APPARATUS FOR READING OPTICALLY CARDLIKE ELEMENTS AND A MERCHANDISING SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME

• US 3,665,164 A
• Filed: 07/09/1970
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Felix Macaluso, Robert W. Beveridge
• Original Assignee: Felix Macaluso, Robert W. Beveridge
• Inventors: Beveridge, Robert W., Macaluso, Felix
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US05/053,473
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.11E,61.7B,61.9 340/149A 250/227,219I 179/6.3CC
• US Class Current: 235/460
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/10 mechanically operated

Abstract

Apparatus for optically reading flat elements such as merchandise tickets and credit cards in which holes have been punched to encode information. When the element is properly indexed, the reading is accomplished by directing light against the element disposed against an opaque panel in which are embedded ends of light conductive fibers in a pattern such as to provide a fiber end in registry with every possible hole position in the element. The fibers extend to another opaque panel where their other ends are disposed in registry with a bank of phototransistors. Electronic means are connected to decode the current impulses produced by phototransistors as they receive light from the second fiber ends. The merchandising system employs this apparatus to read in sequence both Kimball type merchandise tickets and special credit cards.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reading optically and simultaneously preselected holes in a flat, relatively thin cardlike element, said element being of a predetermined peripheral configuration, and provided with a plurality of holes the size, number and pattern of disposition of which holes constitute in coded form information desired by the party having at least temporary custody of said element, said apparatus comprising:

A. a plurality of light conducting fibers, the number of said fibers corresponding to the total number of holes which could be provided in said element in any pattern of hole disposition, each said fiber having, i. a first end which terminates perpendicularly to, and flushly in, a flat first panel, all said first ends being disposed in a pattern such that when the element to be read is disposed on and in abutment with, and is properly indexed with respect to, said first panel, one fiber end is in axial registry with each possible hole which may be provided in said element, and ii. a second end which terminates in a second panel, all said second ends being disposed in a pattern having a predetermined relationship to the pattern of fiber ends of the first panel;

B. a source of light directed against said first panel and upon all of said first fiber ends, but spaced from said panel;

C. Means to receive said element and, upon proper indexing, to dispose it in a predetermined orientation and disposition between said first panel and said light source so that the hole pattern of said element is in registry with the pattern of fiber ends in said first panel;

D. Means to bring said first panel and said light source closely together to sandwich tightly therebetween said element when inserted in said receiving meanS, thereby to prevent leakage of light between adjacent fiber ends in the first panel and between adjacent holes in said element;

E. a plurality of phototransistors, the number of said phototransistors corresponding with the number of fiber ends in the second panel, each of said phototransistors being disposed closely in axial registry with a fiber end in said second panel and shielded from adjacent fiber ends, thereby to receive light emission only from the fiber end with which it is so in registry, and upon such receipt to generate an electric current impulse;

F. electronic means to decode the current impulses generated by the plurality of phototransistors in response to the pattern of light signals passed through the holes of each particular flat cardlike element inserted in said element receiving means, and to make such decoded information available for use in a computerized data processing system; and

G. switching means, said switching means, upon being actuated, serving to actuate the means to bring said first panel and said light source closely together to sandwich the element therebetween, and to turn on the light source.

2. Apparatus for reading optically and simultaneously preselected holes in a flat, relatively thin cardlike element, said element being of a predetermined peripheral configuration and provided with a plurality of holes the size, number and pattern of disposition of which holes constitute in coded form information desired by the party having at least temporary custody of said element, said apparatus comprising:

A. a plurality of bundles of light conducting fibers, the number of said bundles of fibers corresponding to the total number of holes which could be provided in said element in any pattern of hole disposition, each said fiber bundle having, i. a first end which terminates perpendicularly to, and flushly in, a flat first panel, all said first ends being disposed in a pattern such that when the element to be read is disposed on and in abutment with, and is properly indexed with respect to, said first panel, one fiber end is in axial registry with each possible hole which may be provided in said element, and ii. a second end which terminates in a second panel, all said second ends being disposed in a pattern having a predetermined relationship to the pattern of fiber bundle ends of the first panel;

B. a source of light directed against said first panel and upon all of said first fiber bundle ends, but spaced from said panel;

C. means to receive said element and, upon proper indexing, to dispose it in a predetermined orientation and disposition between said first panel and said light source, so that the hole pattern of said element is in registry with the pattern of fiber bundle ends in said first panel;

D. Means to bring said first panel and said light source closely together to sandwich said element tightly therebetween, thereby to prevent leakage of light between adjacent bundles of fiber ends in the first panel and between adjacent holes in said element;

E. a plurality of phototransistors, the number of said phototransistors corresponding with the number of fiber bundle ends in the second panel, each of said phototransistors being disposed closely in axial registry with a fiber bundle end in said second panel and shielded from adjacent fiber bundle ends, thereby to receive light emission only from the fiber bundle end with which it is so in registry, and each of said phototransistors being adapted to convert light emission received from the fiber bundle end with which it is in registry to an electric current impulse;

F. electronic means to decode the current impulses generated by the plurality of phototransistors in response to the pattern of light signals passed through the holes of each particular flat cardlike element inserted in said element receiving means, and to make such decoded information available for use in a computerized data processing system; and

G. switChing means, said switching means, upon being actuated, serving to actuate the means to bring said first panel and said light source closely together to sandwich the element therebetween, and to turn on the light source.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic means includes circuitry responsive to the particular current impulses generated by the phototransistors, and thereby to determine which side of the said element appears upwardly disposed when said element has been inserted in said receiving means and thereupon to accomplish proper decoding of the information contained on said element.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fiber bundles embedded in the opaque material, the source of light, the means to receive the said element, and the plurality of phototransistors are disposed in a slotted portable container head of such size and configuration as to be held conveniently in one hand of an operator, the switching means is disposed operatively accessible to said hand of the operator, and the electronic means is incorporated in a separate portable package to be carried by the operator and is connected by wiring to the phototransistors.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein electronic circuit means provide an audible signal upon proper completion of the reading of each element inserted in the apparatus.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ends of the fiber bundles in the second panel are closely spaced together to enable the apparatus to be portably contained.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic means includes amplifier means for the current impulses generated by the phototransistors, said amplifier means, however, being biased against amplifying current impulses of a predetermined minimum value, thereby to avoid undesired pickup of cross talk created by any light leakage between adjacent fiber bundle ends in either the first or second panels.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic means includes circuitry which senses the presence in the receiving means of a mutilated element and upon so sensing such a mutilated element, rejects all information encoded in the holes thereof.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein portable tape recording means are provided to receive the decoded information and thereby to make such information available for use in a computerized data processing system.

10. A system for improving the operation of department stores having a data processing facility, said system including:

A. a plurality of terminals disposed throughout the store, each of said terminals i. being disposed at a station convenient to a sales clerk of at least one of the store'"'"''"'"'s merchandising departments;

ii. including apparatus as described in claim 1; and

iii. being connected to the store'"'"''"'"'s data processing facility;

B. a first type of flat element insertable in the said element receiving means, said first type of flat element comprising a merchandising ticket, said ticket being attached to and removable from an item of store merchandise and having holes punched therein in a preselected pattern to encode information concerning the particular item of merchandise to which the ticket is attached; and

C. a second type of flat element insertable in the said element receiving means, said second type of flat element comprising a credit card which is provided by the department store to each of selected customers, said credit card having holes punched therein to encode information relating to the holder of such credit card, whereby, when such customer purchases an item of merchandise from said store, the purchase transaction may be handled rapidly by the store'"'"''"'"'s clerk by his first inserting one of said flat elements into the said receiving means of the apparatus for optical reading of the information encoded in the holes therein and communicating such information to the store'"'"''"'"'s data processing fAcility, and then, by inserting said second flat element into the said receiving means of the apparatus also for optical reading of the information which is encoded in the holes of said other element, and communicating the same to the store'"'"''"'"'s data processing facility.