U.S. patent number RE29,051 [Application Number 05/198,394] was granted by the patent office on 1976-11-30 for storage and retrieval control apparatus and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Wurlitzer Company. Invention is credited to James R. Jones.
United States Patent |
RE29,051 |
Jones |
November 30, 1976 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Storage and retrieval control apparatus and method
Abstract
Apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of
mechanical or other equipment having a plurality of information
storage members arranged in preselected positions in an array and
an actuatable information retrieval mechanism movable relative to
the array wherein selective access to the information of any one of
such storage members can be achieved by generating output signal
groups representing, respectively, the position of a selected
storage member and its number in the array, whereby simplified
counting techniques can be used to store such number and thereafter
use it for positioning said retrieval mechanism adjacent to the
selected member itself for effecting the readout of the information
on the member. The unit uses solid state electronic elements to
minimize cost and to provide for optimum reliability. The invention
is adapted for a number of different uses but is especially adapted
for use in controlling a phonograph unit having a plurality of
record disks or magnetic tape means on which is recorded a number
of musical selections or the like.
Inventors: |
Jones; James R. (Mountain View,
CA) |
Assignee: |
The Wurlitzer Company (Chicago,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26893741 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/198,394 |
Filed: |
November 12, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
727536 |
May 8, 1968 |
0351135 |
May 12, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
194/218; 340/5.9;
340/5.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
17/00 (20130101); G07F 17/305 (20130101); G11B
15/005 (20130101); G11B 17/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
17/00 (20060101); G06K 17/00 (20060101); G07F
17/30 (20060101); G11B 17/30 (20060101); G11B
15/00 (20060101); G11b 019/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/15 ;340/149A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Olson, Trexler, Wolters, Bushnell
& Fosse, Ltd.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for controlling access to a plurality of
information-containing members disposed in preselected positions in
an array comprising: a first, selectively actuable structure having
output means providing a first output signal group including at
least one output signal with said first output signal group
representing the number of the position of one of said members in
said array when said first structure is actuated; means
corresponding to the positions of the members in said array and
coupled with said first structure for selectively actuating the
latter to provide said first output signal group corresponding to a
selected member; a memory unit having a plurality of memory
devices, there being a memory device for each member respectively;
means coupled with said first structure for actuating the memory
device of said memory unit corresponding to the number represented
by said first output signal group and thereby to said selected
member, whereby the number of said selected member in said array is
stored as a position in said memory unit; a second actuatable
structure having output means capable of generating a second output
signal group including at least one output signal with the second
output signal group defining the number of the position of the
actuated memory device in said memory unit; means coupled with said
second structure for actuating the same to thereby cause said
second output signal group to be generated; and means coupled with
said second structure for controlling the actuation of an
actuatable information-retrieval mechanism movable past said array
in scanning relationship to said members so as to cause the
scanning action of the mechanism to be stopped when the mechanism
is adjacent to a member whose number is defined by said second
output signal group, whereby the mechanism can be coupled to the
last-mentioned member for retrieving the information therefrom.
.[.2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for
actuating said first structure includes a coin-actuated switch
unit..]. .[.3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
means for actuating said first structure includes a coin-drop
assembly for receiving a number of coins sufficient to provide a
predetermined amount of credit, and a counter unit coupled to said
assembly for totalizing the credit corresponding to the
coins received thereby..]. 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein said mechanism is electrically actuated, said means for
controlling the actuation of said mechanism including an actuatable
device for gating electrical power to said mechanism, and a counter
coupled with said second structure for actuating said gating device
when the number counted by said counter is the same as the number
defined by said second output signal
group. 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for
actuating a memory device includes a counter capable of counting to
a number equal to the number of said members, and means responsive
to the counting action of said counter for directing an actuating
signal to said memory unit after the counter has counted to the
number defined by said
first output signal group. 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
wherein
said memory unit includes an end-around shift register. 7.
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said memory unit
includes an end-around shift register having a starting location,
and means for actuating said shift register including counter means
for advancing the same from said starting location through
increments equal in number to said number represented by said first
signal group to permit the corresponding memory device to be
actuated, said counter means being disposed to advance the shift
register back to said starting location after a memory device
has
been actuated. 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
means for actuating said second structure includes a control unit
operable after a memory device in said memory unit has been
actuated and before the second output signal group has been
generated,, one of said structures including a buffer having a
plurality of flip-flop elements formed from
semiconductor components. 9. Apparatus for controlling a phonograph
unit having a plurality of record members and a playback mechanism
movable in scanning relationship to said record members comprising:
a first storage assembly having a plurality of actuatable memory
devices, there being a memory device for each record member
respectively; means coupled with said first storage assembly for
selectively and successively actuating said memory devices; a
second storage assembly having output signal means capable of being
scanned by said mechanism with the output signal means representing
any one of said record members; and means coupled with said storage
assemblies for transferring a record selection from the first
storage assembly to the second storage assembly, whereby the
transferred record selection will be represented by an output
signal means of said second storage assembly to permit said
mechanism to scan the second storage assembly for playback purposes
as the first storage assembly
continues to store record selections. 10. Apparatus for controlling
the operation of a phonograph unit having a plurality of record
members in preselected positions in an array and a record-playing
mechanism movable relative to said array in scanning relationship
to said record members comprising: a first, selectively actuatable
buffer having output means for providing a first output signal
group including at least one output signal with said first output
signal group representing the number of the position of any one of
said record members in said array; means coupled with said first
buffer for selectively actuating the same as a function of any one
of said record members in said array to cause said first output
signal group to be generated; a memory unit having a plurality of
actuatable memory devices, there being a memory device at a
predetermined position in the memory unit for each record member
respectively; first control means coupled with said first buffer
for actuating the memory device of said memory unit corresponding
to the number defined by said first output signal group after the
last-mentioned group has been generated, whereby the number of a
selected record member is stored as a position in said memory unit;
a second actuatable buffer having output means for generating a
second output signal group including at least one output signal
with said second output signal group defining the number of the
position of an actuated memory device in said memory unit; second
control means coupled with said second buffer for actuating the
same to cause the generation of said second output signal group
after a memory device of said memory unit has been actuated; and
means coupled with said second buffer for causing said mechanism to
scan the record members and for stopping the scanning action of the
mechanism after the mechanism has reached a location adjacent to a
record member whose number in said array is defined by said second
output signal group, whereby the mechanism can
be coupled to the last-mentioned record member for playing the
same. 11. Apparatus for controlling the operation of a phonograph
unit from a pair of spaced locations with the phonograph unit
having a plurality of record members in preselected positions in an
array and a record-playing mechanism movable relative to said array
in scanning relationship to said record members comprising: a pair
of selectively actuatable input buffers, there being an input
buffer for each location respectively, each input buffer having
output means for providing a first output signal group including at
least one output signal with said first output signal group
representing the number of the position of any one of said record
members in said array; means at each location respectively, and
coupled with a corresponding input buffer for selectively actuating
the same as a function of the position of any one of said record
members in said array to cause the corresponding first output
signal group to be generated; a memory unit having a plurality of
actuatable memory devices, there being a memory device at a
predetermined position in the memory unit for each record member
respectively; control structure coupled with each input buffer for
connecting the same to said memory unit when the input buffer is
actuated to cause the memory device corresponding to the number
defined by the first output signal group of the actuated input
buffer to be actuated, whereby the number of a selected record
member is stored at a position in said memory unit; an output
buffer having output means for generating a second output signal
group including at least one output signal with said output signal
group defining the number of the position of an actuated memory
device in said memory unit; a control assembly coupled with said
output buffer for actuating the same to cause the generation of
said second output signal group after a memory device of said
memory unit has been actuated; and means coupled with said output
buffer for causing said mechanism to scan the record members and
for stopping the scanning action of said mechanism after the latter
has reached a location adjacent to a record member whose number in
said array is defined by said second output signal group, whereby
the mechanism can
be coupled to the last-mentioned record member for playing the
same. 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said control
structure includes first control means for directing a first output
signal group to said memory unit, second control means coupled with
one of said input buffers for connecting the output means thereof
to said first control means to permit the latter to direct the
corresponding first output signal group to said memory unit, and
third control means coupled with the other input buffer for
connecting the output means thereof to said first control means
after the latter has directed the first output signal group of said
one input buffer to said memory unit, whereby the first output
group of
said other buffer will be directed to said memory unit. 13.
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said memory unit
comprises an end-around
shift register. 14. A method of controlling the operation of a unit
having a plurality of information-containing members in preselected
positions in an array and an information-retrieval mechanism
movable relative to said array past said member in scanning
relationship thereto comprising: generating a first output signal
group including at least one output signal representing the number
of the position of a selected member whose information is to be
retrieved; storing the first output signal group in a respective
one of a plurality of signal-receiving locations in a storage
region with each signal-receiving location having a specific
position in said region corresponding to the position of said
selected member in said array; generating a second output signal
group including at least one output signal representing the number
of the signal-receiving location corresponding to the selected
member; moving said mechanism relative to the array after the third
output signal group has been generated to cause the mechanism to
scan said members; and stopping the scanning action of said
mechanism when the latter is adjacent to said selected member,
whereby the mechanism can become coupled to the selected member
for
retrieving the information therefrom. 15. A method as set forth in
claim 14, wherein the step of generating a first signal group
includes temporarily storing at least one input signal in a storage
area having a
number of signal outputs defining said first signal group. 16. A
method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the step of storing the
number includes counting to the number and sending a signal pulse
to the corresponding
signal-receiving location. 17. A method as set forth in claim 14,
wherein said storing step includes counting to said number,
advancing the signal-receiving location corresponding to said
number from a starting position through a series of steps equal to
said number, sending a signal pulse to the corresponding
signal-receiving location after said number has been counted, and
returning the pulsed location to its starting position.
8. A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said mechanism moving
step includes counting to the number represented by said second
signal group and directing a deactuating signal pulse to said
mechanism. .Iadd. 19. A selection system for a vending machine
having a plurality of different vendable commodities such as a
phonograph having a plurality of records comprising a main station,
a digital memory system at said main station for storing digital
information corresponding to one or more selections made by a
customer, a remote selection station, transmission means
interconnecting said remote station and said main station, manually
operable means at said remote station for operation by a customer
to identify a selection being made, means at said remote station
for converting such customer operation to a serial digital pulse
train, said digital pulse train being carried by said transmission
means to said main station, means at said main station for
inserting the digital information conveyed by said pulse train into
said digital memory system, and means at said main station for
effecting vending at said main station under the control of said
memory system. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A system as set forth in claim
19 and further including at said main station manually operable
means for operation by a customer to identify a selection being
made, and means interconnecting said main station manually operable
means and said memory system to insert a serial digital pulse train
corresponding to manual selections into said memory system.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A system as set forth in claim 19 including a
plurality of remote stations, and a like plurality of manually
operable means and converting means all connected to said main
station, said serial digital pulse train inserting means in the
main station including means for sequentially gating the serial
digital pulse train from the remote stations into said digital
memory system. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A system as set forth in claim
20 including a plurality of remote stations, and a like plurality
of manually operable means and converting means all connected to
said main station, said serial digital pulse train inserting means
in the main station including means for sequentially gating the
serial digital pulse train from the remote stations and from said
main station into said digital memory system. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A
system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said memory system
comprises a plurality of electronic memory devices. .Iaddend..Iadd.
24. A system as set forth in claim 19 and further including
manually operable enabling means at said remote station for said
manually operable means and said converting means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
25. A system as set forth in claim 24 and further including an
electronic accumulator for accumulating information corresponding
to the operation of said enabling means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. A
phonograph selector system comprising means for digitally encoding
information corresponding to a record stored in said phonograph
system, manually operable means connected to and controlling said
encoding means to produce a serial digital pulse train in
accordance with the manual operation of said manually operable
means for operation to select a predetermined record, digital
information storage means connected to said encoding means and
receiving said serial digital pulse train for storing the digitally
encoded information until all the format features of such
information have been selected by the user and digitally encoded by
manual operation of said manually operable means, means connected
to said storage means and thereafter sequentially transmitting the
serial digital pulse train, means connected to said transmitting
means for receiving and storing said serial digital pulse train,
and means connected to said last mentioned storage means to decode
said information. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 27. A control circuit for a
vending machine comprising separate logic input control means for
each coin of a different monetary value accepted by the machine,
system clock means for generating cyclically recurring clock
pulses, means responsive to each of said logic input control
circuit means for gating out a train of clock pulses having a
number of pulses selected to represent the monetary value of each
deposited coin, register means for storing each pulse in the train
of the gated coin representing pulses, and means for comparing the
cumulative total of the stored train of pulses with signals
representing the price of a selected product to enable or inhibit
the vending cycle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. The control circuit of claim
27 and means responsive to the detection of predetermined vending
machine conditions for inserting an inhibit signal into the
comparing means to create an inhibit function. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 29.
The control circuit of claim 27 and means responsive to the start
of a vend cycle for precluding any control operation responsive to
changing conditions occurring during the vend cycle.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 30. The control circuit of claim 27 wherein said
register is a bidirectional counter adapted to count up or to count
down, means responsive to each of said coin pulses for driving said
counter to count up, means for refunding coins responsive to said
comparing means indicating a surplus of monetary value in escrowed
coins as compared to the price of said selected product, means
responsive to each coin refunded by said refunding means for
driving said counter to count down, and means responsive to said
comparing means during said count down finding equality of net
monetary value of escrowed coins and said price for terminating the
issuance of the refunded coins. .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. The control
circuit of claim 27 and a plurality of leads individually marked
responsive to the selection of a vendable product, and a
cross-wired field for connecting said individually marked leads to
price indicating terminals. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The control circuit
of claim 31 wherein said comparing means comprises an adder circuit
having parallel inputs energized from said register means and from
said price indicating terminals, and means for giving an output
signal from said comparing means to command said vending machine to
deliver a selected product when corresponding ones of said parallel
leads have the same relative markings. .Iaddend.
Description
This invention relates to improvements in electronic control of
mechanical and other apparatus and, more particularly, to control
apparatus and method for information retrieval purposes.
While the present invention is adapted for controlling any one of a
number of different information retrieval systems, it is especially
adapted for use with, and will hereinafter be described with
respect to, a coin-actuated phonograph unit of the type having a
number of individually playable record disks provided with musical
selections or the like on opposite sides thereof. It is to be
understood, however, that a phonograph unit utilizing a flexible,
magnetic, pre-recorded tape can also be controlled by carrying out
the teachings of this invention.
In the past, control systems for coin-actuated phonograph units
have included, in addition to some type of selection memory or
storage device, electromechanical elements, such as levers, relays,
cams, springs and the like. While such control systems are
satisfactory to some extent, they are relatively unreliable when
compared with control systems utilizing solid state electronic
elements, such as diodes, transistors and integrated circuits.
Moreover, as the development of solid state components has
progressed over the years, unit costs of such components have
decreased to values which now render the same economically
practicable and competitive with the more unreliable
electromechanical elements.
In the phonograph field, only feeble attempts at best have been
made to use solid state control units for control circuitry.
Generally, such controls have included magnetic core memories
which, because they store a record position, are limited to the
response times of the record-scanning mechanism itself, a
mechanical device which is relatively slow in operation. Magnetic
core memories also require separate read-in and read-out mechanisms
because of the relatively long scanning times required to read-out
the information to the memories. This feature increases both the
number and the cost of components necessary to operate control
units of this type.
The present invention improves upon conventional control units,
even those having magnetic core memories, by providing for a fast
electronic read-in and read-out of a memory unit without stalling
the signal inputs to the memory for long periods of mechanical scan
of the playback mechanism. This end is achieved by structure which
does not require separate read-in mechanisms and read-out
mechanisms.
The present invention achieves the aforesaid results by generating
a first signal group representing a number which corresponds to the
position of an information-containing member with which the control
unit is utilized. Thus, if the invention is used to control a
phonograph unit having a number of record disks, the generated
signal will represent the number of the position of a selected
record in the stack or array in which the record is normally
disposed. The signal group representing the number is then
electronically stored at a specific location in a memory and the
memory is read out to present another signal group representing
once again the number of the selected record position. The playback
mechanism then scans and senses the last-mentioned signal group so
as to be able to become coupled to the record itself for playback
purposes.
The present invention, therefore, provides for the selection of a
record or other information-containing members from a stack or
array, representing the record selection as a number corresponding
to the record position in the stack, storing the number as a
location in a memory, and reading out the information from the
memory as a number once again which can be scanned by the playback
mechanism. This manner of control provides for greater efficiency
in retrieval of information contained on members, such as
phonograph records, in that read-in and read-out can be
accomplished simultaneously, with a minimum number of components,
and at greater speed. Because the read-in and read-out actions of
the invention are relatively fast, no separate read-in and read-out
mechanisms are required as is necessary with conventional
apparatus.
The present invention also provides an improved control apparatus
for a phonograph unit by utilizing a first storage assembly capable
of storing a plurality of record selections and a second storage
assembly capable of receiving the next record selection to be
played. Thus, the first storage assembly can continue to store
record selections as the second storage assembly readies the next
selection for scanning and play by the record playback mechanism.
Moreover, the storing of selections in the first storage assembly
can be done by the same structure which transfers a record
selection to the second storage assembly from the first storage
assembly.
The primary object of the invention is, therefore, to provide
control apparatus and method for use in information retrieval
applications wherein selective access can be had to any one of a
plurality of information-containing members by generating signal
means corresponding to the number of the position of a selected
member in an array, then storing the number in a particular
location for subsequent read-out, and thereafter reading out the
particular stored location as a number once again which can then be
scanned by a suitable playback or read-out mechanism whereby
selecting and storing of information can be accomplished as the
information on a previously selected member is being read out by
the mechanism.
Another object of this invention is to provide a control unit for a
phonograph unit wherein a first storage assembly capable of storing
a plurality of record selections is coupled to a second storage
assembly capable of placing the next record selection to be played
in readiness to be scanned by the playback mechanism to thereby
allow the first storage assembly to continue to store record
selections without being stalled by the scanning action of such
playback mechanism.
Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and a
method for controlling the operation of a phonograph unit provided
with a plurality of record disks and a playback mechanism movable
in scanning relationship to the record disks so that the records
can be selected and played in a manner to avoid having the playback
mechanism stall the inputs to the memory of the phonograph unit to
thereby provide a more efficient control action than is available
with units of conventional construction.
Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and a
method of the type described which permits the use of both a main
selector unit and a number remote selector unit for a coin-actuated
phonograph system.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the
following specification progresses, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings for an illustration of the circuitry of a
preferred form of the apparatus.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the apparatus when it is used as the
control mechanism for a coin-actuated phonograph having a main unit
and a number of remote units;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the credit totalizer of the main unit
of the phonograph;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the selection input structure of a
remote unit thereof;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the scanning means for use with a
number of such remote units;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the selection means of the main
unit;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the selection input control unit and
the buffer means which receives the control signals for the memory
of the apparatus;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the selection storage and read-out
unit of the apparatus;
FIG. 8 is the schematic wiring diagram of the credit totalizer of
the main unit;
FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram of the main selection input and the
selection input control unit;
FIG. 10 is the wiring diagram of the selection input buffer for the
main unit and the scanner for the remote units;
FIG. 11 is the wiring diagram for the credit totalizer of a remote
unit;
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the selection input buffer of a
remote unit and the control unit associated therewith;
FIG. 13 is the control section for the storage and read-out unit;
and
FIG. 14 is the circuitry for the storage and read-out unit
itself.
The present invention will hereinafter be described as the control
means of a coin-actuated phonograph having a plurality of record
disks. However, the invention is not to be limited to this
application and those skilled in the art will recognize, after
reading the following description, that the invention is applicable
to a number of other uses for controlling selective actuation of
other mechanical or electronic structure.
Apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1, includes a storage and read-out
unit 12 operated by a selection input control unit 14 which, in
turn, receives its actuating electronic signals either from a main
selection input 16 or from a remote input scanner 18 used with a
number of remote units 21. Main selection input 16 is actuated by a
main credit unit or totalizer 20 and remote input scanner 18 is
used to scan any one of a number of different remote selection
inputs 24, each input 24 being provided for a respective remote
unit 21 and having its own remote credit unit or totalizer 22.
Selections for the various plays of the record disks of apparatus
10 are made by selection input buttons, there being a complete set
of input buttons for each of the main unit and each remote unit,
respectively. The input buttons of each set are split into the
customary two sections, the numeric section 0 to 9 and the alpha
section A to W so that 200 record selections can be played. The
nine numbers in the numeric section are given the following values
of 0 to 180 in steps of 20, i.e., 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140,
160 and 180. The letters in the alpha section are given values of 0
to 19 corresponding to the letters A to W with the exception of the
letters I, O and Q.
Each selection is entered into a selection input buffer comprised
of eleven RS flip-flops when a button of the alpha section and a
button of the numeric section are depressed, there being a
selection input buffer in the main unit 16 and one in each remote
unit, respectively. The flip-flop positions of each selection input
buffer have weighted numerical values corresponding to the weighted
number code used throughout the selection system to simplify the
entering of a record selection. This weighted number code is as
follows: 1, 2, 4, 2, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160. This code permits the
counting to a total number of 319 but for the particular use
described herein, it need only be used to count to 199.
The alpha section will enter the B to W (1 to 19) selections into
the set terminals of the first five RS flip-flops in the selection
input buffer. The numeric section will enter 1 to 9 (20 to 180)
selections in steps of 20 into the set terminals of the last four
RS flip-flops of the selection input buffer. The two 0 values, A in
the alpha section and 0 in the numeric section, are entered as a
logic 1 into their own RS flip-flops in the selection input
buffer.
The selection number, after being entered into the selection input
buffer in either the main unit or a remote unit, is transferred by
gating circuits to a main input buffer on command from a selection
input control unit forming a part of the apparatus. The selection
number is stored in the memory section of storage and read-out unit
12 as a bit in one of 200 JK flip-flops arranged to present an
end-around shift register which defines the memory section. A total
of 200 sections for play once may be stored in the memory section
of apparatus 10 as described hereinafter. However, the memory can
be made as large or as small as necessary by changing the number of
storage JK flip-flops in the memory itself.
The read-out is accomplished by a counter which counts in the
special weighted number code mentioned above from 0 to 199 as a
scanner causes the record player to scan past the record magazine
of the phonograph. The generated number from the counter is
compared to the next selection number stored in an output buffer
until a comparison is reached. The record player will then play the
correct side of the record. Storage and read-out unit 12 will then
replace the selection number to be played. The comparison count may
be obtained in any suitable manner, such as by the periodic
breaking of a light beam as the record player passes each record in
the record magazine.
Main credit unit 20 shown in block form in FIG. 2 and schematically
in FIG. 8 totals the credit arising from the placing of coins in a
coin-drop mechanism 25 and this signal triggers the proper JK
flip-flop 26 (FIG. 8) of a flip-flop bank 27 (FIGS. 3 and 8). For
purposes of illustration, there is a flip-flop 26 for each of the
5-cent, 10-cent, 25-cent and 50-cent slots or coin receivers,
respectively, of coin-drop mechanism 25. The actuated flip-flop
causes a signal to be gated by pulse gating structure 29 (comprised
of at least one NOR gate) into a credit accumulator 28 comprised of
JK flip-flops 30 arranged to form a count-up/count-down counter.
For purposes of illustration only, each pair of signal pulses gated
to accumulator 28 is worth one play with a 50-cent credit being
operable to gate 14 pulses to the accumulator equivalent to seven
plays. The price of a selection can be changed by a change in the
gating of the pulses to accumulator 28.
All gate elements are, for purposes of illustration only, shown on
the accompanying drawings as NOR gates. Other gating elements could
be used if desired.
An input signal g2 from main selection input 16 is used to control
the count-down mode of accumulator 28 of main credit 20. Thus, the
accumulator is in the count-down mode when this input is present.
An output signal A on lead 32 (FIG. 8) from accumulator 28 is
provided when a credit of, for instance, 10-cents or more is
established in the accumulator, whereby the signal is directed to
main selection input 16 to permit a selection to be made. A number
of NOR gating elements A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4 are
provided for accumulator 28 to effect a count-up/count-down action
depending upon whether accumulator 28 is receiving credit from its
coin-drop mechanism 25 or is being charged by selection input 16 by
means of a signal g2.
As accumulator 28 counts up the credit, such gating elements are
conditioned to effect this action, namely, a logic 0 on one of the
two input gates of A.sub.1 and a logic 1 on the other input gate.
During the charging action of the accumulator, the aforesaid input
gates will have the opposite logic values. The credit phase is
achieved as a result of the placing of coins in the coin-drop
mechanism and the charging phase is effected by a signal g2 which
returns by way of lead 33 from selection input 16.
Each remote unit 21 has a credit totalizer 22 constructed
essentially in the same manner as main credit 20 and is operated in
the manner described above. Such a remote credit unit is shown in
FIG. 11 wherein a bank of flip-flops 26a are coupled to pulse
gating structure 29a for pulsing an accumulator 28a comprised of a
number of JK flip-flops 30a. A number of NOR gating elements
A.sub.1 to A.sub.4 provide a count-up/count-down action depending
upon whether accumulator 28a is receiving credit from its coin-drop
mechanism or is being charged by the corresponding remote selection
input 24. Flip-flops 37a operate to effect the credit and charging
action of accumulator 28a in the same way as flip-flops 37 operate
with accumulator 28.
The signal output A from accumulator 28a is directed by a lead 32a
to the corresponding remote selection input 24 (FIGS. 11 and 12).
The charging signal h2 from input 24 is returned to remote credit
22 by a lead 33a.
In the main unit, credit information received from accumulator 28
in the form of control signal A indicates, for purposes of
illustration, that at least 10-cents or more credit has been
accumulated to permit one or more record selections to be made.
This signal is transferred by lead 32 to main selection input 16
comprised of a bank 34 of NOR gates and a pair of JK flip-flops 36
coupled to the NOR gates. By gating signal A and by actuating
flip-flops 36, main input 16 will apply power by a signal g1 by
means of a lead 38 to the alpha section 40 and the numeric section
42 of the main unit. Sections 40 and 42 are coupled by a bank 44 of
NOR gates to a selection input buffer 46 comprised of five RS
flip-flops for alpha section 40 (from B to W) and four RS
flip-flops for numeric section 42 (from 1 to 9). The A and O
buttons of sections 40 and 42 have respective RS flip-flops 48 and
50 (FIG. 10).
When a selection is to be made, one of the buttons of section 40
and one of the buttons of section 42 are depressed to, in turn,
actuate the corresponding flip-flops of buffer 46. The signal
outputs of the actuated flip-flops of buffer 46 will, upon command
from selection input control unit 14 (FIGS. 1 and 9) by a signal
j1, be directed through a pulsed gating section 52 (FIG. 10) to a
main input buffer 54 having nine RS flip-flops in parallel (FIG.
14). The numerals 1 to 9 applied to the gating elements of bank 52
(FIG. 10) correspond to the numerals 1 to 9 at the inputs of
flip-flops 56. Thus, the signal outputs or output signal group from
buffer 46 will represent the number of the position of the selected
record in the stack or array in which it is disposed and the signal
outputs or output signal group of buffer 54 will also represent the
number of the selected record in such array.
After the selection number has been made by depressing a button in
each of sections 40 and 42 (FIG. 10), input 16 removes the power
from sections 40 and 42 through the medium of flip-flops 36 (FIG.
9) and the associated gating elements. Input 16 will then send
control signal g2 by a lead 33 to control unit 14 for control
purposes. This same signal g2 will be sent to main credit 20 to
effect a count-down action of accumulator 28 as set forth
above.
The various operational modes of main selection input 16 are as
follows:
g0-Rest position
g1-Power directed to selection input buttons enabling a record
selection
g2-Transmit control signal to selection input control unit 14 and
send charge control signal to the main credit 20
The signal inputs to main selection input 16 are as follows:
j4f4M-Control pulse from selection input control unit 14 causing
input 16 to reset the selection input buffer 46 to zero and return
to the rest mode g0
A-credit worth one play or more has been accumulated by main credit
20
B-selection number has been entered into selection input buffer
46
The signal outputs from input 16 are as follows:
g1-Power to selection buttons
g2-Control signal to selection input control unit 14 and main
credit 20
Selection input control unit 14 is comprised of a bank of NOR gates
60 and a number of JK flip-flops 62 coupled to a clock pulse
generator and to the output ends of various NOR gates of blank
60.
Control unit 14 will, after the selection has been entered into
main input buffer 54, send a control pulse j4f4M back to input 16
by a lead 64 causing input 16 to reset the selection input buffer
46 to zero. This pulse also effects the return of input 16 to the
rest position to await another control signal from main credit 20.
The signal for resetting the flip-flops of selection input buffer
46 (FIG. 10) is g2j4f4M by way of a lead 66 (FIGS. 9 and 10).
Each remote unit 21 operates in essentially the same way as
described in the foregoing with respect to the main unit.
Specifically, when a control signal A' is at the output side of
accumulator 28a, indicating 10-cents or more credit has been
accumulated, the signal is directed by lead 32a to the
corresponding remote selection input 24 (FIG. 12) which is
comprised of a bank 68 of NOR gates and a number of JK flip-flops
70 connected to the NOR gates. By virtue of signal A', input 24
will apply power to the alpha section 40a and the numeric section
42a by a lead 70 (FIG. 12). The selection is made by depressing the
buttons of sections 40a and 42a and, when a selection has been
made, input 24 will remove power from the alpha and numeric
sections and will send a control signal toward the selection input
control unit 14 of apparatus 10. However, this latter signal must
first be scanned by remote scanner 18 as hereinafter described.
This signal (h2) is sent from input 24 by a lead 72 (FIG. 12).
Selection input control unit 14 will send a return control signal
(j2) back down a separate line to input 24 when control unit 14 is
ready to receive the selection number generated by actuating the
push buttons of sections 40a and 42a. This return control signal
(j2) is directed by a lead 74 to input 24 (FIG. 12).
The signal (h2) sent from input 24 to control unit 14 is also sent
by a lead 76 to a JK flip-flop 78 which, in turn, sends a signal by
way of lead 33a to accumulator 28a to effect a charging or
count-down action thereof. Also, when the selection has been
entered in sections 40a and 42a, the selection input buffer 46a
(FIG. 12) of the corresponding remote unit 21 will be actuated,
such selection input buffer being comprised of five RS flip-flops
corresponding to the B to W selections and four RS flip-flops
corresponding to the 1 to 9 selections. Flip-flops 48a and 50a
correspond to the A and O selection buttons, respectively.
Each remote unit 21 has a pulse counter 80 (FIGS. 3 and 12) and a
comparator 81 by means of which a remote storage buffer 104 (FIG.
10) is actuated. After a selection has been made at a remote unit,
a signal h2 is sent to control unit 14 indicating that the remote
unit has a selection to be played. This signal is sent from input
24 by lead 72, flip-flop 73, and lead 75 to input 14, whereupon the
latter sends a signal j2 back to the remote unit by way of leads 88
and 74 to actuate the corresponding input 24 (FIG. 12) which causes
a signal h3C to be directed to pulse counter 80 by lead 83 as well
as to storage buffer 104 by leads 72, 100 and 89 (FIG. 10). Clock
pulses advance counter 80 and buffer 104 until a pulse detector 85
(FIG. 9) determines that no further counting is being done. This
occurs when comparator 81 causes a correlation between the number
in buffer 46a and the number to which counter 80 has counted. All
of the aforesaid occurs when remote scanner 18 locks on the
particular remote unit so as to allow a selection number to be
gated to control unit 14.
The modes of remote selection input 24 of each remote unit 21 are
as follows:
h0-Rest position
h1-Power to selection input buttons, enabling record selection
h2-Transmit control signal to selection input control unit 14 and
charge control signal to the credit totalizer 22
h3-Transmit selection number to selection input control unit 14
h4-Reset and clear all selection input storage flip-flops
The signal inputs to each remote input 24 are as follows:
j2-Selection input control unit 14 ready to receive selection
number
A-credit worth one play or more has been accumulated in the credit
totalizer 22
C-comparitor output, when the selection number has been transmitted
to the selection input control unit 14
C-logical negation of C
D-selection number has been entered into selection input buffer
46a.
The signal outputs from each remote input 24 are as follows:
h1-Power to selection input buttons
h2-Control signal to selection input control unit 14 and credit
totalizer 22
h3C-Gate pulses to selection input control unit 14
h4-Reset and clear all selection input storage flip-flops.
Remote scanner 18, shown schematically in FIG. 10, includes a pair
of JK flip-flops 84 coupled to a bank 86 of NOR gates which
comprise a number of pairs of gates, each pair being arranged to
receive a signal from and send a signal to a respective remote unit
21. For instance, one lead 72, shown in FIG. 10, comes from the
remote selection input 24 of a first remote unit 21. A
corresponding lead 74 carries the signal back to the particular
remote unit 21. A second pair of leads 72 and 74 are coupled to a
second remote unit 21 and so on.
Scanner 18 is constantly scanning the remote input leads 72 for a
control signal from a remote unit 21. This is accomplished by the
use of a clock pulse input to flip-flops 84. When a control signal
from a remote unit is found on a lead 72, the scanner 18 will lock
on that particular lead so that a return control signal may be sent
from control unit 14 to the same remote unit by lead 74. This is
accomplished through a lead 88 (FIGS. 9 and 10). All other control
signals on the other leads 72 must wait until scanner 18 commences
scanning once again. The scanner 18 will start scanning again when
a control pulse is sent by a lead 90 from control input 14 to
scanner 18. While three remote units 21 have been shown in FIG. 1,
the number of such remote units may be increased to any value by
the use of additional flip-flops and gating circuitry.
The modes of scanner 18 are as follows:
i0-Scan check of remote unit one
i1-Scan check of remote unit two
i2-Scan check of remote unit three
The single input to the scanner 18 is a signal h2 which tells
control unit 14 that a remote unit is ready to send it a selection
number.
The outputs of scanner 18 are as follows:
i0h2-Remote unit one is ready to transmit selection number
i1h2-Remote unit two is ready to transmit selection number
i2h2-Remote unit three is ready to transmit selection number
i0j2-Selection input control unit is ready for the first remote
unit
i1j2-Selection input control unit is ready for the second remote
unit
i2j2-Selection input control unit is ready for the third remote
unit
Selection input control unit 14 has two control cycles, namely, the
main input cycle and the remote input cycle. In the main input
cycle, control signal g2 is received from main selection input 16
and this control signal causes control unit 14 to start in the main
input cycle. Control unit 14 will, by a signal j1 on lead 92 (FIGS.
9 and 10), gate the selection number which is held in selection
input buffer 46 to main input buffer 54 by way of the bank 52 of
NOR gates (FIG. 10). Then, control unit 14 will send a control
signal j4 by way of lead 94 to the control unit 96 of storage and
read-out unit 12 to actuate the latter. When storage in unit 12 has
been completed, control unit 96 will send a control pulse f4 by way
of lead 98 to control unit 14 causing it to send a control pulse
j4f4M by way of lead 64 to main selection input 16 before returning
to the rest position. This latter signal, as mentioned above,
causes the selection input buffer 46 to be set to zero to await
actuation once again by input 16 upon receipt of additional credit
information from main credit 20.
In the remote input cycle of control unit 14, a control signal h2
is received by control unit 14 from a remote unit 21 after being
gated by remote scanner 18. This control signal causes control unit
14 to start in the remote input cycle. First, the control unit 14
will send a control signal j2 by way of lead 88 and flip-flops 84
to the particular remote unit 21. By virtue of this control signal,
the remote unit will gate the stored selection number therein to
the scanner by way of lead 72 and this selection number is directed
by way of lead 89 to a remote storage buffer 104 (FIGS. 6 and 10)
comprised of a number of JK flip-flops 91 arranged to form a
counter. This selection number is pulsed by virtue of the pulse
counter 80 of the particular remote unit 21 and when the last pulse
has been received and counted by remote storage buffer 104, control
unit 14 will gate the selections stored therein to main input
buffer 54 by a signal j3 from control unit 14 to bank 52 by way of
a lead 106 (FIGS. 9 and 10). Then, control unit 14 will send a
control signal j4 to control unit 96 by way of lead 94 to further
actuate control unit 96. When storage is completed, control unit 96
will send a control pulse f4 back to control unit 14 causing the
latter, by means of a signal j4f4N, to reset the remote storage
buffer 104 to zero. This is done by a lead 108 and a lead 110
(FIGS. 9 and 10). This latter signal also is used to inhibit the
pulse detector circuitry and is also sent by way of lead 90 to
scanner 18 causing it to start scanning the remote input leads 72
after which time control unit 14 returns to the rest position.
The modes of control unit 14 are as follows:
j0-Rest position
j1-Gate main selection input number to the main input buffer 54
j2-Transmit control signal to proper remote unit to enable
transmittal of selection number
j3-Gate remote storage buffer 104 to the main input buffer 54
j4-Transmit control signal to control unit 96 and wait for storage
to be completed
The signal inputs to control unit 14 are as follows:
f4-Control pulse from control unit 96 when storage is completed
f4-Logical negation of f4
g2-Control signal from control unit 14 to start main input control
cycle
h2-Control signal to start remote input control cycle
G-last pulse from remote unit has been received
M-selection input control unit 14 in main input control cycle
N-selection input control unit 24 in remote input control cycle
The signal outputs of control unit 14 are as follows:
j1-Control pulse to gate selection input buffer 46 to the main
input buffer 54
j2-Control signal to proper remote unit to enable transmittal of
selection number
j3-Control pulse to gate remote storage buffer 104 to the main
input buffer 54
j4f4-Control signal to control unit 96 to start storage
j4f4M-Control pulse to main selection input 16 to reset selection
input buffer 46 to zero
j4f4N-Control pulse to reset the remote storage buffer 104 to zero,
inhibit the pulse detector circuitry, and start scanner 18 scanning
the remote input lines 72.
Control unit 96 has two control cycles, one is for selection
storage and the other is for selection read-out. When a selection
has been entered into main input buffer 54, control unit 14 starts
control unit 96 in the selection storage control cycle. Control
unit 96 sends a signal f1W to storage register or memory unit 110,
comprised of 200 JK flip-flops 112 arranged as an end-around shift
register. Signal f1W is conducted by a lead 115 to a clocking gate
connected to the flip-flops of memory 110 as shown in FIG. 14. The
control signal f1W effects the advance of register 110 to the
correct storage position determined by a comparison signal from the
comparator 55 associated with main input buffer 54 (FIG. 14).
Control unit 96, by means of another output signal f2, causes the
selection to be stored as a logic one at that storage position.
Control unit 96, through counter 130 (FIG. 13), then resets or
returns memory 110 to the same position from whence it started,
i.e., by counting up to 200. Control unit 96 will next go to the
selection read-out cycle if the output buffer 116 (FIGS. 7 and 14)
has been previously emptied. If the output buffer 116 is not empty,
control unit 96 sends a control pulse f4 by way of lead 98 to
control unit 14 and returns to the rest position.
The selection read-out cycle of control unit 96 starts when the
selection in output buffer 116 is scanned by the playback mechanism
of the phonograph unit. Such mechanism has a scan or search motor
which receives power through a pair of RS flip-flops 119 and 121 by
means of lead 123. The movement of the mechanism is sensed in some
suitable manner, such as by the periodic breaking of a light beam,
so as to generate a signal coupled by a lead 120 to an output
scanner or counter 122 comprised of a number of JK flip-flops
124.
Control unit 96 checks for a stored logic one by scanning memory
110 and, when a logic one is found, the selection, i.e., the record
number and the side of the record, is gated to the output buffer
116. While a record is being played, another selection can be
stored in output buffer 116 unless a last-play condition should
exist.
Output buffer 116 allows for a fast read-out of memory 110 so that
control unit 96 will not stall the inputs for long periods of
mechanical scan. The mechanical scan, though much slower than the
rest of the system, will not stall the inputs at any time.
The modes of control unit 96 are as follows:
f0-Rest position
f1-Shift storage position to agree with selection number in main
input buffer
f2-Store selection as a logic (one) in storage register
f3-Shift storage position back to start position
f4-Transmit control pulse to selection input control unit and check
for last-play condition
f5-Scan storage register for logic (one)
f6-Reset control unit to reset position and reset last-play
condition flip-flop if necessary
The inputs to control unit 96 are as follows:
j4-Control signal from selection input control unit to start
selection storage control cycle
P-control signal from output buffer to start the selection read-out
control cycle
S-control pulse from two hundred pulse counter indicating that the
storage register has returned to its original position
S-logical negation of S
T-control signal from last-play condition flip-flop indicating that
a last-play condition exists
T-logical negation of T
U-control pulse from selection storage register indicating a logic
(one) storage position
U-logical negation of U
W-control signal from comparator, indicating a comparison has been
reached
W-logical negation of W
OPERATION
Control unit 10 is coupled to the playback and scanning mechanism
(not shown) of a phonograph unit and is adapted to control the play
of 200 record disks which are arranged in some suitable manner on a
carriage or the like. The selections of the records are made by the
actuation of the selection push buttons of the main unit and those
of the remote units.
The control unit operates when a user places one or more coins in
the coin-drop mechanism of the main unit or of the remote unit.
Assuming coins are placed in coin-drop mechanism 25 of the main
unit (FIG. 2), the flip-flop bank 27 is actuated to apply signal
pulses corresponding to the amount of the coins deposited to
actuated credit accumulator 28, specifically, the JK flip-flop 30
thereof (FIG. 8). Accumulator 28, therefore, provides an output
signal A on line 32 to selection input 16 which operates to apply
power by lead 28 to selection buttons 40 and 42. Assuming a record
selection is made by depressing a button 40 and a button 42, such
buttons operate as switches to actuate input buffer 46 wherein the
first five flip-flops thereof will be actuated by the alpha section
of the push buttons and the remaining four flip-flops will be
actuated by the numeric section of the push buttons. The result is
one or more signals on the outputs of the flip-flops of input
buffer 46, such output signal or signals representing a first
output signal group corresponding to the number of the record
position in the record stack. Thus, the push buttons are the
actuators for the control unit itself, the push buttons
corresponding to the positions of the records in the stack.
The first output signal group is coupled by gating elements 52 to
main input buffer 54 and, upon command from selection input control
unit 14 (FIG. 9) by a signal j1 on lead 92, the selected record
number, represented by the output signal group to the flip-flops of
selection input buffer 46, is transferred to the input means of
main input buffer 54 and, because the flip-flops 56 of buffer 54
receive their signals in parallel with each other, the output
signal group at the output means of flip-flops 56 also represent
the number of the selected record.
After the number of selected record is received by main input
buffer 54, a signal is received by storage and read-out control
unit 96 which, through a signal f1W simultaneously starts the
advance of shift register 110 and storage position counter 134.
Counter 134 counts in accordance with the preselected code set
forth above. When the count of counter 134 compares equally to the
number stored in main input buffer 54, a signal is returned to
control unit 96 by lead 125 (FIG. 14) which causes an output signal
f2 of control unit 96 to apply a voltage to the first flip-flop 112
of storage unit 110 by means of a lead 114. A counter 130 (FIG.
13), initially actuated with shift register 110, continues to count
due to the generation of an output signal f3S of control unit 96
after a flip-flop 112 has been actuated so as to effect the
advancement of the shift register until the actuated flip-flop 112
returns to its starting position. Thus, the aforesaid action
operates to transfer the number of the selected record (evidenced
by the output signal group of buffer 54) to a position, namely, a
particular flip-flop position of storage register 110. As soon as
the storage register has returned to its initial starting position,
a signal is sent therefrom by lead 126 to control unit 96 which
then operates to read-out the information into output buffer 116,
if the latter is deactuated. This read-out step is accomplished by
sending an output signal f5U of control unit 96 to storage counter
134 and also to counter 130 as well as to shift register 110 to
cause all three of these components to count to the number equal to
the number position of the actuated flip-flop in register 110. When
the actuated flip-flop 112 of register 110 reaches the
signal-receiving location at the far right side of FIG. 14, a
signal is sent back to control unit 96 by way of lead 127 to cause
another output signal f5U thereof to be sent by lead 129 to a
number of gates (FIG. 14) which cause actuation of the RS
flip-flops of output buffer 116, the latter flip-flops having input
means in parallel so that the output signal group at the output
means of these flip-flops represents the number of the position of
the actuated flip-flop 112 to register 110 and thereby the number
of the selected record.
When it is desired to read-out the number represented by the output
signal group of output buffer 116, the playback mechanism is
actuated by supplying electrical power to its electrically actuated
search motor and, as the mechanism scans the records, it operates
counter 122 whose count is compared by comparator 131 to the number
represented by output buffer 116. When the count is equal to the
number, the search motor is stopped with the mechanism aligned with
or adjacent to the selected record. Then the mechanism moves into
coupled relationship to the selected record and plays the same.
During the play of the record, the output buffer 116 can then be
actuated or filled to prepare it for effecting the play of the next
record. Also, during the play of the record, additional selections
can be entered into register 110 as the selections are made in the
main unit and the remote unit.
The remote input scanner 18 operates continuously to scan remote
units and to direct the information therefrom into remote storage
buffer 104 (FIG. 10). The information from this buffer is gated
through gates 52 to main input buffer 54 in the manner described
above so that selections from the main input and from the remote
inputs are successively directed to main input buffer 54.
The foregoing description of the invention has been made with
respect to a phonograph unit comprised of a plurality of record
disks. The teachings of the invention could be applied to a
phonograph unit utilizing a flexible, magnetic tape movable between
supply and take-up reels of a tape transport. The
information-containing members would be segments of the tape and
the scanning and playback mechanism would be transducer head
structure, either a single head or several heads, movable relative
to the tape even though the transducer head structure itself would
be normally stationary with respect to the tape reels.
The invention can be applied to other information-retrieval
applications as well as those mentioned above. For instance, the
invention could be used with a microfilm machine having a camera or
other retrieval device as the playback mechanism. The microfilm
would be wound on supply and take-up reels and the microfilm and
the playback mechanisms would move relative to each other even
though the playback mechanism would ordinarily be stationary.
While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and
described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and
modifications of this device can be made without departing from the
true spirit and scope of the invention.
The components of apparatus 10 are electronic and preferably are of
solid state construction to provide reliability and to minimize
production costs. Such components allow apparatus 10 to be housed
so that the apparatus itself occupies only a relatively small
volume.
* * * * *