Abstract: A medium processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a medium introduced from an outside; a power supply that can supply a first power supply voltage to the medium processing apparatus while the information processing apparatus is operating, whereas being able to supply a second power supply voltage to the medium processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus is shut down; and a power supply controller that supplies the second power supply voltage from the power supply to the medium processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus is shut down while the medium is in the medium processing apparatus, whereas stopping the supply of the second power supply voltage to the medium processing apparatus once the medium is removed from the medium processing apparatus which has been supplied with the second power supply voltage, are provided.

Abstract: Method for navigating a vehicle in a road system is provided, in which method data is read from a data-storage medium and automatically transferred to a memory of a navigation device after the data medium is inserted into a data-media drive associated with the navigation device. The transferred data remains available for vehicle navigation even after the data medium is removed from the data-media drive.

Abstract: A suspension supporting a magnetic head is formed by a member different in material from gimbals. As a result, the characteristic of the gimbals minimizing electric power loss in supplying current while sufficiently elastically holding the magnetic head can be compatible with the characteristic of suspension suppressing variation and impact from the outside or rotational displacement although both characteristics are different from each other. This allows the displacement of the magnetic head caused by the vibration and the impact from the outside or the horizontal displacement associated with the vertical displacement of a recording medium to be decreased, so that inductance of the magnetic head can be decreased and recording speed can be improved.

Abstract: On a pit information surface (22d) of a read-only optical disk (22), a protective layer (22f) suited for a floating-type or a sliding-type magnetic head (3) used for a magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk is formed. A reproducing operation with respect to the optical disk (22) is performed while allowing the magnetic head (3) to slide on the protective layer (22f). Accordingly, a magnetic head does not need to be separated from a disk in reproduction. Thus, an optical disk device can be manufactured at lower cost and reduced in size, and a high-speed seek can be realized. Commonality of a disk cartridge (32) with the magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk also can be achieved. An optical disk system that is user-friendly thus can be obtained.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from a recording medium includes a recording and/or reproducing portion for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from the recording medium, a carrying portion for carrying the recording medium, and first and second sliders. The first slider is movable in one direction for moving the carrying portion together with the recording medium up to a specific withdrawal position. The second slider is movable in a direction being substantially the same as the one direction for moving the recording medium carried by the carrying portion to a recording and/or reproducing position corresponding to a position of the recording and/or reproducing portion. The first slider and the second slider are overlapped to each other in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from a recording medium includes a recording and/or reproducing portion for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from the recording medium, a carrying portion for carrying the recording medium, and first and second sliders. The first slider is movable in one direction for moving the carrying portion together with the recording medium up to a specific withdrawal position. The second slider is movable in a direction being substantially the same as the one direction for moving the recording medium carried by the carrying portion to a recording and/or reproducing position corresponding to a position of the recording and/or reproducing portion. The first slider and the second slider are overlapped to each other in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus includes a record medium cartridge holder having a main support portion with a cartridge carrying portion slidably arranged on it for withdrawing a cartridge held at a standby position to a withdrawal position. An insertion restricting portion prohibits passage of a cartridge in an improper orientation. A lock portion, arranged directly above the insertion restricting portion, locks the carrying portion in the standby position and releases the locking of the carrying portion when the cartridge passes through the insertion restricting portion.

Abstract: A computing system is adapted for use with an optical disk drive, and includes a motherboard and a control key. The motherboard is adapted to be coupled electrically to the optical disk drive. The control key is coupled electrically to the motherboard, and is operable so as to provide a control signal to the motherboard. The motherboard is adapted to control disk loading and disk unloading operations of the optical disk drive in accordance with the control signal provided by the control key.

Abstract: An optical storage device adapted so that a cartridge accommodating an optical storage medium is inserted/ejected with respect to the device. The device includes a drive base, a cartridge holder mounted on the drive base for receiving the cartridge, a first carriage mounted on the drive base so as to be movable in a first direction, a first drive mechanism for moving the first carriage, and an optical head mounted on the first carriage. The device further includes a second carriage mounted on the cartridge holder so as to be movable in the first direction, a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage, a magnetic head assembly mounted on the second carriage and having a magnetic head, and a holding mechanism for selectively holding the magnetic head in its lifted condition above the optical storage medium.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from a recording medium includes a recording and/or reproducing portion for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from the recording medium, a carrying portion for carrying the recording medium, and first and second sliders. The first slider is movable in one direction for moving the carrying portion together with the recording medium up to a specific withdrawal position. The second slider is movable in a direction being substantially the same as the one direction of the first slider for moving the recording medium carried by the carrying portion to a recording and/or reproducing position corresponding to a position of the recording and/or reproducing portion. The first slider and the second slider are overlapped relative to each other in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An information storage device having a mechanism for automatically detecting a misalignment between a magnetic head and an optical head and correcting the misalignment. The information storage device includes a carriage, an optical head mounted on the carriage and having an objective lens and an actuator for moving the objective lens, a first driving mechanism for moving the carriage in a first direction, and a magnetic head assembly mounted on the carriage and having a magnetic head. The information storage device further includes a light emitting element mounted on the optical head and a photodetector mounted on the magnetic head assembly for detecting light emitted from the light emitting element. A misalignment between the optical head and the magnetic head is detected by using the photodetector and the light emitted from the light emitting element.

Abstract: An optical storage device adapted so that a cartridge accommodating an optical storage medium is inserted/ejected with respect to the device. The device includes a drive base, a cartridge holder mounted on the drive base for receiving the cartridge, a first carriage mounted on the drive base so as to be movable in a first direction, a first drive mechanism for moving the first carriage, and an optical head mounted on the first carriage. The device further includes a second carriage mounted on the cartridge holder so as to be movable in the first direction, a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage, a magnetic head assembly mounted on the second carriage and having a magnetic head, and a holding mechanism for selectively holding the magnetic head in its lifted condition above the optical storage medium.

Abstract: A biasing magnet positioning mechanism for a magneto-optical disc drive is provided a cartridge holder, a cartridge holder moving mechanism and a biasing magnet. The biasing magnet is provided with a first contact portion on a side closer to a rotational axis of the magneto-optical disc and a second contact portion on a side farther from the rotational axis of the magneto-optical disc. When the cartridge holder is located at a loading position, at which data recording/reproducing of the magneto-optical disc is to be performed, the first and second contact portions contact the cartridge holder and the disc cartridge, respectively, to locate the biasing magnet at an operable position.

Abstract: A position detecting switch SW1 detects insertion of a disk 1 into a movable holder 3. A reproducing position detecting switch SW2 detects a reproducing position RP of the disk 1. A recording position detecting switch SW3 detects a recording position RC of the disk 1. A mechanism controller 28 controls a series of operations of a driving mechanism on the basis of detection signals delivered from the detecting switches SW1 to SW3. The mechanism controller 28 moves the movable holder 3 from the recording position RC to the reproducing position RP by further moving the movable holder 3 by a predetermined distance in a direction of ejection beyond the reproducing position RP and then moving the movable holder 3 back to the reproducing position RP. The movement is detected by the reproducing position detecting switch SW2 to thereby detect the reproducing position RP of the disk 1.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from a recording medium includes a recording and/or reproducing portion for recording and/or reproducing signals on and/or from the recording medium, a carrying portion for carrying the recording medium, and first and second sliders. The first slider is movable in one direction for moving the carrying portion together with the recording medium up to a specific withdrawal position. The second slider is movable in a direction being substantially the same as the one direction for moving the recording medium carried by the carrying portion to a recording and/or reproducing position corresponding to a position of the recording and/or reproducing portion. The first slider and the second slider are overlapped to each other in the vertical direction.