Microfilm searching reader

Claim 1

A microfilm searching reader for searching a microfilm having pages of a dictionary recorded in frames in a predetermined order for a frame containing a word associated with an input character to display the frame on a display unit comprising: input signal generating means provided with character keys entering input characters into the reader for generating first signals encoded according to a coding standard in response to the character keys, the coding standard providing each of the characters with a unique significance which increases along the predetermined order; memory means including at least one memory track having catchwords recorded thereon in combination with clock signals, said catchwords being associated with respective pages of the dictionary, each of the catchwords being encoded according to the coding standard and aligned in accordance with the predetermined order; reading means for sequentially reading said clock signals together with the catchwords to develop second signals representative of the catchwords; page identifying means including page counting means for counting the number of pages in response to detection of a page unit, said page identifying means being connecting to said reading means for identifying pages of the dictionary associated with the catchwords from the second signals to produce third signals representative of the number of pages of the dictionary, said page identifying means comprising page unit detecting means connected to said reading means for counting the clock signals to detect a page unit of the dictionary; said page unit detecting means comprising means connected to said reading means for detecting a digit position of the second signals, and means for counting the number of digit positions of the second signals in response to said digit position detecting means; comparing means connected to said input signal generating means and said reading means for comparing the second signals with the first signals for determining when the second signals are equal to or exceed the first signal with respect to the significance to develop a fourth signal; said comparing means comprising first storage means connected to said input signal generating means for storing the first signals sequentially in predetermined digit positions, second storage means connected to said reading means for storing the second signals therein, said second storage means having a storage capacity of at least one digit of the second signals and temporarily storing one digit in succession of the second signals, means connected to said first storage means and said digit position number counting means for extracting digit by digit the first signals from said first storage means in response to the number counted in said digit position number counting means, and comparator means connected to said extracting means and said second storage means for comparing the second signals with the first signals digit by digit to develop the fourth signal; and display control means connected to receive the third signal produced from said page identifying means during the fourth signal for producing control signals which permit the microfilm to be fed until the display unit displays the frame containing the page represented by the third signal received.