Abstract: A recording signal containing a main carrier modulated in accordance with picture signal information inclusive of synchronizing components, and an auxiliary carrier modulated in accordance with sound signal information and a pilot signal, is impressed on a video disc record along a spiral track on the surface thereof. The frequencies of the synchronizing components and the pilot signal are such that an integral number of synchronizing components and a non-integral number of pilot signal cycles occupy each convolution of the spiral track. The playback apparatus includes circuitry coupled to the output of a player stylus for recovering the pilot signal, and further includes circuitry responsive to the deviations in the phase of the recovered pilot signal for developing an error signal indicative of the magnitude and sense of a disruption in the regular progression of the stylus along the spiral track due to a sudden shift in the radial location of the stylus.

Abstract: To load a record into a player, such as a video disc player, a record caddy is inserted into the player housing along a path. The player has a mechanism for retaining the enclosed record therein during subsequent caddy withdrawal. A turntable is provided for centering and rotatably supporting the retained record. The player includes a mechanism for translating a pickup carriage along a second path substantially parallel to the caddy path at a speed correlated with the speed of rotation of the turntable during playback. For subsequent record retrieval, an empty caddy is inserted into the player, thereby returning the record back into the caddy.

Abstract: To load a record into a player, such as a video disc player, a record caddy is inserted into the player housing through an input slot. The player is equipped with rails for guiding caddy insertion along a path. A record extracting mechanism mounted in the player removes the enclosed record from the caddy during subsequent caddy withdrawal, whereby the record is retained in the player. A turntable is provided for centering and rotatably supporting the retained record. The player is further equipped with a second set of rails for guiding a pickup carriage along a second path disposed substantially parallel to the caddy path. The location of the carriage path relative to the caddy path is such that the caddy engages the carriage during caddy insertion into the housing.

Abstract: To load a record into a player, such as a video disc player, a record caddy is inserted into the player housing through an input slot. The player is equipped with rails for guiding caddy insertion along a path. A record extracting mechanism mounted in the player removes the enclosed record from the caddy during subsequent caddy withdrawal, whereby the record is retained in the player. A platform mounted in the housing is subject to motion between an elevated position and a depressed position. In the elevated position, the platform supports the retained record in the raised position. The retained record is transferred to a turntable for rotation therewith when the platform is depressed. The player is further equipped with a second set of rails for guiding a signal pickup carriage along a second path disposed parallel to the caddy path. A translating apparatus drives the pickup carriage along the carriage guide rails at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable during playback.

Abstract: A video disc player includes a turntable for centering and rotatably supporting a record for playback. A pickup stylus for recovering information stored on a turntable-supported record during playback is mounted in a carriage. A play belt is provided for translating the carriage toward the turntable center at a speed correlated to the speed of rotation of the turntable. A search belt is provided for translating the carriage toward and away from the turntable center at a speed independent of the speed of rotation of the turntable. A mechanical toggle switch is mounted to the carriage for motion between a first location, a second location and a third location. The toggle switch in the first location connects the carriage to the play belt to the exclusion of the search belt. When disposed in the second location, the toggle switch frees the carriage from both belts. The toggle switch secures the carriage to the search belt, to the exclusion of the play belt, while occupying the third location.

Abstract: A pickup arm pivotally coupled to a housing support at one end thereof, remote from a stylus carrying end, is also coupled to the housing near its other end by means of bimorph elements attached together at right angles. The bimorph elements are arranged such as to enable, upon proper actuation of the bimorphs, pickup arm movement in two orthogonal directions. With the housing mounted in a disc record player, over a turntable of the player, the bimorphs effect a lifting/lowering in addition to a lateral motion of the pickup arm relative to the turntable.

Abstract: A pickup stylus adapted for playing back prerecorded signals from a disc record groove of a given width upon establishment of stylus/record relative motion has a dielectric support element which has a tip. The terminating portion of the tip is shaped to have a prow, a substantially flat rear surface remote from the prow, a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces extending from the side edges of the rear surface, a bottom surface extending from the bottom edge of the rear surface and additional surfaces extending from the prow and intersecting the bottom and the side surfaces. The stylus tip is dimensioned such that the maximum separation between the substantially parallel side surfaces is less than the given width.

Abstract: In a system for playing back prerecorded signals from a spirally-grooved disc record by a groove-engaging signal pickup secured to a pickup arm when relative speed is established therebetween, a locked groove escape apparatus is provided. A transducer varies the position of the signal pickup in relation to the groove in a manner that opposes deviations of the relative speed from a predetermined speed. A carriage housing the pickup arm is mounted on the player base for movement between a playback mode and a standby mode. The carriage is driven radially inward in synchronization with rotation of the disc record during playback independent of radial motion of the signal pickup due to the spiral groove. A locked groove detector coupled to the transducer generates a locked groove recognition pulse when the signal pickup encounters a locked groove.