Abstract: An electron microscope stage is manually movable in three orthogonal axial directions and two orthogonal rotational directions by corresponding motion transmission systems. Four of the transmission systems employ telescopic rods and a connecting pin having three resilient independently compressible sections. The pin transmits torques from one rod to the other about their longitudinal axes. One section is resiliently secured to an aperture in the inner rod, the other sections are resiliently secured to mating axial slots in the outer rod to permit relative axial displacement of the rods. The independent resilient compression of each section compensates for wear or differences in dimensions between mating surfaces while maintaining tight resilient torque coupling without backlash between the pin and the rods.

Abstract: A gimballed air puck is used in a video disc mastering system for controlling the depth to which an electromechanical stylus cuts into a metal substrate surface. Air is directed through the air puck toward the substrate surface to maintain the cutting stylus at a given cutting depth. The air puck is gimballed or swivelled to permit the cutting stylus to follow the undulating surface of the substrate during the mastering operation.

Abstract: In a disc record player of the type which includes a turntable for rotatably supporting the disc record, a signal pickup device for recovering information signals from the disc, an elongated arm having the pickup stylus connected at one end and the other end coupled to the player, there is provided a selective stylus arm translating apparatus for moving the pickup arm toward and away from the disc record. The selective translating apparatus includes apparatus responsive to a player control signal for translating the stylus arm at a first rate and also comprises apparatus which is responsive to a condition of a signal recovered from the disc for translating the arm at a second rate.

Abstract: A video disc player having a signal pickup stylus for engaging a disc record is equipped with a steering device to provide three degrees of motion to the stylus. The stylus is secured to a stylus arm, the second end of which is compliantly mounted to a support structure. A permanent magnet in the shape of a cruciform with a like magnetic pole at each extremity is secured to the second end of the stylus. Magnetic field producing electric coils are arranged proximate each of the extremities of the cruciform and secured to the support structure so that energization of the coils will apply force to the cruciform causing the stylus arm to pivot about its compliant mounting.

Abstract: A turntable has a central opening in which a centering spindle is snugly received for a reciprocal motion along the axis of rotation of the turntable. The centering spindle has a tapering end for engagement with walls defining a central aperture of a disc master in order to center the disc master relative to the turntable. A spring, located in the turntable central opening, biases the centering spindle in a direction such that the tapering end of the centering spindle, in engagement with the walls defining the central aperture of the disc master, urges the disc master against engaging ends of locating members, secured to the peripheral portion of the turntable, to locate a surface of the disc master in a recording plane defined by the engaging ends of the locating members. The locating members selectively occupy positions permitting installation and removal of the disc master.