in said information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
133 words
Means for using a television camera to extract information encoded in marks on a background, and formed to provide contrast in the image formed in said camera, wherein said information and background may move at up to a predetermined velocity transversely relative to the viewing direction of the television camera, comprising in combination: means synchronized with the scan of said camera for limiting the formation of an image therein to a period not greater than the interval between frames on said scan, means receiving the video output of said scan and discriminating between video outputs above and below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to cause to be intermediate between the level of the signal resulting from scanning said information and the level of the signal resulting from scanning said background.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
133 words
Means for using a television camera to extract information encoded in marks on a background, and formed to provide contrast in the image formed in said camera, wherein said information and background may move at up to a predetermined velocity transversely relative to the viewing direction of the television camera, comprising in combination: means synchronized with the scan of said camera for limiting the formation of an image therein to a period not greater than the interval between frames on said scan, means receiving the video output of said scan and discriminating between video outputs above and below a predetermined level, where said level is selected to cause to be intermediate between the level of the signal resulting from scanning said information and the level of the signal resulting from scanning said background.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
188 words
Means utilizing a television camera to extract information encoded on a surface wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said orientation marks also contrast with said background, wherein said surface moves on a locus relative to the field of view of said camera, comprising in combination; a television camera, located and arranged to produce an image of such surface at some portion of said locus, means for controlling the illumination creating an image in said camera, designed to allow creation of said image once per frame of said scan; means for deriving from scanning said image, a signal occurring at a plurality of regular intervals per scan line and assuming one magnitude or another magnitude when said video scan output is on one and the other side respectively of a predetermined level, wherein said level is selected so that information and location marks cause a video scan output on one side of said level and said background causes a video scan output on the other side of said level.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
188 words
Means utilizing a television camera to extract information encoded on a surface wherein the information is conveyed by the presence or absence of information marks contrasting with a background, wherein location marks indicating the location and orientation of said orientation marks also contrast with said background, wherein said surface moves on a locus relative to the field of view of said camera, comprising in combination; a television camera, located and arranged to produce an image of such surface at some portion of said locus, means for controlling the illumination creating an image in said camera, designed to allow creation of said image once per frame of said scan; means for deriving from scanning said image, a signal occurring at a plurality of regular intervals per scan line and assuming one magnitude or another magnitude when said video scan output is on one and the other side respectively of a predetermined level, wherein said level is selected so that information and location marks cause a video scan output on one side of said level and said background causes a video scan output on the other side of said level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |