IL33547A - Optical reading apparatus and data processing system - Google Patents

Description

OPTICA L READING APPARATUS AND DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM OPTICAL READING APPARATUS V-, , ■ AND ...DATA -PROCESSING SYSTEM This invention relates to an optical reading apparatus and data processing system..:' · More particularly, this invention re- ■ lates to apparatus for optically reading alpha-numeric indicia such as normally appear on certain identification means such as credit cards, passbooks, prpduct tags, labels and the like. The invention is particularly directed to reading embossed or debossed indicia, although it can "be "used to read printed indicia. The information which is read is converted into machine language and is used by a data processing system to verify the correctness of the information read.'- As the use of identification means, particularly credit cards, has grown, so have the problems involved in controlling their use. One of_ the most prevalent problems is unauthorized use of a credit card either by persons who have illegally obtained possession or by^'persons whose* credit has been removed or severely , reduced. At present, there is no accepted way for strictly checking credit. cards and other identification means except to provide the merchant with long lists of lost, stolen or revoked credit cards . The merchant must then check the credit card or other identification means against the list prior to selling the goods or service on credit in lieu of cash. An alternative method is i to require the merchant to telephone each credit card number that is presented into a central bureau which performs the checking operation. Both systems cause long delays and customer embarrassment, not to mention possible inaccuracies . Moreover, the main*-tenance of both systems is quite expensive.

The present invention is° directed to an apparatus and system for overcoming the foregoing problems and providing a new and unobvious device for reading embossed or debossed alpha-nu indicia is read by conducting light from a source to the surface bearing, the embossed or debossed indicia by a light conducting rod. Light reflected from the surface is conducted to a photosensor by a second light conducting rod. . The aforesaid first and second light conducting rods are arranged in pairs at the proper angle to the normal to the indicia bearing surface (angle of incidence and reflection) so that reflected light is transmitted to the photo sensor when incident light from a source is cast upon the surface. However, the angle and size^and position of. the light conducting rod is such that when light from the source is incident upon an embossed or debossed portion of indicia, it is no longer reflected to the second rod and hence the photosensor produces a change in its output indicative of the absence of light.

The paired first and second light conducting rods are strategically positioned to detect a predetermined portion, of the indicia. In a preferred embodiment there are a number of pairs of light conduction- rods. Certain ones of the photosensors neces- , sarily must detect portions of the indicia in a predetermined sequence of combination. This output is applied from the photo- '■ sensors to logic circuitry which generates a binary code indicative of particular indicia. This binary code can be interfaced with a central bank of stored data such as a memory storage device.

In operation there can be any number of. stations with optical readers, each electronically connected to one or more central memory storage banks. The identification means is scanned and each indicia thereon is read and transmitted to the central r - . . memory storage bank. When all of the indicia has been transmitted to the memory,, the information, is electronically compared with stored information to determine whether the card so read is acceptable or not. The results of this comparison are transmitted back to the scanner station so that the user knows whether Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided- a device for scanning and reading indicia such as is found on a credit card, optically reading the indicia, converting the indicia so read to aginary code, and interfacing the code with a memory storage bank. Each "of the optical scanning devices may be adapted to be a remote terminal tied to a central- computer over long distance telephone lin'es or other forms of communication. In operation, the user need only insert the credit card or other iden-tification means into the reading device which initiates a scanning motor, and then waj.t to receive approval or disapproval of the •credit card or the like.

Although the present application has particular reference to the reading and verifying of ,credi cards ,- those skilled in the art will readily' recognize that it can be applied to other, forms...of',identification means such as bank books, passbooks, passports, library cards and books, identification badges, product tags and labels. and the like. -The invention is particularly directed to credit cards because this is the area in which the most acute processing problems have arisen.

There are many known types of devices for reading indicia and converting, it into machine language for processing.

Some devices. read numerals printed with magnetic ink; others read magnetic tape; still others read pre-punched perforations such as appear on paper tape. Some of these devices are optical readers and still others are mechanical readers . Each reading device has certain advantages and disadvantages and each may, or may not, be adaptable to a system for verifying credit cards provided the credit card industry was in its infancy and not committed to the current form of credit card using embossed indicia. Unfortunately, the industry is. so committed and it will not willingly change the format of its cards . Accordingly , a means for reading the this reason,, a new and unobvious optical reader -for reading e¾--bosscd or debossed indicia forms part of this invention.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to an optical read head for reading .existing credit cards and the like which may be installed without ^modification by the issuers of such credit cards and persons who grant credit for the purchase of goods and services based on an identification made through the pos session of such credit cards.

Another object of "the present .invention is to provide as a system for using such .optical readers in conjunction with a cen-tral storage bank of information capable of making comparisons for the purposes of verifying the credit card on a real time basis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical read head which may be. used to read embossed or debos-sed indicia by scanning the read head over the indicia.

• For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form ;which is presently preferred*, it being understood, however, that this invention is not ^limited to. the. precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a scanning device and optical read head in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure.2 taken along the line 3-3.

Figure t is a perspective view of an optical read head and its support.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a holder for identi- ft fication means such as a credit card.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the read head showing the position of the terminals of the optical fibers Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of. the read head - shown in Figure 6 taken along the line 7÷-7.

Figure 8 is a .'.view similar to Figure 7 showing a different relativ position between the read head and the embossed indicia.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8 showing a different relative position between the read head and the embossed indicia.

Figure 10 illustrates . a font of type to be read.

Figure .11 is a block diagram of the read head terminal · , circuitry . · Referring now to the drawings' in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements , there is shown.. in Figure 1 a device for optically reading indicia designated generally as 10.

As shown, the optical reading apparatus includes a '):' base 12 upon which-., is mounted a transport mechanism 14 for reci- y procating a react- head support ;i6 in linear, straight line movement- past a card retaining mechanism 18 which holds a credit card 20 or such other identification means as is being used in position for reading. ■ The purpose of the. transport mechanism 14 is to' provide' relative movement between the read head 22 supported by the read head support mechanism 16 and the credit card 20 supported by the card retaining mechanism 18. It should be understood that as described herein such relative movement is provided by translating the read head support mechanism 16 relative to the card retaining mechanism 18 which is fixed in position. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize · that such relative movement can be accomplished in other ways such as by translating the card' ; retaining mechanism relative to a fixed read head or by simultaneously translating both the read head support mechanism 16 and The purpose of. such relative movement is to bring .each of the embossed numerals 24 into a prescribed alignment with a predetermined portion of the read head 22. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the embossed numerals are successively moved into alignment and position relative to the read head 22. .Thus, each numeral 24 is read one after the other, in the order in which they appear.'on the-, card 20.

Although the pres.ent invention is described in conr.ec- tion with the reading of numerals 24, those skilled in the art will .readily recognize that it may be equally used to read other ■indicia such as letters of the alphabet. In general, the present invention is intended to be used with numerals such as appear on credit cards, however it also has direct application "to any alphanumeric, or if desired, to other forms of predetermined indicia. , The only., requirement 'for such indicia or alpha-numerics is that a; ; prescribed font b ''consistently used. The reason for this will appear below. . Γ: The transport mechanism 14 comprises a motor 26 , gear .· . box 28, sprocket wheel 30, chai 32, sprocket wheel 34, and bearing mount 36 for the sprocket wheel 34. The chain 32 is of the endless type and is .driven by the motor 26 through the gear box 28. A pin 38 is fixed to one of the links of chain 32 and extend laterally outward therefrom. Pin 38 is slidingly engaged in a slot in block 42 which is fixed to the read head support mechanism 16. The length of slot 40 is equal to the distance between the two flights of chain 32. 'As thus provided, chain 32 drives pin 38 which in turn drives block 42 and hence causes reciproca-tory translation of the read head support mechanism 16. By positioning pin 38 in a slot 42, the effect on block 42 of pin 38 moving from the upper flight to. the lower flight and vice versa as it asses around the s rocket wheels 30 and 34 is eliminated. straight line, linear, reciprocatory movement.

V In a preferred operation of the present invention, the read head support mechanism makes only two scans of x c card 20 and stops. Appropriate electrical and electronic controls 130 for the motor 26 are provided-' for the purpose of causing it to stop after the read head support mechanism 16 has been translated from left to right and then back to the starting position as viewed in Figure 2, This may be accomplished by any conventional control system 130, Figure 11, which may include a start switch for the motor 26 and a sensing switch to detect the return of the read .head support mechanism 16 to the starting position and stop the motor. . , .

The foregoing transport mechanism 14 is_exemplary of any number of transport mechanisms which may be used to effect the same trans1atory motion. Fo example, a linear electric motor ;.·. with appropriate controls may be substituted for the illustrated v transport mechanism 14. ■ . ' ■ Th& read head support mechanism 16 is guided for reciprocatory movement between supports 44 and 46 by a pair of guide rails 48 and 50 which are mounted to and extend between the supports pooa-t 44 and 46. Rails 48 and 50. extend through holes 52 and 54 which have been drilled or otherwise formed in the frame 56. The diameter of holes 52 and 54 is chosen so that the frame 56 may freely slide .on rails 48 and 50.

' Although in the. illustrated form of the invention the rails 48 and 50 are cylindrical rods extending through holes 52 and 54, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that other types of guide means and interconnections between such guide means in the frame 56 may be used. For example, a tongue and groove interconnection may be .substituted.

The read head 22 'is pivotally supported on the frame lower walls of the opening .62 in frame 56 into blind cavities 64 and 66 drilled or otherwise'"formed in the read head 22. . The depth of cavities 64 and 66 is greater than the extension of pins 58 and 60 into them. Accordingly.;-^ the read head 22 is free to' move to a limited extent along the longitudinal axis of the ,pins 58 and 60. The read head 22 is also free to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the pins 58 and 60. .'The read head '22 is caused to normally position itself intermediate the upper and lower walls of the · opening 62 by springs 68 and 70 which extend around the pins 58 and 60 and provide opposing bias forces 9η the upper and lower edge surfaces of the read head 22. The length of the read head is shor-ter than the length of the elongated opening 62 by an amount sufficient to assure that it does not interfere with the side walls of the opening 62.

As thus mounted- within the frame 56, the read head 22 has..! sufficient freedom of motion to align itself with the embossed nu- ' merals 24 on the c^ard 20 in the event it is not accurately aligned in the first instance. The read head 22 is preferably made of a strong, wear resistant material such as stainless steel that can be brightly polished on the guide tracRs . which slide on the surface of the credit card. The read head 22 includes a read head insert 150.

The read head insert 150 is preferably made of a so-called 11self-lubricating" plastic- material such as nylon, Teflon, or Kel-F. If desired, it could also be made of other forms of plastic materials or even other materials such as metallic substances. The read head insert 150 is preferably made of a non-reflecting color such as black or coated so as to be made non-reflecting.

The read head insert 150 is held in position in read head 22 by means of leaf spring 152 fastened to the read head insert 150 by fasteners 153 and to read head 22 by fasteners 154. The insert 150 against the raised portions of the embossed numerals. -.However when no embossed character is in position the contacting ^surface of the read head insert 150 is restrained away from the unembossed. flat card surface 79. by a distance slightly less than ' the lowest embossed character to be read by means of the bevelled surface 157 of read head insert 150 resting against the bevelled surface 156 of the read head- 22. Surface 155 is flat in the area that contains the holes 74 but is curved at its ends in such a man ner that it easily slides up onto embossed numerals 24 as it moves across the face. of dredit card 20.

The purpose of the read head insert 150 is to support a plurality of light conducting rods or fibers in close juxtaposition to the numerals 24 on the card 20. These light conducting rods serve to conduct incident light from a flight source to the surface'-of the card 20 and to conduct light reflected from said surface to a photosensor. The positioning of the ends, of the ri ■ · light conducting rods relative to the numbers together with a de- termination of ihe' pres.ence, or absence of light results in the generation of sufficient information to read the particular number as is explained below.

The read head insert 150 supports the light conducting rods designated generally as 72 in.' holes 74 having a diameter approximately equal to the Outside diameter of the light conducting rods 72. The holes 74 are drilled- at a bias through the central portion of read head insert 150. ^^ _^f-i-ie<^4^ ;4e--a?e A uide recess 78 is to be sli htl dee er than the max of card 20. The reason for this .is explained below. . The recess 78, has a width through, its central portion which equals the height of the widest part of the base of each of the numerals 24 on the card 20. . The ends of they'recess- 78 ar flared to a greater width so that the read head is made self-aligning when it engages the first numeral 24 on the! card 20. This self-aligning or automatic aligning feature provides.- sufficient flexibility so that each card does not have to be perfectly^' aligned in the credit card retaining mechanism.

As indicated above, the card 20 is retained in position within the mechanism 10 by a card retaining mechanism 18. Card retainin mechanism 18 includes a. frame 80 within which is formed a three-sided recess 82 for receiving the card 20. " Recess 82 also generally_ guides the card 20 into position for cooperation with the read head 22 during the scanning operation and' serves as a ' > back support. Th s, the card 2JD may be inserted through a slot in a housing Cnot shown) surrounding the machine and guide it into position by the recess -82 in frame 80. The card 20 is generally held in position within the recess 82 by a pair of leaf springs 84 and 86 which normally bias the card against the back wall 104 of recess 82.

When fully inserted in the frame 80, the card 20 rests against a. pad 88 which defines the terminus .of an ejection mechanism. The pad 88 is fixed to a rod 90 which extends through a hole in the bottom leg of the frame 80. and is pivotally connected to a lever 92. The' lever 92 pivots' about a hinge pin 94 which is supported by support .46. By manually depressing the handle 96 fixed to the end of the lever 92, the rod 90 is caused to move upwardly into the area defined by frame 80 and recess 82 and therefore bias the pad 88 against the bottom surface of card 20. As a result In the actual operation of the optical reading apparatus 10, it is anticipated that the lever 92 will be manually operated by .depressing the handle 96 only in the event that the apparatus should fail to operate properly or in the further event that the card cannot be verified. Normally, the card is automatically ejected by activating a solenoid 98 which retracts operator rod 100 to thereby pivot the lever 92 about the hinge pin 94. Energization of the solenoid 98 may be effected by engagement of the frame 56 against a switch 102 positioned on the support 44 during its return stroke ^following a scan. Switch 102 may also be used to disconnect the motor 26 through appropriate circuitry 130.

The foregoing described 'card retaining mechanism 18 should be considered as exemplary. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that other apparatus for supporting the card 20 may b'e -provided including alternative means for ejecting or otherwise removing the card 20 from such apparatus.

The back wall 104 is provided with a pair of holes into which light conducting rods 106 and 108 are inserted. Rods 106 . and 108 are held by the wall 104 in position adjacent the bottom , wall of recess 82. Light conducting rods' 106 and 108 are con- 160 nected to photosensors 151 and -16-2- which in turn are connected to switching circuitry 130 for intiating the operation of motor 26. In the absence of a card 20 fully positioned in the recess 82," the light conducting rods 106 and 108 conduct light to the photosensors which generate a signal voltage that is used to hold the switching circuitry for motor "26 in an off condition. When the card 20 is fully inserted in the recess,1 and is generally properly aligned so that the humeral 24 extends in a position parallel to the bottom wall, as determined by the fact that the card covers the terminal surfaces ;-of both rods 106 and 108, the light signal the switching circuitry to initiate the operation of motor v- 26. Motor 26 thereafter drives, the. frame 56 and hence the read ί " - head 22 through a scanning operation over the numerals 24 on card 20. The switching circuitry is- designed so that the scanning op- eration is performed by the read head 22 only when both light conducting rods 106 and 108 are covered by the card 20. Appropriate lighting means, such as neon lamps, are' mounted in a position opposite the terminal faces pf the light conducting rods 106 and 108.

The foregoing describes the apparatus for causing the read head 22 to scan the numerals 24. Referring now to Figures 6, 7 , 8, 9 and 10 , there is illustrated in detail the manner in which the numerals on the card 20 are read by the scanning operation.

As indicated above, the present .invention requires that theT'font of indicia be fixed*. Thus, the ability to generated information sufficient to read the presence of a particular indi- cia depends upon the structure of such indicia relative to the position of the several light conducting rod's at a particular in-r <; stance and time during the scanning operation. The form of the s font, within reason, is not cirtical as long as it is standardized. ' For example, a large majority of credit cards in use today use l the so-called IMR font. Accordingly, the present invention will ., be described in connection. with that particular font, although the · fundamentals of the description will be readily apparent.

Referring . o Figure 6,. there is shown: an enlarged por- '■ tion of the face of the read head 22 and, i particular, the recess 78 within which the faces of the light conducting rods 72 may be observed. Although it would not normally be shown in such a view as illustrated in Figure 6, the humeral "8" has been drawn ·, in phantom in a read position relative to the. light conducting rods 72. The humeral ei ht has been chosen since it contains all ONE , T¾0, THREE, FOUR, FIVE , SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, ZERO as may be determined by observation of Figure 10. Thus, the numeral "8" can be broken down into particular elements representative of each of the numerals from "ΙΙ'-' through "0" . Based on that proposition, it is possible to determine^the presence of a particular number by detecting at any particular instance the presence or absence of particular elements of the numeral. From the foregoing, logic cir cuitry responsive to any detection means can be applied for the purpose of generating information in machine language to be used by a central computer or other memory device.

Analysis of the font shown in Figure 10 makes it im-mediately clear that any one of the numerals one, four, six, seven nine and zero can be distinguished between themselves by the presence or absence of one of the three horizontal bars 110, 112 and 114. -For example, the numeral "1" can be distinguished from 'the;;: numeral "4" by the presence of the horizontal bar 114 and the ab-sence of the horizontal bars '112 and 110 which are present in some combination in the numerals "4" , "6", "7", "9" and "0". In a like manner, the numeral four can be distinguished by the presence of the . horizontal bar 112 which is absent from or appears in com-binatnion with other horizontal bars in the numeral's one, six, * seven, nine and zero. Further analysis shows that the numeral seven requires only the horizontal bar 110 to distinguish it. In-, a like manner, the' numeral six, nine and zero require two of the three horizontal bars to distinguish them.

From the .foregoing,', it is apparent that the numerals one, four, six, seven, nine and zero can be detected by arranging light conducting rods, light sources, and photosensors to determine the presence or .absence of the horizontal bars 110, 112, and 114 as each numeral is scanned by the read head insert 150. As shown in Figure 6, the light conducting rods 72 are arranged in *.A* 335*7/11 by the numerals one* two, three, four* five, and six following the hyphen after the numeral ?2· The particular light conducting rod within any one pair is indicated by either an "L* or an »R»«. The letter *L* Indicates that the light conducting rod is connected to a photosensor and the letter *R* indicates that the light conducting rod is associated with a light source* The pairs of light conducting rods 72-1, 72 and 72*6 are .used to detect the presence of the horizontal bars 110, 112 and ll4 in association with their respective light sources and photocells* The detection of the numeral two, three, five and eight requires the use of one of the vertical bars which define the numeral N8* because each of these latter numerals includes three horizontal bars* For the purpose of this description, tine additional vertical bars are designated 116* 118, ISO and 122· Examin tion of the foregoing, indicates that the muntex?q- v two can be distinguished from the numerals three* five and eight by detecting the presence of the three horizontal bars 110, 112 and 11¾, the presence of the vertical bar 118, and the absence of the vertical bars 116 and 122· In a like manner, the numeral three can be distinguished from the numerals two, five and eight by detecting the presence of three horizontal bars and the presence of the vertical bars 118 and 122, and the absence of the vertical bar 116· The numeral five is distinguished from the numerals two, three and eight P.A. 335*»7/lI by detecting the presence of the three horizontal bars, the presence of the vertical bars 116 and 122 and the absence of the vertical bar 118· Finally* the numeral eight is distinguished from the numerals two, three and five by detecting the presence o the three horizontal bars and the vertical bars 116, 118 and 122.

From the foregoing, it should be obvious that each of the numerals from one through zero can be distinguished from each of the other numerals by detecting the simultaneous presence or absence of the bars 110, 112, Ilk, 116, 118 and 122, TSX method for detecting the presence of absence of one of the horizontal bars is best explained by referring to Fig- -l¾a- ures 7, 8 and 9. As shown' in Figure 7, the read head insert 150 is. being scanned over the' card 20 on which is embossed a numeral 24. A portion of the numeral 24 is represented by a raised section having side walls 12*4 and/126 and a top wall 128. Thus, the walls 124, 126 and 128 represent the raised or embossed portion of the numeral 24. The raised portion may be representative of any one of the horizontal or vertical bars . Although the section of the numeral 24 is represented as being rectangular, the principles of the invention, as will be recognized, are equally applicable to numerals which are circular, elliptical, parabolic or otherwise curved in section..

As heretofore indicated, each light conducting rod 72 is inserted in a hole 74 which is at a predetermined angle with respect to the surface of read head 22. In- the illustrated embodi-ment of Figure 7, the light conducting rods 72-3L and 72-3R are illustrated. However, each of.the remaining light conducting rods is positioned at similar angles. The angle chosen for each rod in each pair is preferably equiangular so as to take advantage of' the principle that the angle of incidence of electromagnetic radiation is equal to the angle of reflection. The angle of refraction is also provided for. However, such positioning is not absolutely necessary since the principle of the present invention depends in part upon the blocking of the reflection of the light by the raised portion of the numeral 24. Thus, better results may be achieved for embossed numerals having different cross-sectional shapes by positioning the light conducting rods in each pair at differing angles. In an embodiment for detecting embossed numerals, it was found that good results could be obtained by positioning the rods in each pair (rods 72-3L and 72-3R) at an angle of approximately 30° with respect to a line normal to the facing sur be obtained by positionin the light source rod 72-R at an angle of approximately 45° with, respect to the surface being .read and ■ " ■ 'ί positioning the rod 72 L that conducts to the .photosensor perpendicular to the surface being read.

As indicated above, each of. the light conducting rods indicated by the letter "R" is associated with the light source positioned at the end not shown in the drawings . The light from said source is conducted through the rods and emanates therefrom until it is reflected by the surface of the card 20. In the absence of a projection on the surface of card 20, the light will be reflected therefrom and enter the surface of one of the rods end-ing with the letter "L" . In Figure 7 this is light conducting rod 72-3L. Rod 72.-3L. Rod 72-3L and all other rods ending with the letter "L" are slightly larger in diameter than the rod 72-3R and, all other rods ending in the letter "R" . This is done so as to ; compensate for attenuation of the light by. providing more area for gathering the light. Rods 72-L and 72-R may also be the same diameter. The light reflected from the surface of card 20, as ,,. shown in Figure 7, enters the rod 72-3L and is conducted to a photosensor 132. The photosensor transduces the light into an electric signal which in turn -may be converted by logic circuitry into machine language indicative of the presence or absence of~a bar. When combined with other logic circuitry and information, produced therefrom, the presence pr absence of a particular numeral can be determined.

As long as the light emanating from rod.72-3R impinges upon the surface of card 20, it is reflected, into light conducting rod 72-3L and detected by the photosensor associated therewith. However, as. indicated in Figure 7 and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the read head 22. is advancing aright-±©-left relative to the card 20. When the read head 22 reaches the position il ar.e positioned almost directly over the upstanding portion of numeral 24 defined by the walls 124, 126 and 128. In this position, and even before it reaches this position, there outstanding walls block the reflection of light into the .rod .72.-3L. Accordingly, the light reaching the photosensor associated with light conducting rod 72-3L is diminished or even extinguished. This condition continues for an amount of time determined by the rate of scan. As illustrated in Figure 9, the light emanating from rod 72-3R is reflected from the top wall 128, but since the emanating face of light conducting rod 72-3R is closer to the top wall 128 than it is to the surface of card 20, there is not sufficient distance for the reflected light to separate . from the incident light with the result that it impinges only upori a blank portion of the read head 22 rather than upon the surface of the flight conducting rod 72-3L.—Of course, some light may enter rod 72-3L but it will be measurably diminished. *5' ' From the foregoing, it should be apparent that it is possible for any'gxven pair of light conducting rods to detect the presence or absence of a raised portion of the numeral when associated with an appropriate source and photosensor.

It should be noted that one of the advantages of the present invention is that single light conducting rods may be used in the read head 22. There is no requirement that the rods be used in bundles, as they are usually sold. This results in a substantial reduction in the size of the read head as well as the. bility to get good, positive indications of the presence or absence of a raised portion of a numeral. · The light conducting rods themselves are readily available on the open market.

By way of example, but not of limitation, the rods indicated by the final letter'. ∑L" may have a diameter of approximately .020 hes nd he r ndic ed b the final letter "R" ma have a Each pair of rods, as shown, is arranged so that the light is preferably projected from the inside of the numeral toward the outside with one exception. This is done so that the rods associated with photosensors in effect pick up only light which emanates from their associated light conducting rods. In · the case of light cpnducting rods 72-HL and 72-4R, the light is projected from top to. bottom all within the center of numeral zero or eight. Moreover, this pair of light conducting rods is somewhat displaced relative to the 72-6 pair. This has been done to avoid detection' by the photosensor associated with light conducting rod 72-6L of stray light emanating from rod 72-UR.

... Of course, each of the -pairs of light conducting rods operates to detect the presence of a portion of a numeral in a same manner as described with respect to 1-ight conducting rods 72-3L and 72-3R. Accordingly, further illustration and descrip-. : tion is deemed not . necessary. v As indicated above, the presence or absence of a particular numeral is indicated by the simultaneously detection of ' the absence of light by one or more of the photosensors associa-ted with the light conducting rods indicated by a numeral ending . in "L". The photosensors, may, at certain times detect combinations of the absence of light other than those described above as being indicative of the numerals one through zero, however, the logic circuitry will reject these and accept only. the appropriate, combination.. It should be mentioned that in addition to detecting the numerals one through zero, it is also necessary to detect the space between each numeral. This is accomplished by providing logic circuitry which responds to the total absence of the horizontal bars 110 , 112 and 11H- which are present in every numeral one -through zero. ,The detection of spaces also provides It also reduces the possibility of error, due to' free light being "inadvertently picked up in -a combination which would indicate the presence of a numeral that, is not in fact present. By providing the logic requirement that the detection of each humeral must be followed by detection of a space, the system has a means for distinguishing between a number properly detected and one inadvertently detected due to mechanical and physical imperfection.

An alternate feature of the electronic logic circuitry is a means of requiring that"* a detected 1 space or valid numeral remain detected for an interval of time sufficient to differentiate between very short spurious possibly correct combinations of sig-nals caused by electrical noise or non-coincidence of signals from vertical bars 116, 118 and' 122 and the length of^ me that a valid numeral usually stays detected. 'Another alternate feature of the electronic logic circuitry provides means of detecting that a valid numeral was not properly read between two consecutive spa- . ces . In the event this happens an "X" character, binary 12 , is generated which activates circuitry which causes an automatic rescanning operation to. take place at least once.

One of the advantages of the method of detecting numbers as described above is that it is not dependent upon the reflective qualities of the card 20. For example, the ink or other coloring material on a' credit card may have become erased or at least be missing from a portion of a letter. Thus, it is possible for'an optical reading system to miss a letter when such system depends upon differences ...between light and dark on the surface itself. The present invention takes advantage of the embossed letters which will not vary in structure except if the card is unusually physically abused.

From the. foregoing, it should be apparent that there has been provided an apparatus 10 which scans the read, head 22 embossed on the card 20. In. the embodiment described, the indicia consists of the Arabic numbering system from zero through nine 'However, the system is equally adaptable to other forms of indicia such as the letters of ,the alphabet. Each indicia is detected by determining the presence or absence of a raised portion thereof in combination with other, raised portions. Those skilled in the art will readily perceive that while the invention was described with respect to detecting embossed indicia, it is equally appli-cable to detecting embossed indicia since either condition will interfere with the reflection of light from the surface of card 20' or its equivalent.

Referring now to Figure 11, there is shown a schematic block diamgra of circuitry which may be used in each apparatus when said apparatus forms one of a plurality of remote terminals connected to a central memory bank. As shown, the apparatus includes a control circuit 130 for the motor 26 which includes ■' v 151 160 the light conducting rods 106 and 108, photosensors sltftf)- and --L-5-&-associated with said light conducting rods and control circuitry for causing the motor to drive the read head support mechanism through the reciprocatory' functions described above. Since such control circuitry is conventional, it will not be described in detail. Moreover, power sources for the control circuitry 130 and. for the rest of the circuitry described and shown in Figure^ 11 has not been illustrated since power supplies and the like are equally well known to those skilled in the art.

As shown, each of the six light conducting rods 72-L is positioned in appropriate juxtaposition with respect to one of six photosensors 132 which detect the light or other elects-magnetic radiation conducted through said light conductin rods and generate an appropriate electronic signal either in the form of a change of current or change of voltage. This electronic or absence of a raised portion of a letter.

Th.e electronic signal generated by. the photosensors 132 is amplified by amplifiers, 134 and applied .to appropriate detecting circuitry 136. The detectors 136 include appropriate clamping circuitry and the like for detecting an electrical signal of the ' appropriate level .

The signal from the detectors 136 is next applied to decoder and encoder circuitry 138 which performs several functions. The first function of the decoder and encoder 138 is to process the signals received from the detectors through logic circuitry which determines the particular number so received. The second function of the decoder and encoder is to detect the spaces between the numbers and separate them from the numbers themselves. Finally, the decoder and encoder encodes bojh the numbers and the.' spaces "into a binary 'form for further processing by the system.

The circuitry for performing the function of the decoder and encoder 138 is well known to those skilled in the art. Hence, it need not be described in detail. Indeed, it is sufficient to ■'' describe such circuitry as a 6X11 decoder together with a binary encoder.

The circuitry 138 has two outputs. Each binary number is transferred to a parallel-in, serial-out shift register 140 which performs the conventional function of a shift register in. that it temporarily stores binary coded decimal numbers. Each space is converted to a binary signal by the circuit 138 and transferred to the block circuit 14 . In actual operation, the decoder and encoder 138 is responding to the relative movement of the read head 22 with respect to the card 20. Thus, it would first generate a space which is decoded, separated, encoded and entered in the shift register 140; and then another space and then :another · a space, controls the. mode ;of the jshift register 140. This is so "because the circuitry, of the shift register 140 is such that each time a space is sent to the clock circuit 142, o more properly, the end of a spac , changes its' mode so as. to prepare to enter a number in paralle. When the shift register 140 detects the begin ning of a space, it again shifts its.-mode so as to serially clock out data stored therein. The shifting function from mode to mode is controlled by the clock circuit 142 in the conventional manner In other words, the clock circuit 142 operates to control the shift register 140 in a manner determined by the spaces delivered to it by the circuit 138.

The clock circuit 142 is connected to memory 144 which may be described as the main memory for the terminal apparatus 10. The memory 144 may be a fifty bit memory such as is well know ~ahd available on the open market. The purpose of connect-';; ing clock circuit 142 to memory 144 is to permit the clock cir-cuit to' control the memory 144 to indicate when it should accept the serial output of shift register 140. The memory 144 serves ' .·:. to store the indicia until such time as it can be transmitted to an appropriate central memory bank through appropriate interfac-ing circuitry. ~ " Finally, a disabling circuit 146 is connected to the decoder and encoder 138 for disabling the circuit during the return stroke of the reciprocating read head 22. Thus, numbers are read only in one scanning direction of the read head 22.

. The' foregoing describes apparatus for handling information or intelligence data in thex form of indicia using an optical reader and scanner. The apparatus as disclosed uses light conducting rods in combination with a light source and a photosensor. The advantage of such a device over other optical readin ap aratus which uses light sources and photpsensors is that light and dark on the surface of the material being read. Iri¾tead, .optical differences are generated by a more reliable . form of the optical surface. 'However, .'it should be understood that the present invention can be used to' read characters printed in ink on a -· . light surface. ■ Another advantage of using light conducting rods is that they permit the 'optical .reading head to get very much closer to the material being read and still be accurate in reading particular portions of the indicia"!' The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. . (

Claims (4)

1. '■. '■'·■''...':;■'■■'.'.■ '■ ' I claim: ■ . j- 1. Apparatus for iden having -top, middle and bottom horizon ower right and left vertical segmen ving at least five sets: of detector ence of said segments, at. 'least t o d to detect the vertical segments .and at least three of said . sets being positioned to detect the horizontal segments, each' set of detector means having a light source positioned to direct light toward the segments of the characters to be read and having a light sensor positioned to detect reflected light,; means for moving ·*·· f said read head and the characters to be read' relative to each ;¾ other, and means responsive to the output of said light sensors for indicating the identity of said- characters .

2. Apparatus in. accordance with Claim 1 wherein .said characters are embossed, and said read head includes guide means for engaging said embossed characters to guide said read head into alignment for identifying said characters .

3. Apparatus in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said guide means is an1 elongated recess in the surface of said read head, the longitudinal axis of said recess extending in the di- rection in which said read head is moved relative to said characters . . , .·.··■. ·. Apparatus i accordance with Claim 2 wherein said read head is supported by support means , said support means including means permitting said read head to be displaced parallel . to the plane, of said characters and toward or away from .said'.', characters by engagement of said guide means with said characters. ,'/,/·";'· P. A. 3.35'*7/2 10. A method of identifying characters of a font defined by seven segments comprising top , middle and bottom horizontal segments, and upper. and lower left and fight vertical segments comprising the steps of scanning the characters with a read head supporting a plurality of sets of detector means for detecting the presence of said bars , using certain of said sets to scan for the presence of horizontal segments of said Characters , using certain of said sets to scan for the presence of vertical segments of said characters, and using said sets' of detector means to logi^ cally separate one character from another by detecting the. space between said characters a,s defined by the .absence of any vertical or horizontal segments.. 11. Apparatus for reading a. font of indicia carried by a substantially planar substrate and displaced from the plane thereof, comprising a plurality of sets of detector means in spaced relation from said substrate * each of ;;said sets comprising a light source and a light sensor, said light source and said light sensor in each set being on an angle with respect to said substrate so that light from said source will be reflected from the plane of said substrate to said sensor, said light sensor being positioned with respect to said light source to detect light reflect- 1 ed from only the plane of said substrate, means associated with said light sensors for generating a signal having informational value indicative of the indicia detected, and each of said sets of light conducting means is positioned to . sense the presence of a different portion of said font. * 12. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 including means for supporting said sets of detector means , support means for . supporting said substrate, and means for moving said substrate and said set of detector means relative, to each other so that t. .A. 335^7/2 13. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 including a read head, means for moving said read head relative to said substrate so that said font is scanned thereby, means ,on said read head for supporting said plurality of sets of detector means, and edch of said detector means . comprising a light conducting rod. 1

4. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 wherein said light source and said light sensor in each of said sets have longitudinal axes, and said axes are at a bias relative to a line normal to the plane of said substrate. COHEN ZEDEK <¼ 3PISBACH P.O. BOX 3311-6 TEL-AVIV ATTORNEYS FOR APPLICANT