Abstract: An automatic disc handling system and method for retrieving and positioning information carrying discs between a storage position to a position of use is described. A displaceable robot having a pair of robotic arms is controlled by a computer connected to a robot controller and instructed to move to discrete positions, either in front of storage racks where a plurality of superposed sliding trays containing one or more discs are stored, or to a plurality of playback units disposed at a position of use to move selected ones of the disc to and from these positions as requested by a person accessing the discs from a remote station. The robot is provided with a tray engaging element to move the tray in and out of its storage position, and the robotic arms of the robot are each provided with a picker mechanism to engage and remove the discs from the trays or the playback units and transport them to effect a function as dictated by the computer and the robot controller.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for optically scanning a bar code particularly a bar code provided on a generally transparent or translucent media through which light can be projected. In particular, the invention is directed to a system for optically scanning a bar code provided on the edge of picture film, preferably motion picture film. The system includes a light source on one side of the generally transparent media and an arrangement for moving the media past the light source such that the bar code interrupts the light and produces a modulated light signal according to the characteristics of the bar code on the opposite side of the media. An optically sensing arrangement is provided on the opposite side of the media for sensing the modulated light signal and includes at least two sensors spaced in the direction of movement of the generally transparent media. With this arrangement, the signal output of the sensors are shifted in time according to the spacing between the sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading variable area optically encoded soundtracks has a light source, a lens system and a detector. The detector can be a linear array, for example a CCD array, with an integral slit, with the lens system imaging the soundtrack in the plane of the slit. The apparatus includes circuitry for processing the detector output signal. The processing circuitry can be provided with a feedback control circuit to condition the detector output signal so that the resulting audio signal is not affected by variations in the film or electronic components. Further, a circuit can be included for detecting whether an analogue or digital soundtrack is present, and automatically switching the output of an amplification circuit between analogue and digital outputs.

Abstract: A method is provided for assessing the effect of exposure conditions on the recording and reproduction of an optical sound track, comprising,a) providing the optical sound track with an image test pattern which is an image of a desired test pattern, the image test pattern being configured such that the image test pattern will induce a photosensor device to generate a test signal which repetitively alternates between two different states, the image test pattern being applied to the track under predetermined exposure conditions,b) optically scanning the optical sound track with the photosensor device to generate, in response thereto, the test signal which repetitively alternates between two different states,c) comparing the duration of one of the states with duration of the other state so as to obtain a time difference value, andd) comparing the so obtained time difference value with a predetermined time difference value associated with the desired test pattern, any departure from the predetermined time differe