US1848575A - Multiple cell reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1932. F. H. OWENS MULTIPLE CELL REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1929 75 ANPL/F/EB INVENTOR. fleas/VAN hf Owls/vs.

ATTO EY Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEMAN H. OWENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO OWENS DEVELOPMENT COR- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MULTIPLE CELL REPRODUCING APPARATUS Application filed April 1, 1929. Serial No. 351,746.

This invention relates to improvements in multiple cell reproducing apparatus, the object of the invention being to provide a sound-reproducing apparatus in which a plurality of light-sensitive elements are grouped about the path of the modulated light rays in such manner as to affect all of said elements thereby increasing the volume of the reproduced sound'over that produced by the use of a single cell.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the character described in which the operation is not dependent upon a single light-sensitive element,'but in which a plurality of such elements are disposed in such relation to'the path of the modulated light rays that in case of the failure of one or more of said elements to function the remaining elements will catch enough of said rays to prevent in- I terruption of the operation of the apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts which will appear more fully hereafter.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional plan View of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side view, showing the apparatus connected with an amplifier and loud speaker, the housing of the light-sensitive elements being omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the record-carrying film, on an enlarged scale, and showing the film gate with its slit in position to permit passage of light through the record.

- The same characters of reference desiglight after their passage through the said slit is a focusing lens 4, by means of which said rays are focused through a slit in the gate 5 upon a sound record 6 which has been photographed on a film, said film being adapted to travel past said slit in the usual manner, In the present instance the film and its gate are shown mounted at one side of a box or housing 8 which is closed so as to exclude all light except that which passes through the record carried by the film.

Vithin thelhousing 8 are disposed a plurality of light-sensitive elements, or photoelectric cells, three being shown in the present instance, designated respectively 9, 10 and 11. These light-sensitive elements are grouped about the path of the modulated light admitted to the housing through the sound record and have their windows so positioned relative to said path as to receive a maximum amount of the light rays. The outputs of all of the light-sensitive elements are suitably connected to an amplifier 12, which in turn is connected to a loud speaker, both the amplifier and speaker being illustrated only conventionally herein.

I have found in practice that by the employment of a plurality of light-sensitive elements grouped about the path of the light, not only is considerably greater volume of the reproduced sound obtained than when a single cell is used, but in case of the failure of one or more of the elements to function the remaining elements will catch enough of the li ht rays to permit the apparatus to carry on without interruption. It is to be understood that the number of light-sensitive elements as well as their position as shown in the drawings are illustrative only and that I do not intend to limit my invention to the exact number or position of the elements, as I am aware that they may vary considerably without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: v

1. In a sound reproducing apparatus, comprising, in combination, a photographic sound record, means for projecting light through said record thereby to modulate the e f" 7 games o light rays, and a plurality of light-sensitive elements disposed about the path of said modulated light rays'and each positioned so as to receive a portion of said rays, oneof said cellsbeing directlyin the path of said I rays and the other of said cells being angularly disposed on either side of the cell iii the direct path of said rays. '2-. .Ar.,sound reproducing apparatus com 10 prising, in combination, a photographic sound record, means for projecting light through said record thereby to modulate the light rays, a plurality of light-sensitive elements disposed about the path of saidr'modu- Y, lated light rays, one of said elements being 7 directly in the path of said rays and the others of said elements'being angularly disposed on'either side 'ofthe element in the directv path of said rays,and each being positioned to receive and translate a portion of said rays into electrical impulses, and means connectedvvith said elements for amplifying and rendering audible the translated- I v impulses. r I I -V 3. A sound reproducing apparatus, comprising, in combination, a photographic sound record/means for projecting light through said recordthereby to modulate the H light rays, a plurality of light-sensitive elements disposed about the path ofjsaid modulated'rays, one of said elements being directly in the path of said rays and the other of said elements being 'angularly disposed on either side of the element in the direct path of said rays and each positioned to receive and trans-' late a portion of saidrays into electric impulses, and an amplifier and loud speaker common to all of said light sensitive elements for rendering audible the translated impulses. 4Q In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FREEMAN H. OWEN S,

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