Abstract: An optical disc device of the present invention comprises an insertion detection optical sensor which detects insertion of an optical disc based on light emitted from a first light emitting element to a first light receiving element being blocked, and an ejection detection optical sensor provided on the downstream side in the carry-in direction to the insertion detection optical sensor to detect ejection of the optical disc based on light emitted from a second light emitting element to a second light receiving element being blocked. The optical disc device is structured such that, in a state that the optical disc is attached onto the turntable, when the light of the first light emitting element is blocked and the light of the second light emitting element is not blocked, the optical disc device recognizes that a lens cleaner is attached onto the turntable as the optical disc, and the optical disc device performs a cleaning operation.

Abstract: An optical disc device of the present invention comprises an insertion detection optical sensor which detects insertion of an optical disc based on light emitted from a first light emitting element to a first light receiving element being blocked, and an ejection detection optical sensor provided on the downstream side in the carry-in direction to the insertion detection optical sensor to detect ejection of the optical disc based on light emitted from a second light emitting element to a second light receiving element being blocked. The optical disc device is structured such that, in a state that the optical disc is attached onto the turntable, when the light of the first light emitting element is blocked and the light of the second light emitting element is not blocked, the optical disc device recognizes that a lens cleaner is attached onto the turntable as the optical disc, and the optical disc device performs a cleaning operation.

Abstract: An optical disc drive device has a metallic exterior casing and an internal unit to be housed in the exterior casing. The internal unit further includes an optical pickup unit for performing recording or reproduction of information signals on an optical disc, and a printed wiring substrate on which a connector electrically connected to the optical pickup unit and serving for transmission and reception of electrical signals from and to external electronic equipment is mounted. The exterior casing has an opening for allowing the connector to be exposed outside, the printed wiring substrate has a ground pattern formed to surround the connector, and a fringe portion of the opening of the exterior casing and the ground pattern are in electrical contact with each other. Thus, radiation noise from around wiring lines contained in the optical disc drive device or the like is reduced.

Abstract: An optical disc driving device has a metallic exterior casing and an internal unit to be housed in the exterior casing. The internal unit further includes an optical pickup unit for performing recording or reproduction of information signals on an optical disc, and a printed wiring substrate on which a connector electrically connected to the optical pickup unit and serving for transmission and reception of electrical signals from and to external electronic equipment via an external-connection cable is mounted. The exterior casing has an opening for allowing the connector project outside, and the connector is connected to the external-connection cable in a direction that orthogonally crosses with a projecting direction of the connector from the opening, and the external-connection cable extends from the connector along a surface of the exterior casing.

Abstract: An optical disc driving device having a metallic exterior casing and an internal unit to be housed in the exterior casing, the internal unit further including an optical pickup unit for performing recording or reproduction of information signals on an optical disc, and a printed wiring substrate on which a connector electrically connected to the optical pickup unit and serving for transmission and reception of electrical signals from and to external electronic equipment via an external-connection cable is mounted, wherein the exterior casing has an opening for allowing the connector to be projected outside, the connector is so provided as to be connected to the external-connection cable in a direction that orthogonally crosses with a projecting direction of the connector from the opening, and the external-connection cable is so provided as to extend from the connector along a surface of the exterior casing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc drive device having a metallic exterior casing and an internal unit to be housed in the exterior casing, the internal unit further including an optical pickup unit for performing recording or reproduction of information signals on an optical disc, and a printed wiring substrate on which a connector electrically connected to the optical pickup unit and serving for transmission and reception of electrical signals from and to external electronic equipment is mounted, wherein the exterior casing has an opening for allowing the connector to be exposed outside, the printed wiring substrate has a ground pattern formed to surround the connector, and a fringe portion of the opening of the exterior casing and the ground pattern are in electrical contact with each other. Thus, radiation noise from around wiring lines contained in the optical disc drive device or the like is reduced.

Abstract: A disk device includes a turntable which is rotationally driven and, for placing a disk thereon, a clamper for rotatably holding the disk between the turntable and the clamper, a loading mechanism for carrying the disk inserted to between the turntable and the clamper, a clamp arm which includes a clamper holder for rotatably holding the clamper by a claw fitted to the hook with a clearance and an arm unit disposed pivotably on a pivot shaft positioned apart from the clamper holder, the clamp arm moving the clamper between a disk pressing position and a retreat position, and a clamper restricting member including a resilient portion capable of contacting a part of the clamper on the side opposite to the side of the clamper moved to the retreat position and on a side apart from the pivot shaft of the arm unit.

Abstract: An optical disk device of the present application includes: a turntable 30 including plural induction grooves 31a to 31h as concave portions radially extending from vicinity of a center of the turntable 30 and having open portions in an outer periphery of the turntable 30 and plural through-holes 32a to 32h penetrating bottom faces 33a to 33h on the vicinity of the center side of the plural induction grooves 31a to 31h and a top face of the turntable 30; and an outer rotor type spindle motor 35 provided with plural fins 36a to 36h as convex portions on a rotor on a side face thereof. The optical disk device of the present application utilizes an airflow generated by rotation of the rotor of the spindle motor 35 and the turntable 30 in conjunction therewith as a dust removing wind for removing dust attaching to an objective lens side area.

Abstract: In order to provide a disk device, in which a disk can be prevented from being damaged and a thickness can be more reduced, a disk device according to the present invention includes, a turntable which is rotationally driven and, for placing a disk thereon, a clamper for rotatably holding the disk between the turntable and the clamper, which has a hook on a side opposite to a side on which the disk is held, a loading mechanism for carrying the disk inserted to between the turntable and the clamper, a clamp arm which includes a clamper holder for rotatably holding the clamper by a claw fitted to the hook with a clearance and an arm unit disposed pivotably on a pivot shaft positioned apart from the clamper holder, the clamp arm moving the clamper between a disk pressing position and a retreat position, and a clamper restricting member including a resilient portion capable of contacting a part of the clamper on the side opposite to the side of the clamper moved to the retreat position and on a side apart from the

Abstract: An optical disk device of the present application includes: a turntable 30 including plural induction grooves 31a to 31h as concave portions radially extending from vicinity of a center of the turntable 30 and having open portions in an outer periphery of the turntable 30 and plural through-holes 32a to 32h penetrating bottom faces 33a to 33h on the vicinity of the center side of the plural induction grooves 31a to 31h and a top face of the turntable 30; and an outer rotor type spindle motor 35 provided with plural fins 36a to 36h as convex portions on a rotor on a side face thereof. The optical disk device of the present application utilizes an airflow generated by rotation of the rotor of the spindle motor 35 and the turntable 30 in conjunction therewith as a dust removing wind for removing dust attaching to an objective lens side area.

Abstract: An optical pickup device 11 according to the present invention includes: a light source 1 that emits a light beam; a condensing element 5 for condensing the light beam toward an information storage medium 14; and a protruding member 101, which comes closer to the information storage medium 14 than the condensing element 5 does when the condensing element 5 faces the information storage medium 14. The protruding member 101 is shaped so as to gradually protrude toward the information storage medium 14 in a tangential direction 21 of the information storage medium 14 rotating.

Abstract: A disk cartridge according to the present invention includes a case body 10, a shutter 11 and an elastic member 7. The case body 10 has a head window 12, which reaches a side surface, and a shutter opening groove 24 with a holding recess 26 at the bottom. The shutter portion 11 is subjected to the elastic force applied by the elastic member 7 so as to close the head window 12, thus preventing a record/reproduce head from interfering with the case body 10 and reducing the width of the disk cartridge. Also, a gripping member, provided for a disk drive to prevent the disk cartridge from popping out due to the reactive force caused by the elastic member 7, neither disengages itself from the holding recess 26 easily nor interferes with the head.

Abstract: The disc cartridge according to the present invention comprise: a cartridge body including a disc housing section for housing a disc so as to be rotatable, which is provided with an opening for exposing a part of the disc; a shutter member which is movable to open or close the opening; a shutter driving spring for applying a force to the shutter member not to open the opening in a closing state in which the shutter member closes the opening; and a locking portion for locking the shutter member.

Abstract: A disc drive device for driving a disc accommodated in a cartridge comprises: a magnetic head; a magnetic head supporting member for supporting the magnetic head to contact the disc and to be separated from the disc; a lifting plate configured to lift the magnetic head supporting member; and moving means for moving the lifting plate in a direction parallel to a surface of the disc, in which the moving means moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction until the lifting plate abuts the magnetic head supporting member, and further moves the lifting plate in the parallel direction with the lifting plate abutting the magnetic head supporting member so that the lifting plate lifts the magnetic head supporting member up to separate the magnetic head from the disc.

Abstract: An Al film is formed on a barrier metal covering a thin film resistor to have a first opening. A photo-resist is formed on the Al film and in the opening, and is patterned to have a second opening having an opening area smaller than that of the first opening and open in the first opening to expose the barrier metal therefrom. Then, the barrier metal is etched through the second opening. Because the barrier metal is etched from an inner portion more than the opening end of the first opening, under-cut of the barrier metal is prevented.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk drive has a problem that it is difficult to render it low-profile because there is a magnetic head elevating mechanism in an upper part of a cartridge.

Abstract: An Al film is formed on a barrier metal covering a thin film resistor to have a first opening. A photo-resist is formed on the Al film and in the opening, and is patterned to have a second opening having an opening area smaller than that of the first opening and open in the first opening to expose the barrier metal therefrom. Then, the barrier metal is etched through the second opening. Because the barrier metal is etched from an inner portion more than the opening end of the first opening, under-cut of the barrier metal is prevented.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge, a round portion with a circular arc shape whose center substantially coincides with that of a disk is formed at the forefront edge of the disk cartridge in the direction of insertion into a disk drive unit, and the remaining portion is a rectangular shape. The round portion preferably is formed so as to be decreased gradually in thickness toward its leading end. On the other hand, part of the components of the disk drive unit is arranged in an open space at corner portions at the forefront of the disk cartridge. A space in the disk drive unit thus can be utilized efficiently, whereby a small, thin disk drive unit having excellent operability and a disk cartridge permitting such a disk drive unit can be obtained.