Dynamic information storage or retrieval – With particular cabinet structure – Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2003-01-28
Tran, Thang V. (Department: 2653)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
With particular cabinet structure
Slotted for edgewise insertion of storage disc
C369S075210, C369S053200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06512731
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording/reproducing optical apparatus and method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, there are various types of recording/reproducing mediums such as a disc cartridge, adapter, naked disc, or the like. Among them, disc cartridges for holding discs generally have two types, i.e., one which holds a disc having a diameter of 12 cm (hereinafter called a 12 cm disc cartridge), and another one which holds a disc having a diameter of 8 cm (hereinafter called a 8 cm disc cartridge). Such disc cartridges have an accommodating hole through which a turn table, and a chucking clamp of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus are advanced. The accommodating hole communicates with an opening which serves as a feeding passage to an optical pickup device. A shutter is mounted on each disc cartridge to open/close both the accommodating hole and the opening.
The optical recording/reproducing apparatus has a rotating section for rotating the disc at such a speed that the information can be recorded/reproduced thereon/therefrom, an optical pickup device for reading an optical signal, or recording the information, by radiating a laser beam on the rotating disc while being moved in a radial direction of the rotating disc, and a signal processing section for processing the information detected by the laser beam radiated from the optical pickup device.
Thus, when the disc cartridge is put in the optical recording/reproducing apparatus, the shutter of the disc cartridge is moved in a certain direction exposing the accommodating hole and the opening of the disc cartridge. Then, the turn table and the chucking clamp are advanced through the accommodating hole to position and chuck the disc. Continuously, the optical pickup device is linearly and reciprocally moved in a radial direction of the disc in the disc cartridge along the opening while recording/reproducing the information on/from the disc.
However, since the conventional optical recording/reproducing apparatus is capable of using only one kind of disc cartridge, there is low compatibility, i.e., both of the disc cartridges of different sizes such as 12 cm and 8 cm disc cartridges cannot be used therein.
Further, if both 12 cm and 8 cm discs are to be used, respective optical recording/reproducing apparatuses for the respective disc cartridges have to be provided, and as a result, the cost accordingly increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-described problems of the prior art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical recording/reproducing apparatus capable of using disc cartridges of different sizes such as 12 cm and 8 cm disc cartridges, by selectively positioning the same on one tray.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical recording/reproducing apparatus capable of using a naked disc (without a disc cartridge) and an adapter containing an 8 cm disc, in addition to disc cartridges of different sizes, by selectively positioning the same on one tray.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus for automatically detecting the type of the recording/reproducing medium in use as being a 12 cm disc cartridge, 8 cm disc cartridge, an adapter, or a naked disc, and for automatically performing information recording and reproducing processes according to the detected recording/reproducing medium.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The above objects of the present invention will be accomplished by an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus to accommodate disc cartridges as recording/reproducing mediums of at least two different sizes which receive respective discs of different sizes, including: a case; a tray mounted to the case and receivable into and withdrawable from the case, the tray selectively accommodating the disc cartridges; means for supporting the recording/reproducing mediums selectively positioned on the tray according to sizes of the recording/reproducing mediums, so as to prevent movement of the recording/reproducing mediums on the tray; means for detecting the sizes of the recording/reproducing mediums selectively positioned on the tray, and states of the respective discs accommodated in the recording/reproducing mediums; means for rotating the discs of the recording/reproducing mediums selectively positioned on the tray; means for recording information on and/or reproducing the information from the discs rotated by the rotating means; and a deck base for supporting the rotating means and the information recording/reproducing means, and being rotatably moved upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the reception/withdrawal of the tray with respect to the case.
The optical recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes: means for opening/closing shutters, which are slidably disposed on the recording/reproducing mediums to open/close the accommodating hole and the opening, in accordance with the reception/withdrawal of the tray with respect to the case; and means for pressing hubs of the discs accommodated in the recording/reproducing mediums, to chuck the discs onto the rotating means.
The supporting means includes a press member to contact with, and press a side of a first disc cartridge holding a disc having a diameter of 12 cm and a second disc cartridge holding a disc having a diameter of 8 cm of the at least two disc cartridges selectively positioned on the tray; a holding member mechanism to hold both sides of the second disc cartridge, to prevent movement of the second disc cartridge positioned on the tray; and a horizontality member mechanism to maintain a horizontality of the second disc cartridge with respect to a bottom of the tray.
The press member includes a press slider disposed on the tray, the press slider having a pair of hooks to be inserted into the pair of guide grooves of the tray, the press slider further having a pair of holes, a pair of press portions integrally formed at first and second sides of the press slider, to press the side of the first disc cartridge, a pair of press rods movably disposed within the respective holes of the press slider, and linearly movable, the press rods to press a side of the second disc cartridge positioned on the tray, and a pair of first coil springs disposed around the pair of press rods to elastically support the press rods toward initial positions, respectively.
The holding member mechanism includes a pair of holder brackets movably disposed at the coupling holes, respectively, to close-contact with opposite sides of the second disc cartridge positioned on the tray, wherein the holder brackets have guide pieces having upper ends of the guide pieces slanted to prevent interference occurring with a lower surface of the first disc cartridge.
Each of the horizontality members includes a pair of brackets fixed to both lower sides of the tray, a pair of bracket shafts movably disposed upward and downward on the brackets to selectively protrude through corresponding piercing holes so that the bracket shafts are inserted into the insert holes formed at a lower surface of the second disc cartridge, and a pair of second coil springs disposed between the bracket shafts and the brackets to elastically support the bracket shafts upward.
The detecting means includes first detecting means for detecting a size of the first disc cartridge on the tray and a state of the disc accommodated therein; and second detecting means for detecting a size of a second disc cartridge on the tray and the state of a disc accommodated therein.
The first detecting means includes a plurality of first detecting holes formed on the tray corresponding to the sensor holes of the first disc cartridge; and at le
Choi Han-kook
Park In-sik
Seo Young-sun
Song Myoung-jong
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Tran Thang V.
LandOfFree
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