Abstract: A detection system of vinyl record players for detecting end of playback is revealed. The system includes a vinyl record player and a vinyl record control module. The vinyl record player consists of a tone arm, a cartridge connected to one end of the tone arm, a stylus connected to the cartridge, and a turntable. The vinyl record control module is arranged at the vinyl record player and is composed of a signal analysis unit, a signal output unit, a signal reading unit, and a vinyl record control unit electrically connected. The vinyl record control unit is electrically connected to a turntable control unit for stopping rotation of the turntable, or electrically connected to a tone arm lifting unit for ascending the tone arm, or electrically connected to both the turntable control unit and the tone arm lifting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second MOS transistors connecting a pair of data lines with a specific potential supplying node. A power transmitting circuit couples the specific potential supplying node with a power supply circuit of an equalizing potential after said first and second switching elements are made conductive. The power transmitting circuit isolates the specific potential supplying node from the power supply circuit when the equalization begins. As an alternative to the power transmitting circuit, a supplying circuit may be connected to supply a precharge potential to the specific potential supplying node when the equalization begins, and supply an equalizing potential to the specific potential supplying node when the switching elements are both turned on.

Abstract: Stopping system for the drive mechanism of a records-player, comprising a pivotable aperture linked with the playback arm, fixed to a sector, and possessing a light/dark zone towards the end of its pivoting range. This zone is scanned by a photoelectric barrier in the sharp range and issues the stop command by means of an evaluation logic.

Abstract: An improved automatic record player utilizes an integrally formed cam on the underside of the turntable in conjunction with a velocity trip mechanism to raise the tone arm from the record and move it up and over onto the rest post in one revolution of the turntable. An improved tone arm mount utilizes an integrally formed tone arm support shaft and trip finger assembly that is mounted from the underside of the base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a record playing device adapted to be attached to a cabinet of a record player.In order to facilitate the assembling of the record player as much as possible, the record playing device of the invention has a unit construction comprising a single base plate 1 which carries, at least: a turn table driving motor having a turn-table shaft and a pinion; a gear wheel for intermittent engagement with the pinion; a returning plate adapted to be moved reciprocatingly to the right and left in accordance with the rotation of the wheel gear; a sliding lever adapted to move reciprocatingly to the left and right to actuate link pawls pivoted to the gear wheel thereby to initiate the mutual engagement between the pinion and the wheel gear; and a microswitch for controlling the operation of the turn-table driving motor and adapted to be opened and closed in accordance with the positional relationship between the sliding lever and the returning plate.

Abstract: A record disc playing apparatus has a tone arm position detecting device which comprises a position detection part comprising a plurality of reading elements aligned in line, a code part comprising a plurality of rows of code patterns shifted in the direction of alignment of reading elements and extending along substantially perpendicular directions to the alignment direction of reading elements, and an encoder which is supplied with the output signal of the position detection part and produces address signals according to the relative position of the position detection part and the reading part. One of the code part and the position detection part is fixed and the other unitarily undergoes displacement with a tone arm of the record disc playing apparatus.

Abstract: A record changer for a record playing apparatus of the type including a center spindle on which records are adapted to be held and then dropped onto a turntable to be played, includes a tone arm for reproducing signals which are recorded on a record, dropped onto the turntable, a detecting device for detecting the position of the tone arm, an operating mechanism for controlling the operation of the record changer when the detecting device detects that the tone arm is in an inoperative position, and a device for stopping the operation of the record changer during operation of the operating means when the detecting device detects that the tone arm is in an operative position.

Abstract: A drive control system for a linear motor having a stator and a sliding member capable of sliding along the stator. A position detector comprises an arrangement of light emitting elements and a detector, or the converse to produce a position signal. A comparator compares the position signal with a reference signal to produce an output drive signal for the linear motor.

Abstract: An intersong detecting circuit for an automatic music selecting device for a record player in which intersong intervals are accurately detected even for a disc having irregular reflectivities or between discs of different reflectivities. An intersong sensor detects intersong intervals between adjacent songs on a recording disc. The output signal from the intersong sensor is sampled and held at a rate determined by a leading-in time/reproducing time time-constant switching signal. The sampled-and-held signal is compared with the output of the sensor to produce a differential signal and an intersong identification signal is produced when the differential signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A record player having a turntable mounted for rotation on a frame; a pick-up arm spindle journalled to the frame, and having a pick-up arm and arm lever; and a control member for controlling movement of the pick-up arm in a first direction from the turntable and a second direction toward the turntable. A rod connected to the control member cooperates with a control element having a coupling portion for engaging the pick-up arm lever. Guides on the frame cause the coupling portion of the control element to move along first and second paths respectively during the first and second directions of pick-up arm movement, the paths being concentric with the axis of the pick-up arm spindle, and the coupling portion of the control element engaging the pick-up arm lever along the second path only.

Abstract: An automatic tone arm returning device in a record player which comprises: pulse generator means for producing pulses whose cycle is proportional to the speed of the tone arm movement during record playing means for detecting the completion of record playing by measuring either the pulse width, the number of pulses produced in a unit of time, or the time interval between the pulses; and a Schmitt trigger circuit inserted between said two means and activated while the pulse is within a predetermined range of level; whereby the tone arm can be prevented from being return erroneously by the eccentric recorded grooves on record when the record is still being played.

Abstract: An automatic record player comprises a tone arm, a drive motor, a turntable, a turntable spindle having a turntable gear, a gear wheel engageable with the turntable gear to receive a rotational force of the turntable, a tripping member for bringing the turntable gear into engagement with the gear wheel, a cam arrangement defined on the gear wheel, a drive transmitting lever having one end engaged to the cam arrangement and the other end operatively coupled to the tone arm, and a switching lever for selecting cam portions of the cam arrangement into use one at a time. The cam arrangement is comprised of a generally heart-shaped cam groove and a bypass groove bypassing a portion of the heart-shaped cam groove and having a depth larger than that of the heart-shaped cam groove. An automatic power switch control and a start-cut mechanism are also utilized.

Abstract: A first generator 1 produces a continuously increasing signal corresponding to the tone arm pick-up stylus position, and a second generator 2 produces a synchronizing signal comprising a pulse for each turntable rotation. The synchronizing pulses alternately gate the position signal between a pair of parallel peak holding circuits 5a, 5b whose differential output S is compared with a reference signal T, and when the former exceeds the latter the tone arm is returned. Any cyclical variations in the position signal due to the eccentricity of the record spindle hole are self-cancelling during the differential comparison because their magnitudes are substantially the same when sampled during the same relative periods of the turntable rotation cycle. The high pitch of the lead-out groove at the end of the record play produces a large differential output signal, to thereby trigger the tone arm return.

Abstract: A first generator 1 produces a continuously increasing signal corresponding to the tone arm pick-up stylus position, and a second generator 2 produces a synchronizing signal comprising a pulse for each turntable rotation. The synchronizing pulses alternately trigger a pair of parallel sample and hold circuits 4a, 4b supplied with the position signal, whose differential output S is compared with a reference signal T. When the former exceeds the latter the tone arm is returned. Any cyclical variations in the position signal due to the eccentricity of the record spindle hole are self-cancelling during the differential comparison because their magnitudes are substantially the same when sampled during the same relative periods of the turntable rotation cycle. The high pitch of the lead-out groove at the end of the record play produces a large differential output signal, to thereby trigger the tone arm return.

Abstract: An extremely simple record changer mechanism is provided wherein only two members interconnect the tone arm subassembly with the main cycling gear in the spindle area of the changer. One of these members is employed to lift and lower the tone arm and the other member is used for the dual purpose of moving the tone arm horizontally during the record changing cycle and also acts as a velocity trip actuating member during the playing cycle. Both members are designed to avoid damage to the mechanism if the tone arm is moved or restrained during the record changing cycle.