Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips.

Abstract: An optical disc drive (ODD) includes one or more sensors which detect a user placing a disc in the loading path. In response, a process is triggered for sensing the thickness of a protective layer of the disc even while the disc is moving toward a turntable. An initial determination of the type of the disc (e.g. CD, DVD or Blu-ray®) can be determined based on the thickness and reported to a host computing device. The host, in turn, determines an application to load based on the disc type. The loading of the application can begin sooner than if the ODD waited until the disc was seated on the turntable to detect the disc type. A final determination of the disc type can be made while the disc is seated as well. The host is informed if there is a disagreement between the initial determination and the final determination.

Abstract: A method for controlling a tray in an optical disc drive comprises: setting first and second flags for indicating a current state of the tray, the state of the tray including an open state, a closed state and a state in which the tray moves; and controlling a movement operation of the tray, base on values of the two flags and a time when a counter electromotive force is generated in a motor for moving the tray. If a request of performing a tray closing operation in the state in which the tray is opened is received, the tray closing operation is performed, and the value of the second flag is changed. If the counter e.m.f is detected after a first time from the time when the tray closing operation is started, the driving of the motor is stopped, and the value of the first flag is changed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a tray in an optical disc drive comprises: setting first and second flags for indicating a current state of the tray, the state of the tray including an open state, a closed state and a state in which the tray moves; and controlling a movement operation of the tray, base on values of the two flags and a time when a counter electromotive force is generated in a motor for moving the tray. If a request of performing a tray closing operation in the state in which the tray is opened is received, the tray closing operation is performed, and the value of the second flag is changed. If the counter e.m.f is detected after a first time from the time when the tray closing operation is started, the driving of the motor is stopped, and the value of the first flag is changed.

Abstract: A disc-visible type disk drive apparatus is disclosed. The disk drive apparatus includes: a main body casing having a first slot provided at a first side surface to load a disc; a protection cover having a first cover provided on the first side surface of the main body casing, wherein the first cover covers a portion of the disc exposed outside the main body casing through the first slot and forms a passage through which the disc passes during loading and unloading; a disc detecting sensor disposed in the first cover which detects the disc; and a disc loading unit disposed in the main body casing and having a loading roller which is driven so as to load the disc if the disc is detected by the disc detecting sensor.

Abstract: A processor is provided in a main body and performs at least one of writing data on a plate-shaped medium, reading data from the medium and printing on the medium. A drawer tray is provided in the main body, includes a stacker portion which is configured to accommodate a plurality of plate-shaped media processed by the processor and is movable between an accommodated position where the stacker portion is capable of receiving the media and a drawn position where the drawer tray is pulled out from the main body to take out the media accommodated in the stacker portion.

Abstract: A processor is provided in a main body and performs at least one of writing data on a plate-shaped medium, reading data from the medium and printing on the medium. A drawer tray is provided in the main body, includes a stacker portion which is configured to accommodate a plurality of plate-shaped media processed by the processor and is movable between an accommodated position where the stacker portion is capable of receiving the media and a drawn position where the drawer tray is pulled out from the main body to take out the media accommodated in the stacker portion.

Abstract: A medium is transferred and loaded to a media tray provided with a media processing unit which is operable to perform information processing on the medium, by using a transfer arm of a media transfer mechanism. A distance from a surface of the medium loaded on the media tray to a reference position of the transfer arm is acquired. A difference between the acquired distance and a predetermined distance from a reference surface of the media tray to the reference position of the transfer arm is calculated. It is determined that a double transfer of the medium to the media tray occurs when the calculated difference is larger than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A system and a method of controlling a processing device for automatically and continuously processing discs are disclosed. The method comprises: determining if a tray in a processing system is opened by adapting a first sensor; determining if any one of the discs is loaded in the tray by adapting the second sensor; in the event of the tray being opened and one disc being loaded, unloading the loaded disc by adapting a transporting device; in the event of the tray being opened and no disc being loaded, loading one disc by adapting the transporting device; and closing the tray for processing the one disc being loaded in the tray transported by the transporting device and controlled by the computer.

Abstract: A medium processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a medium introduced from an outside; a power supply that can supply a first power supply voltage to the medium processing apparatus while the information processing apparatus is operating, whereas being able to supply a second power supply voltage to the medium processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus is shut down; and a power supply controller that supplies the second power supply voltage from the power supply to the medium processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus is shut down while the medium is in the medium processing apparatus, whereas stopping the supply of the second power supply voltage to the medium processing apparatus once the medium is removed from the medium processing apparatus which has been supplied with the second power supply voltage, are provided.

Abstract: A processor is provided in a main body and performs at least one of writing data on a plate-shaped medium, reading data from the medium and printing on the medium. A drawer tray is provided in the main body, includes a stacker portion which is configured to accommodate a plurality of plate-shaped media processed by the processor and is movable between an accommodated position where the stacker portion is capable of receiving the media and a drawn position where the drawer tray is pulled out from the main body to take out the media accommodated in the stacker portion.

Abstract: A medium processing device is provided. A processor processes a plate-shaped medium. A tray has a storage for storing the medium and is movable between a first position where the medium is processed by the processor and a second position where the medium is mounted and removed from the storage. A moving mechanism moves the tray between the first position and the second position. A transporting mechanism mounts the medium in the storage and removing the medium from the storage. A restraining member restrains an upward movement of a front end of the tray that is moved to the second position by the moving mechanism.

Abstract: To provide a “disk device” that does not waste a power during waiting for disk insertion and thus can save power consumption. The disk device includes: a casing equipped with an insertion port to which a disk is inserted; a conveying mechanism for conveying a disk, which is provided inside the insertion port; a switching type detecting switch that is switched to a detection state in accordance with a movement force of a disk inserted from the insertion port in an insertion direction; and an optical detecting member that is switched to a detection state when a disk inserted from the insertion port blocks an optical path, wherein when the detecting switch is switched to a detection state, power supply to the optical detecting member is started.

Abstract: An optical disk drive device includes: a tray provided with an outer disk tray on which an optical disk is mounted; an electrode provided on the outer disk tray; an electrostatic capacitance sensor unit configured to sense electrostatic capacitance between the electrode and an optical disk mounted in proximity to the electrode; a storage unit configured to store a table that identifies electrostatic capacitance between each of different types of optical disks and the electrode occurring when the optical disk is mounted in proximity to the electrode; and a determination unit configured to determine the type of the optical disk mounted on the tray, based on a sensor result obtained by the electrostatic capacitance sensor unit and the table.

Abstract: A disk player includes a body, a tray having a first seating recess and a second seating recess to load disks of a first size and a second size and slidably inserted into or ejected from a replay unit of the body, a single sensor disposed in the body to detect loading or unloading of a disk on the tray, size of the loaded disk, and insertion or ejection of the tray, and a plurality of slits penetratingly formed on the tray with different lengths to correspond to the sensor when the tray is inserted or ejected.

Abstract: An optical disk device which highly precisely positions a disk tray in an ejection position is provided. A controller of an optical disk device drives the disk tray from a storage position toward an exposed position. When a position immediately before the ejection position is detected by a detecting switch, the velocity is reduced, to allow the disk tray to contact a mechanical stopper, for positioning. The controller measures a movement time to the position immediately before the ejection position, and adjusts the drive voltage to increase or decrease the drive voltage for contact with the mechanical stopper according to the measured time.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to detect the voltage of a limit switch in an optical disc drive. The method includes following steps: loading an optical disc when the voltage of the limit switch is at a high level, completing the disc loading process when the voltage is changed to a low level, sampling the voltage of the limit switch predetermined times when the voltage is changed to the high level again, detecting the sampling voltages, completing the disc ejecting process when the sampling voltages are all at the high level, and determining a voltage bouncing to maintain the disc loaded status to avoid disc ejection misjudgment of the optical disc drive when the sampling voltages are not all at the high level.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a main body, an optical disc drive provided in the main body, an acceleration sensor provided in the main body, and a drive management module provided in the main body. The optical disc drive is configured to output an eject signal to an outside in response to an operation of an eject button. The drive management module is configured to determine whether the main body is shaking or not by using the acceleration sensor when the eject signal is received from the optical disc drive which is in a power-off state, and to supply power to the optical disc drive and send to the optical disc drive a signal instructing opening of a tray of the optical disc drive, when the main body is not shaking.

Abstract: A disc changer includes: a disc cartridge having a case body in which a plurality of disc-shaped recording media are storable by being arrayed in the axial direction of the center axis, and an information input medium to which at least information relating to pitch between disc-shaped recording media and the number of stored disc-shaped recording media is input; a disc holder configured to hold the disc cartridge, a portion of which is moveable in the center axial direction of the disc-shaped recording media; and a movement mechanism including an encoder, configured to determine a stop position in the center axial direction of the disc holder based on information input to the information input medium.

Abstract: A media device includes a disc tray moved by two motors. The media device includes a disc tray movable along an axis of movement and including a first coupling structure; a first motor operatively connected to a second coupling structure configured for coupling with the first coupling structure to move the disc tray along the axis of movement; and a second motor operatively connected to a third coupling structure configured for coupling with the first coupling structure to move the disc tray along the axis of movement.

Abstract: When a normal disk having the diameter of 12 cm is inserted into the disk device, first and second optical detecting elements detect the insertion, and transitions to a first detection state, which initiates transfer operation of first and second transfer rollers. If the disk is further moved to an inner portion of the device, thus pressing first and second detecting pins, first and second detecting switches are turned OFF, and the detecting elements enter a second detection state. Before the transition from the first detection state to the second detection state occurs, a rotating speed of the first and second transfer rollers is set low. After transition to the second detection state, the rotating speed is increased. As a result, a card or other such foreign objects can be removed and a monitoring period can be increased until detection of a normal disk is detected.

Abstract: A position detecting device of an optical drive utilizes a simple wire to connect a CPU of the optical drive to a latch part and a fixing part, such that the latch part, the CPU and the fixing part, which are original parts of the optical drive, form a detecting circuit. When the latch part clasps or releases a tray, the latch part latches or releases the fixing part to close or open the detecting circuit so that the CPU can correctly judge whether the tray enters for positioning, and thus start or shut down the optical drive. In addition, the members such as a flexible cable, a casing and a mainboard may replace parts of the wire to simplify the detecting circuit.

Abstract: A tray control method for a disk drive including a tray for carrying a disk, a detect switch movable to different inclined positions for detecting different positions of the tray during tray ejection and retraction operation, a firmware for receiving signals transmitted by the detect switch upon reaching the different inclined positions so as to adjust a voltage applied to a DC motor and the speed for moving the tray to the different positions such that the tray moves stably when retracting into and ejecting from the disk drive.

Abstract: A slot-in disc drive is provided to comprise an ejecting lever rotated about a rotating axis; a first sensor and a second sensor, disposed on the rotating path of the ejecting lever; and a firmware, built in the disc drive for selecting a first setting or a second setting according to the size of a loaded disc, wherein the first and the second settings are respectively related to the first and the second sensors, and the firmware controls the ejecting lever to stop rotating based on the selected setting.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical disk drive with a connecting device. The optical disk drive includes two guiding tracks disposed on two sides of a casing for holding a tray to slide in/out the casing, a circuit board disposed on the tray and electrically connected to a spindle motor and a pick-up head, a main board disposed inside the casing, a detecting switch disposed on the main board, and the connecting device. The connecting device includes a first part disposed on the main board, and a second part disposed on the circuit board for connecting with the first part. The first part is connected with the second part and the optical disk drive is powered on so as to transmit the electricity and the signals between the main board and the circuit board via the connecting device when the detecting switch detects the tray is positioned inside the casing.

Abstract: A data carrier drive apparatus (1) comprises data carrier loading means (3) for supporting a data carrier, which data carrier loading means (3) is movable between an open and a closed end position along a traveling path by means of a loading means motor (4); and detection means (23, 25) being arranged to monitor an electric driving current (IM) or a driving voltage (UM) impressed to the loading means motor (4), wherein the detection means (23, 25) is adapted to detect a predefined signal pattern of the driving current (IM) or voltage (UM), which signal pattern is representative for the traveling of the loading means along its traveling path at a specific position or section of the path.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus includes a disk detecting lever that has a switch abutting section and a light intercepting section and rotates according to the loading operation and the ejecting operation of a disk caused by abutment of the outer edge of the disk against a detecting pin; a single switch that is switched by the switch abutting section and thereby detects the loading start position, and also the inserting position of the disk; and a single photosensor that detects the inserting position of the disk with keeping the light intercepting condition thereof by either the light intercepting section or the disk and also detects the ejection end position when the light intercepting condition brought about by the disk has been released and then the light intercepting condition brought about by the light intercepting section is released.

Abstract: A shutter member is provided so as to be capable of moving in association with a roller bracket. The shutter member rotates by a predetermined range in association with the rotation of the roller bracket, and then a projection of the shutter member is pressed in a Y1 direction by a shutter pressing portion provided on the right side slider. Accordingly, the shutter member is rotated clockwise, and an opening and closing panel portion of the shutter member closes an insertion port from the inside thereof. Therefore, the insertion port is closed reliably by the shutter member, so that insertion of another disc from the insertion port into the interior of the apparatus while the disc is rotating is prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus that can accurately detect the position of a recording member, such as thick paper or a CD-R, that is mounted on a tray, that can, as much as possible, protect to-be-detected portions from being scratched, and that can perform accurate printing using a simple structure. With a configuration wherein a recording member such as thick paper or a CD-R is mounted on a tray, and wherein the recording member is printed while the tray is conveyed, a reference position detection mark, which is a to-be-detected portion, is attached to the tray from the reverse face, and the edges of a reference position detection mark that has been detected are made as the edges of a hole portion that is formed in the tray.

Abstract: An information storage device (2) in an information processing apparatus has a power supply controller (13). The power supply controller (13) operates by being supplied with power from a continuous power supply device (8). When a depressed state of a switch (17 or 18) is changed during stoppage of power supply from a power supply device (7) to the information storage device (2), the power supply device (7) is controlled to supply power to the information storage device (2) or to the information storage device (2) and a control device (3), thereby operating a mechanism (12) for loading/ejecting the removable medium (1).

Abstract: A recording-medium driving apparatus includes a loading unit in which a removable recording medium is loaded, an access unit that accesses the recording medium loaded in the loading unit, a detector that detects the relationship between the recording medium and the loading unit, an air-direction adjustment controller that determines to which of the loading unit and the access unit air is sent, on the basis of the detection performed by the detector, and a blower that sends the air to one of the loading unit and the access unit on the basis of the determination made by the air-direction adjustment controller.

Abstract: An optical disk drive which decreases unit costs and reduces the size of a product. The optical disk drive includes a frame, a base chassis rotatably installed on the frame, a spindle motor and a pick-up device installed on the base chassis, a tray moving into and out of the frame when a disk cartridge is mounted on the tray, a loading device for operating the tray and the base chassis, and a disk cartridge recognizing device for sensing whether or not recognition holes formed through a disk cartridge case are opened or closed to display data of the disk cartridge. The disk cartridge recognizing device includes switches fixed to a front part of the frame, and a switch operating portion for operating the switches according to whether or not the recognition holes are opened or closed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk apparatus reduced in size and thickness, by reducing the size of a means which detects the insertion of a disk into the disk apparatus. In the disk apparatus of the present invention, an electric circuit board and disk insertion-detecting levers are provided on the floating unit, and the disk insertion-detecting levers are disposed in the proximity of the disk insertion/extraction port, and are pressed down and rotated by the outer edge of the inserted disk-shaped recording medium, to thereby directly drive a switch which outputs a disk detection signal to the electric circuit board.

Abstract: An optical disk drive including a sliding portion, which moves a sub frame upward or downward against a main frame; a sensor, which includes tension members which are provided in both sides of the sliding portion so that the tension members are elastically deformed to apply an additional load to the sliding portion when the sliding portion slides, and stopper members which contact the tension members and elastically deform the tension members when the sliding portion slides; and a controller, which senses a current change of a driving motor when the additional load is applied to the sliding portion, recognizes whether the tray is loaded or unloaded onto or from the main frame, and controls the driving motor.

Abstract: A disk drive comprising a tray (TR) for receiving a disk, the tray (TR) being supported for movement between a first position within a casing (CS) of the disk drive and a second position projecting from the casing (CS), an electric motor for moving the tray (TR) between the first and second positions, and a regulation device for regulating an electric current through the motor for regulating the rotation of the motor. The regulation device comprises a detection device for detecting a back-electromotive voltage produced during rotation of the motor for deriving position information of the tray (TR) with respect to the first and second positions.

Abstract: A limit switch controlling method and apparatus used in an optical drive are disclosed. When the optical drive is executing a tray-in/tray-out action or a move-sled home action, a detect-tray-in-switch pin, a detect-tray-out-switch pin, or a detect-sled-limit-switch pin of a controlling chip is used to receive a signal from a limit switch. When the optical drive is not executing the tray-in/tray-out action or the move-sled-home action, the detect-tray-in-switch pin, the-detect tray-out-switch pin, or the detect-sled-limit-switch pin of the controlling chip is used as an I/O port.

Abstract: To provide a disk drive having a mechanism to limit position of a tray while being transferred by a simple configuration, guiding parts each having a guide rib and a supporting portion are provided on at least one outer wall on the side facing inside the chassis, and a sliding part having a guide groove is provided on a sidewall of the tray corresponding to the guiding part. The guide rib of the guiding part is slidably fitted in the guide groove. A horizontal limiting-rib sliding face is formed on a connecting part connecting outer and inner walls of the chassis. The sliding part includes a position-limiting rib extending upward and downward from the leading edge of the tray sidewall with a guide groove formed between the position-limiting rib and the edge of the sidewall. The position-limiting rib is slidably held between the supporting portion and the limiting-rib sliding face.

Abstract: There is provided a disc holding mechanism capable of easily loading and unloading optical discs having different shapes on a disc tray, in which an optical disc is securely fixed and held on the disc tray and the load applied to the disc when it is loaded and unloaded on and from the disc tray can be eliminated. The disc holding mechanism is adapted to position and hold a disc on the surface of a disc tray 90 in place. The disc holding mechanism comprises a plurality of holding pins 57 and 58 that hold a central hole of the disc, in which at least one movable pin 59 of the holding pins controls a holding state of the disc. When loading the disc on the disc tray 90, the movable pin 59 presses the central hole of the disc in a centrifugal direction to secure the disc to be in its holding state. When unloading the disc, the movable pin 59 moves in a centripetal direction of the central hole to release the disc from its holding state.

Abstract: A method for opening/closing a disk tray of a disk drive. The method includes the steps of when a first event occurs, sending a load/unload command to the disk drive, to which the disk drive responds with a second or third event, and resends the load/unload command to the disk drive when the disk drive responds to the previous load/unload command with the second event.

Abstract: A media-detection system for a cartridge-receiving device may comprise, according to one embodiment, a cartridge-referencing member mounted to the cartridge-receiving device. The cartridge-referencing member is resiliently displaceable by a data cartridge received in the cartridge-receiving device. A sensor is operatively associated with the cartridge-referencing member. The sensor detecting the data cartridge in the cartridge-receiving device based on the displacement of the cartridge-referencing member.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus according to the present invention has a tray formed of an optically transparent material and has disc receiving portions. The tray is movable in an ejection and a retraction direction with respect to a casing. A light source is mounted inside the tray at the ejection direction side thereof. The light source emits light toward the ejection direction of the tray to cause the light to propagate within the optically transparent material from the retraction direction side through the ejection direction side of the tray with respect to the disc receiving portion.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-reliability slot-in type disk apparatus having a buffering function against vibrations vertically generated in recording and reproducing data on an optical disk. A disk apparatus 1 according to the present invention comprises a lift mechanism for lifting up and down a clamp head 7 so as to be attached to and detached from an optical disk D, wherein a driven pin 43 is guided along a cam groove 34c formed in the lift mechanism and is elastically supported at an end portion P2 of the cam groove 34c.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor mechanism of an optical disc device for detecting tray in/out motion, which comprises a swing bar having a actuating bar, a spinning center and a protrusion portion; a gear for driving the protrusion portion to rotate the swing bar against the spinning center; at least one sensor for emitting a signal that the tray has been already moved in/out when it is touched by the actuating bar, so that the device prepares to perform next function.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus includes a tray member, on which a bare disc, or a cartridge accommodating a disc therein is placed, and a disc drive device, into or from which the tray member is loaded or ejected by a drive unit. A medium detection system includes detection holes provided on the tray member to detect a disc or a cartridge. In addition, provided on the disc drive device is a detection unit to optically detect a state including a type of a disc or a cartridge placed on the tray member based on whether the detection holes are shaded in the course of loading of the tray member.

Abstract: A plurality of switches are pressed by a single switch operating member. A disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus has a switch mechanism operable when a pair of turn arms is turned so as to be spread away from each other by a disk inserted from a disk slot. The switch mechanism includes a plurality of switches, a rotary cam rotatable in ganged relation to angular movement of the turn arms, and a switch operating lever interposed between the rotary cam and the switches for successively pressing the switches in response to rotation of the rotary cam.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus according to the present invention has a tray formed of an optically transparent material and has disc receiving portions. The tray is movable in an ejection and a retraction direction with respect to a casing. A light source is mounted inside the tray at the ejection direction side thereof. The light source emits light toward the ejection direction of the tray to cause the light to propagate within the optically transparent material from the retraction direction side through the ejection direction side of the tray with respect to the disc receiving portion.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for discriminating an optical recording medium and a method for discriminating an optical recording medium which can reliably discriminate the kind of an optical recording medium even in the case where the optical recording medium to be discriminated is formed with periodical undulation in the circumferential direction thereof. The apparatus for discriminating an optical recording medium according to the present invention includes a first electrode 11, a second electrode 12, an alternate current signal generation circuit 13 for applying an alternate current A to the first electrode 11, a detection circuit 14 for detecting a level of an alternate current B appearing at the second electrode 12, and a control circuit 15 for controlling the operations of the alternate current signal generation circuit 13 and the detection circuit 14.

Abstract: An on-screen calibration system for disc drives and the operating method thereof. The calibration system includes an autocollimator detecting the inclined angle of the stage of a disc drive. A control module is connected to the on-screen display module and a bar code scanner to receive the bar code of the pick-up module and compute a predetermined position data. A monitor displays a moving point according to the inclined angle and a target point according to the predetermined position data through an on-screen display module. The tilt-adjusting mechanism supporting the pick-up module is adjusted to shift the moving point overlapping the target point.

Abstract: A drive for storage disc which permits a convenient means of loading and unloading the storage disc. The drive includes a loading device for transport of a storage disc into the drive, the loading device including a carrier for accommodating the storage disc. In a loading position, the carrier remains generally in the drive and, in the direction of an insertion opening of the drive, includes an opening for insertion of the storage disc.

Abstract: The object is to keep the system safety even if the disk tray of the disk device is drawn out from the PC main body and led to a structurally dangerous state, and to prevent the disk tray from wrong operation beforehand. In addition, in a recording and playback system for recording and reproducing information on a recording medium such as optical disk, the guide shaft is biased by a bias means that can strongly apply power which doesn't degenerate, in order to improve the mounting stability, and in addition, to prevent the structural thickness of the entire unit from growing. A disk device composed to execute a load/unload a recording medium by making a disk tray advance and retreat in a chassis case, wherein a first detection switch 5 and a second detection switch 6 for detecting the load of the disk tray 1 are arranged in a way to be on different levels in respect to the operating direction thereof, or they are arranged on a wiring board packaged in the disk tray.