The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 12, 1985
Filed:
Oct. 01, 1981
William Masaitis, Castle Hayne, NC (US);
Robert O Canada, Wilmington, NC (US);
General Electric Co., Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for optically reading out one or more discrete line patterns from a pattern-carrying medium under a range of different conditions. The patterns may constitute alphanumeric characters arranged in serial alignment on the medium or a variety of other types of line patterns, or a single line pattern. In accordance with the present invention, the disclosed system is capable of successively reading out the patterns with a high degree of reliability, notwithstanding variations in their size, orientation and location, or variations in the color and reflectivity of the pattern-carrying medium surface. Further, the disclosed system and method are tolerant of the presence of blotches, scratches and other surface marks, and of irregularities in the otherwise uniform planar or curved surface of the medium. The invention is applicable to the readout of patterns that are printed on the surface, stamped or otherwise impressed onto it, or raised above it by embossing or the like.