Data storage and retrieval system

• US 3,949,191 A
• Filed: 07/10/1974
• Issued: 04/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optical Data Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optical Data Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Crowther, Ted J., Sutherlin, Kent K., Jacobson, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kilgore, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US05/487,346
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.7 B, 235/61.11 E, 235/61.10 D, 235/61.7 R, 340/173 LM, 340/146.3 P, 340/173 LT, 340/173 R, 340/149 A, 200/46, 250/568, 250/569, 250/570, 194/4, 95/4.5, 350/3.5
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0011 for security or authentication holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2286 Particular reconstruction light G03H1/24 takes precedence; Beam properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/30 discrete holograms only
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2222/36 Scanning light beam
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2270/23 Ribbon shaped, e.g. holographic foil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/125 Offline card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0065 Recording, reproducing or erasing by using optical interference patterns, e.g. holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/046 using other storage elements storing information in the form of an interference pattern

Abstract

Data is recorded in holographic form on elongate film strips in a plurality of parallel, longitudinally extending hologram rows. The film is longitudinally moved past a light beam to reconstruct holographic patterns which are then sensed. The light beam is perpendicular to the film and movable transversely to the film so that any holograph row can be illuminated. The recorded holograms in a row can be searched for comparison with a reference number or symbol for credit card verification and the like in which a small subgroup of members, such as those who forfeited their credit, are to be identified. The reference numbers of the members of the subgroup are recorded on the film and a given member, that is the reference number of a given customer, is compared with the recorded holograms. The reference number of each member of the group is assigned to a particular row so that his number will appear in one and only one row of holograms on the film. Consequently, only one row needs to be scanned to determine the presence or absence of the given member in the subgroup.

Claims

1. A method for varifying the presence or absence of a unit identified by a unique spot pattern in a subset of a multiplicity of such units all of which belong to a still larger group of such units, the method comprising the steps of assigning each unit in the group to a predetermined unit class of a plurality of unit classes, providing a length of photosensitive film, recording a holograph of the spot pattern of each unit in the subject and in a given class in a longitudinal row over the length of the film so that the number of rows on the film correspond to the number of classes and each unit from a given class is recorded in the same row, moving the film longitudinally past a reading station, directing a single light beam perpendicularly to the film, deflecting the beam to the row to which the unit is assigned, and searching the reconstructed spot patterns as the film moves past the reading station at least until the unit is found.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the step of searching for the presence of several units in the subset, and including the step of sequentially deflecting the light beam to the hologram rows to which each of the several units is assigned.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of detecting comprises the step of providing an array of light detectors, imaging the holographic spot pattern on the array, sequentially generating a unique electronic reference signal for each of the several units, electronically scanning the detector array to form scan signals compatible with the reference signal and responsive to the imaged spot patterns, and comparing each reference signal with the corresponding scan signal to determine the presence or absence of a match between thee scan signal and the reference signal and a corresponding presence or absence of each of the several units in the subset.

4. A verification method to determine the identity of a person, a person'"'"'s credit rating, security risk and the like of a given member of a group of members, each member being assigned a unique number, by identifying a given member as belonging to a class of members which have an abnormal condition ini their identity, credit rating, security risk and the like, the method comprising the steps of holographically recording the numbers of the members of the class on an elongate film strip in a plurality of parallel, longitudinally extending rows by assigning each number to and recording a corresponding holograph on a predetermined row on the film, moving the film parallel to the rows past a read station, providing a single laser beam and directing the laser beam to the read station perpendicular to the film, generating a first reference signal and deflecting the laser beam in response to the first signal to the row in which a given number would be recorded, generating a second signal responsive to the given number, sensing each image of the hologram as the film moves past the read station, transforming the sensed images into electronic signals compatible with the second signal, comparing the second signal and the electronic signals, and indicating to the operator whether or not the second and the electronic signals match to thereby indicate whether or not the person to which the given number is assigned belongs to the class of members.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of sensing the images comprises the steps of forming spot patterns from the holographs on a light sensitive detector sensing the presence or absence of a spot pattern on the detector, and in response to sensing the presence of such pattern initiating an electronic scan of the detectors to generate an electronic signal.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of generating the first signal comprises the step of providing a keyboard for generating electric pulses, and keying into the keyboard a portion of the number of the given number.

7. A method according to claim 6 and wherein the step of generating the second signal includes the step of keying into the keyboard a remainder of the number of the given member.

8. A method for verifying the presence or absence of a given member of a group in a subgroup to check the member'"'"'s credit, identity, security risk, and the like, each member having a different assigned number, the method comprising the steps of randomly distributing all members to a predetermined member class of a plurality of such classes, recording on a film strip a longitudinal row of holograms for each member class by recording thereon a Fourier transform type hologram of a binary spot pattern for each member belonging to both the class and the subgroup so that the numbers of all members in the subgroup are recorded on the film, directing a laser beam perpendicularly to the film surface, generating a binary reference signal with a portion of the given member'"'"'s number, directing the laser beam in response to the reference signal to the hologram row on the film which corresponds to the class to which the given member is assigned, passing the film past the beam to thereby generate a spot pattern from each holograph in the row, optically sensing the generated spot patterns, transforming the sensed patterns into digital sensed signals, generating a digital input signal with a remainder of the given member'"'"'s number, comparing the sensed signal and the input signal, and indicating to the operator whether or not the sensed signal and the input signal match to thereby inform the operator whether or not the given member is in the subgroup of members.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein each recorded hologram includes holographic spot patterns indicating ratings for the members of the subgroup, and including the steps of sensing additional generated spot patterns in response to a match between the sensed signal and the input signal, and signalling to the operator the thus retrieved rating.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of moving the film comprises the step of alternatingly moving the film in one and another direction during successive readings, wherein the holograms in each row are arranged in accordance with ascending numbers assigned to the members of a class, and wherein the step of comparing the sensed signal with the input signal comprises the step of searching the sensed signals generated from the reconstructed spot patterns in an ascending or descending order and signalling to the operator as soon as the electronic signal corresponds to a number which is greater than or smaller than, respectively, the number corresponding to the input signal that the given member'"'"'s number does not match a hologram recorded on the film and that the given member does not belong to the subgroup.

11. A search and compare apparatus for credit verification, security checks and the like comprising:

a support structure, means for moving a length of film longitudinally past a read station, a light source mounted to the support structure, an obliquely positioned, linearly movable reflector for directing a light beam from the source to the read station and for adjusting the position of the beam in a first direction while maintaining the beam parallel in all its operative positions, an array of light sensitive detectors on the side of the read station opposite from the laser, means for scanning the detector array to produce an output signal responsive to the illumination or lack of illumination of the detectors in the array, meansn for forming a reference signal, means for comparing the reference signal with the output signal to determine if the two match, and means for signalling if a match between the two signals is found, whereby film can be moved past the reading station for illumination by the beam and reconstructing images on the detector array from holograms recorded on the film so that the holograms on the film can be compared with the reference signal to search for a match.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the reference signal is generated from a multidigit number, wherein the means for generating the reference signal comprises a keyboard, means for selecting at least one digit of the number entered in the keyboard and forming therewith a beam positioning signal, and means for moving the reflector in response to the beam positioning signal to a predetermined position to correspondingly position the beam for illuminating a predetermined portion of the film which has a lesser width than the film.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the digit selecting means includes means for selecting at least the first digit of the number, and including means for activating the mirror moving means as soon as such digit has been entered in the keyboard so that the mirror is positioned while a remainder of the number is entered in the keyboard.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 including means for activating the scanning means in response to the appearance of a light pattern on the detector array to thereby synchronize the scanning operation with the light pattern formation independently of the rate with which the light patterns are generated.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11 including a length of 35 millimeter film having recorded thereon a multiplicity of holograms arranged side-by-side and in adjacent parallel rows extending over at least a portion of the film length, a cartridge housing the film, and means for positioning the cartridge at the reading station, and wherein the cartridge includes aligned slits permitting the beam to illuminate the film as the film moves past the slits for forming images on the detector array.

16. A verification apparatus for identifying specific members of a group, each member of the group having assigned a unique multidigit number, the numbers of the specific members being recorded on a length of film in the form of holograms, the holographs being distributed in a predetermined manner in a plurality of longitudinally extending, parallel rows on the film, the apparatus comprising:

a. plate means defining an optical bench,

b. a laser mounted to one side of the bench,

c. mirror means for reflecting a light beam from the laser to the other side of the bench and parallel to the other bench side,

d. means for moving the laser beam on the other side towards and away from the side while maintaining the beam parallel in all its positions,

e. means for positioning the film at a read station perpendicular to the beam,

f. means for longitudinally moving the film past the read station so that the hologram of a film row are sequentially illuminated by the laser beam,

g. detector means comprising an array of light sensitive elements arranged in a plurality of columns and a number of rows,

h. lens means between the detector means and the read station for focusing on the detector means images generated by the beam from the holograms on the film,

i. scanning means for scanning the detector means and forming a first signal,

j. an input keyboard including means for generating a second signal and a third signal from a number assigned to any given group member,

k. means for adjusting the mirror in response to the second signal to direct the laser beam to the hologram row in which the number of such member would be recorded,

l. comparing means for matching the first signal and the third signal,

m. means for indicating to an operator the presence or the absence of a signal match located by the comparing means, and

n. means for indicating to the operator a relative rating of the member in response to a match located by the comparing means so that relative credit ratings, security risks and the like can be obtained for the given group member.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the mirror means includes means for deflecting the beam 180°

, wherein the laser is mounted parallel to the beam at the reading station, and wherein the plate includes an aperture for the passage of the beam from the one side of the bench to the other side.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 including drive means mounted to the same side of the plate as the laser for alternatively rotating film spools in opposing direction for moving the film past the read station.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the mirror means comprises a stationary mirror mounted on the other side of the bench in alignment with the aperture, a movable mirror mounted to the one side of the bench in alignment with the laser beam and the aperture, end means for linearly moving the movable mirror parallel to the laser beam emanating from the laser to thereby reposition the point at which the beam strikes the stationary mirror and change the distance between the other side of the bench and the laser beam at the read station while maintaining the laser beam parallel.

20. Apparatus according to claim 16 including a first housing for the keyboard and the indicating means, a second, separate housing for the remainder of the apparatus, and including means for the transmission of signals between the housings.

21. Apparatus according to claim 16 including a cartridge for the film, the cartridge defining an inner space and having spaced apart film spools in the space, wherein the film moving means includes film drive means on the other side of the bench for releasably engaging the spools and alternatingly rotating the spools in one or the other direction, and means for removably positioning the cartridge on the bench.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the cartridge includes means for guiding the film past the read station and for maintaining the film perpendicular with respect to the beam, the cartridge further including first and second slits permitting unimpeaded passage of the beam through the cartridge.

23. In a verification system for determining whether any member of a large group of members belongs to a certain subgroup of members which is smaller than the group, each member in the group having assigned to him a unique multidigit number, the method forming a holographic record of the members of the subgroup comprising the steps of selecting a plurality of digits from each number and forming an algorithm from such digits to randomly assign any number in the system to one of a predetermined, limited number of member classes each of which is smaller than the subgroup, transforming each number of the members of a given class into a binary code and recording on the film a holograph of a spot pattern of the code for each such class member by arranging all holographs of the members of the given class side-by-side in a single longitudinal row extending over at least a portion of the film length, so that the finished recorded film has a plurality of hologram rows which equals the plurality of classes in the system.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the film comprises 35 millimeter film, wherein holographs recorded on the film have a size of no more than about 0.020 inch square, and wherein the subgroup is divided in forty classes and the holograms are recorded in forty transversely spaced, longitudinal rows on the film.

25. A method according to claim 24 including the step of arranging the numbers of the members of each class in their ascending order, and recording the respective holograms on the film row in a corresponding ascending order.

26. A method according to claim 24 including the step of arranging the holograms in each row edge to edge so that adjacent hologram edges touch.

27. A method according to claim 23 including the step of selecting the first three digits of the assigned number of each member of the subgroup for determining the class to which such number belongs and the row in which the corresponding hologram is to be recorded.

28. A method according to claim 23 wherein the step of recording a hologram comprises the step of recording a Fourier transform type hologram.