Optical disk cartridge

Details Optical disk cartridge Optical disk cartridge

2000-01-06

2002-05-28

Cao, Allen (Department: 2652)

Dynamic information storage or retrieval

Storage medium structure

Adjuncts or adapters

C360S133000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06396800

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk cartridge for DVD-RAMs (digital versatile disk RAMs), and more particularly, relates to an optical disk cartridge suitable for use with 80 mm disks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some optical disks, such as some CDs and DVDs, are writable. Such writable optical disks are generally used while being accommodated in an optical disk cartridge. In addition, the optical disk cartridge generally includes a write-protection discrimination mechanism for determining whether or not writing of information on the optical disk is prohibited.
A conventional optical disk cartridge including a discrimination mechanism will now be described with reference to FIG.
30
.
A casing
21
is formed with an accommodating section
21
a
for slidably accommodating an operation piece
22
.
Elongated holes
21
b
and
21
c
are formed opposite each other in the top and bottom faces, respectively of the accommodating section
21
a
. The elongated hole
21
b
is an operating hole for slidably operating the operation piece
22
, and the elongated hole
21
c
is a discrimination hole in which a detection pin
23
disposed in a disk driving apparatus (not shown) can be inserted so as to determine whether or not writing of information on the disk is prohibited.
The arrangement of the operation piece
22
is such that a top face
22
a
enters slightly (in the thickness direction thereof) inward from the top face of the casing
21
without projecting to the top face of the casing
21
, and a projection
22
b
on the bottom face is fitted into the elongated hole
21
c
so as to be substantially flush with the bottom face of the casing
21
.
When an operation tool (not shown) is inserted into the elongated hole
21
b
to slide the operation piece
22
to the left side in the figure, the region of the elongated hole
21
c
is closed, whereby the insertion of the detection pin
23
into the elongated hole
21
c
is blocked, and it is thereby detected that writing of information on the disk is prohibited.
The top face
22
a
of the operation piece
22
is recessed slightly inward from the top face of the casing
21
in order to prohibit accidental operation of the discrimination mechanism by making the operation of the operation piece
22
difficult.
However, since the projection
22
b
is fitted into the elongated hole
21
c
and an end of the projection
22
b
is substantially flush with the bottom face of the casing
21
, the operation piece
22
may be easily operated from the bottom face of the casing
21
.
Therefore, the conventional disk cartridge cannot securely prohibit the accidental operation of the discrimination mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disk cartridge capable of securely prohibiting accidental operation of a write-protection discrimination mechanism.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an optical disk cartridge including: a casing accommodating an optical disk therein and having an accommodating section formed by a pair of top and bottom walls; and an operation part slidably accommodated in the accommodating section of the casing; wherein an operating slot for slidably moving the operation part is formed in one of the walls, and a surface of the operation part is disposed inward from a surface of one of the walls; and wherein the other of the walls is provided with a closing part for closing an area opposing the operating hole, leaving a discrimination hole for inserting a detection pin so that the discrimination hole is opened and closed by the operation part.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, one of the walls may be provided with the operation slot at one of left and right positions across the widthwise central part of the casing, and may be provided with the discrimination hole at the other of the positions; and the other of the walls may be provided with the discrimination hole at a position opposing the operating slot provided in one of the walls, and may be provided with the operating slot at a position opposing the discrimination hole provided in one of the walls.
The optical disk cartridge of the present invention may further include a holder capable of insertion and removal of a disk into and from the accommodating section. The holder may be accommodated in the accommodating section of the casing, the holder may be provided with a receiving part for receiving the operation part, and the operation part received in the receiving part may be insertable and removable into and from the accommodating section in accordance with insertion and removal of the holder.
In addition, the holder may be provided with a guide part around the receiving part for guiding a sliding movement of the operation part.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, the operation part may be formed with an operation tool-insertion hole adjacent to the operation slot for receiving an operation tool.
In the optical disk cartridge of the present invention, the discrimination hole may be for determining whether or not writing of information on the disk is allowed.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4995029 (1991-02-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5903541 (1999-05-01), Mizutani et al.
patent: 6198718 (2001-03-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 6246663 (2001-06-01), Goto et al.
patent: 4025 453 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 0 533 463 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 0 768 665 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 0 794 532 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 0 843 310 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 0 902 428 (1999-03-01), None
patent: 0 921 526 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 0 926 672 (1999-06-01), None
patent: WO 87/03133 (1987-05-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Optical disk cartridge does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Optical disk cartridge, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical disk cartridge will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2864216