Data handling system with remote document scanner

• US 4,041,454 A
• Filed: 07/12/1976
• Issued: 08/09/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cognitronics Corp. (ThinkEngine Networks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cognitronics Corp. (ThinkEngine Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shepard, David H., Gushue, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo H.
• Application Number:
  US05/704,575
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 340/146.3 H, 340/146.3 F, 340/146.3 R, 178/7.6, 358/285, 358/206, 358/208
• US Class Current: 382/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

A central time-shared data processing system organized for character analysis and coupled to a number of remote document scanning stations each including a drum document feed, the drum being rotatable in small incremental steps, and means operable between steps for scanning the document along a path parallel to a line of characters on the document to produce data identifying graphic figures for analysis by the central processing system.

Claims

1. Data handling apparatus including means for scanning documents carrying graphic indicia;

said apparatus comprising;

a first station having a document scanning unit including means to support a document in geometrical shape presenting contiguous, parallel straight-line elements passing through the graphic indicia;

said scanning unit also including a laser producing a beam of coherent radiation which is directed to said document to develop thereon a spot of light of small diameter;

scanning means including a rotatable mirror in the path of said beam for repetitively sweeping said laser beam along a scan path extending parallel to said straight-line elements;

means for advancing said document in synchronism with the operation of said scanning means so as to scan said graphic indicia with a series of successive adjacent scan paths parallel to each other and also parallel to said straight-line elements of said document;

said advancing means being constructed and arranged to provide said adjacent scan paths with center-to-center spacings at least approximately equal to said diameter of said spot of light;

sensing means to detect light reflected from the document as a result of the scanning thereof by said laser beam;

clock means coupled to the output of said detecting means for producing scan signals in the form of binary sample pulses each indicating the presence or absence of graphic indicia elements at corresponding regularly-spaced positions along each scan path with said positions being identical for successive scan sweeps;

a second station having receiving means for processing the graphic indicia information represented by said scan signals;

transmission means coupling said first station to said second station; and

means at said first station responsive to said scan signals to develop and to direct to said transmission means corresponding signals suitable to be sent through said transmission means to said receiving means at said second station to transfer thereto the graphic indicia information representing said graphic indicia.

2. Data handling apparatus for scanning documents bearing graphic indicia at one station to produce scan signal data for transmission to a second station at a remote location, said apparatus comprising:

a document scanning unit having a rotatable document feed-drum with a cylindrical surface arranged to support a document in cylindrical shape while advancing the document;

said scanning unit including a laser producing a beam of coherent radiation which is projected towards said feed-drum to produce a small-diameter spot of light on a document carried by said feed-drum;

rotary scanning means positioned in the path of said laser beam and operable to repetitively sweep said laser beam along said feed-drum in a scan path running parallel to the axis thereof;

means for rotating said feed-drum in synchronism with said rotary scanning means so that said laser beam scans said document along successive evenly-spaced scan paths parallel to the drum axis and with adjacent scan paths having a center-to-center spacing at least approximately equal to the diameter of said spot of light;

sensing means to detect the laser radiation reflected from said document;

means coupled to the output of said sensing means for developing scan signals in the form of binary sample pulses indicating the presence or absence of graphic indicia elements at corresponding regularly-spaced positions along the scan path, with said positions being identical for successive scan sweeps along said feed-drum; and

means responsive to said sample pulses to produce scan data signals suitable for transmission to said remote station.

3. Data handling apparatus for scanning documents bearing graphic indicia at a first station to produce scan data signals for transmission to a second station;

said apparatus comprising;

a document scanning unit for said first station including means to support a document in a geometrical shape presenting contiguous parallel straight-line elements passing through the graphic indicia;

said scanning unit also including a laser producing a beam of coherent radiation which is directed to said document to develop thereon a spot of light of small diameter;

scanning means including a rotatable mirror in the path of said beam for repetitively sweeping said laser beam along a scan path extending parallel to said straight-line elements;

means for advancing said document in synchronism with the operation of said scanning means so as to scan said graphic indicia with a series of successive adjacent scan paths parallel to each other and also parallel to said straight-line elements of said document;

said advancing means being constructed and arranged to provide said adjacent scan paths with center-to-center spacings at least approximately equal to said diameter of said spot of light;

sensing means to detect light reflected from the document as a result of the scanning thereof by said laser beam;

clock means coupled to the output of said detecting means for producing scan signals in the form of binary sample pulses each indicating the presence or absence of graphic indicia elements at corresponding regularly-spaced positions along each scan path with said positions being identical for successive scan sweeps; and

means responsive to said sample pulses to produce scan data signals suitable for transmission to said second station.