Optical label reader and decoder

Claim 1

An apparatus for reading a coded information medium having a plurality of spaced multibit words in a sequence of lines which produce coded information pulses of either a first level of response or a second level of response comprising: a reader operably coupled to sequentially scan the spaced multibit words of the medium for detecting energy therefrom in the form of an elongate cross section progressing in a different incremental radial direction throughout 360* of rotation on each sequential scan for producing in response to the levels of energy detected therefrom a plurality of spaced words of coded information pulses corresponding to information on the coded medium only when the scan occurs at substantially a predetermined angle across the medium; sampler means coupled to receive the coded information pulses of each word for sampling a narrow portion within the coded information pulse durations at a predetermined rate; and a pulse processor means including a synchronizer means coupled to said sampler means and coupled to receive the coded information pulses for resynchronizing the sampling operation of said sampler for each word in response to a portion of predetermined coded information pulse signal characteristics associated with a fixed position relative to each word.

Claim 2

An apparatus for reading a coded information medium having a plurality of spaced multibit words in a sequence of lines which produce coded information pulses of either a first level of response or a second level of response comprising: a reader operably coupled to sequentially scan the spaced multibit words of the medium for detecting energy therefrom in the form of an elongate cross section progressing in a different incremental radial direction throughout 360* of rotation on each sequential scan for producing in response to the levels of energy detected therefrom a plurality of spaced words of coded information pulses corresponding to information on the coded medium only when the scan occurs at substantially a predetermined angle across the medium; sampler means coupled to receive the coded information pulses of each word for sampling a narrow portion within the coded information pulse durations at a predetermined rate; and a pulse processor means including a synchronizer means coupled to said sampler means and coupled to receive the coded information pulses for resynchronizing the sampling operation of said sampler for each word in response to a portion of predetermined coded information pulse signal characteristics associated with a fixed position relative to each word.

Claim 13

An apparatus for reading a label having coded information thereon, the coded information including a unique multibit preamble word and a series of multibit data words each word beginning with a sync bit of a first signal level and ending with a reset bit of a second signal level: means for producing a radiation beam having an elongate, thin cross section; means positioned to receive the radiation beam for repeatedly directing the radiation beam in a radial sweep motion transverse to the long cross sectional dimension; means positioned to receive the radiation beam for angularly rotatIng the radiation beam about a location in a focal depth whereby the radiation beam radially sweeps through the location from a different radial angle on each successive sweep throughout 360*; means positioned for detecting variations in intensity of radiation reflected from the label within the focal depth as the radiation beam sweeps therethrough and for producing coded information pulses in response thereto; means for sampling a narrow portion of the coded information pulses in response to a plurality of sampling bits equal to the number of bits in a multibit data word and a reset bit at a predetermined rate synchronized in response to a sync bit pulse at the beginning of each word and being reset by a reset bit pulse at the end of each word, said means for sampling being initially reset by first level of coded information signal reflected from the label before the unique multibit preamble word; recognizer means coupled to receive signals associated with the preamble word for enabling storing of the coded information pulses of the multibit data words only after unique multibit preamble word pulses have been sampled and recognized; storage means coupled to receive the sampled coded information pulses of the multibit data words and being responsive to said recognizer means for storing the information associated with the coded information pulses of the series of multibit data words when the radiation beam sweeps the label a first time; means coupled to said storage means for receiving the stored information pulses and coupled to receive the coded information pulses of the series of multibit data words when the radiation beam sweeps the label a second time for comparing the corresponding signals produced on the first and the second sweeps and generating an output signal only if the first and the second received coded information pulses of the series of data words coincide; and means coupled to receive the stored information pulses and to receive the output signal from the last said means for further processing the information only when the output signal is received.

Claim 14

An apparatus for reading a label having coded information thereon, the coded information including a unique multibit preamble word and a series of multibit data words each word beginning with a sync bit of a first signal level and ending with a reset bit of a second signal level: means for producing a radiation beam having an elongate, thin cross section; means positioned to receive the radiation beam for repeatedly directing the radiation beam in a radial sweep motion transverse to the long cross sectional dimension; means positioned to receive the radiation beam for angularly rotatIng the radiation beam about a location in a focal depth whereby the radiation beam radially sweeps through the location from a different radial angle on each successive sweep throughout 360*; means positioned for detecting variations in intensity of radiation reflected from the label within the focal depth as the radiation beam sweeps therethrough and for producing coded information pulses in response thereto; means for sampling a narrow portion of the coded information pulses in response to a plurality of sampling bits equal to the number of bits in a multibit data word and a reset bit at a predetermined rate synchronized in response to a sync bit pulse at the beginning of each word and being reset by a reset bit pulse at the end of each word, said means for sampling being initially reset by first level of coded information signal reflected from the label before the unique multibit preamble word; recognizer means coupled to receive signals associated with the preamble word for enabling storing of the coded information pulses of the multibit data words only after unique multibit preamble word pulses have been sampled and recognized; storage means coupled to receive the sampled coded information pulses of the multibit data words and being responsive to said recognizer means for storing the information associated with the coded information pulses of the series of multibit data words when the radiation beam sweeps the label a first time; means coupled to said storage means for receiving the stored information pulses and coupled to receive the coded information pulses of the series of multibit data words when the radiation beam sweeps the label a second time for comparing the corresponding signals produced on the first and the second sweeps and generating an output signal only if the first and the second received coded information pulses of the series of data words coincide; and means coupled to receive the stored information pulses and to receive the output signal from the last said means for further processing the information only when the output signal is received.