CODED DATA STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 3,660,641 A
• Filed: 10/30/1969
• Issued: 05/02/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph L. Levasseur
• Original Assignee: Joseph L. Levasseur
• Inventors: Levasseur, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilgore, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US04/872,595
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 340/174.1A 179/1.2A,1.2B,1.3B,1.2T 235/61.12,61.11E,61.12N 250/219
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding

Abstract

A coded data storage medium including a film strip having a particular form and arrangement of optically detectable images position encoded thereon.

Claims

1. Coded information storage means for use in searching a listing of multi-integer identifiers to determine by direct optical comparison if a particular multi-integer identifier is included, the coding of said particular multi-integer identifier being represented by a row of aligned light conducting and nonlight conducting regions position encoded to represent the particular multi-integer identifier, said storage means comprising a strip of film for reading by moving through a spaced formed by and between a light source and a light sensing unit, said light source and light sensing unit being located on opposite sides of the row of aligned light conducting and nonlight conducting regions that represent the particular multiinteger identifier, and means forming a plurality of distinct optically detectable photographically recorded dot images position encoded on the film strip, said dot images including a plurality of parallel spaced columns of aligned dot images extending transversely across the film strip at an angle relative to the length thereof, the dot images in each column being position encoded therein in groups with at least two dot images in each group, the positions of the dot images in each group being position encoded therein according to a constant ratio code to represent an integer of a multi-integer identification indicia, each of said parallel columns having the same number of dot images therein to encode the same number of integers of a multi-integer indicia and all of the dot images in each row being positioned in alignment to be simultaneously read as the column moves into registration with the row of aligned light conducting and non-light conducting regions that represent the particular identifier being searched and in the space between the light source and the light sensing unit, the position encoding of the dot images on the film strip being complementarily encoded as compared to the encoding of the light conducting and non-light conducting regions representing the particular identifier so that only direct optical comparison of encoding representing the same identifier and indicia will be able to prevent light from the liGht source from reaching the light sensing unit during movement of the film strip therebetween.

2. Coded information storage means for use in searching a listing of multi-integer identifiers to determine by direct optical comparison if a particular multi-integer identifier is included, the coding of said particular multi-integer identifier being represented by a row of aligned light conducting and non-light conducting regions position encoded to represent the particular multi-integer identifier, said storage means comprising an elongated strip of film having predetermined overall light conducting properties and distinct areas of different light conducting properties photographically recorded on the film, said strip of film being constructed to be read by being moved lengthwise through a space formed by and between a light source and a light sensitive assembly including at least two spaced light sensitive members, said light source and said light sensitive assembly being located on opposite sides of the row of aligned light conducting and non-light conducting regions that represent the particular multi-integer identifier, said areas of different light conducting properties on the film including a plurality of adjacent columns each formed by a plurality of said distinct areas arranged in parallel rows extending across the film strip at an acute angle relative to the length thereof, each of said columns having the same number of said distinct areas, the said areas in each column being arranged in groups with the areas in each group being position encoded therein according to a constant ratio code to represent an integer of a multi-integer identification word, each column having the areas in the several groups position encoded to represent a different identification word, said rows moving successively into registration with the row of aligned light conducting and non-light conducting regions that represent the particular identifier being searched and in the space between the light source and the light sensing unit, the position encoding of the dot images on the film strip being complementarily encoded as compared to the encoding of the light conducting and non-light conducting regions representing the particular identifier so that only direct optical comparison of encoding representing the same identifier and identification word will be able to prevent light from the light source from reaching the light sensing unit during movement of the film strip therebetween.

3. The coded information storage means defined in claim 2 including a test pattern formed of said areas of different light conducting properties, said test pattern including a plurality of adjacent columns of said areas each of which has the areas positioned therein located so as to enable an optical test to be made of the coding of a different selected one of the possible area positions therein.

4. The coded information storage means defined in claim 3 wherein a similar test pattern is formed adjacent each opposite end of the film strip, the portion of the film strip extending between said test patterns being substantially entirely occupied by said plurality of adjacent columns of said areas encoded to represent different identification words.

5. Coded information storage means for use in searching a listing of multi-integer identifiers to determine by direct optical comparison if a particular multi-integer identifier is included, the coding of said particular multi-integer identifier being represented by a row of aligned light conducting and non-light conducting regions position encoded to represent the particular multi-integer identifier, said storage means comprising an elongated strip of flexible photographic material having distinctive photographically recorded regions of light conducting and non-light conducting characteristics, said strip having a plurality of distinct optically detectable images positioned thereon, said images being arranged in groups of spaced images with the images in each group bEing position encoded therein to represent a distinct identification indicia, a plurality of said groups of position encoded images being arranged in adjacent parallel columns of said areas all of which extend across the strip at an angle relative to the length thereof so that each column contains sufficient position encoded groups of areas to represent a multi-indicia word, said columns of position encoded areas occupying most of the area along the length of the strip, the encoding of the images on the strip being the optical complement of the encoding of the images of said particular multi-integer identifier so that only when a multi-indicia word encoded on the strip which represents the said particular multi-integer identifier being compared is placed in registration with the coding for said particular identifier during move-ment of the strip will the combined registered encodings interrupt light passage, all possible image positions in each corresponding group of images in each of the folumns being located in a band which is parallel to the length of the strip so that corresponding groups can be sensed by stationary sensing means during movement of the strip along a direction parallel to the length thereof.

6. The coded information storage means of claim 5 wherein each of said columns of images extends across the film at an acute predetermined angle relative to the length thereof.

7. The coded information storage means of claim 5 wherein each of said images is a distinct photographically recorded dot.

8. The coded information storage means of claim 5 including a test pattern including a plurality of adjacent columns formed of a plurality of distinct images, the images in the different test pattern columns being positioned therein so that each possible image position in each group of images is distinctively represented in at least one column of the test pattern.

9. Means for encoding multi-integer identification indicia so that a large number of similar type indicia can be sensed and searched quickly and accurately by direct optical comparison between complementary encoded first and second multi-integer identifiers using a stationary optical sensing means including a light source, a plurality of sensor elements spaced therefrom and a plurality of light conducting and non-light conducting regions position encoded in the space between the light source and the sensor elements to represent the first identifier, said encoding means comprising an elongated film strip having photographically recorded on one surface thereof distinct areas of a first light conducting property located in areas of the film strip that have light conducting properties different from the distinct areas, said areas of first light conducting properties including a plurality of dots arranged in a plurality of adjacent parallel rows extending transversely across the film strip for movement past and parallel to the sensing means so that all of the distinct areas in each of said rows are simultaneously and successively placed in optical registration with the light conducting and non-light conducting regions that represent the first identifier, each of said parallel rows representing a second multi-integer identifier for direct optical comparison with the encoded first identifier, said plurality of adjacent parallel rows of dots occupying most of the area of said one surface of the film strip over the length thereof, there being more possible dot positions in each of said parallel rows than there are dots, the ratio of dots to possible dot positions being constant in each row, the possible dot positions and dots in each row being subdivided into groups of dots and possible dot positions with the dots in each group of possible dot positions being position encoded therein according to a constant ratio code to represent the different integers of one of the second identifiers, the dots in each row being positioned therein to control which sensor elements receive light from the light source during movement of the film strip thereby light from the light source being prevented from reaching the sensor elements only when the encoding for the first and second identifiers being compared are complementarily identical.

10. The means defined in claim 9 including a row of dots positioned extending lengthwise of the film strip, said lengthwise extending row being used for control purposes.

11. The means defined in claim 9 wherein said dots are square in shape, and the rows of dots extend diagonally across the film strip relative to the length thereof.

12. The means defined in claim 9 wherein said dots are rectangular in shape having their longer dimensions oriented to be substantially parallel to the length of the film strip.

13. The means defined in claim 9 wherein the groups of dots in each of said dot rows on the film strip are position encoded in the groups to represent the integers of a multi-integer second identifier, each of said multi-integer second identifiers representing an account number.

14. The means defined in claim 9 wherein at least two adjacent rows of dots are required to encode each second identifier.

15. The means defined in claim 9 wherein selected rows of dots have a control dot associated therewith.

16. The means defined in claim 9 wherein each row of dots includes a reading control dot, the reading control dot for each row having a shorter dimension parallel to the length of the film strip than the position encoded dots in the associated rows.

17. The means defined in claim 9 including a test pattern formed by other rows of dots located on the film strip, said test pattern having the dots in each different row thereof positioned to test the operation of a different one of the sensor elements.

18. The means defined in claim 9 including control dot groups located between selected adjacent rows of the position encoded dots along the film strip, said control dot groups being used to control the operation of the sensing means.

19. The means defined in claim 9 including at least one longitudinally extending row of dots positioned extending to adjacent each opposite end of the film strip, the position of at least some of the dots in said rows being different at each opposite end of the film strip, the dots in said rows being used to control the direction in which the film strip will move on the next reading operation thereof.