US3828356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plural channel recorder
Assignee: VETCO SERVICES Inc A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A nondestructive testing system is disclosed which is adapted to scan a workpiece and generate large quantities of data relating to the characteristics of the workpiece. In addition, a recorder is disclosed for accumulating and storing the large quantities of data generated by the nondestructive testing system. The recorder utilizes a continuously moving photographic film and a plurality of light-emitting diodes for exposing a plurality of channels or tracks of data on the film. A cross-correlator is also disclosed for optically comparing or correlating the data recorded on the film with preselected references or standards. The crosscorrelator includes an optical system which optically performs a spatial Fourier transform of the recorded data, compares or correlates the spatial Fourier transform with a corresponding spatial Fourier transform of the reference or standard and then performs an inverse spatial transform of the results of the comparison.
Inventors
- 👤 W Wiers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D15/00; G01D15/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A recorder for recording a plurality of separate, individual signals, said recorder including a film transport for advancing a photosensitive film through an exposure area, a variable speed motor coupled to said film transport for driving said film through said area, an array of individual lights, signal means for individually coupling each of the lights in said array to a source of said signals to be recorded, each of the individual lights being adapted to emit light at an intensity which is a function of the magnitude of its respective signal, optical means for focusing the light from the individual lights in said array onto said film as an array of bright spots while it is being advanced by the film transport, said bright spots being effective to expose the film and thereby form individual tracks having substantially uniform widths and with each of said tracks having an exposure and optical density corresponding to the magnitude of the respective signal, means connected to said signal means for providing a bias, and means responsive to the speed of the film advancing through said exposure area and coupled to said signal means for varying said bias and thereby the magnitude of the signalcoupled to said lights as a function of said speed whereby the exposure and optical density of each of said tracks is a function of the associated signals and is independent of the speed of said film through said area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A recorder for recording a plurality of separate, individual signals, said recorder including a film transport for advancing a photosensitive film through an exposure area, a variable speed motor coupled to said film transport for driving said film through said area, an array of individual lights, signal means for individually coupling each of the lights in said array to a source of said signals to be recorded, each of the individual lights being adapted to emit light at an intensity which is a function of the magnitude of its respective signal, optical means for focusing the light from the individual lights in said array onto said film as an array of bright spots while it is being advanced by the film transport, said bright spots being effective to expose the film and thereby form individual tracks having substantially uniform widths and with each of said tracks having an exposure and optical density corresponding to the magnitude of the respective signal, means connected to said signal means for providing a bias, and means responsive to the speed of the film advancing through said exposure area and coupled to said signal means for varying said bias and thereby the magnitude of the signalcoupled to said lights as a function of said speed whereby the exposure and optical density of each of said tracks is a function of the associated signals and is independent of the speed of said film through said area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The recorder of claim 1 wherein the individual lights in said array are light-emitting diodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The recorder of claim 1 wherein said signal means for coupling the signal sources to the lights in said array includes a separate channel for each of the signals, and an adjustable gain amplifier in each of said channels for separately controlling the gain of the individual signals coupled to said lights whereby the amplified signals are all normalized to a reference standard whereby the densities of the individual tracks are all the same function of the magnitude of the signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The recorder of claim 3 wherein the individual lights in said array are light-emitting diodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
235 words
A recorder for recording a plurality of separate individual data signals from a plurality of sources, said recorder including a film transport for advancing a photosensitive film, a variable speed motor coupled to said film transport for driving said film at a variable speed, control means responsive to the speed of said film and effective to produce a control signal, an array of individual lights, a plurality of channels for individually coupling each of the lights in said array to a respective one of the sources of the data signals to be recorded, each of the individual lights being adapted to emit light in response to its respective data signal, means coupling said control means to said channels to vary the gain thereof as a function of said control signal whereby the intensities of said lights are functions of said data signals and control signals, means for focusing the light from the individual lights in said array onto said film as an array of bright spots while it is being advanced by the film transport, said bright spots being effective to form individual tracks having sUbstantially uniform widths and optical densities that vary corresponding to the respective data signals but independent of the speed of said film, and means in said channels for adding a bias to said signals to provide a reference level whereby visible tracks are produced even though said signals are zero.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
235 words
A recorder for recording a plurality of separate individual data signals from a plurality of sources, said recorder including a film transport for advancing a photosensitive film, a variable speed motor coupled to said film transport for driving said film at a variable speed, control means responsive to the speed of said film and effective to produce a control signal, an array of individual lights, a plurality of channels for individually coupling each of the lights in said array to a respective one of the sources of the data signals to be recorded, each of the individual lights being adapted to emit light in response to its respective data signal, means coupling said control means to said channels to vary the gain thereof as a function of said control signal whereby the intensities of said lights are functions of said data signals and control signals, means for focusing the light from the individual lights in said array onto said film as an array of bright spots while it is being advanced by the film transport, said bright spots being effective to form individual tracks having sUbstantially uniform widths and optical densities that vary corresponding to the respective data signals but independent of the speed of said film, and means in said channels for adding a bias to said signals to provide a reference level whereby visible tracks are produced even though said signals are zero.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The recorder of claim 5 wherein the individual lights in said array are light-emitting diodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The recorder of claim 5 wherein each channel has an adjustable gain whereby all of said signals are normalized to a reference standard so the density of each track is a function of its respective signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |