Data insertion apparatus

Claim 2

In a machine for producing enlarged reproductions of selected frames of microimages arranged in columns and rows on a microfiche card onto sheets of copy paper in response to operator inserted input data, said machine including a micro-fiche transport mechanism for positioning said microfiche card relative to the optical axis of a light projecting system, improved data insertion means comprising: a. a panel having a front surface which includes a plurality of panel positions having a format corresponding to the microfiche card format such that the number and arrangement of panel positions on said panel front surface corresponds to the column and row arrangement of microimages on said microfiche card, and b. means responsive to operator actuation of selected panel positions on said panel for generating position signals corresponding to selected starting and terminating frames, said position signals controlling the positioning of said microfiche transport mechanism whereby the microimage frames that extend between the selected starting and terminating frames are reproduced.

Claim 3

The data insertion means as defined in claim 1 further including display means associated with each panel position such that the actuation of a selected panel position causes the display means associated therewith to be energized.

Claim 4

The data insertion means as defined in claim 2 wherein said display means comprises light emitting diodes, the energization of said diodes causing visible light to be emitted therefrom.

Claim 5

The data insertion means as defined in claim 1 wherein said panel comprises: a. a first sheet of transparent material having a plurality of holes formed thereon, the arrangement and number of said holes corresponding to the microfiche card format, b. a second sheet of material having first and second surfaces, said first surface overlying said first material sheet, said second surface having alphanumeric symbols formed thereon in registry with the holes formed on said first sheet of material, c. a conductive material overlying said second surface of said second sheet of material, d. a sheet of insulating material overlying said conductive material, said insulating material having a plurlaity of holes thereon in registration with the holes formed on said first sheet of material, and e. a printed circuit board having a plurality of metallic contacts formed on one surface thereof, operator actuation of a selected panel position causing said conductive material to momentarily close contacts corresponding thereto, whereby a signal is applied simultaneously to two conductors associated with the selected panel position on said printed circuit board for generating signals indicating the location of said selected panel position relative to a predetermined coordinate system.

Claim 6

The Data insertion means defined in claim 4 further including a plurality of transparent areas formed on the first surface of said second sheet of material, a transparent area associated with each panel position, a plurality of apertures formed through said conducting sheet, said insulating sheet and said printed circuit board, said apertures being aligned with said transparent areas, a plurality of display means mounted in said apertures adjacent said transparent areas, and means for energizing the display means adjacent an actuated panel position.

Claim 7

The data insertion means of claim 1 further including first and second storage means responsive to said position signals whereby data corresponding to the initially selected starting and terminating frames of a first microfiche card is stored in said first storage means and data corresponding to the starting and terminating frames of a second microfiche card is entered into said second storage means prior to reproduction of the microimages between the starting and terminating frames on said first microfiche card.

Claim 8

The data insertion means as defined in claim 1 further including means for storing the position signals corresponding to the first and last selected panel positions, said first and last selected panel position corresponding to the selected terminating and starting frames, respectively.

Claim 9

The data insertion means as defined in claim 1 further including a. means for positioning said microfiche transport mechanism whereby a frame which was not reproduced due to machine malfunction is positioned adjacent said optical axis, and b. means for initiating reproduction of the frame sequence extending between the non-reproduced frame and the terminating frame when said non-reproduced frame is positioned adjacent said optical axis.

Claim 10

A pressure sensitive panel comprising: a. a first sheet of transparent material having a plurality of holes formed thereon, b. a second sheet of material having first and second surfaces, said first surface overlying said first sheet of material and including a plurality of transparent areas formed thereon, said second surface thereof having alpha-numeric symbols formed thereon in registration with the holes formed on first sheet of material, c. a conductive material overlying the other surface of said second sheet and including a plurality of apertures formed thereon, d. an insulating sheet having a plurality of holes thereon overlying said conductive material, said insulating sheet holes being in registration with the holes formed on said first sheet of material, said insulating sheet further including a plurality of apertures thereon, e. a printed circuit board having a plurality of metallic contacts formed on one surface thereof, pressure applied to said conducting material through the holes on said first sheet of material causing said conductive material to close said contacts, said printed circuit board further including a plurality of apertures, the apertures in said conductive material, said insulating sheet and said printed circuit board being in registry with each other and the transparent area on the first surface of said second sheet of material, and f. a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted in said aligned apertures and adjacent to said transparent areas on the first surface of said second sheet of material, the terminals of each emitting diode being coupled to conductors formed on the other surface of said printed circuit board whereby a selected light emitting diode is caused to emit light therefrom when the associated conductors are energized.

Claim 11

A pressure sensitive panel comprising: a. a first sheet of transparent material having a plurality of holes formed thereon, b. a second sheet of material having first and second surfaces, said first surface overlying said first sheet of material and including a plurality of transparent areas formed thereon, said second surface thereof having alpha-numeric symbols formed thereon in registration with the holes formed on first sheet of material, c. a conductive material overlying the other surface of said second sheet and including a plurality of apertures formed thereon, d. an insulating sheet having a plurality of holes thereon overlying said conductive material, said insulating sheet holes being in registration with the holes formed on said first sheet of material, said insulating sheet further including a plurality of apertures thereon, e. a printed circuit board having a plurality of metallic contacts formed on one surface thereof, pressure applied to said conducting material through the holes on said first sheet of material causing said conductive material to close said contacts, said printed circuit board further including a plurality of apertures, the apertures in said conductive material, said insulating sheet and said printed circuit board being in registry with each other and the transparent area on the first surface of said second sheet of material, and f. a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted in said aligned apertures and adjacent to said transparent areas on the first surface of said second sheet of material, the terminals of each emitting diode being coupled to conductors formed on the other surface of said printed circuit board whereby a selected light emitting diode is caused to emit light therefrom when the associated conductors are energized.

Claim 12

Apparatus for positioning a support member rapidly to a first position, represented by x1, y1 coordinates, from an initial position and sequentially from said first position to a second position, represented by x2, y2 coordinates, comprising: a. means for producing first and second digital signals representing said x1, y1 and x2, y2 position coordinates, respectively, b. first and second storage means for storing said first and second digital signals, respectively, c. first comparator means, one input of which is alternately coupled to said first and second storage means, for comparing a pair of inputs applied thereto, a signal being generated by said first comparator means when said inputs are in coincidendence, d. second comparator means, one input of which is alternately coupled to said first and second storage means, for comparing a pair of inputs applied thereto, a signal being generated by said second comparator means when said inputs are in coincidence, e. a first counter the output of which is connected to the other input of said first comparator means, said first counter being capable of being decremented from an initial count to a predetermined count, said first counter being reset when its count reaches said predetermined count, the output of said first counter further being utilized to position said support member in the x coordinate direction, f. a second counter the output of which is connected to the other input of said second comparator means, the output of said first counter being coupled to the input of said second counter, the output of said second counter further being utilized to position said support member in the y coordinate direction, g. means for decrementing said first counter at a first clocking rate and for coupling said first and second comparator means to said first storage means, the count in said second counter being decremented each time said first counter is reset, said support member being positioned from said initial position to said x1, y1 coordinates as said first counter is decremented, and h. means responsive to the simultaneous coincidence of said comparators for decrementing said first counter at a second clocking rate, different from said first clocking rate, and for connecting the output of said second storage means to said first and second comparators, said support member being sequentially positioned from said x1, y1 coordinates to said x2, y2 coordinates as said first counter is sequentially decremented.

Claim 13

Apparatus for positioning a support member rapidly to a first position, represented by x1, y1 coordinates, from an initial position and sequentially from said first position to a second position, represented by x2, y2 coordinates, comprising: a. means for producing first and second digital signals representing said x1, y1 and x2, y2 position coordinates, respectively, b. first and second storage means for storing said first and second digital signals, respectively, c. first comparator means, one input of which is alternately coupled to said first and second storage means, for comparing a pair of inputs applied thereto, a signal being generated by said first comparator means when said inputs are in coincidendence, d. second comparator means, one input of which is alternately coupled to said first and second storage means, for comparing a pair of inputs applied thereto, a signal being generated by said second comparator means when said inputs are in coincidence, e. a first counter the output of which is connected to the other input of said first comparator means, said first counter being capable of being decremented from an initial count to a predetermined count, said first counter being reset when its count reaches said predetermined count, the output of said first counter further being utilized to position said support member in the x coordinate direction, f. a second counter the output of which is connected to the other input of said second comparator means, the output of said first counter being coupled to the input of said second counter, the output of said second counter further being utilized to position said support member in the y coordinate direction, g. means for decrementing said first counter at a first clocking rate and for coupling said first and second comparator means to said first storage means, the count in said second counter being decremented each time said first counter is reset, said support member being positioned from said initial position to said x1, y1 coordinates as said first counter is decremented, and h. means responsive to the simultaneous coincidence of said comparators for decrementing said first counter at a second clocking rate, different from said first clocking rate, and for connecting the output of said second storage means to said first and second comparators, said support member being sequentially positioned from said x1, y1 coordinates to said x2, y2 coordinates as said first counter is sequentially decremented.

Claim 14

The positioning apparatus as defined in claim 10 further including means for repositioning said support member in the direction towards said first position at the occurrence of a signal generated by means external to said positioning apparatus.