Abstract: A distributed processor control system for use with a microimage recording apparatus includes a system control unit, a machine control unit and an operator control unit. The system control unit includes a microprocessor that provides supervisory or master control for the overall distributed control system. The machine control unit includes at least one microprocessor for controlling the operations of a plurality of electromechanical components within the microimage recording apparatus in response to commands and parameters provided by the system control unit and for providing status and error information and requests to the system control unit. The operator control unit includes a microprocessor for controlling the display of operational status and error indications and messages for viewing by an operator and for receiving manual operator entries for enabling normal operation of and diagnostics for the microimage recording apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically calibrating a D.C. transducer are described in the environment of an illustrative film retrieval system. In this system, the output of a transducer such as a light sensor is amplified and the amplified output is compared to upper and lower limits within which it is desired to hold the transducer's amplified output. When either of the limits is exceeded, the amplification of the transducer's output is varied so as to shift its average value to a value which is between the upper and lower limits.

Abstract: A web drive system for automatically reversing the direction of travel of the web when the end of the web is reached. A reversible electric motor provides power to either the supply or take up spindles. An end of the web is affixed to each of the spindles so that either spindle can be provided with power to draw the web from the other spindle. A planetary gear system provides power to whichever spindle acts as the take up spindle until the end of the web is sensed. The motor is then reversed and the planetary gear then provides power to the other spindle, which was previously the supply spindle.

Abstract: A system is described for holding the tension of a web substantially constant as the web is transported from a supply spool to a take-up spool. The rotation of each spool is controlled by a motor. A tension control circuit senses the currents in both motors and alters motor current so as to hold the sum of the motor currents at a substantially constant value. In this manner, the sum of the torques generated by the motors and their spools is held at a substantially constant value to thereby maintain web tension substantially constant as the radii of the spools change during web movement.

Abstract: A flow, or rotary type, microfilm recording apparatus for filming documents having a document transport means to move documents past an aperture area. An alternating current powered fluorescent lamp is employed for illuminating the documents in the aperture area. In order to adjust, set and maintain a substantially constant level of illumination in the aperture area and to reduce flicker, a lamp regulator circuit is provided which includes a shunted rectifier load circuit and a variable current device responsive to the illumination from the fluorescent lamp for varying the voltage drop across the shunt in accordance with the illumination.

Abstract: The present invention is used in photo-recording machines, such as microfiche recorders, which receive a document and record an image of the document on a photo-recording medium such as photoplastic film. The invention inhibits double exposures on frames of the film by use of distinctive indicator marks recorded on the film at preselected locations called indicator mark fields. The presence or absence of an indicator mark in such an indicator mark field signifies, respectively, that its corresponding frame is or is not available for recording a document image.In an improved recorder, prior to a proposed recording, a detector scans the indicator mark field corresponding to the frame selected for recording. If the detector detects an indicator mark, the recorder is inihibited from recording the document in the selected frame. A projection light source forms the image of the indicator mark field and projects it along an optical path in which a sensor of the detector is interposed.

Abstract: A film transport mechanism moves film from area to area and then stops it to project an image. During the period while the film is being transported, the lens is shuttered and glass flats on either side of the film are opened. This way, the viewer does not see a blurred montage of images being moved across a screen at a high rate of speed, and there is a much less chance of scratching film. The shutter may be either a mechanical blade which cuts across a beam of light or an electrical circuit which dims a light supply to darken the screen. Dimming is preferred to switching a lamp off or on since it is much less damaging to a filament if it remains continuously energized.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing the operability of a microprocessor and a machine controlled by the microprocessor are described. The input/output ports of the microprocessor are tested by propagating, via a test program in the microprocessor, a test logic level along the ports of the microprocessor. As the test logic level propagates, its position is revealed by the successive energization of adjacent light-emissive devices which are external to the microprocessor but connected to the microprocessor ports. Proper propagation of the test logic level is indicated by a corresponding propagation of light across the light-emissive devices. To test the machine, the microprocessor is put in a quiescent but energized state and test logic levels are applied to the ports coupling data between the microprocessor and the machine. Selected functions of the machine are thus exercised independently of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled microfilm reader/printer is arranged to transport a roll of film having all images contained thereon, in a distinctive format involving sequentially recorded photographic areas. The reader/printer has an automatic call feature up, so that any given photographic area may be selected and projected responsive to the push of a button, the operation of a rotary switch, or both. A special bar code printed along an edge of the film eliminates the need for precise control over a film transport synchronized with a code reading speed. The bar code is preferably read by an optical electronic sensor, which provides a film positioning input control signal to enable an accurate locating of a selected photographic area within a viewing area.

Abstract: An electronically controlled photographic image utilization device is arranged to transport a roll of microfilm having all images printed thereon in separate photographic areas, each area being arranged in a microfiche-type format. The photographic image utilization device has an automatic call-up feature so that any given photographic area may be selected in a first dimension and projected responsive to the push of a button, the operation of a rotary switch or both. A special bar code is printed along the edge of the film and used in conjunction with a closed loop film control system to eliminate the need for precise, clock-controlled synchronization between the film transport and the code reading. Preferably, the bar code is read by optical electronic sensors. Responsive thereto, the electronic control system accurately positions a selected photographic image, on the microfilm, within a viewing area.

Abstract: An automatic microfilm camera is electronically controlled, as by an electronic logic controller, logic and control unit, or the like, for example. The camera has an automatic feeding stack loader for picking up documents of randomly mixed sizes, photographing them, and then depositing them in an output tray. The automatic feed may be interrupted, so that single documents may be copied. Then, the automatic feed restarts and continues from the point of interrupt. A plurality of sensors respond to documents in order to control both the time of shutter opening and the exposure actuation. Various forms of documents may be processed, including a fan-folded computer readout requiring a pin drive wheel.

Abstract: A control system is described for use in a web transport in which a web is advanced from a supply spool to a take-up spool by a pair of drive motors, the latter of which are actuated by a servo control. The system includes a variable gain network which enhances the gain of the servo system at very low speeds without sacrificing system stability at higher speeds, and a circuit for adding a hold-back torque to the motor driving the take-up spool to smooth its rotation under low torque conditions. In addition, the system includes a device for inhibiting the rotation of the spools when an operator has removed the web from the spools, thereby preventing the servo control from rotating the spools in an uncontrolled manner in response to inadvertent operator movement of one of the spools.

Abstract: A stack of documents are transported one-at-a-time, under control of an automatic machine. A machine readable card is inserted between preselected documents in the stack. When the transport detects a passage of the card through the transport system, the machine is commanded to perform a specific function. The exemplary machine described herein is a microfilm camera, and the illustrative functions are two side copying and batch or file marking.

Abstract: A system is described for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of first and second spools in a web transport system in which a web is advanced between the spools by first and second drive motors. The system incorporates a servo control which continuously reacts to variations in the speed of the spools so as to drive the spools at respective speeds whose sum is constant and proportional to a selectable control voltage. To achieve this result, the first and second spools, driven, respectively by the first and second drive motors, are coupled to means, such as a corresponding pair of servo generators, for generating electrical outputs representative of the direction and speed of rotation of the spools. A control voltage, proportional to the sum of the desired speeds of the two spools, is continuously and algebraically summed with the outputs of the two servo generators, the summed signal constituting a motor drive signal.

Abstract: An electronically controlled photographic image utilization device is arranged to transport a roll of microfilm having all images printed thereon in separate photographic areas, each area being arranged in a microfiche-type format. The photographic image utilization device has an automatic call-up feature so that any given photographic area may be selected and projected responsive to the push of a button, the operation of a rotary switch or both. A special bar code is printed along the edge of the film and used in conjunction with a closed loop film control system to eliminate the need for precise, clock controlled synchronization between the film transport and the code reading. Preferably, the bar code is read by optical electronic sensors. Responsive thereto, the electronic control system accurately positions a selected photographic image, on the microfilm, within a viewing area.

Abstract: A control system is described for converting the output current of a photosensitive image detector to an image location voltage of predetermined first and second levels in response to the image detector receiving high and low levels of light, respectively. The image location voltage is developed by passing the output current from the image detector, as well as a selectively variable control current, through an impedance such that increases and decreases in the amplitude of the control current result in corresponding decreases and increases, respectively, in the level of the image location voltage. To change the level of the image location voltage, the amplitude of the control current is caused to be proportional to the charge on a charge storing element and the latter is rapidly and alternately charged and discharged within predetermined limits to vary the amplitude of the control current, and thus the level of the image location voltage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a lamp control circuit for maintaining the light output intensity of an incandescent lamp or banks of lamps constant. The lamp control circuit comprises a pair of input terminals adapted for connection to an illumination power source having one of the input terminals coupled to one side of the incandescent lamp to be controlled, and switching means coupled to the other side of the controlled lamp and to the other input terminal so that when the switching means is closed the illuminating power from the power source is applied to the controlled lamp and when the switch is open the illuminating power to the controlled lamp is terminated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an automatic exposure control system for use in a document recorder of the type which makes a photographic reproduction of each of a series of documents and which has a document transport for feeding the documents along a predetermined path and an exposure station within the predetermined path including an exposure light source for illuminating each document as each document is presented to the exposure station to facilitate the photographing of the documents. The automatic exposure control system controls the illumination intensity of the exposure light source in response to the reflectivity of each document to assure proper exposure of each document.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control system for use in an information retrieval system. The control system adapts the retrieval system for locating a preselected information bearing element wherein the information bearing elements comprise a first set of elements numbered consecutively in a first direction for identification and a second set of elements numbered consecutively in a second direction for identification and wherein each element of the first set is associated with an identifiable marker comprising a first set of markers and each element of the second set is associated with an identifiable marker comprising a second set of markers.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for expanding the capacity of the logic control for an information bearing element retrieval system. The system disclosed includes means for determining if the absolute numerical difference between a predetermined digit of a current number identifying the current information bearing element being inspected, and a target number identifying the information bearing element to be inspected, is equal to or greater than a preselected integer. If the absolute numerical difference is equal to or greater than the preselected integer, the normal direction of scanning the information bearing elements is reversed. In so doing, a logic control and display having a finite n digit capacity may properly handle consecutively numbered information bearing elements having identification numbers of more than n digits.