Gerald M Fitzpatrick

US Patent:

6745942, Jun 8, 2004

Filed:

Aug 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/214482

Inventors:

Harry F. Schramm - Winchestor TN
William C. L. Shih - Palos Verdes Estates CA
Gerald L. Fitzpatrick - Issaquah WA
Craig Knisely - Seattle WA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 708

US Classification:

235449, 235493, 359280, 359484

Abstract:

A magnetic symbology reader has a housing containing a polarized light source which directs light through a magneto-optic sensor onto a reflector which reflects light back through the magneto-optic sensor and then through at least one analyzer and into at least one camera. A view finder allows the user to monitor the image on the magneto-optic sensor as seen by a viewfinder camera while a processor is coupled to possibly a second camera so that when an image is detected, the image from the camera may be processed by the processor to output information associated with the symbol to an external source. The analyzer and polarized light source provide contrast in the images detected by the sensor. A bias/erase coil located about the magneto-optic sensor can enhance or erase images on the sensor.