- Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 3,501,586
- Filed: 1 September 1966
- In the name of: Battelle Development Corporation
- Title: Analog To Digital To Optical Photographic Recording And Playback System
- What’s claimed: ”A signal recording and playback system, comprising: input means for generating electrical pulses which form a first digital coded electrical signal; optical recorder means including a single light source supported in a fixed position and connected to said input means so that the pulses of said first digital signal are transmitted in series to said light source for producing a beam of light pulses which form a digital coded light signal corresponding to said first digital signal, and light beam deflection means for scanning said light pulses across a photographic record element supported in a fixed position to produce a photo record of said digital coded light signal in the form of a single series-recorded track of a plurality of small spots representing digital bits recorded at a high density; optical playback means including at least one light detector supported in a fixed position and light deflection means for scanning the viewing field of said detector continuously along said track across the light image of said recorded spots, said viewing field being limited to approximately the size of one of said spots, for producing electrical pulses which form a second digital coded electrical signal corresponding to the digital light signal recorder on said photo record; and output means connected to said light detector for transmitting substantially all of the pulses of said second digital signal from said detector through the same connection circuit to said output means.”
- Why this patent rocks: This patent appears to relate to the first workable digital compact disc device, invented by James T Russell. The disc stores audio data that is read by bouncing a laser beam off the shiny surface of optical discs. If you are interested in reading about the story of the compact disc, see here.
If you’re a patent-savvy music tech business looking for patent help, get in touch with Russell IP here!
The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.
