FR2625348A1 - Objects bearing a bar code and data identification method - Google Patents

Abstract

This object 13 exhibits a surface similar to a disc and an annular pattern of circular lines 2 formed concentrically on the surface. The pattern is a pattern of light-and-dark luminosity, in such a way as to represent a bar code by means of the differences of the width of the lines 2 of the pattern or of the different spacing 6 between the lines 2. Applications: specially for the identification of metal tins, bottles and tokens which can be used in the operation of gaming machines, automatic dispensers, etc.

Description

Bar code objects and method of identifying data.

 The present invention relates to objects having a surface similar to a disc and carrying a bar code making it possible to identify the object or the article, for example metallic boots, bottles or pieces of metal usable to replace the pieces money in the operation of gaming machines, vending machines or the like, and also relates to a method for identifying the data carried on the article.

 The expression "metal coins" used in the present description relates to a variety of tokens used to operate gaming machines and vending machines.

 When play equipment is placed in stores, it is desirable to use special pieces of metal that differ from store to store, but for this purpose pieces of play must be used for different stores. with different characteristics (different diameters or weights). This leads to a difficulty: the reduction in the number of pieces of metal of particular characteristics to produce, increases the cost of the pieces of metal.

 In addition, in the case where pieces of metal of various characteristics are produced, it must be possible to detect very small differences in diameter or weight between the pieces of metal in order to identify the latter. Identification by detection of such thin differences is nevertheless difficult due to the construction of the identification device, and it is very likely that a characterized metal piece, when introduced into a slot, will be considered as bad.

 It is customary to identify objects using a bar code applied to the surface of the object and to carry out the optical reading of this bar code. However, bar codes are not used on metal parts for game machines. To read the data provided by the barcode, an optical reader must be moved in relation to the barcode in the direction in which the bars of the code are arranged, in order to explore the code, since a reader error occurs if the reader deviates from the bar layout direction beyond an allowable limit.

 Consequently, the bar codes were in no way usable for metal parts intended for game machines and for other articles which cannot be oriented in a particular direction.

 The present invention provides an article having a disk-like surface, and an annular network of concentric circular lines formed on the surface, this annular network representing a barcode by varying widths of the lines, the presence of the lines, variations in spacing between lines, colors, or a combination of these means so as to represent a binary code.

 Since the bar code is represented by an annular network of concentric circular lines, the direction in which one must explore the bar code to read the data, is not limited as long as the code is explored in passing through the center of the ring network. You can also read the data while rolling the article.

 The object of the present invention is to provide an article having a surface similar to a disc and carrying binary data corresponding to a bar code and represented by an annular network of concentric circular lines.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide an article carrying on its surface a bar code from which data can be read, whatever the orientation of the article.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for identifying bar code data, usable with an article carrying a bar code consisting of an annular network of concentric circular lines.

The present invention will be clearly understood on reading the following description made in relation to the attached drawings, in which
- Figure la is a front view of an article showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure lb is a sectional view along the cutting plane
XX of figure la;
FIG. 1c is a graph representing the waveform of the signal obtained when the article of FIG. 1a is explored;
- Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are respectively a front view, a sectional view and a graph of the waveform of the signal, of another article representing a second embodiment;
- Figures 3a and 3b are respectively a front view and a graph of the waveform of the signal, from another article representing a third embodiment;
- Figure 4 is a diagram showing the construction of an identification device;
- Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the use of the device to identify the article;
- Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the identification device;
- Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a front view and a graph of the waveform of the signal, from another article showing a fourth embodiment;
- Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of an item identification device representing the fourth embodiment; and
- Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a metal boot constituting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figures la and lb show a first embodiment of the present invention, that is to say an article carrying an annular network of lines. The article is a piece of metal, about 25 mm in diameter, usable as a replacement for a coin.

A substrate 1 in the form of a metallic disc is formed on one face or on each of its faces, and an annular network of circular lines 2 concentric with the substrate represent bar code data. The material forming the substrate 1 is not limited to the metal, it can be a synthetic resin or another material.

 To obtain the annular network on each face of the substrate 1, circular notches 3 are formed in the surface of the substrate concentrically with the latter and they are filled with a coating composition 4, for example black enamel or varnish. black lacquer, as shown in Figure lb. The surface is coated with a layer 5 of transparent resin, for example epoxy resin. The metallic color of the substrate and the coating composition provide a clear dark network such as the ring network.

 This annular network can be formed by various other methods.

For example, the annular network can be printed by screen printing on the surface of the substrate, or one can fix on the surface of the substrate a circular sheet carrying the annular network.

 Another example of an annular network is a magnetic annular network which is formed by covering the surface of the substrate with a layer of magnetic material and by magnetizing the layer in the form of concentric circular lines. This network is detected by a magnetic head reader.

 In addition, the surface of the substrate can be pressed to form grooves or ridges concentrically with the substrate in order to mark on the surface an annular network constituted by the grooves or grooves. This network can be detected using a micro-contact.

 As will be described later, an increasing number of elementary data can be represented by means of an annular network which is formed of different colors.

 The exemplary embodiment of Figures la to lc is intended to represent bar code data by means of the annular network formed on the surface of the metal part.

 The annular network is in the form of a chiaroscuro network consisting of the black coating composition applied to the substrate 1 of white-metal color. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular network comprises six lines 2 formed by the coating composition. The circular lines 2 can have two different widths, that is to say large or small, and the inner peripheries of the annular lines are equidistant from each other, radially to the substrate.

 Each annular line has a large or a small width depending on the data to be represented. In the embodiment of FIG. 1a, the second, the fourth and the fifth lines are wide and their width represents three times the width of the first, third and sixth lines.

 When diametrically moving a data reader relative to the metal piece, the variations in intensity of the light reflected by the mental piece, produce variations in current since the light is reflected by the surface of the substrate, no light not being reflected by the circular lines. The resulting signal is processed to prepare pulses corresponding to the absence of reflected light. The figure represents the waveform of the pulsed signal obtained. When the large width pulse represents the value "1" and the small width pulse represents the value "0", the annular network of the figure represents the data from the bar code 010110. The different pulse widths can be distinguished from one another by counting the clock pulses supplied during the duration of each pulse, as is already well known to those skilled in the art. art.

 After the sixth circular line has passed the reader, there is a period of time which corresponds to approximately 3 pulse intervals and during which no pulse is sent, after which the reader scans the annular network in reverse from the sixth line to the first line so as to produce a signal waveform which is symmetrical with the preceding waveform. However, this second signal is processed so as not to be read when a specified number of pulses appear since the start of the read operation or because of the absence of pulses during the period corresponding to three intervals, mentioned above.

 Figures 2a to 2c show a second embodiment consisting of a piece of metal which is provided with seven annular regions on each of its faces for seven circular lines of the same width which form an annular network, the outer peripheries of the regions being equidistant from each other, radially to the part.

 The metal part shown in Figure 2a does not have a circular lattice line in the third and fifth annular regions. Consequently, when the piece of metal is explored by the reader, the pulsed signal waveform shown in FIG. 2c can be obtained.

 The first and second circular lines of the network are provided for sampling. The pulse, as far as it exists, is detected every "t" seconds (pulse period). When the resulting signal represents the value "1" if the pulse is present, or the value "0" if the pulse is absent, the annular network of FIG. 2a represents the bar code 01011.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which an annular network is provided to produce a pulse signal which represents the value "1" or the value 0 "depending on whether the circular line 2 of the network has a large or a small width. The spacing 6 between the lines of the network is also large or small, so as to express data by means of the length of the time interval during which no pulse is produced, c that is, whether this time interval is long or short
For example, the time interval represents the value 0 "if it is short, or the value" 1 "if it is three times the length of the in
tervalle of short time. The embodiment of figure 3a pro
derives the pulsed signal waveform of FIG. 3b. In this waveform, a pulse having three times the large pulse width, when detected, represents the center of the piece of metal, so that the read operation ends. Furthermore, when a time interval without any impulse and equal to at least
three times the above longer time interval is detected, the player is turned off.

 The waveform of the pulse signal in Figure 3b. has the binary representation 110110011101. Thus this 12-bit information can be represented by six circular lines.

 Figures 4 and 5 show an example of a device for identifying the data on the metal part.

 A detector apparatus 7 comprises a pair of guides 8 forming a passage 9 for the pieces 13 of metal. A stud 11a for selecting the parts, mb by a solenoid 10, is disposed at the lower part of the passage 9. A guide 12 is fixed below the stud. A sensor 14, placed at a point on the path along which the center of the piece of metal 13 moves, has an opening in the center of the passage 9. The sensor 14 comprises a projection objective 15 and a lens 16 receiving the light.

 The detector 7, which is generally placed in a reduced space, must be of small dimensions. A light emitter 17 and a photodetector 18 are arranged at a certain distance from the detector 7 and are connected to the latter by optical fibers 19, 20.

 The projection objective 15 intended to concentrate the light is provided at one end of the optical fiber 19, where the fiber is fixed to the sensor 14. The lens 16 receiving the light is provided at one end of the optical fiber 20-. The light coming from the emitter 17 strikes the piece of metal 13 passing through the optical fiber and the projection objective 15. The light reflected by the piece of metal is guided towards the photodetector 18 passing through the lens 16 and the fiber optic 20.

 Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the identification device.

 The output of the photodetector 18 is guided by a sensor amplifier 29 and a wave shaper 30 to a data reader 31 which in turn sends an output to an identifier 32. An encoder 33 sends an output to the identifier 32. The latter produces two outputs, one of which is sent to a drive unit 34 for driving the solenoid 10 and the other of which is applied to a control unit (not shown).

 The operation of the identifier will be described below.

 The piece 13 of metal introduced falls through the passage 9 into the body 7 of the detector. At this time, the light coming from the projection objective 15 is reflected by the surface of the piece of metal 13, concentrated by the lens 16 and transmitted to the photodetector 18.

 When the piece of metal 13 falls in the passage 9, the annular network formed on the surface of the piece and representing a code, moves in front of the sensor 14 and is therefore explored in the diametrical direction, after which the photodetector 18 produces a signal representing the ring network. This output signal is amplified by the sensor amplifier 29; transformed by the wave shaper 30 into a pulsed signal and converted into bar code data by the data reader 31 which in turn sends a data signal to the identifier 32.

 When the data received from the data reader 31 conforms to the data fixed by the encoder 33, the identifier sends to the control unit a signal 35 indicating the introduction of the piece of metal and it also sends a signal to the drive unit 34 to excite solenoid 10.

 During its fall in passage 9, the piece of metal 13 strikes the selection pin îîa and is therefore forced by force to the left in Figure 4, after which the piece of metal enters a trunk (not represented) by an output 36.

 If the data represented by the pulsed signal does not conform to the data set by the encoder 33, the identifier 32 does not create any signal, so that the selection pin 11a occupies the position iib. The piece of metal 13 is forced to the right and is brought back to a return opening (not shown) by an outlet 37.

 Figures 7 to 9 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. An annular network of circular lines is formed on the surface of a substrate 1, which is white, by the method used for the first three exemplary embodiments, while the circular lines are colored.

 The immediately contiguous circular lines are different colors from each other. For example, the network has four colors, and the five circular lines 2R, 2G, 2B, 2K and 2R, arranged radially in this order inward, are respectively red, green, blue, black and red. Each circular line represents by its color one among four elementary data. When the circular lines have one of two different widths, a line represents, by its color and its width, one among eight elementary data. In addition, when the lines have one of two different spacings between them, a circular line represents, by its color, its width and the spacing in question, one of sixteen elementary data.

 A photodetector 18 comprises an optical divider 36 for separating the light reflected by the surface of the piece of metal 13 into light beams of three colors, that is to say, the red light R, the green light G and the blue light B, and photosensors 37R, 37G and 37B provided respectively for these lights R, G and B. The output terminals of the sensors 37R, 37G and 37B are connected respectively to intensity detectors 38R, 38G, 38B which produce an output signal H level (high) when the input light has a high intensity. The output signals of the intensity detectors 38R, 38G, 38B are sent to a data reader 39 comprising software, and to an AND gate 40. The output of the AND gate 40 is sent to the data reader 39 which produces a pulsed signal of output representing binary data.

The piece of metal introduced passes in front of the sensor 14 along a passage. The light coming from the projection objective 15 first strikes the first line 2R and, then, successively the other lines, from the second 2G to the fifth 2R, after which it is projected again on these lines but in the reverse order from above. As a result, the optical divider 36 receives red light
R of the first and fifth lines 2R when the light hits them, the green light G of the second line 2G, the blue light B of the third line 2B, and a weak light of the fourth line 2K.

 FIG. 8 is a graph showing the level variations, as a function of time, of the output signal of the intensity detectors 38R, 38G, 38B.

The following description is based on the assumption that the piece of metal 13 moves at constant speed. When no piece 13 of metal appears at point 21 where the light coming from the projection lens 15 is concentrated, no light n1 is reflected, so that the output signals of the intensity detectors 38R, 38G and 38B are all at level L (bottom). When the outer periphery of the piece of metal 13 reaches the projection point 21 (T1), the output signals of the three detectors 38R, 38G, 38B which detect the white which is the background color of the piece of metal, all pass at level H, causing the gate ET 40 to create an output signal at level H. At the time
T2, the first circular line 2R, which is red, is detected, so that only the output signal from the detector 38R remains at level H, the other output signals returning to level L. The output signal from gate AND 40 goes to level L.

 At time T3, the inner periphery of the first circular line 2R passes in front of the projection point 21 and as, at this time, the white which constitutes the background color is detected, it follows that the output signals of the detectors 38R, 38G, 38B are all at level H.

 Similarly, the detection of the second circular line 2G begins at time T4 and ends at time T5. The third line 2B is detected during the period between T6 and T7, the fourth line 2R during the period between T8 and T9, and the fifth line 2R during the period from T10 to Tell.

 Thus, the output signal from the AND gate 40 is only at level H when the background white color of the part 13 is detected. The level H of the output signal after time T3 represents the spacings between the lines of the annular network. Since the ratio of the spacing between the first and second lines, to the spacing between the second and third lines, is 1/2, the ratio of the period from T3 to T4, has the period from T5 to T6, is equal to 1/2.

 Different elementary data are represented by the different colors. For example, datum 00 is represented by red, datum 01 by green, datum 10 by blue, and datum 11 by black. Circular lines have one of two different widths, that is, large or small. The large width represents the data "1", and the small width the data "O".

 Consequently, since the first line is red and narrow, the data reader 39 will read at time T2 the data 00 represented by the red and, in combination with it, the data "0" represented by the small width, that is that is to say the data item 000. Since the contiguous spacing is small, the reader will also read the data item "O at time T3 to obtain a combined data item, that is to say 0000.

Then, detection of the second 2G line begins at time
T4. Since the second line 2G is green and wide, the data 011 is obtained at the end of the detection. At time T6, the datum "1" is added and the datum 0111 is obtained. The above elementary data is combined and the datum 00000111 is obtained. The same operation as above is then repeated and a composite datum is obtained of 19 bits, i.e. 0000011110011100000, at time T11 when the detection of the fifth line 2R is finished.

 At time T12, the central point 0 of the piece of metal 13 passes in front of the projection point 21. At time T13, the fifth line of the network is detected again but is not used for reading the data. The detection of the data thus ends at time T11 and the data composed of 19 bits is transmitted from the device.

 FIG. 10 represents a round metal boot constituting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The round boot in the shape of a cylindrical container has a disc-like end on the surface of which an annular network is formed? comprising circular lines and representing bar code data.

 While the boot is in the process of rolling, the data is read from the network of lines by a sensor 14 which is arranged so as to be oriented towards the passage 9 provided for the boot.

 The articles which embody exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to metal parts or to cylindrical boots but they also include synthetic resin tokens and bottles as well as similar articles which have a circular section.

 The metal parts of the present invention can be used for current commercial devices and devices, replacing identification keys representing data usable in the operation of these devices and in various applications.

 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, it is on the contrary liable to variants and modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims (14)

 1. Circular object carrying a bar code, characterized in that this object (13) has a disk-like surface and an annular network of circular lines (2) formed concentrically with each other on the surface, this annular network being either a black and white luminous network, or a colored network of different colors, or a magnetized network of magnetic material, or a three-dimensional network comprising grooves and ridges (3) formed on the surface to represent the barcode by means variations in brightness, color, magnetism, electrical characteristics, or surface irregularities.  2. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that the network represents the bar code by means of the width of the circular lines (2) of the network.  3. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that the network represents the bar code by means of the presence or absence of a circular line (2) of the network in each of the equidistant locations and marked by circular lines.  4. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that the network represents the bar code by means of differences in width of the concentric lines (2) of the network and differences in spacing (6) between these lines.  5. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the circular lines of the network has a different color from that of another line of the network which is contiguous to it, and in that the colors and the annular network represent the code with bars.  6. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular network is formed by printing on the surface similar to a disc.  7. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular network is obtained by the formation of annular grooves (3) in the surface analogous to a disc in accordance with the network of the bar code, and by the filling of these grooves (3) by means of a coating composition (4).  8. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that this object is a piece of metal or synthetic resin usable in a game machine or in a vending machine.  9. Circular object according to claim 1, characterized in that this object is a cylindrical container having a circular section.  10. Method for identifying the data of a bar code, represented by an annular network on a circular object, by the displacement of a circular article (13) and a sensor (14) relative to the other, this process being characterized in that it comprises the stages of  guiding the object (13) in a passage (9), the network being an annular network of concentric circular lines (2) formed on the surface of the object (13).  freedom granted to the object (13) to take a specified passage (36, 37) in response to an exit signal from the control stage.  checking to establish whether the data read from the bar code signal by a code reader (31) conforms to the predetermined data, by comparing the two data elements; and  conversion of the resulting signal from the sensor (14) into a binary bar code signal,  detection of the annular network by the sensor (14) during the movement of the object (13) in the passage, the sensor (14) being arranged so as to face a path (9) through which the center of the object (13),  11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the binary code is formed for reading the code in accordance with the pulse width of the output signal from the sensor (14).  12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the binary code is formed for reading the code according to whether a pulse is present at specified equidistant points of the output signal from the sensor (14).  13. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the binary code is formed for reading the code according to whether the pulses in the output signal of the sensor (14) remain at a high level or at a low level for at least one predetermined period of time.  14. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor comprises an optical divider (36) for separating the light reflected by the surface of the object (13) into a plurality of color components, and a photosensor (37R, 37G, 37B) provided for each of the colors separated by the optical divider (36), and in that a color code and an annular array code are formed for reading the code from the color signal created by the photosensor (37R, 37G, 37b).