Numbers symbology

Claim 1

Electrical apparatus for representing or decoding numerical values comprising: a. a plurality of elongated bar-like members which are subject to electric scanning or visual observation to determine the geometric forms of various combinations of same, b. three of said members being of like configuration and disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship in a row, and c. fourth and fifth like members disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship, substantially perpendicular to said three members, d. certain of said members being selectively usable, or usable in combination, to produce the various geometric forms, e. the construction and arrangement being such that said three members may be added, analogous to Roman numerical symbology, to represent numerical values 1, 2 and 3, said fourth and fifth members each representing the numerical value 4, the values 5, 6 and 7 being represented by one of said fourth and fifth members in combination with one or more of said three members, added as aforesaid.

Claim 9

A method of representing numerical values comprising the steps of: a. forming a plurality of geometric patterns from combinations of five elongated bar-like numerical representations, b. three of said representations being formed of like configuration and disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship in a row, c. the fourth and fifth of said representations also being of like configuration and disposed in substantially parallel relationship, substantially perpendicular to said three representations, d. assigning the value 1 to each of said three representations and the value 4 to each of said fourth and fifth representations, e. selecting a combination of said representations to form various geometric patterns which represent various numerical values, dependent upon the additive values of the representations selected, and f. the further steps of scanning each of the geometric patterns in two directions, each in a direction transverse to the bar-like representations, forming a plurality of additive binary counts for an output register.

Claim 10

A method of representing numerical values comprising the steps of: a. forming a plurality of geometric patterns from combinations of five elongated bar-like numerical representations, b. three of said representations being formed of like configuration and disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship in a row, c. the fourth and fifth of said representations also being of like configuration and disposed in substantially parallel relationship, substantially perpendicular to said three representations, d. assigning the value 1 to each of said three representations and the value 4 to each of said fourth and fifth representations, e. selecting a combination of said representations to form various geometric patterns which represent various numerical values, dependent upon the additive values of the representations selected, and f. the further steps of scanning each of the geometric patterns in two directions, each in a direction transverse to the bar-like representations, forming a plurality of additive binary counts for an output register.

Claim 14

A system for representing and decoding a plurality of different geometric patterns; a. each pattern being disposed within longitudinally spaced rectangular areas, b. each area consisting of one to five bar-like indicia therein which are subject to electric scanning to determine numerical values of the geometric patterns of various combinations of the indicia, c. three of said indicia being of substantially the same length and disposed in spaced generally vertical relationship in a horizontal row, d. the fourth and fifth indicia being of substantially the same length and spaced in generally horizontal relationship in a vertical tier, e. certain of said five indicia being selectively usable, or usable in combination, to produce the various geometric patterns, f. the arrangement being such that the three of said indicia may be added to represent numerical values, 1, 2 and 3, said fourth and fifth indicia each representing the numerical value, 4, the values 5, 6 and 7 being represented by one of said fourth or fifth indicia in combination with one or more of said three indicia, the value 8 being represented by both of said fourth and fifth indicia, the value 9 being represented by both of said fourth and fifth indicia in combination with one of said three indicia, and the value 0 being represented by both of said fourth and fifth indicia in combination with at least two of said three indicia, the combination with said patterns, comprising, g. means for sequentially electrically scanning each of said patterns in two perpendicular directions, h. the scans being indicative of a binary number corresponding to 0-9 and adapted for direct use in a computer.

Claim 15

A system for representing and decoding a plurality of different geometric patterns; a. each pattern being disposed within longitudinally spaced rectangular areas, b. each area consisting of one to five bar-like indicia therein which are subject to electric scanning to determine numerical values of the geometric patterns of various combinations of the indicia, c. three of said indicia being of substantially the same length and disposed in spaced generally vertical relationship in a horizontal row, d. the fourth and fifth indicia being of substantially the same length and spaced in generally horizontal relationship in a vertical tier, e. certain of said five indicia being selectively usable, or usable in combination, to produce the various geometric patterns, f. the arrangement being such that the three of said indicia may be added to represent numerical values, 1, 2 and 3, said fourth and fifth indicia each representing the numerical value, 4, the values 5, 6 and 7 being represented by one of said fourth or fifth indicia in combination with one or more of said three indicia, the value 8 being represented by both of said fourth and fifth indicia, the value 9 being represented by both of said fourth and fifth indicia in combination with one of said three indicia, and the value 0 being represented by both of said fourth and fifth indicia in combination with at least two of said three indicia, the combination with said patterns, comprising, g. means for sequentially electrically scanning each of said patterns in two perpendicular directions, h. the scans being indicative of a binary number corresponding to 0-9 and adapted for direct use in a computer.