U.S. patent number 3,641,529 [Application Number 04/850,965] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for radial and circumferential magnetic head positioning mechanism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to University of Illinois Foundation. Invention is credited to Lyle E. Bandy, Donald L. Bitzer, Roger L. Johnson, Dominic O. Skaperdas.
United States Patent |
3,641,529 |
Bitzer , et al. |
February 8, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
RADIAL AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL MAGNETIC HEAD POSITIONING MECHANISM
Abstract
Random access information retrieval apparatus for selecting a
particular item from a plurality thereof including an improved pair
of x-y coordinate digitally positionable devices which are driven
by a four-way control valve. A polar coordinate random access
information retrieval apparatus including a rotatable recording
disc having information recorded on at least one surface thereof, a
transducer for detecting said information, radial positioning means
for moving said transducer radially along said disc, and angular
positioning means coupled to said recording disc for incrementally
rotating said disc to position desired information on said disc
adjacent said transducer. An improved four-way control valve
including a valve housing having a pair of inlet ports for
connection to a pressure source and a pair of outlet ports for
connection to a load, a first control chamber communicating one of
said inlet ports with one of said outlet ports, a second control
chamber immediately adjacent said first chamber and communicating
the other of said inlet ports with the other of said outlet ports,
a diaphragm intermediate said first and second chambers and forming
a common wall therebetween, and a diaphragm control means for
moving said diaphragm to selectively seal one of said inlet ports
in said respective first and second chambers to control the fluid
flow between said inlet and outlet ports. BACKGROUND OF THE
INVENTION This invention relates to random access retrieval devices
for selecting elements from a plurality thereof and in particular
to new and improved random access apparatus utilizing digitally
positionable members for selecting the desired elements. Another
aspect of this invention relates to an improved four-way control
valve for controlling the digital position of such members. The
principles of the present invention are particularly useful in
random access retrieval systems wherein a single item must be
rapidly selected from a group of such items. For instance,
reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,457, "Versatile
Display Teaching System" issued to Donald L. Bitzer, wherein there
is described a flexible computer-controlled system for transmitting
selected information to a number of student terminals. In such a
computer-based education system, thousands of student terminals can
be connected to a single computer. Each of these student terminals
must be very flexible, providing random access audio or video
information, including computer-generated graphics superimposed on
photographic slide information. However, the cost of each terminal
must be maintained as low as possible in order that the system
advantages in teaching large numbers of students can be
economically realized. Various types of random access retrieval
systems now exist in the art, however, such devices are extremely
cumbersome and expensive. In particular, most of said systems
utilize pneumatically driven movable members selectively operated
by relatively large, slow-operating and very expensive four-way
control valves. Pilot valves employing small solenoids for
controlling the main airflow can somewhat increase the operating
speed of the system, however, known devices of this type still
require elaborate construction and are therefore relatively
expensive items and impractical for use in large numbers. SUMMARY
OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in accordance with the principles of
the present invention, there is provided an inexpensive, high-speed
random access retrieval device having two sets of right-angled
digitally positionable pneumatic elements moving rectilinearly in
an x-Y coordinate system for selecting any particular item from a
group thereof. In another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a novel four-way control valve construction containing
only a single movable diaphragm and an electrically actuated member
controlling an exhaust control port for selectively moving the
diaphragm between either one of two input ports so as to divert the
driving air source to either one of two output ports in a
valve-switching time of less than one-hundredth of a second and
with a switching air loss of less than one-eightieth cubic inch. In
a random access model constructed in accordance with the principles
of the present invention, and adapted for use as a random access
photographic slide selector, the constructed slide selector was
capable of randomly selecting in one-fifth of a second any image
from a 4.times.4-inch film plate containing 256 separate images
arranged in a 16.times. 16 matrix. The constructed slide selector
included eight of the novel four-way control valves of this
invention--four each for positioning respective X- and Y-axis
piston-cylinder trains. In another random access model constructed
in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and
adapted for use as a random access audio selector, the audio
selector was capable of randomly selecting any desired audio
segment from 2,048 segments, wherein 32 segments are recorded in
each of 64 radially spaced circular tracks on a magnetic recording
disc. The constructed audio selector operated as a polar coordinate
selection system having 11 of the previously mentioned four-way
control valves--six for positioning a piston-cylinder train
radially to any one of the 64 tracks in about 0.2 second, and five
for positioning another piston-cylinder train to rotate the disc
angularly to any one of the 32 segments in about 1/3 second.
Inventors: |
Bitzer; Donald L. (Urbana,
IL), Bandy; Lyle E. (Decatur, IL), Johnson; Roger L.
(Monticello, IL), Skaperdas; Dominic O. (Champaign, IL) |
Assignee: |
University of Illinois
Foundation (Urbana, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25309584 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/850,965 |
Filed: |
August 18, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
360/75;
G9B/5.187; 251/129.05; 360/78.01; 346/137; 360/78.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
11/022 (20130101); G03B 21/116 (20130101); F15B
11/18 (20130101); G11B 5/5521 (20130101); F15B
13/043 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11B
5/55 (20060101); F16K 11/02 (20060101); F15B
13/043 (20060101); F15B 11/00 (20060101); F15B
13/00 (20060101); G03B 21/11 (20060101); F15B
11/18 (20060101); G03B 21/10 (20060101); G11b
017/02 (); A63d 015/04 (); G01d 015/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/174.1C,174.1A
;346/74MD,137 ;179/1.2A ;274/4H,15R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Konick; Bernard
Assistant Examiner: Canney; Vincent P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Random access information retrieval apparatus for retrieving
information from a rotatable recording disc having information
recorded in information segments on at least one surface thereof,
said apparatus comprising:
a transducer for detecting said information on said recording
disc;
radial positioning means for moving said transducer radially along
said recording disc;
a turntable for supportingly transporting said recording disc
during rotation;
means for rotating said turntable at a constant rotational speed;
and
incremental angular positioning means including angular selection
means for incrementally rotating said recording disc with respect
to said turntable to angularly position desired information
segments on said disc with respect to said transducer;
said incremental angular positioning means and said radial
positioning means cooperating to position said disc adjacent said
transducer for transferring information from said disc.
2. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
1, including a hub mountable to said recording disc, said hub
including means for positionally engaging said incremental angular
positioning means for operation thereby.
3. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
1, wherein said angular selection means comprises vertical
positioning means including a vertical shaft having a spiral slot
slidably engaging said disc for rotating said disc as said shaft is
moved vertically, and digitally positionable drive means coupled to
said vertical shaft for incrementally moving said shaft.
4. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
1, wherein said radial positioning means includes radial selection
means and digitally positionable members connected intermediate
said radial selection means and said transducer for moving said
transducer in incremental steps radially along said disc.
5. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
1, wherein said radial positioning means includes means for
incrementally moving said transducer radially along said disc
simultaneously with rotation of said disc in selective incremental
steps relative to said turntable.
6. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
5, wherein said angular selection means includes control signal
means, and digitally positionable members coupled to said disc,
said members extending and retracting in response to said control
signal means to rotate said disc in said selective incremental
steps.
7. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
6, including detector means for detecting and indicating the
instantaneous position of said disc during rotation by said
turntable.
8. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
7, wherein said detector means includes reference markers
associated with information segments on said turntable and a sensor
responding to said reference markers for indicating the position of
said disc.
9. Random access information retrieval apparatus according to claim
8, wherein said reference markers comprise optical designations on
the rim of said turntable, and said sensor comprises photodetector
means response to said optical designations.
10. In random access information apparatus for recording on and
retrieving information from a rotatable member having a plurality
of information segments on at least one surface thereof, including
a turntable for supporting said recording member, means for
rotating said turntable at constant rotational speed, a magnetic
transducer radially operational along said recording member surface
for recording and playing back said information on said recording
member, the improvement comprising:
incremental angular positioning means for incrementally rotating
said recording member with respect to said turntable to angularly
position the desired information segment with respect to said
transducer; and
radial positioning means for moving said transducer radially along
said recording member;
said incremental angular positioning means and said radially
positioning means cooperating to position said recording member
adjacent said transducer for transferring information to or from
said member.
11. Random access information apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein said radial positioning means and said incremental angular
positioning means, respectively includes incremental drive means
for radially positioning the transducer and angularly positioning
the recording member in incremental steps.
12. Random access information apparatus according to claim 11,
wherein said incremental drive means includes a pair of digitally
positionable members operable in incremental steps each
respectively coupled to said magnetic recording member and said
magnetic transducer, and selection signal means for operating said
digitally positionable members in selected incremental steps to
position the desired information segment adjacent said transducer.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed
description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a random access slide selector incorporating the
principles of the present invention and constructed in accordance
therewith in an improved x-y coordinate selection device utilized,
for example, to select individual slides from a 16.times. 16
matrix;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the x-y digitally
positionable piston-cylinder devices moving rectilinearly along
respective orthogonal X- and Y-axis for selecting any one of the
256 slides;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the construction details of
the digitally positionable devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a novel four-way control
valve with the control diaphragm in a first position in accordance
with another aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the control valve of FIG. 4
with the diaphragm in a second operating position;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic views illustrating the construction
details of the novel four-way control valve in accordance with this
aspect of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a random access audio selector in
another aspect of this invention illustrating a novel polar
coordinate selection device;
FIG. 9 is a partial elevational view illustrating incremental
rotation of the recording disc and radial positioning of the
reading and/or playback head during the selection procedure;
and
FIG. 10 is a partial plan view illustrating the construction
details of the hub key slidably engaged in the spiral-slotted shaft
for incrementally rotating the recording disc with respect to the
constant-speed turntable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 there is illustrated a random access
slide selector 10 including digitally addressable, pneumatically
driven piston-cylinders 12 for driving a film plate 14 in a first
direction, and a similar set of pneumatically driven elements 16
arranged perpendicular to the elements 12 for corresponding
movement of the slide tray. The film plate 14 contains a square
matrix of 16.times. 16 or 256 images thereon and is mounted within
a slide tray 18 which is slidably mounted on parallel rods 20, 22.
The slide tray or carriage 18 including the rods 20, 22 are
slidably mounted by suitable means 24, 26 to a second pair of
stationary rods 28, 30. As indicated most clearly in FIG. 2,
piston-cylinders 12 control the position of the slide tray 18 along
the parallel rods 20, 22, and the whole assembly is slidably
positioned along parallel rods 28, 30 under control of the
piston-cylinders 16. Suitable bracket means 32 are provided for
rigidly mounting the slide selector components to a base 34.
The piston-cylinders trains 12, 16 are of a construction well known
in the art in which either side of the cylinder is pressurized
while the other is vented to the atmosphere. A series-mounted set
of four piston-cylinders 12 are shown in FIG. 3, in which
piston-cylinders 12a and 12c are fully extended whereas cylinders
12b and 12d are fully retracted. The load 36 representing the slide
tray 18 is connected to the free end of the last piston 38. Each of
the remaining pistons has a free piston end 40 slidable movable
between two end positions of a cylinder, and a captured piston end
42 which is mounted to the next succeeding cylinder. Either one of
the piston cylinder inlet ports 44, 46 is pressurized while the
other is vented to the atmosphere in order to selectively move the
respective piston end 40 between the two cylinder end positions.
The cylinder nearest the fixed end must displace all of the other
series-mounted cylinders plus the load; therefore, the cylinder 12a
with the smallest stroke length is placed at the fixed end.
Cylinders 12b, 12c and 12d with increasing stroke length are placed
in series from the fixed end to the load end. For example,
referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, within piston-cylinder group 12, end 48
is fixed in position with respect to parallel rods 20, 22 whereas
end 50 is slidably movable along the rods. Similarly, in
piston-cylinder group 16, end 52 is fixed in position with respect
to parallel rods 28, 30 whereas end 54 is slidably movable along
the rods.
As is shown in FIG. 3, the piston-cylinders are each constructed
with the succeeding cylinders having twice the stroke length of the
preceding cylinder. Thus, cylinder 12a has a stroke length L,
cylinder 12b a stroke length 2L, cylinder 12c a stroke length 4L,
and cylinder 12d a stroke length 8L. The stroke length of the
smallest cylinder is chosen so as to correspond to the smallest
incremental displacement required along rods 20, 22 and 28, 30.
As an example, in a constructed model of the invention, the film
plate 14 is 4 inches square and contains 256 images arranged in a
16.times. 16 matrix. Thus, each image is 1/4 .times.1/4 inch so
that the stroke length of the smallest cylinder 12a is 1/4 inch,
cylinder 12b--1/2 inch, cylinder 12c--1 inch, and cylinder 12d--2
inches. As an example of digital addressing of the piston cylinder
trains 12, 16, initially, the movement of piston-cylinders 16 along
rod 28 can be defined as along the X-axis, whereas movement of
piston cylinder 12 along rod 22 can be defined as along the Y-axis
of an orthogonal x-y coordinate system. If the image at x=11 and
y=4 is to be selected, the 2 -inch, 1/2 -inch, and 1/4 -inch piston
cylinders of group 16 are to be selected on the X-axis (1011 in
binary notation) and the 1 -inch piston cylinder of group 12 on the
Y-axis (0100) are activated. This would place image 14a directly
above light source means 60 for projecting the image through lens
assembly 62 to suitable means, such as reflector 64, and on to
screen means 66. It is understood that the projection means
illustrated in FIG. 2 have merely been given for purposes of an
example. Thus, in the display teaching system previously mentioned,
a random access slide selector 10 would be located at each student
terminal, and the selected image 14a would be projected for display
at the particular station display means.
The schematic views of FIGS. 4 and 5, and the sectional valve
assembly views of FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a unique four-way
control valve for activating the piston-cylinders 12 and 16. It is
to be understood that while the four-way control valve to be
illustrated hereinafter can be applied to any apparatus wherein it
is desired to selectively connect either of two output ports with a
fluid source, it is particularly useful for driving digitally
positionable devices. Furthermore, particularly in view of the ease
of construction and corresponding low costs thereof, the control
valve illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 when utilized in the random access
aspect of this invention provides significantly improved apparatus
which can be practically employed in a display teaching system as
previously described.
In particular, with reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a
first control valve assembly 72 containing a series of four control
valves 74 with suitable outlet ports 76, 78 for connection to
respective piston-cylinder inlet ports 44, 46 (FIG. 3). A similar
assembly 82 of control valves 74 are provided with corresponding
outputs 76, 78 connected to respective input ports of
piston-cylinder group 16. It must be noted from FIG. 1, that each
of the four-way control valves of the present invention are
identical, and are extremely compact so that an assembly of four
such control valves can readily be provided.
Reference may be had to FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein the basic operating
components of the unique four-way control valve of this aspect of
the invention are illustrated in schematic form. Inlet port 1 (IP1)
connects an air source from port 84 through passageway 86 and
terminates in a ridge portion 88 projecting from a top wall 90 of
control chamber 92. Outlet passageway 94 communicates with chamber
92 at rear chamber wall 90 and ends in outlet port 1 (OP1) for
connection to input port 44 of a respective piston-cylinder in
group 12 or 16. A passageway 96 intermediate outlet port 1 and
control chamber 92 communicates with passageway 94 and ends in an
exhaust control port 1 (ECP1). A bidirectional solenoid plunger 98
having resilient stopper valves 100 and 102 on opposite ends
thereof is provided for selectively sealing or unsealing the
exhaust control ports. Well-known electrically actuated coil means,
shown schematically at 103, selectively operates the solenoid
plunger 98 for movement in the respective directions to selectively
seal the exhaust control ports.
A diaphragm 104 forms a common wall between control chamber 92 and
control chamber 106. Passageway 108 communicates the air source
input at port 84 with inlet port 2 (IP2) having an opening within
chamber 106 at the top of ridge 110 projecting above bottom wall
112 of the chamber. Passageway 114 interconnects chamber 106 with
outlet port 2 (OP2) for selectively directing the fluid flow to
piston-cylinder inlet port 46. A branch line 116 intermediate
chamber 106 and outlet port 2 extends from passageway 114 and ends
in exhaust control port 2 (ECP2). Exhaust control port 2 can be
selectively sealed by means of the valve 102 as previously
described.
In operation, the diaphragm 104 seals either inlet port 1 or inlet
port 2 in response to the position of the solenoid plunger 98. In
the valve position shown in FIG. 4, exhaust control port 1 is
closed thereby enabling airflow from input 84 to flow through
passageway 86 and inlet port 1 into chamber 92, through passageway
94, and outlet port 1 so as to move the piston 120 away from input
port 44 to the position shown in FIG. 4. Note that there is no
static air loss in the control valve, since although passageway 116
is open, inlet port 2 is sealed by diaphragm 104. Since the area of
diaphragm 104 is substantially greater than the ridge opening in
chamber 106 at inlet port 2, the differential force is greater in
control chamber 92 and the diaphragm 104 is urged against ridge 110
thereby shutting off inlet port 2.
When the solenoid plunger 98 is reversed as illustrated in FIG. 5
so as to seal exhaust control port 2, the minute dynamic leak
through exhaust control port 1 lowers the pressure in control
chamber 92 below that in control chamber 105. Diaphragm 104
therefore reverses its position and rapidly shuts off inlet port 1
in chamber 92. Thus, in the position of the control valve
illustrated in FIG. 5, outlet port 2 is connected via passageway
114, control chamber 106, and inlet port 2 to the air supply so as
to urge piston 120 away from the piston-cylinder input port 46. It
must be noted that in this case, the differential force on
diaphragm 104 is greater in control chamber 106 than in chamber 92,
and there is similarly no static air leak through outlet port 1 or
exhaust control port 1 since control chamber 92 is sealed by
diaphragm 104 from the air source.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated in detail a
four-way control valve 74 constructed in accordance with the
principles of this aspect of the invention. In particular, each
valve assembly 74 is formed of two identical molded-plastic
half-sections 122, 124, each having a ridge 88 extending from a
cavity 92 in one face 126 of the respective valve half-section.
Passageway 86 is then formed by drilling through ridge 88 a
selected distance within the valve half-section perpendicular to
the face 126, and thereafter drilling at an intersecting point
through surface 128 of the half-section until communication is made
with the first passageway as illustrated in FIG. 7. Similar
drilling procedures are used to form passageway 94 by drilling
through surface 130 (see FIG. 6) and through cavity wall 90 until
an output port 1 is formed which connects through passageway 94
with the cavity 92. A hollow metal insert 132 or other suitable
means can be provided to form the output port 1. Exhaust control
port 1 and connecting passageway 96 is formed by drilling through
surface 134 to connect with passageway 94 and inserting a hollow
metal member 136.
The valve half-section 124 is constructed in a manner similar to
that as described above in connection with half-section 122.
Thereafter, a very thin cavity can be made in the face 126 of
half-section 122 or the face 138 of half-section 124 so as to
receive a thin rubber diaphragm 104 extending across either cavity
92 or 106 and cemented to corresponding faces 126 or 138. The
half-sections 122 and 124 are thereafter assembled with faces 126
and 138 in contact to form interface 140. The half-sections are
held together by suitable mounting means such as bolt-and-nut means
142.
As is shown in FIG. 6, in the assembled configuration, the
diaphragm 140 forms a common wall between control chamber or cavity
92 and control chamber or cavity 106. The electrically actuated
coil means 103 is suitably mounted to the control valve
assembly.
Thus in accordance with this aspect of the invention, there has
been provided a very readily constructed, efficient, economical,
and fast-operating control valve which is especially adaptable to
the rectilinear-type x-y slide selector mechanism previously
described, and which is also utilized in a novel polar coordinate
selection system for retrieving audio information as will be more
particularly described hereinafter. As an example of the present
invention, a model constructed in accordance therewith operated
with 10-12 lb. per sq. inch pressure with a valve switching time of
less than one-hundredth of a second. The dynamic air loss during
switching was less than one-eightieth cubic inch.
Instead of the rectilinear-type orthogonal coordinate selection
system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, similar devices can be provided for
selecting any one of a plurality of items in a polar coordinate
random access system. A polar coordinate random access system is
especially useful for selecting desired audio information stored on
standard magnetic discs rotating with respect to a magnetic
transducer. In such a system, the angular and radial position of
the transducer is varied to select information. The angular
position can be obtained by mounting the transducer on a suitable
bracket means connected to the central shaft of a magnetic disc
drive mechanism. If the central shaft is provided with a pinion
gear, a digitally positionable rack gear driving the pinion can be
provided for rotating the shaft through 360.degree. and thereby
positioning the transducer in any desired angular increment. The
radial position of the transducer along a particular radius
extending from the shaft and radially along the disc can be
provided by a second digitally positionable piston-cylinder
combination.
A preferred alternative polar coordinate system 200 is illustrated
in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, wherein there is shown a random access system
in which information is recorded on and played back from a flat
magnetic disc. The recording medium is a standard magnetic
recording disc 202 having an oxide coating on at least the top
surface thereof for recording information. The disc is mounted to a
hub 204 for rotation therewith by suitable means such as a key 206
in flange 208 overlying the disc 202. The disc 202 is normally
positioned on and rotates with a high moment of inertia turntable
210 for access by a levitating magnetic read (playback) and/or
write head 212 mounted immediately above the disc 202. As will be
described in more detail hereinafter, the disc 202 is incrementally
rotated with respect to the turntable 210 during the angular
selection procedure. It is to be understood that for convenience in
illustration, only a partial segment of the disc 202 and turntable
210 are illustrated in FIG. 8, and similarly, the disc is shown as
separated from the turntable, whereas it is normally located
directly thereon.
Magnetic head 212 is mounted for incremental rectilinear movement
radially on disc 202 towards hub 204 by means of a first set of
pneumatically driven elements 214 constructed similar to the
pneumatically driven elements 12 and 16 previously described. As
shown in FIG. 8, the smallest piston-cylinder has one end 215
rigidly maintained in position by fixed means 216 and the opposite
end 217 of the largest piston-cylinder element attached to magnetic
head 212. A corresponding set of four-way control valves 218 each
constructed similar to the previously described control valves 74
of FIGS. 4-7 is provided for controlling the incremental
rectilinear displacement of the magnetic head 212 radially along
disc 202.
Around the rim 220 of turntable 210 there is placed a series of
markers 222 for detection by photodetector means 224 so as to
detect the angular position of disc 202 during rotation with
respect to a reference position. A reference marker 226 is provided
on rim 220 to indicate angular displacement of the disc from the
reference position. Instead of the optically sensed markers 222,
other marking means, such as a magnetically coded strip around rim
220 with a corresponding sensing head can be utilized. It is to be
understood that the turntable 210 is rotated by any convenient
rotating means (not shown), preferably at a constant rotational
speed.
Positioning of the disc 202 in angular direction with respect to
the high-mass turntable 210 during the information selection
procedure is provided by a vertically movable shaft 230 passing
through a central aperture in the turntable and having a spiral
slot 232 extending along the length thereof to accommodate the key
206 in hub 204. Key 206 extends radially through hub 204 and into
the spiral slot 232 as shown more clearly in FIG. 10. The hub 204
and attached recording disc 202 are free to rotate with respect to
turntable 210 in response to vertical movement of the shaft 230.
The shaft 230 is moved in incremental steps by means of a vertical
arm 234 having a ball bearing 236 mounted at one end thereof and a
toothed gear segment 238 at the other end thereof for engagement
with a rotating gear member 240. The rotating gear member 240 is
driven by a horizontal arm 242 having a toothed gear section 244
engaging the gear member 240 and being moved incrementally in
horizontal position by means of a second set of pneumatically
driven elements 246 under control of suitable control valves 248 in
an arrangement similar to the pneumatic elements 214 and control
valves 218 provided for radially positioning the magnetic head 212.
One end 249 of pneumatic driven elements 246 is fixed by suitable
rigid means 250 while the other end 251 is connected to the
horizontal arm 242. Thus, operation of one of the pneumatic driven
elements 246 moves shaft 230 vertically to enable the key 206 to
slide along spiral slot 232 and thereby rotate attached disc 202
through a corresponding incremental angular displacement from its
initial position. During nonoperation of the pneumatic elements 246
the disc 202 rotates simultaneously and at the same rotational
velocity as the turntable 210. It is to be understood that during
rotation of the disc from one angular position to another, the
magnetic head 212 is inactivated so that no information is
transferred to or from the disc 202 during the selection interval.
The selection interval is, of course, much less than the reading
interval during which information is being played back from the
disc 202.
Photodetector 224 senses the markers 222 and the corresponding
reference marker 226 so as to indicate through signals provided by
counter 252 the angular position of turntable 210, which
information is coupled into a positioning logic control apparatus
254 on input line 256. Positional information corresponding to the
desired information recorded on disc 202 and containing a
corresponding radius and segment address is also coupled on input
line 258 to the positioning logic control apparatus 254.
Positioning logic control apparatus 254 integrates the signals from
the input lines to provide suitable control signals on output lines
260 and 262 to the respective control valves 218, 248 for radially
positioning magnetic head 212 and angularly positioning the
magnetic disc 202.
In the preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the
polar coordinate random access system 200 illustrated in FIGS. 8-10
is utilized as a source of audio information in a display teaching
system of the type shown in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No.
3,405,457, "Versatile Display Teaching System," Donald L. Bitzer,
issued Oct. 15, 1968. As indicated, this patent discloses a
flexible computer-controlled display system for displaying various
instructional material to a group of student stations. The present
random access system 200 is especially desirable as a source of
audio information which has previously been recorded on any one of
64 circular tracks each located at a discrete radial distance from
the hub 204, and indicated for illustration by the reference
numeral 264 in FIG. 8. Each track 264 contains 32 recording
segments, with the angular distance between each segment
corresponding to the distance between markers 222 on the turntable
rim 220. The turntable 210 is rotated at a speed of approximately
10 seconds per revolution.
In an actual model constructed in accordance with this aspect of
the invention, the piston-cylinder set 214 comprised a six-unit
pneumatic piston-cylinder train with the size and movement of the
smallest radial piston corresponding to the radial distance between
recording tracks on disc 202, or as commonly termed, the
"intertrack distance." Thus, the reading head 212 could be
incrementally positioned to any one of the 64 tracks by selectively
operating combinations of one or more of the six piston-cylinders.
The pneumatic set 246 comprised a five-unit pneumatic
piston-cylinder train capable of angularly incrementally rotating
the disc 202 through any one of 32 steps. In this case, the size
and movement of the smallest piston connected to horizontal arm 242
corresponded to the distance between segments on each track. Thus,
with the piston-cylinder set 214 in the fully retracted position,
magnetic head 212 is in communication with the outermost track on
disc 202, and when fully extended, the magnetic head 212 is in
communication with the innermost track, with each of the 64 tracks
being capable of selection through control signals from positioning
logic control apparatus 254 coupled through the control valves
218.
Since the piston-cylinder set 214 is fixed at one end, and the
magnetic head 212 is selectively moved in relation thereto, the
radius information on line 258 corresponds to the actual address of
the desired information on disc 202. However, since the turntable
210 is rotating at a constant speed, its present position will be
sensed by photodetector 224 and this information coupled on input
line 256 to the positioning logic control unit 254, so that the
present position information can be combined with the address of
the desired position as applied on input line 258. Positioning
logic control unit 254 is therefore a standard integrating circuit
which in effect subtracts the address of the desired segment
position on input line 258 from the detected present position
information on input line 256 to provide suitable signals on output
line 260 coupled to control valves 248.
In the random access apparatus constructed in accordance with this
aspect of the invention, shaft 230 is moved vertically a maximum of
approximately 3 inches in rotating the disc 202 through a maximum
rotational angle of 360.degree.--in other words, through each of
the 32 segments on a single track. The spiral slot 232 on shaft 230
has a low pitch so as to facilitate the ease of angularly rotating
disc 202 in response to vertical movement of the shaft 230.
FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic view for illustrative purposes of a
selecting sequence wherein the shaft 230 is displaced vertically an
incremental amount which has incrementally rotated the disc 202
with respect to turntable 210 until the desired segment position is
located beneath the head 212. During rotation of the disc 202, the
head 212 has also been moved radially on the disc to one of the
desired 64 tracks. A mechanism such as a weighted cap can be placed
over the hub 204. This urges the key 206 to slide along spiral slot
232, thereby minimizing vertical movement of the disc and enabling
the disc to rotate with respect to the turntable during vertical
movement of shaft 230 in the segment selection procedure.
Various alternative arrangements of the inventions herein can be
provided. For instance, instead of the single spiral slot 232 and
key 206, a shaft with two or four parallel spiral grooves or slots
with associated keys could be provided to distribute the forces
more evenly. In another alternative embodiment, a return spring
having one end mounted in the bottom end of shaft 230 and the other
end fixedly mounted in position, and cooperating with a wire
attached at one end to the shaft bottom and at the other end to the
piston-cylinder elements 246 can be utilized in place of the arms
234, 242 with toothed gear segments 238, 244 and rotating gear
member 240 shown in FIG. 8. In operation, the wire is moved
longitudinally by the associated piston-cylinder elements to
vertically move shaft 230, and the return spring is utilized to
reposition the shaft.
Therefore, the foregoing detailed description has been given for
clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations
should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *