US3882267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video playback system tracking arm and pickup assembly
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-14
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1992-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A capacitive type video playback system includes an elongated tracking arm supported within a conductive housing having a first portion substantially parallel to the conductive housing bottom surface and a second portion sloped toward an opening in the conductive housing bottom surface. A tracking stylus is supported by the tracking arm such that the longitudinal axis of the stylus is substantially normal to the major surface of a disc record when the tracking stylus engages the disc record groove. Detachable connector means may be provided for supporting the tracking stylus in proper operating position and for electrically connecting the stylus conductive electrode to the playback system signal processing circuitry. The moving mass which must follow vertical and lateral warpage of the disc record groove is reduced by a yieldable suspension member connected between the tracking stylus and tracking arm. A second yieldable suspension member connected between the tracking arm and a support supports the tracking arm in a manner which enables it to follow vertical and lateral warpage of the disc record groove communicated to the tracking arm through the first suspension member.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin Allan Leedom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/16; H04R1/18; G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/38; G01B3/42; G11; G11B; G11B9/00; G11B9/06; G11B9/07; G11B9/075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
In a video playback system for use with a video disc record having geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, said video playback system employing signal processing circuitry subject to energizing oscillations, the combination comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, said tracking stylus including an electrode for signal transfer as said disc record is rotated; means for electrically connecting said stylus electrode to said signal processing circuitry; means for shield said signal processing circuitry in order to limit radiation of said energizing oscillations, said shielding means comprising a conductive housing for said signal processing circuitry having a bottom surface subject to positioning adjacent said disc record during playback; an elongated tracking arm yieldably supported at one end within said conductive housing and subject to rotational motion, as well as translatory motion in a direction substantially parallel to said housing bottom surface, during record playback; and support means for said tracking stylus at the end of said tracking arm remote from said one end for supporting said tracking stylus in signal transfer relation with said disc record when said tracking stylus engages said disc record; wherein said housing has an opening in said bottom surface through which said remote end of said tracking arm protrudes during record playback, and through which radiation of said energizing oscillations may occur; said opening being dimensioned to accommodate said rotational and translatory motions of said tracking arm without engagement between said remote end and said housing; and wherein said tracking arm includes a first straight portion, extending from said one end in substantially parallel relationship with said housing bottom surface during playback, and a further portion adjacent said first portion and curved toward said opening, whereby the opening area requirements requisite for said motion accommodation are reduced relative to the opening area requirements associated with such motion accomodation for a tracking arm of straight configuration between supported end and remote end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
In a video playback system for use with a video disc record having geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, said video playback system employing signal processing circuitry subject to energizing oscillations, the combination comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, said tracking stylus including an electrode for signal transfer as said disc record is rotated; means for electrically connecting said stylus electrode to said signal processing circuitry; means for shield said signal processing circuitry in order to limit radiation of said energizing oscillations, said shielding means comprising a conductive housing for said signal processing circuitry having a bottom surface subject to positioning adjacent said disc record during playback; an elongated tracking arm yieldably supported at one end within said conductive housing and subject to rotational motion, as well as translatory motion in a direction substantially parallel to said housing bottom surface, during record playback; and support means for said tracking stylus at the end of said tracking arm remote from said one end for supporting said tracking stylus in signal transfer relation with said disc record when said tracking stylus engages said disc record; wherein said housing has an opening in said bottom surface through which said remote end of said tracking arm protrudes during record playback, and through which radiation of said energizing oscillations may occur; said opening being dimensioned to accommodate said rotational and translatory motions of said tracking arm without engagement between said remote end and said housing; and wherein said tracking arm includes a first straight portion, extending from said one end in substantially parallel relationship with said housing bottom surface during playback, and a further portion adjacent said first portion and curved toward said opening, whereby the opening area requirements requisite for said motion accommodation are reduced relative to the opening area requirements associated with such motion accomodation for a tracking arm of straight configuration between supported end and remote end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a video playback system including signal processing circuitry for transducing with a video disc record having geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, the combination comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, said tracking stylus including an electrode for signal transfer as said disc record is rotated; means for electrically connecting said stylus electrode to said signal processing circuitry; a conductive housing having an opening in the bottom surface thereof, said conductive housing mounted such that said opening is adjacent said disc record; a first yieldable suspension means; an elongated tracking arm supported within said conductive housing by said first yieldable suspension means and having a first portion substantially parallel to said conductive housing bottom surface and a second portion sloped toward said conductive housing opening; said first yieldable suspension means supporting said tRacking arm at one end thereof in a manner enabling said tracking arm to follow vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record groove; and support means for said tracking stylus mounted at the end of said tracking arm opposite to said one end and adjacent said conductive housing opening for supporting said tracking stylus in signal transfer relation with said disc record when said tracking stylus engages said disc record; said tracking stylus support means including a second yieldable suspension means for reducing the mass which must follow vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a video playback system including signal processing circuitry for transducing with a video disc record having geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, the combination comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, said tracking stylus including an electrode for signal transfer as said disc record is rotated; means for electrically connecting said stylus electrode to said signal processing circuitry; a conductive housing having an opening in the bottom surface thereof, said conductive housing mounted such that said opening is adjacent said disc record; a first yieldable suspension means; an elongated tracking arm supported within said conductive housing by said first yieldable suspension means and having a first portion substantially parallel to said conductive housing bottom surface and a second portion sloped toward said conductive housing opening; said first yieldable suspension means supporting said tRacking arm at one end thereof in a manner enabling said tracking arm to follow vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record groove; and support means for said tracking stylus mounted at the end of said tracking arm opposite to said one end and adjacent said conductive housing opening for supporting said tracking stylus in signal transfer relation with said disc record when said tracking stylus engages said disc record; said tracking stylus support means including a second yieldable suspension means for reducing the mass which must follow vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video playback system as defined in claim 2 wherein said tracking stylus suspension means and said tracking arm suspension means are fabricated from a damped elastomer material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
314 words
In a video playback system including signal processing circuitry for transducing with a video disc record having geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, the combination comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, said tracking stylus including an electrode for signal transfer as said disc record is rotated; a conductive housing having an opening in the bottom surface thereof, said conductive housing mounted such that said opening is adjacent said disc record; an elongated tracking arm supported at one end within said conductive housing and having a first portion substantially parallel to said conductive housing bottom surface and a second portion sloped toward said conductive housing opening; and support means for said tracking stylus mounted at the end of said tracking arm remote from said one end and adjacent said conductive housing opening; said support means comprising demountable connector means for supporting said tracking stylus in proper operating position of said signal transfer when said tracking stylus engages said video disc record groove; said connector means also serving to effect electrical connection of said tracking stylus electrode to said signal processing circuitry; wherein said demountable connector means includes a first member for supporting said tracking stylus and having a conductive element, and a second member mounted to said tracking arm and electrically connected to said signal processing circuitry, said first and second demountable connector means members adapted to cooperate such that said conductive element of said first member is electrically connected to said signal processing circuitry through said second member; and wherein said demountable connector first member includes a support element having a first end connected to said demountable connector second member, and a second end having first and second laterally spaced notched prongs, said notched prongs defining a recessed surface and said tracking stylus mounted in abutting relationship to said recessed surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
314 words
In a video playback system including signal processing circuitry for transducing with a video disc record having geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, the combination comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, said tracking stylus including an electrode for signal transfer as said disc record is rotated; a conductive housing having an opening in the bottom surface thereof, said conductive housing mounted such that said opening is adjacent said disc record; an elongated tracking arm supported at one end within said conductive housing and having a first portion substantially parallel to said conductive housing bottom surface and a second portion sloped toward said conductive housing opening; and support means for said tracking stylus mounted at the end of said tracking arm remote from said one end and adjacent said conductive housing opening; said support means comprising demountable connector means for supporting said tracking stylus in proper operating position of said signal transfer when said tracking stylus engages said video disc record groove; said connector means also serving to effect electrical connection of said tracking stylus electrode to said signal processing circuitry; wherein said demountable connector means includes a first member for supporting said tracking stylus and having a conductive element, and a second member mounted to said tracking arm and electrically connected to said signal processing circuitry, said first and second demountable connector means members adapted to cooperate such that said conductive element of said first member is electrically connected to said signal processing circuitry through said second member; and wherein said demountable connector first member includes a support element having a first end connected to said demountable connector second member, and a second end having first and second laterally spaced notched prongs, said notched prongs defining a recessed surface and said tracking stylus mounted in abutting relationship to said recessed surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A viedo playback system as defined in claim 4 wherein said detachable connector means second member includes a yieldable suspension means for reducing the mass which must follow vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
238 words
A video playback system for use with a video disc record having information recorded thereon in the form of geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, said record subject to having vertical and lateral warpage, said video playback system comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, and adapted to cooperate with signal processing circuitry to detect and process said recorded information as said disc record is rotated; a tracking arm for tracking said video disc record groove, said tracking arm having a first and a second end; a first yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking stylus and said tracking arm first end for reducing the mass which must follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said disc record groove; and a support meMber; a second yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking arm second end and said support member for pivotally supporting said tracking arm in a manner which enables said tracking arm to follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record; wherein said support member is subject to translatory motion to effect correction of error in the relative velocity between said disc record groove and the engaging stylus, and wherein each of said first and second yieldable suspension means provides rigidity in the direction of said translatory motion to facilitate the transmission of said motion of said support member to said stylus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
238 words
A video playback system for use with a video disc record having information recorded thereon in the form of geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, said record subject to having vertical and lateral warpage, said video playback system comprising: a tracking stylus for engaging said disc record spiral groove, and adapted to cooperate with signal processing circuitry to detect and process said recorded information as said disc record is rotated; a tracking arm for tracking said video disc record groove, said tracking arm having a first and a second end; a first yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking stylus and said tracking arm first end for reducing the mass which must follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said disc record groove; and a support meMber; a second yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking arm second end and said support member for pivotally supporting said tracking arm in a manner which enables said tracking arm to follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record; wherein said support member is subject to translatory motion to effect correction of error in the relative velocity between said disc record groove and the engaging stylus, and wherein each of said first and second yieldable suspension means provides rigidity in the direction of said translatory motion to facilitate the transmission of said motion of said support member to said stylus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention according to claim 6, including a conductive housing for substantially enclosing said tracking arm and including a given surface portion for disposition adjacent the major surface of said disc record, said tracking arm including a first portion and a further portion, said first portion extending between said second end and said further portion, with said first portion lying substantially parallel to said given surface, and said further portion angled toward said given surface, when said stylus engages said disc record groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
232 words
A video playback system comprising; a video disc record having information recorded thereon in the form of geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, said record subject to having vertical and lateral warpage; a tracking stylus engaging said disc record spiral groove, and adapted to cooperate with signal processing circuitry to detect and process said recorded information as said disc record is rotated; a tracking arm for tracking said video disc record groove, said tracking arm having a first and a second end; a first yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking stylus and said tracking arm first end for reducing the mass which must follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said disc record groove; and a second yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking arm second end and a support member for supporting said tracking arm in a manner which enables said tracking arm to follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record; wherein said tracking arm support member is a groove velocity error correction drive mechanism and said second yieldable suspension member provides rigidity in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said groove velocity error correction drive mechanism, and wherein said second yieldable suspension means includes a female receptacle adapted to cooperate with a male connector plug mounted to said groove velocity error correction drive mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
232 words
A video playback system comprising; a video disc record having information recorded thereon in the form of geometrical variations in a spiral groove on a major surface of said disc record, said record subject to having vertical and lateral warpage; a tracking stylus engaging said disc record spiral groove, and adapted to cooperate with signal processing circuitry to detect and process said recorded information as said disc record is rotated; a tracking arm for tracking said video disc record groove, said tracking arm having a first and a second end; a first yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking stylus and said tracking arm first end for reducing the mass which must follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said disc record groove; and a second yieldable suspension means connected between said tracking arm second end and a support member for supporting said tracking arm in a manner which enables said tracking arm to follow the vertical and lateral warpage of said video disc record; wherein said tracking arm support member is a groove velocity error correction drive mechanism and said second yieldable suspension member provides rigidity in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said groove velocity error correction drive mechanism, and wherein said second yieldable suspension means includes a female receptacle adapted to cooperate with a male connector plug mounted to said groove velocity error correction drive mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A video playback system as defined in claim 8 wherein said groove velocity error correction drive mechanism includes a moving tubular coil form and said male connector plug is mounted to said one end of said tubular coil form by a support cone which seals said tubular coil from one end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A video playback system as defined in claim 8 wherein said groove velocity error correction drive mechanism includes a moving tubular coil coil form and said plug is mounted to said tubular member by divergent support arms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A video playback system as defined in claim 8 wherein said plug includes protuberances which cooperate with said second yieldable suspension means female receptacle to provide a detent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A video playback system as defined in claim 11 wherein said plug protuberance cooperates with said female receptacle in a manner to provide a predetermined orientation for said tracking arm to insure a proper relationship between said tracking stylus and said disc record when said tracking stylus engages said disc record groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |