Track skipper for video disc player

Claim 1

In a system for recovering prerecorded information from a disc record having a spiral information track by a track-following stylus when stylus/record relative velocity is established; wherein normal operation of said system involves sensing of said prerecorded information along successive convolutions of said spiral track in a regular progression toward one extremity; an apparatus comprising: (A) a carriage subject to translatory motion in correlation with radial motion of said track-following stylus during playback; said carriage having an opening in a bottom wall thereof; (B) a stylus arm having a longitudinal axis, and carrying said track-following stylus at one end thereof; (C) means for yieldably securing the end of said stylus arm remote from said one end to said carriage; said yieldable securing means permitting said track-following stylus to protrude through said opening when said stylus arm is lowered during playback; (D) a permanent magnetic element secured to said stylus arm near said one end thereof and disposed above said stylus arm relative to said record during playback; (E) an electromagnet for providing a controllable magnetic field of a desired polarity when energized; (F) means for mounting said electromagnet to said carriage in the vicinity of said permanent magnetic element; and (G) means for selectively energizing said electromagnet to cause a shift in the radial location of said track-following stylus in a substantially radial direction, said radial direction depending upon the polarity of said controllable magnetic field.