CA1221166A - Method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby - Google Patents
Method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed therebyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1221166A CA1221166A CA000429630A CA429630A CA1221166A CA 1221166 A CA1221166 A CA 1221166A CA 000429630 A CA000429630 A CA 000429630A CA 429630 A CA429630 A CA 429630A CA 1221166 A CA1221166 A CA 1221166A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- track
- cell
- transition
- substrate
- data
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K1/00—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
- G06K1/12—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
- G06K1/126—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching by photographic or thermographic registration
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
- G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
- G06K19/06009—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking
- G06K19/06037—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking multi-dimensional coding
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B7/00—Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation by modifying optical properties or the physical structure, reproducing using an optical beam at lower power by sensing optical properties; Record carriers therefor
- G11B7/002—Recording, reproducing or erasing systems characterised by the shape or form of the carrier
- G11B7/0033—Recording, reproducing or erasing systems characterised by the shape or form of the carrier with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C13/00—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00
- G11C13/04—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The method for optically encoding digital data (12) on a substrate (11) to form a data record carrier (10) in-clues the steps of: selecting a track (14) path on the substrate (11); selecting a data cell length (L) in the direction of the track (14) for each bit of data to be stored in each cell (15) on each track (14); selecting a cell width dimension (W) transverse to the direction of the track (14); selecting an optical non-transition cell (15) for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in each such non-transition cell (15); selecting an optical tran-sition cell (15) for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in each such other transition cell (15); creat-ing at least one track (14) of digital data (12) on the substrate (11) comprised of a series of cells (15) each having the same cell length (L) in the direction of the track (14); establishing in each non-transition cell (15) on the substrate (11) a fully reflective or transmissive surface or a fully non-reflective or non-transmissive sur-face; and, establishing in each transition cell (15) on the substrate (11) a reflective or transmissive surface over part of the cell (15) extending transverse to the di-rection of the track (14) and a non-reflective or non-transmissive surface over the other part of the cell (15) extending transverse to the direction of the track (14).
The method for optically encoding digital data (12) on a substrate (11) to form a data record carrier (10) in-clues the steps of: selecting a track (14) path on the substrate (11); selecting a data cell length (L) in the direction of the track (14) for each bit of data to be stored in each cell (15) on each track (14); selecting a cell width dimension (W) transverse to the direction of the track (14); selecting an optical non-transition cell (15) for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in each such non-transition cell (15); selecting an optical tran-sition cell (15) for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in each such other transition cell (15); creat-ing at least one track (14) of digital data (12) on the substrate (11) comprised of a series of cells (15) each having the same cell length (L) in the direction of the track (14); establishing in each non-transition cell (15) on the substrate (11) a fully reflective or transmissive surface or a fully non-reflective or non-transmissive sur-face; and, establishing in each transition cell (15) on the substrate (11) a reflective or transmissive surface over part of the cell (15) extending transverse to the di-rection of the track (14) and a non-reflective or non-transmissive surface over the other part of the cell (15) extending transverse to the direction of the track (14).
Description
METHOD FOR OPTICALLY ENCODIN(~ DIGITAL DATA ON A SUBSTRATE
AND THE DATA RECOFCD FOE~.ED THEREBY
Technical Field The present invention relates to a method for optically encoding digital data in the form of logic bits of binary data in cells along a track on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby. More specifically, the pres-ent invention relates to the s~oring of digital data in cells having specific dimensions with the stored data in each cell being in the form of an optical transition or non-transition in the cell and ~ith the cells being located in arcuate tracks of equal radii that are arranged in an equal-ly spaced, nested array.
Background Art Heretofore it has been proposed in U.S. Patent No.
4,213,040 to encode digital information in rows and columns on a record carrier. ~ata is read from the record carrier by movement of the record carrier on an X axis and rotation transport mechanism which is operable to make skew correc-tions.
Also heretofore various optical encoded data record carriers and optical "w~iters" and "readers" have been pro-posed. For example, in U.S~ Patent No~ 3,549,897 there is disclosed an absolute electro-optical encoder for indicating the angular position of a shaft. The encoder includes a stationary disc and a rotary disc, the discs having concen-tric tracks with transmissive and non-transmissive portions which are binarily related. Light passing through the discs is picked up by certain selected combinations of photocells for indicating the position of one disc relative to the other disc.
In U.S. Patents Nos. 3,501,586; 3,624,284; 3,885,0'~4;
3,795,902; 3~806,643; 3,891,794; 4,090,031 and 4,163,600 is-sued to J. Russell, various "writers'~ and "readersl' are dis-closed for 7'writing" digital data on a spiral track and for"reading" digital da~a from the spiral track. In the opti-cal encoding and decoding system~ describ~d in these patent~
opaque spots on the track correspond to logic l bits of bi-nary data and transparent spots on the track correspond tologic 0 bits of binary data. ~lso, larger synchronization spots are provided at different places along the track.
An appara-tus for scanning a data record medium is dis-closed in U.S. Patent No. 3,898,629 wherein binary digital information is recorded in the form of data along a circular arc and a plurality of such circle arcs of data information are arranged tightly adjacent each other.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,919,697 there is disclosed a data record having track lines which may be separate parallel tracks or may be a single series track of the spiral or raster type.
In U.S. Patent No. 35983,317 there is disclosed an astigmatizer for a laser recording and reproducing system.
In this system concentric cixcular tracks are formed in a thermoplastic record or disc by burning selected holes through the disc with a laser. The laser is "on" while the disc is being rotated a short distance to form an elongate data information bit in the track. Then, in reading the data the laser beam or spot is elongated in a direction ~5 transverse to the direction of the track with an astigmati-zer unit so that a small elongate beam of light with an axis extending transverse to the axis of ~he track and o~
the elongate opening therein is used to read the opening.
In UOS. Patent No. 4,094,010 there is disclosed an optical multi-channel digital disc storage ~ystem. Data is stored on a spiral information track and holes correspond-ing to the information data are burned into the material of the disc by an information radiation beam.
U.S. Patent No. 4,094,013 discloses an optical storage disc sys~em with disc track guide sectors wherein the data tracks are spiral shaped turns or concentric turns on the disc. The data stored is again in the form of holes burned i6 into the disc.
U~S~ Patent No~ 4,209,804 discloses a record carrier con~a~ni~ oxm~tion in ~ op~ia~lly readable radi~tlon reflecting information structure~ With the record carrier of this patent, data is stored in a spiral track on a disc in the form of information areas comprising pits pressed into the record carrier surface or hills projecting from the record carrier surface. According to the teachings of this patent, the depth of the ~its or the height of the hills is constant and 50 iS the width of the information areas and intermediate areas at the level of the plane of the lands. Then the information to be conveyed by the rec-ord carrier is contained in the variation of the structure of the areas in the tangential direction only. More speci-ficially, the information areas are substantially V-shaped, the phase depth of each information area having one value between 100 and 120 and the angle of inclination between the walls of the information areas and normal to the record carrier are substantially constant and have a value between 65 and 85.
As will be described in greatqr detail hereinafter, the present invention differs from the record media and carriers disclosed in the prior art patents referred to a-bove by providing a method for optically encoding binary/
digital data on a substrate of a record carrier wherein the data cells containin~ bits of data are closely compacted by having the data stored in each data cell in the form of an optical transition or non-transition over the length of the cell in arcuate data tracks all having the same radius and being arranged in a nested, equally spaced apart array of tracks which a~e non-spiral and where the tracks are not arcs of concentric circles. The non-transition cells are cells which are completely transmissive or completely non-transmissive in one embodiment or completely reflective or completely non-reflective in another embodiment. The tran~
sition cells are partially transmissive and partially non-transmissive in one embodiment and partially reflective andpartially non-reflective in another embodiment.
The change in transmisslveness or reflectance occurs in a direction along the length of the cells and in the direction of the track such that there is a transition as a scanning or reading head comprised of a light source and a light sensor which picks up transmitted or reflected light travels along the length of the track.
The simple method disclosed herein for optically encod-ing data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby enable one to compact data very closely on the track and such data encoding is highly tolerant of noise, i.e., in the sharpness or fuzziness of the cell edge, to the location of the edge of a cell or to the position of a transition within a cell.
Typically, the non-occurrence of a transition over the length of a cell on a track corresponds to a logic 0 bit of information and the occurrence of a transition acxoss the length of the cell corresponds to a logic 1 bit of informa-tion, it being unaerstood that the reverse encoding or de-coding will work as well.
DI S CLOS URF. OF INVENT ION
According to the invention there is provided a method for op~ically encoding digital data on a substrate to form a data record carrier including the steps of: selecting a track path on the substrate, selecting a data cell length in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track; select-iny a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0. or 1~
to be stored in each such cell; selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic tl or 0) to be stored in each such other cell;creating at least one track of digital da-ta on the substrate comprised o a series of cells each . having the same cell length in the direction of the track;
establishing in each non-transition cell on the substrate a fully reflective surface or fully non-reflective surace;
and,establishing in each transition cell on the substrate a reflective surface over part of the cell extending trans-verse to the direction of the track and a non-reflective surface over the other part of the cell extending trans-verse to the direction of the track.
Further according to the invention there is provided a method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate to form a data record carrier including the steps of: sel-ecting a track path on the substrate; selecting a data celllength in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track;
selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1~ to be stored in such cell; selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in such other cell;creating at least one track of digital da-ta on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track;
establishing in each non-trasition cell in the substrate a fully transmissive area or a fully non-transmissive area;
.
I
and,establishing in each transition cell in the substrate a transmissive area over part of the cell extending trans~
verse to the direction of the track and a non~transmissive area over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the t~ack.
Still further according to the invention there is pro-vided a data record carrier including a substrate and dig-ital data on the substrate in the form of at least one track having therein a plurality of data cells for each bit of data (1 or 0) s~ored thereon, each cell having the same cell length in the direction of the track and the same cell width in a direction transverse to the direction of the track, and each cell for one form of logic (O or 1) being a non-transition cell and each cell for the other ;~
form of logic (1 or 0) being a transiticn cell.
¦ BRIEF DESCRIPTIQN OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a data record carrier con-structed and arranged in accordance with the teachings oE the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper left hand cor-ner of the data tracks formed on and in the substrate of the data record carrier shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the center portion of the data tracks shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a graph of the electrical signal generate~
by the light energy transmitted or reflected or not trans-mitted or not reflected across each cell of part of a track shown in Fig. 2 with the corresponding logic state stored in the cell indicated thereabove.
16~
sEsT MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Reerring now to the drawings in greater de-tail there .i5 illus~rated in FigO l a data record ~arrier 10 construc-ted in accordance with the teachings of the present inven-tion. The data rQcord carrier 10 includes a substrate 11which can be made from a number of different materials.
For example~ it can be made from paper, paperboard, coated enamel paper, plastic filament paper, MylarTM, Kodalith TM TM~ Plus X PanTM, dry silver, Tri-x Plus-XT~, diazol, or vesicular materials.
In one preferred embodiment, the substrate ll is made of a film negative material and a ~lask or master netative data record carrier 10 is made photographically. The data 12 is represented by transparent or clear areas and dark or opaque areas. A preferred size of this master negative is approximately 4 inches by 6 inches, which is the stan-dard size for microfiche negatives.
Once a mask or film negative data record carrier 10 has been made, such negative or mask can be reprod~ced or utilized for printing inexpensive data record carriers 10 on an inexpensive substrate ll material such as paper or paperboard materials.
In the case of a data record carrier 10 which has a substrate ll made from film negative material, data 12 is optieally encoded therein in the form of a plurality 13 of tracks 14 utilizing photographic techniques.
In this respect, and as will be described in greater detail hereinafter~ a camera is utilized to ereate cells lS (Figs. 2 and 3) in each track 14 where each cell 15 has a predetermined length L (Fig. 2) along the direction of the track and a predetermined width W (Figs. 2 and 3) trans-verse to the direction of the track 14. Each cell 15 is transparent or opaque or portions thereof are transparent or opaque to define a certain logie state in the cell in aecordance with the teachings of the present invention and as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
Once a mask or master film negative form of data rec-cord carrier 10 is made, ~uch a mask can be utilized for the printing of data reco~d carriers 10 on a paper or paper-board substrate 11.
When the data 12 is printed, the cells 15 are either reflective or non-reflective or partially reflective and par~ially non-reflective to represent different logic states, namely logic 0 or logic 1.
The substrate 11 can also have printed thereon other pertinent data in a header section 16.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the data record carrier 10 shown is utilized for storing information re-lating to a parts list, price list, and other pertinent data relative ~o a product sold under a particular model number hy a particular company. Other data or a repeat of the data in the header section 16 can also be printed on the substrate 11 beneath the data 12 in the same manner the cells 15 of each track 14 are printed as shown at 18 in Fig. 1.
As will be described further in connection with the description of Figs. 3, 4, and 5, when the data record car-rier 10 is formed on a film negative substrate 11, each cell 15 having a given cell length L and a given cell width W that will represent one form of logic, loyic 0 or logic 1, will be completely transparent or completely opaque.
In other words, there will be no transition across the length of the cell and such cell is referred to as a non-transition cell and in this description will correspond to a logic 0 data bit.
Then, for ad~acent cells, which will be characterized as containing a logic 1 data bit, part of the cell extend-ing in a direction transverse to the direction of the track 14 will be opaque and the remaining part of the cell ex-tending transverse to the direction of the track 14 will be transparent or vice versaO As a result, there is a transition intexmediate and typically midway across the length L of the cell 15 from transparent to opaque or opaque to transparent. As a result, an optical reader having a light source which passes light directly, or via fiber optics, to the substrate 11 of the data record carrier 10 as the reader is moving arcuately along a ~rack 14 will sense no transition along a cell 15 length L but will sense a transition (opaque to transparent or vice versa) when there is a transition intermediate the edges of a cell 15. Such optical i~formation is converted to electrical signals by a pho~osensor moving with the reading head and sent to a microprocessor which has been programmed to sense when there has been a transition over a cell length and when there has not been a transition over the length of a cell 15 and to then generate a corresponding logic 0 or logic 1 data bit of information which is supplied to a random access memory.
It is important to note, however~ that according to the teachings of the present invention~ data is encoded in the form of a transition or a non-transition in each cell 15 so that there is no lost space between cells 15 and cells 15 can be made as small as present technology permitsO
Referring again to Figure 1, it will be apparent that each of the tracks 14 is arcuate and such tracks are created by mQving'a camera in an arcuate path. As known, each of the tracks 14 has the same radius and this radius is constant over the length of the track 14. Also, each track 14 of the plurality 13 of tracks 14 are spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance S (~igure 3) with each track 14 extending in an arcuate manner across the substrate 11 of the data record carrier 10 so as to be arranged in a nested manner, again with each track 14 having the same radius.
In this way, the data record carrier 10 can be posi~
tioned on a carrier or transporter of a reader and once Proper alignment has been obtained, the data record carrier 10 can be indexed along an axis 20 which is colinear with a line that extends across the data record carrier 10 and is colinear with a radius of each data track 14.
In reading data from the data record carrler 10, a rotating reader or scanner head will rotate over the first track 14 on a rotation thereof picking up and reading the data encoded on the track 14 an~ then while the reading head or scanner is compl~ting a revolution around its ro-tating axis, the data record carrier 10 is indexed along the line or axis 20 a distance S from ~he first track 14 to the second track 14 and so on for each successive track 14.
When the data record carrier 10 substrate 11 is made of a non-energy transmissive material, such as a paper or paperboard material, and the data 12 is optically encoded in the cells 15 by forming a non-transition logic 0 cell 15 with a fully reflective or fully non-reflective surface and a transition logic 1 cell 15 with a porkion of the cell 15 being reflective and another portion being non-reflective, then the reader will be of the type which di-rects light onto the surface of the data record carrier 10and which has a sensor adjacent the point of light emis-sion for sensing reflected light from reflective areas~
From empirical tests and experiments with di~ferent substrate materials, diferent sizes of substrates, differ-ent cell widths, different cell lengths, and different radiifor the tracks, a number of parameters have been determined.
For example, it has been determined that a very useable data record carrier 10 is provided when the track 14 radius is between 4 and 18 inches and that a preferred radius for each track 14 is somewhere between 8 and 12 inches.
Also it has been determined empirically that for a track 14 radius of between 4 and 18 inches the arc subten-ded by the track can be between 120 and 30.
More specifically, for tracks 14 having a radius of somewhere between 8 and 12 inches, a preferred arc subten-ded by the track 14 is 60 wherein at least 45 of the arc of the track 14 contains information data.
f ~ ~
Referrlng now to Fig. 2 there is illustrated therein ~he beginning o~ ~he ~irst ~ix track~ 14 shown at the upp~r left hand corner of the plurality 13 of tracks 14 on the substrate 11 of the data record carrier 10 in Fig. 1.
Typically, at the beginning and at the end of each track 14, a leader 22 and a trailer 24 are provided, each composed of a sexies of non-~ransition logic 0 cells 15 where no transition occurs across the length L of each cell 15. Thus, the length L of the cell 15 would be fully non-reflective (or opaque) or fully reflective (or trans-parent) and would alterna~e ~hat way until an address por-tion of the track 14 is reached.
As shown in Fig. 2, the beginning of the track address is shown with four logic 0 cells, the first one being a ful-ly transparen~ (or transmissive) cell 15~ the next one be-ing a fully non-reflective (or opaque) cell 15~ etc.
through four cells 15 to cell A. Then there is shown a transition cell B which has the first portion thereof re-flective (transmissive) and a second portion thereof non-reflective (opaque). The next cell C is a logic 0 cell andis fully reflective ~or transmissive). The succeeding cells 15 are a transition cell the first portion of which is non-reflective (opaque) and the secon~ portion of which is reflective (transmissive) followed by another transition cell 15 and then two non-transition cells 15.
It has been determined empirically that a useful cell length L for optically encoded data is between 0.002 inch and 0.020 inch. A cell length L which is preferred with respect to high compacting of data and which provides a sufficient cell length to facilitate encodin~ and reading of the data 12 is approximately 0.006 inch. The width W
of each cell 15, which is not drawn to scale in Figs. 2 and 3, can be between 0.003 inch and 0.010 inch. A very suitable cell width dimension W in the direction extending transverse to the direction of the track has been found to be somewhere between 0.006 inch and 0.008 inch.
It also has been found empirically that a very suit-able spacing for the nested arcuate tracks 14 is a dimen-sion whlch is 0.001 or 0.002 inch greater than the width W.
Thus, the spacing S taken along the center line or axis 20 on which the tracks 14 are arranged or nested as shown in Fig. 1 is ideally 0.007 to 0~010 inch.
It will be appreciated that the spacing between the tracks 14 at the beginning of the tracks 14 and at the ends of the tracks 14 will be less than the spacing S in the middle along line 20. In fact, if one were ~o extend the tracks 14 another 60, a total of 90 from either side of the line 20, they would converge toward each other and even-tually intersect. Thus, although the arcuate tracks 14 appear to be parallel spaced, they are, in reality, equal radii tracks that are arranged in a nested array with a spacing in a preferred embodiment of between 0.007 and 0.010 inch from each other at the place (along the line 20) of maximum spacing.
In Fig. 4 is shown a waveform 26 of the electrical signal generated from an optical reading of the data in the first track 14 shown in Fig. 2. Here it is apparent that a fully transmissive or reflective cel~l 15 and a fully non-transmissive or non-reflective cell 15 corresponds to a data bit of logic 0 in that cell 15. Thus, s~arting with a first cell 15 which is identified as cell A, there is a fully non transmissive (opaque) or fully non-reflective surface thereon on substrate 11 such that there is no tran-sition across the length L of the cell as a reader passes along that track 14 over that cell A and the logic of that data bit is logic 0.
Then, the next cell B is partially transmissive or re-flective and partially non-transmissive or non-reflective so as to cause a square waveform in signal 26 for cell B.
This corresponds to a logic 1 data bit as shown. The next cell C is a non-trans~tion cell C which is fully transmis-6~
sive or fully reflective. The succeeding cells 15 shownin Fig. 4 are transition, transition, non~ransition, non-transition and non-transition.
It is to be appreciated tha~ by establishing logic in the form of a transition or non-transition over a given cell length L, such as a cell length of 0~006 inch, the optically encoded da~a 12 in the tracks 14 on or in the substrate ll of the data record carrier 10 can have a wide degree of tolerance with respect to the sharpness or fuzzi-ness of cell edges or the point of transition in the cell15. In other words, the data 12 can be tolerant of a lot of noise. In this respect, it is not essential that a transition take place within a very confined area of the cell length L. As a xesult, the position of the cell edge or the position of a transition in a cell or the sharpness of either can vary up to at least 25% of the desired inten-ded location of the cell edge or transition with the data still being highly readable. In this respect, the begin-ning of the non-reflective area of cell A could be 25% to the left or right of the beginning edge of cell A and the optical sensing and resulting electrical signal generated by the optical sensing would still be able to indicate to a microprocessor that there was no transition over the ma-jor length of the cell and that therefore the data bit stored in cell A is logic 0.
Likewise, if the transition in a transition cell such as the cell B occurs somewhere to the right or left of the middle of the cell B, up to at least 25% on either side of the middle oE cell B, there will still be a transition over the length L (timewise and distancewise) of cell B to in-dicate to a microprocessor that a logic 1 data bit is stored in cell B.
As a result, b~ utilizing the optical transition or non-transition across a cell length L for encoding logic values in khe cells 15, i.e., a logic 0 or logic l, a very efficient and effective data record carrier lO is pro~idedG
~p~
Further in this regard, cell spacing is not required ~ince the mlcroproce~or i~ only conc~rned with the tran~i-tion. Thus a series of losic 0 cells 15 are defined by alternating fully reflective (transmissive) and fully non-reflective (non-transmissive) cells 15 and transition cells 15 for the other form of logic, namely logic 1, are identi-fied by any cell where there is a transi~ion between a re-flective (transmissive) area and a non-reflective (non-transmissive) area within a cell 15 across the length L
of the cell 150 Additionallyl and as noted above, since transitions are being sensed within a cell 15, the cell edge for a non-transition cell 15 or the position of transition with~
in a cell 15 for a transition cell 15 need not be precise and fuzziness and inaccuracy in the position of such tran-sition can be tolerated at least up to 25% of the intended location of the cell ed~e or position of transition within the cell 15. This makes the optically encoded data very tolerant to noise and very tolerant of errors i.n printing, or even inaccuracies in the location of printing of a cell edge or transition in a cell 15. The data record carrier 10 is also tolerant of substrate dimensional changes, such as, but nok limited to,then~,chemical or mechanical chan-ges. It is also tolerant of localized or universal changes to the substrate such as, for example, changes due to mois-ture.
In practicing the method of the present invention in creating a data record carrier 10 one will first select a track path on the substrate 11 which is defined by the radi.us of the track 14 and the arc to be subtended b~ the track 14.
Next a cell length L in the direction of the track 14 is selected for each bit of data to be stored in each cell 15 on each track 14. Then a cel.l width or track width dimension W transverse to the direction of the track 14 is selected~
Then, one selects a non-transition cell 15 for one form of logic, such as logic 0, to be stored in each non-transition cell 15 and a transition cell 15 for the other form of logic, e.g., logic 1, to be stored in each other transi~ion cell for the other fo~m of logic, e.g., logic 1.
Next, depending upon the data to be encoded, a compu-ter associated with a camera for making a data record car~
rier lO on film negative material is programmed to direct or not direct a light beam, such as a laser light beam, onto the film negative emulsion while the camera is rota-ting through the specified arc to be subtended by the track 14.
After a first track 14 is formed or encoded, the cam-era is indexed a track spacing S and the above procedureis repeated.
In practicing the method for printing a data record carrier 10 of alternating reflective and non-reflective areas for cells 15 on a substxate 11, a mask or master film negative is utilized to print alternating dark or non-reflective areas and light or reflective areas on the paper substrate 11.
Also it is to be noted that it is immaterial whether the printinq is identical to the negative or the reverse of the negative since it is the occurrence of a transition over a cell length L which is important and not whether the cell 15 is light (white) or dark, i.e., reflective or non-reflective.
From the foregoing description it is apparent that the method for forming a data record carrier 10 and the data record carrier 10 formed thereby have a number of ad-vantages/ some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention.
Also from the foregoing description it will be appar-ent to those ski].led in the art that modifications may bemade to the data record carrier 10 of the present invention p~
without departing from the teachings of the present inven-tion. Accordingly, the scope o~ the lnv~ntion i5 only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.
AND THE DATA RECOFCD FOE~.ED THEREBY
Technical Field The present invention relates to a method for optically encoding digital data in the form of logic bits of binary data in cells along a track on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby. More specifically, the pres-ent invention relates to the s~oring of digital data in cells having specific dimensions with the stored data in each cell being in the form of an optical transition or non-transition in the cell and ~ith the cells being located in arcuate tracks of equal radii that are arranged in an equal-ly spaced, nested array.
Background Art Heretofore it has been proposed in U.S. Patent No.
4,213,040 to encode digital information in rows and columns on a record carrier. ~ata is read from the record carrier by movement of the record carrier on an X axis and rotation transport mechanism which is operable to make skew correc-tions.
Also heretofore various optical encoded data record carriers and optical "w~iters" and "readers" have been pro-posed. For example, in U.S~ Patent No~ 3,549,897 there is disclosed an absolute electro-optical encoder for indicating the angular position of a shaft. The encoder includes a stationary disc and a rotary disc, the discs having concen-tric tracks with transmissive and non-transmissive portions which are binarily related. Light passing through the discs is picked up by certain selected combinations of photocells for indicating the position of one disc relative to the other disc.
In U.S. Patents Nos. 3,501,586; 3,624,284; 3,885,0'~4;
3,795,902; 3~806,643; 3,891,794; 4,090,031 and 4,163,600 is-sued to J. Russell, various "writers'~ and "readersl' are dis-closed for 7'writing" digital data on a spiral track and for"reading" digital da~a from the spiral track. In the opti-cal encoding and decoding system~ describ~d in these patent~
opaque spots on the track correspond to logic l bits of bi-nary data and transparent spots on the track correspond tologic 0 bits of binary data. ~lso, larger synchronization spots are provided at different places along the track.
An appara-tus for scanning a data record medium is dis-closed in U.S. Patent No. 3,898,629 wherein binary digital information is recorded in the form of data along a circular arc and a plurality of such circle arcs of data information are arranged tightly adjacent each other.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,919,697 there is disclosed a data record having track lines which may be separate parallel tracks or may be a single series track of the spiral or raster type.
In U.S. Patent No. 35983,317 there is disclosed an astigmatizer for a laser recording and reproducing system.
In this system concentric cixcular tracks are formed in a thermoplastic record or disc by burning selected holes through the disc with a laser. The laser is "on" while the disc is being rotated a short distance to form an elongate data information bit in the track. Then, in reading the data the laser beam or spot is elongated in a direction ~5 transverse to the direction of the track with an astigmati-zer unit so that a small elongate beam of light with an axis extending transverse to the axis of ~he track and o~
the elongate opening therein is used to read the opening.
In UOS. Patent No. 4,094,010 there is disclosed an optical multi-channel digital disc storage ~ystem. Data is stored on a spiral information track and holes correspond-ing to the information data are burned into the material of the disc by an information radiation beam.
U.S. Patent No. 4,094,013 discloses an optical storage disc sys~em with disc track guide sectors wherein the data tracks are spiral shaped turns or concentric turns on the disc. The data stored is again in the form of holes burned i6 into the disc.
U~S~ Patent No~ 4,209,804 discloses a record carrier con~a~ni~ oxm~tion in ~ op~ia~lly readable radi~tlon reflecting information structure~ With the record carrier of this patent, data is stored in a spiral track on a disc in the form of information areas comprising pits pressed into the record carrier surface or hills projecting from the record carrier surface. According to the teachings of this patent, the depth of the ~its or the height of the hills is constant and 50 iS the width of the information areas and intermediate areas at the level of the plane of the lands. Then the information to be conveyed by the rec-ord carrier is contained in the variation of the structure of the areas in the tangential direction only. More speci-ficially, the information areas are substantially V-shaped, the phase depth of each information area having one value between 100 and 120 and the angle of inclination between the walls of the information areas and normal to the record carrier are substantially constant and have a value between 65 and 85.
As will be described in greatqr detail hereinafter, the present invention differs from the record media and carriers disclosed in the prior art patents referred to a-bove by providing a method for optically encoding binary/
digital data on a substrate of a record carrier wherein the data cells containin~ bits of data are closely compacted by having the data stored in each data cell in the form of an optical transition or non-transition over the length of the cell in arcuate data tracks all having the same radius and being arranged in a nested, equally spaced apart array of tracks which a~e non-spiral and where the tracks are not arcs of concentric circles. The non-transition cells are cells which are completely transmissive or completely non-transmissive in one embodiment or completely reflective or completely non-reflective in another embodiment. The tran~
sition cells are partially transmissive and partially non-transmissive in one embodiment and partially reflective andpartially non-reflective in another embodiment.
The change in transmisslveness or reflectance occurs in a direction along the length of the cells and in the direction of the track such that there is a transition as a scanning or reading head comprised of a light source and a light sensor which picks up transmitted or reflected light travels along the length of the track.
The simple method disclosed herein for optically encod-ing data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby enable one to compact data very closely on the track and such data encoding is highly tolerant of noise, i.e., in the sharpness or fuzziness of the cell edge, to the location of the edge of a cell or to the position of a transition within a cell.
Typically, the non-occurrence of a transition over the length of a cell on a track corresponds to a logic 0 bit of information and the occurrence of a transition acxoss the length of the cell corresponds to a logic 1 bit of informa-tion, it being unaerstood that the reverse encoding or de-coding will work as well.
DI S CLOS URF. OF INVENT ION
According to the invention there is provided a method for op~ically encoding digital data on a substrate to form a data record carrier including the steps of: selecting a track path on the substrate, selecting a data cell length in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track; select-iny a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0. or 1~
to be stored in each such cell; selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic tl or 0) to be stored in each such other cell;creating at least one track of digital da-ta on the substrate comprised o a series of cells each . having the same cell length in the direction of the track;
establishing in each non-transition cell on the substrate a fully reflective surface or fully non-reflective surace;
and,establishing in each transition cell on the substrate a reflective surface over part of the cell extending trans-verse to the direction of the track and a non-reflective surface over the other part of the cell extending trans-verse to the direction of the track.
Further according to the invention there is provided a method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate to form a data record carrier including the steps of: sel-ecting a track path on the substrate; selecting a data celllength in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track;
selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1~ to be stored in such cell; selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in such other cell;creating at least one track of digital da-ta on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track;
establishing in each non-trasition cell in the substrate a fully transmissive area or a fully non-transmissive area;
.
I
and,establishing in each transition cell in the substrate a transmissive area over part of the cell extending trans~
verse to the direction of the track and a non~transmissive area over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the t~ack.
Still further according to the invention there is pro-vided a data record carrier including a substrate and dig-ital data on the substrate in the form of at least one track having therein a plurality of data cells for each bit of data (1 or 0) s~ored thereon, each cell having the same cell length in the direction of the track and the same cell width in a direction transverse to the direction of the track, and each cell for one form of logic (O or 1) being a non-transition cell and each cell for the other ;~
form of logic (1 or 0) being a transiticn cell.
¦ BRIEF DESCRIPTIQN OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a data record carrier con-structed and arranged in accordance with the teachings oE the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper left hand cor-ner of the data tracks formed on and in the substrate of the data record carrier shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the center portion of the data tracks shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a graph of the electrical signal generate~
by the light energy transmitted or reflected or not trans-mitted or not reflected across each cell of part of a track shown in Fig. 2 with the corresponding logic state stored in the cell indicated thereabove.
16~
sEsT MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Reerring now to the drawings in greater de-tail there .i5 illus~rated in FigO l a data record ~arrier 10 construc-ted in accordance with the teachings of the present inven-tion. The data rQcord carrier 10 includes a substrate 11which can be made from a number of different materials.
For example~ it can be made from paper, paperboard, coated enamel paper, plastic filament paper, MylarTM, Kodalith TM TM~ Plus X PanTM, dry silver, Tri-x Plus-XT~, diazol, or vesicular materials.
In one preferred embodiment, the substrate ll is made of a film negative material and a ~lask or master netative data record carrier 10 is made photographically. The data 12 is represented by transparent or clear areas and dark or opaque areas. A preferred size of this master negative is approximately 4 inches by 6 inches, which is the stan-dard size for microfiche negatives.
Once a mask or film negative data record carrier 10 has been made, such negative or mask can be reprod~ced or utilized for printing inexpensive data record carriers 10 on an inexpensive substrate ll material such as paper or paperboard materials.
In the case of a data record carrier 10 which has a substrate ll made from film negative material, data 12 is optieally encoded therein in the form of a plurality 13 of tracks 14 utilizing photographic techniques.
In this respect, and as will be described in greater detail hereinafter~ a camera is utilized to ereate cells lS (Figs. 2 and 3) in each track 14 where each cell 15 has a predetermined length L (Fig. 2) along the direction of the track and a predetermined width W (Figs. 2 and 3) trans-verse to the direction of the track 14. Each cell 15 is transparent or opaque or portions thereof are transparent or opaque to define a certain logie state in the cell in aecordance with the teachings of the present invention and as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
Once a mask or master film negative form of data rec-cord carrier 10 is made, ~uch a mask can be utilized for the printing of data reco~d carriers 10 on a paper or paper-board substrate 11.
When the data 12 is printed, the cells 15 are either reflective or non-reflective or partially reflective and par~ially non-reflective to represent different logic states, namely logic 0 or logic 1.
The substrate 11 can also have printed thereon other pertinent data in a header section 16.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the data record carrier 10 shown is utilized for storing information re-lating to a parts list, price list, and other pertinent data relative ~o a product sold under a particular model number hy a particular company. Other data or a repeat of the data in the header section 16 can also be printed on the substrate 11 beneath the data 12 in the same manner the cells 15 of each track 14 are printed as shown at 18 in Fig. 1.
As will be described further in connection with the description of Figs. 3, 4, and 5, when the data record car-rier 10 is formed on a film negative substrate 11, each cell 15 having a given cell length L and a given cell width W that will represent one form of logic, loyic 0 or logic 1, will be completely transparent or completely opaque.
In other words, there will be no transition across the length of the cell and such cell is referred to as a non-transition cell and in this description will correspond to a logic 0 data bit.
Then, for ad~acent cells, which will be characterized as containing a logic 1 data bit, part of the cell extend-ing in a direction transverse to the direction of the track 14 will be opaque and the remaining part of the cell ex-tending transverse to the direction of the track 14 will be transparent or vice versaO As a result, there is a transition intexmediate and typically midway across the length L of the cell 15 from transparent to opaque or opaque to transparent. As a result, an optical reader having a light source which passes light directly, or via fiber optics, to the substrate 11 of the data record carrier 10 as the reader is moving arcuately along a ~rack 14 will sense no transition along a cell 15 length L but will sense a transition (opaque to transparent or vice versa) when there is a transition intermediate the edges of a cell 15. Such optical i~formation is converted to electrical signals by a pho~osensor moving with the reading head and sent to a microprocessor which has been programmed to sense when there has been a transition over a cell length and when there has not been a transition over the length of a cell 15 and to then generate a corresponding logic 0 or logic 1 data bit of information which is supplied to a random access memory.
It is important to note, however~ that according to the teachings of the present invention~ data is encoded in the form of a transition or a non-transition in each cell 15 so that there is no lost space between cells 15 and cells 15 can be made as small as present technology permitsO
Referring again to Figure 1, it will be apparent that each of the tracks 14 is arcuate and such tracks are created by mQving'a camera in an arcuate path. As known, each of the tracks 14 has the same radius and this radius is constant over the length of the track 14. Also, each track 14 of the plurality 13 of tracks 14 are spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance S (~igure 3) with each track 14 extending in an arcuate manner across the substrate 11 of the data record carrier 10 so as to be arranged in a nested manner, again with each track 14 having the same radius.
In this way, the data record carrier 10 can be posi~
tioned on a carrier or transporter of a reader and once Proper alignment has been obtained, the data record carrier 10 can be indexed along an axis 20 which is colinear with a line that extends across the data record carrier 10 and is colinear with a radius of each data track 14.
In reading data from the data record carrler 10, a rotating reader or scanner head will rotate over the first track 14 on a rotation thereof picking up and reading the data encoded on the track 14 an~ then while the reading head or scanner is compl~ting a revolution around its ro-tating axis, the data record carrier 10 is indexed along the line or axis 20 a distance S from ~he first track 14 to the second track 14 and so on for each successive track 14.
When the data record carrier 10 substrate 11 is made of a non-energy transmissive material, such as a paper or paperboard material, and the data 12 is optically encoded in the cells 15 by forming a non-transition logic 0 cell 15 with a fully reflective or fully non-reflective surface and a transition logic 1 cell 15 with a porkion of the cell 15 being reflective and another portion being non-reflective, then the reader will be of the type which di-rects light onto the surface of the data record carrier 10and which has a sensor adjacent the point of light emis-sion for sensing reflected light from reflective areas~
From empirical tests and experiments with di~ferent substrate materials, diferent sizes of substrates, differ-ent cell widths, different cell lengths, and different radiifor the tracks, a number of parameters have been determined.
For example, it has been determined that a very useable data record carrier 10 is provided when the track 14 radius is between 4 and 18 inches and that a preferred radius for each track 14 is somewhere between 8 and 12 inches.
Also it has been determined empirically that for a track 14 radius of between 4 and 18 inches the arc subten-ded by the track can be between 120 and 30.
More specifically, for tracks 14 having a radius of somewhere between 8 and 12 inches, a preferred arc subten-ded by the track 14 is 60 wherein at least 45 of the arc of the track 14 contains information data.
f ~ ~
Referrlng now to Fig. 2 there is illustrated therein ~he beginning o~ ~he ~irst ~ix track~ 14 shown at the upp~r left hand corner of the plurality 13 of tracks 14 on the substrate 11 of the data record carrier 10 in Fig. 1.
Typically, at the beginning and at the end of each track 14, a leader 22 and a trailer 24 are provided, each composed of a sexies of non-~ransition logic 0 cells 15 where no transition occurs across the length L of each cell 15. Thus, the length L of the cell 15 would be fully non-reflective (or opaque) or fully reflective (or trans-parent) and would alterna~e ~hat way until an address por-tion of the track 14 is reached.
As shown in Fig. 2, the beginning of the track address is shown with four logic 0 cells, the first one being a ful-ly transparen~ (or transmissive) cell 15~ the next one be-ing a fully non-reflective (or opaque) cell 15~ etc.
through four cells 15 to cell A. Then there is shown a transition cell B which has the first portion thereof re-flective (transmissive) and a second portion thereof non-reflective (opaque). The next cell C is a logic 0 cell andis fully reflective ~or transmissive). The succeeding cells 15 are a transition cell the first portion of which is non-reflective (opaque) and the secon~ portion of which is reflective (transmissive) followed by another transition cell 15 and then two non-transition cells 15.
It has been determined empirically that a useful cell length L for optically encoded data is between 0.002 inch and 0.020 inch. A cell length L which is preferred with respect to high compacting of data and which provides a sufficient cell length to facilitate encodin~ and reading of the data 12 is approximately 0.006 inch. The width W
of each cell 15, which is not drawn to scale in Figs. 2 and 3, can be between 0.003 inch and 0.010 inch. A very suitable cell width dimension W in the direction extending transverse to the direction of the track has been found to be somewhere between 0.006 inch and 0.008 inch.
It also has been found empirically that a very suit-able spacing for the nested arcuate tracks 14 is a dimen-sion whlch is 0.001 or 0.002 inch greater than the width W.
Thus, the spacing S taken along the center line or axis 20 on which the tracks 14 are arranged or nested as shown in Fig. 1 is ideally 0.007 to 0~010 inch.
It will be appreciated that the spacing between the tracks 14 at the beginning of the tracks 14 and at the ends of the tracks 14 will be less than the spacing S in the middle along line 20. In fact, if one were ~o extend the tracks 14 another 60, a total of 90 from either side of the line 20, they would converge toward each other and even-tually intersect. Thus, although the arcuate tracks 14 appear to be parallel spaced, they are, in reality, equal radii tracks that are arranged in a nested array with a spacing in a preferred embodiment of between 0.007 and 0.010 inch from each other at the place (along the line 20) of maximum spacing.
In Fig. 4 is shown a waveform 26 of the electrical signal generated from an optical reading of the data in the first track 14 shown in Fig. 2. Here it is apparent that a fully transmissive or reflective cel~l 15 and a fully non-transmissive or non-reflective cell 15 corresponds to a data bit of logic 0 in that cell 15. Thus, s~arting with a first cell 15 which is identified as cell A, there is a fully non transmissive (opaque) or fully non-reflective surface thereon on substrate 11 such that there is no tran-sition across the length L of the cell as a reader passes along that track 14 over that cell A and the logic of that data bit is logic 0.
Then, the next cell B is partially transmissive or re-flective and partially non-transmissive or non-reflective so as to cause a square waveform in signal 26 for cell B.
This corresponds to a logic 1 data bit as shown. The next cell C is a non-trans~tion cell C which is fully transmis-6~
sive or fully reflective. The succeeding cells 15 shownin Fig. 4 are transition, transition, non~ransition, non-transition and non-transition.
It is to be appreciated tha~ by establishing logic in the form of a transition or non-transition over a given cell length L, such as a cell length of 0~006 inch, the optically encoded da~a 12 in the tracks 14 on or in the substrate ll of the data record carrier 10 can have a wide degree of tolerance with respect to the sharpness or fuzzi-ness of cell edges or the point of transition in the cell15. In other words, the data 12 can be tolerant of a lot of noise. In this respect, it is not essential that a transition take place within a very confined area of the cell length L. As a xesult, the position of the cell edge or the position of a transition in a cell or the sharpness of either can vary up to at least 25% of the desired inten-ded location of the cell edge or transition with the data still being highly readable. In this respect, the begin-ning of the non-reflective area of cell A could be 25% to the left or right of the beginning edge of cell A and the optical sensing and resulting electrical signal generated by the optical sensing would still be able to indicate to a microprocessor that there was no transition over the ma-jor length of the cell and that therefore the data bit stored in cell A is logic 0.
Likewise, if the transition in a transition cell such as the cell B occurs somewhere to the right or left of the middle of the cell B, up to at least 25% on either side of the middle oE cell B, there will still be a transition over the length L (timewise and distancewise) of cell B to in-dicate to a microprocessor that a logic 1 data bit is stored in cell B.
As a result, b~ utilizing the optical transition or non-transition across a cell length L for encoding logic values in khe cells 15, i.e., a logic 0 or logic l, a very efficient and effective data record carrier lO is pro~idedG
~p~
Further in this regard, cell spacing is not required ~ince the mlcroproce~or i~ only conc~rned with the tran~i-tion. Thus a series of losic 0 cells 15 are defined by alternating fully reflective (transmissive) and fully non-reflective (non-transmissive) cells 15 and transition cells 15 for the other form of logic, namely logic 1, are identi-fied by any cell where there is a transi~ion between a re-flective (transmissive) area and a non-reflective (non-transmissive) area within a cell 15 across the length L
of the cell 150 Additionallyl and as noted above, since transitions are being sensed within a cell 15, the cell edge for a non-transition cell 15 or the position of transition with~
in a cell 15 for a transition cell 15 need not be precise and fuzziness and inaccuracy in the position of such tran-sition can be tolerated at least up to 25% of the intended location of the cell ed~e or position of transition within the cell 15. This makes the optically encoded data very tolerant to noise and very tolerant of errors i.n printing, or even inaccuracies in the location of printing of a cell edge or transition in a cell 15. The data record carrier 10 is also tolerant of substrate dimensional changes, such as, but nok limited to,then~,chemical or mechanical chan-ges. It is also tolerant of localized or universal changes to the substrate such as, for example, changes due to mois-ture.
In practicing the method of the present invention in creating a data record carrier 10 one will first select a track path on the substrate 11 which is defined by the radi.us of the track 14 and the arc to be subtended b~ the track 14.
Next a cell length L in the direction of the track 14 is selected for each bit of data to be stored in each cell 15 on each track 14. Then a cel.l width or track width dimension W transverse to the direction of the track 14 is selected~
Then, one selects a non-transition cell 15 for one form of logic, such as logic 0, to be stored in each non-transition cell 15 and a transition cell 15 for the other form of logic, e.g., logic 1, to be stored in each other transi~ion cell for the other fo~m of logic, e.g., logic 1.
Next, depending upon the data to be encoded, a compu-ter associated with a camera for making a data record car~
rier lO on film negative material is programmed to direct or not direct a light beam, such as a laser light beam, onto the film negative emulsion while the camera is rota-ting through the specified arc to be subtended by the track 14.
After a first track 14 is formed or encoded, the cam-era is indexed a track spacing S and the above procedureis repeated.
In practicing the method for printing a data record carrier 10 of alternating reflective and non-reflective areas for cells 15 on a substxate 11, a mask or master film negative is utilized to print alternating dark or non-reflective areas and light or reflective areas on the paper substrate 11.
Also it is to be noted that it is immaterial whether the printinq is identical to the negative or the reverse of the negative since it is the occurrence of a transition over a cell length L which is important and not whether the cell 15 is light (white) or dark, i.e., reflective or non-reflective.
From the foregoing description it is apparent that the method for forming a data record carrier 10 and the data record carrier 10 formed thereby have a number of ad-vantages/ some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention.
Also from the foregoing description it will be appar-ent to those ski].led in the art that modifications may bemade to the data record carrier 10 of the present invention p~
without departing from the teachings of the present inven-tion. Accordingly, the scope o~ the lnv~ntion i5 only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.
Claims (65)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate to form a data record carrier including the steps of: selecting a track path on the substrate; selecting a data cell length in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track; selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in each such cell; selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in each such other cell; creating at least one track of digital data on the substrate comprised of a ser-ies of cells each having the same cell length in the direc-tion of the track; establishing in each non-transition cell on the substrate a fully reflective surface or fully non-reflective surface; and, establishing in each transition cell on the substrate a reflective surface over part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-reflective surface over the other part of the cell ex-tending transverse to the direction of the track.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the length of each cell in the direction of the track is between 0.002 inch and 0.020 inch.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said cell length is approximately 0.006 inch.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the width dimension of each cell in a direction transverse to the direction of the track is between 0.003 inch and 0.010 inch.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said cell width di-mension is approximately 0.006 to 0.008 inch.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein each track is an ar-cuate track having a given radius that is constant for the length of the arcuate track.
7. The method of claim 1 including the steps of creat-ing a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said sub-strate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throughout the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said constant radius of each arcuate track is between 4 inches and 18 inches.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said constant radius of each track is approximately 8 to 12 inches.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the spacing between adjacent tracks is 0.001 to 0.002 inch less than the thick-ness of each track.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein each track has a thickness of approximately 0.006 to 0.008 inch.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein each track extends between 30° and 120° of arc.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein each said track extends approximately 60° of arc.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least 45° of arc of each track contains information data.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate is approximately 4 inches by 6 inches in size.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-occurrence of a transition over the length of a cell establishes the logic of a non-transition cell (D or 1) and the occurrence of a transition over the length of a transition cell estab-lishes the logic of the cell (1 or 0) whereby high accuracy in the cell edges or high accuracy in the position of the transition in the transition cells is not required.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the cell edges or the position of the transition of a cell or the sharpness of either can vary up to at least 25% of the desired inten-ded location (position along the track) of such cell edge or position of transition with the data still being highly readable.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate is made of a stiff but flexible material.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate is made of paper.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of crea-ting said track is accomplished by printing each track on the paper substrate.
21. A method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate to form a data record carrier including the steps of: selecting a track path on the substrate; selec-ting a data cell length in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track;
selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direc-tion of the track; selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in such cell; select-ing a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in such other cell; creating at least one track of digital data on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track; establishing in each non-transition cell in the substrate a fully transmissive area or a fully non-trans-missive area; and, establishing in each transition cell in the substrate a transmissive area over part of the cell ex-tending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-transmissive area over the other part of the cell extend-ing transverse to the direction of the track.
selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direc-tion of the track; selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in such cell; select-ing a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in such other cell; creating at least one track of digital data on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track; establishing in each non-transition cell in the substrate a fully transmissive area or a fully non-trans-missive area; and, establishing in each transition cell in the substrate a transmissive area over part of the cell ex-tending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-transmissive area over the other part of the cell extend-ing transverse to the direction of the track.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the length of each cell in the direction of the track is between 0.002 inch and 0.020 inch.
23, The method of claim 22 wherein said cell length is approximately 0.006 inch.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the width dimension of each cell in a direction transverse to the direction of the track is between 0.003 inch and 0.010 inch.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein said cell width di-mension is approximately 0.006 to 0.008 inch.
26. The method of claim 21 wherein each track is an ar-cuate track having a given radius that is constant for the length of the arcuate track.
27. The method of claim 21 including the steps of cre-ating a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said sub-strate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throughout the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein said constant radi-us of each arcuate track is between 4 inches and 18 inches.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein said constant radi-us of each track is approximately 8 to 12 inches.
30. The method of claim 27 wherein the spacing between adjacent tracks is 0.001 to 0.002 inch less than the thick-ness of each track.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein each track has a thickness of approximately 0.006 to 0.008 inch.
32. The method of claim 21 wherein each track extends between 30° and 120° of arc.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein each said track extends approximately 60° of arc.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein at least 45° of arc of each track contains information data.
35. The method of claim 21 wherein said substrate is approximately 4 inches by 6 inches in size.
36. The method of claim 21 wherein the non-occurrence of a transition over the length of a cell establishes the logic of a non transition cell (0 or 1) and the occurrence of a transition over the length of a transition cell estab-lishes the logic of the cell (1 or 0) whereby high accuracy in the cell edges or high accuracy in the position of the transition in the transition cells is not required.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the cell edges or the position of the transition of a cell or the sharpness of either can vary up to at least 25% of the desired inten-ded location (position along the track) of such cell edge or position of transition with the data still being highly readable.
38. The method of claim 21 wherein said substrate is made of a stiff but flexible material.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein said substrate is made of a photosensitive material.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein said step of crea-ting each track of digital data on the substrate is accom-plished by photographic techniques.
41. A data record carrier including a substrate and digital data on the substrate in the form of at least one track having therein a plurality of data cells for each bit of data (n or 1) stored thereon, each cell having the same cell length in the direction of the track and the same cell width in a direction transverse to the direction of the track, and each cell for one form of logic (0 or 1) being a non-transition cell and each cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) being a transition cell.
42. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein each non-transition cell includes a fully transmissive area or a fully non-transmissive area and each transition cell in-cludes a transmissive area over part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-trans-missive area over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track.
43. The data record carrier of claim 42 wherein said substrate is made of photosensitive material and said transmissive areas are transparent and said non-transmissive areas are opaque.
44. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein each non-transition cell includes a fully reflective surface or a fully non-reflective surface and each transition cell includes a reflective surface over part of the cell ex-tending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-reflective surface over the other part of the cell extend-ing transverse to the direction of the track.
45. The data record carrier of claim 44 wherein said substrate is made of a paper material.
46. The data record carrier of claim 44 wherein the transition between reflective and non-reflective surface areas in each transition cell is located approximately half way across the length of each transition cell.
47. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein the non-occurrence of a transition over the length of a cell establishes the logic of a non-transition cell (0 or 1) and the occurrence of a transition over the length of a transition cell establishes the logic of the cell (1 or 0) whereby high accuracy in the cell edges or high accuracy in the position of the transition in the transition cells is not required.
48. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein the cell edges or the position of the transition of a cell or the sharpness of either can vary up to at least 25% of the desired intended location (position along the track) of such cell edge or position of transition with the data still being highly readable.
49. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein said substrate is approximately 4 inches by 6 inches in length.
50. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein the length of each cell in the direction of the track is be-tween 0.002 inch and 0.020 inch.
51. The data record carrier of claim 50 wherein said cell length is approximately 0.006 inch.
52. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein the width dimension of each cell in a direction transverse to the direction of the track is between 0.003 inch and 0.010 inch.
53. The data record carrier of claim 52 wherein said cell width dimension is approximately 0.006 to 0.008 inch.
54. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein each track is an arcuate track having a given radius that is con-stant for the length of the arcuate track.
55. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein said digital data is in the form of a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said substrate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throughout the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks.
56. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein said constant radius of each arcuate track is between 4 inches and 18 inches.
57. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein said constant radius of each track is approximately 8 to 12 inches.
58. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein the spacing between adjacent tracks is 0.001 to 0.002 inch less than the thickness of each track.
59. The data record carrier of claim 58 wherein each track has a thickness of approximately 0.006 to 0.008 inch.
60. The data record carrier of claim 41 wherein each track extends between 30° and 120° of arc.
61. The data record carrier of claim 60 wherein each said track extends approximately 60° of arc.
62. The data record carrier of claim 61 wherein at least 45° of arc of each track contains information data.
63. A method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate without timing or synchronization data to form a data record carrier including the steps of: selecting an arcuate track path on the substrate; selecting a data cell length in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track; selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in each such cell;
selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in each such other cell; creating at least one track of digital data on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track; establishing in each non-transition cell on the substrate a fully reflective surface or fully non-reflective surface;
establishing in each transition cell on the substrate a reflective surface over part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-reflective surface over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track, and creating a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said substrate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throught the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks along a common centerline.
selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in each such other cell; creating at least one track of digital data on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track; establishing in each non-transition cell on the substrate a fully reflective surface or fully non-reflective surface;
establishing in each transition cell on the substrate a reflective surface over part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-reflective surface over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction of the track, and creating a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said substrate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throught the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks along a common centerline.
64. A method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate without timing or synchronization data to form a data record carrier including the steps of: selecting an arcuate track path on the substrate; selecting a data cell length in the direction of the track for each bit of data to be stored in each cell on each track; selecting a cell width dimension transverse to the direction of the track; selecting a non-transition cell for one form of logic (0 or 1) to be stored in such cell; selecting a transition cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) to be stored in such other cell; creating at least one track of digital data on the substrate comprised of a series of cells each having the same cell length in the direction of the track;
establishing in each non-transition cell in the substrate a fully trans-missive area or a fully non-transmissive area; establishing in each transition cell in the substrate a transmissive area; establishing in each extending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-transmissive area over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction, and creating a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said substrate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throughout the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks along a common centerline.
establishing in each non-transition cell in the substrate a fully trans-missive area or a fully non-transmissive area; establishing in each transition cell in the substrate a transmissive area; establishing in each extending transverse to the direction of the track and a non-transmissive area over the other part of the cell extending transverse to the direction, and creating a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said substrate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throughout the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks along a common centerline.
65. A data record carrier without timing or synchronization data including a substrate and digital data on the substrate in the form of a plurality of arcuate tracks of cells on said substrate with each track being spaced from an adjacent track by a predetermined distance at a point intermediate the ends of each track and each track having the same radius throughout the arcuate path of said track such that the tracks extend in an arcuate manner across the data record carrier with each track having the same radius and being arranged in a nested manner relative to adjacent tracks along a common centerline, one bit of data (0 or 1) being stored in each cell, each cell having the same cell length in the direction of the track and the same cell width in a direction transverse to the direction of the track, and each cell for one form of logic (O or 1) being a non-transition cell and each cell for the other form of logic (1 or 0) being a transition cell.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/384,582 US4532616A (en) | 1982-06-03 | 1982-06-03 | Method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby |
| US384,582 | 1982-06-03 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1221166A true CA1221166A (en) | 1987-04-28 |
Family
ID=23517892
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000429630A Expired CA1221166A (en) | 1982-06-03 | 1983-06-03 | Method for optically encoding digital data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4532616A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0096374A3 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1221166A (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4519054A (en) * | 1982-06-03 | 1985-05-21 | News Log International, Inc. | Method for formatting optically encoded digital data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby |
| US4603414A (en) * | 1983-02-14 | 1986-07-29 | News Log International | Apparatus for making a data record carrier |
| US4692603A (en) * | 1985-04-01 | 1987-09-08 | Cauzin Systems, Incorporated | Optical reader for printed bit-encoded data and method of reading same |
| US5194721A (en) * | 1989-11-24 | 1993-03-16 | Optical Recording Corporation | Optical scanner |
| US5184002A (en) * | 1989-11-24 | 1993-02-02 | Optical Recording Corporation | Optical scanner |
| MX9303225A (en) | 1992-06-12 | 1994-05-31 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | DEVICE TO RECORD AND READ DATA ON A MAGNETIC TAPE, IN THE FORM OF A SEQUENCE OF ARCHED TRACKS. |
| GB2271316A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1994-04-13 | Soc Corp | OCR cards for use in a computer-aided management system. |
| US6098882A (en) * | 1996-03-01 | 2000-08-08 | Cobblestone Software, Inc. | Variable formatting of digital data into a pattern |
| US6820807B1 (en) | 1996-03-01 | 2004-11-23 | Cobblestone Software, Inc. | Variable formatting of digital data into a pattern |
| US20140372469A1 (en) * | 2013-06-14 | 2014-12-18 | Walter Gerard Antognini | Searching by use of machine-readable code content |
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| US3186707A (en) * | 1954-05-04 | 1965-06-01 | Banning | Magnetizable tape and the like, for signal carriers |
| US3198527A (en) * | 1954-06-08 | 1965-08-03 | Dictaphone Corp | Method for synchronizing transducer head scanning motion in sound recording and reproducing machines |
| US4121249A (en) * | 1972-08-02 | 1978-10-17 | Lemelson Jerome H | Card recording and reproduction apparatus and method |
| US3790755A (en) * | 1961-12-08 | 1974-02-05 | D Silverman | High density information system using multiple strips |
| US3543007A (en) * | 1962-10-10 | 1970-11-24 | Westinghouse Air Brake Co | Automatic car identification system |
| FR1396999A (en) * | 1963-07-17 | 1965-04-23 | Method of recording and reproducing sound and light tracks by using laser beams | |
| US3509543A (en) * | 1964-04-28 | 1970-04-28 | Bendix Corp | Optical memory system |
| US3624284A (en) * | 1966-09-01 | 1971-11-30 | Battelle Development Corp | Photographic record of digital information and playback system including optical scanner |
| US3806643A (en) * | 1966-09-01 | 1974-04-23 | Battelle Development Corp | Photographic records of digital information and playback systems including optical scanners |
| US3891794A (en) * | 1966-09-01 | 1975-06-24 | Battelle Development Corp | Method and apparatus for synchronizing photographic records of digital information |
| US3501586A (en) * | 1966-09-01 | 1970-03-17 | Battelle Development Corp | Analog to digital to optical photographic recording and playback system |
| US3795902A (en) * | 1966-09-01 | 1974-03-05 | Battelle Development Corp | Method and apparatus for synchronizing photographic records of digital information |
| US3549826A (en) * | 1967-03-27 | 1970-12-22 | Iben Browning | Apparatus for reading information in the form of light reflective areas on a carrier |
| US3675930A (en) * | 1970-09-02 | 1972-07-11 | Mattel Inc | Strip record for a phonograph |
| US3885094A (en) * | 1971-11-26 | 1975-05-20 | Battelle Development Corp | Optical scanner |
| DE2304182A1 (en) * | 1972-02-01 | 1973-08-09 | Erik Gerhard Natana Westerberg | DEVICE FOR LIGHT-ELECTRIC SCANNING OF DATA RECORDING MEDIA |
| US3770910A (en) * | 1972-04-21 | 1973-11-06 | C Rose | Apparatus for recording sound on microfiche |
| US3961315A (en) * | 1972-09-26 | 1976-06-01 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Information recording system |
| US3919697A (en) * | 1974-06-26 | 1975-11-11 | Battelle Development Corp | Data record tracking using track identifying information in the gaps between recorded data groups |
| US4090031A (en) * | 1974-10-21 | 1978-05-16 | Eli S. Jacobs | Multi-layered opitcal data records and playback apparatus |
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| US4213040A (en) * | 1978-07-07 | 1980-07-15 | News Log International, Incorporated | Digital microfiche and apparatus for accurately positioning the microfiche |
| DE3020859A1 (en) * | 1979-06-18 | 1981-01-22 | Atlantic Richfield Co | METHOD FOR CODING AND DECODING SIGNALS FOR RECORDING ON AN INFORMATION CARRIER AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD |
| NL8003474A (en) * | 1980-06-16 | 1982-01-18 | Philips Nv | METHOD FOR CODING DATA BITS ON A RECORD CARRIER, DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD AND RECORD CARRIER EQUIPPED WITH AN INFORMATION STRUCTURE. |
| US4416001A (en) * | 1980-11-26 | 1983-11-15 | News Log International, Inc. | Method and apparatus for optically reading digital data inscribed in an arcuate pattern on a data carrier |
| US4519054A (en) * | 1982-06-03 | 1985-05-21 | News Log International, Inc. | Method for formatting optically encoded digital data on a substrate and the data record carrier formed thereby |
-
1982
- 1982-06-03 US US06/384,582 patent/US4532616A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1983
- 1983-06-01 EP EP83105472A patent/EP0096374A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1983-06-03 CA CA000429630A patent/CA1221166A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4532616A (en) | 1985-07-30 |
| EP0096374A3 (en) | 1986-06-11 |
| EP0096374A2 (en) | 1983-12-21 |
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