Abstract: A video disc member is described having a uniform value of birefringence over the entire information storage surface of the disc. This value of birefringence is the same at the inner information storage radius as at the outer information storage radius. The preferable composition of the video disc is a specially prepared polymethylmethacrylate, referred to as PMMA. The method of molding the improved video disc member includes an extended drying time for said composition and increasing the melting temperature. The increase in melt temperature provides a low and uniform value of birefringence. The improved drying cycle eliminates splay marks, blisters and other surface imperfections as compared to manufacturer recommended drying times.

Abstract: A hot sprue valve assembly is provided for controlling flow of molten material into the mold cavity of an injection molding machine. The valve assembly is particularly designed for use with an injection molding machine for molding centrally apertured record discs, such as video information discs. The valve assembly includes a hot sprue bushing defining a heated flow path for passage of molten material toward a stationary dispersion head positioned centrally within the mold cavity. The dispersion head directs the molten material to flow in a generally radially outward direction with substantially uniform radial distribution into the mold cavity.

Abstract: A hot sprue valve assembly is provided for controlling flow of molten material into the mold cavity of an injection molding machine. The valve assembly is particularly designed for use with an injection molding machine for molding centrally apertured record discs, such as video information discs. The valve assembly comprises a stationary valve body supporting a movable valve member for sliding motion toward and away from the mold cavity. The valve member includes a hot sprue bushing defining a heated flow path for passage of molten material toward the mold cavity, and a dispersion head carried by the bushing for directing the molten material to flow in a generally radially outward direction through gate passages with substantially uniform radial distribution into the mold cavity. In one position, the valve member is advanced into the mold cavity to align the gate passages with the mold cavity and thereby permit flow of the molten material into the mold cavity.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for use in producing centrally-apertured video disc records. The apparatus includes first and second mold halves reciprocally movable with respect to each other between a closed position, wherein the two mold halves are in proximity to each other and molten plastic material is injected into a planar, annular cavity defined therebetween to form the record disc, and an open position, wherein the two mold halves are spaced apart from each other and the molded record disc can be removed. The molding apparatus further includes first and second annular rings carried by the respective first and second mold halves and defining the outer perimeter of the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectably retrieving information from any of a plurality of spirally-formed information tracks formed in a video disc by means of controlling a carriage for translating the video disc in a forward or a reverse direction relative to radiant beam information recovery means in a video disc player. Each information track is identified by a unique address and means are provided for selecting the address of a particular track to be retrieved. A prescribed sequence of drive signals is applied to a carriage motor dependent on the distance to be traveled by the carriage to retrieve the selected information, the drive signals being successively stepped downward to intermittently redetermine carriage motor speed as predetermined location thresholds are reached during carriage translation.

Abstract: A system for recovering information from a movable information storage medium by scanning with a beam of radiation, the system including a movable lens for focusing the beam of radiation. The movable information storage medium includes a plurality of substantially parallel information tracks containing a pilot signal having a phase angle aligned with the phase angle of the pilot signal recorded on adjacent tracks. The movement of the lens to acquire focus of the beam is controlled such that the lens is retracted until the pilot signal is no longer detected. When detection of the pilot signal ceases, the retraction of the lens also ceases. The lens is subsequently advanced until focus is achieved. Defining the limits of retraction of the lens based on the limits of detection of the pilot signal minimize the range over which the lens must be moved for initial acquisition of focus.

Abstract: A hot sprue valve assembly is provided for controlling flow of molten material through a hot sprue bushing of an injection molding machine. The valve assembly is particularly designed for use with an injection molding machine for molding centrally apertured record discs, such as video information discs, and the valve assembly includes means for forming the central aperture in the disc. In one embodiment, the aperture-forming means comprises a sleeve valve for molding the aperture in the disc prior to solidification of the disc-forming melt, whereas in another embodiment the aperture-forming means comprises a punch for punching the aperture subsequent to solidification of the disc-forming melt.

Abstract: A video disc player is described for use with a video disc having frequency modulated video information recorded thereon in the form of a plurality of concentric circles or a single spiral. The information track comprises successively positioned light reflective and light non-reflective regions. A focused light beam is caused to be positioned over the center of an information track and the light reflected from the information track is gathered by an objective lens for application to electronic circuitry for recovering the recorded frequency modulated video signals. Radial tracking means are described for maintaining the focused light spot to impinge upon the center of an information track. Lens focusing means are described for positioning the objective lens at the optimum focused position above the information track for gathering the maximum amount of reflected light from the information track.

Abstract: A video disc player is described for use with a video disc having frequency modulated video information recorded thereon in the form of a plurality of concentric circles or a single spiral. The information track comprises successively positioned light reflective and light non-reflective regions. A focused light beam is caused to be positioned over the center of an information track and the light reflected from the information track is gathered by an objective lens for application to electronic circuitry for recovering the recorded frequency modulated video signals. Radial tracking means are described for maintaining the focused light spot to impinge upon the center of an information track. Lens focusing means are described for positioning the objective lens at the optimum focused position above the information track for gathering the maximum amount of reflected light from the information track.

Abstract: An objective lens comprising five lens elements and intended for use in an optical recording system wherein a laser beam is focused onto a recording surface located beneath a plastic layer over the disc. The disclosed lens has a relatively large numeric aperture of 0.75, but has a relatively large working distance between the lens and the disc and a relatively low total mass, to facilitate rapid movement of the lens. In addition, the lens is color corrected to accommodate a range of spectral frequencies present in the laser beam.

Abstract: A video disc player assembly is described employing a fixed base member with a pair of fixed rails, and a movable carriage member employing a pair of linear bearing assemblies in engagement with said rails. A capstan and pulley assembly provides a means for moving the carriage member over the rails in the base member. A motor and spindle are mounted on the carriage for rotary driving of the video disc, a centering means is provided to accurately center the disc about the spindle, and a stabilization plate is provided adjacent and parallel to the rotating disc.

Abstract: A video disc player is described for use with a video disc having frequency modulated video information recorded thereon in the form of a plurality of concentric circles or a single spiral. The information track comprises successively positioned light reflective and light non-reflective regions. A focused light beam is caused to be positioned over the center of an information track and the light reflected from the information track is gathered by an objective lens for application to electronic circuitry for recovering the recorded frequency modulated video signals. Radial tracking means are described for maintaining the focused light spot to impinge upon the center of an information track. Lens focusing means are described for positioning the objective lens at the optimum focused position above the information track for gathering the maximum amount of reflected light from the information track.

Abstract: A control system for maintaining proper focus of a radiant recording or writing beam, such as a laser beam, with respect to a recording surface, by measurement of the duty cycle of an oscillatory information-carrying signal recorded from the recording surface immediately after recording. The system includes a photodetector for detecting a reading beam used to recover the recorded information, a focusing lens movable with respect to the recording surface to focus the writing and reading beams, a dither oscillator to generate a dither signal employed to move the focusing lens in an oscillatory manner, a duty cycle detector to provide a signal indicative of the duty cycle of the information-carrying signal recovered by the reading beam, and a multiplier for comparing the phases of the duty cycle signal and the dither oscillator signal, and thereby providing a correction signal indicative of the magnitude and polarity focus error.

Abstract: Electro-optical focus detection apparatus for providing a signal indicative of the magnitude and polarity of focus error in a light beam impinging on a surface, such as a recording surface in a recording or playback system. The detector includes a beam splitter for dividing the beam reflected from the recording surface into two reflected beams of equal power, and includes an aperture placed in the path of the two reflected beams. The first reflected beam converges at a focal point before encountering the aperture and the second reflected beam converges at a focal point after encountering the aperture, both beams thereafter impinging upon separate photodetector elements. The aperture reduces the light incident on the photodetectors from both reflected beams, and the apparatus is so configured that the powers of the reflected beams incident on the photodetector elements are identical when the original beam is in focus on the recording surface.

Abstract: A direct-read-after-write optical recording disc having a pair of transparent, disc-shaped members, each being formed with integral inner and outer ring-shaped bosses on one of its sides. A thin recording layer of a light-sensitive material is coated on each disc-shaped member, in a shallow annular recess formed between its two ring-shaped bosses, and the two members are disposed in a coaxial relationship, with their respective bosses in abutment with each other, whereby the two recording layers are located within a sealed, annular chamber.

Abstract: A video recording system, and related reproducing system, best suited for use in making and reproducing video disc recordings, wherein each recorded frame of video information represents one or more frames of an original video program, as designated by a frame repeat count encoded with the video information. In the recording system, the video program is preprocessed to designate sets of consecutive frames that will be recorded as a single frame, together with an encoded frame repeat count, and time delay circuits are employed to provide an audio signal for each of the original frames, all of which are recorded with the single video frame. In the reproducing system, the frame repeat counts are decoded, successively counted down, and used to control movement of a reading transducer, either to repeat a frame or to read a next frame from the recording. The frame repeat count is also employed to select an appropriate audio signal for reproduction with each video frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering information from an information storage medium, such as a disc-shaped record carrier, and for correcting time base variations in the recovered information. The disc includes a plurality of substantially parallel information tracks arranged in a spiral or in concentric circles, and information recorded thereon includes a pilot signal having a predetermined frequency. The apparatus includes means for comparing the phase angle of the recovered pilot signal with the phase angle of a locally generated reference signal, to produce an error signal for controlling a variable delay for correcting time base variations of the recovered information.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for transforming digital information into a special format similar to that of a standard color video signal. The special format includes a multi-level baseband component corresponding to the luminance component of a standard video signal, and a phase and/or amplitude-modulated subcarrier corresponding to the chrominance component of a video signal. This format is highly efficient and takes better advantage of high signal-to-noise ratio channels, and the signal can be transmitted over standard video channels and conventional video circuitry can be used to process it.

Abstract: A spindle clamp assembly for a video recorder-playback machine is provided for securely clamping a video information disc in a precisely centered position upon a rotatable drive spindle for the machine. The clamp assembly comprises a radially expansible sleeve mounted on the spindle and sized for reception into a central opening of the disc. The expansible sleeve cooperates with a wedge collet biased downwardly by a spring within a clamp housing for uniform radial expansion of the sleeve and centering the disc upon the spindle. The clamp housing further includes means for locking engagement with the spindle to position a clamping ring in spring biased engagement with the disc to clamp the disc securely upon the spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A multi-layer information recording medium for storing large amounts of information in a prescribed pattern of microscopic pits, formed by focusing onto the medium a beam of radiation having a prescribed wavelength and having an intensity modulated by the information to be recorded. The record medium includes a substrate having a light-reflective surface on its upper side, a light-absorptive dielectric layer overlaying the substrate and having a thickness approximately equal to an odd integral multiple of one fourth the wavelength of the beam of radiation in the dielectric material, and a thin metallic layer overlaying the dielectric layer and having a light-reflective surface on its lower side.