Speed Changing Patents (Class 369/267)
  • Patent number: 11832728
    Abstract: A housing defines a housing interior. An air pump is within the housing interior. A first set of dampers supports the air pump within the housing. The first set of dampers at least partially isolates vibration of the air pump from the housing. A second set of dampers is configured to at least partially isolate vibration of the air pump from the housing. The second set of dampers arranged in series with the first set of dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Doffing, Scott Birgin, Julianne Clemens
  • Patent number: 10714132
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording writer has a main pole (MP) with a first flux guiding (FG) device in a write gap between the MP trailing side and a trailing shield, a second FG device in each side gap and adjoining a MP side, and third FG device in the leading gap and adjoining the MP leading side. At least one of a first and second non-magnetic conductive layer (NMC1 and NMC2) contacts the third FG device and second FG devices, respectively, instead of a conventional leading shield and side shield. Each FG device has a flux guiding layer (FGL) with a magnetization that flips to oppose a gap flux field when a current is applied across the respective gap thereby enhancing the MP write field. NMC1 and NMC2 allow better wear and corrosion resistance in addition to improved return field and down-track field gradient, and acceptable side shield stray field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyu Chen, Ying Liu, Yan Wu, Yuhui Tang
  • Patent number: 10699744
    Abstract: A 45-record adapter embellished with weighted and shiny chrome ball-bearings and perhaps colored metal balls with LED lights structured and arranged to allow 45 rpm records to be played on a turntable, but also help to hold the records in place while offering record-collectors and enthusiasts a unique, eye-catching novelty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Andy Pinedo
  • Patent number: 8547810
    Abstract: A reading unit reads sound signals recorded in a recording medium. A buffer unit temporarily stores the sound signals which is read by the reading unit. A recording unit records the sound signal which is temporarily stored in the buffer unit. A reproducing unit reproduces the sound signals which is recorded in the recording unit. A controller controls reading speed of the reading unit. The sound signals include a first set of signals and a second set of signals. The reading unit reads the first set of signals at a first reading speed and reads the second set of signals at a second reading speed which is faster than the first reading speed after reading the first set of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Shinsuke Yuri, Yukio Shimizu, Jyun Shimizu, Ichirou Kugou, Chiyohiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8400892
    Abstract: An information reproduction device sets, from among a plurality of estimated rotation speeds previously estimated, a set rotation speed in accordance with request-specification information specifying a piece of data requested by an external device and a specified rotation speed specified by the external device for a disc-shaped storage medium storing data, rotates the storage medium at the set rotation speed, reads out data from the storage medium at a readout speed that is determined by the set rotation speed of the storage medium, stores the data in a data storage section, and supplies, from among the stored data, the piece of data corresponding to the request-specification information to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony NEC Optiarc Inc.
    Inventor: Motofumi Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 8345520
    Abstract: A method for detecting whether vertical deviation of an optical disc occurs is provided. First, before a pickup head is successfully focused on the optical disc, a pickup head is actuated based on an input control signal so as to generate a focus error signal with a plurality of S-curves. Then, a plurality of zero crossing points of the S-curves in the focus error signal is identified and a plurality of input control values respectively corresponding to the zero crossing points is obtained. A variation of the input control values is then calculated. Whether vertical deviation of the optical disc occurs can be determined according to the variation of the input control values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mediatek, Inc.
    Inventors: Shang-Wei Wu, Hsu-Feng Ho
  • Publication number: 20110181981
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Edward K.Y. Jung, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • 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
  • 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: 20080291809
    Abstract: A rotation control method of a disc and a video camera using such a method in the video camera having an optical disc drive therein, wherein a vibration occurring due to the rotation of a disc when data is recorded to the disc during photographing is suppressed, an electric power which is consumed by the disc drive is reduced, a real-time recording is accomplished, and quality of the data which is recorded to the disc is not deteriorated. In the video camera, the disc drive is intermittently driven and a rotational speed of the disc and timing for switching the rotational speed of the disc are controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Tatsuya ISHITOBI
  • Publication number: 20080130473
    Abstract: A video camera with a disk drive capable of recording and reproducing operations with stability and silence achieved by suppressing vibration and noise caused by disk rotation. The number of revolutions of the disk is controlled according to states of the video camera. The disk drive comprises a disk rotation control unit for rotating the disk at an optional number of revolutions under rotation control and an adjusting process unit for recording data on the disk, in which one or both of the disk rotation speed and the rotation control method are changed by using an adjusting process executed in a period when recording is performed and the adjusting process executed in a period when recording is not performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ishitobi
  • Patent number: 7184379
    Abstract: An operation for recording a recording signal onto a disk (1) is interrupted, when an amount of signal data stored in a buffer RAM (11) for temporarily storing the recording signal is less than an interruption setting value during performing of the recording operation. Moreover, when the amount of signal data stored in the buffer RAM (11) increases and indicates a resumption setting value, the signal recorded on the disk (1) before interruption is reproduced, and the recording operation is resumed based on the reproduced signal. Moreover, recording properties are detected by the signal reproduced before resumption of recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsukihashi, Toru Tanaka, Yasushi Hanamoto, Shinji Seki, Toshihiko Hiroshima, Yutaka Imamura
  • Patent number: 7177238
    Abstract: A method and related apparatus for data accessing of an optical disk drive. The optical disk drive has a motor for rotating an optical disk and a pickup head. The pickup head is capable of writing data onto the optical disk according to a write-in clock. The method includes: when the pick-up head is seeking to a target position and a rotation speed of the motor is still being adjusted and unstable, making the pickup head slide back and forth within a predefined range, and making the pickup head slide toward the target position when the rotation speed of the motor becomes stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: VIA Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Umi Huang
  • Patent number: 6430144
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a control method of the auto-balancing system of an optical disk drive. The present invention adds a procedure of constant rotation speed in the acceleration process of the spindle motor when the rotation speed is below a critical speed. When the rotation speed of the spindle motor is below the critical speed, the position of added mass will be situated at a position at the same side of the unbalance vector of the original optical disk. Thereby the balancing mass will remain at the position of worst balancing effect in the procedure of constant rotation speed. After the procedure of constant rotation speed, the spindle motor will be accelerated to pass the critical speed of the system by the largest torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Lite-On It Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yao Liao, Tzu-Nan Chen, Lih-Hwa Kuo
  • Patent number: 6392983
    Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a turntable. The turntable is first rotated at a low speed in response to turning on of a reproduce switch on the disc apparatus, and the balancer is, in turn, brought to rest at an optimal position for low speed rotation. When the balancer comes to rest, automatic adjustment is effected. When the automatic adjustment is ended, the turntable is decelerated in rotation to release the balancer from resting. When the rotation speed of the turntable reaches a speed at which the balancer is released from resting, the balancer becomes movable relative to the turntable. Thereafter the turntable is brought into high speed rotation to move the balancer to rest at an optimal position for high speed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Osawa, Yasunori Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 6252841
    Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a turntable. The turntable is first rotated at a low speed in response to turning on of a reproduce switch on the disc apparatus, and the balancer is, in turn, brought to rest at an optimal position for low speed rotation. When the balancer comes to rest, automatic adjustment is effected. When the automatic adjustment is ended, the turntable is decelerated in rotation to release the balancer from resting. When the rotation speed of the turntable reaches a speed at which the balancer is released from resting, the balancer becomes movable relative to the turntable. Thereafter the turntable is brought into high speed rotation to move the balancer to rest at an optimal position for high speed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Osawa, Yasunori Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 6111826
    Abstract: An optical disk drive driving an optical disk includes a vibration detecting part for detecting a vibration due to rotation of the optical disk, an operation part for calculating a rotational speed of the optical disk at which the vibration detected by the vibration detecting part is equal to or close to a given threshold value which is a critical point for tolerable vibration, and a control part for controlling the optical disk to be rotated at the rotational speed calculated by the operation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Minase
  • Patent number: 5998947
    Abstract: In a method of starting rotation of a magnetic disk medium of a large-capacity flexible disk by a spindle motor for use in a high-density type flexible disk drive for carrying out data recording and reproducing operation to and from the magnetic disk medium of the large-capacity flexible disk which requires to rotate at a high rotation speed on recording and reproducing, the method includes: a first step of rotating the spindle motor at a low rotation speed lower than the high rotation speed on rotation starting of the magnetic disk medium; a second step of rotating the spindle motor at the high rotation speed subsequently to rotating of the spindle motor at the low rotation speed; a third step of rotating the spindle motor at the low rotation speed subsequently to rotating of the spindle motor at the high rotation speed; and a fourth step of rotating the spindle motor at the high rotation speed subsequently to rotating of the spindle motor at the low rotation speed at the third step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiharu Shimizu, Yoshihide Majima, Toshimitsu Itoh, Hidetsugu Touji
  • Patent number: 5600513
    Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device is provided with design features permitting are reduction in device height making it readily suitable for compact utility in a computer assembly, such as, a laptop computer or the like as well as a simplification of parts to provide for a reduction in manufacturing and assembly costs. These features include a structure for miniaturization and simplification of the collet mechanism and its assembly for clamping the recording medium, and the employment of a light guide member in the recording medium detection system for detecting the instantaneous rotational position of the recording medium from which a timing signal is derived. With the improvement of the clamping mechanism and use of a light guide member, significant miniaturization and thinning or reduction in casing height of the device can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Nakata, Naoyuki Okumura
  • Patent number: 5561658
    Abstract: A disc player both translates and rotates a disc using a pair of parallel drive belts contacting opposed edges of a disc. Each drive belt spans a drive pulley and a passive driven pulley. The pulleys are supported on one of two sliding plates. The sliding plates are connected by a pair of pantograph-type rotatable mounting arms such that movement of one drive belt toward the disc forces the other drive belt to move an equal amount toward the disc. Each drive pulley is driven by a motor causing the drive belt to revolve. A spanning portion of each drive belt is urged against the edge of the disc, thereby establishing friction engagement between the belts and the disc such that the disc rotates when the belts rotate. A disc advance control system moves the disc linearly through an optical beam by differing the rotational frequency of one belt relative to the other. Disc advance may be accomplished with, or without, disc rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Nakamichi Corporation
    Inventors: Niro Nakamichi, Tadao Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 5477523
    Abstract: A rotating media carrier system includes a rotating media carrier having an axis of rotation, a mass connected to the media carrier, and a device for adjusting a radial position of the mass with respect to the axis of rotation. The system further includes a device for rotating the media carrier and the mass, wherein the rotating media carrier and the mass are connected to the device for rotating such that the rotating media carrier rotates at an angular velocity that is different than the mass at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventor: Lennart Olsson
  • Patent number: 5477522
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling spindle motor of compact disc utilizing appliance are disclosed, in which the spindle motor is controlled early to meet a rotation speed on a target track, in a rough search, so that a phase locked loop (PLL) servo is normally operated, immediately after the search, thereby enabling the time required in accessing information to be reduced. The apparatus includes a device for detecting the rotation speed of the spindle motor. In the search mode, the frequency corresponding to the detected rotation speed of the spindle motor is compared with a reference frequency corresponding to a rotation speed on the target track. A signal indicative of the comparison result is differentially amplified, to control the spindle motor to correspond to the rotation speed on the target track, in the search mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung H. Kim
  • Patent number: 5010539
    Abstract: A optical disk recording and reproducing device capable of recording and reproducing data to or from an optical disk. Continuous signals representing continuous analog information such as audio and video information and discrete signals representing discrete data-information such as numerical data including program codes or character data are recorded dividedly in different recording regions provided on an optical disk including erasable or write once-type disks. The optical disk is rotated at a given linear or rotary angular speed under control by a disk rotation control device so as to simplify rotational control of the optical disk in accessing the information in the divided regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Terashima, Kentaro Tsuji, Hiroshi Fuji
  • Patent number: 4866695
    Abstract: In a control system for a disc player for a CLV (constant linear velocity) type disc, in order to control a rotation of a spindle motor in response to a location of the disc to be read, there is provided a tachometer coupled to the motor for generating a rotation signal having a frequency corresponding to a rotation of the motor, signal generator for generating a reference signal having a frequency corresponding to the rotation suitable to the location to be read, and a drive circuit for controlling the rotation of the motor so that rotation is effected in accordance with the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Suzuki, Yoshio Miura
  • Patent number: 4789975
    Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a data signal on or from a disk shaped recording medium having a special track in which control information is prerecorded. The apparatus reproduces the control information at first when the disk is mounted therein, and stores the reproduced control information in a memory. A rotation control cirucit for controlling the rotation of the recording medium is supplied with a control signal based on the control information read out of the memory and controls the rotation of the medium such that the linear velocity of the rotation is of a predetermined constant value according to the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiro Taniyama
  • Patent number: 4695995
    Abstract: A front loading disk player of a type capable of playing disks of different diameters wherein the diameter and proper loading of the disk can be detected at all times with a simple sensor arrangement. The inventive disk player includes a housing, a playing mechanism provided in the housing and including an optical pickup and a turntable, the turntable including a tapered wheel received in the center hole of the disk, a disk conveying mechanism for conveying disks to the playing position, and a clamping mechanism for clamping disks conveyed to the playing position against the turntable. A detector detects the fact that the disk has been clamped against the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 4575836
    Abstract: A disc player comprises a first driver for driving a first turntable for a first kind of an information-recorded disc, a second driver for driving a second turntable for a second kind of an information-recorded disc, a single holder for holding thereon the first and second drivers, holder drive means for driving the holder, and a pickup for reproducing signals from one of the first and second kinds of information-recorded discs at a predetermined play position, in which the single holder is moved so that one of the first and second kinds of information-recorded disc is selectively positioned at the predetermined play position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Seto
  • Patent number: 4530083
    Abstract: A rotatable memory disk apparatus is provided with a memory disk with a number of tracks driven by a motor and a control circuit for positioning an optical head on an addressed track. The apparatus includes a speed control device for rotating the disk at a rotational speed corresponding to the addressed track. The speed control device includes a conversion circuit for converting a track-addressing signal from the control circuit into an instruction signal for the rotational speed of the disk, a detector for obtaining a rotational speed signal of the disk, and a control device which receives the rotational speed instruction signal and the rotational speed signal to rotate the disk at a predetermined rotational speed for the addressed track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 4450552
    Abstract: A velocity control system for a rotating disc having a spiralling track thereon and comprising an arm rotatable about a fixed axis, a stylus attached to such arm and positioned to follow the spiralling track, and logic responsive to the position of the arm to produce a control signal indicative of the position of the arm. Also provided is a prime mover responsive to the control signal to rotate the disc at an angular velocity to produce a velocity at the point of contact between the stylus and the disc which is a predetermined function of the position of the stylus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Angelo R. Marcantonio
  • Patent number: 4416006
    Abstract: A record disc playing apparatus comprises an address signal generating unit for generating address signals corresponding to horizontal rotational angular positions of a tone arm, a device for generating a rotational angular velocity signal corresponding to the rotational angular velocity of the tone arm, a circuit for controlling the rotation of a motor for driving a turntable, a control device supplied with the address signals and having a memory device from which is from which read out information corresponding to the addresses indicated by the address signals, and an attenuation circuit supplied with the rotational angular velocity signal and operating with an attenuation quantity, with respect to the rotational angular velocity signal, which quantity is varied by a signal from the control device. The rotational angular velocity signal corresponds to the quantity of any eccentricity of the record disc. The control device producing as output signals based on the information thus read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kitamura, Hideo Onoe, Fumiaki Ohno, Tsuyoshi Ono, Yukihiro Kishima, Yutaka Morita
  • Patent number: 4397011
    Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a disc record on which a PCM signal is recorded in run length limited code includes an input terminal for receiving a reproduced signal from the disc record; a detecting circuit for detecting the maximum or minimum transition interval contained in the reproduced signal and for producing a detecting signal in response thereto, and a comparing circuit for comparing the detecting signal with a reference signal corresponding to the maximum or minimum transition interval during the rotation of the disc record at a predetermined velocity, and for producing a control signal in response to said comparisons to be supplied to a servo circuit for controlling the rotation of the disc record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4363120
    Abstract: A belt drive record player having a turntable mounted on a main frame and a motor mounted on a resiliently supported sub-frame. A switching member having two fork limbs, for transferring the belt between different speed pulleys, is mounted on the sub-frame and is movable between two positions defined by stops on the sub-frame. A control member mounted on the main frame is disengaged from the switching member except when the speed is being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Henri M. Grobben, Michel H. F. Decoster
  • Patent number: 4340958
    Abstract: A record changer mechanism is provided wherein an improved belt shifting arrangement is provided to change the speed at which the turntable of the mechanism is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: James T. Dennis
    Inventors: James T. Dennis, George Kolomayets
  • Patent number: 4301529
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an improved drive control mechanism for the turntable of a phonograph.The drive control mechanism comprises a control lever successively movable in one direction from an off position to a 331/3 rpm (revolutions per minute) position or a 45 rpm position for record playing, and then in the reverse direction to its off position. A drive shaft has first and second drive portions of different diameter. A rotatable puck is interposed between the drive portions and turntable for selectively drivingly connecting the drive portions to the turntable. A linkage-means couples the control lever to the puck so that when the lever is moved between the off, 331/3 rpm and 45 rpm positions, the puck is selectively moved (1) out of engagement with the drive portions and turntable, (2) into engagement with the first drive portion and turntable, and (3) into engagement with the second drive portion and turntable respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Ronald D. Irvin
  • Patent number: 4257614
    Abstract: A speed change device for a record player which has a belt drive engaged with a drive pulley on the turntable and with a stepped pulley driver by an electric motor, having a pivotally mounted, belt engaging arm which is acted on by cam means to move the arm in a direction to move the belt outwardly of the stepped pulley, in a direction to move the belt along a path parallel to the axis of the stepped pulley and in a direction to move the belt transversely inwardly of the stepped pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: BSR Limited
    Inventor: Raymond J. T. Thompson