Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a device comprising a MEMS die and, a single magnet, wherein the MEMS die cooperates with the magnet, such that the MEMS die is submerged in a magnetic field provided by the magnet; wherein the magnet is a single multi-pole magnet.

Abstract: A coil substrate used for a lens driving apparatus is provided in a drive device for an optical disc. The coil substrate includes a tracking coil and a pair of focus coils disposed on a substantially rectangular substrate. The pair of the focus coils is disposed on the both sides of the tracking coil in the direction of the longer side of the substrate. The tracking coil and the focus coils may be substantially aligned in the direction of the longer side of the substrate, or may have the substantially equal lengths in the direction of the shorter side of the substrate. Thereby, the lengths of the coils in the direction of shorter side of the coil substrate can be made smaller. Thus, the coil substrate and the magnet can be reduced in size, and the miniaturization of the entire lens driving apparatus can be achieved.

Abstract: An optical pickup device including a slider on which an objective lens is mounted and which is elastically movably supported by a support member, an air bearing member provided in the slider so that a lifting force pushes the slider away from the disk according to air flow generated during rotation of the disc, and an actuator to change the position of the objective lens mounted on the slider in a focus direction relative to the disc. In the optical pickup device, the slider is lifted from a disk using a lifting force acting on the air bearing member and simultaneously the position of an objective lens is adjusted by a piezoelectric device to perform focus control. Therefore, collision between a disk and an objective lens is avoided, and a focal position is effectively controlled just by changing only the position of the objective lens, thereby increasing the reliability of a recording and/or reproducing operation.

Abstract: An objective lens driver includes a movable body, a base, a supporting portion, a first multipolar magnet and a second multipolar magnet. The movable body includes an objective lens, a lens holder, and a coil substrate. The coil substrate includes a focusing coil and a tracking coil. The supporting portion allows the movable body to move in a focusing direction and a tracking direction with respect to the base. The focusing direction is parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens, while the tracking direction is perpendicular to the focusing direction. The first and second multipolar magnets sandwich the coil substrate between them. The focusing and tracking coils are arranged as two flat coils on two mutually parallel separate planes so as to overlap with each other at least partially in a direction that is perpendicular to the focusing and tracking directions.

Abstract: An optical pickup device including a slider on which an objective lens is mounted and which is elastically movably supported by a predetermined support member, an air bearing member provided in the slider so that a lifting force pushes the slider away from the disk according to air flow generated during rotation of the disc, and an actuator to change the position of the objective lens mounted on the slider in a focus direction relative to the disc. In the optical pickup device, the slider is lifted from a disk using a lifting force acting on the air bearing member and simultaneously the position of an objective lens is adjusted by a piezoelectric device to perform focus control. Therefore, collision between a disk and an objective lens can be avoided, and a focal position can be effectively controlled just by changing only the position of the objective lens, thereby increasing the reliability of a recording and/or reproducing operation.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes an objective lens system for producing a beam spot on an optical disk, a slider movable relative to the optical disk, and a fine tracking mechanism for shifting the beam spot in a radial direction of the optical disk. The objective lens system is composed of a first lens and a second lens. The second lens is held by the slider and disposed closer to the optical disk than the first lens is. The tracking mechanism shifts the second lens in the radial direction of the optical disk for tracking control.

Abstract: The present invention is constituted so as to enable a reduction in the number of parts of drive mechanisms of a plurality of movable members by mounting mirrors, which reflect light, respectively to holders and other movable members, which are capable of rotating around a prescribed axis, by means of springs, and, in addition, attaching coils respectively to the movable member sides as drive mechanisms for magnetically driving the respective movable members, and attaching rod-shaped magnets, the magnetic field of which acts in common with respective coils, in the members of one stator side.

Abstract: A disk recording or playback device has mounted on a chassis a pickup for detecting addresses on a disk, and a sensor switch SW for detecting the pickup as brought to the inner peripheral side of the disk. The pickup is moved toward a lead-in area of the disk to turn on the switch SW, thereafter reversely moved and caused to overrun for a predetermined period of time from a position where the switch SW is turned off. The pickup reads an address on the disk and is thereafter returned. When the address is outside a target region within the lead-in area, the pickup is repeatedly moved toward the lead-in area again with the overrun time altered. The overrun time is stored which enables the pickup to read an address within the target region upon overrunning.

Abstract: An electromagnetic objective lens driving apparatus of an optical disc data recording and reproducing apparatus, includes a magnetic circuit which forms an electromagnetic driving circuit with focusing and tracking coils provided on an objective lens holder. The focusing coils and tracking coils comprise magnetic material that can be attracted by a magnetic force.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to systems and methods for storing digital video information on an optical recording medium comprising the steps of moving the optical recording medium in a first direction, sinusoidally scanning a beam of light over the moving optical recording medium in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to establish a scan path over the optical recording medium, and periodically deflecting the sinusoidal scanning beam in the first direction to linearize at least a portion of the scan path. By linearizing at least a portion of the scan path, two traces can be made per cycle of a primary sinusoidal deflection, thereby doubling scanning efficiency.

Abstract: A compact disk player for storing and playing a number of compact disks consists of an external housing, a storage magazine with a number of compartments into which the compact disks can be inserted individually, a scanner unit in which the information recorded on a compact disk in digital form can be scanned using a laser beam, and a transfer unit by means of which the compact disk located in a specified compartment of the storage magazine can be transported to the scanner unit. To achieve the fastest possible access time with a very compact construction, this invention requires a stationary configuration for the storage magazine while the scanner unit is designed so that it can move in relation to the storage magazine.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a mount table on which an information recording medium is mounted, a structure for reciprocating the mount table relative to a recording and reproducing head, and an energy storer for decelerating the mount table in a deceleration mode, storing an energy generated during the deceleration and transducing the stored energy to a kinetic energy of the mount table in an acceleration mode to accelerate the mount table.

Abstract: In an optical head unit, a magnetic circuit is provided on the chassis base of a housing in such a manner that it extends parallel to a radial direction of a disk. A head base is provided over the magnetic circuit in such a manner that it can be reciprocated in the radial direction of the disk. An objective lens holder is supported by the head base in such a manner that the objective lens holder is swingable in the radial direction of the disk through an elastic supporting member such as an elastic hinge and in a focusing direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk through an elastic supporting member such as a leaf spring. A head feeding coil secured to the head base and a focusing coil and a tracking coil mounted on the objective lens holder are coupled to the magnetic circuit in such a manner that they are movable in the radial direction of the disk.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the speed of a moving object when exposed to primary magnetic flux fields and secondary external magnetic flux fields. The apparatus includes a magnetic device which generates the primary magnetic flux fields, a multi-coil device which carries induced electric currents when exposed to the primary magnetic flux field, and an error correction circuit for offsetting the effect of the magnetic flux from the external magnetic flux sources on the induced electric current. A support device is positioned between the multi-coil device and the magnetic device to allow relative movement therebetween, corresponding to the movement of the object.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes an optical disk, a pair of guide shafts, a carriage having an optical pick-up movable in the radial direction of the disk as guided by the guide shafts. A plurality of rollers are rotatably mounted on the carriage so that a rolling contact is provided between the guide shafts and the carriage. Preferably, one of the rollers is pressed against the associated guide shaft so as to absorb any play which may exist in the rollers. Each of the guide shafts is so structured to define a part of a closed magnetic flux circuit, and each of a pair of coils fixedly mounted on the carriage is loosely fitted on this part of the associated guide shaft. As a result, a pair of linear motors is defined on both sides of the carriage using the pair of guide shafts to define a pair of closed magnetic flux circuits partly.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a magnetic disc housed in a cassette, in which the cassette is received and placed by a cassette holder at a predetermined loading position for the signal recording and/or reproduction where a magnetic head is provided. The head is moved relative to the disc by a head moving mechanism driven by a motor, while the holder is moved by a loading mechanism which is selectively connectible with the motor through a clutch mechanism. Thus, the head moving motor is also utilized as a cassette loading motor.

Abstract: An improved disc player which is arranged to successively effect the slide table sliding function, disc clamping function, and pick-up driving function only through employment of a single electric motor as a driving source for compact size and simple construction.

Abstract: A mode switching device in a disc playback device comprises a loading device for transferring a disc or a case housing a disc between an eject position in which the disc or the disc case is inserted and ejected and a playback position in which the disc is played, a feed device for feeding a pickup head reading data recorded on the disc set in a playback position and a mode switching device for switching the mode between loading, eject and playback modes. The feed device can move across an overstroke region extending radially outwardly of a read-out position of the pickup head and the mode switching device performs switching of the mode when the feed device has reached a predetermined position in the overstroke region.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information signals recorded in spiral or coaxial tracks of a record disc includes a pick-up device operative, upon scanning of a track of the disc while the latter is rotated, to reproduce the information signals recorded in the scanned track; a driver for rotating the record disc relative to the pick-up device; a tracking device for controlling the tracing of the tracks by the pick-up device; a transporting device for bodily moving the pick-up device in a radial direction in respect to the axis of rotation of the record disc and thereby normally determining the tracks to be scanned by the pick-up device; and a controller selectively operative for causing the pick-up device to intermittently trace nonadjacent groups of tracks so as to intermittently reproduce the information signal recorded in the nonadjacent groups of tracks, respectively.

Abstract: An optical disc recording and playback apparatus has a record/playback head adapted to write data into and read them out of information tracks formed on a rotatable optical disc. A carriage carrying the head therewith is driven by a linear motor in the radial direction of the disc perpendicular to the tracks, and then stopped and held at a desired track position. Thereafter, a tracking control is performed by allowing the head to move in the radial direction within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A dual drive system for an automatic record player of a type in which programmed music selection can be carried out. The drive system includes a mechanical first drive system for mechanically driving the pickup arm and an electromagnetic second drive system for driving the pickup arm using an electromagnetic force. Circuitry is provided for selecting between the two drive systems in accordance with the selected operational mode of the player or the position of the pickup arm.

Abstract: A pickup arm driving control system in record disc players with repeat playback function. The driving control system can drive the manipulation of a tone arm in such a manner that only an optionally selected portion is repeatedly reproduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically reading and/or recording information on a rotary optical disc (4), such as a video-disc player or an optical recorder, comprises an objective carrier (3) for an objective (2) which is radially moved to and fro over a frame (1) by a drive unit. Driving is effected by means of two electric motors (7) which rotate in opposite directions and which move the objective carrier (3) to and fro and, simultaneously but in an opposite direction, move two balancing masses (11) in paths on each side of the path of movement of the objective carrier, so that during accelerations and decelerations of the to-and-fro movements of the objective carrier no reactive forces or reaction moments are transmitted to the frame.

Abstract: A control system for a linear tracking arm in a record player. A signal representative of a tracking error angle of the arm is, after A/D conversion, supplied to a microprocessor for producing a control signal which controls an arm drive device so that the tracking error angle constantly remains zero. For invalidating an offset quantity possibly produced in the output of a tracking error angle detecting sensor due to changes in the characteristic thereof, a signal produced by the sensor when the arm is lifted in precedence to the playback operation is stored in a memory of the microprocessor. During the playback, the tracking error angle is detected with reference to the stored value. An average moving speed of the arm is measured for discriminating transient increasing in the speed of the arm caused by eccentricity of the disc from the increasing of the speed caused by the arm entering a lead-out groove of the disc.

Abstract: A motor drive apparatus for a disc player which includes a pickup, a pickup shift mechanism for shifting a position of the pickup and an automatic loading mechanism for loading a jacketed disc into the disc player. The motor drive apparatus comprises a motor for actuating the pickup shift mechanism and automatic loading mechanism, a servo controller for servo-controlling the rotation of the motor according to the position of the pickup so that a tracking servo control for the pickup is effected by the pickup shift mechanism, a position sensor for sensing the position of a jacket of the jacketed disc, an actuation controller for controlling the rotation of the motor according to the position of the jacket so that automatic loading of the jacketed disc is performed, and a mode instructor for selectively connecting one of the servo controller and actuation controller to the motor.

Abstract: A disc reproducing apparatus comprises a turntable rotatably supporting a disc and a cartridge movable between a reproduction start position and a reproduction end position. The cartridge is urged by the spring toward the reproduction start position and moved from the reproduction start position to the reproduction end position by a driving mechanism. The driving force of the driving mechanism is transmitted to the cartridge in a reproducing condition by a clutch assembly and is not transmitted in a nonreproducing condition. The cartridge is held in the reproduction start position by the spring in the nonreproducing condition.

Abstract: As an empty caddy is inserted into a video disc player to retrieve a record retained inside the player, it engages and drives back a pickup carriage to its starting position at the rear of the player. As this happens, a coil spring, connected to the carriage, is stretched such that it urges the carriage to move toward the front of the player. During playback, a timing mechanism coupled to the carriage controls the rate of travel by means of an escapement of the carriage under the influence of the coil spring.

Abstract: A skip/arm servo system for a video disc player comprises a device adapted to skip a signal sensing element, such as a stylus for detection of information recorded on a disc, in a direction crossing a recording track, a stylus position detector adapted to detect the relative position of the stylus to a cartridge movably mounting the stylus, a comparator comparing the detected relative position with a reference relative position to produce an error output, a cartridge driver responsive to the error output to move the cartridge so as to maintain the stylus in the reference relative position. A setting device is adapted to variably set the reference relative position in accordance with a reproduction mode selected by the operator, whereby a special mode reproduction can readily be accomplished or the stylus can be readily released from a locked groove in the disc.

Abstract: A pulse generator associated with a pickup arm drive motor produces a pulse train signal as the pickup arm moves inward and outward with respect to the turntable, and the number of the pulses is counted to detect the position of the pickup arm. In order to remove undesirable influence due to overshoot of the pickup arm caused by inertia of the pickup drive system, the number of the pulses is continuously counted by a counter within a microcomputer for a predetermined period of time after deenergization of the pickup arm drive motor so that the number of the pulses indicates the actual position of the pickup arm. In one embodiment, each pulse is detected by recognizing the rising edge when the pickup arm is moved in one direction, and each pulse is detected by recognizing the falling edge when the pickup arm is moved in the other direction.

Abstract: As a caddy is inserted into the player to load a record therein, it displaces the carriage locking lever to its retracted position to release the carriage. The record retaining spine of the caddy holds the carriage locking lever at the retracted position thereof as long as the record/spine assembly is inside the player. Upon removal of the record/spine assembly from the player, the carriage locking lever moves to its advanced position to arrest the carriage.

Abstract: A disc reproducing apparatus comprises a turntable which is vertically movable between an upper position in a reproducing condition and a lower position in a nonreproducing condition;a cartridge which is movable between a reproduction start position and a reproduction end position;cartridge driving mechanism, with a motor, for driving the cartridge from the reproduction start position toward the reproduction end position. The cartridge driving mechanism includes a transmission mechanism which transmits the driving force of the motor to the cartridge when the turntable is located at the upper position, and which does not transmit the driving force of the motor to the cartridge to render the cartridge free to move when the turntable is positioned at the lower position; anda coil spring for urging the cartridge from the reproduction end position to the reproduction start position.

Abstract: A pickup device for a disc player includes a pickup arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof for movement between upper and lower positions. The pickup arm is horizontally movable about the one end thereof. A drive device is responsive to a driving signal from a control circuit to drive an arm lifter for moving the pickup arm between its upper and lower positions. A brake device is also responsive to the driving signal for holding the pickup arm against the horizontal angular movement during its vertical movement.

Abstract: In a record disc player, a pick-up arm is mounted for movement to and fro along a rectilinear path, a drive assembly is actuable for driving the arm along such path, first and second motors are alternatively operated, and a drive speed change-over mechanism selectively transmits driving torque from the operated one of the first and second motors to the drive assembly so that the pick-up arm can be stably driven at a relatively low speed by operation of one of the motors during the playing or reproducing of signals from a record disc, and high speed movement of the pick-up arm is effected upon operation of the other motor during lead-in and return operations of the player.

Abstract: A pickup arm controlling apparatus for an audio record or a video disk player, comprising an optical detecting device provided at the foremost end portion of a pickup arm for detecting a non-recorded groove portion, arranged so that a reproduction of the disk is performed by causing, due to the detecting device, the pickup arm to make a lead-in motion while the detecting action is being performed, and stopping the lead-in motion of the pickup arm upon detection of a predetermined non-recorded groove portion, and causing a stylus to descend onto the surface of the disk, wherein arrangement is provided so that, after the pickup arm has ceased its motion during the lead-in action, the pickup arm is forced to make a reversed run only for a trifle amount or distance to thereby compensate for an overshooting which could occur during the lead-in motion of the pickup arm. This trifle amount of the reversed run can be varied. Also, during a manual lead-in operation, the overshoot-compensating action is released.

Abstract: Moving coils of a phonograph pickup are made of a substance having magnetoresistance so that the electrical resistance of the coils are detected by means of bridge circuits. The amounts of resistance variation of the coils are used to produce a vertical component output signal and a horizontal component output signal which respectively indicate the vertical and horizontal displacements of the coils from its optimum operating point with respect to the magnetic field of the pickup. The vertical and horizontal component output signals are used to control vertical and horizontal control motors which correct the attitude of the tone arm so that the moving coils are accurately positioned at the optimum operating point irrespective of the warp and/or eccentricity of the phonograph disk.

Abstract: A disc is inserted into a disc reproducing apparatus by insertion of a casing housing the disc therein and is removed from the apparatus by insertion of an empty casing thereinto. The apparatus comprises a cartridge which has a stylus and a first mechanism for driving the cartridge. The first driving mechanism includes a clutch mechanism which transmits the driving force of a motor to the cartridge when the apparatus is in a reproducing condition, and which does not transmit the driving force to the cartridge to render the cartridge free to move when the apparatus is in a nonreproducing condition, and an engaging mechanism for holding the cartridge at a reproduction start position in the nonreproducing condition.

Abstract: A signal pickup device in a rotary recording medium reproducing apparatus comprises a cantilever having at a free distal end thereof a reproducing element for reproducing recorded signals from tracks of a rotary recording medium, a permanent magnet magnetized in an axial direction of the cantilever and fixed to the cantilever at proximal end thereof, an elastic support member extending perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said tracks and supporting the proximal end of the cantilever so that the cantilever is rotatable, accompanied by elastic deformation of the elastic support member, and tracking control coil device supplied with a tracking control current to attract and repulse the permanent magnet to cause the cantilever to rotate. The reproducing element is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recording tracks of the rotary recording medium to tracks.

Abstract: A linear-tracking pick-up arm drive assembly for an audio or video disc player, comprising a linear motor including a magnet-carrying movable unit movable on and along a pair of spaced, parallel horizontal guide bars, and a pair of horizontally elongated, stationary armatures positioned below the guide bars, characterized in that the magnet-carrying movable unit has a pick-up arm supported above the movable unit and a permanent magnet projecting downwardly into the opening between the two stationary armatures and further in that the movable unit is supported in weight transmitting relationship on the guide bars by a three-point support mechanism which may include three rollers one of which is rollable on one of the guide bars and the others of which are rollable on the other guide bar.

Abstract: A video disc player is fitted with a mechanism for detenting a stylus carriage against a travel limit stop. The detent mechanism includes a toothed member disposed on the carriage which engages a toothed wheel. The wheel is spring loaded such that in a certain carriage position the spring exerts a force on the carriage through the wheel, which urges the carriage against the limit stop. The detent mechanism impedes possible bounce back of the carriage.

Abstract: In a video disc player, a support roller is mounted to one end of a pickup carriage by means of an eccentric stud. The height of the roller in respect of the carriage is adjusted by changing the angular position of the eccentric stud. A support bracket is disposed at the other end of the carriage, where a pair of adjustable members are provided for adjustment of the relative spatial position of the carriage and the support bracket.

Abstract: A tone arm control system includes first and second manually operated keys for providing input signals to a control circuit. The control circuit detects which one of the keys is operated and drives a vertical motor in the tone-arm upward direction and subsequently drives a horizontal motor in a tone-arm horizontal direction depending on which one of the keys is detected as being operated. The control circuit includes a counter which starts counting clock pulses to detect when a predetermined count is reached. During the predetermined count period the horizontal motor is energized at a low voltage to move the tone arm at a relatively low speed. When the clock count exceeds the predetermined value the speed of the tone arm is increased to allow it to speedily approach a desired position located relatively remote from the tone arm.

Abstract: A video disc player having an adaptive bumper apparatus which tracks the signal pickup stylus to maintain a fixed spatial relation therebetween. The bumper is fixed to an electromechanical transducer secured to the stylus arm support carriage. Signals correlated to the relative disc-stylus velocity having frequency components of the once around rate of the disc are adapted to energize the transducer to cause the bumper to follow the motion of the stylus in the radial dimension. Disturbing visual effects resulting from disc defects, etc. which tend to kick the signal pickup stylus fore or aft of the current track position are significantly reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus in a video disc player for previewing or scanning information on a record disc. A position sensor detects the position of a playback stylus relative to the carriage assembly for translating the stylus radially across the disc. The position sensor output signals energize a stylus skipper mechanism to translate the stylus a prescribed number of information tracks in accordance with the stylus carriage bias exceeding a threshold value. The carriage is manually moved across the record with the sensor and skipper mechanism cooperating to translate the stylus in consonance with the carriage movement.

Abstract: In a video disc recording and playback system, the video fields on the disc are identified by digital information recorded during the vertical blanking interval. The recorded digital information includes in the order named, a Barker start code sequence, an error detection coset code and information bits which include a field number corresponding to the video field being recorded. The arrangement results in improved noise immunity and simpler decoding hardware in the video disc player. The digital information is utilized to control a number of functions during the playing of a video disc record such as the calculation and display of elapsed playing time, lifting the stylus at the end of the program, and the detection and correction of locked groove conditions.

Abstract: A tone arm system for a record player is provided having servo-controlled record warp compensation means including a moving coil motor for driving the tone arm vertically and a moving magnet motor for driving the tone arm horizontally in response to servo-currents.

Abstract: A stylus arm having a bimorph transducer integrally mounted therewith is combined with electrical circuitry for detecting prescribed components of stylus motion and with circuitry for applying potential to the transducer to impart corrective translatory motion to the stylus arm.

Abstract: A reproducing stylus traces a track of a recording medium, in which track an information signal is recorded as variations of geometrical shape, and reproduces as variations in capacitance the information signal thus recorded. The reproducing stylus comprises a reproducing stylus main structure having a tip part with a flat sliding contact face for slidingly contacting a plurality of track of the recording medium at a time, and an electrode secured to the reproducing stylus main structre at the tip part thereof and adapted to trace one track and reproduce the information signal as the variations in capacitance in accordance with the variations in geometrical shape. The electrode has over a specific distance over the tip part of the stylus main structure from the extreme tip thereof, a constant width in the width direction of the track which is less than the width of the track. The extreme tip of the electrode has a flat or linear tip end contacting the track.

Abstract: A device for selectively and automatically moving a phonograph tone arm vertically or horizontally includes a horizontally disposed endless belt which supports the tone arm and transports it in a horizontal direction. The endless belt is raised or lowered by a cam mechanism. Separate reversible, battery powered, direct current motors actuate the endless belt and the cam mechanism. A control box between the power source and the motors includes four push buttons to actuate the motors to move the arm up, down, in or out. The device is intended primarily as a separately purchased accessory to a phonograph or record player.

Abstract: In a video disc player, a carriage is subject to translatory motion in correlation with radial motion of a playback stylus relative to a disc record disposed on a rotatable turntable. A stylus arm carrying the stylus at one end thereof has the other end secured to the carriage by means of a compliant rubber coupler. A magnetic element is disposed on the stylus arm near its free end. An electromagnet is fixedly mounted in the carriage adjacent to the stylus arm-mounted, magnetic element. The electromagnet is selectively actuated to cause a change in the radial location of the stylus.

Abstract: In a video disc player, a carriage is subject to translatory motion in correlation with radial motion of a playback stylus relative to a disc record disposed on a rotatable turntable. A stylus arm carrying the stylus at one end thereof has the other end secured to the carriage by means of a compliant rubber coupler. A magnetic element is disposed on the stylus arm near its free end. An electromagnet is fixedly mounted in the carriage adjacent to the stylus arm-mounted, magnetic element. The electromagnet is selectively actuated to cause a change in the radial location of the stylus.