Turntable Patents (Class 369/264)
  • Patent number: 11594245
    Abstract: A bifunctional turntable which includes a rotating shaft, a platter, a light sensor module, an audio control module, and a plinth is revealed. The rotating shaft which is driven by a power source to rotate drives the platter to rotate. Then the light sensor module disposed on the rotating shaft detects rotation speed of the platter for playing a record at normal speed. The audio control module is located in the plinth and disposed on a simulated record for detecting changes in the simulated record which is manually operated. Then the audio control module sends signals to a digital audio control system at a rear end for driving the digital audio control system to output audio signals. Thereby the present turntable plays not only vinyl records but also simulated records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hanpin Electron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shen-Keng Liu, Chang-Hsiou Lu
  • Patent number: 10115414
    Abstract: The turntable platter configuration of the present invention includes a groove on the platter edge about its periphery to allow for an improved ergonomic finger control for a DJ to alter the speed of the platter rotation. The turntable platter configuration also includes a regularly spaced shape about the periphery of the platter to be used with a strobe for allowing the user to ensure the rate of the rotation is at the appropriate speed, such as 33 RPM or 45 RPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: inMusic Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: John O'Donnell, Scott Puckett, Ross H. Goodwin, Christopher Roman
  • Patent number: 8665678
    Abstract: A reproduction device, contains a rotatable operation disk part for performing an input related to reading of data stored in a memory and a capacitance sensor section for outputting a sensor value expressing a change of a capacitance according to depression of the rotatable operation disk part. The device also contains a storage part for storing a reference value corresponding to the sensor value obtained while the rotatable operation disk part is not depressed, and a control part for judging presence/absence of pressing on the rotatable operation disk part based on a vector quantity being a relative value obtained from a difference between the sensor value output from the capacitance sensor section and the reference value stored in the storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Onizuka
  • Publication number: 20140010065
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a first circular plate portion and a first cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the first circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The stationary portion includes a second cup portion including a second circular plate portion arranged to extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of a stationary shaft below the first cup portion and a second cylindrical portion arranged to project upward from an outer edge portion of the second circular plate portion. One of the first and second cup portions is integral with the stationary shaft defining a single monolithic member, and the other is fixed to the stationary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro KIMURA, Teiichi HIRONO, Kunio SAKURADA, Kyoko HORISE
  • Publication number: 20130194907
    Abstract: A rotating device includes: a hub that is rotatably supported by a base, on which a recording disk is to be mounted; a stator core fixed to the base, the core having a ring portion and multiple salient poles that radially extend from the ring portion; and a magnet fixed to the hub, the magnet having multiple magnetic poles arranged along its circumference on its side surface on the salient pole side. The magnet is arranged such that its side surface on the salient pole side faces a side surface of each salient pole and a side surface of a portion of the hub that faces the stator core along a rotational axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130094342
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a magnet arranged around a central axis extending in a vertical direction. The stationary portion includes a base member and a magnetic member arranged below the magnet and fixed to the base member. The base member includes an upper surface extending out perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the central axis, and a wall surface extending in an axial direction. The magnetic member includes an annular plate portion arranged on the base member and a projecting portion arranged to extend downward from the plate portion. At least a portion of the projecting portion is arranged to be in contact with the wall surface. An adhesive is arranged between the plate portion and the upper surface of the base member and between the projecting portion and the wall surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: NIDEC CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8406112
    Abstract: An improved turntable is described with inherent properties for reducing noise generated by external sources or by the parts of the turntable. The plinth of the turntable is comprised of an elastomeric layer and at least one stiffening layer that adds rigidity to the plinth. The support feet, spindle bearing, and armboard only come into contact with the elastomeric layer, which dampens energy, allowing the turntable produce the audio on the record without excessive noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventors: George Earnest Merrill, Robert Edwin Williams
  • Patent number: 8315143
    Abstract: An improved disc jockey turntable is disclosed. The turntable includes a housing having an I/O circuit, an audio output electrically connected to the I/O circuit, a rotatable platter configured and arranged to received a vinyl record thereon, an electric motor is configured to selectively rotate the platter, a movable tonearm with a pickup cartridge is electrically connected to the I/O circuit whereby the tonearm may be moved over the platter and placed on a vinyl record rotating on the platter to play audio out through the audio output. A dock is located on the housing and is configured to cradle a portable music player. The dock has a communication port for connecting to the portable music player. A control circuit is electrically connected to the communication port and the I/O circuit, and is configured to selectively recording audio from the I/O circuit to the portable music player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: inMusic Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Frederick, John E. O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20120008488
    Abstract: An improved turntable is described with inherent properties for reducing noise generated by external sources or by the parts of the turntable. The plinth of the turntable is comprised of an elastomeric layer and at least one stiffening layer that adds rigidity to the plinth. The support feet, spindle bearing, and armboard only come into contact with the elastomeric layer, which dampens energy, allowing the turntable produce the audio on the record without excessive noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Merrill Williams Audio, LLC
    Inventors: George Earnest Merrill, Robert Edwin Williams
  • Patent number: 7928313
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a scratch effect controller for use by a disk jockey, wherein at least one electromagnet creates the slippage tension or friction effect between the user manipulated disc, which includes a vinyl-like surface thereby simulating a vinyl record, and the rotatable or fixed platter. The strength of the electromagnet is variable so as to create a variable slippage tension or friction effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Stanton Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Flum, James Mazur
  • Publication number: 20110051591
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing includes an auxiliary bearing portion, a first radial bearing portion and a second radial bearing portion arranged along an axial direction of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the auxiliary groove formed in the auxiliary bearing portion is shallower in depth than the radial dynamic pressure groove formed in the first radial bearing portion, and wherein a gap size in the auxiliary bearing portion is set to be equal to or larger than a gap size in the radial bearing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Weihong YANG
  • Publication number: 20100329104
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stator unit and a rotor unit supported to be rotatable with respect to the stator unit. The stator unit includes a stator, a base portion including a through hole, and a circuit board. The circuit board includes a connection portion to which a conductive wire from the stator is connected after passing through the through hole, and an extending portion arranged to extend from the connection portion. A lower surface of the base portion includes a recess portion arranged to accommodate the connection portion, and a groove portion arranged to extend from the recess portion to have the extending portion arranged therein. A bottom surface of the groove portion includes a protrusion portion arranged to protrude downwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi YAWATA, Yasuhiro SUZUKI, Shintaro SAEKI, Takehito TAMAOKA
  • Publication number: 20100246349
    Abstract: A storage disk drive motor 12 includes a stator unit 2, a rotor unit 3, a shaft 41 arranged in a coaxial relationship with a center axis 9, a sleeve unit 22 including a flange portion 223, and a base member 21, having a through-hole, fixed to the sleeve unit 22 by caulking. The flange portion 223 includes a flange lower surface 223b making contact with an upper surface 21a of the base member 21 and a jut 24 protruding downwards from a radial inner side of the flange lower surface 223b. The jut 24 includes a first outer circumferential surface 241 opposed to the inner circumferential surface 21c of the base member 21, a second outer circumferential surface 242 positioned below the first outer circumferential surface 241, and a groove 243 radially inwardly indented from the first outer circumferential surface 241 and the second outer circumferential surface 242.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takaki, Tatsuya Tatara, Hiroaki Inamori
  • Patent number: 7799404
    Abstract: A photo-curable transfer sheet having a photo-curable layer comprising a photo-curable composition, the photo-curable composition being deformable by application of pressure and containing a reactive polymer having a photopolymerizable functional group. The photo-curable transfer sheet preferably has a light transmittance of not less than 70% in a wavelength rang of 380 to 420 nm. An optical information recording substrate and medium prepared by the sheet. The sheet easily and precisely enables transfer of unevenness of the surface of a stamper by pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kitano, Hidefumi Kotsubo, Takato Inamiya
  • Publication number: 20100177627
    Abstract: In the base bracket of the motor, the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket includes a first bottom-inner area arranged over a circuit board attaching portion of a bottom-outer surface to which the circuit board is attached, and a second bottom-inner area arranged other than the first bottom-inner area in a level axially lower than the first bottom-inner area. The second bottom-inner area defines a base of the concave portion arranged in the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket. A characteristic frequency of the disk storage device using the motor with the base bracket is preferably adjustable by changing the depth or width of the concave portion while the strength of the base bracket is preferably maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutaka INO, Naoyuki TAKADA
  • Patent number: 7724519
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus configured to have: a display section (2) pivotally provided with respect to an apparatus main body (3) with a pair of hinges (9a, 9b) so as to pivot between a close position to close the apparatus main body and an open position to open the apparatus main body; and an operation section (18) executing a predetermined function by being operated is disposed between the pair of hinges, so that operations to the operation section are possible in the both states of the open position and the close position of the display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Asawa, Atsushi Kawase, Chiharu Tanaka, Hiroyuki Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20100080109
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a scratch effect controller for use by a disk jockey, wherein at least one electromagnet creates the slippage tension or friction effect between the user manipulated disc, which includes a vinyl-like surface thereby simulating a vinyl record, and the rotatable or fixed platter. The strength of the electromagnet is variable so as to create a variable slippage tension or friction effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: STANTON MAGNETICS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Flum, James Mazur
  • Patent number: 7683559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recovering energy from the turntable motor (12) in an optical disc drive comprising a power supply and a circuitry (10) that is capable of selectively feeding a current from the power supply into the motor in a first state and from the motor into the power supply in a second state, the method comprising the steps of: decelerating the motor, during decelerating the motor, repeatedly calculating a ratio between a duration of the first state and a duration of the second state in dependence on an angular velocity of the motor, such that a current integrated over the whole decelerating process is fed from the motor into the power supply, and after calculating the ratio, selecting the duration of the first state and the duration of the second state in accordance with the calculated ratio. The present invention further relates to an optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Albertus Johanna Looijmans, Cornelius Antonius Hezemans, Joop Van Bijnen
  • Publication number: 20100020673
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to control and audio manipulation of a digital audio signal by a user manipulable rotary control. The disclosure is specifically applicable to manipulation of a digital audio signal by disc jockeys (DJs). A magnet and corresponding sensor are used to obtain rotational state information from the turning of the user manipulable rotary control. This rotational state information is used to manipulate a digital audio signal. Manipulation of the digital audio includes forward and backward motion as well as a “scratch effect”. Rotational state information obtained from rotating magnet includes the possibility of absolute rotation position as well as relative rotational position, or rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Alan Flum, James Mazur
  • Patent number: 7566827
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a scratch effect controller for use by a disk jockey, wherein at least one electromagnet creates the slippage tension or friction effect between the user manipulated disc, which includes a vinyl-like surface thereby simulating a vinyl record, and the rotatable or fixed platter. The strength of the electromagnet is variable so as to create a variable slippage tension or friction effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Stanton Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mazur, Alan Flum
  • Publication number: 20080144478
    Abstract: An improved disc jockey turntable is disclosed. The turntable includes a housing having an I/O circuit, an audio output electrically connected to the I/O circuit, a rotatable platter configured and arranged to received a vinyl record thereon, an electric motor is configured to selectively rotate the platter, a movable tonearm with a pickup cartridge is electrically connected to the I/O circuit whereby the tonearm may be moved over the platter and placed on a vinyl record rotating on the platter to play audio out through the audio output. A dock is located on the housing and is configured to cradle a portable music player. The dock has a communication port for connecting to the portable music player. A control circuit is electrically connected to the communication port and the I/O circuit, and is configured to selectively recording audio from the I/O circuit to the portable music player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: NUMARK INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Frederick, John E. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 7356825
    Abstract: The disk carrying apparatus includes a lifting portion which carries a disk onto a turntable, a chuck which holds the carried disk on the turntable, and a third switch which detects an intermediate position between a holding operation start position where the chuck starts a disk holding operation and a holding operation end position where the chuck finishes the disk holding operation. After completion of an initial disk holding operation, the chuck returns to the intermediate position detected by the third switch and retries the disk holding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinari Makisaka, Hitoshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 7123573
    Abstract: An automatic ball balancing system for an optical disk reading device has a rotor mechanism that has a concave annular track formed on the rotor, with at least one ball placed on the annular track to perform automatic balancing. A surface with a low friction coefficient is also provided on the annular track in the gravity direction of the balls to reduce the movement resistance between the ball(s) and the annular track. In the meantime, the stable rotation speed of the rotor and the system phase angle of the ball(s) when the rotor reaches a stable rotation speed are also changed. One way of effecting this change is to bond or coat a material with a low friction coefficient on the annular track in the gravity direction of the balls. In this way, the balancing effect of the automatic ball balancing system can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Lite-On IT Corp.
    Inventors: Lih-Hwa Kuo, Jeng-Jiun Chen, Bor-Ruey Chen
  • Patent number: 7106685
    Abstract: A turntable that has a platter that can be vertically positioned so that the VTA between the stylus of the cartridge and the record can be easily adjusted without tweaking or touching the tone arm. The turntable includes a base, a platter, a spindle assembly configured to position the platter above the base, and a spindle adjustment mechanism configured to selectively position the vertical position of the platter with respect to the base. In one embodiment, the spindle adjustment mechanism includes a drive shaft that is configured to engage the spindle assembly and to selectively drive the spindle assembly up or down. As the spindle assembly is moved up and down, the platter moves up and down with respect to the base. In another embodiment, the spindle assembly includes a spindle shaft configured to rotate inside a chamber of the spindle assembly. A bolt which attached to the spindle shaft is configured to move up and down when the spindle shaft is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventor: Salvatore J. Calaio
  • Patent number: 7035197
    Abstract: A disk drive capable of producing the effect of a balancer even in a variety of reproduction and recording speeds without causing problems owing to the balancer, comprising a balancer in which magnetic balls 1 movably accommodated inside a damper 6 cancel any imbalance amount of a disk 5, and a detection section 14 provided near the clamper 6 to detect the behavior of the magnetic balls 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Okada
  • Patent number: 7016283
    Abstract: A spindle motor inclination angle adjusting mechanism for an optical disk device includes two adjusting mechanisms to provide two rotational freedom for the base dock of the spindle motor to adjust the inclination angle of the spindle motor. The first adjusting mechanism has three support points that are not on the same straight line to support the base dock. Two of the support points are fixed and the third support point is movable relative to the other two support points to change the inclination angle of the base dock of the spindle motor. The second adjusting mechanism is a rotary element for carrying the first adjusting mechanism and driving the first adjusting mechanism to rotate and change the direction of the inclination angle of the base dock to adjust the spindle motor inclination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Hsuan Yang, Chi-Shen Chang, Yu-Hsiu Chang
  • Patent number: 6898165
    Abstract: A reproducer can enhance detection accuracy with respect to a rotational motion according to a scratch operation and properly change a reproducing speed of a recording medium. A turntable of a scratch operating part comprises a disk-shaped mounting plate, which is made from metal, fixed on the upper end of a bushing, a ring-shaped grooved member fixed on a marginal area of the under surface of the mounting plate with mounting bolts, and a marginal member fixed on an outer area of the ring-shaped grooved member. A disk has a disk surface on rollers provided on the top surface of the turntable and a ring-shaped detected part located around an outer circumference of the disk surface and projecting from the under surface of the disk. A light receiving element supplies a signal with a frequency proportional to a period in which a concave part and a convex part pass according to the rotational speed of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6826771
    Abstract: A disk holding device according to the present invention is constituted by a turntable (21), a center hub (25), plural claw-shaped members (26), elastic members (27) which energize the claw-shaped members (26) in the direction of the radius of a disk (23), a centering ring (28) having an inclined portion (28b), which ring is movable in the direction vertical to the disk surface, and an elastic member (29) which energizes the centering ring (28) in the direction along which the disk (23) is pushed up. The internal diameter of the disk (23) engages with the inclined portion (28a) before a cylindrical portion of the internal diameter of the disk (23) gets over the claw-shaped members (26), whereby centering of the disk (23) is performed, and then the disk (23) is held. The disk holding device constructed as described above is able to hold an optical disk such as a CD, a DVD, or the like, and perform more reliable centering of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Wada
  • Publication number: 20040218517
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a lid body turnable with respect to the apparatus main body and having a display portion for displaying information, and a lid body turnably supporting mechanism for turnably supporting the lid body with respect to the apparatus main body. The lid body turnably supporting mechanism has a first turning shaft with its axial direction extending in parallel to a principal surface of the apparatus main body, and a second turning shaft provided at one end of the first turning shaft in such a manner as to be perpendicular to the principal surface of the apparatus main body. In this electronic apparatus, the second turning shaft of the lid body turnably supporting mechanism is located at one of corners of the apparatus main body or the lid body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Yano, Akifumi Nonaka, Masafumi Tamura, Masahide Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20040202095
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spindle motor in use for a disk drive and a mobile communication system using the same. The spindle motor comprises a circuit board, a cylindrical housing fixedly mounted on the circuit board and allowing a shaft to be rotatably inserted into the housing, a plurality of grooves formed in an inner periphery of the housing, and a molybdenum disulfide film formed through penetration in the inner periphery of the housing including the grooves. The molybdenum disulfide film and the grooves serve as lubricant to the shaft during rotation of the shaft. An armature is arranged on the circuit board adjacent to an outer periphery of the housing and having lamellar conductors laminated one atop another. A rotor is integrally fixed to the shaft, and has a turntable arranged in a top portion thereof for seating a disk and a magnet arranged in an underside portion thereof for cooperating with the armature to generate electromagnetic force to turn the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Seong Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 6802072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turntable (1) for a disc-shaped information carrier. The turntable is provided with a central element (2), which has a central shaft opening (8), a support surface (6) for the information carrier extending perpendicularly to a central axis of the shaft opening, and a driving member (3) having an output shaft (12) for rotationally driving the central element and the support surface. The output shaft and the shaft opening together form a clamping connection, and the output shaft extends in the shaft opening over an insertion length (1). According to the invention, the output shaft (12) is in clamping contact with the shaft opening (8) exclusively via a contact portion of the output shaft having a contact length which is smaller than the insertion length. Preferably, the contact portion exclusively comprises a first part (22) and a second part (23) respectively situated near both end portions of the shaft opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Waltherus Cornelis Jozef Bierhoff
  • Patent number: 6788639
    Abstract: Reproduction and/or recording device for optical recording media having a unit for adjusting the inclination of a bearing, is disclosed. The device includes a unit for adjusting the inclination of a bearing of a laser disk scanning apparatus, which has a board to which the bearing is fastened. The inclination of the bearing can be set with regard to the board by setting units, which alters the distance between the board and the bearing, the selling units each having at least one elastic element, is known. In order to improve the device to the extent that its individual components are inexpensive to produce and the adjustment can be carried out rapidly and in a simple manner, it is provided that the board has at least two elastic lugs, which are connected to the bearing. The inclinations of the lugs can be set with regard to the board by setting units, which act on the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Fritz Weisser, Rolf Dupper
  • Patent number: 6778487
    Abstract: A plurality of positioning parts for positioning a disc chucking member that is inserted are formed in a circumferential surface of the disc engaging part of a turntable by providing stepped surfaces that are lower than a disc sliding surface of the circumferential surface of the disc engaging part. Molding pins are passed through these positioning parts, and the turntable is molded with the disk chucking member being positioned in this way. As a result, in a disc chucking apparatus and a disc-drive that use the turntable, a disc can be smoothly chucked without being impeded by the positioning parts of the disc chucking member that is inserted onto the disc engaging part, and recording and reproduction can be favorably performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Morishita
  • Patent number: 6738340
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device in a deck for playing information discs (2), which preferably have been provided or can be provided with digital information, the information disc (2) being rotated, in the operating condition, about its center by a drive motor (5) and magnetically cooperating material parts (8, 9) being present, which are offset radially with respect to the axis of rotation (3) and in the direction thereof parallel with respect to one another and of which one part (8) is disposed on the base plate (4) which carries the motor (3) and of which the other part (9) is disposed on the disc support (1) which is moved by the motor shaft (6), one of the material parts (8, 9) being a ring-shaped permanent magnet, at least one of the two magnetically cooperating material parts (8, 9) being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation (3) and both material parts (8, 9) are ring-shaped, the directions of the lines of field not being changed during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Christian Hopf, Norbert Kunze, Stefan Mueller, Horst Rumpf, Cornelius Wouters
  • Patent number: 6731588
    Abstract: A disk player having a self-compensating dynamic balancer so as to subdue internal vibrations due to an eccentric center of mass of a disk, a self-compensating-dynamic-balancer integrated turntable, a self-compensating-dynamic-balancer integrated clamper, and a self-compensating-dynamic-balancer integrated spindle motor which are employed in the disk player. The self-compensating dynamic balancer is embodied by forming a cavity in a turntable, clamper, a rotor of a spindle motor, or the like, and disposing movable members including movable rigid bodies and/or a liquid therein. Internal vibrations due to the eccentric mass of the disk are subdued effectively the movable members moving away from a revolution center according to respective centrifugal forces where the self-compensating dynamic balancer rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-xing Han
  • Publication number: 20040081066
    Abstract: A turntable that has a platter that can be vertically positioned so that the VTA between the stylus of the cartridge and the record can be easily adjusted without tweaking or touching the tone arm. The turntable includes a base, a platter, a spindle assembly configured to position the platter above the base, and a spindle adjustment mechanism configured to selectively position the vertical position of the platter with respect to the base. In one embodiment, the spindle adjustment mechanism includes a drive shaft that is configured to engage the spindle assembly and to selectively drive the spindle assembly up or down. As the spindle assembly is moved up and down, the platter moves up and down with respect to the base. In another embodiment, the spindle assembly includes a spindle shaft configured to rotate inside a chamber of the spindle assembly. A bolt which attached to the spindle shaft is configured to move up and down when the spindle shaft is rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Salvatore J. Calaio
  • Publication number: 20040052201
    Abstract: A spindle motor in an optical disc player includes a motor having a rotation shaft, a turntable rotating together with the rotation shaft and having a track groove having a circular shape, moving members disposed in the track groove to move along the track groove to compensate for an eccentric force, a collision and dispersion inducing unit having a height from the track groove to induce a rebounding phenomenon between the moving members to be spaced-apart from each other when the moving members are arranged in a non-uniform displacement due to a centrifugal force and a friction between the track groove and the moving members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weon Ki Hong, Tae Heon Kim
  • Publication number: 20040022170
    Abstract: An automatic ball balancing system for an optical disk reading device has a rotor mechanism that has a concave annular track formed on the rotor, with at least one ball placed on the annular track to perform automatic balancing. A surface with a low friction coefficient is also provided on the annular track in the gravity direction of the balls to reduce the movement resistance between the ball(s) and the annular track. In the meantime, the stable rotation speed of the rotor and the system phase angle of the ball(s) when the rotor reaches a stable rotation speed are also changed. One way of effecting this change is to bond or coat a material with a low friction coefficient on the annular track in the gravity direction of the balls. In this way, the balancing effect of the automatic ball balancing system can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Lih-Hwa Kuo, Jeng-Jiun Chen, Bor-Ruey Chen
  • Publication number: 20030235140
    Abstract: A data storage drive, a method of manufacturing the same, and a drive array that includes multiple such disk storage drives. In one embodiment, the disk storage drive includes: (1) a substrate, (2) a motor located on the substrate, (3) a data storage medium coupled to the motor for movement thereby and (4) a MEMS read arm located on the substrate, having a read head and capable of responding to control signals by moving to cause the read head to traverse portions of the data storage medium thereby to read data therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Agere Systems Guardian Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Holmberg, David A. Rich
  • Patent number: 6657945
    Abstract: A forced flow of cooling air through a computer housing is created during operation of a specially designed data storage disc drive structure operatively disposed in the housing. The drive, which is illustratively a CD ROM drive, has a bladed carrying structure which supports a compact disc and is rotationally driven with the supported disc. Driven rotation of the bladed carrying structure creates the forced flow of cooling air within the housing without requiring additional space for a separate cooling fan therein. In two illustrated embodiments of the bladed carrying structure the created cooling air flow is generally parallel to the rotational axis of the compact disc, and in a third embodiment of the bladed carrying structure the created cooling air flow is generally transverse to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Vu T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20030137920
    Abstract: A disk player having a self-compensating dynamic balancer which can limit internal vibrations generated by an eccentric center of gravity of a disk, and a turntable, a clamper and a spindle motor which incorporate a self-compensating dynamic balancer. The self-compensating dynamic balancer is formed integrally with rotating members in a disk player; that is, a turntable, a clamper and/or a rotor of a spindle motor. The self-compensating dynamic balancer includes at least one race which is integrally formed with the rotating member and rotates around a rotational shaft, a mobile unit which is located in the race to be capable of moving, and a cover member for covering an opening of the race. Thus, internal vibrations occurring due to the eccentric center of gravity of the disk can be effectively limited by the self-compensating dynamic balancer in which the mobile unit is disposed far away from the center of orbital rotation by a centrifugal force during rotation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Seung Sohn, Dae-Sung Ro
  • Publication number: 20030117935
    Abstract: A rotary drive device includes a plurality of balancing balls that are held to a holding magnet during low speed rotation, including when a rotary body starts. The balancing balls move outward in the radial direction away from the holding magnet by a centrifugal force applied to the plurality of balancing balls as a result of the rotation of the rotary body. Each of the balancing balls is moved into a position that negates a rotational unbalance of the rotary body to achieve a balancing effect. The number of effective revolutions, at which point the plurality of balancing balls that is attracted to the holding magnet begins to move outward in the radial direction away from the holding magnet as the number of revolutions of the rotary body increases, is smaller than the number of resonant revolutions of the rotary body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Shinichi Utsumi, Atsushi Honda
  • Publication number: 20030107984
    Abstract: A turntable assembly not requiring use of plastic centering hooks, enabling simplification of the mold structure, and enabling attachment of the leaf springs imparting elastic spring force in the disk centering mechanism even after fitting the center hole of the turntable over the motor shaft, wherein the turntable assembly has a motor having a projecting motor shaft and a turntable having a center hole into which the projecting portion of the motor shaft is inserted and a magnet holding groove formed at a disk hole mating hub around the center hole and holding a permanent magnet for clamping an information storage disk placed on the turntable in the magnet holding groove, the disk centering mechanism having a plurality of spring seats at spring flexing spaces formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the disk hole mating hub 21, each of the spring seats being provided with a centering leaf spring having a vertically descending piece protruding slightly outward in the radial direction from the o
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO SEIMITSU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6552992
    Abstract: A weight member is attached to a rotor so as to forcibly offset a center of gravity of a rotor from a rotating axis, centrifugal force moves two movable weight members to appropriate positions for canceling the unbalance due to the center of gravity offset from the rotating axis, and stoppers restrict the movement of the two movable weight members in a sectoral area opposite to the center of gravity so that the rotor is free from vibrations due to the characteristic angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventors: Makoto Takeuchi, Kazuhiko Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6549508
    Abstract: A turntable can be manufactured inexpensively using a comparatively inexpensive material and in accordance with ordinary injection molding technique and mold management. A thin-walled cylindrical fixing portion having an insertion hole, into which a rotational shaft is pressed, is formed at a central portion of the turntable. A thin-walled cylindrical reinforcing portion, which is concentric with the fixing portion and has a large diameter, is formed at the outer circumferential side of the fixing portion. Reinforcing rib portions are provided radially between the fixing portion and the reinforcing portion. In this way, deformation due to sink or the like does not occur at the time of injection molding, and extracting force of the rotational shaft which was pressed into the insertion hole can be adjusted to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Aiwa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Matsumoto, Satoshi Otomo, Toshio Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030058779
    Abstract: A spindle device of a disc drive, including a self-compensating dynamic balancer. The spindle device includes a turntable on which a disc is to be placed, a spindle motor to rotate the turntable, a moving body to compensate for the eccentric center of gravity due to the asymmetry of the disc, and a self-compensating dynamic balancer having a race in which a moving body moves. The self-compensating dynamic balancer includes an annular race encircling the rotational center of the turntable and having a predetermined depth and width, and an annular moving body placed in the race, the annular moving body has an inner diameter wider than that of the race and an outer diameter narrower than that of the race, so that the eccentric center of gravity thereof can be moved in the race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-il Oh, Young-sun Seo, Young-won Lee, Ki-won Yoon
  • Patent number: 6535475
    Abstract: A disk player having a self-compensating dynamic balancer which can limit internal vibrations generated by an eccentric center of gravity of a disk, and a turntable, a clamper and a spindle motor which incorporate a self-compensating dynamic balancer. The self-compensating dynamic balancer is formed integrally with rotating members in a disk player; that is, a turntable, a clamper and/or a rotor of a spindle motor. The self-compensating dynamic balancer includes at least one race which is integrally formed with the rotating member and rotates around a rotational shaft, a mobile unit which is located in the race to be capable of moving, and a cover member for covering an opening of the race. Thus, internal vibrations occurring due to the eccentric center of gravity of the disk can be effectively limited by the self-compensating dynamic balancer in which the mobile unit is disposed far away from the center of orbital rotation by a centrifugal force during rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-seung Sohn, Dae-sung Ro
  • Publication number: 20030012121
    Abstract: An optical disk drive includes, a main body, a tray driven by a loading motor transporting a disk in or out of the main body, and a base chassis on which an optical pickup emitting a beam onto a recording surface of the disk is mounted. A rotary chassis, installed to rotate with respect to the base chassis, has a turntable on which the disk is to be placed. Also, the optical disk drive includes a skew adjustment mechanism controlling skew between the disk placed on the turntable and the optical pickup mounted on the base chassis by rotating the rotary chassis. The optical disk drive dynamically controls skew between the disk and the optical pickup so that light is incident on the disk in a precise direction, thereby increasing its performance of data recording and reproducing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Joon Kim
  • Publication number: 20020196728
    Abstract: A plurality of positioning parts for positioning a disc chucking member that is inserted are formed in a circumferential surface of the disc engaging part of a turntable by providing stepped surfaces that are lower than a disc sliding surface of the circumferential surface of the disc engaging part. Molding pins are passed through these positioning parts, and the turntable is molded with the disk chucking member being positioned in this way. As a result, in a disc chucking apparatus and a disc drive that use the turntable, a disc can be smoothly chucked without being impeded by the positioning parts of the disc chucking member that is inserted onto the disc engaging part, and recording and reproduction can be favorably performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Tomoaki Morishita
  • Patent number: 6496472
    Abstract: Turntable runout of an optical disk drive is corrected by the application of at least three skidproof rubber pads affixed to the turntable on a circle and separated by equal angles. The height of each of the skidproof rubber pads is selected to adjust the runout of the turntable at each location. The invention accomplishes the compensation of turntable runout where, traditionally, lathe-turning was required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yao Liao, Jui-Nan Chuang, Ta Hsiang Wang, Tzu Nan Chen