Scratchable conductive latex document scanner
First Claim
1. A sensor for determining a state of conductive ink patterns applied to scratchable latex layers or other scratchable layers of instant-win tickets, comprising:
- an RF source;
an array of RF transmission antennas, each of the antennas being connectable in turn to the RF source to transmit an RF signal across respective ones of the conductive ink patterns of the ticket;
at least one RF receiving antenna disposed so as to receive the RF signal transmitted across the conductive ink patterns;
signal conditioning means for conditioning received RF signals induced on said at least one RF receiving antenna; and
computing means for receiving and processing the conditioned signals to determine the state of the conductive ink patterns.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor and a method for determining the state of conductive ink patterns applied to scratchable latex layers of instant-win tickets and other documents having scratchable latex layers affixed thereon. The device and method are based upon the generation of a radio frequency field across the conductive ink patterns on the document, using an array of miniature transmission RF antennas and reception antennas, and the detection of the induced radio frequency signal. The presence, absence or state of the conductive ink patterns subjected to the RF field affects and changes the signal received on the receiving antennas. The signal received on the receiving antennas is conditioned and processed, so as to extract therefrom information relative to the state of the conductive ink patterns. This non-contact method does not damage the latex layer when the ticket or document is advanced at high speed through the sensor and is suitable for integration into high-speed optical scanners.
48 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A sensor for determining a state of conductive ink patterns applied to scratchable latex layers or other scratchable layers of instant-win tickets, comprising:
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an RF source; an array of RF transmission antennas, each of the antennas being connectable in turn to the RF source to transmit an RF signal across respective ones of the conductive ink patterns of the ticket; at least one RF receiving antenna disposed so as to receive the RF signal transmitted across the conductive ink patterns; signal conditioning means for conditioning received RF signals induced on said at least one RF receiving antenna; and computing means for receiving and processing the conditioned signals to determine the state of the conductive ink patterns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Non-contact method of sensing a state of conductive indicia applied to documents, comprising the steps of:
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generating and transmitting an RF signal in a vicinity and across the document by selectively connecting an RF source to at least one of a plurality of RF transmitting antennas; receiving the RF signal, the RF signal being affected by a state of the conductive indicia; conditioning the received RF signal; and processing the conditioned RF signal so as to extract information relative to the state of the conductive indicia. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification