Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Storage medium structure – Adjuncts or adapters
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-10-30
Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Storage medium structure
Adjuncts or adapters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310855
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 97-80280, filed Dec. 31, 1997, in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cartridge, and more particularly, to a cartridge capable of accommodating discs of different sizes. A Compact Disk (CD)/Digital Video Disk (DVD) recording/reproducing player, for example, receives the cartridge loaded with a disc, to record/reproduce data from the loaded disc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An optical disc is divided into a data area into which the data is recorded, and a hub where the data is not recorded. When the data area is damaged by dust, fingerprints, scratching, etc., an error in recording/reproducing the data to/from thereof may occur. To prevent such an error, a protective cartridge is employed.
In the cartridge, a space for accommodating the optical disc is formed by having a pair of plates made of a resin or the like. An opening for exposing the data area to an optical pick-up device is formed and is opened/closed by a shutter.
One type of optical disc has a diameter of 12 cm, and another type has a diameter of 8 cm, but generally, the cartridge is made to receive only the one having a diameter of 12 cm. When the optical disc is accommodated into the cartridge, it is loaded into the optical disc recording/reproducing device. At this time, the shutter of the cartridge is opened, and the optical disc is positioned on a turntable of a rotary device to be rotated for recording or reproduction.
At the same time, an optical pick-up device for recording/reproducing the data to/from the optical disc moves radially along the opened opening of the cartridge to record/reproduce the data to/from the optical disc.
The cartridge described as above generally receives the disc of only one predetermined size (e.g., the optical disc having a diameter of 12 cm). Therefore, when another size optical disc of, such as one having a diameter of 8 cm, is accommodated into the cartridge to be loaded into the optical disc recording/reproducing device, the optical disc cannot be safely and accurately positioned on the turntable of the rotary device.
Accordingly, to use optical discs of different sizes in one optical disc recording/reproducing device, a cartridge and a tray capable of accommodating the different sized optical discs are required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above problem, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge to accommodate optical discs of different sizes.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The above and other objects and advantages are accomplished by providing a cartridge to accommodate optical discs of different sizes including a main case having an upper plate and a lower plate coupled to the upper plate to accommodate a first optical disc, the lower plate forming a first longitudinal opening by cooperation with the upper plate; a cover pivotably mounted on the main case; an auxiliary case having a auxiliary shutter and accommodated into the main case to accommodate a second optical disc having a smaller diameter than that of the first optical disc; an opening section to open the auxiliary shutter; an accommodating section provided in the main case to accommodate the auxiliary case in the main case; and a support section provided in the main case to support the auxiliary case.
The accommodating section includes first receiving recesses respectively formed at the upper and lower plates to receive the auxiliary case, first ribs formed in a circular arc shape to support the optical disc, and guide protrusions respectively formed at the upper and lower plates in parallel with the first longitudinal opening to guide the auxiliary case.
The accommodating section further includes second ribs formed in a circular arc shape provided at the cover. The second ribs are formed with second receiving recesses into which a side of the auxiliary case is inserted. The auxiliary case is formed with a guiding recess into which the guiding protrusion is inserted.
The support section includes a plurality of tension ribs formed at the upper plate to elastically support the auxiliary case.
The opening section includes a spring mounted across the first longitudinal opening, and a main shutter elastically supported by the spring. The main shutter is slidably installed at the main case to open the auxiliary shutter, and the main shutter is formed with a second longitudinal opening. A shutter protrusion formed at the auxiliary shutter is inserted into the second longitudinal opening.
According to the present invention, optical discs of different sizes are accommodated into a tray, i.e., the compatibility of the tray is enhanced so that the cost in recording/reproducing data to/from optical discs of different sizes is reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4797865 (1989-01-01), Imai et al.
patent: 4928271 (1990-05-01), Verhagen
patent: 5208802 (1993-05-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5535072 (1996-07-01), Witt et al.
patent: 5574711 (1996-11-01), Nakamichi
patent: 5610902 (1997-03-01), Childers et al.
patent: 5867476 (1999-02-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 5903542 (1999-05-01), Sandell et al.
patent: 5923509 (1999-07-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 6002556 (1999-12-01), Oishi
patent: 2-48287 (1990-02-01), None
patent: 2-187973 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 6-333356 (1994-12-01), None
Chen Tianjie
Klimowicz William
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Cartridge for accomodating optical discs of different sizes does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cartridge for accomodating optical discs of different sizes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cartridge for accomodating optical discs of different sizes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2571037