US3059219A

US3059219A - Photographic type composition

Info

Publication number: US3059219A
Application number: US720840A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C O'brien
Original assignee: Harris Intertype Corp
Current assignee: Harris Corp
Priority date: 1958-03-12
Filing date: 1958-03-12
Publication date: 1962-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1979-10-16
Also published as: GB912202A; GB912201A

Description

Oct. 16, 1962 R. c. O'BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1958 mi m: 92 E wk 8s R on com mmwozmh INVENTOR. RICHARD c. O'BRIEN mmoQE.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 16, 1962 R. c. OBRIEN PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION beets-Sheet 2 Ix 8- &

Filed March 12, 1958 INVENTOR RICHARD c. O'BRIEN ATTORNEYS 4 "Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 12, 1958 RESET FROM SELECTOR RICHARD c. O'BRIEN @WMW ATTORNEYS R. c. OBRIEN PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION Oct. 16, 1962 ms 31% 4 R. N m 0 E 4 N m m m m w w w law M A w R m 4 l R I w M mowoudw Filed March 12, 1958 \m k 9m 3m Smmm 8% :m mvm United States Patent 3,059,219 PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITIO Richard C. OBrien, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Harris- Intertype Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 720,840 8 Claims. (Cl. 340-1461) This application relates to photographic type composition, to phototypesetting machines and the like, especially to apparatus for selecting a desired character on a matrix bearing a plurality of characters as portions of difierential light transmitting ability, and to the selection of specific locations on a matrix or the like for similar purposes.

The present invention is particularly suitable for rapid determination of a desired location on a matrix or similar member bearing distinctive code indicia. In accordance with the invention the code indicia characteristic of each possible location is compared with the desired code in a selector system, and when the code indicia corresponding to that in the selector is located, an output sign-a1 is immediately provided which may be used, for example, to eifect photography of material located on the matrix in predetermined relation to the located code indicia. Thus, there is no need to work from a reference point on the matrix or other code bearing member, and more than one location may be located on the matrix during each cycle of scanning of all the code indicia.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide an improved system for scanning a plurality of code indicia on a matrix or like member and for selecting desired locations on the matrix in predetermined succession, as indicated by the location of code indicia on the matrix corresponding to a selected code, by instantaneously indicating a coincidence between the selected code and its corresponding indicia on the matrix.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system for locating a selected binary code indicia on a member bearing a plurality of such indicia, by comparing each of the indicia on the member with the selected code, digit by digit, until the coinciding indicia is located on the member.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a coincidence responsive system wherein the scanning or reading of each indicia on the member is performed independently of the other indicia thereon, providing for a number of possible coincidences during each cycle of scanning all the indicia on the member.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved character selecting system for phototypesetting apparatus wherein the character identifying code indicia for each character is independent of other indicia and occupies a zone on the character matrix of minimum radial width.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an improved character selecting system wherein coincidence between the selecting code and the identifying code on the matrix will produce immediately an output signal effective to energize or actuate the associated high speed photographic equipment and record the character identified with such code.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system for locating a selected binary code number on a matrix or similar member having a plurality of different code numbers recorded thereon, in which system all of the code numbers or indicia on the matrix are scanned in cyclic fashion and each compared digit by digit with the selected code number to seek coincidence between each digit of the selected number and each digit of the code indicia on the matrix, and wherein discriminating apparatus receives signals for digit by digit coincidences ice such that a noncoincidence between any digit of the selected number and the code indicia being scanned will cause the discriminating apparatus to become out of phase with the scanning cycle, thereby providing that an output indicating the location of the selected number can occur only, and immediately, when complete digit by digit coincidence occurs in the discriminating means.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one selector system provided by the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the character bearing matrix shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a detail diagram of coincidence circuits employed in the apparatus of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and particularly referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a matrix disk 10 which is mounted for rotation about its axis 12, and which bears characters 15 located at a common radial distance from the axis of rotation 12. These characters are defined by suitable pants of diiferential light transmitting ability so that a light beam passing nrom the spark gap 17 through condensing lens 18 will be formed, on passage through one of such characters, to provide an image bearing light beam which then passes through a suitable focusing and size controlling optical system 20 onto a photosensitive record material which may be carried, for example, upon the drum 22.

Relative movement between the light beam from spark gap 17, which is of relatively high intensity and short duration, may be provided by rotating the disk, thus bringing successive characters into alignment with the possible path of the light beam, and by properly controlling the flashing of the light source or spark gap 17 desired character images may be projected onto the light sensitive material for recording in succession thereon. Suitable apparatus for spacing successively projected character images may be provided, for example as described in detail in the copending application of Frederick J. Hooven and Richard C. OBrien, Serial No. 661,633, filed May 27, 1957, now Patent No. 2,966,835.

The present invention relates particularly to apparatus for determining the instant when a selected character, identified by a suitable binary code number for example, is properly aligned with the optical system for photographing that character. In accordance with the invention each character is identified by a binary code number which is recorded as indicia on matrix disk 10 in predetermined spatial relation with respect to the character which it identifies. For purposes of example the code is illustrated as a seven digit binary code.

Referring to FIG. 2, and using as an example the code number 1000000 as corresponding to the character A, the mark 30 indicative of a "1 in the code number is located at a characteristic radial distance from the center of disk 10. Immediately following this mark are six further marks 32 which all fall on a common radius from the center of disk 10, different from the radius upon which mark 30 is located. In other Words, all marks representing lf are at a different distance from the center of rotation from the marks representing 0. The last of these seven marks, identified as 32, is located in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the character A, and thus the position of mark 32' may be used as an indication of the proper alignment of the character A with respect to the optical system.

In similar fashion, the code for character B may be 0100000, and the code for character C may be 1100000,

and so on, as will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. 2. Each set of code marks is set ofi from adjacent sets by an elongated mark 35 which extends through both of the radial zones occupied by the l and

marks

30 and 32. All of these marks preferably are made in such a fashion that they are of differential light transmitting ability with respect to the disk background. For example, the disk may be opaque and the marks translucent, or vice versa.

Again referring to FIG. 1, the areas of the disk in which these two radial zones are located are illuminated by lights 38 from which rays of light pass through suitable lenses 39, and these light ray are interrupted by the differential light transmitting parts in the two code zones to provide pulse generating means. On the other side of disk there is mounted a first photocell PC which is aligned with the zone on the disk in which the marks appear, and thus pulses sensed by PC are indicative of a l in a particular identifying code. In like fashion photocell PC is located opposite the zone bearing the zero marks 32, and thus pulses sensed by PC are indicative of 0 in the code. The output of PC passes through line 40 to a suitable trigger circuit 42 and the output of the trigger circuit is connected through line 43 to a discriminator pentode 45, specifically to the first or control grid 456 thereof through a condenser 4-6. This grid is normally biased to cut-oil potential through resistor 47 which is connected to a suitable source of negative po tential, While the cathode 450 is connected to ground as shown.

In like manner, the output of photocell PC is connected through line 51) to a trigger circuit 52 and the output of this circuit passes through line 53 to the control grid 55G of pentode 55 through a condenser 56. Also in like manner the grid 55G is biased negative through resistor 57.

The plate circuits of

pentodes

45 and 55 are connected to a common output 60 which provides an input to a bi-stable flip-flop circuit 62. Thus, a pulse from either of these pentodes, due to momentary conductances thereof, will cause flip-flop 62 to reverse its state.

Referring to the upper right portion of FIG. 1, a suitable selector circuit is designated generally at 65 and may comprise any suitable circuit for retaining temporarily a binary code number which identifies a character to be selected from disk 10. The selector circuit may include means for receiving an input from any suitable coding device, and thus may operate directly from a keyboard, as in the copending application of Frederick J. Hooven and Richard C. OBrien, now United States Patent No. 2,846,932, issued August 12, 1958, and assigned to the same assginee as this application, or the selector may operate from any suitable coded record such as a punch tape or magnetic tape.

The output 66 of selector circuit 65 passes to a bank of bi-stable selector fiip-fiop circuits 7076 which are independent of each other and are individually under the control of the selector output. Thus each of the fiip-fiops 70-76 may be set at its 0 or 1 state by the selector circuit independently of the others. Corresponding to the flip-flops 70-76 there is a bank of dual triodes 80-86, and the first plate of each of these dual triodes, designated 80P 81P etc., are connected to a common output line 88 which is in turn tied to a voltage dividing circuit comprising a load resistor 90, a dividing resistor 92, and a negative biasing resistor 93. As shown in the drawing resistor 90 is connected on one side to the plate load line 88 and to dividing resistor 92, and on its other side to a B+ supply which may conveniently be approximately +25 V. The negative biasing resistor 93 is connected on one side to a negative supply, for example -75 v. as indicated, and at its other side to dividing resistor 92 and to output line 95 which extends to grid 55G of discriminator pentode 55.

The other or second plates of the dual triodes 80-86 designated 801 8115, etc., are connected through a common plate line '98 to another voltage dividing circuit in cluding resistors 100, i102, and 103 which are connected in the same fashion as described above in connection with the

voltage divider circuit

90, 92, 93. An output line 105 is connected into this voltage dividing circuit between resistors 102 and 103 and extends to the second control grid 456 of discriminator pentode 45.

Each of the flip-flop circuits 70-7 6 has two output lines which are conducting or nonconducting depending upon the state of the associated flip-flop circuit. For example, the bi-stable fiipl-fiop 70 has an output line 700 which is biased positive if the flip-flop is in its 0 state and a second output 701 which is biased positive if flip-flop 70 is in its "1 state. Line 701) is connected to the first control grid 866 of tube 80, and similarly line 701 connects to the second grid W6 In like fashion, the

output lines

710, 711; 720, 721; 730, 731; 740, 741; 750, 751; and 760, 761 are connected to the grids 816 81G 82G 82G etc., and thus the grids of the dual triodes will be set up in accordance with the state of the individual bi-stable flip-flops 70-76. Referring to the lower right portion of FIG. 1, a beam switching tube is illustrated schematically. This tube is of the type manufactured by Burroughs Corporation and as disclosed, for example, in United States Patent 2,721,955. It will be understood that for purposes of illustration the means for creating the magnetic field about this tube has not been shown. Such means is well known in the art and is disclosed in said Patent 2,721,955.

Beam switching tube 110 includes a common cathode 112 which may be connected to a negative source of potential, for example -75 v., and a plurality of target elements 120429. For each target there is a corresponding beam deflecting element or spade -139, and corresponding beam switching elements or grids -149. The

switching grids

140, 142, 144, 146 and 148 are wired to a common input line 152 and through condenser 153 to one side of the bi-stable flip-flop 62 The odd numbered switching

grids

141, 143, 145, 147 and 149 are carried through a common control line 156 which is connected through condenser 157 to the other side of flip-flop 62. The remainder of circuit 158 constitutes a conventional switching circuit or network for providing proper bias to the odd or even numbered switching grids.

All of the spade or switching elements with the exception of the first spade 130 are connected to a common load line 160, through suitable resistors as shown, which is in turn connected through load resistor 162 to ground. Thus, the beam switching tube operates on the relatively low potential difference of less than 75 v. The first spade element 130 is connected to the load line through an additional resistor-capacitor network 163 which receives a resetting impulse from a suitable reset circuit 165. An impulse from this circuit at any time will cause the beam of electrons to be clamped to the first target element 120, ignoring the others, by lowering the potential of all spade elements below cut-off potential, after which all of the spades :131-139 will rise to ground potential before spade 130, due to the network 163, thereby forming the beam on the first target 120. The last two target elements 128 and 129 are not used in this circuit, and therefore they are connected directly to ground through suitable biasing resistors 167.

The spade element 137 is connected directly to an output line which extends to the spark control unit 172 governing the energization of the electrodes 17. The pulse that appears at spade element 137 is fast rising and thus provides an almost instantaneous signal to spark control circuit 172 when the electron beam is switched for the seventh time, to the target element 127. This target element is connected directly through output line 175 to an amplifier 176 which in turn supplies a reset pulse through reset line 177 for resetting all of the flip-flop circuits 70- 76 to a common state, for example to 0." By providing such a separate reset output to the selector flip-flops, the reset circuits are isolated from the main output line 170 and therefore do not tend to load and possibly weaken the main output pulses to the spark control unit.

Each of the first seven target elements 120-126 is connected through respective output lines 180-186 to the cathodes of the dual tridoes 80-86, each of these output lines 180-186 from the beam switching tube 110 thus controlling the operation of a corresponding dual triode 80-86.

A suitable and gate circuit 190 is connected to receive input pulses from both of the

photocell trigger circuits

42 and 52 through input lines 102 and 103. As is characteristic of such and gate circuits, when a pulse is received from both of the trigger circuits an output pulse will pass through output line 195 to reset circuit 165.

The operation of the system is as follows. Assuming for purposes of example that it is desired to select and photograph the character A, and that as described in connection with FIG. 2 the code for A is 1000000. This code is fed to the selector circuit 65 which in turn sets up the flip-flops 7076 so that the first flip-flop 70 assumes the position corresponding to 1 and the others are in their state. Thus, the grid 80G is biased positive. Assuming further that the elongated reset mark 35 (FIG. 2) immediately preceding the code indicia identifying character A has just passed the photocells PC and PC then the and gate circuit 190 has passed a reset pulse to reset circuit 165 which in turn has caused the electron beam in beam switching tube 110 to reset and be clamped to the first target element 120, thus in effect connecting the cathodes of dual triode 80 to the 75 v. supply.

The grid 806 has been biased positive while grid 80G remains negative, as explained above, and thus the right hand side of tube 80 conducts and an output signal is passed through line 98 to the voltage dividing

network including resistor

100, 102 and 103, thereby bringing the output line 105 to a higher or more positive potential. At the same time, the relative movement between matrix disk 10 and the reading means (provided by the photocells PC and PC is continued. Preferably, this relative movement is continuous and is provided by rotating the matrix disk relative to the photocells which are supported in a fixed position.

Thus, referring to FIG. 2, the first or 1 mark 30 causes photocell PC to transmit a pulse to its corresponding trigger circuit 42, and through line 43 and condenser 46 to bias grid 45G momentarily positive. It will be recalled that there is an output signal in line 105 which is connected to grid 45G and therefore the discriminator pentode 4 5 conducts, and an outer pulse is passed through line 60 to the bi-stable controlling flipflop circuit 62. The signal through line 60 is in the nature of a pulse only, since although the grid 45G is biased momentarily positive, the positive bias through condenser 46 from photocell PC is a sharp pulse, and thus grid 456 is biased positive only for a short duration.

Going on to the next selector flip-flop 71, its corresponding comparator triode 81, and the corresponding target element 121, the pulse to control flip-flop 62 will cause the electron beam in beam switching tube 110 to shift to the second target 121, due to the change in state of flip-flop '62 which switches the polarity of the switching grids through a conventional switching circuit or network 158. This causes the even numbered grids to be biased negative and to place a positive bias on the odd numbered grids through line 156. The cathodes of tube 81 are now connected to the negative potential through the beam switching tube, and since in the example flipflop 71 has been set to read 0, the grid 81G will be biased positive causing a signal to pass through line 88 to the voltage divider

circuit including resistors

90, 92 and 93, and an output signal will be passed through line 95 to the grid 55G of the discriminator pentode 55.

Noting from FIG. 2 that the next code mark in the code identifying character A is a 0 mark, then the pulse from photocell PC through its trigger circuit 52, and through the output line 53 and condenser '56, will cause grid 55G to be biased positive for a period sufficient to emit a further pulse through output line 60 to the control flip-flop circuit 62. Accordingly, the electron beam in the beam switching tube will advance or step to the next target element 122 and the same sequence just described will be repeated.

Thus, the beam switching tube 110 in combination with the following action of the dual triodes -86, provides a means for scanning the code number set up in the flip-flop circuits 70-76 digit by digit, and for providing for each such flip-flop circuit an output signal in either line or line 105, characteristic of whether the digit in the flip-flop being examined is an 0 or a 1.

At the same time, the photocells PC and PC are scanning or reading the code indicia on the disk to de termine, digit by digit, the characteristic code number which is passing these photocells between two consecutive reset marks 35. These marks index beam switch tube with the photocells or reading means, and thus if there is a coincidence between the first digit of the code number being read and the first digit in the number set up in flip-flops 70 76 by the selector, then an output pulse through line '60 causes the controlling flip-flop 62 to step the electron beam to the next target 121. If the second mark of the code indicia being read coincides with the set of the second flip-flop 71 again the discriminator circuits (pentodes 45 and 55) provides a stepping pulse to step the beam to the third target 122, and so on. Thus, since the

pentodes

45 and 55 both have their place circuits connected to the flip-flop 62, and since the grids 45G and 55G are alternately biased positive, this circuit tends to advance or step the beam switching tube 110 in phase with the rate at which the reading means (photocells PC and P0 scans or reads the digits of the code data. If at any time during this comparing operation, which occurs over and over for each identified code indicia on the matrix disk, there is a noncoincidence, then the beam switch tube 110 does not advance for that one step and lags behind, or falls out of phase with, the code being read or scanned. In order to have an output through line which will trigger the spark control circuit 172, the discriminator circuits must find seven coincidences, or in other words it must find the code number set up by the selector by comparing each digit thereof with each digit of the code indicia being scanned.

Assuming that coincidence is found, then the electron beam will switch to the eighth position, target 127, and the sharp or fast rising pulse referred to above will pass from through line 170 from spade 137 to the spark control circuit 172. Accordingly, there is no rough and fine control as heretofore employed, but instead the present invention provides for comparison of the desired code number with all of the code indicia on the matrix disk, each independently of the other, and once the code on the disk is found that coincides with the code set up in the selector, the light source or spark is fired immediately, or within a very short predetermined interval which is independent of. any fine control, to photograph the corresponding selected character. At the same time, the slower rising pulse that appears at target 127 will pass through line and amplifier 176 to erase from the flip-flops 7076 the code number which has just been located, setting these flip-flops to a basic position and preparing them to receive a further code number to select the next desired character. It will be noted that the above described apparatus is independent of any index or basic position on the matrix disk, and thus the system is capable of selecting a number of characters during each cycle of relative movement between the matrix disk and the code reading means and the optical system, within the limits, of course, of the system to accept new selection code numbers and to reset itself.

Another form of apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Since the matrix disk, optical and recording system, the reading means, and the character selector are all the same as in FIG. 1, like reference numerals have been applied to these parts. The character selector circuit 65 is connected through its output 66 to set up in the bi-stable flip-flop circuits 210-216 the binary code number which it is desired to locate'on the matrix. Each of these flip-flop circuits may include the conventional Eccles-Jordan circuit details of which are shown for flip-flop 210 of FIG. 4.

This circuit includes the dual triode 217 of which one side or the other may be conducting, depending upon the state in which the circuit is set. Accordingly, as is Well known in the art, grid 217G may be biased positive when the left side of the tube is conducting, indicating a state of l for the flip-flop, and conversely grid 217(3 will be biased positive when the flip-flop is in its state. The flip-flop circuit may be set up by a pulse from control tube 220 which may in turn be controlled from the selector circuit 65 (for example as disclosed in copending application Serial No. 640,741, filed February 18, 1957}.

The controlling outputs of the flip-flop 210 (and likewise similarly for the flip-flops 211-216) are through

lines

222 and 224 which are tied directly to the two grids of tube 217 and are biased accordingly. The comparing circuits are designated generally in FIG. 3 by the reference numerals 230-236, and each of these is coupled to a corresponding flip-flop 210-216 respectively in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the comparing or discriminating circuit 230 includes a pair of

pentodes

240 and 242. For purposes of illustration the screen grids have not been shown in the drawings, since they form no part of the control of these tubes. A common plate output line 245 is connected to all of the plates of these discriminating pentodes in each of the discriminating circuits 230-236, and this line leads to the regulating or beam switching bi-stable flip-flop circuit 250 (FIG. 3).

Line 222 is connected to one control grid 240(3 of tube 240, and similarly line 224 is connected to grid 242G of tube 242. The

other control grids

240G and 242G are similarly biased negative through biasing resistors 24-3, and grid 240G is connected to receive a pulse through condenser 252 from the photocell trigger amplifier 42 which in turn receives pulses from photocell PC In a similar manner grid 2426 is connected to receive pulses from PC through trigger amplifier S2 and coupling condenser 253.

A beam switching tube 260 is provided, having its beam switching circuit 262 under the control of flip-flop 250, as shown in FIG. 1, so that every pulse fed through line 245 results in a switching action within flip-flop 250, which in turn changes the bias on the grid elements 270-279 to step the electron beam successively to the target elements 280-289. Each of the beam deflecting spade elements 290-299 is connected through a corresponding resistor to ground. The first seven target elements 280-286 are connected to the seven comparing outputs 300-306 which in turn lead to the respective comparing or discriminating circuits 230-236, and in each instance the corresponding line from the beam switching tube 260 is connected to the cathodes of both the discriminating pentodes within that discriminating circuit, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3 the outputs of both

trigger amplifiers

42 and 52 are connected through

lines

308 and 309 to a conventional and gate circuit 310, the output of which is fed into a suitable phase inverter 312, and the output 313 of the phase inverter leads to a typical reset circuit 315 for the beam switching tube, and through branch line 3 16 the output of the phase inverter operates to reset flip-flop 250 to a desired state. The output 318 of reset circuit 315 is connected through the condenser resistor network 319 to the spade elements of the beam switching tube for resetting the electron beam to the first target element 280, and operates by lowering all spades to below a predetermined cutoff potential. The spade element 280 is slower to return to B+ potential, due to the capacitance 319" in its B+ connection, and this causes the electron beam to form on the first target 2 80.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is generally similar to that of the system previously described. A desired code number is set into the flip-flops 210-216 by the character selected, and the connections between these flip-flops and the discriminating circuits 230-236 operate to bias positive one or the other of the

control grids

240G or 242G in the corresponding discriminating circuit, thus preparing one or the other of the discriminating

tubes

240 or 242 for conducting. With the beam switching tube in its first position the cathodes of the discriminating tubes in circuit 230 are connected to a negative voltage, and a pulse is received from one or the other of the photocells PC or PC in scanning the first digit of a complete code indicia on the disk.

Assuming the same example as used before, 1000000 identifying character A, then the pulse through condenser 252 would momentarily bias grid 240G positive, and since flip-flop 210 was set up to its 1 state, grids 217G and 2406 would be biased positive and an output pulse would appear in line 245, passing through the coupling condenser 320 to flip-flop 250. This in turn would cause the advance of the electron beam in beam switching tube 2&0 to the next target element 281, and the same comparison would be made between the second digit of the code and the code digit in flip-flop 211. If a coincidence is found then a further pulse will pass through output line 245 to fiip-flop 250, and so on.

However, if in any one of the discriminating circuits 230-236 a pulse from the photocell reading means enters from one photocell while the opposite discriminating pentode is set up to conduct by the corresponding selector tip-flop, or in other words if there is a noncoincidence, then the beam switching tube 260 will fall behind or out of phase with the matrix, and the required seven output pulses through line 245 will not be obtained. Accordingly, the electron beam will not reach the eighth target element 207. If, however, there is a complete digit by digit coincidence then the beam will clamp to this target and a pulse will pass through output line 325 to the spark control circuit 172, causing a spark between the electrodes 17 which will illuminate the desired selected character. At the same time a pulse will be passed through line 327 to clear the selector flip-flops 210-216 preparatory to setting up a new code number therein by the selector circuits.

A further modified form of apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 5, where again the same reference numerals" as in FIG. 1 have been applied to the common parts such as the matrix disk, optical and recording systems, the code reading means, and the character selector. The output of selector is connected through line 66 to control individually the setting of seven bi-stable flip-flop circuits 410-416, and each of these flip-flops is tied to a corresponding discriminator circuit 430-436 which is of the same type, and is connected to its corresponding flip-flop, in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4 and disclosed in the accompanying description above.

In similar fashion the outputs of

trigger amplifiers

42 and 52 are connected through

lines

437 and 438 to each of the discriminator circuits. An or gate circuit 450 is connected to receive pulses from either of the

trigger amplifiers

42 or 52, and as its name implies, this circuit passes a pulse from either of the photocells PC or PC through a delay circuit 452 to its output line 453 which feeds the pulses to a regulating bi-stable flip-flop circuit 455. Opposite sides of this regulating flip-flop are tied through a conventional switching network 457 to the odd and even numbered switching grid elements 460-469 of a beam switching tube 458. The target elements 470-476 of tube 458 are connected to the discriminating circuits 430-436, to provide for sequential activation of these discriminator circuits to compare the code set up in the selector circuits with the code indicia read from the matrix disk 10.

An and gate circuit 485 receives pulses from both the photocells PC and P but of course passes a pulse through its output 486 only when the elongated or reset marks 35 (FIG. '2) pass both of the photocells. Such an output pulse passes through a phase inverter 487 into an output line 490 which is tied to the reset circuit 492 for beam switching tube 458, as well as to a reset line 493 for regulating flip-flop 455. Thus, a pulse from and gate 485 resets the regulator flip-flop 455 to a predetermined state, and also resets beam switching tube 458 to direct the electron beam to the first target element 470.

The output of the discriminator circuit 430-436 is a common plate line 500 which is connected in parallel to all the plate circuits of all of the pentodes in the discriminator circuits, in the same manner as line 245 in FIGS. 3 and 4. A further beam switching tube 505 is provided, operating between ground and 3+ voltage, and the switching grid elements 510-519 of this tube are connected to a conventional switch-ing circuit 520 under the control of a further regulating flip-flop 525, which in turn receives the output pulses from discriminator output line 500. The switching grid elements 510- 519 are connected in the usual manner through

lines

526 and 527 so that the odd and even numbered switching grids are connected to lines 526 and 527', respectively.

A reset circuit 530 is connected to the beam deflecting spade elements of tube 505 in the usual manner and receives an actuating pulse through line 532 from the phase inverter output 490 for the purpose of resetting beam switching tube 505 and directing the electron beam in that tube to the first target element 540. All of the target element's 540-549 are tied through load resistors to the positive or Bi+ high voltage supply. The target element 547 is also connected to the output line 550' which extends to spark control unit 172, and thus after beam switching tube 505 has been reset a total of seven pulses must be received to regulating flip-flop 525 to advance the electron beam in tube 505 to the target element 547, resulting in an output to the spark control unit 172 elfective to photograph the selected character. A reset pulse is also directed from output line 550 through line 552 to reset the flip-flop circuits 410-416 to a desired state.

The operation of the system shown in FIG. 5 will be understood from the description of the previous embodiment, and therefore will not be discussed in detail. It is understood that the discriminator circuits 430436 are activated in sequence by the beam switching tube 458 and operate to compare the binary code set up therein, digit by digit, from the photocells PC and P0 with the code set up in the selector flip-flops 410-416 by the selector circuits 65. If the code indicia read coincides, digit by di-git, with the code in the selector flip-flops, then a total of seven output pulses will pass to the regulating flip-flop 525, and beam switching tube 505 will advance step by step until the electron beam strikes the target element 547, resulting in a spark initiating pulse through output line 550. If at any time during the reading of code indicia between successive reset marks 35 there is a non-coincidence, then beam switching tube 505 will fall behind or out of phase with the system. There will be less than seven pulses fed to regulating flip-flop 525 before the next following reset mark 35 causes a pulse to pass through and gate 485, with resultant resetting of both beam switching tubes 458 and 50-5 and also resetting of both regulating flip-

flops

455 and 525 without an output to the spark control circuits.

Thus, the operation of each of the above described systems is such that a code number set into the selector bank of flip-flop circuits is compared, digit by digit, with each of the code indicia on the disk identifying each of the characters, the disk being passed by the photocell reading means to scan each code indicia or number on the matrix disk in sequence. This comparison may, especially in the case of binary code systems, be direct, ci.e., 1 for 1, or it may be a comparison of complements, i.e., the output signal may be given when the reading means locates the complement of the code number set into the selector. Such a result may be obtained, as well known in the art, by causing the discriminator circuits to produce beam switching signals only when the complementary digits are sensed in the selector flip-flop and in the reading means.

In the above sense, therefore, the term coincidence as used herein may mean locating of like digits and code data or complementary digits and code data. If there is a non-coincidence bet-ween any digit the system falls out of phase with the disk, for lack of a coincidence pulse, and no output to the spark control unit will be provided for that indicia. The system will be reset to scan the next indicia, and so on, and when a complete digit by digit coincidence occurs, then an output pulse will pass immediately to the spark control unit to actuate the same and photograph the character selected. These systems, therefore, can operate at a relatively high rate and are capable of photographing more than one character for each cycle or revolution of the disk past the photocell reading means.

The present system is, of course, applicable to different types of code comparing or coincidence seeking uses and is not confined to use in phototypesetting apparatus. The above described systems may, there-fore, be considered as exemplary for the purpose of disclosing typical practical applications of the principles of the present invention.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A character selection system \for phototypesetting apparatus, comprising a matrix having a plurality of characters defined thereon by parts of differential light transmitting ability, a controllable flashing light source of relatively high intensity and short duration, means mounting said matrix and said light source providing for relative movement therebetween to align said light source with individual characters in predetermined succession, multi-digit code means on said matrix provided by a plurality of impulse generated means representing indi vidual digits and associated with and identifying each of said characters, means for reading the code means for each said character in digitby-digit fashion during relative movement between said matrix and said light source, a selector including means for retaining temporarily code data corresponding to a selected character, comparing means having inputs from said reading means and said selector, means controlled by said comparing means for providing an output for every coincidence between digits of the retained code data and said code means, stepping means having a plurality of stages at least equal in number to the number of digits in said code means, said stepping means being connected to said output and being responsive thereto for advancing one step for each digit coincidence output, circuit means between said reading means and said stepping means tending to advance said stepping means in phase with the rate of digit-by-digit reading of the code means by said reading means, and a connection between the last stage of said stepping means and said flashing light source for energiza-tion thereof when said stepping means is advanced through a complete cycle indicativeof coincidence between the retained code data and the code means for the selected character.

2. A character selection system for phototypesetting apparatus, comprising a matrix having a plurality of characters defined thereon by parts of differential light transmitting ability, a controllable flashing light source of relatively high intensity and short duration, means mounting said matrix and said light source providing for continuous relative movement therebetween to align said light source with individual characters in predetermined succession, multi-digit code means on said matrix associated with and identifying each of said characters, means for reading the code means for each said character during relative movement between said matrix and said light source, a selector including means for retaining temporarily code data corresponding to a selected character, digit comparing means having inputs from said reading means and said selector, means controlled by said comparing means for providing an output for every coincidence between digits of the retained code data and said code means, stepping means having a plurality of stages at least equal in number to the number of units in said code means, said stepping means being connected to said output and being responsive thereto for advancing one step for each coincidence output, means tending to advance said stepping means in phase with the rate at which said reading means scans the code means in digitby-digit fashion, a connection between the last stage of said stepping means and said flashing light source for energization thereof when said stepping means is advanced through a complete cycle indicative of coincidence between the retained code data and the code means for the selected character, and reset means connected to said stepping means for resetting thereof to the first stage upon reading of each code means for each character.

3. A character selection system for phototypesetting apparatus comprising a matrix having a plurality of characters defined thereon by parts of differential light transmitting ability, a controllable flashing light source of relatively high intensity and short duration, means mounting said matrix and said light source providing for continuous relative movement therebetween to align said light source with individual characters in predetermined succession, binary number code means on said matrix associated with and identifying each of said characters, each number of said code means being characterized by a succession of pulse generating means arranged for "scanning in sequence along with said relative movement between said light source and said matrix, each pulse generating means being located in one of two characteristic positions indicative of whether the digit it represents is a 1 or a 0, selector means for retaining binary code data identifying a particular character on said matrix,

reading means for scanning each of the two possible positions for each digit of each number on said matrix, means mounting said reading means for relative movement with respect to said matrix for scanning the code numbers carried on' said matrix along with relative movement between said light source and said matrix, comparing means connected between said reading means and said selector means for comparing digit by digit the number of said selector means with the numbers on said matrix, stepping means in said comparing means and receiving a pulse for each digit in either position scanned by said reading means tending to advance said stepping means in phase with said reading means, and means connected to said comparing means and to said light source producing an output signal to flash said light source only upon sensing of complete coincidence between all of the digits in the number retained in said selector means and a number on said matrix.

4. A character selection system for phot'otypesetting apparatus including in combination a matrix bear-ing a plurality of characters, a controllable flashing light source for illuminating chosen ones of said characters in succession, and means mounting said matrix and said light source for relative movement to project said characters in succession along a common optical path, said system comprising binary code indicia on said matrix in predetermined relation to and identifying each of said characters, said code indicia including a plurality of pulse generating means located in one or the other of two paths adapted to be scanned during said relative movement to generate in succession for each code indicia digit pulses corresponding to a l or 0, reading means mounted to scan said pulse generating means and to transmit sep arate outputs for said 1 pulses and said 0 pulses, discriminator means connected to receive said outputs from said reading means, a bank of bi-stable iiip-flop circuits corresponding in number to the number of digits in the code indicia, selector means connected to said flip-ilop for setting the same individually to states corresponding to the digits in a selected code number, normally inactive circuit means between each of said flip-flops and said discriminator means for conveying thereto the state of the individual flip-flops, switching means operatively associated with said normally inactive circuit means for activating the same individually in sequence to compare the state of each said flip-flop with a corresponding digit pulse, circuit means responsive to the rate of operation of said reading means and connected to said switching means tending to advance said switching means in phase with the rate of operation of said reading means, an output signal connection from said discriminator means to said switching means advancing the same from one normally inactive circuit means to the next in response to a coincidence between a digit pulse and the state of the corresponding flip-flop, and means responsive to successive activation of all said normally inactive circuit means for flashing said light source.

5. Apparatus for determining the location of a selected binary number on a member having a plurality of such numbers arranged in succession thereon, each number being characterized by a succession of pulse generating means arranged for scanning in sequence, each pulse generating means being locatedin one of two characteristic positions indicative of whether the digit it represents is a "1 or a 0, selector means for retaining a binary number to be located on said member, reading means for scanning each number on said member digit by digit, means mounting said reading means and said member for scanning the numbers carried on said member, comparing means connected between said reading means and said selector means for comparing digit by digit the numher in said selector means with the numbers on said memher, said comparing means producing an output signal for each coincidence between a digit of the number in said selector means and a digit of the number being scanned, stepping means having a plurality of stages at least equal in number to the number of digits in the binary numbers on said member, means connecting said stepping means to said comparing means advancing said stepping means one step for each digit coincidence signal from said comparing means, circuit means connected between said reading means and said stepping means tending to advance said stepping means one step for each digit read by said reading means, output means connected to said stepping means for transmitting an output signal therefrom indicative of a complete coincidence between all of the digits of the number in said selector means with all of the digits of a number on said member, and means for resetting said comparing means after scanning all digits of a number without a complete coincidence.

6. Apparatus for determining the location of a selected binary number on a member having a plurality of such numbers arranged in succession thereon, each numher being characterized by a succession of pulse generating means arranged for scanning in sequence, each pulse generating means being located in one of two characteristic positions indicative of whether the digit it represents is a l or a O, selector means for retaining a binary number to be located on said member, reading means for scanning each number on said member digit by digit, means mounting said reading means and said member for scanning the numbers carried on said member, comparing means connected between said reading means and said selector means for comparing digit by digit the number in said selector means with the numbers on said member, said comparing means producing an output signal for each coincidence between a digit of the number in said selector means and a digit of the number being scanned, stepping means having a plurality of stages at least equal in number to the number of digits in the binary numbers on said member, means connecting said stepping means to said comparing means advancing said stepping means one step for each digit coincidence signal from said comparing means, circuit means connected between said reading means and said stepping means tending to advance said stepping means one step for each digit read by said reading means, output means connected to said stepping means for transmitting an output signal therefrom indicative of a complete coincidence between all of the digits of the number in said selector means with all of the digits of a number on said member, and reset means connected between said stepping means and said selector means for erasing the number retained in said selector means once the number has been located on said memher.

7. Apparatus for determining the location of a selected binary number on a member having a plurality of such numbers arranged in succession thereon, each number being characterized by a succession of pulse generating means arranged for scanning in sequence, each pulse generating means being located in one of two characteristic positions indicative of whether the digit it represents is a 1 or a 0, selector means for retaining a binary number to be located on said member, reading means for scanning each number on said member digit by digit, means mounting said reading means and said member for continuously scanning the numbers carried on said member, comparing means connected between said reading means and said selector means for comparing digit by digit the number in said selector means with the numbers on said member, said comparing means producing an output signal for each coincidence between a digit of the number in said selector means and a digit of the number being scanned, stepping means having a plurality of stages at least equal in number to the number of digits in the binary numbers on said member, means connecting said stepping means to said comparing means advancing said stepping means one step for each digit coincidence signal {from said comparing means, circuit means connected between said reading means and said stepping means tending to advance said stepping means one step for each digit read by'said reading means, output means connected to said stepping means for transmitting an output signal therefrom indicative of a complete coincidence between all of the digits of the number in said selector means with all of the digits of a number on said member, means for resetting said comparing means after scanning all digits of a number without a complete coincidence, and reset means connected between said stepping means and said selector means for erasing the number retained in said selector means once the number has been located on said member.

8. Apparatus "for locating a selected binary number on a member bearing a plurality of different binary code indicia, said code indicia including a plurality of pulse generating means located in one or the other of two paths on said member, said pulse generating means being adapted to generate in succession for each code indicia digit pulses corresponding to a l or a 0, reading means mounted to scan said pulse generating means and to transmit separate outputs for said 1 pulses and said 0 pulses, discriminator means connected to receive said outputs from said reading means, a bank of bi-stable flipfiop circuits corresponding in number to the number of digits in the code indicia, selector means connected to said flip-flops for setting the same individually to states corresponding to the digits in a selected binary code number, normally inactive circuit means between each of said flip-flops and said discriminator means for conveying thereto the state of the individual flip-flops, switching means operatively associated With said normally inactive circuit means for activating the same individually in sequence to compare the state of each said flip-flop with a corresponding digit pulse, circuit means connected between said reading means and said switching means tending to advance said switching means once for each scanning of a single digit by said reading means, an output signal connection from said discriminator means to said switching means for advancing the same from one normally inactive circuit means to the next in response to a coincidence between a digit pulse and the state of the corresponding flip-flop, and means responsive to successive activation of all said normally inactive circuit means providing. an output signal indicative of complete coincidence between the selected code number and code indicia on said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,696 Woolard June 9, 1953 2,749,533 Daniels June 5, 1956 2,775,172 Higgonnet et al Dec. 25, 1956 2,782,398 West et a1. Feb. '19, 1957 2,784,397 Branson Mar. 5, 1957 2,785,388 McWhirter Mar. 12, 1957 2,842,663 Eckert July 8, 1958 2,865,270 Higgonnet Dec. 23, 1958 2,876,687 Higgonnet Mar. 10, 1959 2,923,215 Corrado Feb. 2, 1960