US3619625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape recorder apparatus with optical sensing means for tape control
Assignee: Nortel Networks Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-21
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1989-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A tape recorder/reproducer apparatus, generally including spindles for mounting recording tape reels and drive means for moving the tape from one reel to the other, and particularly including light sources and light sensors positioned immediately beneath the position of the tape and light guide means for directing the light from such source to that portion of tape positioned between the reels and back to one sensor, and also with light guide means for directing light from such source to the tape wound on one of the reels and back to another such sensor, for extremely accurate, automatic recording and reproducing control functions with respect to tape position.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 22:31
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/05; G11B15/06; G11B15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
Tape recorder/reproducer apparatus having optical tape sensing means, comprising: tape deck means, including means for moving recording tape lengthwise along a predetermined path; means for directing light to said tape, including a source, light-angulating means for guiding light from said source along an angular path intercepting the tape, and light-pickup means for receiving at least some of the light intercepting said tape; said pickup means being responsive to predetermined gradations of light representative of predetermined tape presence conditions at the area of interception to produce a control signal in accordance with such conditions; and said means for directing light including a generally straight, columnar light-conducting post and a member aligned with and spaced from said post to define a gap therebetween through which said tape is moved, said guided light intercepting said tape within said gap; said tape deck means being particularly adapted for use with recording tape mounted within cartridges of the type having an outer case which houses tape winding spool means and which substantially encloses the tape, and said tape deck means having mounting means for holding such cartridge in a predetermined position; said columnar post element having an upstanding portion of a diameter sufficiently small to removably pass through an aperture in such case when the cartridge is held in its said predetermined position to thereby position the end extremity of such portion inwardly of the case with respect to at least a segment of the tape contained therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
Tape recorder/reproducer apparatus having optical tape sensing means, comprising: tape deck means, including means for moving recording tape lengthwise along a predetermined path; means for directing light to said tape, including a source, light-angulating means for guiding light from said source along an angular path intercepting the tape, and light-pickup means for receiving at least some of the light intercepting said tape; said pickup means being responsive to predetermined gradations of light representative of predetermined tape presence conditions at the area of interception to produce a control signal in accordance with such conditions; and said means for directing light including a generally straight, columnar light-conducting post and a member aligned with and spaced from said post to define a gap therebetween through which said tape is moved, said guided light intercepting said tape within said gap; said tape deck means being particularly adapted for use with recording tape mounted within cartridges of the type having an outer case which houses tape winding spool means and which substantially encloses the tape, and said tape deck means having mounting means for holding such cartridge in a predetermined position; said columnar post element having an upstanding portion of a diameter sufficiently small to removably pass through an aperture in such case when the cartridge is held in its said predetermined position to thereby position the end extremity of such portion inwardly of the case with respect to at least a segment of the tape contained therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said post member has a reflective surface for changing the angle of light passing across said gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
In combination, a recording tape cartridge and tape recorder/reproducer apparatus For removably mounting such cartridge and recording or reproducing messages on its tape, said apparatus having an optical tape sensing and control means; said cartridge including a housing case enclosing a length of tape and having at least one aperture in the case positioned generally adjacent a portion of such tape; said optical means including means for establishing a light beam across the path of said tape within said case: such means including a source of light, photoreceptive means for receiving light from said source and providing a signal in response thereto, and means for guiding light from said source to said photoreceptive means; said light guide means including a light-conducting free-standing post mounted on the recorder/reproducer apparatus in a projecting attitude, and said post being of such size and shape as to be removably insertable through one of said apertures in said case when the cartridge is mounted in place upon the recorder/reproducer apparatus; and means for mounting said cartridge in place upon said apparatus so that said post passes through said aperture and into the interior of said case in lateral alignment with the tape contained therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
199 words
In combination, a recording tape cartridge and tape recorder/reproducer apparatus For removably mounting such cartridge and recording or reproducing messages on its tape, said apparatus having an optical tape sensing and control means; said cartridge including a housing case enclosing a length of tape and having at least one aperture in the case positioned generally adjacent a portion of such tape; said optical means including means for establishing a light beam across the path of said tape within said case: such means including a source of light, photoreceptive means for receiving light from said source and providing a signal in response thereto, and means for guiding light from said source to said photoreceptive means; said light guide means including a light-conducting free-standing post mounted on the recorder/reproducer apparatus in a projecting attitude, and said post being of such size and shape as to be removably insertable through one of said apertures in said case when the cartridge is mounted in place upon the recorder/reproducer apparatus; and means for mounting said cartridge in place upon said apparatus so that said post passes through said aperture and into the interior of said case in lateral alignment with the tape contained therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said post includes a light-conductive solid portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
Tape recorder/reproducer apparatus having optical tape sensing means, comprising: tape deck means for moving recording tape lengthwise along a predetermined path, and including tape-winding reel means; means for directing light toward said reel means along a path angularly disposed to the plane of rotation thereof and intercepting such plane at a position spaced laterally from the rotational center of the reel means; reflector means for reflecting light directed to said plane of said reel backward in a generally opposite direction and light-pickup means positioned on the same side of said plane as said light-directing means, for receiving at least some of the light so reflected; said pickup means being responsive to predetermined gradations of light representative of predetermined tape presence conditions at the area of interception to produce a control signal in accordance with such conditions and representative of the quantity of tape present upon such reel means; said tape deck means including a magazine enclosing said tape and said reel means, said magazine having a viewing window for visual examination of the enclosed tape, said reflector means comprising at least one surface portion of said viewing window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
Tape recorder/reproducer apparatus having optical tape sensing means, comprising: tape deck means for moving recording tape lengthwise along a predetermined path, and including tape-winding reel means; means for directing light toward said reel means along a path angularly disposed to the plane of rotation thereof and intercepting such plane at a position spaced laterally from the rotational center of the reel means; reflector means for reflecting light directed to said plane of said reel backward in a generally opposite direction and light-pickup means positioned on the same side of said plane as said light-directing means, for receiving at least some of the light so reflected; said pickup means being responsive to predetermined gradations of light representative of predetermined tape presence conditions at the area of interception to produce a control signal in accordance with such conditions and representative of the quantity of tape present upon such reel means; said tape deck means including a magazine enclosing said tape and said reel means, said magazine having a viewing window for visual examination of the enclosed tape, said reflector means comprising at least one surface portion of said viewing window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
Sensing and control means for tape recorder/reproducer apparatus of the type having a pair of tape-winding reel means and drive means for moving recording tape from one to the other of said reel means and past a predetermined point, said sensing and control means comprising in combination: means for monitoring said tape as it is moved past said predetermined point and for detecting the presence at such point of a predetermined part of such tape; and means for monitoring the amount of tape present on at least one of said reel means; each of said monitoring means including means for producing control signals which together are indicative of the presence at said point of a particular segment of said tape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
Sensing and control means for tape recorder/reproducer apparatus of the type having a pair of tape-winding reel means and drive means for moving recording tape from one to the other of said reel means and past a predetermined point, said sensing and control means comprising in combination: means for monitoring said tape as it is moved past said predetermined point and for detecting the presence at such point of a predetermined part of such tape; and means for monitoring the amount of tape present on at least one of said reel means; each of said monitoring means including means for producing control signals which together are indicative of the presence at said point of a particular segment of said tape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sensing and control means of claim 6, wherein at least one of said monitoring means comprises an optical system utilizing light impinged upon said tape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The sensing and control means of claim 7, wherein said optical system includes a source, a light sensor, and light-angulating means for guiding light along an angular path between said source and said sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensing and control means of claim 8, wherein said light-angulating means guides said light along an angular path between said source and said tape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The sensing and control means of claim 8, wherein said light-angulating means includes a pair of light guide elements spaced apart sufficiently to permit said tape to pass between them.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The sensing and control means of claim 10, wherein at least one of said elementS has a postlike portion arranged to extend generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of said tape and having a surface disposed generally parallel to the plane of the tape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
The sensing and control means of claim 11, wherein such means is particularly adapted for use with recorder/reproducer apparatus of the type using tape magazine cartridges having a tape-enclosing case and an aperture in the case providing access to the tape enclosed therein, said postlike portion comprising an elongated member of sufficiently small cross section as to be insertable through such aperture and of sufficient length as to extend to a point within the case adjacent the tape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The sensing and control means of claim 7, wherein said optical system includes a source and a light sensor disposed on the same side of said reel means, and further includes a light-reflecting member disposed on the opposite side of said reel means to return light emanating from the source back to the sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
164 words
Tape recorder/reproducer apparatus having optical tape sensing means, said apparatus comprising: frame means defining a tape deck and including a pair of supports for mounting a pair of tape reel means in generally coplanar relation; support means including a component-carrying platform means disposed in generally parallel and spaced relation beneath said tape deck and the plane of said reels; at least one light source and a pair of light sensor elements, said sensor elements and said light source all carried by said platform means; and light guide means between said source and each of said sensor elements, one of said guide means for guiding light from said source to a segment of said tape between said reel means and back to one of said sensors, and the other of said guide means for guiding light from said source to tape wound upon one of said reel means and back to the other of said sensors, for monitoring tape presence conditions on said tape deck.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
164 words
Tape recorder/reproducer apparatus having optical tape sensing means, said apparatus comprising: frame means defining a tape deck and including a pair of supports for mounting a pair of tape reel means in generally coplanar relation; support means including a component-carrying platform means disposed in generally parallel and spaced relation beneath said tape deck and the plane of said reels; at least one light source and a pair of light sensor elements, said sensor elements and said light source all carried by said platform means; and light guide means between said source and each of said sensor elements, one of said guide means for guiding light from said source to a segment of said tape between said reel means and back to one of said sensors, and the other of said guide means for guiding light from said source to tape wound upon one of said reel means and back to the other of said sensors, for monitoring tape presence conditions on said tape deck.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said one light guide means includes an upstanding postlike guide element having a portion extending to a position adjacent said tape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said other light guide means includes a pair of upwardly extending guide-defining portions having end portions communicating through said tape deck and disposed immediately beneath the position occupied by tape wound upon one of said reel means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one light guide means includes an upstanding postlike guide element having a portion extending to a position adjacent said tape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said light guide means includes a pair of said guide elements having portions spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of said tape, said elements arranged to direct light across said spaced portions and against a tape therebetween.
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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) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |