Mark array sense reader with sequential output signals

Claim 1

In an optical reading system for determining the presence or absence of mark information at a plurality of discrete mark information locations on a document, the combination of, a document reading head array having a plurality of discrete mark reading locations which have a one-to-one correspondence with the discrete mark information locations on said document, a plurality of bifurcated light fibers, each fiber having one bifurcated end with first and second branches and one single end, the single ends of said light fibers being arranged to form the mark reading locations of said reading head array, with each single end functioning to detect the presence or absence of a mark at a discrete mark information location on the surface of the document contacting the reading head array, the first and second branches of the bifurcated ends of each light fiber being arranged in pairs in a serial array, a mark sensor means having a single light source and a single light detector for sequentially interfacing with the pairs of first and second branches of each light fiber, said light source introducing light into the first branch and said light detector generating sequential output signals indicative of the light level reflected back from the document through the second branch and of the presence or absence of a mark at each mark information location, and information processing means responding to the sequential output signals developed by said light detector means to process the mark information present at the discrete mark information locations on the surface of a document contacting the reading head array.