US4072995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape viewing system for micro-cassette tape recorder
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1976-11-11
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Granted: 1978-02-07
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Expires: 1996-11-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for allowing the monitoring of a tape running through a window formed in a tape cassette is provided. The apparatus comprises a light transmitting area formed in the bottom surface of a cassette receiving chamber of a cassette tape recorder, the light transmitting area being located within viewing area of the cassette window. External light admitted through at least a portion of the casing of the tape recorder is passed through the light transmitting area to be incident on the rear side of the tape cassette, thereby enabling a monitoring of the tape running under the aid of the incident light, by visual inspection through the viewing window.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaaki Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:05
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; G11B25/00; G11B25/06; G11B25/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A tape viewing system for a micro-cassette tape recorder having a cassette receiving chamber; said chamber having a bottom surface and a lid opposite said bottom surface; said lid having a transparent viewing window; said cassette having a tape viewing section; said window being aligned with said tape viewing section when said cassette is inserted in said chamber; a light transmitting opening in said bottom surface of said cassette receiving chamber and located within the boundaries of said tape viewing section and said tape viewing window, external light incident on at least portion of the casing of the recorder being led through the light transmitting opening to be incident on the rear side of the tape cassette, thereby facilitating a tape viewing through the tape viewing window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A tape viewing system for a micro-cassette tape recorder having a cassette receiving chamber; said chamber having a bottom surface and a lid opposite said bottom surface; said lid having a transparent viewing window; said cassette having a tape viewing section; said window being aligned with said tape viewing section when said cassette is inserted in said chamber; a light transmitting opening in said bottom surface of said cassette receiving chamber and located within the boundaries of said tape viewing section and said tape viewing window, external light incident on at least portion of the casing of the recorder being led through the light transmitting opening to be incident on the rear side of the tape cassette, thereby facilitating a tape viewing through the tape viewing window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tape viewer according to claim 1, further including a lens being fitted into the light admitting opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tape viewer according to claim 2, further including a light conducting member connected between the light admitting opening and said window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tape monitor of claim 2 wherein said lens is a cylindrical lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tape monitor of claim 2 wherein said lens is a convex lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A tape monitor according to claim 3 in which the light conducting member has its light emitting end disposed beneath said transparent viewing window of said lid; said light conducting member having a plurality of branch ends remote from its light emitting end; a plurality of light transmitting openings in said casing in at least two surfaces thereof; said branch ends being disposed adjacent said light transmitting openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tape monitor of claim 3 wherein said light conducting member is comprised of a bundle of light conducting fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tape viewer according to claim 1, further including a reflecting member of a good optical reflectivity disposed around the light transmitting opening in the bottom surface of the cassette receiving chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3638955A
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US3619625A
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US3584941A
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US3615155A
Cited
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |