US3603944A

US3603944A - System for processing intelligence in form of binary bars

Info

Publication number: US3603944A
Application number: US816227A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Taplin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Unisys Corp
Priority date: 1969-04-15
Filing date: 1969-04-15
Publication date: 1971-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-07

Abstract

A record of intelligence in binary bar form constituted by deposits of magnetizable ink on a substratum is converted by magnetic carrier-frequency-modulation into a binary carrierfrequency-modulated magnetic patter.

Description

United States Patent Inventor John F. Taplin l5 Sewall St., West Newton, Mass. 02165 816,227

Apr. 15, 1969 Sept. 7, 1971 Appl. No. Filed Patented SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING INTELLIGENCE IN FORM OF BINARY BARS 2 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl ..340/174.1 l-I, 346/74 M,

Int. Cl Gllb 5/02 Field ofSeareh ..IIZT 346/74 M,

74 MP; 340/l74.l G, 174.1 I-I [56] Reference Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,955,277 10/ I 960 Shelton, Jr 346/74 3,142,840 7/1964 Smith et a]. 346/74 3,254,626 6/1966 Vemura 346/74 3,344,238 9/1967 Schwartz et al 346/74 Primary Examiner-Bernard Konick Assistant Examiner-Vincent P. Canney Attamey- Erwin Salzer ABSTRACT: A record of intelligence in binary bar form constituted by deposits of magnetizable ink on a substratum B converted by magnetic carrier-frequency-modulation into a binary carrier-frequency-modulated magnetic patter.

PATENTEU SEP 7 I971 SHEET 3 [IF 3 SYSTEM FOR FROQIESSII IG INTELLIGENCE IN FORM OF BINARY BARS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Reading of intelligence recorded in binary bar form by deposits of magnetizable ink on a substratum results in trains of substantially rectangular electric pulses. If the rectangular pulses differ in regard to their width, the system is referred to as pulse-duration modulation (PDM). In pulse-duration modulation the duration of pulses is varied between a fixed minimum pulse duration and a variable multiple thereof. This type of signals is used in teletype systems where it is known as Baudot code. Another transmission system of intelligence using trains of substantially rectangular pulses is pulse-position-modulation (PPM) wherein the duration of all pulses of a train of pulses is equal, but the time between consecutive pulses varies.

The transmission of intelligence by trains of rectangular pulses involves certain difficulties including signal-to-noise ratio problems. For this reason it is a widely accepted practice to modulate for the purpose of transmission a carrier frequency with trains of rectangular pulses. At the receiving station the signal is demodulated, resulting in the original train of rectangular pulses.

Where intelligence is recorded in binary form by deposits of magnetizable ink on a substratum, e.g. paper, and read by a magnetic reading head, the pulse output of the latter may be used to modulate a carrier current. This involves, however, certain difficulties and complications which are avoided by the process according to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Intelligence magnetically recorded in binary bar form by deposits of magnetizable ink is scanned by sequential forward movement and retrace movements. During said forward movements these deposits are magnetically modulated by a magnetic field resulting from an electrical carrier frequency current to convert the record into a binary carrier-frequencymodulated magnetic pattern. In other words, the binary ink bars are magnetized by a carrier frequency prior to readout of the former.

During the retrace movements the carrier-frequency-modulated ink deposits are magnetically read out and the resulting binary carrier-frequency-modulated electric pulses are transmitted to their destination along any desired signal or message path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a cross section of a binary type bar of a printer printing with magnetizable ink;

FIG. 2 is an imprint resulting from the action of the type bar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the magnetization of the imprint of FIG. 2 by a carrier frequency; a

FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically the readout signal current plotted versus time resulting from a readout of the record of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows on a large scale the possible configuration of the letter H printed with magnetizable ink for the purpose of coded pulse position modulated transmission by a message path;

FIG. 6 shows the electric signal current plotted against time resulting from magnetically carrier modulating the magnetizable ink pattern of FIG. 5 and thereafter scanning the same with a magnetic readout head;

FIG. 7 shows the magnetization pattern of the imprint of FIG. 2 resulting from carrier frequency modulation and differs from FIG. 3 in that FIGv 3 refers to a binary record which is magnetically carrier-modulated in a direction transversely to the record while FIG. 7 refers to a binary record which is magnetically carrier-modulated in a direction longitudinally of the record;

FIG. 8 shows a scanning pattern used in processing intelligence according to this invention including a forward movement and a retrace of magnetic beads;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of system for carrying into effect the method according to the present invention, the system including one single magnetic head which may be used selectively as readout head and carrier-frequency-modulating head;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of a structure embodying the system diagrammatically shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. I I is a section along ill-I ll of FIG. W.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED MODES OF CARRYING THE INVENTION INTO EFFECT Referring now to the drawir igs, FIG. I, shows a binary type bar having an elevated portion I whose length is three units, followed by a recess 2 whose length is one unit. This recess 2 is, in turn, followed by an elevated portion 3 whose length is one unit.

If the type bar of FIG. I is inked with magnetizable ink and printed on a substratum SUB the elevated portion 1 of the type bar establishes the imprint I and the elevated portion 3 of type bar 1 establishes the imprint 3' of FIG. 2. Imprints I and 3 may be read with a magnetic readout head. For some applications readout is predicated on the presence and absence, respectively, of magnetizable ink in different area of a record of intelligence. For other applications the areas where magnetizable ink is present must be polarized which may be done by means of an electromagnet energized by a DC current.

According to this invention, the ink deposits I and 3' are magnetically modulated by a magnetic filed resulting from an electric carrier frequency current. Hence the magnetizable ink deposits 1' and 3' are converted into a binary carrierfrequency-modulated pattern. FIG. 3 shows magnetic carrierfrequency-modulation in transverse direction, and FIG. 7 shows magnetic carrier-frequency-modulation in longitudinal direction. In both figures the arrowheads are intended to indicate north poles of elementary magnets. The ends of the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 7 remote from the arrowheads are south poles of elementary magnets. It will be understood that FIGS. 3 and 7 are purely diagrammatic inasmuch as the density of arrows is concerned. When a magnetically modulated record as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 is read by an appropriate magnetic readout head, a binary carrier-frequency-modulated signal current results. FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically an amplitude modulated binary signal current resulting from a readout of the magnetic patterns of FIGS. 3 or 7, respectively. The electric signal currents of FIG. 41 can readily be transmitted through any desired message path with a minimum of interference, i.e. with an optimal signal-to-noise ratio.

The carrier currents used to establish the magnetic field for modulating the bar areas II and 3' of FIG. 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 or 7, respectively, are preferably currents in the tone frequency range.

FIG. 5 shows an alphanumeric symbol, namely the letter I-ll, formed by bars and printed with magnetizable ink. The letter H is made up of seven bars 4 having equal widths. Their spacing varies, however, in accordance with a predetermined code. After printing of the letter H and before magnetic readout thereof the letter H is scanned by a magnetic modulating head in the direction of the arrow R. This results in establishing a magnetic pattern of the kind shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, respectively, with spacings reflecting the spacings of the constituent bars of the letter II. When the magnetically modulated record of the letter H is read out by a magnetic reading head, a train of pulse-position modulated and carrier-frequency modulated substantially rectangular pulses results. FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically this train of pulses or signal currents.

Considering a document bar symbols are typed or printed with magnetic ink in a code such as, for instance, the pulse position code of FIG. if such a document is to be magnetically carrierafrequency-modulated and read out in accordance with this invention it must be scanned in accordance with the scanning raster of FIG. 8 and intermittently modulated and read out. The raster of FIG. 8 includes a system of forward lines 5 and retrace lines 6.

The system of FIG. 9 has but one single magnetic head MPH which may be used selectively to carrier-frequency-modulate magnetizable ink symbols on substrate '7, or to read out carrier-frequency-modulated magnetizable ink symbols on substratum 7. Head MPH may be selectively connected by switching device S to either a local oscillator, or a signal processing circuitry, both indicated diagrammatically by labeled blocks. When head MRII is moved relative to substratum 7 in the direction of arrow D, switching device S may be in its right limit position connecting the local oscillator to head MRI-I and disconnecting the signal processing circuitry from head MRI'I. Then the magnetizable binary bar writing on substratum 7 is being carrier-frequency-modulated. When head MRH is moved relative to substratum 7 in a direction opposite to that of arrow D switching device S is in left limit position shown in FIG. 9 disconnecting head MRI-I from the local oscillator and connecting head MRII to the signal processing circuitry. Thus relative motion of head MRI-I in one direction results in magnetic carrier-frequency-modulation of the recorded intelligence, and relative motion of the head MRI-l in the opposite direction results in readout of the magnetically carrier-frequency-modulated magnetizable ink record.

Referring now to FIGS. II) and II, a sheet 8 of paper imprinted with binary bar magnetizable ink symbols is clamped between rotatable main roller or platen roller 9 and four auxiliary rollers It) mounted on shafts II. Sheet 8 may be moved in the direction of arrow D. Reference characters RH and MH have been applied to indicate a magnetic readout head and a magnetic carrierfrequency-modulating head. The rear end of each head RH and NIH is provided with a bearing member I2a mounted on a screw-threaded shaft I2. Screwthreaded shaft I2 is supported at the ends thereof by a pair of parallel end plates I3 which support also the ends of shafts II of rollers III. Shaft I2 is driven by an electric gear motor I4. Two grooves I2 and I2" are machined into shaft I2 of which one is in the shape of a right-handed helix and the other in the shape of a left-handed helix. The bearing member I2a of one of the magnetic heads Rl'l, NIH is provided with a radial passageway (not shown) closed by a screw I5 at the radially outer ends thereof. A groove-engaging member (not shown) is arranged in the aforementioned passageway of bearing member 12a of one of heads RH, MI'I. This groove-engaging member engages with its radially inner end sequentially groove I2 and groove 12''. But one of magnetic heads RH and NIH needs to be provided with a groove-engaging member for transmission of the movement of shaft I2 to the particular head RH and MH. The head not provided with a groove-engaging member is tied to the head provided with the grooveengaging member so that both heads always move in synchronism from left to right, and from right to left, as seen in FIG. III while gear motor I2 rotates shaft I2 in the same direction. The alternating change of the direction of movement of magnetic heads RH, NIH is effected by grooves I2, 12" in conjunction with the aforementioned groove-engaging member. When heads RH, MH reach either of their two limit positions each adjacent one of the ends of shaft I2, one of helical grooves 12' or 12" ends and the groove-engaging member is then shifted from either of ending helical grooves I2, I2" to the helical groove I2", I2 forming a continuation of the helical grooves that comes to an end.

It will be apparent from the above that the scanning mechanism of FIGS. I0 and II operates in such a fashion that each line on paper S is scanned and retraced by the action of motor I4. shaft I2 and heads RH, Ml-l. After scanning and retracing of each line paper 8 is moved by platen roller 9 a distance equal to the spacing of the written lines ongaper 8.

The system shown diagrammatically in FIG. and that shown in detail in FIG. It) and II eliminate effectively crosstalk between the magnetic modulating means and the magnetic readout means. This is achieved on account of the fact that during the times the magnetic modulating means are effective to modulate the bar-shaped ink deposits, the magnetic readout means are ineffective and vice versa, during the times the readout means are effective the magnetic bar modulating means are ineffective. Since different operating times are assigned to the magnetic bar modulating means and the readout means the danger of crosstalk, or interference, between these two means is virtually eliminated.

It will be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. It) and II that the dual helix drive screw I2, I2, I2" arranged parallel to platen roller 9 inside of a gap bounded by the auxiliary rol- Iers It is a transmission interposed between electric motor 14 and magnetic heads MH and RH to convert the rotary motions of electric motor I4 into oscillatory motions of magnetic heads or modulating and readout means Ml'l, Ri l.

FIG. I clearly shows that but one single local oscillator and generation of but one single frequency are required for modulating the binary bar pattern. This is true whether the system includes but one single magnetic head as shown in FIG. 9, or two magnetic heads as shown in FIGS. It) and I I. FIGS. 3 and 8 illustrate binary bar pattern whose entire areas are magnetically modulated by a single carrier frequency.

While I have described particular ways of carrying my invention into effect, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

I. A system for processing intelligence recorded by deposits of magnetizable ink in form of binary bar patterns, said system including a. a rotatable platen roller b. auxiliary rollers (III) for maintaining sheets (8) of paper in engagement with said platen roller (9) to cause joint movements of sheets (8) of paper with said platen roller c. magnetic modulating means (Ml-I) and magnetic readout means (RI-I) in cooperative relation to a portion of the surface of said platen roller (9) situated between said auxiliary rollers (I0);

. an electric motor (I4) for moving said modulating means (Ml-I) and said readout means (RH) relative to said platen roller (III);

e. a transmission (I2, I2, I2") interposed between said electric motor (14) and said modulating means (MH) and said readout means (RI-I) to convert rotary motions of said electric motor (I4) into oscillary motions of said modulating means (MI-I) and said readout means (RH) parallel to the axis of said platen roller (9); and

f. control means for modulating means (MI-I) and said readout means (RH) to render said modulating means (MH) effective and said readout means (RH) ineffective during the time of the motions thereof in one direction, and to render said modulating means (MI-I) ineffective and said readout means (RH) effective during the time of the motions thereof in the opposite direction.

2. A system as specified in claim I including a screw drive for operating said modulating means (MH) and said readout means (RH) having a dual helix drive screw (I2, 12', 12")arranged parallel to said platen roller (9) inside a gap bounded by said auxiliary rollers (I0).

Claims

1. A system for processing intelligence recorded by deposits of magnetizable ink in form of binary bar patterns, said system including a. a rotatable platen roller (9); b. auxiliary rollers (10) for maintaining sheets (8) of paper in engagement with said platen roller (9) to cause joint movements of sheets (8) of paper with said platen roller (9); c. magnetic modulating means (MH) and magnetic readout means (RH) in cooperative relation to a portion of the surface of said platen roller (9) situated between said auxiliary rollers (10); d. an electric motor (14) for moving said modulating means (MH) and said readout means (RH) relative to said platen roller (10); e. a transmission (12, 12'', 12'''') interposed between said electric motor (14) and said modulating means (MH) and said readout means (RH) to convert rotary motions of said electric motor (14) into oscillary motions of said modulating means (MH) and said readout means (RH) parallel to the axis of said platen roller (9); and f. control means for modulating means (MH) and said readout means (RH) to render said modulating means (MH) effective and said readout means (RH) ineffective during the time of the motions thereof in one direction, and to render said modulating means (MH) ineffective and said readout means (RH) effective during the time of the motions thereof in the opposite direction.

2. A system as specified in claim 1 including a screw drive for operating said modulating means (MH) and said readout meaNs (RH) having a dual helix drive screw (12, 12'', 12'''') arranged parallel to said platen roller (9) inside a gap bounded by said auxiliary rollers (10).