Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Storage medium structure – Adjuncts or adapters
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2001-09-11
Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Storage medium structure
Adjuncts or adapters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288999
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1. First Invention
The present first invention relates to a disk cartridge accommodating a disc-shaped recording medium and to a cartridge adapter capable of recording information on and reproducing information from the disc-shaped recording medium accommodated in the disk cartridge using a drive unit designed for a larger disk cartridge than the disk cartridge.
2. Second Invention
The present second invention relates to a disk cartridge for doublesided recording that accommodates a disk as a disc-like recording and reproducing medium such as an optical disk. Particularly, the present second invention is suitable for providing a smaller and thinner disk cartridge.
3. Third Invention
The present third invention relates to a disk cartridge accommodating a disk for recording and reproducing information. Particularly, the present third invention relates to a disk cartridge comprising a shutter for exposing a disk surface in order to drive a disk for recording, reproduction and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
First Invention
With the rapid progress of computer techniques, disc-shaped recording media have been used widely as means for recording, reproducing, and erasing various information. With respect to disc-shaped recording media, there are a plurality of standards that differ in recording density, size, recording and reproducing system, and the like respectively. Corresponding to the respective disc-shaped recording media according to the plurality of standards, there are also a plurality of drive units for recording information on and reproducing and erasing information from the respective disc-shaped recording media.
Under such circumstances, it is convenient for users when disc-shaped recording media according to a plurality of standards can be driven for recording, reproducing, and erasing information with one drive unit. Therefore, various systems have been proposed.
As a method for driving a plurality of disc-shaped recording media having different sizes for recording, reproducing, and erasing information with one drive unit, for example, a method in which a user inserts a bare disc-shaped recording medium into an adapter and then sets it into a drive unit has been proposed. Partially, this method has come into practical use for driving both a compact disc (CD) with a diameter of 12 cm and a single compact disc with a diameter of 8 cm.
As a method of recording information on and reproducing and erasing information from disc-shaped recording media with various sizes accommodated in cartridges with one drive unit, for example, as shown in
FIG. 51
, a method of recording, reproducing, and erasing information in a drive unit
1921
designed for a large disk cartridge by inserting a small-size disk cartridge
1901
into a cartridge adapter i
911
having the same size and the same external shape as those of the large disk cartridge has been studied (for instance, Publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Hei 2-121174). In
FIG. 51
, numerals
1912
and
1913
indicate a head access opening and a shutter of the cartridge adapter
1911
, respectively. The head access opening
1912
and the shutter
1913
are formed so as to have the same shapes and sizes as those of the cartridge for a large disc. Numerals
1902
and
1903
indicate a head access opening and a shutter of the small disk cartridge
1901
, respectively. A numeral
1914
indicates an insertion portion into which the small disk cartridge
1901
is inserted, and a numeral
1924
indicates an insertion portion into which the large disk cartridge is inserted.
However, the method in which a user inserts a bare disc-shaped recording medium into an adapter and sets it into a drive unit is not suitable for the use that requires high reliability and high durability, since the user can put dirt and scratches on the disc-shaped recording medium easily.
Further, in the method of recording, reproducing, and erasing information in a drive unit designed for a large disk cartridge by inserting a small disk cartridge into a cartridge adapter having the same size and the same external shape as those of the large disk cartridge as shown in
FIG. 51
, for example, the following problems occur. The small disk cartridge is different from the large cartridge in shapes and sizes of the head access opening and the shutter that are provided in a disk cartridge, and in the opening/closing mechanisms of the shutter. Therefore, some problems occur, for example, a head of the drive unit comes into contact with the shutter
1903
and the exterior members around the head access opening
1902
of the small disk cartridge
1901
accommodated in the cartridge adapter
1911
, and the mechanism for opening and closing the shutter is complicated. As a result, in disk cartridges with different sizes, it is difficult to record, reproduce, and erase information without any problems using such an adapter. Considering such use, it has been necessary to review the design of the drive unit itself in some cases.
Second Invention
Recently, disk drive units for optical disks or the like used as recording units of computers have been required to be smaller and thinner, as portable computers have become widespread. At the same time, disks for recording and reproduction have become smaller, and therefore the disks with high recording-density have been required. Such a disk is accommodated in a cartridge case so that fingerprints and dust, which are obstacles for recording and reproducing information at a high density, do not adhere to the disk.
An example of a conventional double-sided disk cartridge and a mechanism of opening and closing its shutter will be explained with reference to the drawings as follows.
FIG. 61
is a perspective structural view of a disk cartridge in conformity with the International Standard for a 130-mm optical disk.
FIG. 62
is a perspective view showing a state in which a shutter of the disk cartridge shown in
FIG. 61
is opened.
FIG. 63
is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a configuration around the shutter of the disk cartridge shown in FIG.
61
. In this conventional disk cartridge, an optical disk
2104
is accommodated in a case body
2103
having a substantially rectangular shape formed of an upper half
2101
and a lower half
2102
. An opening
2105
into which a disk motor and an optical pickup can be inserted is provided in the upper and lower surfaces of the case body
2103
. A U-shaped shutter
2106
for covering and uncovering the opening
2105
is slidably provided on the case body
2103
. The shutter
2106
is formed in a manner such that a metal plate is folded in two. The shutter
2106
comprises two opposed shielding plates
2107
and a connecting plate
2108
interconnecting the two opposed shielding plates. The connecting plate
2108
fixes and holds a thin and long slider
2109
so as to cover the slider
2109
. A receiving hole
2110
into which a shutter opener P
1
is inserted is provided to a tail portion of the connecting plate
2108
. The shutter opener P
1
is provided in a loading mechanism of a recording and reproducing unit. Corresponding to the receiving hole
2110
, a receiving hole
2111
is provided in the slider
2109
. A roller R
1
of the shutter opener P
1
shown in
FIG. 63
is engaged with the receiving hole
2111
. A torsion coil spring
2114
is housed in the left side of the leading end of the case body
2103
. This torsion coil spring
2114
urges the shutter
2106
in the direction in which the shutter
2106
covers the opening
2105
.
At an end of the slider
2109
, a slope
2115
is provided so that a roller R
2
of a shutter opener P
2
provided in the loading mechanism of the recording and reproducing unit as shown in
FIG. 63
can pass over the slope
2115
smoothly.
When this conventional disk cartridge is inserted into the recording and reproducing unit, one shutter opener P
1
is inserted into the receiving hole
2110
of the shutter
2106
and the receiving hole
2111
of the slider
2109
. When the shutter opener P
1
moves th
Goto Yoshikazu
Higaki Hitoshi
Kawamura Ichirou
Nakata Kuniko
Nishino Yukio
Chen Tianjie
Klimowicz William
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd
Merchant & Gould P.C.
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