Optical static card reader

Claim 2

An optical sensor matrix device comprising: a plurality of electrically separated column electrodes extending in a first direction, a plurality of electrically separated row electrodes extending in a second direction, a plurality of reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs, each of said reference light sensors being connected in series with a corresponding blocking diode, one end of each of said reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs being connected to the same column electrode, the other ends of said reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs being connected to corresponding row electrodes, a plurality of reading light sensor and blocking diode pairs, each of said reading light sensors being connected in series with a corresponding blocking diode, a reading light sensor and blocking diode pair being connected between each of said row electrodes and each of said column electrodes not connected to a reference light sensor and blocking diode pair, the blocking diodes connected to said reference light sensors being connected to conduct current in a first direction with respect to said column and row electrodes and the blocking diodes connected to said recording light sensors being connected to conduct current in the opposite direction, the resistances of said reference and reading light sensors having similar variations, a plurality of column terminals connected to corresponding column electrodes for sequentially receiving recording electrical signals, and a plurality of row terminals connected to corresponding row electrodes, a readout signal being produced at a row terminal in accordance with the relative values of the resistance of the reading sensor supplied with said reading signal and the resistance of the reference sensor of the corresponding row.

Claim 3

An optical sensor matrix according to claim 1 wherein said light sensors are formed of a photoconductive material selected from the group consisting of CdS and CdSe, and wherein said blocking diode includes an electrode which forms a blocking contact with said photoconductive material and another electrode which forms an ohmic contact with said photoconductive material.

Claim 4

An optical sensor matrix according to claim 2 in which said column and row electrodes are arranged equidistantly and the light sensor and blocking diode of said pair are formed with substantially the same shape.

Claim 5

An optical static card reader for reading a card having holes therein comprising: a plurality of electrically separated column electrodes extending in a first direction, a plurality of electrically separated row electrodes extending in a second direction, a plurality of reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs, each of said reference light sensors being connected in series with a corresponding blocking diode, one end of each of said reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs being connected to the same column electrode, the other ends of said reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs being connected to corresponding row electrodes, a plurality of reading light sensor and blocking diode pairs, each of said reading light sensors being connected in series with a corresponding blocking diode, a reading light sensor and blocking diode pair being connected between each of said row electrodes and each of said column electrodes not connected to a reference ligHt sensor and blocking diode pair, the blocking diodes connected to said reference light sensors being connected to conduct current in a first direction with respect to said column and row electrodes and the blocking diodes connected to said recording light sensors being connected to conduct current in the opposite direction, the resistances of said reference and reading light sensors having similar variations, a plurality of column terminals connected to corresponding column electrodes for sequentially receiving recording electrical signals, a plurality of row terminals connected to corresponding row electrodes, a readout signal being produce at a row terminal in accordance with the relative values of the resistance of the reading sensor supplied with said reading signal and the resistance of the reference sensor of the corresponding row, means for maintaining the column electrode to which said reference light sensor and blocking diode pair are connected at a predetermined bias potential, and output interface circuit means connected to said row terminals, said interface circuit means being rendered operative by said readout signal, said reading light sensors being arranged to correspond to the possible positions of apertures in said card to be read by said card reader.

Claim 6

An optical static card reader for reading a card having holes therein comprising: a plurality of electrically separated column electrodes extending in a first direction, a plurality of electrically separated row electrodes extending in a second direction, a plurality of reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs, each of said reference light sensors being connected in series with a corresponding blocking diode, one end of each of said reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs being connected to the same column electrode, the other ends of said reference light sensor and blocking diode pairs being connected to corresponding row electrodes, a plurality of reading light sensor and blocking diode pairs, each of said reading light sensors being connected in series with a corresponding blocking diode, a reading light sensor and blocking diode pair being connected between each of said row electrodes and each of said column electrodes not connected to a reference ligHt sensor and blocking diode pair, the blocking diodes connected to said reference light sensors being connected to conduct current in a first direction with respect to said column and row electrodes and the blocking diodes connected to said recording light sensors being connected to conduct current in the opposite direction, the resistances of said reference and reading light sensors having similar variations, a plurality of column terminals connected to corresponding column electrodes for sequentially receiving recording electrical signals, a plurality of row terminals connected to corresponding row electrodes, a readout signal being produce at a row terminal in accordance with the relative values of the resistance of the reading sensor supplied with said reading signal and the resistance of the reference sensor of the corresponding row, means for maintaining the column electrode to which said reference light sensor and blocking diode pair are connected at a predetermined bias potential, and output interface circuit means connected to said row terminals, said interface circuit means being rendered operative by said readout signal, said reading light sensors being arranged to correspond to the possible positions of apertures in said card to be read by said card reader.

Claim 7

An optical static card reader according to claim 4 in which said output interface circuits comprise complementary MOS integrated circuits and wherein said reference sensors are illuminated at a suitable illumination intensity by light from a light source illuminating uniformly said reading light sensors.

Claim 8

An optical static card reader as defined by claim 4 wherein said light sensors are formed of a photoconductive material selected from the group consisting of CdS and CdSe, and wherein said blocking diode includes an electrode which forms a blocking contact with said photoconductive material and another electrode which forms an ohmic contact with said photoconductive material.

Claim 9

An optical static card reader as defined by claim 4 wherein said column and row electrodes are arranged equidistantly and the light sensor and blocking diode of said pair are formed with substantially the same shape.

Claim 10

An optical static card reader according to claim 4 in which said reference sensors are arranged in positions remote from the position of said card placed in said card reader.

Claim 11

An optical static card reader according to claim 4 in which said reference sensors are arranged in positions corresponding to holes in said card when said card is placed in said card reader.

Claim 12

An optical static card reader according to claim 7 in which said reference sensors are arranged in positions corresponding to holes in said card when said card is placed in said card reader.