AUDIO-VISUAL APPARATUS AND RECORD MEMBER THEREFORE

• US 3,871,758 A
• Filed: 06/01/1971
• Issued: 03/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prince, Louis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mirabito, A. J.
• Application Number:
  US05/148,513
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 353/15,16,17,18,19,120 274/13A
• US Class Current: 353/19
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 23/105 disc carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 31/06 in which sound track is associated with successively-shown still pictures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0404 Scanning transparent media, e.g. photographic film

Abstract

An audio-visual apparatus for intermittently projecting still images of transparencies such as photographs and playing back accompanying audio recordings such as messages and descriptions of the projected information. The audio information is provided in the form of audio recordings on a spiral track of a first record disc which is driven at constant speed while a pick-up follows the spiral track and reproduces the recordings thereof which are fed to a speaker. The projected or directly viewed images are derived from transparencies in the form of individual frames or photographs secured to a second disc which is rotatably assembled with the first disc with both discs having the same axis of rotation. In one form of the invention, both the audio recordings and the transparent image frames may be selectively applied to their respective discs by the user who may also apply control signals to the audio disc for controlling the intermittent drive of the image frame containing disc. In another for both audio and video recordings are provided on a spiral track or tracks of the disc and novel means are provided for scanning same. Novel structures are presented in the record members.

Claims

1. An audio-visual apparatus comprising in combination:

a record disc assembly composed of concentrically arranged first and second disc members, means for rotatably supporting one of said disc members with respect to the other and means for separately power rotating both of said disc members about a common axis, a spiral groove formed in a first of said disc members, magnetic recording material defining a spiral track on said firsT disc member, said second disc member being provided with a plurality of image frame locations extending in a circular track which is concentric with said first disc member and means for removably securing at least one photographic image containing member at each of said frame locations, first means for rotating said first disc member at substantially constant speed, means for holding said second disc member from rotating while said first disc rotates, a projection optical system including means for projecting light through a selected frame of said second disc member, means for receiving said projected light and displaying an image of the frame photographic containing member scanned, means for selectively rotating said second disc member to selectively bring each of said photographic image containing members into the field of said projection optical system, a pivoted arm including a needle operative to ride in and follow the groove in said first disc member as said disc member rotates, a magnetic transducer supported by said pivoted arm and located thereon to scan said spiral magnetic track when said needle is riding in said spiral groove of said first disc member, amplifier and speaker means operatively connected to said magnetic transducer for generating audio playback of the recordings on said spiral magnetic track as said magnetic transducer reproduces signals therefrom, electrically operated means for causing said second disc member to step rotate to remove and replace one photographic image containing member disposed in the field of said projection optical system with the next photographic image containing member of said second disc, control means for said electrically operated means, and means for generating control signals as said first disc rotates for intermittently activating said control means and for synchronizing the operation of said first and second rotating means whereby selected portions of the sound produced from said magnetic track are generated while selected respective images are projected to said displaying means.

2. An audio-visual apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for selectively operating said magnetic transducer to either record signals on said spiral magnetic track or reproduce signals therefrom and means for modulating said magnetic transducer in the recording mode with audio information to be recorded on said spiral track.

3. An audio-visual apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said modulating means includes a microphone, recording amplifying means connected to said microphone and selectively operable switching means for causing said transducer to operate in either the recording or reproduction mode.

4. An audio-visual apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said magnetic recording material is disposed against areas of said first disc member provided between adjacent portions of said spiral groove and said magnetic transducer is located on said arm so as to scan said spiral track as the needle rides in the groove.