US3671716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus of digitizing analog records
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-24
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-08-24
Abstract
Abstract An analogue chart or record obtained from an automatic analyzer is positioned on a record-reading panel structure and a probe electrode is manually pushed through the chart at a desired position thereon, for example, at the peak of a curve, so as electrically to contact an underlying one of a number of mutually separated electrical contact strips. Individual conductors extend from all such strips to a decoding unit which provides a multidigit decimal identification of the strip which is contacted by the probe electrode. The decoding unit is in turn coupled to a coding unit in which the decimal digits identifying the actuated strip are converted into a binary coded decimal form for subsequent sequential recording in a tape punch unit to provide an output in a form suitable for further processing in an offline digital computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Samuel Slutsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/044; G06F3/0441; G06F3/045; H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/22; H03M1/24; H03M1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A digitizing and record-reading system for providing a digitized output signal indicative of a value of an analogue record, which system comprises a record-receiving panel structure for receiving said analogue record in a predetermined position thereon and including in turn a plurality of mutually isolated probe-actuable elements, each of which can have an actuated or a non-actuated condition; a probe adapted manually to be applied to said analogue record on said record-receiving panel structure in said predetermined position thereon to cause actuation of an underlying and individual one of said probe-actuable elements; a decoding unit adapted to provide a digitized output signal indicative of the identity of an instantaneously actuated one of said probe-actuable elements on manual application to said analogue record of said probe; and a plurality of signal transfer means extending from individual ones of said probe-actuable elements to said decoding unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A digitizing and record-reading system for providing a digitized output signal indicative of a value of an analogue record, which system comprises a record-receiving panel structure for receiving said analogue record in a predetermined position thereon and including in turn a plurality of mutually isolated probe-actuable elements, each of which can have an actuated or a non-actuated condition; a probe adapted manually to be applied to said analogue record on said record-receiving panel structure in said predetermined position thereon to cause actuation of an underlying and individual one of said probe-actuable elements; a decoding unit adapted to provide a digitized output signal indicative of the identity of an instantaneously actuated one of said probe-actuable elements on manual application to said analogue record of said probe; and a plurality of signal transfer means extending from individual ones of said probe-actuable elements to said decoding unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 1 in which said probe-actuable elements comprise a plurality of mutually parallel and electrically conductive elements electrically insulated from each other, in which said probe comprises a manually operable probe electrode adapted to pierce said analogue record for electrical contact with an underlying and individual one of said electrically conductive elements in turn to cause actuation of said underlying and individual one of said electrically conductive elements, and in which each said signal transfer means comprises an electrical conductor operatively connecting an individual one of said electrically conductive elements to said decoding unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 2 in which said record-receiving panel structure includes an electrically insulating record-receiving planar surface and in which each said electrically conductive element has an exposed surface disposed inwardly of said electrically insulating record-receiving planar surface of said panel structure to permit penetration of said analogue record by said probe electrode for actuation of said underlying and individual one of said electrically conductive elements thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 3 in which said electrically conductive elements comprise electrically conductive strips separated by electrically insulating strips to form a stacked structure and which panel structure additionally includes clamping means retaining said electrically conductive strips and said electrically insulating strips in assembled configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 4 in which each electrically conductive strip projects outwardly beyond said electrically insulating strips to facilitate electrical connection to said electrically conductive strips by said electrical conductors extending to said decoding unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 1 in which said electrically conductive elements are dimensioned and disposed so as to provide a varying record-reading resolution at different positions on said analogue record.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises a display unit operatively coupled to said decoding unit and adapted to provide an instantaneous visual display indicative of the identity of said instantaneously actuated one of said probe-actuable elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises a recording unit operatively associated with said decoding unit and adapted to provide a record of the identity of said instantaneously actuated one of said probe-actuable elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 8 in which said recording unit includes a device operative to provide a digital record in a form suitable for subsequent use as an input to a digital computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A digitizing and record-reading system as claimed in claim 9 in which said recording unit is operative to provide a recorded digitized output signal indicative of the identity of an instantaneously actuated one of said probe-actuable elements in a sequentially recorded and binary coded decimal form.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for reading and digitizing a value of an analogue record which method comprises the steps of disposing said analogue record in a predetermined position on a record-receiving panel structure including a plurality of individual and separate probe-actuable elements, each of which has an actuated and a non-actuated condition; applying a probe to said analogue record at a desired position thereon to actuate a corresponding individual one of said probe-actuable elements to cause said corresponding individual one of said probe-actuable elements to adopt said actuated condition thereof; and identifying said corresponding individual one of said probe-actuable elements by virtue of said actuated condition thereof.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for reading and digitizing a value of an analogue record which method comprises the steps of disposing said analogue record in a predetermined position on a record-receiving panel structure including a plurality of individual and separate probe-actuable elements, each of which has an actuated and a non-actuated condition; applying a probe to said analogue record at a desired position thereon to actuate a corresponding individual one of said probe-actuable elements to cause said corresponding individual one of said probe-actuable elements to adopt said actuated condition thereof; and identifying said corresponding individual one of said probe-actuable elements by virtue of said actuated condition thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 which comprises sequentially applying said probe to said analogue record at a plurality of positions thereon and sequentially identifying the corresponding individual ones of said probe-actuable elements by virtue of the resulting actuated conditions thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 which comprises the additional step of sequentially recording the identities of said corresponding individual ones of said probe-actuable elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 in which said identities of said corresponding individual ones of said probe-actuable elements are recorded as a digital record in a form suitable for subsequent use as an input to a digital computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the identification of each of said corresponding individual ones of said probe-actuable elements is effected into multi-digit decimal form, and in which each multi-digit decimal is converted into binary coded decimal form and subsequently recorded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 which additionally comprises effecting a digital computer processing operation on the data of said digital record to provide a computer read-out indicative of a sequence of values of a parameter of said analogue record.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 which additionally comprises programming said digital computer in accordance with the value of at least one parameter on which the values of said analogue record are inherently dependent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |