Data reading systems

Claim 2

A data storage and read-out system, comprising: a. means for storing data on a record member including one or more passive resonant devices each having a predetermined resonant frequency; b. timing means for generating timing pulses at predetermined intervals; c. counting means for generating output pulses representative of successively higher numeric states in response to each successive timing pulse; d. means responsive to a preselected one of said output pulses for generating a succession of frequencies in predetermined relationship to the generation of said output pulses; e. detecting means for generating a data pulse in response to the presence of one of said passive resonant devices having a resonant frequency corresponding to the instantaneous frequency of said means for generating a succession of frequencies; and f. indicating means for indicating the numeric state of said counting means at the instant when said data pulse is generated.

Claim 3

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to a preselected one of said output pulses comprises oscillator means and means for continuously varying the frequency of said oscillator means from a first frequency to a second frequency while the numeric state of said counting means changes from a first number to a higher number.

Claim 4

A data storage and read-out system as set Forth in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to a preselected one of said output pulses comprises oscillator means and means for varying the frequency of said oscillator means in discrete steps corresponding to each successive higher numeric state of said counting means.

Claim 5

A data storage and read-out system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to a preselected one of said output pulses comprises a single variable frequency oscillator for producing variable frequency oscillations.

Claim 6

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said oscillator means comprises a plurality of single frequency oscillators and means for activating and de-activating said single frequency oscillators, one at a time.

Claim 7

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said passive resonant devices comprise electrical conductors formed as open-ended multi-turn spirals.

Claim 8

The data storage and read-out system set forth in claim 6, wherein said multi-turn spirals are arranged in a predetermined pattern on said record member.

Claim 9

The data storage and read-out system set forth in claim 1, further including reactance means coupled to said means for generating a succession of frequencies, said record member being located in the field of said reactance means during data read-out.

Claim 10

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 8, further including a buffer amplifier and wherein said means for generating a succession of frequencies is coupled to the input of said buffer amplifier, said reactance means forming part of said buffer amplifier circuit.

Claim 11

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reactance means is an inductive loop and said means for generating a succession of frequencies comprises oscillator means.

Claim 12

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said inductive loop is fed with electrical energy from said oscillator means, so that when the frequency of said oscillator means is substantially equal to the resonant frequency of one of said passive resonant devices, the reflected load in said oscillator means causes said detecting means to produce a data pulse.

Claim 13

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 11, further including threshold detector means for producing an output signal when the reflected load in said oscillator means exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 14

The data storage and read-out system set forth in claim 12, further including storage means and wherein said output signal causes the numeric state of said counting means to be transferred to said storage means when the reflected load exceeds said predetermined value.

Claim 15

The data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reactance means comprises a plurality of inductive loops and the passive resonant devices are arranged on said record member so that the record member can be placed with one passive resonant device in the field of each inductive loop.

Claim 16

The data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reactance means comprises an inductive loop and the passive resonant devices are arranged on said record member so that the record member can be placed with a plurality of passive resonant devices in the field of said inductive loop.

Claim 17

A data storage and read-out system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reactance means comprises first and second inductive loops, a first succession of frequencies being fed to said first inductive loop and a second and different succession of frequencies being fed to said second inductive loop, said passive resonant devices being arranged on said record member so that a passive resonant device having a resonant frequency in said first succession may be placed in the field of said first inductance loop and a passive resonant device having a resonant frequency in said second succession may be simultaneously placed in the field of said second inductance loop.

Claim 18

A data rEading system comprising a search element, a data-carrying card locatable in the field of said search element and comprising a plurality of passive resonant devices, the resonant frequencies of which represent the data carried by the card, means for producing a square wave, a counter driven by said means, a ramp generator controlled by said counter and itself controlling the frequency of an oscillator, the oscillatory circuit of which is in part controlled by said search element, a threshold device controlled by said oscillator and operative to produce an output signal when any one of said resonant devices resonant at the instantaneous frequency of the oscillator is located in the field of said search element, a driving circuit operative to pass said signal to a staticizer controlling a plurality of display members and a decoder controlled by said counter and itself controlling said staticizer so that the resonant frequency of said resonant device determines the display members activated by said staticizer.

Claim 19

A data rEading system comprising a search element, a data-carrying card locatable in the field of said search element and comprising a plurality of passive resonant devices, the resonant frequencies of which represent the data carried by the card, means for producing a square wave, a counter driven by said means, a ramp generator controlled by said counter and itself controlling the frequency of an oscillator, the oscillatory circuit of which is in part controlled by said search element, a threshold device controlled by said oscillator and operative to produce an output signal when any one of said resonant devices resonant at the instantaneous frequency of the oscillator is located in the field of said search element, a driving circuit operative to pass said signal to a staticizer controlling a plurality of display members and a decoder controlled by said counter and itself controlling said staticizer so that the resonant frequency of said resonant device determines the display members activated by said staticizer.