Abstract: A disc playing and controlling apparatus which includes a plurality of magazine type disc players. When a first disc player is operating, the apparatus controls the other disk players to find and load a disc holding the next song to be played. Before searching for the next song, the controller determines whether one player is already set in a standby position or whether the next song is located in the player currently being operated. If no player has been set for the next program, the apparatus reads the next selection from a program list and identifies which magazine contains the selected program based on a data map. The map stores each player number and magazine number in an one-to-one relation with the table of contents data for each song.

Abstract: An information record medium playback apparatus including a memory for writing in a demodulated video signal characterized in that it generates a field discrimination signal indicative of the positions on the time base of the odd and even fields of the demodulated video signal written in the memory and generates a read field signal indicative of the positions of the odd and even fields of the demodulated signals to be read out from the memory in accordance with a read timing signal and makes a time base adjustment of the demodulated video signal based on the phase difference between the positions on the time base indicated by the field discrimination signal and the read field signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading information performing a coarse adjustment of the time base by means of a phase difference between a reproduced sync signal obtained from a read signal read from a recording medium and a reference sync signal and performing a fine adjustment of the time base by writing data obtained by sampling the read signal according to a write clock signal being obtained based on the reproduced sync signal into a memory sequentially from a predetermined address according to a write count starting signal being in synchronism with the reproduced sync signal, and subsequently, reading out the data sequentially from the predetermined address according to a read count starting signal being in synchronism with a spindle reference signal whose phase is changed according to a jump command, in which it is adapted such that, when the time interval between generation of either one of the write count starting signal and the read count starting signal and generation of the other one becomes less than a predete

Abstract: A control apparatus for a linear motor for driving a pickup of an information storage/readout apparatus with which the pickup can be moved more quickly and accurately to a desired target position. A slider for supporting the pickup is provided which is movable in a straight line. A magnetic circuit for forming a magnetic gap extends in the moving direction of the slider. A moving coil is mounted on the slider having at least a portion located within the magnetic gap. The voltage induced across the moving coil is detected to product a signal indicative of the velocity of the pickup. A velocity feedback loop feeds back the detected voltage to a driving source of the coil. The value of the feedback coefficient of the velocity feedback loop is set in accordance with the operating mode of the apparatus.

Abstract: Tracking control device in which a tracking error signal for controlling the position of a data detecting point with a driving circuit is added to a warbling signal. The warbling signal is separated from an input signal to the drive means by a separating circuit and is utilized to detect and control the gain of the tracking servo loop. The application of the input signal to the separating circuit is interrupted when the data detecting point is located between tracks so that the tracking servo is stable at all times.

Abstract: A device for controlling the movement of a focal point of a light beam for detecting recorded information on a recording medium, comprises a focus actuator connected to a focal lens for focusing the light beam on the recording medium, a drive amplifier for generating a drive current of the focus actuator, a photo detector for generating a focus error signal, a starting signal generating means for generating a starting signal, and a switching means for selectively applying either the focus error signal or the starting signal to the drive amplifier. The circuit construction and the stability of the operating characteristic are simplified by using a ramp signal whose level increases with time, as the starting signal.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the movement of a focusing lens of an apparatus for reading an optical disk in which the focusing lens is positively prevented from striking the surface of the disk. The presence or absence of the establishment of a focus servo control mode is detected when the focusing lens is moved from a most wide position to the vicinity of the normal operative position. If the focus servo control mode is not established when the focusing lens has been moved to the vicinity of the normal operative position, the focusing lens is then moved away from the disk. Then, the focusing lens is moved towards the disk one more time, and the procedure is repeated.