Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-10-09
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462420
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299066
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Marked card readers are well known in the art for use with lottery documents, multiple transaction documents, standardized test forms and the like. These marked card readers are used in conjunction with a substrate of the type having a plurality of data entry regions which are darkened by a pencil thereby making the data entry regions contrast with the areas of the substrate surrounding the data entry regions. The substrate is then placed in data communication with an optical sensing device associated with the reader. A typical prior art marked card reader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,569 to Arp et al. Disclosed therein is a hand-fed data-card reader compatible with cards of different widths and having a selectively actuable perforator for conveying a card past a reader head and for selectively canceling a desired card by the perforation thereof. Cards are conveyed via a belt/pulley drive train that is operably coupled to a spiked perforate that engages each card at one of two pressures so as to selectively convey the card with or without embossing the surface. More recently, progress has been made with increasing the accuracy of reading information from the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,673 to Grundy, Jr. discloses a method for interpreting a plurality of response marks on a scannable surface that includes an adjustable read level threshold. The adjustable read level threshold enables distinguishing between marks intended to be present on the substrate from marks not intended to be placed on the substrate. A drawback with prior art card reading systems, however, is that the same are expensive to implement.
What is needed, therefore, is a low cost marked card reader which is capable of accurately interpreting information on a substrate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A marked card reader features a lensless optical detection system having fixed angle illumination and detection, the sensitivity of which is independent of the frequency response associated therewith. The optical detection system includes a radiation source to produce radiation and a radiation detector. A target plane is positioned so that the radiation source directs radiation toward the target plane. The radiation detector is positioned to sense radiation reflected from the target plane. An optically opaque body is positioned between the optical detector and the radiation source to prevent incident radiation from being sensed by the optical detector. The body includes an aperture disposed proximate to the target plane to allow radiation reflected therefrom to impinge upon the optical detector. The resolution of the optical detector is dependent upon the ratio of a first distance, measured between the optical detector and the aperture, and a second distance, measured between the aperture and the target plane.
A data entry substrate is provided which is adapted to be selectively placed in data communication with the optical detection system by being placed at the target plane. The substrate has a plurality of data entry regions arranged in a plurality of subsets with data entry regions of each of the plurality of subsets being collinear and extending along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substrate. Each of the plurality of data entry regions of a given subset has a weighted value associated therewith that corresponds to operational parameters of the system. The line associated with each of the subsets extends between opposite ends of a sector of the substrate, with a weighted value associated with data entry regions of one of the plurality of subsets being greatest proximate to one of the opposed ends and weighted values associated with the remaining data entry regions of the subset decreasing in magnitude as a function of a distance from the same end. Indicia may be present on the substrate and disposed adjacent to data entry regions reciting the weighted value associated therewith.
In an exemplary embodiment, the card reader is described as being employed with a fluid dispensing system having a plurality of pumps in fluid communication with both the supply of fluids and the washing chamber via a plurality of transfer tubes. The card reader is in data communication with a controller to programmably control the transfer of fluids between a supply of fluids and a washing chamber while allowing retention of a permanent record of the programmed status of the controller. The controller is in data communication with the pumps to regulate operation of the same. In this fashion, control of the transfer of the fluids between the washing chamber and the supply is achieved. The supply of fluids includes water, bleach, fabric softener and various detergents.
In operation, data is entered onto the substrate either by varying the optical contrast of the data entry regions, defining optically varied regions, or by forming an aperture therein, defining punched regions. The combined weighted value associated with each of the sectors of the substrate is dependent upon both the spatial position of the optically varied, or punched, region and the number thereof. After the data has been entered into the data entry regions, the substrate is placed into the card reader. The card reader interprets the data on the substrate and transmits the interpreted data to the controller which then operates on the same to regulate the operational parameters of the system. After the data has been read by the card reader, the substrate may be decoupled from the system and stored remotely at a centralized location.
For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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U.S. Ser. No. 09/061,530, Howland et al., filed Apr. 13, 1998.
Cassady Henry W.
Howland David R.
Delaware Capital Formation Inc.
Frech Karl D.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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