FACSIMILE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 3,864,514 A
• Filed: 10/24/1972
• Issued: 02/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1962
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/300,424
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.7R,6,6.8
• US Class Current: 358/409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1004 using two-dimensional electrical scanning, e.g. cathode-ray tubes using two-dimensional arrays H04N1/195
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/327 Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor H04N1/32614 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for generating, transmitting, receiving and recording video information such as page document information employing a modified television camera and receiver. The television camera is controlled in its operation so as to generate a full-frame video picture signal on its output when a trigger input thereto is energized after placing a flat document in the scanning field of the camera. The full frame video signal is automatically transmitted to a receiving station where it is applied to intensity modulate and deflection control the write beam of a video receiver. Hard copy generating means is optically coupled to the display screen of the receiver and is automatically controlled to generate a print of each image generated on said display screen.

Claims

1. Facsimile apparatus for transmitting and recording full-frame video picture information comprising in combination:

a television camera, means for positioning a document containing a pictorial representation of information to be transmitted to a location remote from said camera, in the scanning field of said camera, said camera having a reading electron beam and deflection control circuits for causing the reading-beam of the camera to rpedeterminately scan the image field presented to the camera, signal generating means for generating a sequence of deflection control signals and applying said signals to energize said deflection control circuits of said camera to cause said camera reading beam to full-frame scan its image field, control means for said signal generating means including a control switch, an input circuit energized by closing said control switch for initiating operation of said signal generating means to generate and apply the signals generated thereby to said deflection control circuits whereby said reading beam is caused to full-frame scan the complete image field presented to the camera and to terminate the scanning action of said reading beam when the complete image field has been scanned thereby, means including said reading beam for generating a composite video picture signal on the output of said camera including separable picture and synchronizing signal elements, a receiving station, means for effecting a communication link between the output of said camera and said receiving station, receiving means at said receiving station operable for receiving the signals generated by said transmitting means, and including a video receiver having a cathode ray tube and write-beam generating means for generating an image on a display screen of said tube, horizontal and vertical deflection control means for the writebeam of said receiving station cathode ray tube connected to receive signals from said receiving means, means at said receiving station for separating said synchronizing signal elements from the picture signal elements from each composite video picture signal received thereby and applying said synchronizing elements to said horizontal and vertical deflection control means for said write-beam of said receiving station cathode ray tube and for simultaneously applying the separated picture signal elements to intensity modulate said write-beam of said cathode ray tube to cause said beam to full-frame scan and generate an image on the display screen of said tube which image is representative of the document scanned by said television camera, relay means connected to said receiving means of said receiving station and responsive to the code signal generated when said control switch is closed for conditioning said receiving means of said receiving station to receive signals generated by said sending station transmitting means, means optically coupled to said display screen of said receiving station cathode ray tube for generating a hard copy reproduction of images generated by said display screen, and means at said receiving station connected to said receiving means and responsive to the control signal received from said sending station for controlling the operation of said hard copy generating means to generate a hard copy print of the image displayed on the display screen of said cathode ray tube.

2. Facsimile apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for establishing a communication link between the output of said camera and said receiving station comprises a short wave transmitter connected to the output of said camera and said receiving means at said receiving station comprises a short wave receiver having its output connected to said means at said rEceiving station for separating said synchronizing signal elements from the picture signal elements, said short wave receiver being operable to receive signals transmitted by said transmitter.

3. Facsimile apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said code signal generating means at said sending station comprises means for generating a tone signal, said relay means connected to said receiving means at said receiving station being tone responsive and operable to generate a control signal on its output for conditioning said receiving means of said receiving station to receive signals from said sending station upon receipt of a tone signal generated by said tone generating means of said sending station.

4. Facsimile apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control switch is a manually operable electrical switch connected to initiate the operation of said television camera to cause its read-beam to full-frame scan its image field and to energize said code signal generating means.

5. Facsimile apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for prepositioning the document in the scanning field of said television camera, said control swtich being operable to sense the presence of a document presented to said prepositioning means and to become activated for operating said signal generating means.

6. Facsimile apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said automatic control means including cycle control means for said hard copy generating means operable to control the operation of said hard copy generating means to generate said hard copy print of the image appearing on the face of said display screen of said cathode ray tube at said receiving station.

7. Facsimile apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said code signal generating means comprises a tone signal generator and said means at said receiving station responsive to the control signal received from said sending station comprises a tone responsive relay which relay is operable to control said automatic cycle control means for said hard copy generating means each time it initially receives a tone signal from said sending station.