Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In pattern recognition apparatus: rotatable support means having a regular array of alternating parallel elongate spaced light transmitting and reflecting elements, light source means for illuminating said regular array, retroreflective means including focusing means for forming an image of said regular array in substantial but imperfect alignment with said regular array, elongate light absorbing elements disposed between each of said alternate parallel elongate light transmitting and reflecting elements for substantially eliminating light misdirected because of said imperfect alignment, said retroreflective means including surface means for supporting an input pattern to be recognized in the light received by said retroreflective means from said regular array of elongate elements, said input pattern being characterized by light transmissive or reflective lines of varying orientation over the area of said input pattern and having the effect, when present at said input pattern supporting surface means and when said rotatable means is rotating, of variably diffracting light from said image of said regular array onto said regular array, and signal processing means responsive to the position of said rotatable support means and to said variably diffracted light directed by said regular array for determining the angular orientation of said rotatable support means with respect to a reference position thereof at the instants of extremum values of light intensity of said variably diffracted light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In pattern recognition apparatus: rotatable support means having a regular array of alternating parallel elongate spaced light transmitting and reflecting elements, light source means for illuminating said regular array, retroreflective means including focusing means for forming an image of said regular array in substantial but imperfect alignment with said regular array, elongate light absorbing elements disposed between each of said alternate parallel elongate light transmitting and reflecting elements for substantially eliminating light misdirected because of said imperfect alignment, said retroreflective means including surface means for supporting an input pattern to be recognized in the light received by said retroreflective means from said regular array of elongate elements, said input pattern being characterized by light transmissive or reflective lines of varying orientation over the area of said input pattern and having the effect, when present at said input pattern supporting surface means and when said rotatable means is rotating, of variably diffracting light from said image of said regular array onto said regular array, and signal processing means responsive to the position of said rotatable support means and to said variably diffracted light directed by said regular array for determining the angular orientation of said rotatable support means with respect to a reference position thereof at the instants of extremum values of light intensity of said variably diffracted light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including: motive means for rotating said rotatable support means, said signal processor means including sensor means responsive to indicia disposed on said rotatable support means for generating signals representative of the angular orientation of said rotatable means with respect to a reference position thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said signal processing means further includes a light detector array disposed for receiving said variably diffracted light directed thereto by said regular array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein: said light source is disposed on a first side of the plane of said rotatable support means, said retroreflective means is disposed on a second side of said plane, and said variably diffracted light is reflected by said regular array into said light detector array, said light detector array being disposed on the second side of said plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein: said light source is disposed on a first side of the plane of said rotatable support means, said retroreflective means is disposed on said first side, and said variably diffracted light is transmitted by said regular array into said light detector array, said light detector array being disposed on a second side of said array.