Rapid Automatic Digitization and Sorting of Random Graphical Data

An electronic system that automatically reads recording-voltmeter charts is explained. A photoelectric scanning process produces a pulse each time it samples the recorded graph. A commutating circuit in conjunction with a matrix of vacuum-tube gates places each pulse in an electric channel corresponding to the position of the line on the chart. A calibrating arrangement then sorts these pulses and supplies them to digital count registers. Selected groups of samples may then be utilized for various automatic digital computations.