US3787839A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic viewer device having movable anisotropic elements
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1970-11-12
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1990-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic data viewer device for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments at each of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed twodimensional pattern. This device is a non-magnetizable board containing a plurality of sockets positioned in a fixed pattern. The sockets each contain a disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment. At least one broad surface of the disk has a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk. Each of the disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment at a said magnetized region. In one preferred embodiment, the magnetically hard material of each disk is magnetized to provide a polarity alignment wherein the opposite broad surfaces of each disk have opposite magnetic polarities; the broad surface of one polarity has a visual indicator of a first color and the broad surface of the opposite polarity has a visual indicator of a second color; and each disk is movable to assume any orientation within its socket. In another preferred embodiment, the manetically hard material is magnetized to provide a polarity alignment wherein one broad surface has a pair of magnetized sections of opposite polarities having a boundary therebetween, and the opposite broad surface has a visual indicator corresponding to the boundary for indicating the orientation of the boundary. In both embodiments, each disk preferably includes uniaxially anisotropic magnetically hard material oriented to have an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the disk. The magnetically hard material is magnetized in the direction of this easy axis. The residual induction Br of each disk and the spacing of the sockets are so selected that, in the absence of an applied external magnetic field, the disks are attracted by each other to align themselves in a stable position wherein the broad surfaces of the disks are skewed in the sockets.
Inventors
- 👤 R Fayling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/08; G06K7/082; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/372; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure, having a viewing surface and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned corresponding to the fixed pattern of said encoded document; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to provide a polarity alignment wherein at least one broad surface has a pair of magnetized sections of opposite polarities having a boundary therebetween, and wherein one opposite broad surface has a visual indicator corresponding to the boundary for indicating the orientation of the boundary; and each of which disks is visible in its socket, is maintained with its broad surface containing the visual indicator facing toward the viewing surface of the viewer, and is movable within its socket to a position wherein the visual indicator asSumes an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions to indicate the data represented by said one of said regions when said viewer is interfaced with said document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure, having a viewing surface and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned corresponding to the fixed pattern of said encoded document; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to provide a polarity alignment wherein at least one broad surface has a pair of magnetized sections of opposite polarities having a boundary therebetween, and wherein one opposite broad surface has a visual indicator corresponding to the boundary for indicating the orientation of the boundary; and each of which disks is visible in its socket, is maintained with its broad surface containing the visual indicator facing toward the viewing surface of the viewer, and is movable within its socket to a position wherein the visual indicator asSumes an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions to indicate the data represented by said one of said regions when said viewer is interfaced with said document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein each disk includes uniaxially anisotropic magnetically hard material oriented to have an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the disk, in the direction of which eacy axis the magnetically hard material is magnetized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator of each disk corresponding to the boundary comprises a color change at the boundary for indicating the polarity and orientation of the oppositely magnetized sections of the disk with respect to the boundary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the color change at the boundary is provided by a highly reflective material, such as a mirror-like or reflex-reflective material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of a datum encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which datum is represented by the magnetic polarity alignment of a magnetized region which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a single socket; which socket contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; which disk is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of said magnetized region when said viewer is interfaced with said document so that the orientation of the disk in its socket indicates the encoded data of said document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of a datum encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which datum is represented by the magnetic polarity alignment of a magnetized region which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a single socket; which socket contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; which disk is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of said magnetized region when said viewer is interfaced with said document so that the orientation of the disk in its socket indicates the encoded data of said document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A viewer according to claim 5, in which the magnetically hard material of the disk is magnetized to provide the opposite broad surfaces of the disk with opposite magnetic polarities; and the broad surface of one polarity has a visual indicator of a first color and the broad surface of the opposite polarity has a visual indicator of a second color.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A viewer according to claim 5, in which the magnetically hard material of the disk is magnetized to provide at least one broad surface of the disk with a pair of magnetized sections of opposite polarities having a boundary therebetween, and at least one opposite broad surface has a visual indicator corresponding to the boundary for indicating the orientation of the boundary.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which document comprises a broad stratum containing magnetic material magnitized to provide a plurality of disparate magnetized regions of various polarity alignments defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern over the stratum, wherein polarity alignments of the disparate magnetized regions represent encoded data, which method comprises interfacing said document with a viewer which comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of a disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; each of which disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions when said board is registered with said document so that the orientation of the disks in their sockets indicates the encOded data of said document.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which document comprises a broad stratum containing magnetic material magnitized to provide a plurality of disparate magnetized regions of various polarity alignments defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern over the stratum, wherein polarity alignments of the disparate magnetized regions represent encoded data, which method comprises interfacing said document with a viewer which comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of a disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; each of which disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions when said board is registered with said document so that the orientation of the disks in their sockets indicates the encOded data of said document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document when interfaced with said document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; each of which disks is visible in its socket, and is movable within its socket to assume a stable orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document when interfaced with said document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; each of which disks is visible in its socket, and is movable within its socket to assume a stable orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
199 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one borad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk, wherein each disk includes uniaxially anistropic magnetically hard material oriented to have an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the disk, in the direction of which easy axis, the magnetically hard material is magnetized; each of which disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions when said viewer is interfaced with said document.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
199 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having no internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one borad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk, wherein each disk includes uniaxially anistropic magnetically hard material oriented to have an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the broad surfaces of the disk, in the direction of which easy axis, the magnetically hard material is magnetized; each of which disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions when said viewer is interfaced with said document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
A viewer according to claim 10 wherein each of said disks, the magnetically hard material is magnetized to provide the opposite broad surfaces of each disk with opposite magnetic polarities; and the broad surface of one polarity has a visual indicator of a first color and the broad surface of the opposite polarity has a visual indicator of a second color; and wherein the background in the sockets is a third color contrasting with the first and second colors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
211 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document when interfaced with said documents, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having an internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; each of which disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions; wherein the residual induction Br of each disk and the spacing of the sockets are so selected that in the absence of an applied external magnetic field the disks are Attracted by each other to align themselves in a stable position wherein the broad surfaces of the disks are skewed in the sockets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
211 words
A magnetic data viewer for providing a visual indication of data encoded in a magnetically encoded document when interfaced with said documents, which data is represented by the magnetic polarity alignments of a plurality of disparate magnetized regions defining a fixed two-dimensional pattern, which viewer comprises a non-magnetizable board having an internal magnetic structure and containing a plurality of segregated sockets positioned in said fixed pattern; each of which sockets contains a single disk containing magnetically hard material which is magnetized to have a given magnetic polarity alignment, with at least one broad surface of the disk having a visual indicator for providing an indication of the magnetic polarity alignment of the disk; each of which disks is visible in its socket, is restrained from movement within its socket by only the dimensions of the socket, and is movable within its socket to assume an orientation corresponding to the magnetic polarity alignment of one of said magnetized regions; wherein the residual induction Br of each disk and the spacing of the sockets are so selected that in the absence of an applied external magnetic field the disks are Attracted by each other to align themselves in a stable position wherein the broad surfaces of the disks are skewed in the sockets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the board is a transparent material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the residual induction Br of each disk and the spacing of the sockets are so selected that, in the absence of an applied external magnetic field, the disks are attracted by each other to align themselves in a stable position wherein the broad surfaces of the diss are skewed in the sockets.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device according to claim 10, further comprising a stratum containing ferromagnetic material adjacent only the back side of the non-magnetizable board for holding the disks, in the absence of an applied external magnetic field, in the positions to which said disks are oriented for viewing by the application of external disparate magnetic fields in said fixed pattern, in which oriented positions the disks lie flat in the sockets.
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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) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |