DATA ENCODING AND DECODING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 3,781,109 A
• Filed: 11/10/1971
• Issued: 12/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Opticode, Inc.
• Original Assignee: David L. Dobbins, George L. Mayer Jr
• Inventors: Mayer, George L. Jr., Dobbins, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Samuel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wintercorn, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/197,465
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 355/46,52,54 95/18 350/179
• US Class Current: 355/52
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/245 Optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/241 with means for producing composite exposures, e.g. exposing an image and a border, producing identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/243 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/246 Details of the markings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/248 with means for masking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/243 visually, e.g. by comparing in a viewer the written signature with a reference on the pass

Abstract

Apparatus and method or system for encoding and recording coded data, and retrieving the same by decoding and display thereof for direct viewing or for viewing on a screen. The method comprises utilizing a multiple array lens, otherwise known as a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'fly'"'"''"'"'s eye'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lens, for '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'scrambling'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the data to be encoded and also for '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'unscrambling'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' or decoding the data. The encoding means includes photographic means for making a negative film, or a direct positive photo, of the image appearing at the back face of the encoding lens. In the case of a photographic negative, a positive print is made therefrom. The positive print, whether made directly or indirectly, is applied to a paste-up sheet, which is photographed and the negative thereof is used with a masking sheet to expose an offset printing plate. Alternatively, a positive printing plate can be made directly from the paste-up sheet and used for ink-printing the encoded data. The system includes decoding apparatus for converting the encoded data back to its original form for viewing and, if desired, display and comparison with other matter, which may appear on the same document containing the encoded data.

Claims

1. Apparatus for encoding data comprising a support for data to be encoded;

means including a lens constructed to completely convert all of said data into a multiplicity of discrete, closely adjacent, non-overlapping, unreadable images;

means supporting said lens relative to said data support; and

means aligned with said lens for making a photographic copy of only said unreadable images of said data.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lens is a fly'"'"''"'"'s eye lens.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lens is a fly'"'"''"'"'s eye lens;

and wherein the means for making a photographic copy of the unreadable images in a camera, and wherein the photographic copy is made on negative film in the camera.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the lens is a fly'"'"''"'"'s eye lens;

and wherein the means for making a photographic copy of the unreadable images is a photocopier; and

wherein the photocopier makes a direct positive print of the unreadable images.

5. Apparatus for encoding data, comprising:

a housing;

a first partition in said housing for supporting a sheet or the like containing data to be encoded, said housing having a slot through which said sheet can be inserted and withdrawn from said housing;

a second partition mounted in said housing above said first partition, said partition having a central opening;

a multiple array encoding lens mounted in said opening for use in encoding said data, said lens being constructed to produce a multiplicity of discrete, closely adjacent, non-overlapping, unreadable images;

a camera mounted in said housing above said encoding lens, said camera having a case to receive sensitized film, a transfer lens axially aligned with said encoding lens, a shutter adjacent said transfer lens, and means for operating said shutter; and

lighting means in said housing positioned to illuminate the data to be encoded on said film.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the first partition is transparent and the second partition is opaque;

and wherein the lighting means is positioned above and below said transparent position; and

means for selectively operating said lighting means for directly lighting the data to be encoded on said film, or for back lighting said data.

7. Apparatus for encoding data as defined in claim 5, wherein the encoding lens is substantially square.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the multiple array lens is spaced a predetermined distance above the transparent partition to effect a change in the size of the encoded image from that of the data to be encoded.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the distance from the upper face of the multiple array lens to the transfer lens is substantially equal to the distance from the transfer lens to the sensitized film.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, including a transparent retaining sheet overlying the data to be encoded;

and means yieldably supporting the transparent partition and urging it toward said retaining sheet.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the housing has front and side walls and the elongated slot is formed in its front wall in the plane of the support for the data to be encoded, and wherein means is mounted within the housing on each of the side walls in the plane of said slot providing a trackway, and wherein the support is a holder insertable through said slot and into said trackway.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which the holder comprises a rigid transparent base plate, and a transparent cover hingedly mounted along its rear edge to the rear edge of said base plate.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, in which the base plate has cross-lines thereon to facilitate positioning the center of the matter to be encoded so that it overlies the point of intersection of said cross-lines.

14. Encoded data decoding apparatus, comprising:

a decoding lens having a plain side and a multiple array of lenslettes on its opposite side, and means for holding a sheet or the like, having printed thereon an unimpaired encoded image of data produced by an encoding lens similar to said decoding lens, said image being formed by a multiplicity of discrete, closely adjacent, non-overlapping, unreadable images with said encoded image confronting one side of said decoding leNs to thereby decode and reproduce an image of the entirely decoded data, on the opposite side of said decoding lens.

15. Apparatus for decoding encoded matter, comprising:

a housing having a front wall;

a decoding lens mounted within said housing and being designed to provide a decoded image on the back thereof;

means at said front wall for supporting encoded matter in confronting relation to said decoding lens, said housing having means for viewing the decoded image in its entirety on the back of said decoding lens.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, including a telescopic, non-inverting lens system in said housing for direct viewing of the decoded image on the back of said decoding lens.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, including a viewing screen;

and means in the housing for transmitting the decoded image onto said viewing screen.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, in which a transparent window is mounted on the front wall, and through which other matter to be compared with the decoded image can be viewed.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, in which a magnifying lens is positioned between the decoding lens and the telescopic, non-inverting lens system.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the means for supporting the encoded image in confronting relation to the decoding lens is a pressure plate;

and wherein means yieldably urges said pressure plate toward the decoding lens.

21. Encoded-data decoding apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front wall;

a decoding lens mounted within said housing;

means at said front wall for supporting a sheet containing an encoded image in confronting relation to said decoding lens;

a light source in said housing for illuminating the decoded image reproduced on said decoding lens;

a viewing screen mounted in said housing; and

a system of mirrors and relay lens system in said housing for reflecting onto the viewing screen the image reproduced by said decoding lens.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, in which the viewing screen consists of a sheet of frosted glass.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, in which a magnifying lens system is disposed in the optical path of the decoded image being transmitted onto the viewing screen for enlarging the image.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, in which the front wall includes a transparent window, and wherein the sheet containing the encoded image includes other matter to be positioned in contact with said transparent window;

means in said housing for illuminating said other matter; and

a system of mirrors and relay lens system in said housing arranged to reflect the illuminated other matter onto the viewing screen for visual comparison with the decoded image.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the sheet is a check, the encoded image is that of a signature and is printed on the check, and the other matter is a hand-written signature to be compared with the decoded signature.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, in which a transfer lens system is interposed in the optical path of the reflection of said other matter.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, in which the mirror system includes a first mirror disposed on an angle of about 45* and having its central portion in horizontal alignment with the optical axis of the decoding lens for reflecting the decoded image thereon in an upward direction;

a second mirror disposed in parallel confronting relation to the first mirror for reflecting the decoded image directed thereon rearwardly in a horizontal direction;

a third mirror disposed on an angle of about 45* and arranged to reflect the decoded image projected thereon from said second mirror vertically upwardly; and

a fourth mirror arranged above the third mirror on an angle suitable for receiving and projecting the decoded image onto the viewing screen.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27, in which a magnifying lens system is disposed in the optical path between the second and third mirrors.

29. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a box-like section containing light sources for back-lighting the encoded image presented to the decoding lens, and for back-lighting the other matter presented to the transparent window.

30. Apparatus as defined in claim 29, in which the box-like section is connected with the housing by a hinge and held in closed position by a latch mounted upon the cabinet.

31. Apparatus as defined in claim 29, in which the box-like section includes a pressure plate for simultaneously engaging and holding a sheet containing the encoded image and said other matter, in contact with the decoding lens and the transparent window, respectively, said pressure plate having an opening registering with the decoding lens and transparent window, respectively.

32. Apparatus as defined in claim 31, in which guide means is mounted upon the box-like section adjacent the front wall of the housing for guiding the sheet containing the encoded image and other matter into position between the front wall of the cabinet and the pressure plate.

33. Apparatus as defined in claim 31, including means retractably supporting the pressure plate for movement toward and away from the front wall of the housing, and further includes spring means for yieldably urging said pressure plate toward the front wall.

34. Apparatus as defined in claim 33, including means for retracting the pressure plate to permit insertion and removal of the sheet containing the encoded image and other matter.

35. Apparatus as defined in claim 34, in which the retracting means includes a rod pivotally mounted in the cabinet, angle brackets mounted upon the pressure plate and having an opening therein, fingers mounted upon the rod engaged in the openings in said brackets, and an operating lever mounted upon the rod exteriorly of the housing.

36. Encoding apparatus, comprising:

a multiple array lens to be focused upon that which is to be encoded, said lens being constructed to convert the same into a multiplicity of discrete, closely adjacent, non-overlapping, unreadable images, said lens having a plain side upon which said unreadable images appear; and

means aligned with said lens for making a single-exposure photographic copy of all of said unreadable images appearing on said plain side of said lens.

37. Apparatus for decoding encoded matter, comprising:

a decoding lens having a plain side and a multiple array of lenslettes on its opposite side, and means for holding a sheet or the like, having reproduced thereon encoded matter produced by an encoding lens similar to said decoding lens, said encoded matter being formed by a multiplicity of discrete, closely adjacent, non-overlapping, unreadable images with said encoded images confronting one side of said decoding lens to thereby decode and reproduce an image of all of the decoded matter on the opposite side of said decoding lens.