ELECTROOPTICAL ENCODING DEVICE

• US 3,624,644 A
• Filed: 03/14/1969
• Issued: 11/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leonard James Higgins
• Original Assignee: Leonard James Higgins
• Inventors: Higgins, Leonard James
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US04/815,248
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 340/365,203,204,348,354,359,146.3K 235/145B,61.11,61.115,145A 250/219R,227,219Q,219D 178/17R,17A,17C,DIG.2 197/1,98
• US Class Current: 341/31
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/51 the printed and recorded information being identical; using type elements with code-generating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/375 during the movement of a coded element
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/969 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

An electro-optical encoding device comprising a moveable member having a characteristic coded pattern of intermixed light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes representative of data to be electrically encoded. An electro-optical monitoring assembly is positioned adjacent the path of movement of the coded moveable member for serially illuminating the coded pattern of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes with an interrogating light beam as the moveable member moves past the electrooptical monitoring assembly. The electrooptical monitoring assembly also includes an arrangement for serially receiving back pulses of light returned by the coded pattern of light-reflecting stripes and deriving serially coded output signals which are representative of the data encoded on the side of the moveable member. The electrooptical monitoring assembly comprises a source of illumination, a first optical subassembly for directing light from the source of illumination onto the characteristic coded pattern of light-reflecting stripes formed on the sides of the moveable member, a second optical subassembly for receiving light pulses reflected back from the pattern of light-reflecting stripes and for directing the received light pulses to the photosensitive surface of an electro-optic converter such as a photocell for converting the intelligence contained in the received light pulses into coded electrical signals representative of the data encoded on the moveable member.

Claims

1. A new and improved electro-optical encoding device comprising a plurality of individually moveable members each having disposed thereon a characteristic coded pattern of intermixed light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes representative of data to be electrically encoded, electro-optical monitoring means positioned adjacent the coded moveable members for serially illuminating the coded patterns of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes with an interrogating light beam as the member moves past the electrooptical monitoring means, and for serially receiving back pulses of light returned by the coded patterns of light-reflecting stripes are deriving serially coded electrical output signals therefrom representative of the data encoded on the moveable members, said electro-optical monitoring means comprising a common source of illumination, first fiber optic light transmitting means having multiple branch paths for directing light from said common source of illumination onto the characteristic coded patterns of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes of the respective moveable members, second fiber optic light receiving means having multiple branch paths for receiving light pulses reflected from the patterns of light reflecting stripes on the respective members and directing the received light pulses to a common readout point, and a single common electro-optic converting element located at the common readout point and having the light output from the second fiber optic light receiving means directed thereon for converting the intelligence contained in the received pulses of reflected light into coded electrical signals representative of the data encoded on the moveable members.

2. An encoding device according to claim 1 further including focusing lens means for focusing light directed upon or emanating from the patterns of light-reflecting stripes into finely focused intense light beams.

3. An encoding device according to claim 1 wherein the first fiber optic light-transmitting means comprises a plurality of light-transmitting fiber optic branches having one end positioned adjacent the common source of illumination and a remaining end positioned adjacent the path of a respective moveable member for transmitting light from the source and directing an interrogating light beam against the moveable member as the pattern of reflecting stripes is serially moved past, and wherein the second fiber optic light-transmitting means comprises a plurality of light receiving branches having one end positioned adjacent the path of a respective moveable member in the vicinity of the interrogating light beam produced by the associated light transmitting fiber optic branch and having a remaining end positioned to direct light pulses received from the pattern of reflecting stripes onto the light sensitive surface of the single common electro-optic converting element.

4. An encoding device according to claim 3 wherein the moveable member moves past the electro-optical converting element twice in a forward and return motion whereby the coded electrical output signal derived during the forward motion may be compared to the coded electrical output signal derived during the return motion for parity check purposes.

5. An encoding dEvice according to claim 4 further including focusing lens means for focusing light directed upon or emanating from the patterns of light-reflecting stripes into finely focused intense light beams.

6. An encoding device according to claim 1 wherein the moveable members have similar coded patterns of reflecting stripes formed on at least two sides thereof and the fiber optic branches comprise dual fiber optic light-transmitting branches and dual fiber optic light-receiving branches for illuminating and receiving back reflected light pulses from each of the sides of the moveable members, the light-receiving branches being directed in common to the light sensitive surface of the single common electro-optic converting element.

7. An encoding device according to claim 1 wherein the moveable members move past the electro-optical monitoring means twice in a forward and return motion whereby the coded electrical output signal derived during the forward motion may be compared to the coded electrical output signal derived during the return motion for parity check purposes.

8. An encoding device according to claim 1 wherein the pattern of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes is permanently formed on the moveable members.

9. An encoding device according to claim 1 wherein the pattern of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes is formed on a detachable target flag that may be readily secured to the moveable members for encoding and readout purposes.

10. A keyboard-actuated apparatus for deriving coded electrical output signals characteristic of the individual characters and markings represented by the several keys of the apparatus and including a plurality of keys for causing physical movement of respective key actuated members past respective readout zones associated with each key actuated member upon the respective keys thereof being actuated, characteristic coded patterns of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes formed on portions of each key actuated member that moves past the readout zone, a common source of illumination, first fiber optic light transmitting means having multiple branch paths for directing light from said common source of illumination to the respective readout zones for illuminating the characteristic coded patterns of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes, second fiber optic light receiving means having multiple-branch paths for receiving light pulses from the patterns of light-reflecting strips on the respective key actuated members and and directing the received light pulses to a common readout point, and common electro-optic converting means located at the common readout point and having the light output from the second fiber optic light receiving means directed thereon for converting the intelligence contained in the received pulses of reflected light into coded electrical signals representative of the individual characters and markings represented by the several keys of the apparatus.

11. An encoding device according to claim 10 further including focusing lens means for focusing light directed upon or emanating from the patterns of light reflecting stripes into finely focused intense light beams.

12. An encoding device according to claim 10 wherein the moveable members move past the electro-optical monitoring means twice in a forward and return motion whereby the coded electrical output signal derived during the forward motion may be compared to coded electrical output signal derived during the return motion for parity check purposes.

13. An encoding device according to claim 10 wherein the pattern of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes is permanently formed on the moveable members.

14. An encoding device according to claim 10 wherein the pattern of light reflecting and nonreflecting stripes is formed on a detachable target flag that may be readily secured to the moveable members for encoding and readout purposes.