Numeric font and apparatus for reading same

Claim 1

A system for representing and automatically reading decimal numeric indicia comprising: optically readable decimal symbols, each symbol comprising four stations in generally rectangular disposition, said stations consisting of a first upper left station, a second lower left station in vertical alignment with said first station, a third upper right station parallelly spaced from said first station, and a fourth lower right station parallelly spaced from said second station and iN alignment with said third station, selected said stations having line segments therein to form vertical elements of decimal numerals, each said line segment being one of two preselected widths, and a horizontal line portion sites extending between the extremities of said line segments, there being a primary site extending between the upper extremities of said first and third stations, a secondary site extending between the lower extremities of said first and third stations, and ternary site extending between the lower extremities of said second and fourth stations, said symbols formed on a plane surface with lines that optically contrast with the surface; and means for automatically reading said symbols comprising first and second sensors responsive to the contrasting vertical line segments, said first sensor arranged for reading vertical line segments in the first and third stations of a decimal symbol, said second sensor arranged for reading vertical line segments in the second and fourth stations of a decimal symbol, means for effecting relative movement between said surface and said sensors, means responsive to the output of said sensors for generating timing pulses, means responsive to the output of said sensors to detect the duration of excitation of said sensors so as to distinguish between vertical line segments of said two preselected widths, means for storing information as to the existence and width of lines during said timing pulses, and logic circuit means operative during said time pulses for processing the output of said sensors and said information storing means for generating a binary coded decimal number corresponding to the decimal symbols.

Claim 2

A system for representing and automatically reading decimal numeric indicia comprising: optically readable decimal symbols, each symbol comprising four stations in generally rectangular disposition, said stations consisting of a first upper left station, a second lower left station in vertical alignment with said first station, a third upper right station parallelly spaced from said first station, and a fourth lower right station parallelly spaced from said second station and iN alignment with said third station, selected said stations having line segments therein to form vertical elements of decimal numerals, each said line segment being one of two preselected widths, and a horizontal line portion sites extending between the extremities of said line segments, there being a primary site extending between the upper extremities of said first and third stations, a secondary site extending between the lower extremities of said first and third stations, and ternary site extending between the lower extremities of said second and fourth stations, said symbols formed on a plane surface with lines that optically contrast with the surface; and means for automatically reading said symbols comprising first and second sensors responsive to the contrasting vertical line segments, said first sensor arranged for reading vertical line segments in the first and third stations of a decimal symbol, said second sensor arranged for reading vertical line segments in the second and fourth stations of a decimal symbol, means for effecting relative movement between said surface and said sensors, means responsive to the output of said sensors for generating timing pulses, means responsive to the output of said sensors to detect the duration of excitation of said sensors so as to distinguish between vertical line segments of said two preselected widths, means for storing information as to the existence and width of lines during said timing pulses, and logic circuit means operative during said time pulses for processing the output of said sensors and said information storing means for generating a binary coded decimal number corresponding to the decimal symbols.