Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an optical disc drive, a data processing module which executes data processing using the optical disc drive, and a power supply management module which manages supply of power to the optical disc drive. The data processing module interrogates the power supply management module about the optical disc drive at the time of activation, and waits until an operating system recognizes the optical disc drive when an instruction is received from the power supply management module in response to an interrogation. The instruction instructs to wait until the operating system recognizes the optical disc drive. The power supply management module shifts the optical disc drive to a power supply on state and returns the instruction to the data processing module, if the optical disc drive is in a power supply off state when the interrogation is received.

Abstract: Disk drive spin-up is staggered to reduce peak power requirements. Spin-up of the drives is controlled by selectively delaying voltage inputs to the disk drives. Alternately, spin-up of the drives is controlled by staggering the timing of communications to the disk drives.

Abstract: A compact disc playing mechanism includes a body with respect to which at least first and second horizontal positions are provided for placing therein compact discs, a pick-up mechanism for playing the compact discs, and a unitary moving mechanism adapted to move the pick-up mechanism from the first to the second position and to, at each of the positions, move the pick-up mechanism upwards for operation and downwards for transit. The pick-up mechanism has an engagement part. A track, which is disposed on a rotatable drum, is provided along which the engagement part slidably engages such that relative movement between the engagement part and the track causes the said upward and downward movement of the pick-up mechanism.

Abstract: A disk player including a pickup unit having a locking pin, and a locking mechanism which engages with the locking pin. The locking mechanism comprises a locking means for engaging and holding the locking pin when an actuator is de-energized, and an unlocking means which is actuated in conjunction with the application of power so that the disk player will be in playback mode. The unlocking means cooperates with the locking means when the locking pin is engaged by the locking means. The actuator is energized for an appropriate time after the application of power to the disk player so as to unlock the pickup unit, thus reducing the consumption of power and the generation of heat in the disk player.

Abstract: A lifting device, for moving a pick-up arm upwards and downwards, has a lift rod guided by a guide element formed integrally with the deck plate. The lift rod has a pair of adjoining planar walls intersecting each other at an angle, and engaging a corresponding pair of guide walls of the guide element. A highly viscous damping material is arranged between these engaging walls. An oblique compression spring presses the lift rod downward and sideways into engagement with the guide walls, the spring force being directed in a plane which bisects the angle formed by the lift rod walls.

Abstract: A laser disk record player particularly adapted for mobile applications such as in portable players and automobile mounted players. The player is provided with locking means for preventing free movement of the laser carrying scanning assembly when the player is switched off, thereby to prevent excessive wear or accidental damage caused by random acceleration of the normally free arm. With the record player in the load position, the locking means engages the scanning assembly to prevent motion thereof. When a disk is inserted and the player is switched to the play position, means are provided for automatically freeing the locking means thereby to allow the control circuit of the laser player to take over positioning of the arm.

Abstract: An improved audio-visual machine for projecting visual information segments carried by a transparency holder in an audio-visual cartridge, and for reproducing corresponding narrative and control information recorded on a movable storage medium carried by the cartridge, is disclosed. The teaching machine includes an optical system which incorporates a movable focusing lens which is mounted on a very long lever arm. The lever arm is pivoted at one end and is adjustably mounted on a threaded post at the other end to permit motion of the lens toward and away from the transparency for focusing while still permitting maintenance of the focus across the entire width of the transparency. A drive mechanism is provided to selectively align specified visual segments with the optical system. The movable storage medium is movable independently of the transparency holder, and a transducer for reproducing audio frequency signals from the storage medium is provided.

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 phonograph cover is coupled to a tone arm assembly such that movement of the cover to its open position automatically retracts the needle of the tone arm assembly from the record in any selected position of the tone arm assembly on the record playing portion of the record. Movement of the cover to its closed position automatically causes the needle to engage the record in any selected position of the tone arm assembly on the record playing portion of the record.The tone arm assembly is further coupled to the phonograph turntable drive means such that the drive means is actuated upon movement of the tone arm assembly onto the record playing portion of the record. The drive means is deactuated upon movement of the tone arm assembly to a rest position located outside of the playing portion of the record.

Abstract: The stylus lifter driving circuit gradually lowers the stylus arm until the stylus contacts a turntable-disposed record. Once the stylus/record engagement is detected, the lifter support bracket rapidly moves away from the stylus arm to prevent stylus bouncing.

Abstract: An improved audio-visual apparatus for projecting visual information segments carried by a transparency holder in an audio-visual cartridge, and for reproducing corresponding narrative and control information recorded on a movable storage medium carried by the cartridge. The apparatus includes an optical projector for projecting a selected one of the visual information segments onto a screen and a first drive mechanism for supporting the holder and selectively driving it to align specified visual segments with the optical projector. A second drive mechanism supporting the storage medium and selectively moving it independently of the holder to permit reproduction of recorded information is provided, and a playback device is mounted in operative relationship with the storage medium to produce signals corresponding to the stored information.

Abstract: A linear tracking tone arm having a stylus is pivotably mounted on a carriage slidably movable along a guide rod and has a hook extending in operative engagement with a pin on a swing arm slidably movable with the carriage along the guide rod. The guide rod is angularly movable about its own axis to turn the swing arm for lifting or lowering the linear tracking tone arm. A mechanism for turning the guide rod includes a solenoid, a plunger actuatable thereby, a cam pivotably movable by the plunger, and a rotation control arm coupled with the guide rod and held in engagement with the cam. The carriage supports thereon a guide frame for guiding a pin extending from the tone arm to cancel a tracking error when the stylus is led into the lead-out groove on a record disc.

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: An apparatus for detecting position of a reproducing transducer in a rotary recording medium reproducing apparatus which reproduces an information signal recorded in a rotary recording medium by a reproducing transducer which is transferred towards the radial direction of the rotary recording medium, comprises a single photo-detector having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, provided in a manner so as to be transferred unitarily with the reproducing transducer, a light interrupting plate provided at a fixed part of the rotary recording medium reproducing apparatus, for operating together with the photo-detector, and a position detection signal producing circuit for producing a position detection output signal according to an output of said photo-detector, to indicate that the reproducing transducer has passed a position corresponding to the outermost peripheral position and the innermost peripheral position of the recorded region in the rotary recording medium.

Abstract: A record player having a pick-up arm which is automatically moved to the rest position by a spring, the energy necessary for returning the arm being stored by the lowering device of the arm. A rotating cam which lowers the arm also moves one end of an over-center spring-loaded lever, whose far end is guided such that before the arm is fully lowered the lever passes a dead center position. Motion past dead center causes a pin on the lever to move into position in which subsequent lever return, due to the loading spring, rotates the arm to the rest position.

Abstract: In a tone arm elevating mechanism, an elevator, which is arranged to raise and lower the tone arm, is driven by a solenoid, and the mechanism comprises a first rotary lever contactable with a portion of the elevator and a second rotary lever arranged to be driven by the solenoid, where the second rotary lever is operatively linked with the first rotary lever by means of an elastic member which prevents transmission of shock. Thus, the reciprocating movement of the solenoid is converted into rotational force to cause the elevator to rise gently and slowly. A viscous and resistive material may be provided to the elevator so that the elevator slowly lowers when the solenoid is deenergized. A portion of the elevating mechanism functions as an electrical switch to detect the highest position of the tone arm, while another portion may also function as another switch to detect the fact that the stylus has been placed on the record disk.

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 tone arm system for a high fidelity record player is provided having servo-controlled record warp compensation means. One or more feedback loops are employed to apply a variable force vertically and optionally, laterally, to the tone arm in response to the frequency of stylus vibration. The action of the feedback loop or loops is used to modify the parameters of the tone arm system to provide a predetermined resonance quality factory and a predetermined resonant frequency.

Abstract: A braking device for providing a braking action to the horizontal swinging movement of a pickup arm of a record player and the like. The device comprises a brake for applying the braking action and an actuator for actuating the brake, when the pickup arm is in a non-playing mode, to provide the braking action.

Abstract: A lifting-lowering assembly for a stylus arm employs two flat portions having a pivot axis in the vicinity of the intersection of the two portions, a stylus arm rest on the first portion, and, an upwardly extending member on the second portion. The upwardly extending member cooperates with an electromagnetic device to rotate the assembly about the pivot axis. Air trapped under the first and second flat portions tends to permit gentle lifting and lowering operations by damping the rotational motion of the assembly.

Abstract: In a record player, the movement of the tone arm is controlled by a select plate operated by a lever which moves the plate to a position corresponding to a record size. Adjacent the select plate is a C-shaped lever which cooperates with a rotary member. The rotary member has a plurality of cams which serve to program the operation and various movements of the tone arm. Extending from the peripheral edge of one of said cams is a brush. The tone arm is also responsive to a bracket with a wall, said wall being engaged by the brush. A position detector plate is mounted on the bracket which cooperates with a photo-interrupter to detect the position of the tone arm with respect to a record being played.

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: 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.The control knob normally used for ON-OFF-REJECT functions, is provided with a 4th position in which the record changer repeatedly plays a record on the turntable without shutting off the machine. This REPEAT PLAY position is reached by first moving the control knob to the ON or REJECT position and then moving it back to a position between the ON and OFF positions.

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 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.