AUTOMATIC INFORMATION READING SYSTEM USING PHOTOLUMINESCENT DETECTION MEANS

• US 3,666,946 A
• Filed: 09/29/1970
• Issued: 05/30/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cebern B. Trimble
• Original Assignee: Cebern B. Trimble
• Inventors: Trimble, Cebern B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frome, Morton J.
• Application Number:
  US05/076,493
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 250/71R,71.5R,83.3UV,219Q,226 235/61.11 340/146.3
• US Class Current: 250/271
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/00 Non-electric light sources using luminescence using excitation by radioactivity G21H3/02, H01J65/06, H01J65/08; using excitation by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation H01J65/04; Light sources using electrochemiluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/10 mechanically operated

Abstract

A process for encoding data and apparatus for recording and retrieving the same. The encoding is accomplished by depositing, on an area for each datum of said data, a first plurality of binarily-weighted ink components, whose presence or absence defines the significant value of a digit, and a second plurality of binarily-weighted ink components, whose presence or absence defines the order of the digit. The inks used photoluminesce in distinct narrow wavebands when subjected to ultraviolet radiation. The apparatus for retrieving the data includes a source of ultraviolet radiation for periodically illuminating a scanning zone to where the data to be read is moved. A scanning device is used to scan the scanning zone during the period when the ultraviolet radiation is on, so as to detect the fluoresence of those ink components which are present. Each datum may also be so shaped as to be human-readable. An optical system is used to direct the detected fluoresence to an array of light-responsive members. Each member of the array is responsive to the fluorescence of only one ink component, thereby registering the presence or absence of that particular ink component in the data. Successive passes by the scanning device repeatedly scan the data, which may be randomly oriented relative to the scanning zone. Conventional logic circuitry may be used to interpret the output of the array of light-responsive members.

Claims

1. The process for the coding and retrieval of data comprising the steps of:

a. depositing, on an area for each datum of said data, a first plurality of binarily weighted ink components whose presence or absence defines the significant value of a digit;

b. depositing on said area, for each datum of said data, a second plurality of binarily weighted ink components whose presence or absence defines the order of the digit;

c. moving said area with the data thereon to a scanning zone;

d. periodically illuminating said scanning zone with ultraviolet radiation;

e. scanning a portion of the data at said zone so as to detect the photoluminescence of the ink components present in the portion of the data scanned;

f. imaging the photoluminescence of the ink components present onto each member of an array of light-responsive members in which each of the light-responsive members is responsive to the photoluminescence of only one ink component to thereby produce a signal to indicate the presence of the corresponding ink component in the portion of the data scanned;

g. decoding said signals in a first decoder matrix to produce a first signal representative of the significant value of The digit being scanned;

h. decoding said signals in a second decoder matrix to produce a second signal representative of the particular order of the digit being scanned; and

i. storing said first and second signals for each digit being scanned to produce a resulting signal indicative of the significant value and particular order of the digit being scanned upon the occurrence of a readout signal.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the steps of depositing said first and second pluralities of ink components are combined in one depositing step with said first and second pluralities of ink components being mixed together prior to the one depositing step;

and in which said depositing step is effected by a hand stamp with said one depositing step shaping said first and second pluralities of ink components into a human-readable character.

3. An apparatus for reading digits of data recorded in a plurality of inks in which each ink photoluminesces at a particular discrete waveband when illuminated with ultraviolet light, comprising:

a scanning zone;

means for moving said data to said scanning zone;

illuminating means for periodically illuminating said data with ultraviolet light at said scanning zone;

an array having a plurality of light-responsive members adapted to produce a signal when energized, each of said members being responsive to the waveband of only one of said links during photoluminescence;

scanning means for periodically scanning a small part of each digit of said data at said scanning zone as said data is moved thereto;

imaging means for imaging the photoluminescence of the data scanned onto each of said members so that the particular members energized or not energized are indicative of the inks present or not present in said data, and each of those members energized producing a corresponding signal;

a first decoder matrix to decode said signals into a first signal representative of the significant value of the digit being scanned;

a second decoder matrix to decode said signals into a second signal representative of the particular order of the digit being scanned;

a memory matrix means to combine said first and second signals to produce a resulting signal representative of the digit being scanned and to store said resulting signals of all the data scanned until a readout signal is obtained, said matrix means comprising;

row input terminals to receive the first signals from said first decoder'"'"''"'"'s matrix;

column input terminals to receive the second signals from said second decoder matrix;

a storage means for each row input terminal and column input terminal;

a gate means for each storage means to energize the associated storage means upon the simultaneous occurrence of a first signal and a second signal from the associated row and column input terminals to produce said resulting signal representative of the digit being scanned; and

readout means to receive the outputs of said gate means upon the occurrence of said readout signal and thereby record the presence of the digits being read.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said scanning means and imaging means are cycled so that the inks are scanned during intervals in which the ultraviolet light is on, so that the inks present will be detected by their fluorescence and in which said illuminating means also includes a source of visible light for periodically illuminating said scanning zone;

said array including a light-responsive member which is responsive to visible light, said data being located on an item adapted to reflect visible light, said scanning means being adapted to scan said item during the interval in which it is illuminated with visible light at said scanning zone and thereby energize the associated light-responsive member to enable said readout means;

said readout signal being produced when said item leaves said scanning zone; and

said storage means including Capacitor means.

5. In combination, coded data, and a reading apparatus therefor;

each datum of said data comprising;

a first portion containing a plurality of binarily weighted ink components whose presence or absence defines the significant value of a digit; and

a second portion containing a plurality of binarily weighted ink components whose presence or absence defines the particular order of the digit;

each said ink component emitting a different specific light frequency when irradiated by ultraviolet light;

said apparatus comprising;

ultraviolet illumination means for periodically illuminating with ultraviolet light a scanning zone which said data passes;

scanning means for scanning a small portion of each datum at said scanning zone;

an array of light-responsive means having members, with each one thereof being responsive to only one light frequency emitted from said coded inks so as to indicate the presence or absence of the corresponding ink, thereby defining said datum;

imaging means for imaging the light emitted from said inks to each of said light-responsive members of said array, with each of said members which is energized producing a corresponding signal;

a first decoder matrix to decode said signals into a first signal representative of the significant value of the datum being scanned;

a second decoder matrix to decode said signals into a second signal representative of the particular order of the datum being scanned; and

a memory matrix comprising;

row input terminals to receive said first signals and column input terminals to receive said second signals;

a storage means for each row input terminal and column input terminal;

a gate means for each storage means to energize the associated storage means upon the simultaneous occurrence of a first signal and a second signal from the associated row and column input terminals; and

readout means for each said storage means to receive the output from the associated storage means upon the occurrence of a readout signal and thereby record the presence of the data scanned.