Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for reading information stored on an information plate (2) and/or writing information on an information plate (2). The invention is characterized in that the device comprises at least one position switch (1) for recognizing the position of the information plate (2), in that the position switch (1) comprises at least two detection elements for scanning two mutually distanced reference points, and in that said reference points are arranged on the circumference of a circle whose center corresponds to the center of the information plate (2) in a reference position.
Abstract:
A CD-ROM drive (2) with a safety circuit (40) is disclosed. The safety circuit (40) includes an NOR gate (51). One input of the NOR gate (51) is connected with a disk motor control signal terminal (48) of a system controller (31), while the other input of the NOR gate (51) is connected with the output (P1) of a sensor (13). The system controller (31) produces a low-level signal for driving a motor (18) and a high-level signal for stopping the motor (18). Motor (18) rotates when the output from the NOR gate (51) is high, and it stops when the output is low. When the output from the sensor (13) is high, the output from the NOR gate (51) becomes low regardless of the output state of the system controller (31), and the motor (18) stops.
Abstract:
The presence of a disk cartridge (10) in a disk drive (40) is detected by obtaining a measure of the load on the spindle motor (82) of the disk drive and comparing that measure to a threshold value. The measure of load on the spindle motor may comprise (i) the time the spindle motor takes to spin-up to its full operating speed, (ii) the time the spindle motor takes to coast down to its operating speed from a first speed in excess of the operating speed, (iii) the voltage applied across the coils of the spindle motor, or (iv) the current drawn by the spindle motor.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a record carrier (1) like a CD-RW+ or a DVD supporting an improved handling and, in particular, an improved access control to information stored on the record carrier (1) by supplying an additional information source. The record carrier (1) has a first area (3) for storing a first kind of information and further has multiple second areas (4.1, ..., 4.8) each designed for comprising a coupling element to a device for reading and/or writing the record carrier (1), the distribution of the coupling elements on the record carrier (1) encoding a third kind of information, e.g. a regional code indicating the geographical regions the record carrier (1) is valid. Storage media storing information of second kinds may supplement the coupling elements and a coupling element and a storage medium may be integrated into a chip. Making the coupling elements detachable from the record carrier (1) results in an easy way of modifying the third kind of information on a finished record carrier (1).
Abstract:
A disc reader (10) has a housing (12) and a data disc loading tray (14) movable between open and closed positions. A plurality of sensors (32) at a nest in the tray (14) sense the presence of a disc and whether the disc is correctly positioned in the nest (26). When the tray (14) is open and a new disc is loaded into the nest (26), the tray (14) is automatically closed after a relatively short time delay. When the tray (14) is open and empty or open with an old disc in place, the tray (14) is automatically closed after a relatively long time delay.
Abstract:
An information recording method includes a history judging step in which an identification unit which has a history information whether a medium which is housed in a case and on/from which the information can be recorded/reproduced is taken out from the case or is not utilized to judge whether the medium is taken out or not and an inspection step in which, when the results of the judgement show that the medium is taken out from the case, when the medium is a first recording/reproducing information medium which requires the use of the case for recording, the validity of the recorded information is always, or as far as predetermined conditions are satisfied, inspected after the information is recorded on the medium or, the information recording is performed or prohibited in accordance with the results of detection of defects of the medium, and when the medium is a second recording/reproducing information medium which does not necessarily require the use of the case for recording, normal recording is performed.
Abstract:
A cassette detector for a cassette loading apparatus is provided with a detecting member supported movably on a frame and adapted to be operated when a cassette is in a predetermined position and control an operation of the cassette loading apparatus. The detecting member has locking portions adapted to engage the front edge of the cassette in two spaced positions, and a space for receiving a corner portion of the cassette when the cassette is not held properly in a cassette holder, to prevent the detecting member from being moved to an operational position is formed between the locking portions. The detecting member consists of members movable substantially in parallel with each other in a cassette inserting direction, or two detecting levers combined in the form of scissors so that the detecting levers are connected pivotably at one end portion of each thereof to the frame, connected pivotably at the intermediate portions thereof to each other and form at the other end portions thereof the locking portions mentioned above.