US3728685A - Rapid access to a selected segment of a strip information carrier - Google Patents

Rapid access to a selected segment of a strip information carrier Download PDF

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US3728685A
US3728685A US00099849A US3728685DA US3728685A US 3728685 A US3728685 A US 3728685A US 00099849 A US00099849 A US 00099849A US 3728685D A US3728685D A US 3728685DA US 3728685 A US3728685 A US 3728685A
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Prior art keywords
strip
magnitude
charge
signal
station
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US00099849A
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J Stalnert
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Saab AB
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Saab Scania AB
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
    • G06K17/0016—Selecting or retrieving of images by means of their associated code-marks, e.g. coded microfilm or microfiche
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/10—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/10—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
    • G03B21/11—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen for microfilm reading
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
    • G03B21/10—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
    • G03B21/11—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen for microfilm reading
    • G03B21/111—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen for microfilm reading of roll films
    • G03B21/113—Handling roll films
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B23/00—Devices for changing pictures in viewing apparatus or projectors
    • G03B23/08—Devices for changing pictures in viewing apparatus or projectors in which pictures are attached to a movable carrier
    • G03B23/12—Devices for changing pictures in viewing apparatus or projectors in which pictures are attached to a movable carrier linear strip carrier
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Definitions

  • References Cited produce a true strip speed signalv
  • a demand value signal is UNITED STATES PATENTS produced, corresponding to a constant fast velocity for all frames that must pass the station in excess of a 522:: predetermined number, and therebelow, to a decreaszjamime 11/1957 House .'.'.3 i6/'174,
  • the strip drive is energized according to the dif- 3941.134 6H9; Gams a 3L H 340/1741 C X ference between true and demand values, in a manner 3,
  • 3.36S 702 [H968 Healwole l ..340/l72.5 3,484,751 12/1969 Cameron et al ..340/l72.5 3,641,504 2/1972 Sidline ..340/172.5 l2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DlREClFUN GFSTER ANALOGUE ICONVFRTU? DIGITAL TQUL VA L UL TKAMNXALK BRAKE S l G NA L TRANSIXAIK PATENTEUAPR 1 11m 3.728.685
  • This invention relates to a method and means for effecting rapid lengthwise motion of an information carrier strip, and for stopping the strip smoothly and accurately after it has been moved through exactly a preselected number of distance units; and the invention is more particularly concerned with accurate control of rapid lengthwise motion of a strip of photographic film or similar material to bring it from a position at which one of a series of adjacent frames or other uniform and consecutive segments along its length is at a relatively fixed reading station, to a position in which any selected one of its other frames or segments is at said reading station.
  • the means for giving instructions to the apparatus can comprise a panel on which there is a name plate for each of a number of patients, a name" pushbutton adjacent to each name plate, an image screen around which there are a plurality of column" and line pushbuttons, and other pushbuttons signifying various part instructions, including a GO button which is used to signify to the apparatus that assembly of an instruction word has been completed.
  • apparatus of the type just described can be applied to all sorts of record keeping and computing tasks, as well as to tasks related to data and information retrieval, inventory control, identification and analysis, reservation booking, etc.
  • the film should be stopped accurately, with the selected frame squarely aligned with the image screen.
  • the selected frame appears to overshoot the image screen slightly and then move back into projecting position.
  • Such overshooting and reversal of motion is not only wasteful of time but is distracting and tiring to the operator.
  • FIG. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view of film feeding apparatus embodying the principles of this invention, in part a diagrammatic perspective view of the mechanical portions of the apparatus and in part a block diagram;
  • FIG. 2 is a graph of variation of strip feed velocity versus frames remaining to be traversed, illustrating the operation of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the main components of the control apparatus for the strip mow ing means
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a film strip and shows the coded marks thereon in their cooperation with photoelectric sensors in the apparatus and in their relation to signals which are produced by the coaction of the marks with the sensors and which appear at different points in the apparatus illustrated in H6. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the demand value for feeding velocity can vary with the number of frames remaining to be fed.
  • the numeral 4 designates generally an electromechanical apparatus for effecting lengthwise motion of an information carrier strip 5, here shown as a strip of film on which there are lengthwise adjacent image frames 6 that define uniform units of strip length.
  • the electromechanical apparatus 4 so moves the strip 5, at each transit thereof, as to bring a selected frame 6 to a predetermined reading or display station in which that frame is projected onto an image screen 7.
  • the apparatus 4 is controlled by an electronic apparatus 8 which is associated with a computer 9.
  • the strip 5 is housed in a cartridge 10 which can be interchangeable with other similar cartridges and which has an accurately defined position in the electromechanical apparatus.
  • a cartridge 10 which can be interchangeable with other similar cartridges and which has an accurately defined position in the electromechanical apparatus.
  • the cartridge there are a pair of bobbins ll and 12 upon which the strip is coiled.
  • the cartridge is in the form of a hollow rectangle, with a chamber 13 at each side thereof in which one of the bobbins is housed and with front and rear channel-like or tubular portions 14 which connect the bobbin chambers.
  • the strip extends lengthwise between the bobbins through the front channel-like portion, being trained over hourglass shaped pulleys 15 which contact only its opposite edge portions and thus avoid wear on its image carrying surface.
  • the front and rear walls of said front channel-like portion have aligned apertures, as at 16, to provide a projection window with which a single frame of film can register for projection onto the image screen.
  • a projection lamp 17, a condenser 18 and a projection lens 19 are aligned with the projection window for projecting onto the image screen 7 the frame of film that is in register with the window.
  • the light beams through the film are reflected onto the screen 7 by means of oblique mirrors 20 and 21, the mirror 20 being mounted within the space between the channel-like portions 14 of the cartridge.
  • the projection window 16 thus defines the reading or display station to which each selected frame must be brought when the strip is moved by the apparatus.
  • each of the bobbins l1 and 12 there is a reversible electric drive motor 22, 23, and each motor drives its bobbin through a magnetic coupling 24, 25.
  • Each frame of the film is assigned a number, and the numbers run consecutively so that lengthwise movement of the strip in one direction can be regarded as increasing" motion and in the opposite direction as decreasing" motion.
  • the motor 22 can be regarded as an increasing motor, since it feeds the strip in the increasing direction when it is running in its forward direction of operation.
  • the motor 23 is the decreasing" motor since it feeds the strip in the decreasing direction when it is in forward operation.
  • Each of the reversible motors can perform a braking or retarding function when energized for running in its reverse direction.
  • each image frame on the film terminates at a distance from one edge of the strip, and in this marginal space the strip has a code mark 26 adjacent to each frame.
  • the code marks are identical for all of the frames except the one at each end of the strip, said end frames being given special coded marks which signify strip end.”
  • each of the ordinary code marks 26 has a much flattened T-shape, comprising a longer upper bar or dash 26a centered on its film frame and a shorter bar or dash 26b centered therebeneath.
  • Two photoelectric sensors 27 and 28 are arranged to detect the respective bars 260 and 26b of the code marks for the film frames and to send to the electronic unit eight pulses that denote the passing of the code marks, as described hereinafter.
  • the dual photocells 27 and 28 are better capable of discriminating between film end marks and ordinary frame marks, and in cooperation with the dual code marks 26a and 26b they provide increased security of code mark detection and produce a higher pulse frequency that is advantageous in the processing of the signals.
  • Two frame centering photocells 29 and 30 are arranged to detect only the opposite end portions of the longer bar 26a of each code mark and are employed in frame holding. The frame is in proper position when its code mark is blanking equal areas of the two cells 29 and 30.
  • the photocells 27 and 28 in their cooperation with the code marks 26a and 26b, produce pulse signals that are delivered to the electronic apparatus 8, and such signals cause that apparatus to produce certain outputs that are utilized in controlling energization of the drive motors 22 and 23 to provide a strip drive velocity scheme which is illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the strip Whenever the number of frames through which the strip must be moved is less than a predetermined number n, the strip is moved at a velocity V, that continuously decreases so as to be always in proportion to the number of frames f, through which the strip still remains to be moved, as illustrated at the right hand side of FiG. 2.
  • V a velocity
  • Vs a relatively high but uniform velocity
  • Deceleration of the film is accomplished by so energizing the motor connected with the bobbin from which strip is being unwound that said motor effects some braking of its bobbin, while at the same time decreasing the energization of the other motor; hence assurance is bad that the film is always under some degree of lengthwise tension.
  • the computer 9 with which the electronic control apparatus is associated initially determines the number of frames through which the strip must be moved and the direction in which it must move in order to bring a desired frame to the reading station.
  • the computer feeds this number and direction information into a frame counting register 31 and a direction register 32, respectively. Both of those registers are elements of the control apparatus 8.
  • the proper drive motor is energized in accordance with a demand value that depends upon the numerical information in the frame counting register 3 I.
  • the pulse signals that are produced as the code marks 26 pass the photocells 27 and 28 are delivered to a frame counting logic circuit 33 in which the form of the pulse signals is refined and by which the separate signals from the photocells 27 and 28 are unified and forwarded to the frame counting register to count it down.
  • the logic circuit 33 also makes a logic decision whereby it continues to deliver pulse signals only until the strip has been moved through the number of frames called for by the computer, thus distinguishing from outputs of the photocells 27 and 28 that might be produced by back and forth movement of the selected frame as it is being centered at the reading station.
  • the frame counting logic circuit also forwards its refined pulse signals to a true value transducer 34 and to a brake signal transducer 40, in each of which they are further processed.
  • the feed voltage with which they are energized, and which is supplied to them through a feed and brake control circuit 35 is obtained on the basis of balancing a demand value signal against a true value signal at a summation point 37.
  • the true value signal is the output of the above mentioned true value transducer 34, produced on the basis of an output from the frame counting logic circuit 33.
  • the demand value which has the characteristic pattern illustrated by FIG. 2, is supplied to the summation point 37 by way of a feed phase switch 38 which is controlled by the frame counting register 31. During the rapid feed phase f, the feed phase switch supplies a constant value signal from the frame counting register to the summation point.
  • the feed phase switch connects the summation point with a digital-toanalogue converter 39 to receive a changing demand value signal therefrom.
  • the converter 39 is connected with the output of the frame counting register 3] and is arranged in a known manner to produce an analogue signal which varies with the status of the counting register, the output of the counting register being in binary form.
  • the connection between the digital-to-analogue converter 39 and the frame counting register 31 is such that only binary numbers equal to or less than n, are transformed, so that the demand value signal from the converter 39 varies in accordance with the relationship between f and V, that is depicted in FIG. 2.
  • the brake signal transducer 40 is operative only during the phasef when the number of frames to be fed is equal to or less than n., and the linear velocity of the strip is steadily decreasing. During that phase, the velocity of the strip must be proportional to the number of frames remaining to be fed, and therefore the brake signal transducer 40 is connected with the frame counting register 31 to receive an input therefrom, as well as having an input from the frame counting logic circuit 33.
  • the output of the brake signal transducer 40 is fed to the feed and brake control circuit 35, which directly controls energization of the drive motors 22 and 23.
  • the feed and brake control circuit also receives an input from the direction register 32, as well as from the summation point 37.
  • both drive motors When a frame is being held in the projection window 16, both drive motors are energized in their winding-on directions so that they maintain the strip under some tension to insure flatness of the frame being projected; and therefore the feed and brake control circuit 35 also receives an input from a frame holding circuit 36 which in turn receives input signals from the frame centering photocells 29 and 30.
  • the frame counting register 31 When the desired frame is in register with the projection window 16, the frame counting register 31 will have been counted down to zero by means of the counting pulses from the frame counting logic circuit 33, and said logic circuit 33 and the brake signal transducer 40 are rendered inactive.
  • the direction register 32 is set back to its zero or no direction" condition, and through its connection with the frame holding circuit 36 it in effect commands the latter to establish and maintain a position of the frame such that the frame centering photocells 29 and 30 are equally blanked by the code mark on the frame in the projection window, If there is an unequal blanking of the photocells 29 and 30, the frame holding circuit effects a correspondingly unequal energization of the drive motors, as required to return the frame to its centered position.
  • FIG. 3 will be recognized as somewhat simplified, in that it includes only the elements of the apparatus that are essential to its operation. Certain matching units (such as inverters, impedance transformers and amplifiers) have been omitted where it has been possible to do so without encountering logic impossibilities. Those skilled in the art will readily understand the nature of the omitted elements and the manner of their connection in the illustrated circuit.
  • Certain matching units such as inverters, impedance transformers and amplifiers
  • the light sensitive surface of the photocells 27 and 28 has a comparatively large extension, to eliminate the influence of dirt and the like that might be on the film; hence the code marks 26 will not instantaneously cover those photocells as they pass the same, with the result that the signal pulses emitted by the photocells in response to passage of the code marks will have oblique flanks rather than being true square pulses.
  • the frame counting logic circuit 33 produces well defined pulses in response to signals emanating from the photocells 27 and 28v
  • it comprises a pair of special bistable flip-flops 43 and 44, one connected with each of the photocells 27 and 28, a pair of inverters 45 and 46, one connected with each flip-flop, an AND-gate 47, and a second AND-gate 48.
  • Each of the flip-flops 43 and 44 can be a Schmitt trigger, which produces an output signal that has one or another of two defined values, depending upon whether its input signal is larger or smaller than a limit value which is settable on the flip-flop. This limit value is so chosen for each of the flip-flops 43 and 44 that the flip-flop is switched over when more than half of the light sensitive surface of its connected photocell 27 or 28 is blanked by a code mark 26.
  • the output signals from the flip-flops 43 and 44 which are respectively designated S, and 8,, comprise true square wave pulses as illustrated in lines b and c of FIG. 4, and can therefore be considered binary signals denoting either logic zero or logic one.”
  • S, and 8 comprise true square wave pulses as illustrated in lines b and c of FIG. 4, and can therefore be considered binary signals denoting either logic zero or logic one.
  • the inverter 45 the output 5, of the flip-flop 43 is connected with one input of the AND-gate 47.
  • the S, signal from the flip-flop 44 is similarly fed through the inverter 46 and thence to the other input terminal of the ANDgate 47. It will be evident that the AND-gate 47 puts out a "one signal whenever both S and S, are one; hence the output of that AND-gate has the same pattern as the 8, signal.
  • the output of AND-gate 47 is connected with one input terminal of the other AND-gate 48.
  • the other input terminal of AND-gate 48 has a connection through a line 49 with the output of the frame counting register 31. If the condition of the register 31 is other than zero" (i.e., so long as the strip is required to be moved through one or more frames), the output of the register that is applied to the line 49 is binary one" and therefore the and" condition of the AND-gate 48 is fulfilled each time it receives an S signal. This is to say that so long as the frame counting register 31 signifies that frames must be counted, the AND-gate 48 delivers a one" pulse to that register each time a frame passes the reading station. Such pulses reduce the contents of the frame counting register one by one, down to zero, from the number initially set into it by the computer 9.
  • the frame counting register 31 comprises a plurality of bistable flip-flops that provide a binary counter 52.
  • the counting register controls the feed phase switch 38, which comprises a pair of OR-gates 54 and 55.
  • the binary counter 52 is illustrated as consisting of 12 bistable flip-flops, arranged to respond to a numerically consecutive sequence of values, each double the value preceding it.
  • the sequence starts with the value one" and thus represents the known geometric progression series 2, 2, 2 2 etc.
  • the first five flipflops in the sequence, which together represent the value thirty-one," have their outputs connected with the input side of the OR-gate 54.
  • the next seven bistable flip-flops of the counter have their outputs connected with the other OR-gate 55, the output of which is binary one" so long as the contents of the counter is 32 or more.
  • the output 56 of the OR-gate 55 is connected with the summation point 37 and also with one input terminal of OR-gate 54. Hence the output ofOR- gate 54 will be binary one" so long as the contents of the counter represents any value greater than zero.
  • the computer 9 sets into the counter a value signifying the ini tial number of frames through which the strip must be moved to bring a selected frame to the reading station.
  • the counter has a connection with the frame counting logic circuit 33 (and, specifcally, with the output of the AND-gate 48) by which the value thus set into it is reduced by one each time a frame passes the reading station.
  • the "one" output ofthe OR-gate 55 that is fed to the summation point 37 represents the velocity demand value S, for the rapid feed phasef and prevails as long as the number of frames through which the strip must be moved is in excess of SI, which is to say that n, in this case has the value 32, and switch over from the f. phase to the f, phase occurs when the contents of the counter 52 changes from 32 to 31.
  • phase the demand value signal is supplied to the summation point 37 from the digital-toanalogue converter 39.
  • DlGlTAL-TO-ANALOGUE CONVERTER 39 The outputs of the first five bistable flip-flops of the counter 52 are further connected to the digital-toanalogue converter 39, which is adapted to produce a direct current output that has a magnitude which varies in correspondence with the contents of the counter 52.
  • the output side of the digital-analogue converter is connected to the summation point 37.
  • the magnitude of the output signal of the digital-analogue converter will correspondingly decrease in steps for values below 32, to provide a decreasing velocity demand value signal corresponding to S during the f, phase of strip movement.
  • the output S, of the digital-analogue converter is superimposed upon the 8, output signal from the OR-gate 55 through an impedance adapter, and the actual S, signal therefore has the stepped configuration shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 5.
  • the scale of this stepped S, voltage is greatly exaggerated relative to the rest of the figure, since the output signal from the digital-analogue converter is of negligible size relative to the output signal from the OR-gate 55.
  • the true value of the S, signal at the summing point 37 is substantially equal to that designated by S, in FIG. 5.
  • the S, output signal is disconnected from the summing point by reason of the "or" condition no longer being satisfied at the OR-gate 55, and the demand value at the summation point 37 will consist only of the downwardly stepped output signal S, from the digital-analogue converter, which in FIG. can be regarded as more nearly shown to scale than the S, signal.
  • the true value transducer 34 comprises a derivating circuit consisting of four differentiating units 59, 60, 61 and 62, together with an OR-gate 64, a monostable flipflop 65 and an integrating circuit 66. Its function is to provide a true velocity value signal which is compared at the summation point 37 with the demand value signal from the OR-gate 55 or the digital-analogue converter 39.
  • Each of the differentiating units 59-62 comprises a circuit derivating on the front edge, that is, it is adapted to differentiate the front edge of an entering pulse and thus produce as its output a brief impulse.
  • the outputs of the flip-flops 43 and 44 of the frame counting logic circuit 33 are respectively connected with the units 59, 60 for derivating on the front edge.
  • the outputs of the inverters 45, 46 are likewise respectively connected with the units 61, 62 for derivating on the front edge.
  • the four derivating units 59, 60, 61, 62 have their out puts connected with the four inputs of the OR-gate 64.
  • impulses are produced that correspond to both the front edge and the rear edge of each pulse signal S, and 8,. This is to say that there is an impulse for each end of each of the bars 260 and 26b associated with a frame, or four impulses per frame. These impulses are assembled in the OR-gate 64, the output of which thus has the pattern of impulses S, that is depicted at line d of FIG. 4.
  • the output of the OR-gate 64 is connected with the trigger input of the monostable flip-flop 65, which has a delay or recovery time 1'; hence for each impulse signal S; the monostable flip-flop 65 produces an output pulse S, having the width or duration r.
  • the frequency of these pulses is in direct relation to the speed of the strip, and in the present case is equal to four times the number of frames per second passing the reading position.
  • the output of the monostable flip-flop 65 is connected with the input side of the integrator 66, and the output side of the latter is connected with the summation point 37.
  • the integrator rectifies the pulsed input signal S, and produces a dc. output S. having a magnitude proportional to the strip velocity.
  • the signal S is fed to the summation point as a true value and is there compared with demand value signals from the frame counting register 31 and the digital-to-analogue converter 39.
  • the magnitude of the true value signal S can be varied in such manner as to influence the demand value signals S, and S,.
  • the brake signal transducer 40 produces a true value brake signal that varies with the actual velocity of the strip so as to apply the greatest braking energization when the strip is moving fastest and thus achieve smooth deceleration.
  • the brake signal transducer 40 produces no output.
  • the brake signal transducer comprises an AND-gate 69, a front edge derivating circuit 70, a monostable flip-flop 71 and an integrating circuit 72.
  • the AND-gate 69 has one of its input terminals connected with the monostable flip-flop 65 to receive the S, pulse signals therefrom, and its other input terminal is connected with the output line 56 from the 0R-gate 55 by way of an inverter 73.
  • the and" condition of the AND gate 69 is satisfied only when the output of OR-gate 55 is binary "zero"; hence the AND-gate 69 passes pulse signals from the monostable flip-flop 65 only when the contents of the counter 52 is less than the value #1,.
  • the signals emanating from the monostable flip-flop 71 are fed to the integrator 72, which integrates them into a d.c. output having a magnitude that varies with the frequency and the width of the pulse signals fed into it.
  • This d.c. is utilized as a brake signal, to control braking energization of the drive motor for the bobbin from which strip is being unwound.
  • the direction register 32 comprises two bistable flipflops 75 and 76. It cooperates directly with the feed and brake control 35, which comprises switching means 81, 82, 83 and 84.
  • the computer 9 sets the flip-flop 75 to its binary one" condition when the increasing" motor 22 is to be energized for running in its forward direction, while the flip-flop 76 is set to binary one" by the computer when drive in the decreasing direction is required.
  • the zeroing inputs of the flip-flops 75 and 76 are connected with the counter output line 49, so that whichever of those flip-flops has been set to one for a strip movement is reset back to its "zero condition when the contents of the counter 52 goes to zero.
  • the switching means 81 82, 83 and 84 that comprise the feed and brake control are in this case shown as field effect transistors. Those transistors have their output terminals connected with the input sides of amplifiers 78 and 79, which in turn have their outputs respectively connected with the motors 22 and 23.
  • the input side of the amplifier 78 is connected with two field effect transistors 81, 82, of which transistor 81 supplies an input to amplifier 78 for forward energization of the increasing" motor 22 while transistor 82 provides for braking energization of that motor.
  • the input to amplifier 79 is likewise controlled by two field effect transistors 83, 84, of which transistor 83 controls forward energization of the "decreasing" motor while transistor 84 provides for control of its braking energization.
  • the output of the increasing flip-flop 75 is connected with the control elements of transistors 81 and 83, so that those transistors can conduct when the increasing" flip-flop is in its binary one" condition.
  • the output of the decreasing" flip-flop 76 is connected with the control elements of transistors 82 and 84.
  • the summation point 37 is connected with the input terminals of transistors 81 and 84, so that when either of those transistors conducts, the forward energizing current that it applies to its associated drive motor has a magnitude that corresponds to the difference between demand and true values at the summation point.
  • the input terminals of transistors 83 and 82 are connected with the integrator 72 of the brake signal transducer 40; hence when either of those transistors conducts it causes a braking current to be applied to its associated motor, which current has a magnitude corresponding to the brake signal output of integrator 72,
  • the transistor 81 conducts to energize the increasing" motor 22 in its forward direction, and the magnitude of the energization of that motor is so controlled that its speed tends to be maintained in accordance with that signified by the demand value magnitude at the summation point 37.
  • the same "one" setting of the increasing" flip-flop renders the transistor 83 conductive, but there is no potential on its input terminal until the beginning of the deceleration phase fr, after which it conducts a braking current to the "decreasing motor" 23 that is proportioned to the output of the integrator 72 of the brake signal transducer 40.
  • the frame holding circuit 36 functions only when the contents of the frame counting register is zero, that is, during the period f, (FIGS. 2 and 5) when a selected frame is at the reading station.
  • the frame holding circuit 36 which serves to accurately center the frame at the reading station and to hold it there, comprises two additional field effect transistors 85 and 86, in cooperation with an inverter 91 and the frame centering photocells 29 and 30.
  • the transistors 85 and 86 have their output terminals respectively connected with the frame centering photocells 29 and 30. However, their control elements are connected with the output line 49 from the counting register 31, through the inverter 91; hence transistors 85 and 86 remain nonconducting until the counting register has been counted down to zero. They then apply energizing currents to the motors 22 and 23 as necessary to maintain equal areas of the photocells 29 and 30 blanked by end portions of the code mark 260 under the frame then in the reading position.
  • the strip moving apparatus should get out of synchronization with the computer 9 that controls it, conformity between the computer and the strip moving apparatus can be reestablished automatically.
  • the computer commands that the strip be fed to an end position, and by means of the special strip end marks mentioned above, in cooperation with a strip end control 92, the computer can be informed when it reaches the end position.
  • the computer thereupon zeroes the frame counting register and conformity is reestablished.
  • this invention provides a method and means for rapidly advancing to a reading station any selected frame or segment on a strip of film or the like having a large number of such frames or segments at uniform intervals along its length, and for accurately centering the selected frame or segment exactly at the reading station and maintaining it thus centered. It will also be apparent that the invention provides for rapid, stead-speed movement of the strip during an initial phase of every transit thereof through more than a predetermined number of segments, and provides for a steadily decreasing velocity of the strip whenever the number of segments to be moved past the reading station is equal to or less than said number, the velocity of the strip then being proportioned to the number of segments through which it must still be moved.
  • said drive means for the strip comprises a pair of reversible drive motors, each connected with one end of the strip, and switching means through which the motors can be selectively energized for forward and rearward operation, further characterized by:
  • D. discharge means connected with the pulse signal producing means and with the chargeable and dischargeable element for reducing the charge on said element by a magnitude corresponding to one distance unit each time a pulse signal is generated, so that the prevailing charge on said element always corresponds to the remaining number of distance units through which the movable member must still be moved;
  • E. first demand value signal means connected with the chargeable and dischargeable element and responsive to the charge thereon to produce a demand value signal that has a substantially constant magnitude whenever the magnitude of the prevailing charge on said element corresponds to more than a fixed critical number of distance units;
  • F. second demand value signal means connected with the chargeable and dischargeable element and responsive to the charge thereon to produce a variable demand value signal whenever the prevailing charge on said element corresponds to less than said critical number of distance units, and
  • variable signal has a magnitude that is comparable to that of the first mentioned demand value signal but varies at a substantially constant ratio to the magnitude of the charge on said element;
  • true value signal means connected with the pulse signal producing means, for producing a true value signal having a magnitude comparable with said magnitudes of the signals produced by the demand value signal means and which varies in substantial correspondence with the frequency of the pulse signals;
  • H means for producing an output signal having a magnitude corresponding to the difference between the prevailing true and demand value signals, the last named means being connected with said true value signal producing means and with said first and second demand value signal means;
  • input means connected with the output signal producing means and with the drive means for the movable member, for controlling the energizing input to said drive means in accordance with the magnitude of the output signal and in a manner that tends to maintain that magnitude at a predetermined value.
  • the drive means for the linearly movable member comprises a pair of drive means, each energizable for propelling the movable member in one direction of its motion and also energizable to decelerate the movable member when it is moving in the direction in which it is propelled by the other, further characterized by:
  • J. means for producing a second true value signal that varies in substantial correspondence with the frequency of the pulse signals, the last mentioned means being connected with the pulse signal producing means and also so connected with the chargeable and dischargeable element as to produce the second true value signal only at times when the charge on the said element corresponds to less than said fixed critical number of distance units;
  • K. means connected with the second true value signal producing means for applying to whichever of the drive means is appropriate for deceleration of the movable member an energization having a magnitude that is in substantially direct proportion to the second true value signal.
  • switching means operatively associated with the drive motors for selecting a motor to be drivingly energized in accordance with the direction in which the strip is to be moved;
  • F. means for impressing upon the counter an initial charge corresponding to the initial number of segments through which the strip must be moved to bring the selected segment to the station;
  • G. means providing a connection between the detector means and the counter whereby pulse signals are impressed upon the counter to discharge it by a unit step each time a segment passes the station, so that the charge on the counter will at any instant correspond to the number of segments that must pass the station in order to bring a selected segment thereto;
  • first demand signal means connected with the counter to be operative only when charges on the counter correspond to more than a predetermined number of segments to pass the station and which, when operative, produces a first demand value signal having a magnitude which is substantially constant and which corresponds to a high speed of strip movement;
  • I. second demand signal means so connected with the counter and so arranged as to be operative when charges on the counter correspond to less than said predetermined number, to produce a variable demand value signal having a magnitude that is in substantially direct proportion to the charge on the counter;
  • J. true value signal producing means connected with the detector means for producing a true value signal having a magnitude which is comparable to the magnitudes of said first demand value signal and said variable demand value signal and which corresponds to the prevailing lengthwise speed of the strip as reflected in the frequency of the pulse signals;
  • comparison means for comparing a demand value signal with a true value signal and for producing an output corresponding to the difference between them, said comparison means having an input terminal connected with both of the true value signal producing means and an output terminal connected with the switching means.
  • demand value means cooperating with the counter to produce a demand value signal that persists steadily while there is a charge on the counter but has a magnitude which varies in dependence upon the charge on the counter;
  • pulse signal means cooperating with the linearly movable member and comprising detector means at a fixed location for producing pulse signals at a frequency which is in a fixed ratio to the rate at which the movable member traverses distance units;
  • D. means connected with said pulse signal producing means and with the counter for applying a pulse signal to the counter, to effect a unit incremental discharge thereof, each time the member traverses a distance unit;
  • E. means connected with said pulse signal means for producing uniform duration pulses at a frequency that varies in a fixed ratio to the frequency of the pulse signals;
  • F. means for integrating said pulses and for producing a true value signal that persists steadily while said member moves but has a magnitude that varies in correspondence with the frequency of the pulse signals;
  • comparison means connected with said inte-grating means and with the demand value means for producing an energizing output having a magnitude which depends upon the difference in magnitudes of the true value and demand value signals, said comparison means having its output connected with the drive means.
  • derivating means connected with the pulse signal means and responsive to the initiation of each pulse ofa pulse signal to produce an impulse
  • a monostable flip-flop having a predetermined recovery time and which is connected with said derivating means to be changed from its normal state to its alternate state in response to each impulse.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
US00099849A 1969-12-22 1970-12-21 Rapid access to a selected segment of a strip information carrier Expired - Lifetime US3728685A (en)

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SE17680/69A SE331790B (de) 1969-12-22 1969-12-22

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US (1) US3728685A (de)
BE (1) BE760609A (de)
CH (1) CH524154A (de)
FR (1) FR2071995B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1328830A (de)
NL (1) NL7018734A (de)
SE (1) SE331790B (de)

Cited By (8)

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US4032897A (en) * 1975-11-18 1977-06-28 National Board Of Medical Examiners Interactive audiovisual display system
US4073011A (en) * 1976-08-25 1978-02-07 Del Mar Avionics Electrocardiographic computer
US4290089A (en) * 1977-12-12 1981-09-15 U.S. Philips Corporation Magnetic-tape cassette with tape counting roller
US4356521A (en) * 1979-10-18 1982-10-26 A. H. Hunt, III Magnetic tape position display system for a sound reproduction system
US4731679A (en) * 1984-09-20 1988-03-15 Ampex Corporation Method and apparatus for transporting a recording medium with an adaptive velocity change profile
US20070103279A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-10 Denso Corporation Antitheft system for vehicle
US20080219741A1 (en) * 2007-03-07 2008-09-11 Mcnestry Martin Tape drive
US20080219742A1 (en) * 2007-03-07 2008-09-11 Mcnestry Martin Tape drive

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FR2325989A1 (fr) * 1975-09-26 1977-04-22 Int Vibration Engin Dispositif de visualisation de signes, notamment pour l'actionnement ou le controle d'elements ou organes et cassettes de visualisation faisant partie du dispositif
FR2483090A1 (fr) * 1980-05-23 1981-11-27 Parisot Daniel Lecteur de microfiches a recherche automatique utilisant un microordinateur
FR2552960B1 (fr) * 1983-09-29 1994-05-13 Canon Kk Appareil d'affichage d'images

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4032897A (en) * 1975-11-18 1977-06-28 National Board Of Medical Examiners Interactive audiovisual display system
US4073011A (en) * 1976-08-25 1978-02-07 Del Mar Avionics Electrocardiographic computer
USRE29921E (en) * 1976-08-25 1979-02-27 Del Mar Avionics Electrocardiographic computer
US4290089A (en) * 1977-12-12 1981-09-15 U.S. Philips Corporation Magnetic-tape cassette with tape counting roller
US4356521A (en) * 1979-10-18 1982-10-26 A. H. Hunt, III Magnetic tape position display system for a sound reproduction system
US4731679A (en) * 1984-09-20 1988-03-15 Ampex Corporation Method and apparatus for transporting a recording medium with an adaptive velocity change profile
US20070103279A1 (en) * 2005-10-24 2007-05-10 Denso Corporation Antitheft system for vehicle
US7646287B2 (en) * 2005-10-24 2010-01-12 Denso Corporation Antitheft system for vehicle
US20080219741A1 (en) * 2007-03-07 2008-09-11 Mcnestry Martin Tape drive
US20080219742A1 (en) * 2007-03-07 2008-09-11 Mcnestry Martin Tape drive

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE760609A (fr) 1971-05-27
NL7018734A (de) 1971-06-25
GB1328830A (en) 1973-09-05
CH524154A (de) 1972-06-15
FR2071995B1 (de) 1973-02-02
SE331790B (de) 1971-01-11
FR2071995A1 (de) 1971-09-24

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