MULTI-FORMAT DATA BLOCK READER (ENGINEERING CHANGE)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A001500040003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 28, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: October 7, 1966
• Content Type: FORM

25X1A
it Cot D ,'- , e. _3:-, .. DATE
.ulti-format Data Block
Reader (Engineering Change)
5. CLASS OF CONTRACTOR
Manufacturer
25X1 A FY 1966
FY 1967 $
FY 1968 $ None
2. SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Data Block Reader for automatic reading and de-
coding binary information recorded on photographic
roll film.
. TYPE OF CONTRACT
Cost Incentive
10. EFFECTIVE CONTRACT DATE
(Begin - end)
June 1965 - June 1967
NP-H-3-08037
It. SECURITY CLASS.
A.A. - Confidential
T. - Unclassified
W. - Unclassified
25X1A DDI/NPIC/1&DS/
To read and decode binary or similarly coded information recorded on
roll film.
Engineering Development
Information Handling
lectro-Optical-":echanical
16. END ITEM OR SERVICES FROM THIS CONTRACT/IMPROVEMENT OVER CURRENT SYSTEM. EQUIPMENT. ETC.
One prototype binary code reader and associated read-out equipment.
17. SUPPORTING OR RELATED CONTRACTS (Agency L Other)/COORDINATION
The only known related contracts are through the Air Systems Command
(AIR 5391D), U.S.N., and the Aeronautical Systems Division, USAF for a
code matrix to handle CRT recorded binary data. Coordination is being
maintained with these agencies, GIMRADA, A.~'S, and ORD.
18. DESCRIPTION OF INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENT AND DETAILED TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT (Continue on addi-
tional page if required) This engineering change is the result of an additional
format which the reader is required to handle, deviations between actual material
and the drawings and specifications furnished to the contractor for another format,
the incorporation of additional control functions, and simplification of com-
puter processing on the retrieved data. This change will extend the delivery
date one month, and will increase he -; otal IhI~IIC investment to 25X1
The effort is a joint procurement with G=R_ 3
OFFICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DDC1
DECLASS REVIEW by NIM DOD ~+~ n p p'QpmAMAM
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 25X1P
Engineering Change Proposal No. i2
25X1A
MULTI-PURPOSE DATA BLOCK READER
PHASE II
X1A'.
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0
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. 1
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
.2.1.4
2.1.5
2.1.6
2.1.7
2.1.8
2.1.9
2.1.10
2.1.11
3.
INTRODUCTION
PROPOSED CHANGES
General
Additional Format
Off-Line Rewinder
Additional Spools
Visual Alignment
Electronic Sensing of Excess Wander
Start and End of Film Sensing
Manual Data Input to Magnetic Tape
Display of Film Record Number
Aural Alarm
Recording of Partial Tape Blocks
Revision of Format 11
DELIVERY
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure Following
Number
Title
Page No.
Format Type 12
Vii
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INTRODUCTION
This Engineering Change Proposal has been prepared to
describe the changes in scope requested to be included in both Multi-Purpose
Data Block Reader units, manufactured by
.2.
2.1
The proposed changes increase the capacity of the reader to
Under Phase II of "Project 135".
PROPOSED'CHANGES
General
read one additional format, improve the operator's efficiency by incorpo-
rating new control functions, and simplify the computer processing of the
retrieved data. In addition, a redesign is proposed for one of the existing
formats due to its deviation from the original specification.
2.1.1
Additional Format
The new format to be read will be called format No. 12. It
is recorded (See Figure 1) on the lower border of 70mm film at a nominal
pitch of 31.632 -inches.
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~RMAT TYPE 12
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bits each. The line closest to the film edge will be an index line, the
second line will consist of 29 binary bits and an odd parity bit,. and the
third line will be the complement of the second. The data block will be
read off the film in groups of three bits - one index bit, one data bit and
one complement bit. The, index bit will serve as a strobe and wander
correction flag, and will be discarded after it has ser ,red its purpose.
The data and complement words will be stored, checked for parity, and
recorded on tape. The tape format of the data block will consist of ten
characters, the first five being the data, and the next five the data
complement. The order of. significance of the bits on tape will depend on
the direction of the film in the reader. Wander correction limits for this
format will remain at the nominal system wander correction of . 072 inches.
This will require that the recording wander will be kept under t . 020
inches. The interfering dots will be ignored as long as their diameter
is .0015 inches or less, and as long as their pitch is far greater than the
.018 inches pitch of the data block.
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2.1.2 Off-Line Rewinder
To allow off line rewinding of the spools while the reader is
in operation, a separate rewinder is proposed.
The rewinder will be bidirectional and will accept either
. standard film spools or the special reader spools, or one of each, in
Two rewinding units will be supplied, one with each reader.
2.1.3 Additional Spools
Special reader spools for 70mm, 5i.-inch and 9-1/2 inch film,
in quantities of six of each type per reader will be supplied. The original
quantity of two spools of each type did not allow off line rewinding during
reader operation.
2.1.4 Visual Alignment
The current visual alignment is limited to rotational align-
ment of the data block. This will be expanded to allow viewing of the
.relationship across the film between the read head and data block. Thus,
compensation for excess wander and "off printing" will be accomplished
under visual control rather than by trial and error..
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To accomplish this feature, the field of view of the alignment
optics will be expanded to include the complete data block and its wander
limits. A new reticle will be installed, showing both vertical and horizontal
limits of the data block.
2.1.5 Electronic Sensing of Excess Wander
The automatic compensation for film wander in the original
system encompassed total system wander of . 072 inches. This figure
assumes good tracking in the printing process. However, experience with
Project 136 showed that in some cases. the printing wander alone exceeded
072 inches. In such cases, automatic wander compensation is not feasible,
and a manual realignment of the read head position is required.
It,-is proposed that an excess wander sensing mechanism be
installed in the reader. Such a mechanisni.will inaicate a possible excess
wander condition and, depending on a switch setting on'the front panel, will
either stop the reader automatically or indicate excess wander and let the
operator decide whether, or not to stop the unit.
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There are two possible cases of excess wander.
a) The data block is recorded closer to the edge of the
film than allowed by the design parameters. - For this
case, an additional set of three diodes and amplifiers
will be added ahead of the existing index sensing diodes,
outside the nominal data block boundary. When' a data
block is sensed by the nominal window, the added diodes
will be sampled for the existence of a dot pattern. The
existence of such a dot will indicate excess wander.
b) The data block is recorded further away from the edge
of the film than allowed by design parameters. In this
case, the data block will fall outside the sensing window,
and be missed completely by the reader. The absence
of a data block within a set distance from.its nominal
position along the film will be interpreted as an excess
wander condition and the reader will indicate accordingly.
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Normally, the detection of excess wander will cause the
reader to stop automatically. However, at the option of the operator, an
override switch will allow the reader to continue its operation when the
excess wander indicator lights up.
2.1.6 Start and End of Film Sensing
The present method of detecting the first block on the film
requires manual positioning of the block at, a fixed distance from the read
head. When the start switch is depressed, the reader will blank out the
sensing for that distance. This method could cause the first block to be
missed if it was positioned too close to the read head, or the reader would
stop on a false excess wander indication if the first block was positioned
too far from the read head.
It is proposed that a positive method of sensing the beginning
and end of the film be incorporated. During the off line, winding of the
film onto the special spool, a reflective foil sticker will be attached onto
the film immediately' ahead of the first block, and behind the last block.
A photosensing device capable of detecting this foil will be installed in the
reader. The output of the photosensor will control the beginning and the
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end of the reading cycle. This will eliminate the need for accurate initial
positioning of the film in the reader and eliminate the possibility of reading
false blocks off the trailer of the film. In addition, it will be possible to
start at the middle of the film from a known block, just by adding a foil
sticker in front of this block.
2. 1. 7 Manual Data Input to Magnetic Tape
Provision for manual insertion of auxiliary data onto the
magnetic tape is proposed. Twelve decimal thumbwheel switches will be
supplied on the front panel, along with a "manual record" switch. When
the manual record switch is depressed, the data from the thumbwheel
switches will be recorded in BCD format on the magnetic tape and the
"manual record" ind'cator will light up. If more than 12 digits of manual
data are required, the manual recording procedure may be repeated. Each
set of 12 characters will be recorded as a separate block on the magnetic
tape. When less than 12 characters are used, the recorded block will
still be 12 characters long, but the unused characters will be set to zero.
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By using a fixed size block of 12 characters, the computer
processing the tape will be able to distinguish between the manual information
block and the block containing information that was retrieved from film,
which appears on tape in multiples of 5,? 50 or. 96 characters, depending on
2.1.8 Display of.Tilm Record Number
A film record number of 4 digits will be displayed on the
reader's front panel. The display will read from zero through 9999, and
advance by one count every time a film record is read by the' reader. In
case of a detected reading error, the displayed film record number will
correspond to the number printed on the line printer. The film record
counter will not reset when the "start" switch is depressed, but will have
a separate reset switch to allow consecutive counts for reading of multiple
film reels.
An aural alarm will be supplied with the reader.. This alarm
will sound each time an error indicator lights up. It will not sound twice
for the same type of error unless the error indicator is manually reset
between errors. The aural alarm will emit 3 to 5 bursts of 2500 cps "beep"
tone for each error.
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2.1.10 Recording of Partial Tape Blocks
The information retrieved from the film is normally accumulated
in a magnetic core memory until a known number of information characters
is reached.. At this time, the content of the memory is recorded on the
magnetic tape as 'a fixed format tape block. However, when the film reel
is. completed, the information in memory may not have reached its full
count, and, thereforE., not recorded on tape.
The operator will then have the option of manually recording
the data in memory on the magnetic tape by depressing the "memory dump"
switch or to continue reading additional reels of film without resetting
the memory's address register. The latter will create a continuous record
despite the fact that multiple film reels are usea. This will be achieved
by depressing tLe "proceed." switch- rather .than the "start" switch for all
reels following the first.
To indicate to the operator that the memory contains a partial
record, an indicator will light up every time the film is stopped and the
memory is not empty.
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2.1.11 Revision of Format 11
It has been pointed out in paragraph 6. 1 of Report No. SME-AL-8,
dated 30 June 1966, that the test material for the 4 bit-50 character data
format (format 11) was not compatible with its original specifications. The
deviation is large. enough to cause redesign of the reader section assigned
to this format.
Figure .11 in the Report shows the data tracks as typically
076 inches or . 151 inches for a pair of black and white bits. The test
material shows that the figure of . 151 inches per pair of bits is kept between
.149 and . 153 inches, but the division of the bits in the pair may be as
uneven as . 063 and . 091. In addition, the same figure shows that the
beginning and end of the data and clock bits. coincide. The test samples,
however, show that the. edges of two bits in adjacent tracks may overlap by
as much as .016 inches.
The : design. of the reader logic will be modified to accommodate
these deviations using the aforementioned numbers as worst case conditions.
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3. DELIVERY
If your authorization to proceed with these proposed changes
is received prior to 15 October 1966, we will still be able to make delivery
of the Multi-Purpose Data Block Readers with a minimal extension of 30 days
to the program. In the event that your authorization to proceed with these
changes is received after 15 October 1966, it is quite possible that a more
severe stretch.-out program will be encountered. In any event, it is
necessary that we receive authorization to proceed before 1 November 1966
since by this time we will be into the fabrication stage and the cost and delay
to incorporate these changes into each of the units will increase considerably.
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