Photosensitive recorder providing linguistic characters

Abstract

A recorder for placing linguistic character information on photosensitive media. The recorder utilizes a small number of selectively energizable light sources, relative motion between the light from those sources and the photosensitive media, and electronics to coordinate sequential flashing of those light sources to such motion to form individual or sequences of linguistic characters on the photosensitive media. The disclosed embodiment is a microfilm camera that places linguistic characters on microfilm in response to externally supplied character data. The microfilm camera includes a camera box and seven discrete, selectively energizable light sources that are fixedly mounted with respect to the camera box. A portion of photosensitive microfilm is fixed at least temporarily with respect to the camera box. A size reduction lens that is in motion for a period of time focuses light from the light sources upon various areas of the microfilm. An optical position detector provides a sequence of timing pulses that indicate the position of the lens as it moves. A storage register is provided for receiving the externally supplied character data. Circuitry is provided that is responsive to the character data and the timing pulses to selectively energize the seven light sources in an appropriate sequential manner during the motion of the lens to provide the image of the desired linguistic character or characters on the microfilm.