Data retrieval apparatus

Claim 2

Data retrieval apparatus comprising, in combination, a disc mounted on a rotatable shaft and including coded representations, said code being formed by a plurality of opaque and at least translucent areas arranged in a predetermined pattern on said disc; a source of light directed on at least a portion of said disc to produce optical signals responsive to said opaque and at least translucent areas on said disc; photosensing means disposed on the opposite side of said disc relative to said source of light and aligned therewith for sensing and converting said optical signals to electrical signals; means for producing address reference signals for comparison with address electrical signals from said photosensing means for signifying the location of said coded data on said disc; means for comparing said address reference signals to said address electrical signals and means for converting the data content of said electrical signals from said photosensing means to a legible record upon coincidence of the signals being compared.

Claim 3

A data retrieval apparatus comprising, in combination, A. disc means mounted on a rotatable shaft and including a plurality of opaque and at least translucent areas arranged in a predetermined coded pattern; B. a source of light directed on at least a portion of said disc to produce optical signals responsive to said coded pattern; C. a plurality of photoelectric cells disposed on the opposite side of said disc relative to said source of light and aligned therewith for sensing and converting said optical signals to electrical signals; D. means for producing a first indexing signal; E. means for producing a second indexing signal; F. first comparator means having one input operatively connected to said means (D) and a second input operatively connected to at leAst certain of said photoelectric cells for developing an output signal upon coincidence between said input signals; G. counter means operatively connected to at least one of said photoelectric cells and actuated by said output signal from said first comparator means to produce an output signal responsive to the signals received from said photoelectric cell; H. second comparator means having one input operatively connected to said means (E) and the other input operatively connected to said output signal from said counter means for developing an output signal upon coincidence between said input signal; I. temporary storage means operatively connected to at least certain of said photoelectric cells and actuated by the output signal of said second comparator means for storing the instant signal being received from said photoelectric cells; J. and means for actuating the release of said signal stored in said temporary storage means and for converting said signal into a legible form.

Claim 4

A data retrieval apparatus comprising, in combination, A. disc means mounted on a rotatable shaft and including a plurality of opaque and at least translucent areas arranged in a predetermined coded pattern; B. a source of light directed on at least a portion of said disc to produce optical signals responsive to said coded pattern; C. a plurality of photoelectric cells disposed on the opposite side of said disc relative to said source of light and aligned therewith for sensing and converting said optical signals to electrical signals; D. means for producing a first indexing signal; E. means for producing a second indexing signal; F. first comparator means having one input operatively connected to said means (D) and a second input operatively connected to at leAst certain of said photoelectric cells for developing an output signal upon coincidence between said input signals; G. counter means operatively connected to at least one of said photoelectric cells and actuated by said output signal from said first comparator means to produce an output signal responsive to the signals received from said photoelectric cell; H. second comparator means having one input operatively connected to said means (E) and the other input operatively connected to said output signal from said counter means for developing an output signal upon coincidence between said input signal; I. temporary storage means operatively connected to at least certain of said photoelectric cells and actuated by the output signal of said second comparator means for storing the instant signal being received from said photoelectric cells; J. and means for actuating the release of said signal stored in said temporary storage means and for converting said signal into a legible form.

Claim 5

In a read only memory device, the combination of A. a rotatable disc provided with coded information formed on said disc by a plurality of opaque and at least translucent areas arranged in a predetermined pattern representing stored information; B. a source of light directed upon at least a portion of said disc to produce optical signals responsive to said coded information; C. photosensing means disposed on the opposite side of said disc relative to said source of light and aligned therewith for sensing and converting said optical signals to electrical signals, said photosensing means including address reading means and stored information reading means; D. address selection means for producing indexing signals comparable with signals derived from said address reading means; E. comparator means having one input operatively connected to said photosensing means and a second input operatively connected to said address selection means (D) for developing an output signal upon coincidence between said input signals; and F. temporary storage means operatively connected to said photosensing means and actuated by the output signal of said comparator means for storing the instant signal being received from said stored information reading means during said coincidence.

Claim 6

In a read only memory device, the combination of A. a rotatable disc provided with coded information formed on said disc by a plurality of opaque and at least translucent areas arranged in a predetermined pattern representing stored information; B. a source of light directed upon at least a portion of said disc to produce optical signals responsive to said coded information; C. photosensing means disposed on the opposite side of said disc relative to said source of light and aligned therewith for sensing and converting said optical signals to electrical signals, said photosensing means including address reading means and stored information reading means; D. address selection means for producing indexing signals comparable with signals derived from said address reading means; E. comparator means having one input operatively connected to said photosensing means and a second input operatively connected to said address selection means (D) for developing an output signal upon coincidence between said input signals; and F. temporary storage means operatively connected to said photosensing means and actuated by the output signal of said comparator means for storing the instant signal being received from said stored information reading means during said coincidence.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 3, wherein means is provided for actuating the release of the signal stored in said temporary storage means and for converting said signal into a humanly readable form.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 3, wherein a counting means is operatively connected to receive the output from said address reading means for selecting the position of said stored information.