Device for optically reading a symbol on a form by shining radiation therethrough, and related method
AssigneeComputer Based Controls, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pierce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reader for machine reading a symbol printed on a document. The light source shines light through a form at the location of a symbol printed on the form, and onto an array of light sensitive cells. This casts an image of light and shadow on the array. The array generates a signal in response to that image, which signal is processed to determine the information carried by the symbol. A writer such as a computer printer may also write to the document, and the information written to the document can be stored in a computer in conjunction with the information (such as an identification number) read from the symbol. Also, the method of encoding an identification number in a symbol, and decode it with the reader.
Claims16
A method for identifying a negotiable instrument that is to be issued by receiving variable printed information thereon, said method utilizing a radiation source and an array sensitive to radiation, a radiation path defined therebetween, and also a printer, comprising:
- marking the negotiable instrument with an identification symbol, portions of said symbol being more opaque than the surrounding negotiable instrument;
- advancing the negotiable instrument along the radiation path;
- shining radiation through the negotiable instrument at the location of the symbol and adjacent said symbol to create a radiation transmission image;
- sensing said radiation transmission image;
- generating a signal in response to the transmission image;
- processing said signal to determine the identification information coded by said identification symbol printed on the negotiable instrument;
- printing variable information upon the negotiable instrument to thereby issue it;
- and
- associating the identification information with the variable information that is printed on the negotiable instrument and storing the identification information for later retrieval.
A device for issuing a negotiable instrument by automatically identifying a serial number marked on the negotiable instrument and associating the serial number with transaction information relating to the issuance of the negotiable instrument, said device comprising:
- a printer that prints transaction information on the negotiable instrument, to thereby issue the negotiable instrument;
- a feed mechanism that advances the negotiable instrument along a path of advancement, the path defining a direction of advancement;
- a plurality of preprinted patterns on the negotiable instrument, each one located at a different position upon the negotiable instrument relative to the direction of advancement;
- a radiation source positioned to shine radiation upon the plurality of patterns;
- a radiation detector positioned to sequentially detect each one of the plurality of preprinted patterns, the radiation detector producing an electronic signal representing each pattern as the negotiable instrument is moved along the path of advancement;
- a digital processor coupled to the radiation detector to receive the electronic signal, and also to the printer to control the issuance of the negotiable instrument, the digital processor detecting the serial number from the electronic signal and associating the transaction information with the serial number.
A device for issuing a negotiable instrument by automatically identifying a serial number marked on the negotiable instrument and associating the serial number with transaction information relating to the issuance of the negotiable instrument, said device comprising:
- a printer that prints transaction information on the negotiable instrument, to thereby issue the negotiable instrument;
- a plurality of preprinted patterns on the negotiable instrument, each one located at a different position upon the negotiable instrument relative to a predetermined path;
- a radiation source positioned to shine radiation upon the plurality of patterns;
- a radiation detector positioned to sequentially detect each one of the plurality of preprinted patterns, the radiation detector producing an electronic signal representing each pattern;
- means for producing relative movement corresponding to the path between the negotiable instrument and the radiation source or the radiation detector;
- and
- a digital processor coupled to the radiation detector to receive the electronic signal, and also to the printer to control the issuance of the negotiable instrument, the digital processor tetecting the serial number from the electronic signal and associating the transaction information with the serial number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.