Abstract: In an optical storage system where an information bearing surface moves relative to a read/write head the latter includes a transparent body in which light beams sent to and from the surface are guided by multiple internal reflections. Beam shaping and focussing is effected by optical elements integrated in the surface of the body at the locations where the internal reflections occur. A distortion free imaging system is obtained with two series-arranged aspheric reflection surfaces which focus the beam on the information bearing surface. The separation of the input and the reflected beam paths is achieved with a polarizing beam splitter and an associated quarter-wave layer. For readout of a magneto-optic information bearing surface a nonperfect polarizing beam splitter is used in connection with a differential detection scheme to increase the signal to noise/ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording, reproducing and erasing data or information on a magneto-optical recording medium, for applying a steady magnetic field to the recording medium and for applying a variable magnetic field, a portion of the apparatus for applying the magnetic field being integrated into a recording head and and the record head being disposed on different sides of the recording medium, this results in the miniaturization of the means for applying the magnetic field to the recording medium and the apparatus presents an excellent recording/erasure property.

Abstract: A vehicle information apparatus for recording, computation and display of data ascertainable from the driving performance of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a transmitter module for providing data concerning a trip, a central unit with internal program and data memories and a display device. The vehicle information apparatus is coupled with the operating mechanism of a radio cassette set for playback of data information stored on an audio data carrier. The transmitted data are separated in a signal input and output stage of the apparatus, stored and displayed. The audio data carrier is repeatedly loaded with topical information and serves particularly for the distribution of instructions prior to the start of a driver's shift in a taxi or transportation vehicle fleet.

Abstract: A multiline telephone answering system includes a playback deck for supplying a prerecorded message and a plurality of interface units for interconnecting a plurality of telephone lines and the playback deck. Each interface unit is associated with a particular telephone line and supplies a start signal to the playback deck when its associated line is ringing. Each interface unit is responsive to the state of the playback deck for connecting its line to the playback deck only at the start of the prerecorded message and inhibits the connection between the playback deck and its telephone line unless that telephone line is ringing at the start of the prerecorded message.

Abstract: A display for providing visual indications of the lengths of recorded messages, the positions of recorded instructions and the present relative location of a record medium. Three separate arrays are provided for these indications, respectively. Each recorded message may be a letter, note, memo, etc., and is indicated by steady-state energization of segments included in a first (letter) array. "Priority" messages are represented by a distinctive indication, such as by flashing the appropriate segments in that array. Similarly, "normal" and "special" instructions are represented by two different, distinctive indications, such as steady-state and flashing energization of particular segments in a second (instruction) array.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical memories making use of optical interaction between an incident ray and an information medium (83) capable of having data written thereon and of having data read therefrom, which data is organized in a adjacent track elements which are marked by prerecorded patterns. The invention provides an information medium (83) and a reader device therefor (84, 85, 86, 87, 88) including means (89, 91, 92, 93, 94) for sampled tracking of the track elements on the basis of patterns which are offset from the track scan line, said patterns forming discontinuous periodic wave sequences whose offset edges are symmetrically disposed about the middle of the inter-track gap. The invention is particularly applicable to optical memories using a preformated disk capable of recording, of being read, and where appropriate of being erased, with data in digital form.

Abstract: An optical head for optical storage and readout of information on or from an optical recording medium using a light beam comprises a single substrate having a waveguide on one of its opposite surfaces, a deflector portion disposed on the substrate to deflect the light beam passing through the waveguide at an adjustable angle, and a converging portion for converging the light beam to be emitted from the waveguide. The converging portion comprises a plurality of convergence electrodes which are disposed on a part of the waveguide. The convergence electrodes are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the light beam through the part of the waveguide such that the part of the waveguide possesses, as a consequence of an electrooptic effect, a distribution of refractive index which permits adjustment of the focal point of the converged light beam.

Abstract: In an automatic telephone answering system which records and reproduces an outgoing message to be sent to a calling party and an incoming message from the calling party on a recording medium, such as magnetic tape, a single-tone test signal from a touch tone signal generator is recorded on the tape as a cue signal to indicate a position of one of the incoming and outgoing messages. The single-tone signal is also used for a variety of signals in the operation of the automatic telephone answering system, such as a beep tone, an instruction signal and an alarm signal. The reproduced cue signal which is within an audio band is discriminated from an audio signal representing the outgoing or incoming message by a phase-locked loop having a narrow capture range and a loop filter with a prolonged time constant.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for providing an economical telephone toll service in which a telephone subscriber selects the economical service by, for example, sending an appropriate signal, and then dials his directory assistance call or other telephone toll call. After the caller's options are determined and typically before signaling for the call is commenced, a recorded-announcement of an aural or visual nature is connected to the subscriber's line, the announcement consisting of at least one advertisement. The advertisements are selected from a databank according to some predetermined technique of selection, which may include any number of factors or features to make the service attractive to subscribers and of a nature to make the service also sufficiently rewarding to advertisers.

Abstract: The system comprises an apparatus for signalling to a party on hold that the hold initiating party is ready to continue conversation. As soon as the hold initiating party places the other party on hold, the party on hold activates the system which causes a pre-recorded message to be transmitted back to the hold initiating party. The pre-recorded message invites the hold initiating party to produce a DTMF signal tone. The DTMF signal activates a tone detector which turns off the message generator and produces an audio and visual signal to alert the party on hold. In this manner the party on hold is free to pursue normal activities until such time as the hold initiating party is ready to talk.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering device has a timer energized when the device is set in a mode other than an automatic standby mode. A time-out output from the timer upon elapse of a preset timer's time and an output corresponding to a ringing signal are supplied to an AND gate. The device is controlled to automatically make an engaging loop circuit in response to an output from the AND gate and works as a telephone answering device to answer a call.

Abstract: In an automatic telephone answering and recording device which detects a pause between words during recording the outgoing message tape to identify the end of the outgoing message and switch the incoming message tape T-2 to record an incoming message, if there is a pause that occurs within a couple of seconds from the start of the tape during recording of the outgoing message, the incoming message tape T- 2 is not switched on. However, if there is a pause after a couple of seconds from the start, the incoming message tape T-2 is turned on to record an incoming message. This makes it possible for a general user to record the outgoing message through a microphone or from a distant location without concern that any inadvertent hesitation in the outgoing message will turn on the incoming message tape T-2 early.

Abstract: A system for automatic telephone answering picture/sound recording and a device therefor records both a television program and an incoming message from a calling party on a common video tape. Upon detection of a telephone ringing signal, the telephone line is engaged and then, to effect picture/sound recording of a telecast, the video tape is set in a standby mode, and at the same time an outgoing message is transmitted. Upon completion of the transmission of the outgoing message, the standby mode is cancelled to operate the recording section and then the incoming message is recorded on the video type. Further, restoration to a standby mode is made after the message recording is completed.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering device having a conversation recording function has at least one tape cassette operative in a telephone answering mode to reproduce an outgoing message to a calling party and to record incoming messages in a standard manner, in response to an incoming call when the cassette is in a first position in the device. When the cassette is removed from the device, inverted reinserted so that the cassette is in a second position, the device is automatically operative in a conversation recording mode to record conversations between the calling and called parties. If more than a predetermined period of time elapses between the end of a conversation and the start of the next conversation or turning over of the cassette to provide a standby mode, an alarm is triggered.

Abstract: An electronic dispatch board for use with a voice message recording-playback machine. The dispatch board lights certain lamps responsive to signals sent from the message recording-playback machine when a message has been placed in a certain voice mailbox. The dispatch board is comprised of a serial-to-parallel converter, a board address comparator, an address signal verifier, a lamp driver, and a plurality of lamps. The address signal verifier determines if a valid address signal has been received from the message recording machine. A number of dispatch boards may be simultaneously connected to the same message recording machine. The board address comparator in each dispatch board determines if the address signal from the message recording machine is meant for that particular dispatch board. If a valid address signal has been received, a certain lamp is set to an on, off or blink state.

Abstract: An optical disk duplicating apparatus comprises reproducing means for reproducing user's data recorded on a first optical disk, adding means for adding sector data identification information indicative of the state of using sectors in recording tracks on the first optical disk to the reproduced user's data, recording means for recording the user's data on a second optical disk, and transfer means for transferring the user's data and the sector data identification information to the recording means.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording or reproducing information in or from an optical disc, has a semiconductor laser system, a split photosensor, a signal processing circuit, and a disc controller with a CPU and a memory. Defective sectors of the optical disc are detected, and information recording/reproduction is performed for only nondefective sectors.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering/recording apparatus and a method of operating the same are provided. The apparatus has three operation buttons consisting of an outgoing message tape operation button, an automatic telephone answering/recording aspparatus operation button, and an incoming message tape operation button. When the apparatus operation buton is depressed, the automatic telephone answering/recording apparatus is set in the answering/recording standby mode. An outgoing message tape can be set in the play, stop, rewind, or fast forward mode in accordance with the number of times of depressions of the outgoing message tape operation button. Similarly, an incoming message tape can be set in the play, stop, rewind, or fast forward mode in accordance with the number of times of depressions of the incoming message tape operation button.

Abstract: An easily operable automatic telephone answering/recording apparatus adapted to operate in response to depression of first, second and third buttons and the number of times of depression. The apparatus is so operated that the outgoing message is recordable and the recorded outgoing message is reproduced and thereafter the apparatus is set in the standby mode when the first operation button is depressed, and that the incoming message is selectively saved in accordance with whether or not the second operation button is depressed, and that reproduction of the incoming message, rewind operation of an incoming message storage medium and fast-forward operation of the same medium are selectively effected when the third operation button is depressed by corresponding numbers of times, and that the incoming message storage medium is stopped when the third operation button is depressed during the reproduction, rewind, or fast-forward operation regarding the same medium.

Abstract: A message exchange device for communication between a manager and particular persons, which is adapted to enable a particular person to listen to a particular message directed to a particular caller and recorded on an associated channel of a multi-channel recording medium, by sending a caller-representative coded signal assigned to him, and then stores that the particular message has been transmitted.