Labels and label readers

A code identification system comprising:

• A. an encoded label incorporating:
• a. a plurality of concentric curved bands of contrasting radiation reflectivity levels, wherein only a scan substantially along the diameter of the concentric curved bands provides a complete reading of the code with the first half of the scan being substantially identical to the second half of the scan, and
• b. a center dot having a higher radiation reflectivey level than the concentric bands;
• B. a source of radiation for impingement upon the coded label;
• C. a movable beam redirecting surface adapted for projecting and sweeping the projected radiation beam across the coded label;
• and
• D. a label information assembly comprising
• a. means for translating the reflected radiation into an output signal, and
• b. a label reading sub-assembly for determining when the entire label code has been read by sensing the higher radiation reflected level of the center dot.

Label reader apparatus for reading and translating an encoded label having a plurality of discrete bands of contrasting radiation reflectivity levels, comprising:

• A. a source of radiation for impingement upon the codeed label;
• B. a scannng slit juxtaposed in spaced relationship to said radiation source;
• C. a movable beam redirecting surface adapted for projecting and sweeping the projected radiation beam across the scanning slit;
• D. a label information assembly comprising:
• a. means for translating the reflected radiation into an output signal, and
• b. a label-reading sub-assembly for determining when the label code has been read;
• and
• E. a light pipe positioned between said movable beam redirecting surface and said scanning slit and adapted for receiving the label reflections and directing the label reflections toward the label information assembly.

Label reader apparatus for reading and translating an encoded label having a plurality of discrete bands of contrasting radiation reflectivity levels, comprising:

• A. a source of radiation impinging upon the the coded label;
• and
• B. a label information assembly for translating the reflected radiation into an output signal and for determining when the label code has been read, comprising:
• a. system reset means for readying the system after a label is read;
• b. a label reflectivity level decoder,
• 1. for sensing the label reflectivity levels,
• 2. for translating the label reflectivity levels into a decoded signal, and
• 3. for transmitting the decoded signal;
• c. a shift register assembly,
• 1. for recording the decoded signal,
• 2. for sending said decoded signal to a data storage unit in response to a transmit signal, and
• 3. comprising a first shift register for storage of a first portion of said decoded signal and a second shift register connected in series with said first shift register for storage of a second portion of said decoded signal;
• d. pulse generating means for driving said shift register assembly comprising
• 1. a pulse generating unit for providing a timing pulse output,
• 2. a pulse counter circuit
• aa. for counting the timing pulse output;
• bb. for initiating a shift pulse when the timing pulses counted substantially coincide with the scanning beam's location midway along the width of a band, and
• cc. responsive to the decoded signal to clear the counter to zero, and
• 3. a second single-shot pulsing circuit triggered by the shift pulse of the counter to produce an output shift pulse for driving said shift register assembly;
• and
• e. a label information transfer unit for determining the completeness of the decoded signal read, and for producing said transmit signal causing the recorded decoded signal to be transmitted to data storage only when the desired complete signal is ready for transmission thereto, and comprising:
• 1. comparator means, connecting said first and second shift registers, and responsive to said recorded decoded signal to transmit a positive comparison signal when the information stored in said two shift registers is identical because the first portion of said decoded signal is identical to the second portion of said decoded signal, and
• 2. a label scan discriminator responsive to said positive comparison signal for producing a label scan clearing pulse whenever the entire label has been successfully scanned.

Label reader apparatus for reading and translating an encoded label having a plurality of discrete bands of concentric rings of contrasting radiation reflectivity levels and having highly reflective material in the center ring, comprising:

• A. a source of radiation impinging upon the coded label;
• and
• B. a label information assembly for translating the reflected radiation into an output signal and for determining when the label code has been read, comprising:
• a. system reset means for readying the system after a label is read;
• b. a label reflectivity level decoder,
• 1. for sensing the label reflectivity levels,
• 2. for translating the label reflectivity levels into a decoded signal, and
• 3. for transmitting the decoded signal;
• c. a shift register assembly,
• 1. for recording the decoded signal,
• 2. for sending said decoded signal to a data storage unit in response to a transmit signal, and
• 3. comprising a first shift register for storage of a first portion of said decoded signal and a second shift register connected in series with said first shift register for storage of a second portion of said decoded signal;
• d. pulse generating means for driving said shift register assembly;
• and
• e. a label information transfer unit for determining the completeness of the decoded signal read, and for producing said transmit signal causing the recorded decoded signal to be transmitted to data storage only when the desired complete signal is ready for transmission thereto, and comprising:
• 1. comparator means, connecting said first and second shift registers, and responsive to said recorded decoded signal to transmit a positive comparison signal when the information stored in said two shift registers is identical because the first portion of said decoded signal is identical to the second portion of said decoded signal, and
• 2. a label scan discriminator responsive to said positive comparison signal for producing a label scan clearing pulse whenever the entire label has been successfully scanned, and comprising
• i. a voltage detector responsive to said reflectivity level sensor output signal produces a label diameter scan pulse when a radiation reflectivity level substantially higher than the concentric rings' reflectivity level is detected,
• ii. a third single-shot pulsing circuit triggered by the voltage detector output to produce a label diameter scan signal, and
• iii. gate means responsive to the presence of both said comparator mens signal and said label diameter scan signal for producing said clearing pulse, and
• 3. a second flip-flop responsive to said clearing pulse to initiate a data-ready signal.

Apparatus for projecting scanning radiation signals and receiving reflected radiation signals from an object comprising:

• A. a source of radiation for impingment upon the object;
• B. a scanning slit juxtaposed in spaced relationship to said radiation source;
• C. a movable beam redirecting surface adapted for projecting and sweeping the projected radiation beam across the light collecting aperture;
• D. an information assembly for translating the reflected radiation into an output signal;
• and
• E. a light pipe positioned between said movable beam redirecting surface and said scanning slit and adapted for receiving the reflected radiation and directing the reflected radiation toward the information assembly.

Apparatus for serially optically scanning binary encoded information where said information contains regions of a first reflectivity alternating with regions of a second reflectivity, and wherein dimensions of each region along the scan path relate to the number of bits represented by that reflectivity, comprising in combination:

• means for producing a signal indicative of the binary information scanned, having one value when the scan is occurring over regions of the first reflectivity, and having a different value when the scan is occurring over regions of the second reflectivity;
• means responive to the signal from said first mentioned means for producing a signal indicative of a transition between said one and said different values;
• and
• clock means producing signals nominally corresponding to successive bit positions and responsive to said signal from said transition producing signal means for resynchronizing said clock signals to correspond with the boundaries between regions, and comprising:
• A. a pulse generating unit for providing a timing pulse output;
• and
• B. a pulse counter circuit
• a. for counting the timing pulse output,
• b. for initiating said clock signal when the timing pulses counted substantially coincide with the scanning beam's location substantially midway along the width of a bit, and
• c. responsive to said transition producing signal means to clear the counter to zero.

The combination of:

• A. a label having a pattern of concentric rings representing ones and zeros and said pattern also having a circular center region representing one of the binary values;
• B. means for scanning the label along parallel lines passing through the pattern and for sensing the information represented thereby;
• and
• C. means for reading the information sensed by the last-named means in response to a signal manifestation which indicates that the entire label pattern including the center region of the label has been sensed and that the number of transitions from one to zero and from zero to one has decreased between successive scans.