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Electro-optical badge reader

  • US 4,443,693 A
  • Filed: 03/08/1982
  • Issued: 04/17/1984
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An optical badge reading apparatus for use with a data badge having columns and rows of data apertures and an orientation aperture extending therethrough, said apparatus comprising:

  • a badge receiving means having a substantially planar slot formed therein and defining an elongated rectangular recess for slidably receiving the data badge, said badge receiving means being provided with a plurality of pairs of registered data sensing apertures extending through said apparatus and across said slot perpendicular to the plane of said slot, said badge receiving means further including an elongated channel on each side of said elongated rectangular recess, each said elongated channel being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said elongated rectangular recess;

    a light sensitive sensor mounted within one data sensing aperture of each said pair of registered data sensing apertures, and a light source mounted in the other data sensing aperture of each said pair of registered data sensing apertures;

    a strobe strip means having a plurality of strobe generating apertures and an end of badge aperture disposed therein, said strobe strip means being disposed in one of said elongated channels parallel to the longitudinal axis of said badge receiving means, and being fixedly attached to said badge receiving means;

    an elongated badge bar extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongated rectangular recess, the opposite ends of said elongated badge bar being slidably mounted in said elongated channels such that insertion of the data badge into said elongated rectangular recess causes movement of said elongated badge bar;

    an electro-optical strobe means comprising at least one strobe light source and at least one strobe light sensor, said electro-optical strobe means being affixed to said elongated badge bar and disposed in the elongated channel having the strobe bar, such that movement of the elongated badge bar by the data card causes simultaneous movement of said electro-optical strobe means relative to said strobe and end of badge apertures in said strobe strip to create a strobe signal which is detected by said strobe light sensor on said electro-optical strobe means and to detect complete insertion of the badge;

    electrical means connecting said electro-optical strobe means, said light sources and said light sensors to a readout device and power source; and

    a tubular pull solenoid having a plunger means attached thereto, said tubular pull solenoid being activated upon complete insertion of said data badge into said optical badge reading apparatus to extend said plunger means through said orientation hole retaining said data badge in said optical badge reading apparatus, said plunger means being retracted by said tubular pull solenoid upon receipt of a signal from said power source and said readout device.

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