Method and apparatus for evaluating color-coded information

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2, including generating an output signal when the data word represented by said group of signals is the same as the reference data word after all the comparison steps have been carried out and equivalence between the various circuits established.

Claim 6

Apparatus for converting color-coded information into binary coded information, the original information being a data word coded in primary colors red, blue and green and the complementary colors cyan, magenta and yellow and having a predetermined number of primary colors and a predetermined number of complementary colors, said apparatus comprising means for detecting each of the colors included in the original color-coded information, means responsive to said detecting means to generate signals each representing a different one of the detected colors, a first logic circuit responsive to said signals to produce a group of pulses representing in binary code the original color-coded information, means for producing a first signal each time a primary color is detected, means for producing a second signal each time a complementary color is detected, a checking circuit responsive to said first and second signal producing means to generate a signal indicating that said group of binary coded pulses includes pulses representing said predetermined number of primary and complementary colors, means for providing a reference data word, first means for comparing the group of pulses with the reference data word, a first counter for counting the number of elements in said group of pulses, second means for comparing the count of the first counter with a count of the number of bits forming said data reference word, a second counter for counting the number of pulses in said group representing primary colors, third means for comparing the count of the second counter with a corresponding count of the bits in said reference data word representing said primary colors, a third counter for counting the number of pulses in said group representing the complementary colors and fourth means for comparing the count of the third counter with a corresponding count of the bits in said reference data word representing said complementary cOlors.

Claim 7

Apparatus for converting color-coded information into binary coded information, the original information being a data word coded in primary colors red, blue and green and the complementary colors cyan, magenta and yellow and having a predetermined number of primary colors and a predetermined number of complementary colors, said apparatus comprising means for detecting each of the colors included in the original color-coded information, means responsive to said detecting means to generate signals each representing a different one of the detected colors, a first logic circuit responsive to said signals to produce a group of pulses representing in binary code the original color-coded information, means for producing a first signal each time a primary color is detected, means for producing a second signal each time a complementary color is detected, a checking circuit responsive to said first and second signal producing means to generate a signal indicating that said group of binary coded pulses includes pulses representing said predetermined number of primary and complementary colors, means for providing a reference data word, first means for comparing the group of pulses with the reference data word, a first counter for counting the number of elements in said group of pulses, second means for comparing the count of the first counter with a count of the number of bits forming said data reference word, a second counter for counting the number of pulses in said group representing primary colors, third means for comparing the count of the second counter with a corresponding count of the bits in said reference data word representing said primary colors, a third counter for counting the number of pulses in said group representing the complementary colors and fourth means for comparing the count of the third counter with a corresponding count of the bits in said reference data word representing said complementary cOlors.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said first, second, third and fourth comparing means each provide a signal indicating equality of the information applied thereto and said apparatus further includes means for generating an output signal in response to the signals produced by the first, second, third and fourth comparing means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for comparing a color-coded identification on an article against a predetermined reference code, the color code comprising the three primary colors red, blue and green and the three complementary colors magenta, cyan and yellow, the apparatus comprising means for scanning the color-coded identification with white light, filter means for filtering the light received from the color-coded identification into separate colors, a decoding circuit including photosensitive means arranged to receive the filtered light and produce signals each representing a different one of the six colors, a first signal each time a primary color is received and a second signal each time a complementary color is received, and a checking circuit including means for determining if the signals representing the six colors produced by said decoding circuit correspond with the colors and relative positions of the reference code, a first counter for counting said first signals, first means for comparing the count of the first counter with a corresponding count of the number of primary colors included in said reference code, a second counter for counting the second signals, second means for comparing the count of the second counter with a corresponding count of the number of complementary colors in said reference code and means for producing an output signal indicating that the color-coded identification corresponds with said reference code when the first and second comparing means indicate that the counts applied thereto are the same.

Claim 10

Apparatus for comparing a color-coded identification on an article against a predetermined reference code, the color code comprising the three primary colors red, blue and green and the three complementary colors magenta, cyan and yellow, the apparatus comprising means for scanning the color-coded identification with white light, filter means for filtering the light received from the color-coded identification into separate colors, a decoding circuit including photosensitive means arranged to receive the filtered light and produce signals each representing a different one of the six colors, a first signal each time a primary color is received and a second signal each time a complementary color is received, and a checking circuit including means for determining if the signals representing the six colors produced by said decoding circuit correspond with the colors and relative positions of the reference code, a first counter for counting said first signals, first means for comparing the count of the first counter with a corresponding count of the number of primary colors included in said reference code, a second counter for counting the second signals, second means for comparing the count of the second counter with a corresponding count of the number of complementary colors in said reference code and means for producing an output signal indicating that the color-coded identification corresponds with said reference code when the first and second comparing means indicate that the counts applied thereto are the same.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 6, in which said determining means includes a plurality of switches, one for each bit included in said reference code, and each switch having six positions corresponding to the six colors so that the switches can be set to represent said reference code, a plurality of logic circuits coupled to said switches to receive the signals produced by said decoding circuit when the settings of the switches representing the reference code correspond to the scanned color-coded identification as represented by the signals applied to the switches and timing means for producing synchronizing signals for application to said logic circuits upon scanning of said color-coded identification.