Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2004-05-04
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462010, C235S462250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06729543
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to information processing devices and processes. In particular, the invention relates to information processing devices and processes that automatically recognize an identification code printed on one or more pages within a collection of pages (e.g., a book, notebook, writing pad, flip chart, stack of sheets of paper, etc.) (hereinafter a “book”), on a book cover, and surface below the book.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bar code readers are known in the art and generally come in one of two forms: (1) a scanning laser or charge coupled device (CCD) that is pointed at a bar code while depressing a trigger; and (2) a wand that is swept over a bar code. These devices suffer from a number of limitations for solving the problems addressed by the present invention (e.g., the ability to automatically recognize an identification code printed on one or more pages within a collection of pages). First, known bar code readers require manual input from the user such as pointing, or swiping the instrument over the code. Second, known devices require moving parts which increase the cost and complexity of manufacture, while decreasing reliability. Third, these known devices are designed to identify a bar code in a variety of orientations, making them an overly complex solution for identifying a code in a relatively fixed position with respect to the reader. Fourth, such devices use a visible light source which can disturb the user, or others in the vicinity. Fifth, these device use a scanning laser or a much larger and more expensive sensor array (e.g., 2048×1) than needed for some of the applications addressed by the present invention.
Other known page identification systems use black-and-white or colored squares or stripes (hereinafter “blocks”) as the printed codes rather than bar codes, as described in L. J. Stifelman, Augmenting Real World Objects: A Paper-Based Audio Notebook, In the Proceedings of CHI '96, ACM-SIGCHI, 1996 (“Stifelman 1996”); L. J. Stifelman, The Audio Notebook: Paper and Pen Interaction with Structured Speech, Doctoral Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, September 1997 (“Stifelman 1997”); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,974 to DeSmet (“DeSmet”).
These systems, however, have also suffered from a number of limitations. First, the systems do not scale well because of the space required for the blocks representing the codes. Each block represents only one bit of information. Thus, in Stifelman 1997, eleven printed code bits required five inches in width along the bottom of a notebook page. Second, the system is composed of discrete sensors and therefore requires one sensor for every bit of information. This requirement limits the amount of information that can be encoded, and makes the system expensive. Third, the sensor mechanism impedes a user's handwriting movements causing a portion of the page to be unusable. Fourth, the sensors must be precisely aligned with the code on a page to perform properly.
Additional limitations of Stifelman 1996 and DeSmet include the following. First, the systems rely on ambient light, so performance is degraded under dark conditions. Performance is also degraded under very bright conditions since the sensors can be saturated. Second, the sensors can be blocked or shadowed by the user's hand or pen, degrading the performance of the detector.
Additional limitations of Stifelman 1997 include the following. First, each discrete sensor must be activated and read one at a time to conserve power. Second, the system cannot be exposed to any ambient light. Ambient light (e.g., bright sunlight) would saturate the sensors and cause false readings. Third, the sensors need to be positioned directly over the page code. The sensors are embedded inside of a ledge that is positioned over the bottom of a notebook. This causes several problems: (1) a book must be slid in and out under the ledge to turn pages; (2) a user cannot rest his/her hand on the notebook or table while writing. Since the ledge was placed over the bottom portion of the notebook, the user must place his/her hand over the ledge. This makes writing in the book, particularly on the lower portion of the page closest to the ledge, difficult and uncomfortable.
Limitations of a system described in J. Rekimoto and K. Nagao, The World through the Computer: Computer Augmented Interaction with Real World Environments, ACM User Interface Software Technology (UIST) Conference Proceedings, 1995 (“Rekimoto”) include the following. First, Rekimoto requires manual operation by a user. A user must point a camera at the code, and a video camera is an expensive solution. Second, color codes are more expensive to print than a black-and-white bar code and require the availability of a color printer. Third, as stated above, the codes do not scale well. The number of detectable identification codes is limited by the size of the codes. Also, each code stripe represents only one bit of information (stripes are one of two colors, and of equal size).
Another related area known in the art includes electronic books, which modify book pages for identification purposes by putting tabs on pages, cutting out notches, or other similar means. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,497 to Seto et al (“Seto”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,176 to Ohara et al. (“Ohara”); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,246 to Jeng (“Jeng”) use photo sensors to sense the presence or absence of a tab on the edge of each page. Similarly, Ohara uses notches instead of tabs, and Jeng additionally requires a button to be pushed whenever a page is turned. The systems described in these patent have several limitations. First, tabs or notches must be cut into pages, and the pages must be rigid or stiff. Second, one sensor is needed for each page. This limits the number of pages that can be coded. With more pages, additional sensors are required, and more space needed for them. Also, each additional sensor adds an additional cost. Third, the tabs must be reflective (white or metal) or opaque.
Other electronic books have used magnets or switches embedded in book pages for page identification. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,575 to McTaggart (“McTaggart”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,883 to Li (“Li”); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,240 to Haas et al. (“Haas”). McTaggart uses electronics embedded in laminated pages. Electromagnetic switches on pages are used to detect which page is open. Li uses conductive stripes on pages and electromechanical contacts which are prone to failure (e.g., due to dirt on contacts) and require manual operation (i.e., the user touches a button to open/close the contact mechanism). The conductive stripes also have to be exactly aligned with the contacts. Also, turning pages can be difficult since the contacts come down over the page. Haas detects the position of pages using magnets embedded in the page. In each of these systems, the book must be specially produced (i.e., it cannot be printed using standard book printing techniques) and can be expensive to manufacture.
Another area known in the art includes devices for capturing writing on forms. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,499 to Flickinger et al. (“Flickinger”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,129 to Belville et al. (“Belville”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,349 to Shetye et al. (“Shetye”); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,149 to Comerford et al. (“Comerford”). Flickinger and Shetye describe a device which secures a form to the device using a clip at the top or bottom. Flickinger suggests that a bar code reader could be embedded in the clip that could automatically read a code on the form. However, the design of this component is not disclosed, and it appears that such a design would be limited because the clip would have to be positioned directly over a form to identify it. Thus, the user would have to lift the clip manually and insert a sheet. It also appears that this design would not generalize for use with a book or notebook, where a user is accustomed to turning pages freely without clipping them in and out. Comerford describes a device wh
Arons Barry M.
Fantone Stephen D.
Sevigny Kevin
Stifelman Lisa J.
AudioVelocity, Inc.
Bever Hoffman & Harms LLP
Frech Karl D.
Harms Jeanette S.
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