US3868178A

US3868178A - Audiovisual system

Info

Publication number: US3868178A
Application number: US405700A
Authority: US
Inventors: Panayotis C Dimitracopoulos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-11
Filing date: 1973-10-11
Publication date: 1975-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-25

Abstract

An audiovisual record having a spiral information track and an image-disc rotationally secured thereon. An audiovisual record comprising a support plate, an image-disc rotationally secured thereon and a sound-disc rotationally secured thereon. An audiovisual apparatus accepting for reproduction the abovereferred audiovisual records.

Description

O Umted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,868,178 Dimitracopoulos Feb. 25, 1975 [54] AUDIOVISUAL SYSTEM 3,432,230 3/1969 Glass et al. 353/19 3,582,201 6/1971 Lemelson 353/16 [761 invent Panaym Dlmltrampwhs, 3,730,618 5/1973 Dimitracopoulos 353/19 Lyford Cay, BOX N-7776, 3,751,150 8/1973 Roberts 353/19 Nassau, Bahamas 3,811,686 5/1974 Watanabe 274/9 C 22 Filed: Oct. 11, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter PP 405,700 Assistant ExaminerSteven L. Stephan [52] US. Cl 353/19, 40/28.1, 353/110, [57] ABSTRACT 353/120 An audiovisual record having a spiral information G03b 31/06, G031) 23/10 G031) 21/00 track and an image-disc rotationally secured thereon. [58] Field of Search 353/15, 16, 19,110, 120,

An audiovlsual record compr1s1ng a support plate, an 353/17, 18, 40/28.l, 28.2, 28.3

1mage-d1sc rotatronally secured thereon and a [56] References Cited sound-disc'rotauonally secured thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENTS An aud1ov1sual apparatus acceptmg for reproduction the above-referred audiovisual records. 2,925,753 2/1960 Schwartz et al. 353/19 2,961,922 11/1960 Schwartz et al. 353/19 29 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 2 5 lHYS sumaqgg FIG4" PATENTEB FEB 2 512. 5

\filll g rfwv fl O m Nm Ow Kw mm 4 AUDIOVISUAL SYSTEM FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to audiovisual records andto apparatuses accepting for reproduction these audiovisual records.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Slide projectors, that is projectors accepting for projection still image transparencies ofslides, have been widely accepted as an entertainment, educational, advertising and, in general, information-storing and reproduction medium. It has been also widely accepted that the addition of synchronized sound greatly increases the usefulness and value of projectors of all kinds, whether they are of the movie or still" variety.

The addition of synchronized sound to still images, or

slides, always posed considerable technical difficulties and originally the sound was contained in a totally separate medium, such as a separate phonographic record or magnetic tape. It is evident that as long as two separate media were employed, synchronization, in the accepted sense of the ,word, was impossible.

Several years ago, the inventor of the present invention solved the synchronization problem by associating a generous amount of audio information with each and every slide. In fact, according to the teachings of his U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,122,053, 3,122,054, 3,282,154, 3,302,520, 3,480,356, 3,644,032, 3,717,407, 3,730,618, etc. each and every one of his audiovisual tablets, of special construction andattributes, contains a stationary sound track, spirally disposed about a stationary, projectable, image.

In some cases however, it was found that this was not entirely satisfactory, and one single image and its associated sound was not sufficient, but instead, a series or sequence of projectable images with their accompanya ing sound was necessary. Accordingly, in his U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 500,753 and 500,754, the inventor of the instant invention taught the principles of an audiovisual disc incorporating a series of projectable images, disposed on an annular ring surrounding a spiral sound track, which also included special pulses for the step-like rotation of the disc, at the predetermined, desired, time intervals, in order to expose t0 the optical projection beam of a specially designed and constructed audiovisual reproduction apparatus, the individual images of the disc.

The arrangement of projectable images around a spiral track was dictated by technical considerations, such as the best use of the available space on the disc, consistent with the best disposition of the optical and audio components on the special audiovisual reproduction apparatus. It was later discovered that while the placing of the images around the sound track allowed a substantial area for each and every image (which, in turn,

resulted in good, clear and sharp projections), it in- I apparatus capable of audiovisually reproducing an audiovisual disc having a series of images disposed within an annular region surrounded by a spiral sound track. This permitted a more economical mass-reproduction of audiovisual records in some specific cases. lnthese two alternatives, i.e. images surrounding or surrounded by the sound track, both images and sound track are carried on a single audiovisual medium and this makes possible the economical mass-reproduction of the special records. There is one specific problem which may, or may not, be of great importance, namely that during the step-wise rotation of the audiovisual disc (in order to expose another image to the projection beam) the sound must be interrupted.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide special audiovisual records incorporating a se-. ries of projectable images and their accompanying sound, which records are capable of uninterrupted sound reproduction, even during the stepwise change of image.

It is a further object toprovide such an audiovisual record having a series of visually reproductable images and their associated sound arranged in a manner that makes possible an easy and economical manufacturing of these records.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such audiovisual records, each comprising a.

sound record having a spiral sound track and an imagedisc rotationally secured to the sound record about a point distinct and at a distance away from the center of the spiral track.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide audiovisual records, each comprising a support on which two separate discs, one sound disc and one image-disc, are rotationally mounted on separate centers, distinct and at a distance away from one another.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide audiovisual apparatuses of special design, construction and attributes, which readily accepts for audiovisual reproduction the special, novel, audiovisual records of the invention.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such novel apparatuses characteristic in that they have two distinct spindles, one sound-spindle and one image-spindle, thus enabling them to achieve a positive and efficient positioning of the two main components of the novel audiovisual records of the invention, namely the image-disc and the sound-record.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such novel apparatuses having novel arrangements of electromechanical components and parts which make possible an excellent sound reproduction from relatively simple and inexpensive records.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such novel apparatuses with novel arrangements of sound scanning components which make possible an excellent sound reproduction even from very thin and flexible sound records.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide novel audiovisual apparatuses-of simple construction, having their components arranged in a manner that makes possible massmanufacturing at greatly reduced costs.

Other objects of the invention will become evident from the ensuing description, illustrations and claims.

a t T r 1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE FIGURES 7 FIG. I is a plan view of one preferred embodiment of i an audiovisual record accordingfto the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of a simplifiedver- I ing for example, a pin,-which may engage suchholets),

notche('s), perforation(s) indentationts), or the'like, in i I I order to impart to the disc the required step-like'rosion of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, with some parts removed to facilitatethez,

tation. I

FIGS. 3 and 4,,illustrate another embodimentof an audiovisual information device accoring to the inven- V 7 tion, substantially similar to the above described except description. FIG. 3 is a plan viewof another preferred embodiment of an. audiovisual record according to the,

invention. 7 i

FIG. 4 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 4-4 r no.3.

no. 5 is a view,similar to'FlG. 2, of another simplified embodiment of anotherapparatus according to the invention particularlysuited to accept, audiovisualre- V cords according to the invention, such as those shown. in FIGS. 3 and 4. t

that the sheet is discshaped, essentially in the usual I phonographic fashion, and that both sheet 10 and disc 11 are bearingly supportedion .suport. member 21; and 1 7 may thusnfreely and independently rotate about their DESCRIPTIONOF PREFERRED EMsoon/iENfrs The invention will now be described in some detail in a connection with specific embodiments of both the.

novel audiovisual information devices and the novel apparatuses accepting for audiovisual reproduction these novel audiovisual devices. The ensuingdescriptions will be based on simple forms of such devices and apparatuses, but other, different, or more complex versions and modifications are evidently possible within" the spirit ofthe invention. I 7

FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 illustrate twoembodiments ofnoyel audiovisual information devices according to the invenrespective bearings 15 and I6. ThesebJearings, l5 and 16 may, again be as complex 'orlsirnple' as desired, and may be optionally be simple eyelets; Sheet 10 and disc f 11 may be in. all'respects'similar to tlieir equivalent members described. in connection with FIG. 1 thatis,

sheet 10 carries the sound track and discfll the images 14 and optionally gone or more notches, indentations, perforations, etc. for example a series. of holes 17, lo-

cated as shown or. as more generally described in con i nection'withFIG. M

The: support'member 2lwmay betof any convenient 7 type, shape, form or size and may be equal, smaller or larger. than the cornbined sizes ofmembers 10 and 11,

but, for illustrative purposes, it is shown in FIG. 3 and i 4 asbeingfairly small and rectanguler in shape. Furthermore, and simply as a matter of design choice, it is shown as being thicker on the side facing the. sheet 10,

' the extra thickness beinganintegral part of support 21,

tion.,Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seentha't it consists of essentially two pa.rts, rotationally connected to one.

another, Thus, numeral 10 designates a substantially flat (and optionally thin) sheet or plate having a spiral sound track 12. Substantiallyat the centerofthe spiral, sheet 10 may, optionally, be formed with an aperture,

; or hole, or perforation l6. Thesound track itself may be of any convenient type,.for example, phonographic,

magnetic, optical, electrostatic, etc. The actual shape ofsheet IO'may be'rectangularias illustrated in FIG. 1,

orbeing'provided during the manufacturing or molding i process,.for example by spacer 23. It now becomes evidevice. But, in the final analysis, the eyelet'lfimay be disc-shaped as illustrated in FIG. 3, or may be-of any convenient or desired. shape and form,-as dictated by design, marketing and manufacturing considerations.

Image-disc 11 is rotationally mounted on sheet 10 for example by means of simple bearing means 15. Such.

' firmly crimped and/or sheetIO'may be laminated, ce-

tment'ed or otherwise bonded to supportll, in which case, only'disc 11 is freely rotating and in this case, the

' embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 3 and '4 becomes simbearing means are again a matter of design choice and in one of their simplest forms may consist of an eyelet.

Disc 11 carries a series of images 14, disposed in aniannular region, substantially concentric to bearing 15, in other words allsuch images aresubstantially equidis tant from the center of bearing 15. Disc 11 may also be formed with, orcarry. oneor more indentation, perfo ration, or the like,-employable in the reproduction ap paratus for the step-wise rotation of the'disc inorder to expose successive images to a projection beam. for example, a series of holes 17, all equidistant from the central axis of bearing 15 mayconveniently exist ori disc 11 for this purpose. The location of theseholes, indem tations, or perforations, may be anywhere on disc 11 and not necessarily as shown in the FIGS. 1 and 3, that is, thay may be inside or outside the annular area of images 14, including the very edge of the disc, in which case they may take the form of notches. .And agaimjust one .(or two or more) notcheIs), hole(s)-,. perforation(s), indentation(s), orcombinations of them,may

be sufficient. In this case,the reproduction'apparatus 7 may conveniently have a rotating link, or wheel, :carrydentation or perforation. In the final analysis, the exis-' 'tence of such hole, indentation, eyelet, etc.,is entirely optional. V ,3 1 r The above described audiovisual information. device ply another alternative arrangementof the device illus-' trated in FIG. 1, with the optional exception that it al i low, a morecompact device by optionally again placing the beari ng ,within, or, under, the sound :spiral. Of 1 course, when support -21-and sheet 10. are bonded to-- gethenas above described, and thus (or. otherwise)! form one single piece, the eyelet16 becomes entirely optional and maybe substituted by the usualphonographic hole or any other type of holeor locating in may be conveniently employed with" the special apparatus, of novelconstruction and attributesto be presently described. Thus, FIG. 2 illustrates in a somewhat schematic and over-simplified manner,,the vertical crosssection of an embodiment of an apparatus accordingto the invention, particually suited for the. audiovisual reproduction of devicesasthose previously-described in connection with'FIGS. l, 2 and 3. Numeral '20 generally designates the frame and/or housing of the apparatus. The sheet! of the audiovisual'device is supported transducer 42. Facing the sound track 12 is turntable 30 which rotates about shaft or spindle 31, in the usual,

phonographic fashion. Spindle 31 is fixedly secured to the frame or housing of the apparatus, for example by flange 33 and thus pass through hole 16 of sheet to I properly locate the spiral sound track in relation to the rotating transducer. If hole 16 is large, (such as that currently employed ,in the 45 rpm phonographic records) or if such hole 16 is of other than circular shape, then it might be more convenient to engage such a hole with an appropriately shaped extension, or hub, of flange 33. It must be evident that the spiral sound track remains stationary and the transducer rotates. Therefore, transducer 42 is mounted on arm 38, which ispivotally attached to turntable 30 in the usual phonographic manner, i.e. about two mutually perpendicular axis, allowing the arm the usual two degrees of free dom. Alternatively the arm may be of the, radical, pantographic. or anyof the several other types well-known in the art. Similarly, the transducer may be of the phonographic, magnetic etc. type depending on the type of sound track employedbut, in all cases, the workingend" of such transducer, such as the stylus 44, is in sound-reproducing relation with the sound track 12, in

6. member) and this may be accomplished in several ways known in the art, such as motors and belts, wheels, gears, etc., for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, by means of electric motor 73, and rubber-rimmed wheel 71 (mounted on the motor shaft or, still better, ar-

ranged as an idler-wheel, in the well known manner) I contacting and imparting rotational motion to turntable 30.

It is necessary to selectively rotate the disc 11 in a step-wise fashion in order to expose successive images 14 to the projection beam and, for this purpose, any of the well known means may be conveniently employed, for example reciprocating links, toothed gears, etc.., the final selection being again a matter of design choice but, as an example, a simple arrangement will be described, this arrangement not being necessarily the best but being convenient for descriptive purposes: a toothed wheel 77 inclined at an angle with respect to the plane of disc 11, may engage the perforations of the disc 11. Toothed wheel 77 may be coaxially secured and turn with gear 74, which meshes with pinion gear 75 carried on the shaft of small motor 76, mounted on bracket 78, secured directly or indirectly, on the frame order to follow this spiral track and reproduce the information contained therein. It isconvenient, although not entirely necessary, to provide another shaft or spindle to engage the central hole of bearing 15 of disc 11, in order to provide a stable and dependable locating and rotational support to this image-carrying disc 11.

In order to optically scan the image 14 of the disc 11, an appropriate assembly must be provided, for example, the optical assembly illustrated in FIG. 2, comprising projection lamp 50, condensing lenses S2 and pro-, jection cell 56, all supported by appropriate supports such as

brackets

53,54, and 58. In thisarrangement, the condensing lens assembly 52 directs the light emitted by lamp 50 onto image 14, while projection cell 56 focuses the imaging rays emerging from image 14 onto a projection screen, which may be housed within the apparatus (for example, a rear screen") or may be placed elsewhere. The above described arrangement of optical components must be considered as an example of the several variations and types possible and was only used for descriptive purposes. For example, a prism or mirror may be placed after, the projection lens 56 to bend the imaging rays and direct them in the desired path and onto a projection screen. It is also evident that the illuminating source and condensing lens system may be over the disc 11 and the projection lens cell 56 under it, all this according to well known in the art principles and within the spirit of the invention, the actual number, disposition and arrangement of components being a matter of design choice.

Since the transducer rotates and the sound track is stationary, it is necessary to conduct the electric signals generated by the transducer to the electronicequ ipment and for this purpose, a slip-ring arrangement 61 and brushes 62 may be conveniently provided, in the well known manner.

An appropriate mechanism must be provided to impart the necessary rotational movement to turntable 30, (or generally, to the rotating, transducer-carrying or housing of the apparatus.

Activation of motor 76 may be conveniently triggered by means of command information or pulses contained in the sound track, this sound track being of the monoral, two-channel or any other type, and when more than one channel is provided, one channel may conveniently carry the command information and the other channel(s) the sound information.

An audiovisual information device such as that illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and above-described in some detail, mayalso be conveniently placed for audiovisual reproduction in. the above-described apparatus. Whether the disc 10 of FIG. 3 rotates about bearing 16 or not is of no importance, since the disc 10 will be held immovable in the apparatus of FIG. 2 and the information-scanning transducer willrotate and scan the information contained in the spiral information track. But it is also possible to provide another type of novel apparatus, such as that illustrated in FIG. 6, in which the support 21 is held immovable on apparatus. support plate 26 by means of

spindles

31 and 35 and/or otherwise and a rotational movement is imparted to,disc 10 by means of an appropriate arrangement, such as a turntable or two opposed rollers and 86 which contact and i engage from opposite sides the disc 10. In this manner, the disc 10 is pinched between these two rollers, at least one of which is rotationally driven by well known means, not shown. Since the disc 10 rotates, the trans ducer does not have to also rotate but may be. carried on an appropriate arm, in the conventional and well known phonographic manner. In other respects the apparatus of FIG. 5 may be substantially similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2 and therefore same numerals designate similar parts and components.

If the disc 10 is thin and flexible, it might be better i to substitute the conventional phonographic arm with slightly bent records. I H I r I c r The invention has been describedby eference to few specific embodiments thereof, however, it will be tion reproduction even i 3386mm means not shown and .thus the disc 10 is pinchedfin a pincers-likefashion, between, the'transducer andthe pad. This Pincers-like" arrangementpermits excep 'tionally good contactbetweenthe worlcing endof a transducer andthe sound track and therefore makes possible excellent informationscanning" veffieiencyif} which, in turn, results in excellentsound and informael' from thin, flexible, and even understood that the principles of the invention can be carriedout by variations; modifications andcombinw tions of theabove-described embodimentsofthe inven-' tionand therefore it is not intendedto exclude such 1 variations, modifications and" combinations which properly fall within the spi'rit of the invention.

Thus, images 14 maynot necessarily be of the photo- I V graphic or diapositive type but maygenerally be of any visually-reproduceable imaging-information type. By

thisit is meant that the images may not be readily recpriate electronic, optical, electro-optical, etcldevices,

of the invention.

fognizable by the naked eye'but may be of a type which a may be converted into a recognizable image by appro which maybe optionally; incorporated in the apparatus The term sound track was often used inthe above descriptions andthis term will also includepuls'es and any other desirable form of information. Therefore wherever the term sound track is employed, it will be understood that the more general term informations track may be substituted; This informationtrack may V be of any desirable type suc h phonographicymag-" netic, electrostatic, etc. andthe scanning transducer of the apparatus will be of an appropriate type specifically suited to the particular "type of informationtraclt em ployed. I

In the, description of the apparatus mentioned that the transducer 42 was mounted on an ter of fact, a turntable is not an essentialqelement, the only requirement being that the transducer 42. rotates of FIG.,2 it was arm 38, pivotally secured to turntable 30,:butasa mat about the axisofthe spiral track and anymeanswhich accomplishes this is equally acceptable. Forexample, the arm 38 may be supported on a simple link rotating abouta shaft whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of the information track.

7 When describing the novel apparatuszanddevices of the invention, emphasis was placed in the important" and/or novel features and therefore,both in the de 7 scription and the illustrations parts well known in the i art were omitted. For example, wires and cables providing electric current to motors and lamps and/or interconnecting electrical;components wereomitted. For I the same reasons, ,theelectronic. and amplification components were not mentioned or illustrated, nor

were specific housings and frames, but, it isevident that V, electronic components, mechanical frames'and appro priate housings may be employed, asdesired and as required. i 7' i in the information I 4 andparticually in the embodiment in which the disc 10 rotates about bearing means 16, it is evidentthat the spiral information track 1 2, could also be placed on the devices illustrated on FlGS. 3 and i surface of the sound disc. lflzfacing the image disc 11 J What is claimed is said spiral.

disc 'andsaidspiral track to overlap...

V 2.An"audiovisual" information.device according to "claim 1, wherein said spiralisound track is'disposedon a'disc-shaped member which isyalso rotationallysupported on said record forrotation about saidxcenteraof 3.Antaudiovisual information device. according to.

claim 1,. includingsecond means on said image-disc,. employableiby the reproduction apparatus in which" said device is used, forthe step-wise rotation of saidim "age-disc." i i Anau perforations.

" 5; An audiovisual"informationdevice according'to claim '3, wherein said. second means include at least one perforation.

' -Q6'. An audiovisual information device accordingwto claim I, wherein said sound record has-a hole substan tially coinciding with said center of said spiral.

7. An audiovisualinformation device according to i claim 2, wherein said member has a-hole 1 substantially coinciding withsaidcenter of said spiral. V

' ,8. An audiovisual information deviceaccordingto claimxl, whereinsaid sound record is substantially rectangularsshapedf p r g i a 9. An audiovisual information device according to claim 1, wherein said. sound track contains command information, employable in the reproductionapparatus in which said'device isused'for triggeringa step-wise rotationof said irnage-disc,jin order to expose success sive images thereof to aprojection bearn in said appara tus.

mand pulses. V

11. An "audiovisual information "device according to claim 9, whereinsaid sound track includesimore than one channel, I

'12. An audiovisual information device including two separate disc-shaperlrecording media namely one sound-disc and one image disc; said sound disc having i a spiral sound trackdisposed substantially 'coaxially to r the center of saidsound'disc and said im age disc having aseries of projectable images disposed substantially withinan annularregioncoaxial to; the center of said image-disc, a support member, means mounting both said im age-discjaand saidsound-disefor'rotationonsaid support member saidjrotation being about their'respective centers, which, are radially spaced-apart a distan'ce which causes said image-discandsaidsp iral track tooverlap.

, l3.-"An audiovisual apparatus accepting'for audiovisual reproductiongan audiovisual information device a comprising one sound. record having a ispiralgsou'nd track -and,at a distance radially away from the center I diovisual informationdevice a'cco'rdingto claim 3, wherein .saidsecond means includea series of audiovisual information device according to claim'9, whereinsaidcommand inforrnation is com- 7 9 of said spiral, bearingly supporting for rotation thereon, an image-disc having a series of projectable images dis.- posed within an annular region coaxial to its center of rotation; said apparatus including:

a. a rotating transducer which engages and follows said track in a sound-scanning relationship;

b. optical projection means directed onto at least one of said images to optically scan and retrieve therefrom the imaging information contained therein;

c. spindle means, whose axis is at a distance away from the center of rotation of said transducer, engaging said image-disc at its said center of rotation;

d. record-supporting means supporting said sound record but leaving said track exposed to said rotating transducer.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, including a second spindle means engaging an aperture located ,concentrically to said center of said spiral on said sound record.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, including moving means, engageable with said image-disc, for its stepwise rotation in order to expose successive images to said projection means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second spindle means also bearingly support said rotating transducer.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second spindle means is coaxial to the axis of rotation of said transducer.

18. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transducer is first mounted on an arm, in substantially the phonographic fashion, and said arm is in turn mounted on a rotating member.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said rotating member is a turntable.

20. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a projection lens system is focused on at least one of said images to project it onto a projection screen.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said projection screen is included in said apparatus. 7

22. Apparatus according to claim 13, including a housing containing said apparatus.

23. An audiovisual apparatus accepting for audiovisual reproduction an'audiovisual information device comprising a support member rotationally supporting thereon, on radially. spaced-apart centers of rotation, one sound-disc having a spiral sound track coaxially disposed about its centers of rotation and one imagedisc having a series of images disposed substantially within an annular region coaxial to the center of rotation of said image-disc; said apparatus including:

a. support means immovably supporting said support member;

b. spindle means coaxial to said center of rotation of said sound disc;

0. second spindle means coaxial to said center of rotation of said image-disc;

d. an optical beam directed onto at least one of said images to'optically scan the imaging information contained therein;

e. driving means for rotating said sound disc;

f. a transducer engaging said sound track in an information-scanning relationship.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said driving means include a pair of opposed rollers pressing between them said sound-disc, at least one of said rollers being rotationally driven.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, including moving means, engagable with said image disc for its stepwise rotation in order to expose successive images to said beam.

26. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said transducer is mounted on an arm in substantially the phonographic fashion.

27. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said transducer is mounted on one of the two legs of a U- shaped arm, carrying a pad on its other leg, said pad and said transducer facing one another and pressing between them said sound-disc in a pincers-like fashion.

28. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a projection lens is focused onat least one of said images.

29. Apparatus according to claim 23, including a housing containing said apparatus.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,868,178 DATED Feb. 25, 1975 IHVENTOMSI P. C. Dimitracopoulos it is aerhhed that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below- Col; 1, line 10, change "of" to --or-- Col, 6, line 42, change "Fig. 6" to --Fig. 5--

Col, 10 (claim 23), line 6, change "(x-enters! to --center-- Signed and Sealed this twenty-second Day Of July 1975 A ttest.

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Amsling Offl'fl Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks

Claims

1. An audiovisual information device comprising at least two distinct recording media, including one sound-record and one image-disc, said sound-record having a spiral sound track thereon and said image-disc having a series of projectable images disposed substantially within an annular region substantially coaxial to the center of said image-disc, means mounting said image disc on said sound-record for rotational movement about said center of said image disc, said center of said image-disc and the center of said spiral being radially spaced-apart a distance which causes said image-disc and said spiral track to overlap.

2. An audiovisual information device according to claim 1, wherein said spiral sound track is disposed on a disc-shaped member which is also rotationally supported on said record for rotation about said center of said spiral.

3. An audiovisual information device according to claim 1, including second means on said image-disc, employable by the reproduction apparatus in which said device is used, for the step-wise rotation of said image-disc.

4. An audiovisual information device according to claim 3, wherein said second means include a series of perforations.

5. An audiovisual information device according to claim 3, wherein said second means include at least one perforation.

6. An audiovisual information device according to claim 1, wherein said sound record has a hole substantially coinciding with said center of said spiral.

7. An audiovisual information device according to claim 2, wherein said member has a hole substantially coinciding with said center of said spiral.

8. An audiovisual information device according to claim 1, wherein said sound record is substantially rectangular-shaped.

9. An audiovisual information device according to claim 1, wherein said sound track contains command information, employable in the reproduction apparatus in which said device is used for triggering a step-wise rotation of said image-disc, in order to expose successive images thereof to a projection beam in said apparatus.

10. An audiovisual information device according to claim 9, wherein said command information is command pulses.

11. An audiovisual information device according to claim 9, wherein said sound track includes more than one channel.

12. An audiovisual information device including two separate disc-shaped recording media, namely one sound-disc and one image-disc, said sound disc having a spiral sound track disposed substantially coaxially to the center of said sound-disc and said image-disc having a series of projectable images disposed substantially within an annular region coaxial to the center of said image-disc, a support member, means mounting both said image-disc and said sound-disc for rotation on said support member, said rotation being about their respective centers, which are radially spaced-apart a distance which causes said image-disc and said spiral track to overlap.

13. An audiovisual apparatus accepting for audiovisual reproduction an audiovisual information device comprising one sound record having a spiral sound track and, at a distance radially away from the center of said spiral, bearingly supporting for rotation thereon, an image-disc having a series of projectable images disposed within an annular region coaxial to its center of rotation; said apparatus including: a. a rotating transducer which engages and follows said track in a sound-scanning relationship; b. optical projection means directed onto at least one of said images to optically scan and retrieve therefrom the imaging information contained therein; c. spindle means, whose axis is at a distance away from the center of rotation of said transducer, engaging said image-disc at its said center of rotation; d. record-supporting means supporting said sound record but leaving said track exposed to said rotating transducer.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, including a second spindle means engaging an aperture located concentrically to said center of said spiral on said sound record.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, including moving means, engageable with said image-disc, for its step-wise rotation in order to expose successive images to said projection means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said projection screen is included in said apparatus.

23. An audiovisual apparatus accepting for audiovisual reproduction an audiovisual information device comprising a support member rotationally supporting thereon, on radially spaced-apart centers of rotation, one sound-disc having a spiral sound track coaxially disposed about its centers of rotation and one image-disc having a series of images disposed substantially within an annular region coaxial to the center of rotation of said image-disc; said apparatus including: a. support means immovably supporting said support member; b. spindle means coaxial to said center of rotation of said sound disc; c. second spindle means coaxial to said center of rotation of said image-disc; d. an optical beam directed onto at least one of said images to optically scan the imaging information contained therein; e. driving means for rotating said sound disc; f. a transducer engaging said sound track in an information-scanning relationship.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, including moving means, engagable with said image disc for its step-wise rotation in order to expose successive images to said beam.

27. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said transducer is mounted on one of the two legs of a U-shaped arm, carrying a pad on its other leg, said pad and said transducer facing one another and pressing between them said sound-disc in a pincers-like fashion.

28. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a projection lens is focused on at least one of said images.