Information storage and reproduction system

• US RE31,239 E
• Filed: 08/20/1979
• Issued: 05/10/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1964
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard
• Application Number:
  US06/068,484
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 358/102
• US Class Current: 348/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0016 Selecting or retrieving of images by means of their associated code-marks, e.g. coded microfilm or microfiche microfilm reading G03B21/11; computers therefor G06F16/00; teaching devices G09B5/02; accessing record carriers G11B27/002; static digital stores using optical elements G11C13/04; intermediate storage of facsimile picture signals H04N1/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0019 for images on filmstrips
• 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 information storage and reproduction apparatus is provided which employs a master information storage system and a plurality of monitor stations each provided with means for deriving selected information from said master storage system as electrical signals generated or communication channels established between said monitor stations and said storage center. Each monitor station includes a receiver-monitor set and means for converting signals received from the master storage system to images on a screen which are capable of being visually monitored and analyzed. Each monitor station includes means for storing information received from the master storage system either in the form of an image storage tube operative to store and present information received directly from the storage system or by means of an intermediate storage system from which information signals may be selectively fed to the monitor screen.

Claims

1. An information storage and retrieval system comprising:

(a) a master information storage station having means carrying recorded information,

(b) signal input and output means for two-way communication with said master information storage station,

(c) reading means for scanning said recorded information and converting same to electrical signals, and means for generating said electrical signals on said output means of said master information storage station,

(d) first control means operative to cause said reading means to read selected information recorded on said information carrying means of said storage station,

(e) a plurality of monitor stations each having a visual display means for displaying information,

(f) an erasable signal recording means associated with the means displaying information at each monitor station for electrically energizing said display means to generate and retain a pictorial presentation of the information transmitted from said master information storage station,

(g) a plurality of communication channels for signal communication between said monitor station and said master information storage station,

(h) a plurality of second control means including at least one associated with each monitor station for selectively effecting a communication link between the associated monitor station and said master information storage station through one of said communication channels so as to establish two-way communication between the monitor station and said master information storage station,

(i) third control means at each monitor station for selectively controlling said first control means to cause said reading means to read selected information from the means carrying recorded information and to effect the transmission of selected information signals from said master information storage station to the monitor station from which said selective control is effected, and

(j) means at the monitor station for receiving the information signals transmitted thereto from the master information storage station and applying said signals to the erasable recording means of the monitor station to permit the information to be displayed by said display means.

2. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 1 whereby said monitor means at said monitor stations each include respective video storage means each having a display screen and means for writing information on said display screen as an image, said erasable recording means including means for storing the information displayed and means for retaining the image on said display screen for an extended period of time.

3. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 1 whereby said monitor means at said monitor stations comprise respective video storage means each having a cathode ray image storage tube with a display screen and a write beam for generating storage image information on said display screen, and means associated with each video storage means for modulating said write beam in accordance with the signals received from said master information storage station to provide images on said display screen which images are representative of the information transmitted from said master information storage station.

4. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1, said erasable recording means including means for recording a plurality of information signals received from said master information storage system and further means for selectively reproducing each information signal from said erasable recording means and applying each reproduced signal to said visual monitor means for displaying the information defined by said signal.

8. An information storage and reproduction system in acordance with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.2.Iaddend., said information storage means of said monitor stations including hard copy producing means, said hard copy producing means being controllable to produce prints of selected information transmitted thereto from said reading means of said master information storage station.

35. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

(a) conveying means for image information including an elongated flat record-carrying member having a plurality of parallel record tracks each containing a tandem array of different image frames,

(b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,

(c) a scanning system including scanning means for selectively scanning each row of image frames and

(d) image field generating means including a screen in operative relation with said scanning means for monitoring scanned information,

(e) means for generating the images of a selected row of scanned image frames on said screen,

(f) a hard copy producing means including means for positioning an image copy recording member in operative relation with said image field generating means and means for generating an image in said recording member concurrently with the image generated on said screen, and

(g) control means for selectively operating said hard copy producing means and said scanning means to generate selected images on said screen and to produce hard copy recordings in said recording member of selected of the images so generated. .Iadd. 36. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the information recorded at said master information storage station comprises recordings of signals which define separate frames of information, each of which frames is presentable in its entirety as an image field displayed on the visual display means of each monitor station when the signals defining the particular frame are reproduced from the recordings thereof from the means carrying recorded information at the master information storage station and are transmitted to the monitor station at which the third control means has been selectively operated to cause the reading means of the master information storage station to read the selected frame information. .Iaddend..Iadd. 37. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 36 wherein the third control means of each monitor station is manually operable to effect control of said first control means at the master information storage station to cause said reading means to read selected of said separate frames of recorded information and to generate said information signals for transmission from said master information storage station to the receiving means of the monitor station at which the third control means is activated to request the information so as to provide a full field display of the selected frame information on the display means thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 38. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electrical signals generated by the reading means scanning recorded information at the master information storage station comprise full frame video signals. .Iaddend..Iadd. 39. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 38 including an intermediate storage means at each monitor station for receiving and storing each full frame video signal transmitted thereto from said master information storage station and means for reproducing each video signal stored in said intermediate storage means and applying it to the erasable recording means of the monitor station to cause the information defined by the full frame video signal to be displayed by said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 40. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said intermediate storage means at each monitor station includes means for repeatedly reproducing a full frame video signal therefrom at a fixed frequency and applying such repeatedly reproduced video signal to said display means of the monitor station to maintain the display of the information defined thereby on said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 41. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 40 wherein the visual display means at said plurality of monitor stations each comprise a television display including a cathode ray image display tube having a low persistency phosphor screen and said means for repeatedly reproducing a full frame video picture signal from said intermediate storage means is operable to maintain the image defined by the full frame video signal reproduced as a still image on the screen of said cathode ray image display tube. .Iaddend..Iadd. 42. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second control means and said automatic communication channels are defined by an automatic telephone switching and connection system. .Iaddend..Iadd. 43. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third control means includes a switch keyboard and means operable in response to the selective operation of the keys of said keyboard for generating and transmitting code signals to said master information storage station which code signals define selected recorded information to be reproduced therefrom, said first control means at said master information storage station being responsive to said code signals for causing said reading means to read said selected recorded information and for generating said selected information as electrical signals on said output of said master information storage station for transmission to said receiving means of the monitor station requesting same. .Iaddend..Iadd. 44. An information storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 1, further including hard copy producing means at said monitor stations for producing readable hard copy of the information displayed on the display means thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 45. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 36 wherein said erasable signal recording means at each monitor station includes means for recording a plurality of said signals defining separate frames of information and means for selectively reproducing a selected of said plurality of frame signals from said latter recording means and applying the reproduced frame signal to generate an image for display on said display means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 46. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 5 including an information display means at each monitor station for displaying selected information transmitted thereto from said master information storage means as selected by the information selection means at the monitor station. .Iaddend..Iadd. 47. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the display means at each monitor station is a television receiver including a cathode ray tube with a low persistency display element, further including means for repeatedly reproducing information to be displayed from said information storage means of the monitor station at a frequency such that the cathode ray tube of the television receiver of the monitor station will maintain the image defined by the information reproduced for an extended period of time sufficient to permit its study and monitoring by a person viewing the display element thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 48. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the information selection means is defined by a manually operable switch keyboard and means connected thereto for generating selection code signals and transmitting said selection code signals to said master control means to cause said master control means to control the transmission of selected information from said master information storage means to the monitor stations requesting such information. .Iaddend.

5. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

(a) master information storage means carrying recorded information,

(b) first reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage means,

(c) said first reading means adapted to read said recorded information,

(d) means for relatively moving said master information storage means and said first reading means to permit said reading means to read different portions of said recorded information,

(e) a plurality of monitor stations each including information storage means,

(f) information selection means at said monitor station information storage means,

(g) said first reading means controlled by said information selection means for reading selected information from said master station information storage means, and

(h) master control means provided between said first reading means and said monitor stations for controlling the transmission of selected and different portions of information from said master information storage means to selected ones of said monitor stations.

9. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 5, including copy producing means provided at certain of said monitor stations and each operatively coupled to produce hard copy prints of selected information transmitted thereto from said master information storage station, and controlled means for said hard copy producing means operative to control copy reproduction.

10. An information system in accordance with claim 5, including copy producing means at said monitor stations each operatively coupled to the information storage means of the station and operative to produce prints of selected information transmitted thereto from said master information storage means, control means for said copy producing means, and means generating control signals accompanying the signals generated by said reading means and using said control signals to activate the control means of the stations to which said information signals are transmitted for producing copies of the selected information transmitted thereto.

6. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

(a) master information storage means carrying recorded information,

(b) first electro-optical reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage means and positional to read said recorded information,

(c) one of said master information storage means and said first reading means being controllably movable relative to the other so that said reading means can read different selectable portions of said recorded information,

(d) a plurality of monitor stations each including further information storage means,

(e) information selection means coupled to said monitor station information storage means,

(f) second electro-optical reading means coupled to said information selection means for reading information selected thereby from said monitor station information storage means, and

(g) master control means coupled between said first reading means and said monitor stations adapted to effect the transmission of selected and different portions of information from said information storage means to selected ones of said monitor means for storage and later reading at said monitor station.

7. An information storage and reproduction system including:

(a) an information storage medium carrying a plurality of groups of recorded information,

(b) first electro-optical reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage medium and controllable to read all or selected portions of said recorded information,

(c) means for relatively moving said information storage medium and said first reading means to permit said reading means to read different selectable portions of said groups of recorded information,

(d) a plurality of monitor stations each including information storage means, information selection means coupled to said information storage means,

(e) reading means coupled to said information selection means for reading information selected thereby, and

(f) master control means coupled between said first reading means and said monitor stations adapted to control transmission of selected and different portions of information from said information storage medium to selected ones of said monitor means.

11. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) conveying means containing a plurality of image frames arranged in a tandem array,

(b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,

(c) scanning means adapted for scanning said conveying means,

(d) an image field generating means operatively connected to said scanning means, and having storage means energizable by said scanning means for generating an image field,

(e) an image copy recording member,

(f) a copy producing apparatus including servo means for moving said copy recording member through the field of said image field generating means, control means for said servo means,

(g) selection control means for causing the modulation of said image field generating means by means of selected image information derived when said scanning means scans selected of said plurality of image frames,

(h) said selection control means being operatively connected to said servo of said copy recording member for controlling operation of said servo in a manner whereby said copy recording member is moved through the field of said image field generating means to provide a new section of said copy recording member in said field for recording further information thereon.

12. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) a conveying means containing a plurality of image frames arranged in a tandem array,

(b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,

(c) scanning means adapted for scanning said conveying means,

(d) an image field generating means operatively connected to said scanning means, and including a storage means energizable by said scanning means to generate image fields of the scanned image frames,

(e) an image copy recording member and means for positioning said recording member to become exposed to image information as generated on said image field generating means,

(f) a copy producing apparatus including servo means for moving said copy recording member through said image field, control means for said servo means.

(g) selective control means for selectively modulating said image field generating means to generate an image field from information derived when said scanning means scans selected of said plurality of image frames.

(h) said control means including a plurality of code-bearing cards, and a reading means for the codes on said cards,

(i) means for operating said reading means in a manner to generate coded command signals from said codes on said cards, and

(j) means for employing said command signals in sequence to effect the energization of said control means for said servo in a manner to control the movement of said image copy recording member and the activation of said scanning means to scan selected frames of information and to modulate said image storage means with selected image information.

13. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination with a multi-track conveying means for a plurality of document recordings, said recordings occupying predetermined tandem areas of a plurality of parallel tracks of said conveying means and defining lateral rows of document recordings, means for scanning said document recordings comprising a plurality of video transducers each of which is operatively positioned for scanning a respective track of said document recordings and is operative for providing picture signals on the outputs of said scanning means as generated in scanning said recordings, a plurality of monitor stations, storage means for picture signals at each monitor station, switching means operative to connect the outputs of a selected of said video transducers with selected storage means of said monitor stations, control means at each monitor station operative to activate said switching means to operatively connect the input to the storage means of the monitor station with a selected video transducer and including gating means operative to provide picture signals on a connected circuit to the storage means of a monitor station and control document recording selection, said control means for each monitor station adapted for activating said gating means to provide picture signals on the connected circuit generated in scanning selected recordings.

14. Apparaus in accordance with claim 13, each of said video scanners being operatively positioned relative to said document recording conveying means such that the leading edges of all document recordings approaching each video transducer will simultaneously be presented to each transducer, and means for generating at least one signal for identifying each row of said document recordings as said conveying means moves past said transducing means, means for transmitting said identifying signal to each monitor station, said control means for each monitor station being operative in response to said row-identifying signals for gating selected picture signals on the connected circuit.

15. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination with a conveying means for a plurality of document recordings, said recordings occupying predetermined tandem areas of a plurality of parallel recording tracks on said conveying means and defining lateral rows of said recordings, means for moving said conveying means in a path parallel to said tracks of document recordings, means for scanning said document recordings comprising a plurality of video transducers each of which is operatively positioned for scanning a respective of said parallel columns of document recordings, there being at least one transducer positioned for scanning each of said tracks, said transducers each operative for providing picture signals on the outputs of said scanning means generated in scanning said recordings, a plurality of monitor stations, means for storing a plurality of picture signals at each monitor station, switching means operative to connect the output of a selected of said scanning means with a selected of said storage means of said monitor stations, first selection means for each monitor station adapted, when operated to activate said switching means, to operatively connect the input to the storage means of the monitor station with a selected scanning means, gating means operative to pass picture signals on a connected circuit to the storage means of a monitor station and to control document recording selection, control means for each monitor station adapted for activating said gating means to provide picture signals on the connected circuit generated in scanning selected recordings, and second selection means at each monitor station operative to effect the selective reproduction of picture signals from the monitor station storage means and to effect transducing of said signals to visible images.

16. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination, a plurality of document recordings provided as separate groups of recordings, a plurality of video scanners adapted for scanning individual recordings, conveying means for said recordings operative for presenting individual recordings of each group in the scanning field of a respective scanner whereby the recordings of each group may be individually scanned, an output means for each scanner on which picture signals derived from scanning said recordings are generated, a plurality of monitor stations, monitor means at each station including storage means for picture signals and image generating means operatively connected to said storage means, a communication system including a plurality of communication channels, switching means operative to connect the output of a selected of said video scanners with a storage means of a selected monitor station, a first control means at each monitor station including a selection means adapted when operated to activate said switching means to operatively couple the monitor station with a selected scanning means along one of said communication channels for scanning recordings of a selected group, a plurality of gating means including at least one switch for each monitor station operative to pass picture signals to the storage means thereof from a scanner connected thereto, control means at each monitor station for activating said gating means for passing picture signals generated in scanning selected recordings to said picture signal storage means and providing selected images on said image generating means.

17. Recording and reproduction apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a first endless track record bearing member having a plurality of optically scannable information recordings provided on a first record track area thereof,

(b) electro-optical means for scanning said recordings mounted off said record member,

(c) a second recording member having an endless track erasable recording area,

(d) means for simultaneously driving said second and first recording members in substantially predetermined paths,

(e) said electro-optical scanning means being operatively coupled to scan said first recording member and to transduce signals derived therefrom onto said erasable recording member,

(f) selective control means for effecting the transducing of only predetermined information recordings from said first record-bearing member to said second recording member,

(g) pick-up means operatively coupled to scan said second recording member and to transduce recordings thereon to electrical signals, and

(h) a further transducing means operatively coupled to said recording member pick-up means for converting said electrical signals to a monitorable form.

18. Recording and reproduction apparatus in accordance with claim 17, in which said selective control means comprises a code-matching relay adapted to generate an output signal upon being energized for controlling the transducing of selected information from said first record-bearing member to said erasable recording member, a plurality of codes recorded on a further track of said first record-bearing member adjacent said information recordings and including at least one code for identifying each information recording, reproduction means for said codes operatively connected to said code matching relay, a selection code generating means operatively connected to said code-matching relay including means for generating predetermined selection codes each of which is operative to energize said relay when a similar code is generated by said reproduction means for said recorded codes whereby the selected information recording, which is scanned by said electro-optical means when said relay is energized, is transduced and recorded on said erasable recording member.

19. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) a conveyor having provided thereon a plurality of image fields arranged in a tandem array and adapted to be moved by said conveyor in a predetermined path,

(b) means for scanning said image fields,

(c) said scanning means comprising a plurality of video scanners each having a respective output and adapted to produce on its output a picture signal of each of said image fields scanned thereby,

(d) a plurality of monitor stations, switching means having a plurality of inputs which are adapted to receive picture signals generated by a selected of said video scanners, control means for said switching means and operative for connecting the output of a selected scanning means with a selected monitor station,

(e) picture signal selection means for each of said monitor stations adapted when operated to gate through said switching means picture signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,

(f) storage means at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and store plural picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, and

(g) video display means at each of said monitor stations adapted to convert picture signals received from said scanning means into a visual image on a viewing screen thereof.

20. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) a conveyor for a plurality of image fields, means for moving said conveyor intermittently along a fixed path,

(b) a video scanning means positioned with respect to said conveyor for scanning predetermined image fields thereof,

(c) said image fields being provided on said conveyor in a tandem array and being so spaced that each will be essentially centered in the scanning field of said scanning means during the intermittent stoppage of said conveyor,

(d) the dwell period of said intermittent conveyor motion being substantially equal to the time said video scanning means takes to completely scan an image field while said conveyor is stopped and to permit said scanning means to generate a picture signal on an output thereof which picture signal is a modulated electrical signal representative of the image field scanned,

(e) a plurality of monitor stations,

(f) a plurality of communication channels and switching means for selectively connecting said monitor stations and said scanning means,

(g) each of said monitor stations having a signal input which is operatively connectable to said output of said scanning means through switching means,

(h) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate through said switching means video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,

(i) storage means at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and store picture signals information transmitted thereto from said scanning means,

(j) and display means at each of said monitor stations adapted to convert a picture signal received from said scanning means into a visual image field on a viewing screen thereof.

21. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) an endless track conveyor having a plurality of tracks of image frame information provided thereon which frame information is scannable from at least one side of said conveyor,

(b) said image frame information being arranged as a plurality of rows of frames extending across said conveyor,

(c) a plurality of video scanners arranged in a lateral row extending across said conveyor with each scanner of said row positioned whereby a respective of said tracks will pass through the scanning field of said scanner,

(d) automatically operative means for intermittently moving said conveyor in a manner whereby when said conveyor is stopped, respective frames of a row are each aligned in the scanning field of a respective of said scanners and each frame remains in scanning relationship with its scanner for a sufficient period of time to permit the scanning means to scan said respective fields and to each produce a respective picture signal on the outputs of said .[.cameras.]. .Iadd.scanners.Iaddend.,

(e) a switching system,

(f) a plurality of monitor stations each having signal input means operatively connectable to the output of one of said scanners through said switching system,

(g) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate thereto through said switching system picture signals derived from a selected of said scanners generated in scanning selected of the image frames passing through its scanning field.

22. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) image field scanning means, conveying means for a plurality of different image field recordings arranged in a tandem array and adapted to be moved by said conveying means in a predetermined path relative to said scanning means,

(b) said scanning means being operative for producing on an output thereof a picture signal of each of said image fields scanned thereby,

(c) a plurality of monitor stations each having a signal input which is operatively connectable to said output of said scanning means, switching means operatively connecting said communication channels and said monitor stations,

(d) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate through said switching means video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,

(e) storage means including a recording apparatus at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and record plural picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, video image generating means at said monitor stations,

(f) selection means at said monitor stations for selectively reproducing said picture information recorded in said storage means and for presenting said information at the input of said video image generating means and means for converting said information to a video image field.

23. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) a conveyor including an elongated member having a plurality of tandem arrays of image fields provided thereon which are visible from at least one side of said elongated member,

(b) said arrays of image fields being arranged in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with the image fields of adjacent tracks arranged in a plurality of lateral rows which are parallel to each other,

(c) a plurality of video scanners mounted off said conveyor, each adapted to scan a respective of said columns of image fields and to provide picture signals on respective outputs of said scanners of respective of said image fields when said fields are in the scanning fields of said video scanners,

(d) a plurality of monitor stations each having a signal input and switching means for connecting said input to receive picture signals generated by any one of said video scanners,

(e) selection means for each of said monitor stations for operating said switching means to gate video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields to said video scanners,

(f) erasable storage means at each of said monitor stations for receiving and storing a plurality of picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, and

(g) display means at each of said monitor stations including means for converting a picture signal derived from said storage means into a visual image field on a viewing screen thereof.

24. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) conveying means for a plurality of image frames arranged thereon as a plurality of tracks, a plurality of video scanners arranged in a row across said plurality of tracks,

(b) said image frames each occupying substantially the same area and being provided on said conveying means in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with the frames of each column aligned in adjacent columns which extend in substantially parallel rows across said conveying means with the frames of each row adapted to simultaneously enter and leave the scanning fields of said row of scanners,

(c) said conveying means having a position-indicating code track provided on a longitudinal strip area thereof,

(d) means for reading said code track as said conveyor moves and for providing said code as an electrical signal on an output of said reading means,

(e) said code track being divided into tandemly arranged code units each of which units, when reproduced by said reading means, is indicative that a particular row of said image frames is in the scanning fields of said row of said scanners,

(f) a plurality of monitor stations and a switching system, each of said monitor stations having a signal input which is operatively connectable to the output of any of said scanners through said switching system,

(g) image frame reproduction selection means for each of said monitor stations and operative to pass to its monitor station picture signals derived from a selected of said scanners as it scans selected of the image frames passing through its scanning field, a code matching relay means having input means connected to said means for reading said codes,

(h) said selection means including a switching means for operatively connecting the output line of a selected of said scanners with a line to any of said monitor stations,

(i) means for adjusting said code matching relay to cause it to become energized when a predetermined code is present on its input means from said code reading means,

(j) said code-matching relay including normally open switching means for gating the picture signal output of said selected scanner to a storage means at said connected monitor station for a predetermined period of time after said code matching relay becomes energized.

25. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 24, each of said monitor stations having a bi-stable switch in its input line for gating selected picture signals from the output of said selected video scanner to a storage means therefore, said code-matching relay means comprising a pair of code matching relays each of which is operative to receive the electrical code produced by said code reading means, a first of said code matching relays operative when it becomes energized to close said bi-stable switch, the other of said relays being operative to open said bi-stable switch, and means for presetting said code-matching relays to close and open said bi-stable switch in a manner whereby only selected picture signals produced by said selected scanner will be gated to said storage means through said switch.

26. An information storage and reproduction system in accordance with claim 25, including movement means for said conveyor comprising an intermittent drive operative to position each row of said image frames while stopped adjacent a row of scanners whereby each frame of said row is centered in the scanning field of the scanner scanning the track thereof, said video scanners having beam scanning means and control means therefore for controlling the movement of its scanning beam in reading said image field in a predetermined path across said field and providing on an output of said scanner a modulated picture signal, means synchronized to the movement of said conveyor for providing an electrical trigger signal each time said conveyor comes to rest, a trigger input to said beam controlling means adapted when energized to effect the controlled movement of said reading beam in scanning said complete image field, said trigger signal producing means being connected to said trigger input of said beam controlling means whereby each time said conveyor positions a new row of frames in the scanning field of said row of scanners the scanning beams of said cameras will scan said fields, said intermittent motion of said conveyor being such that a frame will remain in the scanning field of a respective camera for a time interval sufficient for the scanning beams of all cameras to simultaneously effect complete screen sweep of their respective fields and provide picture signals thereof on their outputs.

27. An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

(a) a conveyor for a plurality of image frames including means for automatically moving said conveyor in a fixed path relative to plural rows of video scanning cameras,

(b) each of said image frames occupying substantially the same area and being provided on said conveyor in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with frames of adjacent tracks aligned in rows and extending as a plurality of substantially parallel rows across said conveyor whereby the frames of each row simultaneously enter and leave the scanning fields of respective of said cameras,

(c) said cameras in each row being positionally staggered relative said conveyor whereby a camera in one row scans a particular column of said frames and the column adjacent thereto is scanned by a camera in another row of said cameras such that the spacing of said columns may be closer than the separation of the scanning fields of two adjacent cameras when their housings are in touch with each other,

(d) means for scanning said columns of image information and providing picture signals of said scanning on the outputs of said cameras.

28. Information storage and reproduction apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) transport means for an elongated flat record-bearing member containing a plurality of record tracks defined as separate rows of first image frames extending longitudinally along said record-bearing member and parallel to each other,

(b) means for monitoring information contained on said flat record member including;

(i) electro-optical means for scanning selected or said image frames, and

(ii) visual monitor means in operative relation with said electro-optical means and including a visual presentation means having an image screen,

(c) means for operaing said electro-optical means to scan a first track of said record member,

(d) frame selection means for selectively presenting enlarged still images representative of selected of the images of said first image frames, one at a time on said screen,

(e) means operative to control the relative movement of said electro-optical means and said transport means for said elongated flat record-bearing member to permit the scanning of selected image frames of said record-bearing member by said electro-optical means,

(f) a first manual control means connected to said frame selection means for effecting the scanning of a selected row of image frames, second control means operative to cause the transmission of information generated in scanning a selected image frame of a selected row of said record-bearing member and the generation of a still image of said selected frame on said screen for the visual monitoring thereof,

(g) said first and second selection control means each being variably selectively operative to effect the scanning of selected others of said rows of image frames and the generation of images of selected frames in said rows on said screen in any order depending on how both said selection control means are operated.

29. An information storage and reproduction apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said record-bearing member is a flat sheet-like member containing a plurality of tandem arrays of image frames arranged in substantially parallel lateral rows, each comprising one frame of each longitudinal row and means for automatically predeterminately locating each lateral row of said frames with respect to said electro-optical means while scanning a selected longitudinal row thereof whereby predetermined individual frames of each longitudinal row may be selectively scanned and monitored.

30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 29, whereby frame marker means are recorded on said recording member and are indicative of the locations of respective lateral rows of said frames and means for selectively scanning said marker means, frame selection control means operatively connected to said marker scanning means for causing the scanning of a selected frame of a selected longitudinal row of frames and the production of an image thereof on said visual presentation means.

31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 30, said marker means comprising a plurality of binary codes including at least one code associated with and predeterminately located relative to each recorded video picture signal.

33. A system in accordance with claim 31, said record members comprising a plurality of record cards, said first control means including a card reader, and means for generating coded electrical signals representative of selected information sought from said master information storage means, said second control means being responsive to said coded signals and operative upon receiving a coded signal to effect the transmission of predetermined document information from said first reading means to said monitor means.

34. A system in accordance with claim 33, said second control means including comparator means and identifying code means associated with said document recordings of said master information storage means including at least one discrete code associated with each recording, means for reading said document code recording and transmitting same to said comparator means, said comparator means being operative to receive a selection code generated by said reading means of said first control means and to generate a control signal when the code received from said means reading said document code recordings and said means reading said coded information on a selected record member are the same, and means responsive to said control signal for controlling selected information to modulate said monitor means.

32. An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

(a) master information storage means carrying recorded information defined as a plurality of discrete document recordings,

(b) first reading means for reading said document recordings,

(c) monitor means including viewing means communicating with the output of said first reading means,

(d) first control means at said monitor means,

(e) second control means selectively operable for causing selected information to be read and transmitted from said storage means to said monitor means,

(f) a plurality of record members containing coded information for retrieving information from said master information storage means,

(g) said first control means including means for removably receiving a record member and reading said coded information from said record member,

(h) means for operatively connecting the output of said reading means of said first control means to said record control means for selectively operating said second control means to transmit selected information to said monitor means,

(i) said monitor means including a viewing screen modulatable by information received from said first reading means to permit the viewing of document information as selected by coded information generated in reading selected record members.