US5218595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for reading oblong segments of an advancing storage medium
Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC
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Filing: 1991-01-18
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2011-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A device for reading data from a multitrack magnetic tape or other storage media. The reading device includes an imaging device having a convex mirror and a concave mirror arranged to produce a magnification equal to -1. The device also includes a light source, a cylindrical lens and a detector device. The device is of compact dimensions, yet exhibits only slight aberrations and provides high resolution.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude Lehureau
- 👤 Sophie Neubert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10554; G06K7/10594; G06K7/10683; G06K7/10702; G11; G11B; G11B11/00; G11B11/10; G11B11/105; G11B11/10502; G11B11/10515; G11B11/10532; G11B11/10541; G11B11/10543; G11B11/10547; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/135; G11B7/1362; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/7805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for reading an oblong zone of an advancing storage medium, comprising: a polarized light source focused to illuminate the oblong zone to be read with an illumination beam; a transducer reflecting said illumination beam along a first axis back toward said light source as an information-carrying beam; a separating cube located along said first axis for separating said image-carrying beam from said incident beam and redirecting said information-carrying beam along a second axis; a catoptric imagery device with a concentric concave spherical mirror and a convex spherical mirror, said concave spherical mirror intercepting said information-carrying beam along said second axis and redirecting said information-carrying beam to said convex spherical mirror, said convex spherical mirror being located so as to direct said information-carrying beam back to said concave spherical mirror; and a detector device receiving said information-carrying beam from said concave spherical mirror and having a useful surface whose shape and dimensions are approximately the same as the shape and dimensions of the oblong zone to be read.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for reading an oblong zone of an advancing storage medium, comprising: a polarized light source focused to illuminate the oblong zone to be read with an illumination beam; a transducer reflecting said illumination beam along a first axis back toward said light source as an information-carrying beam; a separating cube located along said first axis for separating said image-carrying beam from said incident beam and redirecting said information-carrying beam along a second axis; a catoptric imagery device with a concentric concave spherical mirror and a convex spherical mirror, said concave spherical mirror intercepting said information-carrying beam along said second axis and redirecting said information-carrying beam to said convex spherical mirror, said convex spherical mirror being located so as to direct said information-carrying beam back to said concave spherical mirror; and a detector device receiving said information-carrying beam from said concave spherical mirror and having a useful surface whose shape and dimensions are approximately the same as the shape and dimensions of the oblong zone to be read.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the catoptric imagery device has a magnification of -1 and wherein the ratio of the radii of the convex mirror and the concave mirror is 1/2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical lens for focusing light emitted from the polarized light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination beam output and a cylindrical microlens at said illumination beam output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device according to claim 4, wherein said device further comprises a lens for astigmatism correction on the path of the reflected information-carrying beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein an object to be imaged is the reflecting surface of a magnetooptical transducer with a multitrack magnetic tape read head, and redirecting said information-carrying beam along a second axis; a catoptric imagery device with a concentric concave spherical mirror and a convex spherical mirror, said concave spherical mirror intercepting said information-carrying beam along said second axis and redirecting said information-carrying beam to said convex spherical mirror, said convex spherical mirror being located so as to direct said information-carrying beam back to said concave spherical mirror; and a detector device receiving said information-carrying beam from said concave spherical mirror and having a useful surface whose surface and dimensions are approximately the same as the shape and dimensions of the oblong zone to be read.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein an object to be imaged is the surface of a film used in a telecinema system.
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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) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |