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Information storage and reproduction system |
| RE31239 |
Information storage and reproduction system
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| Patent Drawings: | |
| Inventor: |
Lemelson |
| Date Issued: |
May 10, 1983 |
| Application: |
06/068,484 |
| Filed: |
August 20, 1979 |
| Inventors: |
Lemelson; Jerome H. (Metuchen, NJ)
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| Assignee: |
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| Primary Examiner: |
Britton; Howard |
| Assistant Examiner: |
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| Attorney Or Agent: |
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| U.S. Class: |
348/107 |
| Field Of Search: |
358/102 |
| International Class: |
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| U.S Patent Documents: |
2354199; 2587532; 2679035; 2721990; 2871287; 2883106; 2914248; 2923921; 2932010; 2946895; 2946986; 2968791; 2969522; 2970306; 2972742; 2988735; 2994478; 3007141; 3012227; 3014654; 3018959; 3037191; 3037192; 3037195; 3040299; 3045217; 3050579; 3056110; 3162839; 3170142; 3319230 |
| Foreign Patent Documents: |
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| Other References: |
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| Abstract: |
An information storage and reproduction apparatus is provided which employs a master information storage system and a plurality of monitor stations each provided with means for deriving selected information from said master storage system as electrical signals generated or communication channels established between said monitor stations and said storage center. Each monitor station includes a receiver-monitor set and means for converting signals received from the master storage system to images on a screen which are capable of being visually monitored and analyzed. Each monitor station includes means for storing information received from the master storage system either in the form of an image storage tube operative to store and present information received directly from the storage system or by means of an intermediate storage system from which information signals may be selectively fed to the monitor screen. |
| Claim: |
What is claimed is:
1. An information storage and retrieval system comprising:
(a) a master information storage station having means carrying recorded information,
(b) signal input and output means for two-way communication with said master information storage station,
(c) reading means for scanning said recorded information and converting same to electrical signals, and means for generating said electrical signals on said output means of said master information storage station,
(d) first control means operative to cause said reading means to read selected information recorded on said information carrying means of said storage station,
(e) a plurality of monitor stations each having a visual display means for displaying information,
(f) an erasable signal recording means associated with the means displaying information at each monitor station for electrically energizing said display means to generate and retain a pictorial presentation of the information transmitted fromsaid master information storage station,
(g) a plurality of communication channels for signal communication between said monitor station and said master information storage station,
(h) a plurality of second control means including at least one associated with each monitor station for selectively effecting a communication link between the associated monitor station and said master information storage station through one ofsaid communication channels so as to establish two-way communication between the monitor station and said master information storage station,
(i) third control means at each monitor station for selectively controlling said first control means to cause said reading means to read selected information from the means carrying recorded information and to effect the transmission of selectedinformation signals from said master information storage station to the monitor station from which said selective control is effected, and
(j) means at the monitor station for receiving the information signals transmitted thereto from the master information storage station and applying said signals to the erasable recording means of the monitor station to permit the information tobe displayed by said display means.
2. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 1 whereby said monitor means at said monitor stations each include respective video storage means each having a display screen and means for writing information on saiddisplay screen as an image, said erasable recording means including means for storing the information displayed and means for retaining the image on said display screen for an extended period of time.
3. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 1 whereby said monitor means at said monitor stations comprise respective video storage means each having a cathode ray image storage tube with a display screen and awrite beam for generating storage image information on said display screen, and means associated with each video storage means for modulating said write beam in accordance with the signals received from said master information storage station to provideimages on said display screen which images are representative of the information transmitted from said master information storage station.
4. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1, said erasable recording means including means for recording a plurality of information signals received from said master information storage system and further means forselectively reproducing each information signal from said erasable recording means and applying each reproduced signal to said visual monitor means for displaying the information defined by said signal.
5. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:
(a) master information storage means carrying recorded information,
(b) first reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage means,
(c) said first reading means adapted to read said recorded information,
(d) means for relatively moving said master information storage means and said first reading means to permit said reading means to read different portions of said recorded information,
(e) a plurality of monitor stations each including information storage means,
(f) information selection means at said monitor station information storage means,
(g) said first reading means controlled by said information selection means for reading selected information from said master station information storage means, and
(h) master control means provided between said first reading means and said monitor stations for controlling the transmission of selected and different portions of information from said master information storage means to selected ones of saidmonitor stations.
6. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:
(a) master information storage means carrying recorded information,
(b) first electro-optical reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage means and positional to read said recorded information,
(c) one of said master information storage means and said first reading means being controllably movable relative to the other so that said reading means can read different selectable portions of said recorded information,
(d) a plurality of monitor stations each including further information storage means,
(e) information selection means coupled to said monitor station information storage means,
(f) second electro-optical reading means coupled to said information selection means for reading information selected thereby from said monitor station information storage means, and
(g) master control means coupled between said first reading means and said monitor stations adapted to effect the transmission of selected and different portions of information from said information storage means to selected ones of said monitormeans for storage and later reading at said monitor station.
7. An information storage and reproduction system including:
(a) an information storage medium carrying a plurality of groups of recorded information,
(b) first electro-optical reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage medium and controllable to read all or selected portions of said recorded information,
(c) means for relatively moving said information storage medium and said first reading means to permit said reading means to read different selectable portions of said groups of recorded information,
(d) a plurality of monitor stations each including information storage means, information selection means coupled to said information storage means,
(e) reading means coupled to said information selection means for reading information selected thereby, and
(f) master control means coupled between said first reading means and said monitor stations adapted to control transmission of selected and different portions of information from said information storage medium to selected ones of said monitormeans.
8. An information storage and reproduction system in acordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.2.Iaddend., said information storage means of said monitor stations including hard copy producing means, said hard copy producing means being controllableto produce prints of selected information transmitted thereto from said reading means of said master information storage station.
9. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 5, including copy producing means provided at certain of said monitor stations and each operatively coupled to produce hard copy prints of selected informationtransmitted thereto from said master information storage station, and controlled means for said hard copy producing means operative to control copy reproduction.
10. An information system in accordance with claim 5, including copy producing means at said monitor stations each operatively coupled to the information storage means of the station and operative to produce prints of selected informationtransmitted thereto from said master information storage means, control means for said copy producing means, and means generating control signals accompanying the signals generated by said reading means and using said control signals to activate thecontrol means of the stations to which said information signals are transmitted for producing copies of the selected information transmitted thereto.
11. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) conveying means containing a plurality of image frames arranged in a tandem array,
(b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,
(c) scanning means adapted for scanning said conveying means,
(d) an image field generating means operatively connected to said scanning means, and having storage means energizable by said scanning means for generating an image field,
(e) an image copy recording member,
(f) a copy producing apparatus including servo means for moving said copy recording member through the field of said image field generating means, control means for said servo means,
(g) selection control means for causing the modulation of said image field generating means by means of selected image information derived when said scanning means scans selected of said plurality of image frames,
(h) said selection control means being operatively connected to said servo of said copy recording member for controlling operation of said servo in a manner whereby said copy recording member is moved through the field of said image fieldgenerating means to provide a new section of said copy recording member in said field for recording further information thereon.
12. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) a conveying means containing a plurality of image frames arranged in a tandem array,
(b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,
(c) scanning means adapted for scanning said conveying means,
(d) an image field generating means operatively connected to said scanning means, and including a storage means energizable by said scanning means to generate image fields of the scanned image frames,
(e) an image copy recording member and means for positioning said recording member to become exposed to image information as generated on said image field generating means,
(f) a copy producing apparatus including servo means for moving said copy recording member through said image field, control means for said servo means.
(g) selective control means for selectively modulating said image field generating means to generate an image field from information derived when said scanning means scans selected of said plurality of image frames.
(h) said control means including a plurality of code-bearing cards, and a reading means for the codes on said cards,
(i) means for operating said reading means in a manner to generate coded command signals from said codes on said cards, and
(j) means for employing said command signals in sequence to effect the energization of said control means for said servo in a manner to control the movement of said image copy recording member and the activation of said scanning means to scanselected frames of information and to modulate said image storage means with selected image information.
13. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination with a multi-track conveying means for a plurality of document recordings, said recordings occupying predetermined tandem areas of a plurality of parallel tracks ofsaid conveying means and defining lateral rows of document recordings, means for scanning said document recordings comprising a plurality of video transducers each of which is operatively positioned for scanning a respective track of said documentrecordings and is operative for providing picture signals on the outputs of said scanning means as generated in scanning said recordings, a plurality of monitor stations, storage means for picture signals at each monitor station, switching meansoperative to connect the outputs of a selected of said video transducers with selected storage means of said monitor stations, control means at each monitor station operative to activate said switching means to operatively connect the input to thestorage means of the monitor station with a selected video transducer and including gating means operative to provide picture signals on a connected circuit to the storage means of a monitor station and control document recording selection, said controlmeans for each monitor station adapted for activating said gating means to provide picture signals on the connected circuit generated in scanning selected recordings.
14. Apparaus in accordance with claim 13, each of said video scanners being operatively positioned relative to said document recording conveying means such that the leading edges of all document recordings approaching each video transducer willsimultaneously be presented to each transducer, and means for generating at least one signal for identifying each row of said document recordings as said conveying means moves past said transducing means, means for transmitting said identifying signal toeach monitor station, said control means for each monitor station being operative in response to said row-identifying signals for gating selected picture signals on the connected circuit.
15. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination with a conveying means for a plurality of document recordings, said recordings occupying predetermined tandem areas of a plurality of parallel recording tracks on saidconveying means and defining lateral rows of said recordings, means for moving said conveying means in a path parallel to said tracks of document recordings, means for scanning said document recordings comprising a plurality of video transducers each ofwhich is operatively positioned for scanning a respective of said parallel columns of document recordings, there being at least one transducer positioned for scanning each of said tracks, said transducers each operative for providing picture signals onthe outputs of said scanning means generated in scanning said recordings, a plurality of monitor stations, means for storing a plurality of picture signals at each monitor station, switching means operative to connect the output of a selected of saidscanning means with a selected of said storage means of said monitor stations, first selection means for each monitor station adapted, when operated to activate said switching means, to operatively connect the input to the storage means of the monitorstation with a selected scanning means, gating means operative to pass picture signals on a connected circuit to the storage means of a monitor station and to control document recording selection, control means for each monitor station adapted foractivating said gating means to provide picture signals on the connected circuit generated in scanning selected recordings, and second selection means at each monitor station operative to effect the selective reproduction of picture signals from themonitor station storage means and to effect transducing of said signals to visible images.
16. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination, a plurality of document recordings provided as separate groups of recordings, a plurality of video scanners adapted for scanning individual recordings, conveying meansfor said recordings operative for presenting individual recordings of each group in the scanning field of a respective scanner whereby the recordings of each group may be individually scanned, an output means for each scanner on which picture signalsderived from scanning said recordings are generated, a plurality of monitor stations, monitor means at each station including storage means for picture signals and image generating means operatively connected to said storage means, a communication systemincluding a plurality of communication channels, switching means operative to connect the output of a selected of said video scanners with a storage means of a selected monitor station, a first control means at each monitor station including a selectionmeans adapted when operated to activate said switching means to operatively couple the monitor station with a selected scanning means along one of said communication channels for scanning recordings of a selected group, a plurality of gating meansincluding at least one switch for each monitor station operative to pass picture signals to the storage means thereof from a scanner connected thereto, control means at each monitor station for activating said gating means for passing picture signalsgenerated in scanning selected recordings to said picture signal storage means and providing selected images on said image generating means.
17. Recording and reproduction apparatus comprising in combination:
(a) a first endless track record bearing member having a plurality of optically scannable information recordings provided on a first record track area thereof,
(b) electro-optical means for scanning said recordings mounted off said record member,
(c) a second recording member having an endless track erasable recording area,
(d) means for simultaneously driving said second and first recording members in substantially predetermined paths,
(e) said electro-optical scanning means being operatively coupled to scan said first recording member and to transduce signals derived therefrom onto said erasable recording member,
(f) selective control means for effecting the transducing of only predetermined information recordings from said first record-bearing member to said second recording member,
(g) pick-up means operatively coupled to scan said second recording member and to transduce recordings thereon to electrical signals, and
(h) a further transducing means operatively coupled to said recording member pick-up means for converting said electrical signals to a monitorable form.
18. Recording and reproduction apparatus in accordance with claim 17, in which said selective control means comprises a code-matching relay adapted to generate an output signal upon being energized for controlling the transducing of selectedinformation from said first record-bearing member to said erasable recording member, a plurality of codes recorded on a further track of said first record-bearing member adjacent said information recordings and including at least one code for identifyingeach information recording, reproduction means for said codes operatively connected to said code matching relay, a selection code generating means operatively connected to said code-matching relay including means for generating predetermined selectioncodes each of which is operative to energize said relay when a similar code is generated by said reproduction means for said recorded codes whereby the selected information recording, which is scanned by said electro-optical means when said relay isenergized, is transduced and recorded on said erasable recording member.
19. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) a conveyor having provided thereon a plurality of image fields arranged in a tandem array and adapted to be moved by said conveyor in a predetermined path,
(b) means for scanning said image fields,
(c) said scanning means comprising a plurality of video scanners each having a respective output and adapted to produce on its output a picture signal of each of said image fields scanned thereby,
(d) a plurality of monitor stations, switching means having a plurality of inputs which are adapted to receive picture signals generated by a selected of said video scanners, control means for said switching means and operative for connecting theoutput of a selected scanning means with a selected monitor station,
(e) picture signal selection means for each of said monitor stations adapted when operated to gate through said switching means picture signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,
(f) storage means at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and store plural picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, and
(g) video display means at each of said monitor stations adapted to convert picture signals received from said scanning means into a visual image on a viewing screen thereof.
20. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) a conveyor for a plurality of image fields, means for moving said conveyor intermittently along a fixed path,
(b) a video scanning means positioned with respect to said conveyor for scanning predetermined image fields thereof,
(c) said image fields being provided on said conveyor in a tandem array and being so spaced that each will be essentially centered in the scanning field of said scanning means during the intermittent stoppage of said conveyor,
(d) the dwell period of said intermittent conveyor motion being substantially equal to the time said video scanning means takes to completely scan an image field while said conveyor is stopped and to permit said scanning means to generate apicture signal on an output thereof which picture signal is a modulated electrical signal representative of the image field scanned,
(e) a plurality of monitor stations,
(f) a plurality of communication channels and switching means for selectively connecting said monitor stations and said scanning means,
(g) each of said monitor stations having a signal input which is operatively connectable to said output of said scanning means through switching means,
(h) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate through said switching means video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,
(i) storage means at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and store picture signals information transmitted thereto from said scanning means,
(j) and display means at each of said monitor stations adapted to convert a picture signal received from said scanning means into a visual image field on a viewing screen thereof.
21. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) an endless track conveyor having a plurality of tracks of image frame information provided thereon which frame information is scannable from at least one side of said conveyor,
(b) said image frame information being arranged as a plurality of rows of frames extending across said conveyor,
(c) a plurality of video scanners arranged in a lateral row extending across said conveyor with each scanner of said row positioned whereby a respective of said tracks will pass through the scanning field of said scanner,
(d) automatically operative means for intermittently moving said conveyor in a manner whereby when said conveyor is stopped, respective frames of a row are each aligned in the scanning field of a respective of said scanners and each frame remainsin scanning relationship with its scanner for a sufficient period of time to permit the scanning means to scan said respective fields and to each produce a respective picture signal on the outputs of said .[.cameras.]. .Iadd.scanners.Iaddend.,
(e) a switching system,
(f) a plurality of monitor stations each having signal input means operatively connectable to the output of one of said scanners through said switching system,
(g) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate thereto through said switching system picture signals derived from a selected of said scanners generated in scanning selected of the image frames passing through its scanningfield.
22. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) image field scanning means, conveying means for a plurality of different image field recordings arranged in a tandem array and adapted to be moved by said conveying means in a predetermined path relative to said scanning means,
(b) said scanning means being operative for producing on an output thereof a picture signal of each of said image fields scanned thereby,
(c) a plurality of monitor stations each having a signal input which is operatively connectable to said output of said scanning means, switching means operatively connecting said communication channels and said monitor stations,
(d) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate through said switching means video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,
(e) storage means including a recording apparatus at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and record plural picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, video image generating means at said monitor stations,
(f) selection means at said monitor stations for selectively reproducing said picture information recorded in said storage means and for presenting said information at the input of said video image generating means and means for converting saidinformation to a video image field.
23. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) a conveyor including an elongated member having a plurality of tandem arrays of image fields provided thereon which are visible from at least one side of said elongated member,
(b) said arrays of image fields being arranged in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with the image fields of adjacent tracks arranged in a plurality of lateral rows which are parallel to each other,
(c) a plurality of video scanners mounted off said conveyor, each adapted to scan a respective of said columns of image fields and to provide picture signals on respective outputs of said scanners of respective of said image fields when saidfields are in the scanning fields of said video scanners,
(d) a plurality of monitor stations each having a signal input and switching means for connecting said input to receive picture signals generated by any one of said video scanners,
(e) selection means for each of said monitor stations for operating said switching means to gate video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields to said video scanners,
(f) erasable storage means at each of said monitor stations for receiving and storing a plurality of picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, and
(g) display means at each of said monitor stations including means for converting a picture signal derived from said storage means into a visual image field on a viewing screen thereof.
24. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) conveying means for a plurality of image frames arranged thereon as a plurality of tracks, a plurality of video scanners arranged in a row across said plurality of tracks,
(b) said image frames each occupying substantially the same area and being provided on said conveying means in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with the frames of each column aligned in adjacent columns which extend in substantiallyparallel rows across said conveying means with the frames of each row adapted to simultaneously enter and leave the scanning fields of said row of scanners,
(c) said conveying means having a position-indicating code track provided on a longitudinal strip area thereof,
(d) means for reading said code track as said conveyor moves and for providing said code as an electrical signal on an output of said reading means,
(e) said code track being divided into tandemly arranged code units each of which units, when reproduced by said reading means, is indicative that a particular row of said image frames is in the scanning fields of said row of said scanners,
(f) a plurality of monitor stations and a switching system, each of said monitor stations having a signal input which is operatively connectable to the output of any of said scanners through said switching system,
(g) image frame reproduction selection means for each of said monitor stations and operative to pass to its monitor station picture signals derived from a selected of said scanners as it scans selected of the image frames passing through itsscanning field, a code matching relay means having input means connected to said means for reading said codes,
(h) said selection means including a switching means for operatively connecting the output line of a selected of said scanners with a line to any of said monitor stations,
(i) means for adjusting said code matching relay to cause it to become energized when a predetermined code is present on its input means from said code reading means,
(j) said code-matching relay including normally open switching means for gating the picture signal output of said selected scanner to a storage means at said connected monitor station for a predetermined period of time after said code matchingrelay becomes energized.
25. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 24, each of said monitor stations having a bi-stable switch in its input line for gating selected picture signals from the output of said selected video scanner to astorage means therefore, said code-matching relay means comprising a pair of code matching relays each of which is operative to receive the electrical code produced by said code reading means, a first of said code matching relays operative when itbecomes energized to close said bi-stable switch, the other of said relays being operative to open said bi-stable switch, and means for presetting said code-matching relays to close and open said bi-stable switch in a manner whereby only selected picturesignals produced by said selected scanner will be gated to said storage means through said switch.
26. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 25, including movement means for said conveyor comprising an intermittent drive operative to position each row of said image frames while stopped adjacent a row ofscanners whereby each frame of said row is centered in the scanning field of the scanner scanning the track thereof, said video scanners having beam scanning means and control means therefore for controlling the movement of its scanning beam in readingsaid image field in a predetermined path across said field and providing on an output of said scanner a modulated picture signal, means synchronized to the movement of said conveyor for providing an electrical trigger signal each time said conveyor comesto rest, a trigger input to said beam controlling means adapted when energized to effect the controlled movement of said reading beam in scanning said complete image field, said trigger signal producing means being connected to said trigger input of saidbeam controlling means whereby each time said conveyor positions a new row of frames in the scanning field of said row of scanners the scanning beams of said cameras will scan said fields, said intermittent motion of said conveyor being such that a framewill remain in the scanning field of a respective camera for a time interval sufficient for the scanning beams of all cameras to simultaneously effect complete screen sweep of their respective fields and provide picture signals thereof on their outputs.
27. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:
(a) a conveyor for a plurality of image frames including means for automatically moving said conveyor in a fixed path relative to plural rows of video scanning cameras,
(b) each of said image frames occupying substantially the same area and being provided on said conveyor in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with frames of adjacent tracks aligned in rows and extending as a plurality of substantiallyparallel rows across said conveyor whereby the frames of each row simultaneously enter and leave the scanning fields of respective of said cameras,
(c) said cameras in each row being positionally staggered relative said conveyor whereby a camera in one row scans a particular column of said frames and the column adjacent thereto is scanned by a camera in another row of said cameras such thatthe spacing of said columns may be closer than the separation of the scanning fields of two adjacent cameras when their housings are in touch with each other,
(d) means for scanning said columns of image information and providing picture signals of said scanning on the outputs of said cameras.
28. Information storage and reproduction apparatus comprising in combination:
(a) transport means for an elongated flat record-bearing member containing a plurality of record tracks defined as separate rows of first image frames extending longitudinally along said record-bearing member and parallel to each other,
(b) means for monitoring information contained on said flat record member including:
(i) electro-optical means for scanning selected or said image frames, and
(ii) visual monitor means in operative relation with said electro-optical means and including a visual presentation means having an image screen,
(c) means for operaing said electro-optical means to scan a first track of said record member,
(d) frame selection means for selectively presenting enlarged still images representative of selected of the images of said first image frames, one at a time on said screen,
(e) means operative to control the relative movement of said electro-optical means and said transport means for said elongated flat record-bearing member to permit the scanning of selected image frames of said record-bearing member by saidelectro-optical means,
(f) a first manual control means connected to said frame selection means for effecting the scanning of a selected row of image frames, second control means operative to cause the transmission of information generated in scanning a selected imageframe of a selected row of said record-bearing member and the generation of a still image of said selected frame on said screen for the visual monitoring thereof,
(g) said first and second selection control means each being variably selectively operative to effect the scanning of selected others of said rows of image frames and the generation of images of selected frames in said rows on said screen in anyorder depending on how both said selection control means are operated.
29. An information storage and reproduction apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said record-bearing member is a flat sheet-like member containing a plurality of tandem arrays of image frames arranged in substantially parallel lateralrows, each comprising one frame of each longitudinal row and means for automatically predeterminately locating each lateral row of said frames with respect to said electro-optical means while scanning a selected longitudinal row thereof wherebypredetermined individual frames of each longitudinal row may be selectively scanned and monitored.
30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 29, whereby frame marker means are recorded on said recording member and are indicative of the locations of respective lateral rows of said frames and means for selectively scanning said marker means,frame selection control means operatively connected to said marker scanning means for causing the scanning of a selected frame of a selected longitudinal row of frames and the production of an image thereof on said visual presentation means.
31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 30, said marker means comprising a plurality of binary codes including at least one code associated with and predeterminately located relative to each recorded video picture signal.
32. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:
(a) master information storage means carrying recorded information defined as a plurality of discrete document recordings,
(b) first reading means for reading said document recordings,
(c) monitor means including viewing means communicating with the output of said first reading means,
(d) first control means at said monitor means,
(e) second control means selectively operable for causing selected information to be read and transmitted from said storage means to said monitor means,
(f) a plurality of record members containing coded information for retrieving information from said master information storage means,
(g) said first control means including means for removably receiving a record member and reading said coded information from said record member,
(h) means for operatively connecting the output of said reading means of said first control means to said record control means for selectively operating said second control means to transmit selected information to said monitor means,
(i) said monitor means including a viewing screen modulatable by information received from said first reading means to permit the viewing of document information as selected by coded information generated in reading selected record members.
33. A system in accordance with claim 31, said record members comprising a plurality of record cards, said first control means including a card reader, and means for generating coded electrical signals representative of selected informationsought from said master information storage means, said second control means being responsive to said coded signals and operative upon receiving a coded signal to effect the transmission of predetermined document information from said first reading meansto said monitor means.
34. A system in accordance with claim 33, said second control means including comparator means and identifying code means associated with said document recordings of said master information storage means including at least one discrete codeassociated with each recording, means for reading said document code recording and transmitting same to said comparator means, said comparator means being operative to receive a selection code generated by said reading means of said first control meansand to generate a control signal when the code received from said means reading said document code recordings and said means reading said coded information on a selected record member are the same, and means responsive to said control signal forcontrolling selected information to modulate said monitor means.
35. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:
(a) conveying means for image information including an elongated flat record-carrying member having a plurality of parallel record tracks each containing a tandem array of different image frames,
(b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,
(c) a scanning system including scanning means for selectively scanning each row of image frames and
(d) image field generating means including a screen in operative relation with said scanning means for monitoring scanned information,
(e) means for generating the images of a selected row of scanned image frames on said screen,
(f) a hard copy producing means including means for positioning an image copy recording member in operative relation with said image field generating means and means for generating an image in said recording member concurrently with the imagegenerated on said screen, and
(g) control means for selectively operating said hard copy producing means and said scanning means to generate selected images on said screen and to produce hard copy recordings in said recording member of selected of the images so generated. .Iadd. 36. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the information recorded at said master information storage station comprises recordings of signals which define separate frames of information, each of whichframes is presentable in its entirety as an image field displayed on the visual display means of each monitor station when the signals defining the particular frame are reproduced from the recordings thereof from the means carrying recorded informationat the master information storage station and are transmitted to the monitor station at which the third control means has been selectively operated to cause the reading means of the master information storage station to read the selected frameinformation. .Iaddend..Iadd. 37. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 36 wherein the third control means of each monitor station is manually operable to effect control of said first control means at the masterinformation storage station to cause said reading means to read selected of said separate frames of recorded information and to generate said information signals for transmission from said master information storage station to the receiving means of themonitor station at which the third control means is activated to request the information so as to provide a full field display of the selected frame information on the display means thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 38. An information storage and retrievalsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electrical signals generated by the reading means scanning recorded information at the master information storage station comprise full frame video signals. .Iaddend..Iadd. 39. An information storage andretrieval system in accordance with claim 38 including an intermediate storage means at each monitor station for receiving and storing each full frame video signal transmitted thereto from said master information storage station and means for reproducingeach video signal stored in said intermediate storage means and applying it to the erasable recording means of the monitor station to cause the information defined by the full frame video signal to be displayed by said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 40. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said intermediate storage means at each monitor station includes means for repeatedly reproducing a full frame video signal therefrom at a fixed frequency and applyingsuch repeatedly reproduced video signal to said display means of the monitor station to maintain the display of the information defined thereby on said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 41. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance withclaim 40 wherein the visual display means at said plurality of monitor stations each comprise a television display including a cathode ray image display tube having a low persistency phosphor screen and said means for repeatedly reproducing a full framevideo picture signal from said intermediate storage means is operable to maintain the image defined by the full frame video signal reproduced as a still image on the screen of said cathode ray image display tube. .Iaddend..Iadd. 42. An informationstorage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second control means and said automatic communication channels are defined by an automatic telephone switching and connection system. .Iaddend..Iadd. 43. An information storage andretrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third control means includes a switch keyboard and means operable in response to the selective operation of the keys of said keyboard for generating and transmitting code signals to said masterinformation storage station which code signals define selected recorded information to be reproduced therefrom, said first control means at said master information storage station being responsive to said code signals for causing said reading means toread said selected recorded information and for generating said selected information as electrical signals on said output of said master information storage station for transmission to said receiving means of the monitor station requesting same. .Iaddend..Iadd. 44. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1, further including hard copy producing means at said monitor stations for producing readable hard copy of the information displayed on the display means thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 45. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 36 wherein said erasable signal recording means at each monitor station includes means for recording a plurality of said signals defining separate frames ofinformation and means for selectively reproducing a selected of said plurality of frame signals from said latter recording means and applying the reproduced frame signal to generate an image for display on said display means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 46. Aninformation storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 5 including an information display means at each monitor station for displaying selected information transmitted thereto from said master information storage means as selected by theinformation selection means at the monitor station. .Iaddend..Iadd. 47. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the display means at each monitor station is a television receiver including a cathode ray tubewith a low persistency display element, further including means for repeatedly reproducing information to be displayed from said information storage means of the monitor station at a frequency such that the cathode ray tube of the television receiver ofthe monitor station will maintain the image defined by the information reproduced for an extended period of time sufficient to permit its study and monitoring by a person viewing the display element thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 48. An information storageand reproduction system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the information selection means is defined by a manually operable switch keyboard and means connected thereto for generating selection code signals and transmitting said selection code signalsto said master control means to cause said master control means to control the transmission of selected information from said master information storage means to the monitor stations requesting such information. .Iaddend. |
| Description: |
This invention relates to information storage apparatus and, in particular, to an information storage system employing a continuously and/or intermittently movable conveyor for image frames and apparatus forselectively reproducing images of said frames.
Various systems have been employed for the storage and retrieval of information stored in the form of documents, pictures or prints. These have included apparatus employing the micro-filming of printed pages, documents, pictures and the like andthe provision of image transparencies on cards which are either manually or automatically selected from storage and scanned by means of an optical projector device.
In the storage and retrieval of very large quantities of image information, such as contained in libraries of said information, in which the number of pages or image frames may exceed several million or more in quantity, the shortcomings ofexisting systems have limited and restricted their use. Heretofore existing systems have required a large storage volume for storing the large amount of document information. They have been restricted in application by the time required to search,derive and transport the document recordings. Other factors, such as the need to manually search and scan the recordings for specific information, difficulties in cross referencing, etc. have limited the application of currently existing systems. Furthermore, when two or more persons seek the same information or unit containing the recording thereof, a delay is experienced by one of the parties who must await the termination of the use of the record unit by the other and its return to the filebefore he can scan or monitor said unit. Other shortcomings of presently employed information storage systems include such factors as the requirement that the record unit or storage medium be physically conveyed or transported to the person seeking theinformation or he must travel to and from the file or storage container of said units to selectively obtain the information. Other factors which limit currently available systems include the wear of the recording medium due to handling delays due tomanual operations necessary for scanning individual recordings, etc.
Accordingly, it is primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved system for storing image and document information and for selectively viewing or monitoring said information from one or a plurality of monitor stations.
Another object is to provide a document storage and reproduction system which may be computer directed.
Another object is to provide an improved document storage reproduction system which is simple in construction and may be easily integrated into an automatic information transmission system employing a conventional telephone communication system.
Another object is to provide a system for storing image or document recordings and for selectively reproducing images thereof at one or a plurality of monitor devices by scanning said recordings and generating a train of picture signals withoutthe need for individually selecting said signals.
Another object is to provide a simplified information storage and retrieval system having storage means occupying a minimal spatial volume and capable of storing millions of frames of image information and means for automatically reproducingimages of said frames at one or more locations remote from said storage means.
Another object is to provide means for synchronizing the deflection of the scanning beam of a video camera with the movement of a plurality of image frames through the scanning field of said camera whereby said beam starts its scanning movementfrom a predetermined position in its field as a new frame enters said field and the cyclic frequency thereof is controlled by the movement of frames through said scanning field.
The invention, its objects and advantages, will be more fullyunderstood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the general image storage and retrieval system;
FIG. 2 shows further details in block and schematic form of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows in block and schematic form still further details of the selection means of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 3a is an isometric and schematic view of automatic selection and retrieval apparatus applicable to FIG. 3 for the automatic reproduction of chains of picture signals from the storage system thereof;
FIG. 4 is a block and schematic diagram of details of a code matching relay utilized in FIGS. 1 to 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of the control means for a video scanner as utilized in FIGS. 1 to 4;
FIG. 5a shows a further modification to a scanner and system as illustrated in FIG. 5;
FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of storage apparatus and shows means for mounting a plurality of video cameras thereon relative to a movable storage conveyor in accordance with the teachings of this invention;
FIG. 7 is a partly sectioned side view of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a video camera and its mounting means which may be utilized as part of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 for scanning the storage system thereof;
FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of a modified form of the conveyor illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8;
FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a partial view in lateral cross section of part of the image frame conveyor of either FIG. 8 or FIG. 9; showing means for mounting a plurality of image frames thereon;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a modified image frame mount or conveyor;
FIG. 13 is a side view of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of another form of image frame conveyor and mount;
FIG. 15 is a lateral cross sectional view of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a partial view taken along a lateral plane of a modified scanner mount which is a modification of the mount illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing scanning and reproduction control means for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 16.
Certain assumptions are hereinafter made pertaining to the circuits of the drawings forming a part of this invention inorder to present them in as simple a form as is possible. It is assumed, for example, that the correct power supplies are provided on the correct side of all switches and controls as well as connected to all amplifiers, receivers, coded relays, signalgenerators, storage tubes and the like regardless of whether or not said power supplies are shown. Drives referred to for operating tape transports and switches are assumed to contain all the necessary controls and components according to the teachingsof the art. Monitors comprising image retention screens or tubes may be provided in accordance with the teachings of the art or in accordance with those of my copending patent applications. The division of all circuits into two or more circuits areassumed to be effected by known junction techniques or by means of the proper transformers. Automatic switching systems are provided in accordance with systems of this type known in the art. Video camera and receiver deflection controls similarly arein accordance with those known in the art.
Referring first to the block diagram designated FIG. 1, the illustrated informations storage system comprises a master information storage conveyor 18 having a belt 18'; scanning cameras 14 mounted off said conveyor for scanning its surface andframes of image information provided thereon, a switching system 13 for gating resulting picture signals from a selected camera to one or more of a plurality of receiving stations 10, each of which preferably has associated therewith signal storageand/or monitoring means. The information is stored in the form of recorded areas of belt 18' as frames of documents or picture images which may be developed in photographic film, or printed on photosensitive paper or the like. Said frames are mountedor provided in any suitable manner on the conveyor belt 18 and are preferably arranged in a plurality of aligned columns so that scanning of selected frames and the reproduction of picture signals at the monitor stations may be effected rapidly andwithout difficulty.
Whereas the cameras 14 may comprise any of a variety of designs of video scanning devices available for providing picture signal outputs of a scanned image field, a small video scanning camera which is available at this writing and measures but afew square inches in lateral cross-section is a miniaturized Vidicon scanning tube camera manufactured by several companies including Radio Corporation of America and Westinghouse Corp. These may be mounted in any suitable array just off the surface ofthe conveyor belt 18' in a manner to scan said predetermined record containing strip areas of columns of said document recordings. The term conveyor belt as hereafter utilized, defines any flexible mounting for said image frames which is capable ofbeing driven in a so called endless path of closed loop and may comprise a flexible web or a series of tandemly arranged rigid platens or flights which are pinned to each other or mounted on a chain so that they may be driven in a closed loop. Theclosed loop belt may also be replaced by an open loop device or an elongated rigid platen which is power driven in the manner to be described for the belt past said scanners 14 by means of a motor and drive means 19 which may be any suitable constantspeed or intermittent powered motion producing device.
The scanners 14-1, 14-2, 14-3, 14-4, etc. are shown mounted in rows extending laterally across the conveyor in sufficient number and positioned such that each of said columns of image frames is scanned by at least one of said cameras. Otherarrangements may be provided whereby two or more cameras scan the same column or conveyor strip from different locations along the belt or conveyor. If the conveyor is run continuously the picture signal output of the camera or scanner close to thedesired image frame may be selected for performing scanning functions so that there will not be a substantially long wait to retrieve said information.
As stated, a plurality of monitor stations are provided each operative by a different individual for viewing reproductions of selected images provided on the storage conveyor 18 or for otherwise utilizing the signals reproduced therefrom, such asfor computer or documentation, or printing use. The illustrated monitor station 10-1 is provided with a viewing device such as a conventional video receiver 22 containing a picture tube 22' such as an image storage tube and the necessary signalamplifying and beam deflection control means for providing a still image on the face of said storage tube as the result of the receipt thereby of a selected picture signal which has been generated by a selector of the scanning cameras 14. Selection of adesired document picture signal or signals and the automatic transmission thereof when it is generated on the output of a selected camera in said system, is effected by means of a frame selector 12-1 which has a command-input from a bank of manualselection switches 11-1, a punched card reader 11-2, or a computer or other device 11-3. The frame selector 12-1 comprises in its simplest form, a rotary selection switch with inputs from each of said cameras and a single output which extends either tosaid monitor device for signal frame selection or to an intermediary picture signal recorder 20. In many literature or data searching functions, it is required to reproduce not one but a plurality of images of document pages recorded in succession. Ifthe system utilizes as in FIG. 1 a long conveyor belt 18' which is in continuous movement, and it is desired to scan or visually monitor the material contained in a series of image frames, it will be to the advantage of the operator of the monitorapparatus to temporarily store said plural images in a manner such that they may be selectively reproduced thereafter by the operator without having to wait for the belt to recycle or the next frame to pass the selected camera.
The frame selector is connected to the automatic switching system 13 by means of an output line 12'-1 and the intermediate picture signal storage system 20 receives picture signals from said switching system over the selected one of the pluralityof output lines 13'. For indicating which portion of the belt 18' of conveyor 18 is passing the cameras a frame position signal generator 17 is provided which generates a feedback signal or code signals to the frame selection means 12 which code isutilized to close and open a switch or gate 13'g in the input line 13'-1 at predetermined times during a cycle of operation such that only selected picture signals pass to the intermediary storage system 20 and are stored therein. The operation of theintermediary storage system by means of a further selection means 21 may be effected manually by the operator of the monitor station who selectively reproduces picture signals stored therein one at a time and effects the writing of the respective imageson the screen of the monitor tube 22' for viewing and monitoring purposes. The system, which includes subsystems 20, 21 and 22, may be constructed and operated in accordance with one of the magnetic recording systems for recording and reproducing videoimage signals described and illustrated in my copending patent application Ser. No. 668,348 entitled Magnetic Recording Systems and filed on June 27, 1957 or any suitable erasable picture signal recording system. The notations 23, 24 and 25 referrespectively to apparatus for automatically printing, once energized, copies of the images appearing on the face of the monitor screen or tube 22' and includes an optical system or photographic camera 23, an automatic printer and hard copy processingmachine 24 and a manual selector 25. When the latter is actuated by the person viewing or scanning the images appearing on the screen of 22', a controller such as a multi-circuit timer, automatically effects, by controlling the operations of servomotors and solenoids, the functions of photographing the face of 22' by control of the shutter of 23, and the developing and printing of the resulting exposed film or paper by operating the servo motor or motors, in the automatic printer 24 from whichhard copy in the form of a print derived for use as a permanent record. Such an automatic printing means may comprise the copyflow machine made by the Haloid Company of Rochester, N.Y., which photographs and prints copies of documents or flat sheets fedthereto. If the optical system of such a printer is adjusted to receive an image from the face of the monitor tube 22' and the appartus is adapted to operate intermittently by means of a switch operated multi-circuit recycle timer of conventionaldesign, then it may be used to photograph and print selected images appearing on the screen of 22' of FIG. 1. If said manual switch is replaced by a solenoid operated switch and the energizing input to said solenoid is derived from a computer or reader,such as 11-2 or 11-3, then the function of printing hard copies of the images reproduced from the conveyor 18 by video scanning may be effected automatically by energizing the controller of 24. If the control device 11-3 is a card-reader or other typeof program controller, it is preferably programmed to generate signals in the proper sequence to effect the cyclic operation of the automatic camera and printer when an image is generated on the face of the screen of 22'. This is effected in one manner,by clipping the frame vertical sync pulse from the video picture signal transmitted from the intermediate storage system 20 by means of a differentiator clipper 20C and passing the resulting pulse signal to one input of a logical AND switching circuit11-3A in the line 11-3' having its other input energized with a constant signal derived from the signal generating controller or reader 11-3. When both inputs to 11-3A are simultaneously energized, its output becomes energized which is utilized toenergize the controller for the camera printer 23, 24. The controller 11-3A may also be a binary counter relay adapted to produce a pulse on its output after receiving two pulses on its input, with said input being connected to the output of both 11-3and 20C. A system of this type utilizing both manual selection and automatic selection and printing means as described is quite versatile and capable of automatic data and document reproduction and transmission. A signal reproduced from theintermediary storage signal system 20 may also be utilized to effect the automatic operation of the automatic printing apparatus.
In another form of the invention the recording image frame mount or conveyor belt 18' is driven intermittently by a stepping motor 19 which is coupled to and rotates the sprocket of drum 18d of the conveyor 18. The drive means and locations ofthe rows of frames or pictures provided on or in 18' are such that, each time the conveyor comes to rest, individual frames thereof will be centered in the scanning fields of a camera and will remain therein for sufficient time to permit the camera toscan the image field and produce a picture signal on its output line 15, which signal is that obtained during at least one frame sweep of the read beam. The next movement of the belt 18' is such that other frames provided on 18' will next be centered inthe scanning field of the scanner 14. The movement is preferably such that when one image frame moves out of a scanning field of a camera, the next frame appearing in its column will be moved into and will center in the scanning field of the same cameraduring the next cycle and said scanning cycle will be repeated for said next frame. In this system of image storage and reproduction, a different still image picture signal will be developed on the output circuit of each camera each time the conveyor 18is stopped and selection means are provided in the form of a frame selector to perform the dual functions of effecting the correct connection between the monitor station and a predetermined camera and that of gating only predetermined picture signals,produced on the output of the selected camera, to the intermediate storage system 20 in use. A system of this type is operative to permit the output of any camera in the system to be simultaneously passed to a plurality of monitor stations. If two ofsaid monitor stations 10 simultaneously require that the same information or picture signal be received and recorded, it is not necessary for the operator at one monitor station to await the completion of the same scanning operation of another operator. Furthermore, complex control of each camera by remote means is not necessary.
The conveyor 18 may be mounted with its belt or hinged flights 18' extending horizontally, vertically or in a combination of directions or series of reversing loops to provide the maximum length thereof in a minimum cubic volume. The framesupporting the conveyor 18 is used to support the scanning cameras 14, power lines extending thereto and also supports coaxial cable utilized for picture signal transmission. The cameras 14 may be arranged in rows extending across the conveyor, eachadapted to scan a respective column of image frames which pass through its scanning field. A single frame position indicator 17 may be provided to scan position indicating marks or codes on a channel or band area of the belt 18' for indicating theposition of said conveyor and the frames thereon in relation to the cameras. A frame position indicator scanner 17 may also be provided for each bank of cameras. The necessity of providing plural banks of scanners 17 will depend on the precision inwhich the image frames are mounted, and if the conveyor consists of a series of flights or platens hinged together, the degree of backlash thereof.
The system of FIG. 1 is also applicable to storage and reproduction functions other than deriving selected frames of image information. The conveyor 18 may contain on its belt section 18' a plurality if objects or articles such as products ormanufactured items in process. The cameras may be positioned to scan normal to the surface of the conveyor or from the side thereof. The cameras 14 may be conventional video cameras adapted to provide a motion picture on the screen of the video monitorto which it is connected or a still picture of the object or article thereon which is generated in the same manner as if the camera were scanning an image frame or picture as described hereafter. The system may be employed for the visual selection ofone or more of a plurality of articles or products by one or more observers at remote locations or for the inspection of one or more articles or products at said remote locations. The switching system 13 may be a conventional automatic telephoneswitching system whereupon the conveyor 18 may contain individual articles or rows of different articles the images of which may be viewed by subscribers to the phone system on their respective monitor screens after a connection with one of the cameras14 has been made by means to be described hereafter. The purchase or selection of a particular article may be effected by verbal order over the phone line or by means of a tone signal which is generated when the subscriber manually actuates a switch ofa tone generator. A relay responsive to said tone and located near the conveyor 18 may be used to effect the removal of the article from the conveyor 18' by actuating a servo.
The computer or control device 11-3 is also shown connected to the input of the automatic printer 24, for effecting the automatic printing of predetermined of the image reproduction derived from scanning predetermined areas of the belt 18'. Since the computer 11-3 or the card reader may be utilized to automatically control the reproduction of signals from the intermediate storage system 20, it would be a relatively simple control function to effect the energization of the control for theautomatic printer 24 by generating a signal on the input line 11-3' from 11-3 to 24 at or just after the signal is generated to energize the control for effecting the reproduction of the picture signal from the intermediate storage system 20.
One or more of a number of techniques for scanning the columns of image frame recordings to generate picture signals may be employed. Four systems are briefly described as follows:
In a first system the image scanning means comprises a video scanning camera or flying spot scanner having a read beam adapted to continuously scan back and forth along a predetermined scanning line while the conveyor and column of image framesmoves past said scanner at substantially constant speed such that the requested vertical deflection is provided by the image field in motion. The speed of the conveyor and the scanning rate of the beam being such that the resulting picture signal may beutilized to intensity modulate a so called image write-tube or to provide a still image on its display face or screen. For such an arrangement the beam of the scanner is automatically operative to return to a position where it again initiates scanning. During return sweep the beam is in a condition of substantially zero potential to simulate the conventional line blanking function. The scanner may comprise a flying-spot scanner of the type described in the March 1949 issue of the RCA Review whichprovides a beam of light which scans at right angles to the direction of motion of the image column, the light being intensity-modulated after passing through the image recordings which are images developed in transparent film. A receiver tube such as aphoto-multiplier tube is mounted to receive the modulated light from the scanner after it has passed through the image on the film. Said receiver is positioned on the other side of the film and provides a resulting modulated picture signal output. Thepicture signal is produced as the result of the modulation of the light from the flying-spot scanner as it passes through areas of different density on the film. The resulting picture signal output is passed to the monitor station which is connected tothe scanner and only those portions of the video picture signal so generated which pertain to selected image frames in the selected record columns are gated to an intermediary storage means of a monitor station for play-back through devices such as thevideo receiver thereof. The blanking portions of the video signal defining the interval between consecutive frames is produced by providing areas between each stored image frame which are black in nature so as to produce a video signal simulating the socalled blanking or black signal portion of the picture signal. For such a system the frame sync signal or vertical sync signal is not required since the vertical motion is attained by the movement of the film and the flying-spot scanner merely sweepsits beam back and forth across the film at a constant rate as the film moves at constant speed. If a vertical sync signal is required for reproducing the information derived by scanning a single frame said sync signal may be derived from scanning themarkings or code at the edge or margin of the conveyor.
A second system employs intermittent movement of the camera in the same direction that the column of image information is moving and in a manner such that said camera will travel at substantially the same speed as the document recording to bescanned whereby the recording is stationary in the scanning field for a period of time sufficient to permit the camera to scan by conventional means the selected image frame.
A third means applicable for scanning includes intermittently moving the conveyor carrying information recordings in a manner such that one frame is conveyed at at time into the scanning field of a conventional video scanning camera and remainsthere for a sufficient period of time to permit at least one screen sweep of the camera scanning beam. Thereafter, the document recording is conveyed out of the scanning field image field a degree so as to position the next image frame to be centered insaid camera scanning field.
In another system individual image frames or document recordings are each provided on an intermittently fed base or card. Strips or groups of said frames pertaining to a particular subject may also be provided on a single card or platen which isone of a plurality of said cards. If the card bases are punched cards provided with conventional automatic selection and coding means they may be selectively or continuously fed through the scanning fields of said scanning cameras in a continuousmovement to provide individual frames or rows of said frames of images on a card in the scanning fields of respective cameras in the same manner hereinabove described for the belt or conveyor 18' save that the driving or feed means for said cards ismodified in accordance with the spacing of the frames. Card selection, control of movement into and out of the scanning fields is preferably provided by known card feeding apparatus. By providing said image frames mounted on a plurality of plates,flights or cards which are individually handled and continuously or intermittently moved into and out of the scanning fields of said rows of cameras, the changing of image frames or addition thereto may be easily effected without the necessity ofstopping said feeding function by employing known card sorting apparatus. The conveyor 18 may serve as a means for conveying said document recording cards or plates into and out of said scanning fields of said cameras.
FIG. 2 shows further details of the image storage and selection system of FIG. 1. Two monitor stations are illustrated. One, 10'-1, is provided with means for reproducing the information recorded on single images from the storage system 16 andproviding said information in the form of images on the face of a storage tube 22-1. A second monitor station 10-2 is provided with means for storing a plurality of selected picture signals in an intermediate storage system 20 and also includes meansfor selectively reproducing said signals therefrom to provide respective images on the face of the monitor storage tube 22-2 thereof.
Referring first to the apparatus of the monitor station 10'-1, the camera circuit selection means comprises a rotary selection switch 26 having multiple input circuits 31-1 each extending from a respective circuit 32 of a plurality of videocarrier circuits or cables 32-1 to 32-N. Each of the circuits 32 extends to a respective output 32w of a single video scanner 14 on which said picture signal is first developed. Each cable of the group 32 extends not only to a respective input of therotary selection switch 26 but to inputs of each of the other selection switches of other monitor stations in the system so that a picture signal developed on its respective line 32 will be available at each of the monitor stations if the selectionswitch of said stations are adjusted to effect the circuit connections. The channel selector switch 26 may be manually operated by manual rotation of the switch arm 26a and is equivalent in function to that part of the automatic switching system 13 ofFIG. 1 which connects one of the camera outputs 15 with the input to the particular monitor station. The selection of a specific document recording signal of the picture signals generated on the selected circuit by scanning a selected column of imageframes on the conveyor, is effected by means of a frame selection means which comprises a code matching relay 28 and a normally open gate or electronic switch 33 which is energized to close when a signal is generated by 28 on its output 28 which extendsto the switching input of 33. The code matching relay 28 is programmed by means of a frame selection switching means 27 and is adapted to receive feedback signals, preferably in the form of a parallel binary code or the like, on plural inputs 29 theretofrom a battery or row 17' of photoelectric scanning relays which are mounted off the conveyor 18 which read position indicating marks in the form of a strip or band code along the conveyor. The marks read by the photomultiplier relay bank 17' cause themultiple outputs 30a thereof to respectively be energized and deenergized in a particular code array and each of the photo-relays of bank 17' is connected to a respective of the inputs 29 to the relay 28 and to all other code matching relays of similarfunction in said system by means of respective circuits 30. The operation of the code matching relay 28 will be described hereafter. In brief, it functions by providing a parallel code output when the selected image frame is in the scanning field ofthe selected camera, said code being used to gate the picture signal produced when said camera scanning means scans said selected frame to the input to the monitor 22-1 where it is utilized in the manner described in my said copending application toprovide an image on the screen of the storage or video picture tube thereof. The gating of just one picture signal to the monitor 22-1 is effected by either providing the gating signal on line 28' for the interval necessary to maintain the monostableswitch 33 closed long enough to permit a complete frame picture signal to be passed therethrough to 22-1 or by providing switch 33 as a normally open, slow-to-open after closing switch which remains closed once its switching input is energized by asignal appearing on 28' for a period of time sufficient to pass the selected video picture signal to the completed circuit.
The monitor station 10-2 is provided with an intermediate picture signal storage system 20, the complete details of which are not shown but which are detailed from my said copending application. In said copending application, either of themagnetic recording video signal storage and reproduction systems may be employed as the intermediary storage system 20 of FIG. 2 of this application. The selected video picture signal is gated through a normally open switch 35 and is passed through arecording amplifier 36 before energizing the recording transducer 37 and being recorded as a picture signal on a length of magnetic storage medium such as an elongated and closed loop magnetic tape 41'. The magnetic tape 41' is driven in a closed loopon a tape transport 41 which is power operated at constant speed by means of a servo drive 42 which may be started in operation prior to said switching function whereby it is operating at constant speed by the time said selected signal or signals appearat the input to the gate. If the switch 35 is adjustable so that its opening time after being closed by a signal from 28 may be varied by selected and predetermined degrees, then a plurality of consecutively generated picture signals appearing on theinput 26'w may be passed to the recording amplifier 36 and recorded on the tape 41' for the monitoring thereafter of consecutively scanned images in a particular document storage of column on the conveyor. The notation 33' refers to a normally-openswitch in the circuit of the picture signal reproduction amplifier associated with reproduction head 38 for gating signals, recorded on 41', one at a time to the monitor 22-2. Said picture signals may comprise composite video picture signals includingblanking and sync components combined to effect modulation of an image generating means such as the write-beam of a video storage tube 22'-2 of the monitor device 22-2. The closed loop tape 41' and transport 41 may also comprise a magnetic recordingdrum or tape transport which includes a magnetic tape driven between two reels or drums. Notation 37 refers to an adjustable delay line in the output of the code matching relay 28 operative to account for any differences between the generation of saidframe indicating signal and the time the selected picture signal appears at the input 26'w of the switch 35. The switch or gate 35 is preferably selectively adjustable by hand or by means of a signal from the frame selector 34 to remain closed for thetime duration, or multiples thereof, it takes for a single video picture signal to be generated so that one or a selected number of consecutively produced picture signals of different image frame sweeps derived from scanning a selected column of theconveyor 18 may be passed therethrough.
Whereas in FIG. 2 manual means are provided for adjusting the time a video signal gate remains closed, in FIG. 3 the end limits of the train of video picture signals desired to be recorded on the recording medium of 20 are determined by means ofa pair of code matching relays each having inputs connected to the common code circuits 30 and each operative to respectively close and open a bi-stable gate for gating just the selected number of picture signals therethrough. If, for example, it isdesired to monitor a particular multi-page report containing a predetermined number of pages and it is known which column contains the recordings of said pages and the location of said frames are known (i.e. the first row in which the first recordedframe occurs as well as the final row in which the last frame appears) then the frames may be selectively reproduced by generating codes associated with each of said rows which codes are each provided adjacent to the first and last frames. Selection maythus be effected by providing each of said codes on respective inputs of a pair of code matching relays and energizing said relays to respectively close and open a bi-stable switch operative for passing the output of the selected video scanner during theinterval between which said codes are generated as their recordings pass the scanning bank 17'. Since this is the interval during which the desired or selected frames of said report pass through the scanning field of the selected camera, only theselected picture signals pass through said gate. It is noted that such selection code matching relays may also function to gate power to operate the scanning means of the selected camera or to operate a camera shutter to open and close whereby only theselected images will be scanned. However, if the system is to employ plural monitor stations any one of which may require the same picture signals transmitted to another station at the same time, the control and selection means of FIG. 3 will suffice toeffect such simultaneous transmission of the same picture signal to different monitor stations in said system.
In FIG. 3, the operator of the monitor station effects a connection between the picture signal output of a selected scanning camera (i.e. the picture signals derived from scanning a selected column of frames of the conveyor 18 and an input 26'wto his monitor apparatus by means of a dial selector switch 46 or the like). The rotary dial switch, when actuated, transmits a predetermined number of pulses to a stepping motor 48 which steps the rotary contactor arm 26'c of rotary switch 26', theinputs to which are each connected to one of the lines 31 which are respectively connected to camera output. A manually operated reset switch 47 is used to reset the stepping motor shaft 48s to zero. The reset switch 47 may start a motor coupled to theshaft of the stepping motor, which drives said shaft in reverse until the zero position has been reached whereupon said reset drive is stopped by means of a limit switch.
Before dialling switch 46, the operator presets a control means which automatically effects the gating thereafter of only selected picture signals to the intermediary storage apparatus at the monitor station 10x. Gating is effected in one ofseveral manners. Illustrated in FIG. 3 are two frame determining relays 28a and 28b which permit the gating of a predetermined number of consecutively produced picture signals to the image storing input 26w2. This will permit the visual monitoring orscanning of a predetermined number of consecutively scanned image frames which appear in the column scanned. The output of the camera scanning said column is determined by the position of the rotary switch 26'.
The frame picture signal gating control means of FIG. 3 comprises a pair of code matching relays 28a and 28b each of which is adapted to provide a control signal when a code derived from scanning the code tracks of the conveyor 18 is present on aplurality of input lines 30c and 30d to each relay. Details of such a code matching relay are shown in FIG. 5 which comprises a plurality of logical switching AND circuits arranged relative to respective circuit matching inputs such that, when anypredetermined order of a first array of said inputs is energized, an output signal will be provided from said relay if the same order or code array is present on the second array of inputs. The first array of input lines 49aW' to the code matching relay28A is "set-up" in binary code form by means of a "start-frame" selector panel of switches 49a which comprises a plurality of switches. One in each of the circuits 49aW-1, 49aW-2, 49aW-3, etc. to relay 28A, which are actuated by manual, punch card orother means in an order to provide a predetermined code on the input side of 28A. In other words, the lines 49aW are respectively in either a state of energization or are deenergized in such an array to provide a predetermined parallel code such thatwhen respective lines of the parallel feed-back circuits 30a to 28A are energized in the same order the relay 28a will become activated and produce a signal which may be used for gating purposes. The feed-back lines are connected to the banks ofphotoelectric relays or photo-multipliers adapted to scan the border of the conveyor belt 18' containing position indicating codes. The feed-back circuits 30 from the bank of conveyor reading photomultiplier relays 17', shown in FIG. 2, extendthroughout the system and each of the code matching relays in said system are connected thereto.
The output of the rotary selector switch 26' is connected through a flip-flop switch 35a to the recording transducers of the intermediate storage system 20. The switch 35a is closed upon receipt of a signal from the code matching relay 28Agenerated on its output 28aW and opened upon receipt at its other switching input of a signal from a second code matching relay 28B generated on its output 28bW. The relay 28A is preset by means of a bank of start-frame selection switches 49a whichprovide the input lines 49aW in states of energization and de-energization in accordance with the desired binary code read by the photomultiplier tubes when the first image frame of the selected column of frames appears at the connected camera. Therelay 28B is similarly preset by means of a bank of stop-frame selection switches 49b, which like those of 49a connect a power supply PS in circuit with respective of the inputs 49bW to said relay 28B in accordance with the desired code scanned by thephotomultiplier tubes 17' as the last image frame in the selected column leaves the scanning field of the selected video camera. Thus, the circuit 26W1 is connected to 26W2 only during the interval the desired picture signal or signals are present atthe input of the switch 35a so that only the desired signals are recorded on the constant speed moving tape 41'. The numeral 43 refers to a clipper which is connected to the input line 26W2 and is adapted to receive the video picture frame signalsgenerated thereon and to clip the frame vertical sync signal therefrom and provide it as a pulse output which is recorded by means of a recording head 37' adjacent the position of the picture signal recorded by head 37 to thereby indicate the location ofthe start of said picture signal. When said pulse is reproduced by reproduction transducer 39 it may be used as a feedback signal to gate only the picture signal associated therewith to the monitor 22 and as a means for further controlling the motion ofthe tape 41'.
The intermediate storage system 20 of FIG. 3 is illustrated as including a drive motor 42 which is adapted to operate at constant speed after a starting input 42F thereof is energized and when a drive switch 46 is actuated. Although illustratedas separate units, the drive servo 42 may be combined as a single drive with a second illustrated drive servo 45 for the tape transport 41. For the purposes of simplifying the description, the drive servo 42 is assumed to drive the tape 41' at aconstant speed past the heads 37, 38 and 37' for recording of picture signals received from the storage system on input 26W2 while the servo 45 with its associated start control 45F, stop control 45S and reversing control 45R is utilized in moving saidtape in the reproduction of signals therefrom. The start control 42F of servo 42 is energized and gates power to 42 by means of the start switch 46 which is actuated to close by a signal from a computing device 50 during said other selection functionssufficiently in advance of the appearance of the selected picture signals on the line 26W1 to permit the tape 41' to be accelerated to constant recording speed. Thereafter, energization of the code matching relay 28A closes switch 35a which remainsclosed until the last desired signal in the chain of said signals has been produced by the selected camera whereupon the code matching relay 28B produces an output signal which opens the flip-flop switch 35a. Said output signal generated on the output28bW of 28B is also passed over circuit 28bW' to the stop control 42S of servo 42 whereupon the tape forward motion is automatically stopped.
If it is desired to start the motion of tape 41' just before the first of the selected picture signals appears on the line 26W1 a third code matching relay 53 is provided which is preset by providing its inputs 52W in the desired array ofenergized and de-energized states by the actuation of the switching bank 52 which gates a power supply to respective of said circuits in the desired parallel code order. The code so imposed on the inputs 52W to 53 is such that a signal will produce onits output 53W by the receipt on its feedback inputs 30e of a similar code from the photomultiplier circuits 36 sufficiently in advance of the reproduction of the first of the selected picture signals to be utilized to start the drive servo (45 or 42) orthe control therefore such that it will be driving the tape 41' at constant recording speed just as the first selected picture signal is being generated or shortly thereafter. Thus, several trains or groups of consecutively reproduced picture signalsderived from scanning tandem arrays of image frames on the conveyor may be recorded on different lengths of the tape without risk of erasure or of recording of one signal over another which may occur if the tape 41' is driven at constant speed at anydesired time during the described information retrieval functions. The output of relay 53 is passed to the forward start control 45F of 45 while the output of 28b is passed to the stop controller 45S of 45. In the latter described arrangement, thedrive servo 42 may be eliminated since the servo means 45 serves the dual functions of driving the tape 41' during recording as well as reproduction. If it is desired to record at a fast speed in accordance with frequency of the received picture signalswhich may be in the two to four megacycle range if the scanning cameras are conventional television cameras and to reproduce at a slower rate for effecting the production of an image of the screen of a slow scan monitor such as 22' then the drive 45 maybe employed as an auxiliary servo operating at the desired slow speed while 42 is inoperative for reproduction of the recorded picture signals on tape 41', and the outputs from 28b and 53 may be respectively connected to start control 42F and stopcontrol 42S of servo 42 instead of to servo 45 as illustrated.
In the single frame picture signal reproduction controller 34' are switches for starting, stopping and reversing servo 45 and automatic control means (as described in my said patent) for effecting, when actuated, the reproduction of a singlevideo picture signal from the train of said signals recorded on 41' and for utilizing said picture signal to modulate the image forming means of the monitor 22. The picture signals recorded on 41" may be individually reproduced at the will of theoperator of the monitor station, each of which picture signals generates a different image on the storage or video tube 22' which may be viewed as long as desired and may be automatically erased when the next image is generated. The single frame picturesignal reproduction controller 34' may comprise a multi-circuit self-recycle electronic timer adapted, when energized by the reproduction of the frame indicating pulse transducer by head 39, to effect a reproduction cycle which includes the starting ofservo 45, the closing of normally open gate 44 just as the next selected picture signal is reproduced by head 38 and transmitted to its input, the closing of normally open gate 44 when said next picture signal has passed to 22, the stopping of servo 45and the control of its further motion to reposition the tape 41 for reproduction of the next picture signal recorded thereon when 34' is again energized.
It is noted that the presetting or setting up of the code matching relays 28a, 28b and 53 as well as the starting of the tape drive servo may be automatically effected by means of a computing and signal generating device, such as a punched cardreading device. Such a device 50 is illustrated in FIG. 3, the details of which are not shown since various punched card reading devices of this type are available commercially. In order to simplify the diagram and description, the device 50 is assumedto comprise a drive which when operated by means of a servo 51, feeds a punched card which may comprise one of a plurality of cards stored therein, through a bank of reading switches when the servo 51 is energized by receipt of an input signal. Themovement of the card into the reading part of the machine maintains certain of said reading switches open while closing others thereby connecting certain of the output lines with a power supply PS while maintaining others in states of de-energization. The output lines from 50 are connected in banks of circuits 49aW, 49bW and 52W to the frame selection banks 49a, 49b and 52 or directly to the respective code matching relays 28a, 28b and 53. The utilization of banks of switches 49a, 49b and 52 permitsthe apparatus to be programmed either manually or automatically of said switches are actuable by monostable solenoids having their energizing inputs connected to the power supply PS of 50 through the switches in said card reader. Automatic andintermittent operation of the card reader 50 may be effected by energizing the drive servo 51 by means of the signal produced by relay 28b. Said servo 51 may be a solenoid operated ratchet-pawl mechanism adapted when energized by a signal from 28b toeffect the movement of the card in the reading portion of 50 away from said mechanism and the feeding of the next card stored therein into said reading position. A switch in the bank of said punched card reader 50 may be closed by means of a cutout ineach card and transmit a signal to the tape drive switch 46 or directly to the starting control of either 42 or 45 to start the motion of said tape 41 for recording or said movement may be initiated by means of the signal generated by 53 at the desiredinstant in the cycle.
The punch card reader 50 may be replaced by any known type of controller which will effect the same switching functions including a manual operated sequential controller.
FIG. 3 also illustrates means 23 for automatically effecting the permanent or hard copy recording of the images reproduced on the face of the monitor screen of monitor 22 in the form of photographs, photostats or the like. In FIG. 1 mention wasmade of an automatic camera and printer unit positioned to scan the face of the monitor screen or tube 22', which, when actuated either manually or by means of an output from a computing or sequencing mechanism, automatically effect the photographing orprinting of an image of the face of the monitor tube. In FIG. 3, the photoprinting mechanism, referred to by the notations 23' and 24' may similarly be operated by the manual actuation of a switch controlling a sequential controller such as amulti-circuit timer which effects hard copy production of the image of the monitor screen, or by automatic means including a control signal generated by the card reader 50. In FIG. 3a the card reader 50 is shown as including means for closing aplurality of switches, some of which effect control functions by gating signals to start and/or stop servo motors and the like. One of the switches in 50 is utilized to energize a control circuit 34AW which extends therefrom to a switching controller34A. When the controller 34A receives a signal on a second input, which is generated after an image has appeared on the face of tube 22' of the monitor, and after its other input 34AW has been pulsed or energized, it (34A) generates an output signal orpulse which is transmitted to the input of the sequential controller or multi-circuit timer for the printer 23', 24', thereby effecting the photographing and/or printing of a picture of the image on the face of 22'.
The switching unit or control 34A comprises a logical AND switching circuit adapted to transmit a pulse on its output when both of its inputs are energized provided that the card reader output 34AW remains energized during the cycle (i.e. whilethe card which effects the frame selection is in the reader 50). The other input to 34A is derived from the output of the single frame trigger switch 34S so that, if 34AW should be energized, the camera-printer mechanism 23', 24' will photograph andreproduce a print of the face of the monitor screen. The notation 34SD' refers to a time delay relay between 34S and the input to 34A which delays the pulse output of 34S a sufficient period of time to permit the image to be written onto the screen ofthe monitor tube 22', so that the camera and printer mechanism will operate at the proper instant.
For automatic reproduction of a plurality of picture signals recorded on the tape of storage unit 20, it is necessary to either by-pass the single frame selection switch or controller 34' or actuate the single frame trigger switch 34Sautomatically at the correct time intervals to simulate the repeated manual operation of 34'. This may be effected quite simply by gating the output of reproduction transducer 39, which is a frame indicating pulse used to actuate the single frametrigger switch 34S, to a delay line or time delay relay 34SD the output of which is a pulse and is passed to the input of 34S a time delay after it (34S) has been energized by the original signal such that the prior picture signal reproduced from thetape has been recorded on the face of monitor tube 22' and photographed. The output of 34SD therefore triggers the next cycle and continues to do so until no more frame indicating pulses are reproduced by 39. This occurs after the last picture signalhas been reproduced from 20. The single frame trigger switch 34S is preferably both manually operated for manual selection of single frame signal reproduction from 20 and relay or solenoid operated for the automatic gating of a control signal thereby to34' and 34SD' when automatic operation is desired. The rotation 39S refers to a manually operable switch in the line of 39 and 34S as well as 34SD which would be opened when it is desired to effect single frame monitoring by operating 34S by hand. Theoutput of 39, which is a reproduction of the picture signal indicating clipped-vertical-sync signal recorded through 37', may also be passed directly to the deflection circuit controller of the monitor 22 to effect clearance of the storage tube and/ortrigger the deflection chain thereof in advance of the receipt of the picture signal passed through switch 44.
For automatic operation of the apparatus of FIG. 3 utilizing the described card reader and feeder 50, it may also be desired to effect the automatic selection of one of the plural video signal circuits 31 to derive signals produced by scanning apredetermined channel. This may be accomplished by generating the desired number of pulses when a card is fed into the reading mechanism of 50 to step the stepping motor 48 the desired number of times from a zero start to automatically position therotary switching arm 26'a of the rotary switch 26' against a presented contact of 26' whereby the desired circuit connection is made. FIG. 3a illustrates schematically how this function may be effected by means of the card reader 50.
In FIG. 3a, the automatic card reader 50 is shown as including a drive for individual cards fed into the reading section of said reader which comprises a plurality of switches SW-1 to SW-N or contactor elements each of which is in series circuitwith a power supply and the respective output lines shown in FIG. 3. Each of the normally open switches in the bank 50SW is closed energizing one of the output circuits of said reader 50 when the arm of said switch rides in a hole or cutout in the card. Said cards are fed one at a time by means of a card feeding mechanism 50d, designed in accordance with the features of known card feeders, into the reading section beneath the switches 50SW and is driven partly therethrough by means of a servo 51 whichalso drives the card feeder 50d by means of gears when said servo is energized by means of a pulse received on its input from, for example, the code matching relay 28B which becomes energized when the prior reading cycle has ended and the last framesignal has passed through the selection switch and gate 35a as described. The card 50'a is engaged between a drive roll 50b and a depressor roll 50c and driven away from the feeder stack of cards 50'S as servo 51 operates and turns 50b. The servo 51may be stopped automatically or by means of one of the switches in the bank 50SW which closes and energizes the stop control 51S for said servo when the respective switch is closed as its arm rides in a hole in the card. The switch activation whicheffects the stopping of servo 51 is caused by a card positioned in lateral alignment with areas of the card designated in FIG. 3a as 49a-C, 49b-C and 49c-C. In these scanning tracks are provided cutouts which are arranged in the order of the dsired codesfor setting up the code matching relays 28A, 28B, and 53. The switches in the bank 50SW which sweep said tracks are opened and closed in the desired code order and are connected in respective output circuits of the reader 50 which are referred to bynotations 49aW', 49bW' and 52W shown in FIG. 3.
The first switch SW-1 in bank 50SW is adapted to sweep a first channel C-1 of the card and provide a start signal which is transmitted to the start control 42F of the servo driving the tape of the intermediary storage system. The next swtichSW-2 generates a plurality of pulse signals on the circuit 46W to actuate stepping motor 48a and preposition the selection switch 26' for gating the selected picture signal therethrough from the connected camera in the system. The notation 42F-C refersto the cutout in card 50'a which closes switch SW1 and 48a-C to the plural holes in channel C-2 which are operative to generate pulses by closing and opening switch SW-2 as the card is driven through the reader. The switches scanning channels C3 to C10are disposed between circuits 49aW' and a power supply. When closed by means of a cutout in the card, they energize or deenergize these circuits in the desired coded array. The switches C11 to C18 are connected in circuits 49bW', C19 to C26 comprisinga group of circuits 52W. A switch SWN' scans channel C27. When closed as it scans cutout 49d-C, is a signal which is generated thereby on circuit 47W and is operative to effect the resetting of switch 26' by energizing the zero reset servo 48b anddriving the shaft of said stepping motor to a start or zero position. The reset servo 48b may be a motor adapted to drive shaft 48S in the opposite direction to which it is driven by stepping motor 48 and said shaft is stopped by means of a limit switchactuated when 48S homes.
It is noted that the card reader of FIG. 3a, when applied as the selection controller 50 of FIG. 3, may be utilized to automatically effect circuit connections between the input to the monitor station and a selected of the scanning cameras bycontrolling, for example, selection and connection means of an automatic telephone switching system. This may be effected by providing the necessary switches in the bank 50SW to simulate the switching functions during telephone circuit dialing andrecordings or holes in the punched cards to effect such function. The column C-2, for example, may contain cutouts therein which are spaced and adapted to simulate and produce the code or pulse trains necessary to effect the switching system whereby apredetermined connection is made with a selected camera and the input to the monitor station. Columns adjacent to C-2 may be used to effect the transfer or stepping signal functions of an automatic telephone system by effecting the generation of thosesignals necessary to automatically effect a line connection. One of the switches in bank 50SW may also be adapted to close when the card comes to rest and to energize line 34AW for the purpose described.
Further variations are noted in the appartus utilized in the systems for image storage and retrieval illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The transducers for scanning and reproducing signals of images recorded on the storage conveyor 18 as well as themeans for recording said images may be provided in forms other than described. For example, Pat. No. 2,657,377 relates to apparatus and a method for recording signals in a two dimensional pattern of varying magnetic polarity on an elongated magneticrecording medium and for transducing said pattern into a pictorial reproduction of the original signal. Recording and reproduction scanners of the type proposed in said patent may therefore replace the heretofore proposed video cameras with the imageframe recordings comprising signal recordings of the type taught in said patent. The conveyor 18' may thus comprise an elongated magnetic recording member such as a wide magnetic belt or a plurality of belts or tapes with picture signals derived fromvideo scanning still image fields recorded in areas which are arranged in aligned columns and rows. The position indicating code may be recorded on a track or tracks as a pulse signal in parallel or series provided on different channels of the tape inplace of the image code described, and are reproduced as the conveyor moves relative to an array of reproduction transducers such as magnetic heads replacing said array of photomultiplier tubes. Thermoplastic recording and scanning means such as the socalled TPR erasable recording apparatus as developed by the General Electric Company may replace the described photographic recording means in still another system.
Details of a typical code matching relay such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and referred to by the notation 28A, 28B and 58, are shown in FIG. 4. The code matching relay 28 employs a plurality of so called logical AND switching elementsor the like which are operative to provide an output or control signal when all of the plural inputs thereto are simultaneously energized.
The inputs 27' to the code matching relay 28 each extend from a respective switch SW which make up the code forming switching bank connected to a respective AND switching circuit 28a. Each AND circuit 28A has two inputs, one connected to arespective switch in switching bank 27 and the other to a feedback input from a scanner of a code reading relay 17' in said photo-multiplier bank 17 which reads the frame indicating code recorded along the border of the conveyor 18. Thus, if one of thefeedback circuits 30a is energized and its matching circuit 27' is also simultaneously energized, a signal will appear on the output of the logical AND switching element 28a associated therewith.
It is also desired to provide a signal on the output 25g of a particular AND switching circuit when there is no signal present on its feedback input 30a and no signal is present on its input 27' for code matching purposes. This may beaccomplished by providing a normally closed switch 28b which will gate a signal from a power supply 28p to the output line 28g of the AND circuit only when closed, said switch connecting the switching input of said normally closed switch to both of thecircuits 27' and 30a leading to said AND circuit 28a so that if either of the circuits is energized no signal will be passed from said power supply 28p to said output circuit 28g. As a result of this arrangement, if both of the inputs 27' and 30a to theAND switching circuit are inactive, a pulse will be provided on the output circuit of said AND switching unit. Simultaneous energization of all of the outputs 28g of said first bank of AND switching circuits 28a is an indication that the code set up onthe input line 27' by the energization or de-energization of the switches SW is matched or simulated by the respective scanning relays 17'. It is a simple matter to produce a pulse output from said relay 28 when the four or more circuits 28g are allenergized. This may be accomplished by extending all of the circuits 28g to an AND switching circuit having the same number of inputs which provides an output when all of said inputs are simultaneously energized. In FIG. 4 the same effect isaccomplished by providing two logical AND switching circuits 28c-1 and 28c-2 similar to the AND circuit 28a each having two inputs which are respective outputs of two of said other AND switching circuits 28a and each having an output which extends to anAND switching circuit 28d which provides an output on a circuit 28-o when both of said inputs are energized. The output 28-o is adapted to become energized when the code simulated on the input 27' is matched by the code on the outputs 30a of codescanning relays 17'. The switches SW which connect a power supply 27p' with their respective output 27' are bi-stable or flip-flop hand operated switches. They may also be mono-stable or bi-stable electro mechanical or electronic switches which becomeenergized and close either when an input 50 to said switch is pulsed. Several modes of operation of the code forming unit 27 are thus possible. The code may be set up by hand by merely activating bi-stable push button switches in the desired codearray. Solenoids may also be employed to actuate switches of the selection bank or the inputs 50-1 to 50-4 may be energized by outputs of punch-card reader or any suitable code forming device including a computer. If the switches SW are bi-stable pulseactuated switches they may be each provided with a re-setting input connected to a common resetting line, which when energized, resets all switches to an open state. The signal resetting all of said switches in 27 is derived when the output line 28-obecomes energized, said signal being passed directly to the line 27R for resetting 27. If each of the switches, SW-1 to SW-4, are bi-stable switches which close if the respective line 50 from the computer or card reader 50 is pulsed, resetting allswitches SW is effected by pulsing a common line 27-R extending to the reset switching input of all said SW switches to activate and open all switches when a pulse is applied to 27-R. Thus, all the output circuit 27' become de-energized as the circuitswith 27p are opened. The line 27R may be pulsed by a signal generated in the card reader 50 or by feedback of the output signal generated on 28-O to circuit 27-R.
In FIG. 3, the control signal generated on line 28SW when the code matching relay 28b becomes energized, may be transmitted to all of the resetting switching inputs to the frame selectors 49a, 49b and 52 to reset all simultaneously in the mannerdescribed above.
FIG. 5 illustrates one form of scanning beam control utilizing a conventional video camera modified to scan each image frame only when positioned in the scanning field thereof with a line frequency of 15 kilocycles which may be increased ifnecessary by replacement of the multivibrators. The generated picture signal comprises that generated during a single frame sweep of the camera read beam and results from a beam sweep which starts at a known point in the image field and terminates at ornear said point. Rows of said cameras may be laterally positioned and arranged relative to each other and the image frame conveyor, such that each image frame track moving past said scanners will be scanned by at least one of said cameras. The cameraoptical system 14a is provided such that an image approximately equal to the film, print or micro-photograph positioned in front of said optical system will occupy substantially the scanning field of a conventional image tube 14' such as a Vidicon tubeor the like. The camera is provided with the conventional beam deflection and blanking controls 14" which receive sync signals from amplifiers 14g, 14f, and 14d. The blanking amplifier 14f receives blanking signals from a blanking mixer 14b and theoutput of an image frame position indicator 17f. The frame indicator 17f comprises a relay such as a photo-electric scanning unit adapted to become energized and to provide a signal output when it scans a mark on the surface of conveying means 18' whichis positioned to produce a pulse each time the forward edge of a row of image frames provided on the conveyor is adjacent the scanning axis of said photo-electric relay. That is to say, whenever an image frame starts to move into the scanning field ofthe scanner 14, a position indicating pulse is produced by means of the relay 17f and said pulse is operative to trigger the deflection chain of the video scanner and to cause said scanner thereafter to scan the selected image field and produce a picturesignal on the output 15 of said scanner.
In a preferred arrangement, a photoelectric scanner 17f is provided for each row of said video scanners 14 and its output is connected to the input 99 of each scanner in said row, for triggering the scanning beams thereof. This embodimentrequires that all document recordings in each row are laterally aligned with the row of cameras scanning means are provided for each scanner 14. If each row of cameras is triggered by a respective scanner 17f, precise longitudinal alignment of the rowsis not necessary if the position indicating marks or code on the border of 18' are aligned with respective rows of said image frames.
In accordance with the arrangement of FIG. 5 the scanner 14 is provided with three outputs 15a, 15b, and 15c, which respectively pass the horizontal and vertical sync signals and the corresponding picture signal to the switching system 13 throughwhich said signals a | | | |
