FY 57 R&D PROGRAM - MINIATURE DATA RECORDER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 11, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 21, 1956
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part-Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09R1 : CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1
WAIL I
-
-ering Division
ViSiOn OC SP
A-6L
4. The attacbezent describes the mneral.. operating cheracteris-
or t b e desired recorder midshou11 serve as a general guide on
to base corttractorts discussions or negotiations.
ORIG: OC-SP/EA
FILE: OC-SP----
OC-E
SPM Chrono
25X1
(21 Aug 56) 25X1
OLA:3 FARit:"3 ROI LILASS
COMP 73 OP! 4 TYPE
or
[IV/ GM 2
1 AST tntXT nEv hUTH: HA 10.4
SE1ET bCO!flrflm"g
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1
CONFIDE\I fiAL
Asa
pertinent to the -
proposed, thereto-
Recorder
?Aril
U
LAT3.*
/-
heracteriaties are considered to be
of the miniature reeorder for Ilection. It j 25X1
recorder be configured along the followinglines:
1. This unit 5hs1t be considered only as a recorder.
playback will not be required by the same unit.
however, that the unit have a provision whereby monitor
recording is possible.
an or
2. Three record channels with track widths of .-044and .1
center spacing on 1/4 inch tape. Track 1 and 2 will be c
as data tracks; track 3 will be considered as a reference
supplementary information track. Tracks 1 and 2 should have a
frequency response of not lese than 10 ke at the 3 db point.
Track 3 may, if necessary, have a lesser response.
3. The record speed should. be 1 7/8 inches per second. It is
recommended that the Clevite head be considered so that use of
this standard speed will result in the required frequency response.
The minimum acceptable recording time is 45 minutes. It is
recommended that the use of nylon supply and take up spools be
investigated for use with thin base 'Wier tape. It is felt that
the use of nylon spools will lessen the temperature problem common
to this material. Further it is desired that the supply and. take
up spools be the same size
4. The recorder should be completely battery o
the interest of battery life, transistors should be espioyed wherever
possible; It is desired that a mingle battery source b
for ell electronics and that a separate battery be emplayed for the
motor requirement. A minim= of 20 hours life is required. ifthe
motor battery, and 100 hours minimum battery life of the electronics.
The battery holders employed in this unit must be suitable for both
mercury and common "paste" batteries. This is necessary to circum-
vent the unsatisfactory law temperature performance of mercury batte
A minimum electronics should be employed with data tracks 1 and 2
as t is intended that the unit be supplied sufficient audio fra2
companion receiver to drive the head. After a determination of
head characteristics, the details of the amount of drive can be
resolved.
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2012/09/11 : CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1
rONFIT) T1AL
to,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1
.6
477
_
6. Associated with Track 3 OW be an internal 1000 cycle reference
oscillator. This oscillator in turn would be controlled from a
push button from the front panel of the recorder. Also associated
with this channel should be a permenently mounted internal micro-
phone as well as a fitting for an external microphone. The external
microphone jack and oscillator injection switch should disable the
internal microphone circuit when they are in use. The oscillator
stability should be better than 1/50,000.
A provision should be made for the electrical remoting of all
controls invalted with the recorder such as: (a) ON-OPF,
(b) RECORD, (c) OSCILLATOR INJECTION.
8. As the recorder is intended for use
,audio,noise should be kept to an absolute minimum.
9. The recorder should be housed in a case of zinc alloy adequately
protected against moisture, humidity, and fungus damage.
10. The attached sketch will serve as a guide to demonstrate the
type of form factor and placement of controls, etc.
A second type of miniaturerrecorder is required which would possess
all of the general characteristics outlined above. The difference in the second
unit is its feature of being able to playback during a rewind and erase cycle.
This would necessitate a recorder unit With erase before record features and
erase after playback. The second recorder is intended to be the basis on which a
series of unattended installations capable of remote interrogation would be devised.
During the playback cycle (rewind) it would be desirable to have the rewind speed
be considerably in excesa of the original record speed being a factor of some 10:1.
SN1 T CONF. I DF NI-U.\ L.
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP78-03424A001400060001-1