Selective retrieval of data from microfilm images of different forms by reading a memory index form cord (bar code) recorded on each image frame

• US 4,962,432 A
• Filed: 04/28/1989
• Issued: 10/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohtsuka, Shuichi, Yamana, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Bruce A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US07/344,731
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 355/41, 353/25, 353/26 A, 353/27 A, 353/26 R, 353/27 R, 346/107 R, 346/108, 346/76 L, 358/296, 358/302, 235/462
• US Class Current: 358/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0019 for images on filmstrips

Abstract

A system for recording and reading an image information wherein an image containing a certain form and data is recorded on each frame of a microfilm and a desired datum is selected and read from the microfilm. The system comprises a printer for printing a form cord for discriminating the form style recorded on each frame of the microfilm, and a reader for reading the form cord and reading-out the corresponding form style from a form memory to determine the position of the desired datum so that the desired datum is extracted from the printed image. The form cord preferably includes information relating to the kind, fount, size and pitch of letters in addition to the information relating to the form style. The form cord may be printed on each frame of the microfilm preferably in the form of bar cord with or without data cords and check cords. Data cords may be attached to respective data or may be printed collectively at a certain location on each frame of the microfilm. Also provided are a printer, a reader and a microfilm used in the system.

Claims

1. A system for recording and reading an image information wherein an image containing a certain form and data is recorded on each frame of a microfilm and a desired datum is selected and read from the microfilm, comprising:

a printer for printing a form cord for discriminating said certain form recorded on each frame of said microfilm; and

a reader for reading said form cord and reading-out the corresponding form from a form memory to determine the position of said desired datum so that said desired datum is extracted from the printed image.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said form cord includes information indicating the form style and an information relating to at least one of the kind of letters, the fount of letters, the size of letters and pitch of letters.

3. A microfilm for use in a system for recording and reading image information containing a certain form and data, characterized in that each frame of said microfilm is printed with a form cord indicating the style of said form so that the form is discriminated by reading said form cord to enable extraction of one or more data from said image information.

4. The microfilm as claimed in claim 3, wherein check cords for checking the data are printed together with said form cord.

5. A printer for printing image information, comprising:

a form memory for storing a plurality of form styles;

form cord input means for designating the form cord for the used form style;

a cord video signal generator for generating a video signal in response to the designated form cord; and

optical means for printing the form cord in response to said video signal on each frame of said microfilm together with said certain form and said data.

6. The printer as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cord video signal generator generates a video signal relating to a form cord and a video signal relating to check cords for checking data so that said form cord and said check cords are printed on each frame of said microfilm together with said certain form and said data.

7. The printer as claimed in claim 5, comprising a laser beam source, a photo-modulator for modulating the laser beam emitted from said laser beam source, and scanning means including a rotary polygonal mirror and a galvanometer mirror for passing the modulated laser beam to said microfilm.

8. The printer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said photo-modulator is driven by an added signal obtained by adding an output of letter signals generated from a letter signal generator generating letter signals corresponding to the stored data, an output from a form signal generator for generating said form signal read out from said form memory and an output from said form video signal generator for generating said video signal in response to said form cord.

9. A reader for selectively reading a desired datum from each frame of a microfilm on which image information containing a certain form style is recorded together with data, comprising:

a form memory storing a plurality of form styles;

a cord reader for reading the form cord printed on each frame of said microfilm;

a form discriminator for reading out the corresponding form style from said plurality of form styles stored in said form memory based on the form cord read by said cord reader;

input means for designating a desired datum;

a data extracting circuit for extracting said desired datum by determining the position of said desired datum in said form style responsive to the signal from said input means.

10. The reader as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cord reader read the check cords, in addition to the form cord, so as to check the data to be read thereby.

11. A system for recording and reading image information wherein an image containing a certain form and data is recorded on each frame of a microfilm and a desired datum is selected and read from the microfilm, comprising:

a printer for printing data discrimination cords necessary for determining the position of respective data and for discriminating respective data; and

a reader for reading said discrimination data cords so that said desired datum is extracted from the printed image.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said data discrimination cords includes information indicating the position and kind of datum and an information relating to at least one of the kind of letters, the fount of letters, the size of letters and pitch of letters.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data discrimination cords are attached to respective data.

14. The system for recording and reading image information as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data discrimination cords are printed collectively at a single location.

15. A microfilm for use in a system for recording and reading image information containing a certain form and data, characterized in that each frame of said microfilm is printed with a data discrimination cord for discriminating the contained data so that desired one or more data are extracted by reading said discrimination data cord.

16. The microfilm as claimed in claim 15, wherein check cords for checking the data are printed together with said data discrimination cord.

17. The microfilm as claimed in claim 15, wherein said data discrimination cords are attached to respective data.

18. The microfilm as claimed in claim 15, wherein said data discrimination cords are printed collectively at a single location.

19. A printer for printing a certain form and data on each frame of a microfilm, comprising:

a form memory for storing a plurality of form styles;

form cord input means for designating the form cord for the used form style;

a data cord video signal generator for generating a data cord video signal indicating data cords to be printed in the designated form in response to the respective data; and

optical means for printing the data discrimination cord in response to said data cord video signal together with the form and the data.

20. A reader for selectively reading one or more desired data from each frame of a microfilm on which a certain form and data are recorded, comprising:

means for reading discrimination data cords for discriminating the data recorded on said each frame of said microfilm;

a discriminator for discriminating data by means of said discrimination data cords;

input means for designating a desired datum;

a data extracting circuit for extracting said desired datum from each frame of a microfilm in response to an output from said discriminator.

21. A system for recording and reading an image information wherein an image information containing a certain form and data is recorded on each frame of a microfilm and a desired datum is selected and read from each frame of said microfilm, comprising:

a printer for printing a form cord for discriminating said certain form recorded on each frame of said microfilm and for printing a data discrimination cord for discriminating respective data; and

a reader for reading said form cord and said data discrimination cord and reading-out the corresponding form from a form memory to subtract the form from the image information and to determine the position of a desired datum with reference to the data discrimination cord so that said desired datum is extracted from the printed image.

22. A system for recording and reading an image information wherein an image containing a certain form and data is recorded on each frame of a microfilm, comprising:

a printer for printing a discrimination mark on each frame of said microfilm, said discrimination mark indicating the form style and containing cord for discriminating respective data; and

a reader for reading said discrimination mark to discriminate said form style and said cord for discriminating respective data so that a desired datum is extracted from the printed image.