Abstract: A system for recovering information from a videodisc and performing special functions which enhance the operational character of the system. To increase the reliability of landing at or near a target track, provisions are made to search for a track adjacent a target track whose track identifier has been obliterated. Further, a method and means for stepping forward or reverse one field at a time is disclosed. Another aspect of the invention concerns a capability to respond to a random command instruction resulting in subsequent functioning of the system in a random manner. Yet a further aspect of the invention is related to controlled jumping of one or more tracks during vertical blanking time to produce unique forward or backward motions; multiples of playing speed, both forward and reverse, and visual special effects can be realized using the multiple track jumping feature. Finally, a method and means are described which permit synchronous transmission of video from a videodisc to an external using device.

Abstract: An information storage member has a surface upon which information is stored in at least first and second series of lineal regions arranged on the surface of the member and defining a program of information having a first subprogram part and a second subprogram part each containing information representative of a block of program information and being accompanied by an associated identifying number unique from every other identifying number present on the recording surface of the information storage member.

Abstract: An information carrier having a surface upon which the information is stored. The surface having a first series of lineal regions and at least a second series of lineal regions with the second series being spaced from the first series of lineal regions. The first and second series of lineal regions are used to provide duplication of the stored information at two locations on the carrier so that even if a defect occurs in one region the information can still be read from another region. When stored on a disc, the different series of lineal regions can be arranged in a banded structure, whereby each series is separated from the next by a prescribed radial spacing. Alternatively the separate series of lineal regions can be arranged in interleaved fashion progressing radially on the disc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly moving a reading beam of light radially relative to a rotating record disc, to impinge on a selected target track on the disc and recover information recorded on it. The apparatus first radially translates an optical system that directs the beam onto the disc at a relatively high speed until it is within a prescribed radial distance of the target track. Thereafter, an element of the optical system is controllably deflected such that the beam moves incrementally across a prescribed plurality of tracks during each disc revolution, until reaching the target track. The information recorded on each track includes a unique address signal, and movement of the beam relative to the disc is controlled according to the difference between the respective addresses of the track currently being scanned and the target track.

Abstract: A system for recovering information from a videodisc and performing special functions which enhance the operational character of the system. To increase the reliability of landing at or near a target track, provisions are made to search for a track adjacent a target track whose track identifier has been obliterated. Further, a method and means for stepping forward or reverse one field at a time is disclosed. Another aspect of the invention concerns a capability to respond to a random command instruction resulting in subsequent functioning of the system in a random manner. Yet a further aspect of the invention is related to controlled jumping of one or more tracks during vertical blanking time to produce unique forward or backward motions; multiples of playing speed, both forward and reverse, and visual special effects can be realized using the multiple track jumping feature. Finally, a method and means are described which permit synchronous transmission of video from a videodisc to an external using device.

Abstract: A system for recovering information from a videodisc and performing special functions which enhance the operational character of the system. To increase the reliability of landing at or near a target track, provisions are made to search for a track adjacent a target track whose track identifier has been obliterated. Further, a method and means for stepping forward or reverse one field at a time is disclosed. Another aspect of the invention concerns a capability to respond to a random command instruction resulting in subsequent functioning of the system in a random manner. Yet a further aspect of the invention is related to controlled jumping of one or more tracks during vertical blanking time to produce unique forward or backward motions; multiples of playing speed, both forward and reverse, and visual special effects can be realized using the multiple track jumping feature. Finally, a method and means are described which permit synchronous transmission of video from a videodisc to an external using device.

Abstract: A system for recovering information from a videodisc and performing special functions which enhance the operational character of the system. To increase the reliability of landing at or near a target track, provisions are made to search for a track adjacent a target track whose track identifier has been obliterated. Further, a method and means for stepping forward or reverse one field at a time is disclosed. Another aspect of the invention concerns a capability to respond to a random command instruction resulting in subsequent functioning of the system in a random manner. Yet a further aspect of the invention is related to controlled jumping of one or more tracks during vertical blanking time to produce unique forward or backward motions; multiples of playing speed, both forward and reverse, and visual special effects can be realized using the multiple track jumping feature. Finally, a method and means are described which permit synchronous transmission of video from a videodisc to an external using device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly moving a reading beam of light radially relative to a rotating record disc, to impinge on a selected target track on the disc and recover information recorded on it. The apparatus first radially translates an optical system that directs the beam onto the disc at a relatively high speed until it is within a prescribed radial distance of the target track. Thereafter, an element of the optical system is controllably deflected such that the beam moves incrementally across a prescribed plurality of tracks during each disc revolution, until reaching the target track. The information recorded on each track includes a unique addres signal, and movement of the beam relative to the disc is controlled according to the difference between the respective addresses of the track currently being scanned and the target track.

Abstract: A system for recovering information from a videodisc and performing special functions which enhance the operational character of the system. To increase the reliability of landing at or near a target track, provisions are made to search for a track adjacent a target track whose track identifier has been obliterated. Further, a method and means for stepping forward or reverse one field at a time is disclosed. Another aspect of the invention concerns a capability to respond to a random command instruction resulting in subsequent functioning of the system in a random manner. Yet a further aspect of the invention is related to controlled jumping of one or more tracks during vertical blanking time to produce unique forward or backward motions; multiples of playing speed, both forward and reverse, and visual special effects can be realized using the multiple track jumping feature. Finally, a method and means are described which permit synchronous transmission of video from a videodisc to an external using device.

Abstract: An extended play videodisc and a method and apparatus for playing it. The disc carries every m th segment of a video program and the segments are repeated m times to approximate the original program. Prior art extended play discs have contained every other frame or every third frame of video, but the repeating of an entire frame results in poor motion reproduction and flickering scene transitions. The present invention preferably includes the repeating of a field of video an odd number of times. The fields are preferably arranged in order on the disc with n fields per revolution, the disc being rotated such that a new field is read every one and 1/n th revolution of the disc. The new segment is preferably read during the final repeating of the previous segment.

Abstract: A method for detecting and measuring eccentricity in a video disc and a video disc player, in which a video signal representing a special eccentricity test pattern is recorded on a prescribed set of adjacent recording tracks on the disc. Each frame of the video signal is recorded on a separate track, and the successive frames exhibit a prescribed movement. During an eccentricity test, the player scans the disc at a fixed radius, so that eccentricity in either the disc or the player causes it to scan cyclically across a plurality of tracks during each disc revolution. The playback signal therefore includes segments of the signal recorded on each of the scanned tracks, the shape of the displayed test pattern indicates the magnitude of combined eccentricity of the disc and player.

Abstract: An improved video display system is provided in which two color images are combinable in a dynamic and self-determining fashion to provide improved contrast, comprehension and display versatility. Two separate video signals that are to be used in generating a single display are converted into sequences of digitally encoded picture elements (pixels). Control signals are generated that are dependent upon the data content of the elements in at least one of the sequences, and these signals are used to govern the mode of combination of the two video signals for individual pixel sets. For example a first video signal of digital character and having varying pixel intensity may be transformed into color values for a first pseudocolor display. A second video signal, derived from an analog source, is digitized and is also transformed into pseudocolor, concurrent with the dynamic generation in real time of the data dependent control signals.