JPH03163426A - Information retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the electrical noises included in electric signals and to eliminate the need for electric parts in a mark detector as well as to allow the constitution of the compact device by directly coupling the photoelectric converting means of the device and signal processing means. CONSTITUTION:The light of a lamp is read as a mark signal from the end face 3 of an optical fiber 2 when this light is shielded by a mark M for counting on a microfilm 32. The other end face 4 is fixed to a fiber holder 5 and is given tension by an elastic member 7 by which the end face is brought into tight contact with the photoelectric converting means 13 on a printed circuit board 52. The optical information is, therefore, efficiently transmitted in the state of the optical information to the element 13 without being affected by the electric noises. The mark signal converted to a micro-current by the element 13 is immediately amplified on the printed circuit board 52, by which the mark signal strong to the electrical noises is constituted. The need for providing the element 13 and the electric parts within the mark detector 51 is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides information for searching for a desired frame in an information recording medium by optically detecting marks on an information recording medium such as microfilm and counting the marks. Regarding search devices. (Prior Art) Conventionally, as this type of information retrieval device, there is a microfilm league, which is configured to search for a desired frame by counting count marks on the microfilm. Such a league is equipped with a mark detector 101 as shown in FIG.
It is designed to be read by inputting it to -104. Inside the mark detector 101, there is a photoelectric conversion element 10 that converts the mark signal read as the optical information into an electrical signal.
5, a printed board 106 for relaying the electrical signal, a senna holder 107 for fixing the optical fiber 104, and the like. The electrical signal from the printed board 106 is sent via a cable 109 having connectors 108 at both ends to a printed board 110 as a signal processing means having a separately provided amplifier circuit and the like. Printed board 110
In this case, the electrical signal is subjected to predetermined processing and used as search information for searching for a desired frame on the microfilm 103. (Problem to be solved by the invention!!) However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art, the photoelectric conversion element 105 is arranged inside the mark detector lOl, and the electric signal obtained from the photoelectric conversion element 105 is transmitted to the outside. It was connected to the printed board 110 by a connector, but since the electrical signal was a minute current, it had the following drawbacks. - After the mark signal is extracted as a minute current by the photoelectric conversion element 105, it is sent to the external printed circuit board 110 via the cable 109, so the cable length is long and it is susceptible to the effects of noise due to static electricity, etc. ■If the photoelectric conversion element 105 is placed inside the mark detector 101, not only will it be necessary to separate it from the printed circuit board 110, but it will also be necessary to connect the printed circuit boards 106 and 110 with a connector, which will increase costs. ■Multiple photoelectric conversion elements 10 inside the mark detector 101
5 and the optical fiber 104, the mark detector 10
Both the space and height of 1 will increase. The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to provide a compact and inexpensive information retrieval device with excellent noise resistance. (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a reading means for reading marks provided on a recording medium as optical information, and a reading means for converting the read optical information into an electrical signal. An information retrieval device comprising a photoelectric conversion means for processing the obtained electric signal and a signal processing means for performing predetermined processing on the obtained electric signal to obtain search information, characterized in that the photoelectric conversion means and the signal processing means are directly connected. Suppose that Note that it is possible to include a transmission means that transmits the optical information read by the reading means as it is, and a biasing mechanism that biases the output end of the transmission means in the output direction while allowing the output end of the transmission means to move forward and backward in the output direction. desirable. (Function) In the present invention having the above structure, the electrical signal transmission path can be shortened, and electrical noise introduced from the transmission path can be reduced. Further, the biasing mechanism can press the output end of the optical information transmission means against the photoelectric conversion means, and the optical information can be supplied to the photoelectric conversion means without leaking. (Example) The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the essential parts of an example of a microfilm league or league printer as an information retrieval device to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 3l is a film cartridge loaded and set in the apparatus, and is configured to be detachable from a predetermined position of the apparatus, and a microfilm 32 as a recording medium is wound around a reel (not shown) in the film cartridge 31. It is stored. 33 is a rotational drive motor for the reel in the film cartridge 3l, 34 is a cabstan roller disposed near the film exit portion 35 of the film cartridge 31, 36 is a rotational drive motor for the capstan roller 34, and 37 and 38 are capstan rollers. A solenoid that swings the stun roller 34 up and down and a roller support arm. 39.40 is! s! and a second film guide roller, 4l is a film take-up reel, and 42 is a rotation drive motor for the film take-up reel 4l. 43 is film take-up reel 4
This is an automatic film winding mechanism that automatically winds a leader tape (not shown) at the leading end of the microfilm 32 transported by autoloading onto the core 44 of the microfilm 32. The automatic film winding mechanism 43 of this embodiment has an arc-shaped arm 47 that can freely swing around a shaft 45 and has a small roller 46 supported at its tip end. 46 is the core 44 of the film take-up reel 4L
Three pairs of pinch roller assemblies are arranged around the outer periphery of the core 44 at approximately equal intervals, and the pinch roller assemblies are biased by a tension spring 48 in a direction in which they are always in pressure contact with the outer periphery of the core 44. 5l is a mark detector as a reading means for detecting the mark M on the film, and 52 is a printed board as a signal processing means. Further, 53 is a projection optical system disposed between the first and second film guide rollers 39 and 40, and includes an illumination lamp 54, a condensing lens 55, a projection lens 56, and the like. The mark detector 5l is configured to read the mark M projected by the projection optical system 53 as optical information. The optical information read here is converted into an electrical signal by a photoelectric conversion element, which will be described later. This electrical signal is then subjected to a predetermined process on the printed board 52 and used as search information. The autoloading operation in the information retrieval device having the above configuration will be explained below. After loading and setting the film cartridge 3L into the device, when an autoloading button (not shown) is pressed, the rotary drive motors 3B and 42 are energized and the capstan roller 34 is moved in the film feeding direction of arrow A. Further, the film take-up reel 4l is rotationally driven in the film winding direction B. Also, the solenoid 37 is energized, the roller support arm 38 moves downward, and the capstan roller 3
4 is moved and held in the film path of the film outlet section 35 of the film cartridge 3l. The lamp 54 is turned on. On the other hand, the leading end of the leader tape (starting end of the microfilm 32), which has a width wider than the distance between the pair of reel flanges, is fed out by the nip between the capstan roller 34 and the unillustrated flange of the reel 7. Microfilm 32
Due to the strength of the leader tape, the rotating force of the capstan roller 34 sequentially moves the first film guide roller 39 → the lower side of the mark detector 5l → the second film guide roller 40 → the film take-up reel. 4L path and reaches the core 44 of the film take-up reel 4L.
At this time, the leader tape portion, which is the starting end of the film, is automatically wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core 44 by the automatic film winding mechanism 43. Note that between the capstan roller 34 and the first film guide roller 39, and between the first and second film guide rollers 39,
．． 40, a guide plate is provided between the second film guide roller 40 and the film take-up reel 41 to form a film travel path, but this has been omitted. Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows the schematic configuration of the main parts of the mark detection section in the information retrieval device of the present invention, in which FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view.
shows a cross-sectional view. In these figures, l is a transparent upper glass, which is placed above the microfilm 32. 2
is an optical fiber serving as a reading means (also serving as a transmission means), one end face 3 of which is held perpendicular to the surface of the upper glass 1, and the other end face 4 held by a fiber holder 5. The fiber holder 5 includes a large diameter portion 7C and a small diameter portion 6. The optical fiber 2 is adhesively fixed so that its end face 4 is flush with the end face of the small diameter portion 6 of the fiber holder 5. 7 is a cylindrical flexible member such as rubber having a notch 7b. The fiber holder 5 and elastic member 7 are housed in a guide groove 9 provided in a lower cover 8 of the mark detector 5l. This guide groove 9 is also provided in the upper cover 10 of the mark detector 5l, as shown in FIG. It is possible to slide within the hollow chamber X formed by the guide groove 9. Therefore, the end face 4 of the optical fiber 2 held by the fiber holder 5 can move forward and backward in the output direction, and is urged in the output direction by the elastic member 7. The fiber holder 5 biased by such a biasing mechanism P is prevented from falling off due to its large diameter portion 7C coming into contact with the stopper l1. Also, by fitting the positioning pin l2 provided in the lower cover 8 into a hole (not shown) provided in the upper cover 10, both covers 8. The position of lO is determined. In this way, the guide groove 9 is configured in combination with the upper cover 10, and the guide groove 9 of the lower cover 8
Even if the optical fiber 2 is scratched when the fiber holder 5 is set, the fiber holder 5 is rotationally symmetrical, so the fiber holder 5 rotates in the circumferential direction to remove the scratches. 13 is a photoelectric conversion element (photoelectric conversion means) such as a photodiode, and is provided directly on the printed board 52. The printed circuit board 52 is provided with a circuit for amplifying the minute current obtained from the photoelectric conversion element l3, and the minute current is immediately amplified. In the above configuration, when the microfilm 32 is irradiated by the lamp 54 as shown in FIG. 2, the counting mark M on the microfilm 32 blocks the light. The transparent film base allows light to pass through. This mark signal (optical information) is read by the optical fiber 2 located above the mark M. These optical fibers 2 have their end faces 3 in contact with a transparent upper glass l, and are arranged at predetermined distances from each other. The other end surface 4 is fixed to a fiber holder 5 and is tensioned by an elastic member 7 together with the holder 5, so that the printed board 52
It is in close contact with the upper photoelectric conversion element l3. Therefore, the optical information is efficiently transmitted to the photoelectric conversion element l3 as it is without being affected by electrical noise. The mark signal converted from light to minute current by the photoelectric conversion element 13 can be amplified on the printed circuit board 52 without separating the mark signal, so it is possible to amplify the mark signal without separating it from the printed board 52. In comparison, it is possible to create a structure that is resistant to electrical noise. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the photoelectric conversion element l3 and electric parts inside the mark detector 51, the mark detector 51 itself can be constructed at low cost and compactly. In the above embodiment, the mark detector 51 and the biasing mechanism P are integrally configured, but the optical fiber 2 is drawn out to the outside of the mark detector 5l, and the mark detector 5l and the biasing mechanism P are integrated.
may be configured separately. FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, showing another configuration of the biasing mechanism P. In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 7 was approximately circular, but in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, a semicylindrical elastic member 7a having a groove 7b for the fiber at the bottom is housed in the guide groove 9a, and the fiber holder is attached to the guide groove 9a. 5 is fixed and tensioned. In addition, the elastic member 7 (7a) is made into a complete cylinder, and the fiber 2 is passed through it.
The shape of the elastic member does not matter. FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a relay optical fiber 21 is connected between a mark detector 5l and a printed board 52.
This is what was used. By doing so, it is possible to provide flexibility in the arrangement of the printed board 52, that is, the photoelectric conversion element l3, and the mounting position of the mark detector 51. (Effects of the Invention) The present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, and by directly connecting the photoelectric conversion means and the signal processing means, electrical noise mixed into minute electrical signals output from the photoelectric conversion means can be reduced. can be reduced. Furthermore, electrical parts such as printed boards, connectors, sensors, and fixing holders inside the mark detector can be eliminated, making it possible to provide a mark detector that is resistant to noise without increasing costs. Also,
Optical information is supplied to the photoelectric conversion means by the biasing mechanism without any information leakage, and the optical information is transmitted as it is.
It is possible to completely prevent electrical noise from entering the path from the reading means to the photoelectric conversion means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are a perspective view and a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the main part of the mark detection unit in the information retrieval device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a micro- A perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the main parts of an example of a film league or a league printer, I'! , 3 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a marker detector in a conventional information retrieval device. This is a schematic diagram. Explanation of symbols 2...Optical fiber (reading means, transmission means) l3...
・Photoelectric conversion element (photoelectric conversion means) 32... Microfilm (recording medium) 5l... Mark detector

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A reading means that reads marks provided on a recording medium as optical information, a photoelectric conversion means that converts the read optical information into an electrical signal, and a predetermined process is performed on the obtained electrical signal to retrieve information. An information retrieval device comprising a signal processing means, characterized in that the photoelectric conversion means and the signal processing means are directly connected. (2) A transmission means that transmits the optical information read by the reading means as it is, and an urging mechanism that makes the output end of the transmission means move forward and backward in the output direction and urges it in the output direction. The information retrieval device according to claim 1, characterized in that: