US3735142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manually operated bar coding scanning system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1972-02-04
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1992-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A low-cost hand held probe for scanning bar coding documents of high density comprises a bundle of many discrete optical image fibers which is optically constricted into a light carrying conduit of bar-shaped cross-section by means of an aperture plate having a single elongated aperture stop therein. The aperture transmits light from a source of illumination down the optical conduit to a paper document. The light is reflected from the document in preparation to the bar coding indicia thereon and is transmitted back up through the conduit to a photosensitive device coupled to circuitry for determining the degree of light reflected. The optical bundle is preferably tapered and is drawn in a unit which eliminates critical alignment problems and reduces the number of operations for manufacture. No critical movement on the part of the operator is required in orienting the probe with respect to the document being scanned. One embodiment comprises an offset optical fiber tip arranged to rotate at the end of the probe in caster-like fashion. In other embodiments a flexible fiber optic conduit permits the use of larger and more complex illumination and photoresponsive devices without unduly handicapping the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Harr J Danforth
- 👤 Mcmurtry D Harwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/59; G01N21/5907; G01N21/5911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovEring information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a barrel constituting a skeletal member of a hand-held probe, a bundle of coherent light transmitting fibers having one end for contacting a document to be scanned and another end, said one end of said bundle being offset with respect to said other end with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially parallel, a tube in which said bundle is arranged with the longitudinal axes of said bundle at said other end substantially concentric with the axis of said tube and the longitudinal axis of said one end offset therefrom, said tube having the longitudinal axis thereof concentric to that of said barrel and arranged therewith to be relatively and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axes thereof a source of illumination in said apparatus directed toward said other end of said bundle, a photosensitive device in said apparatus directed toward said other end of said bundle, an optical aperture stop having a single elongated aperture therein communicating with said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for transmitting light from said source through a portion of said fibers to said one end forming an optical pupil thereat illuminating said document accordingly and reflecting light from and proportionally to indicia on said document through said portion of said fibers to said other end for transmission to said light sensitive device, whereby said offset longitudinal axis of said one end of said fiber bundle assumes a position behind said longitudinal axes of said other end of said bundle and of said barrel and said tube of the apparatus as directed across the document to be scanned, an elongated non-coherent bundle of light transmitting fibers interposed between said aperture stop and said source of illumination and said photosensitive device, and a mirror arranged between said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for directing said source toward said coherent bundle and toward said device and preventing light from said source traveling directly toward said photosensitive device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
353 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovEring information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a barrel constituting a skeletal member of a hand-held probe, a bundle of coherent light transmitting fibers having one end for contacting a document to be scanned and another end, said one end of said bundle being offset with respect to said other end with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially parallel, a tube in which said bundle is arranged with the longitudinal axes of said bundle at said other end substantially concentric with the axis of said tube and the longitudinal axis of said one end offset therefrom, said tube having the longitudinal axis thereof concentric to that of said barrel and arranged therewith to be relatively and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axes thereof a source of illumination in said apparatus directed toward said other end of said bundle, a photosensitive device in said apparatus directed toward said other end of said bundle, an optical aperture stop having a single elongated aperture therein communicating with said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for transmitting light from said source through a portion of said fibers to said one end forming an optical pupil thereat illuminating said document accordingly and reflecting light from and proportionally to indicia on said document through said portion of said fibers to said other end for transmission to said light sensitive device, whereby said offset longitudinal axis of said one end of said fiber bundle assumes a position behind said longitudinal axes of said other end of said bundle and of said barrel and said tube of the apparatus as directed across the document to be scanned, an elongated non-coherent bundle of light transmitting fibers interposed between said aperture stop and said source of illumination and said photosensitive device, and a mirror arranged between said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for directing said source toward said coherent bundle and toward said device and preventing light from said source traveling directly toward said photosensitive device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovering information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a bundle of tapered coherent light transmitting fibers having one end for contacting a document to be scanned and a larger end, a source of illumination directed toward said larger end, a photosensitive device directed toward said larger end, said source and said device being arranged in said apparatus for preventing light from said source passing directly to said device, and an optical aperture stop having a single elongated aperture therein communicating with said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for transmitting light from said source through a portion of said fibers to said one end forming an optical pupil thereat illuminating said document accordingly and reflecting light from and proportionally to indicia on said document through said portion of said fibers to said larger end for transmission to said light sensitive device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovering information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a bundle of tapered coherent light transmitting fibers having one end for contacting a document to be scanned and a larger end, a source of illumination directed toward said larger end, a photosensitive device directed toward said larger end, said source and said device being arranged in said apparatus for preventing light from said source passing directly to said device, and an optical aperture stop having a single elongated aperture therein communicating with said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for transmitting light from said source through a portion of said fibers to said one end forming an optical pupil thereat illuminating said document accordingly and reflecting light from and proportionally to indicia on said document through said portion of said fibers to said larger end for transmission to said light sensitive device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2 and wherein said aperture stop comprises a plate having said elongated aperture therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2 and wherein said aperture stop comprises a coating of light-absorbing material having said elongated aperture therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2 and incorporating an anti-reflection coating on the surface of said bundle beneath said aperture stop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 2 and wherein said one enD of said bundle is offset with respect to said larger end with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially parallel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 6 and incorporating a barrel constituting a skeletal member of a hand-held probe, a tube in which said bundle is arranged with the longitudinal axes of said bundle at said larger end substantially concentric with the axis of said tube and the longitudinal axis of said one end offset therefrom, said tube having the longitudinal axis thereof concentric to that of said barrel and arranged therewith to be relatively and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axes thereof whereby said offset longitudinal axis of said one end of said fiber bundle bundle assumes a position behind said longitudinal axes said larger end of said bundle and of said barrel and said tube of the apparatus as directed across the document to be scanned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Manually operated optical scanning apparatus as defined in claim 7 and wherein said elongated aperture is aligned in the direction of the bars on the document as the document is scanned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus as defined in claim 7 and incorporating, a sleeve concentric with said barrel and said tube and arranged for relative movement in the direction of the longitudinal axes thereof, an electric switch arranged within said barrel and said sleeve for actuation in accordance with said relative movement as resulting from the act of pressing the tip of said bundle against the document to be scanned by urging said tube toward said document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
247 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovering information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a bundle of coherent light transmitting fibers having one end for contacting a document to be scanned and another end, a source of illumination directed toward said other end, a photosensitive device directed toward said other end, said source and said device being arranged in said apparatus for preventing light from said source passing directly to said device, and an optical aperture stop arranged at said other end and having a single elongated aperture therein open to said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for transmitting light from said source through a portion of said fibers to said one end forming an optical pupil thereat illuminating said document accordingly and reflecting light from and proportionally to indicia on said document through said portion of said fibers to said other end for transmission to said light sensitive device at said other end, said one end of said bundle being offset with respect to said other end with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially parallel, and arranged therewith to be relatively and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axes thereof, whereby said offset longitudinal axis of said one end of said fiber bundle assumes a position behind said longitudinal axes of said other end of said bundle of the apparatus as directed across the document to be scanned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
247 words
Manually operated optical bar coding scanning apparatus for recovering information encoded in a series of elongated parallel bars laid down on a document in contrasting characteristic to that of said document, comprising a bundle of coherent light transmitting fibers having one end for contacting a document to be scanned and another end, a source of illumination directed toward said other end, a photosensitive device directed toward said other end, said source and said device being arranged in said apparatus for preventing light from said source passing directly to said device, and an optical aperture stop arranged at said other end and having a single elongated aperture therein open to said source of illumination and said photosensitive device for transmitting light from said source through a portion of said fibers to said one end forming an optical pupil thereat illuminating said document accordingly and reflecting light from and proportionally to indicia on said document through said portion of said fibers to said other end for transmission to said light sensitive device at said other end, said one end of said bundle being offset with respect to said other end with the longitudinal axes thereof substantially parallel, and arranged therewith to be relatively and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axes thereof, whereby said offset longitudinal axis of said one end of said fiber bundle assumes a position behind said longitudinal axes of said other end of said bundle of the apparatus as directed across the document to be scanned.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |