US4491923A — Method and apparatus for extracting information f…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of sensing and identifying of information having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone, said method comprising: incorporating the information which is to be read on a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from radiation sources which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; selecting sensed radiation that has a magnitude greater than a predetermined value which is typical for diffuse reflection; and identifying information contained within the selected radiation.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 166 words

A method of sensing and identifying of information having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone, said method comprising: incorporating the information which is to be read on a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from radiation sources which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; selecting sensed radiation that has a magnitude greater than a predetermined value which is typical for diffuse reflection; and identifying information contained within the selected radiation.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 251 words

A method of sensing and identifying of information having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone, said method comprising: incorporating the information which is to be read on a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection, determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within a target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; identifying any information contained within the target area.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 251 words

A method of sensing and identifying of information having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone, said method comprising: incorporating the information which is to be read on a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection, determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within a target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; identifying any information contained within the target area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said identification comprises: isolating the configurations formed by adjacent selected segments which have an approximately equal magnitude of electromagnetic radiation; comparing each of the isolated configurations to a plurality of known configurations having a known identity and consisting of segments having a known relationship between their magnitudes and locations; selecting only those isolated configurations wherein said comparison reveals a substantial equivalence to the known configurations; and identifying those isloated configurations determined substantially equivalent to the known configurations, based upon the identity of the known configurations.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: comparing at least one dimension of said target area to a known dimension, and eliminating from consideration all target areas wherein said comparison of dimensions results in substantial inequality.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 204 words

An apparatus for sensing and identifying information having an unknown location and orientation within a large interrogation zone, which information is defined by a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said system comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means and thereby positioned to optimally receive retroreflected radiation from said retroreflective material, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby tending to eliminate radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material, means for identifying information included on said retroreflective material.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 204 words

An apparatus for sensing and identifying information having an unknown location and orientation within a large interrogation zone, which information is defined by a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said system comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means and thereby positioned to optimally receive retroreflected radiation from said retroreflective material, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby tending to eliminate radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material, means for identifying information included on said retroreflective material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 229 words

In a device for reading information which is moving through a zone, the improvement comprising a system for locating that information within the zone while eliminating from consideration the remainder of the zone, said system comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means, a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined frequency range, in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, thereby reflecting the radiation from said irradiation means to said detector while reflecting radiation originating from other sources toward the other sources, said retroreflective material including means for incorporating information thereon, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby eliminating radiation which is diffusely reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 229 words

In a device for reading information which is moving through a zone, the improvement comprising a system for locating that information within the zone while eliminating from consideration the remainder of the zone, said system comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means, a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined frequency range, in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, thereby reflecting the radiation from said irradiation means to said detector while reflecting radiation originating from other sources toward the other sources, said retroreflective material including means for incorporating information thereon, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby eliminating radiation which is diffusely reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 255 words

A method of machine sensing and identifying of information having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone, which information is defined by a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said method comprising: irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection, thus eliminating from consideration diffusely reflected radiation, determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within the target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; identifying any information contained within the target area.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 255 words

A method of machine sensing and identifying of information having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone, which information is defined by a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said method comprising: irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection, thus eliminating from consideration diffusely reflected radiation, determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within the target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; identifying any information contained within the target area.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of sensing and identifying an object having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone and extracting information therefrom, said method comprising: incorporating on the object a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from radiation sources which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; selecting sensed radiation that has a magnitude greater than a predetermined value which is typical for diffuse reflection, thereby locating the retroreflective material; and determining the velocity of the object having the retroreflective material.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 173 words

A method of sensing and identifying an object having an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone and extracting information therefrom, said method comprising: incorporating on the object a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from radiation sources which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; selecting sensed radiation that has a magnitude greater than a predetermined value which is typical for diffuse reflection, thereby locating the retroreflective material; and determining the velocity of the object having the retroreflective material.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 253 words

A method of sensing an object within a large interrogation zone and determining its velocity, said method comprising: incorporating on the object a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection; determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within a target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; and determining the velocity of the target area and thereby the velocity of the object containing the target area.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 253 words

A method of sensing an object within a large interrogation zone and determining its velocity, said method comprising: incorporating on the object a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence; irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection; determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within a target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; and determining the velocity of the target area and thereby the velocity of the object containing the target area.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 161 words

A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein said determination of the velocity comprises: determining the intensity of the radiation from the source, determining the intensity of the radiation reflected from the retroreflective material, determining the reduction in intensity of the retroreflective radiation compared to the source radiation, comparing said determined radiation in intensity to a predicted relationship between radiation intensity and distance travelled by the radiation thereby determining the distance of the retroreflected material from the source, repeating, after a pre-determined time delay, said determination of the intensity of the radiation from the source and the retroreflective material, said determination of the reduction in intensity, and said comparison of the determined reduction to the predicted relationship between intensity reduction and distance, thereby determining a second distance of the retroreflective material from the source, determining the change between the first and second distance of the retroreflective material from the source, and dividing said determined change by the predetermined delay.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 84 words

A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said determination of the velocity comprises: determining the time taken for the radiation to travel from the source to the retroreflective material and then to the sensing means, multiplying said determined time by the known velocity of the radiation, thereby determining the distance between the retroreflective material and the source, repeating said determinations after a pre-determined time delay, and dividing the resulting change in distance by the time delay to determine the speed of the object.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: comparing at least one dimension of said target area to a known dimension, and eliminating from consideration all target areas wherein said comparison of dimensions results in substantial inequality.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 201 words

An apparatus for sensing object within a large interrogation zone and determining its velocity, which object includes a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said apparatus comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means and thereby positioned to optimally receive retroreflected radiation from said retroreflective material, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby tending to eliminate radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material, means for determining the velocity of the object including said retroreflective material.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 201 words

An apparatus for sensing object within a large interrogation zone and determining its velocity, which object includes a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said apparatus comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means and thereby positioned to optimally receive retroreflected radiation from said retroreflective material, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby tending to eliminate radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material, means for determining the velocity of the object including said retroreflective material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 236 words

In a device for determining the velocity of an object moving through a zone, the improvement comprising an apparatus to be used in conjunction with means for determining the velocity of an object for locating that object within the zone while eliminating from consideration the remainder of the zone, said apparatus comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means, a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined frequency range, in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, thereby reflecting the radiation from said irradiation means to said detector while reflecting radiation originating from other sources toward the other sources, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby eliminating radiation which is diffusely reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 236 words

In a device for determining the velocity of an object moving through a zone, the improvement comprising an apparatus to be used in conjunction with means for determining the velocity of an object for locating that object within the zone while eliminating from consideration the remainder of the zone, said apparatus comprising: means for irradiating the zone having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the irradiation means to the zone, means for sensing radiation which is reflected off of objects located within the zone, including a detector located adjacent said axis of incidence for said irradiation means, a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined frequency range, in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, thereby reflecting the radiation from said irradiation means to said detector while reflecting radiation originating from other sources toward the other sources, means for dividing the radiation sensed into a network of individual segments and for identifying a separate location for each segment, means for measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each of said segments, means for selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation sensed above a predetermined value which is typical of diffuse reflection, thereby eliminating radiation which is diffusely reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 261 words

A method of machine sensing an object which has an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone and determining its velocity, which object is defined by a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said method comprising: irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection, thus eliminating from consideration diffusely reflected radiation, determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within the target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; determining the velocity of the object defined by the retroreflective material.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 261 words

A method of machine sensing an object which has an unknown position and orientation within a large interrogation zone and determining its velocity, which object is defined by a retroreflective material designed to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation in a concentrated cone surrounding the axes of incidence, said method comprising: irradiating the zone with electromagnetic radiation by a source having a predetermined location with respect to the zone, thereby establishing a known axis of incidence for the radiation from the source; sensing the zone for electromagnetic radiation which is reflected off of objects within the zone; locating the sensing means adjacent the known axis of incidence from the irradiation source, thus receiving radiation originating from the irradiation source and reflected by the retroreflective material, but tending to eliminate radiation from the radiation source which is specularly reflected by areas within the zone; dividing the reflected radiation thus sensed into a network of individual segments and identifying a separate location for each segment; measuring the magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation present within each segment; selecting only those segments of the zone having a magnitude for the electromagnetic radiation above a predetermined value which value is a typical maximum for diffuse reflection, thus eliminating from consideration diffusely reflected radiation, determining at least one target area consisting of adjacent selected segments, while eliminating from consideration all areas of the zone not within the target area, thereby eliminating from consideration radiation which is reflected from areas within the zone not defined by the retroreflective material; determining the velocity of the object defined by the retroreflective material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-01-01	1988-07-02	1989-01-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-01-01	1992-07-02	1993-01-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-01-01	1996-07-02	1997-01-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for extracting information from an object that is within a large interrogation zone

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