Method of identifying different distances between markings on a data record and a device for performing the method

Claim 2

Method for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, which comprises: sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings; calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a firstsensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking; multiplying said first-calculated distances by a predetermined factor and adding thereto said last-calculated distance; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 3

Method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined factor is 0.5.

Claim 4

Method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the step of: comparing said center line distance with the distance betwen the center lines of the last markings and the next-adjacent marking scanned.

Claim 5

Method for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, which comprises: sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings by counting the time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a first-sensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking by counting The time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; said first-calculated distance being counted at a first predetermined frequency; and said second-calculated distance being counted at a second predetermined frequency; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 6

Method for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, which comprises: sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings by counting the time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a first-sensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking by counting The time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; said first-calculated distance being counted at a first predetermined frequency; and said second-calculated distance being counted at a second predetermined frequency; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 7

Method as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said second predetermined frequency is double said first predetermined frequency.

Claim 8

Method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the step of: comparing said center line distance with the distance between the center lines of the last marking and the next-adjacent marking scanned.

Claim 9

Device for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, comprising: means for sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; means for calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings; means for calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a first-sensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking; said first-calculated distances being multiplied by a predetermined factor and said last-calculated distance being added thereto; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 10

Device for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, comprising: means for sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; means for calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings; means for calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a first-sensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking; said first-calculated distances being multiplied by a predetermined factor and said last-calculated distance being added thereto; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 11

Device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said predetermined factor is 0.5.

Claim 12

Device as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: means for comparing said center line distance with the distance between the center lines of the last marking and the next-adjacent marking scanned.

Claim 13

Device for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, comprising: means for sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; means for calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings by counting the time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; means for calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a first-sensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking by counting the time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; said first-calculated distance being counted at a first predetermined frequency; and said second-calculated distance being counted at a second pretermined frequency; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 14

Device for identifying different distances between markings on a data record which are read by a reading device movable relative to said data record, comprising: means for sensing the leading and trailing edges of each of two adjacent markings; means for calculating the distance between the leading and trailing edges of each of said markings by counting the time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; means for calculating the distance between the trailing edge of a first-sensed marking and the leading edge of a second-sensed marking by counting the time interval therebetween as said reading device is moved; said first-calculated distance being counted at a first predetermined frequency; and said second-calculated distance being counted at a second pretermined frequency; whereby the distance between the center lines of said two adjacent markings is determined.

Claim 15

Device as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said second predetermined frequency is double said first predetermined frequency.

Claim 16

Device as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: means for comparing said center line distance with the distance between the center lines of the last marking and the next-adjacent marking scanned.

Claim 17

Device as set forth in claim 12, wherein: counter means are coupled to said reading device for calculating said first-calculated distance and said second-calculated distance.

Claim 18

Device as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said reading device comprises an optical reader.

Claim 19

Device as set forth in claim 14, wherein: the output of said optical reader is connected to reflection detector means responsive to said markings and to the spaces between said markings.

Claim 20

Device as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said counter means comprises first and second counters, the first of which being arranged to receive signals representing a first distance between a leading edge of a marking and the trailing edge of the following marking and the second of which being arranged to receive signals representing a second distance between the leading edge of said following marking and a trailing edge of a marking following upon said last mentioned marking.

Claim 21

Device as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said markings consist of bars on a data record having a reflectivity differing from said markings; said reflection detector means being connected to binary counter means for transforming the signals emitted from the reflection detector into signals representing the first and second distances.

Claim 22

Device as set forth in claim 17, further comprising: memory means connected to each of said counters the contents in said memory means being compared at predetermined points of time by a comparing means, whereby if the contents of the memories are essentially the same the comparing means emits a signal representing two equal distances following upon each other, or if the contents of the memories are essentially not equal the comparing means emits a signal representing different distances following upon each other.

Claim 23

Device as set forth in claim 18, further comprising: at least one arithmetic unit being arranged to selectively multiply the contents of one of said memory means by a factor greater than 1 but less than 2 at predetermined points of time.

Claim 24

Device as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said binary counter means controls said arithmetic unit to multiply the contents of one of said memory means only if said contents represent the first distance of two adjacent distances which are compared by said comparing means.

Claim 25

Device as set forth in claim 20, wherein: said comparing device is provided with a feedback to said arithmetic unit and said comparing means emits an impulse to said unit, when it has received a number of pulses representing a long distance, to divide the number of pulses next coming to said arithmetic unit by 2.

Claim 26

Device as set forth in claim 10, wherein: the markings on the data record and the distances therebetween constitutes a binary code wherein each character is represented by five markings having essentially the same width, three short distances and two long distances, said short distances being approximately half as long as the long distance.

Claim 27

Device as set forth in claim 22, wherein: said short distances are essentially twice as long as the width of the markings.

Claim 28

Device as set forth in claim 23, wherein: in connection with the first and the last character in the code on said data record there is a code functioning as a start-stop code indicating the direction in which the reading device is moved over said data record, said code being designed in the same manner as the code representing one character.

Claim 29

Device as set forth in claim 23, wherein: in connection with the start-stop codes, respectively, on each side of the data record, there are fields with the same color as that of the data record and having a length in the reading direction which is greater than the long distance (b, e).