Optical reader

• US 4,551,766 A
• Filed: 03/08/1982
• Issued: 11/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Company
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Company
• Inventors: Surjaatmadja, Jim B., Penn, Jack C., Mosier, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): COLES, EDWARD L
• Application Number:
  US06/355,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 358/256, 358/286, 358/213, 358/293, 358/292
• US Class Current: 358/492
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/06 using cylindrical picture-bearing surfaces , i.e. scanning a main-scanning line substantially perpendicular to the axis and lying in a curved cylindrical surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0678 using a lead-screw or worm

Abstract

An optical reader contained in a portable case includes elements for rotating a chart containing indicia and for moving a lens and photo-responsive member substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the chart. These elements are controlled so that the photo-responsive element detects every one of an array of discrete informational units defined by the optical reader on the chart and for generating for each discrete informational unit a respective binary bit having one of two logic values depending upon whether the respective discrete unit is relatively light or relatively dark. The reader also includes circuit elements for detecting every eighth one of the respective binary bits to define a byte of information representing eight of the discrete informational units of the chart. The reader is controlled to commence a read of the chart from the right-hand end and to incrementally read strips of the chart progressing to the left-hand end of the chart. At the conclusion of the reading period, the optical reader is automatically reset to the right-hand end to read the next chart.

Claims

1. An optical reader, comprising:

a housing;

a drum rotatably mounted in said housing for receiving indicia-carrying means which is to be read by said optical reader;

drum drive means for rotating said drum about a longitudinal axis;

illumination means for illuminating the indicia-carrying means when it is mounted on said drum;

optical lens means for receiving light reflected from said indicia-carrying means mounted on said drum;

photo-responsive means for converting said light received by said optical lens means into electrical signals;

carriage means having said optical lens means and said photo-responsive means mounted thereon;

carriage movement means for moving said carriage means and said optical lens means and said photo-responsive means mounted thereon substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said drum;

control means for incrementally activating said carriage movement means to position said optical lens means and said photo-responsive means along the length of said drum and for actuating said drum drive means for incrementally rotating said drum after said carriage movement means has positioned said carriage means at a predetermined position along the length of said drum; and

wherein said housing includes a cover slidably disposed therein, said cover being movable to an open position underlying said drum for receiving the indicia-carriage means if said drum does not properly receive the indicia-carrying means while said cover is at said open position.

2. An optical reader as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of block means;

adjustment means for adjustably connecting said block means to said drum; and

clip means pivotally retained between respective ones of said block means, said clip means being variably postionable adjacent said drum by movement of said adjustment means.

3. An optical reader, comprising:

a portable container, said portable container including an upper portion and a lower portion;

a drum shaft rotatably disposed in said portable container;

a drum mounted on said drum shaft;

a first electric motor mounted in said portable container;

first coupling means for mechanically coupling said first electric motor to said drum shaft;

encoder means, mounted in said portable container in association with said drum shaft, for measuring the position of said drum on said drum shaft;

an electric lamp mounted in said portable container adjacent said drum;

a second electric motor mounted in said portable container in spaced relation to said first electric motor;

a carriage shaft rotatably mounted in said portable container in substantially parallel relation to said drum shaft and coupled to said second electric motor for rotative movement thereby;

carriage means mounted in said portable container, said carriage means including second coupling means for cooperating with said carriage shaft to move said carriage means linearly along said carriage shaft when said carriage shaft rotates;

an optical lens, mounted on said carriage means, for receiving light from said lamp reflected by an object mounted on said drum;

photo-responsive means, mounted on said carriage means, for converting said light received by said optical lens into electrical signals;

control means for activating said second electric motor to incrementally position said carriage means with said optical lens and said photo-responsive means along said carriage shaft and for activating, in response to said encoder means, said first electric motor to incrementally rotate said drum shaft and said drum after said carriage means with said optical lens and said photo-responsive means have been positioned by said second electric motor; and

a cover slidably associated with said portable container so that said cover is movable between a closed position overlying said drum and an open position underlying said drum when said upper and lower portions of said portable container are connected.

4. An optical reader apparatus for scanning a surface of an indicia-carrying medium, said apparatus comprising:

mount means for holding said medium;

drive means for moving said mount means;

photo-responsive means for sensing light reflected from said medium and for converting the sensed light into electrical signals;

encoder means for detecting and indicating when said drive means has moved said mount means a predetermined distance;

start scan logic means including;

first integrated circuit means, responsive to said encoder means, for providing a SET electrical signal; and

second integrated circuit means for providing a START SCAN electrical signal;

timing and phasing means including;

third integrated circuit means, responsive to said SET electrical signal, for providing a RESET electrical signal, said RESET electrical signal being communicated to said second integrated circuit means to actuate said second integrated circuit means to provide said START SCAN electrical signal;

fourth integrated circuit means, responsive to said START SCAN electrical signal, for providing a master control signal; and

fifth integrated circuit means for providing a plurality of control signals to said photo-responsive means; and

binary conversion means, responsive to said master control signal, for converting said electrical signals from said photo-responsive means into respective binary bit signals, each of said binary bit signals representing either a relatively dark portion or a relatively light portion on said medium.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said binary conversion means includes:

first counter means for providing a VALID VIDEO electrical signal in response to detecting a predetermined number of pulses in said master control signal;

video amplifier means for amplifying said electrical signals from said photo-responsive means;

reference setting means, responsive to said VALID VIDEO electrical signal, for providing a reference level signal;

comparator means, responsive to said video amplifier means and said reference setting means, for comparing the amplified electrical signals with said reference level signal to determine whether a relatively dark portion or a relatively light portion has been detected on said indicia-carrying medium; and

sixth integrated circuit means, responsive to said master control signal, for temporarily storing a logic bit representing whether said comparator means has determined there has been a relatively dark portion or a relatively light portion detected on said medium.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

second counter means, responsive to said VALID VIDEO electrical signal and said master control signal, for counting a predetermined number of pulses of said master control signal after said first counter means provides said VALID VIDEO signal; and

means, responsive to said second counter means, for generating a master resetting control signal, said master resetting control signal being communicated to said first counter means, said second counter means, said first integrated circuit means, and said second integrated circuit means.