US5506826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Life span detector for a laser diode and a compact disk player having the same
Assignee: Shinano Kenshi Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-11-10
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Granted: 1996-04-09
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Expires: 2014-11-10
Abstract
Abstract In a life span detector of the present invention, a current detecting circuit detects current intensity through a laser diode. The current detecting circuits is provided between an electric source and the laser diode. A comparing circuit compares the current intensity detected with a predetermined value. The comparing circuit outputs a predetermined signal when the current intensity detected is greater than the predetermined value. In a compact disc player of the present invention, an optical pick-up includes a laser diode, and a life span detector which detects a life span of the laser diode. By the life span detector, the life span of the laser diode can be timely known. Thus, the occurrence of sound skip and missing data which result from a deteriorated laser diode can be prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Teruyuki Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:23
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/125; G11B7/126; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/04; G11B33/00; G11B33/10; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/068; H01S5/06825; H01S5/0014; H01S5/0021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A life span detector for a laser diode, comprising: an electric source for supplying electric current, which passes through said laser diode to emit light; current supplying means for supplying the current from said electric source to said laser diode, said current supplying means being connected between said electric source and said laser diode; current detecting means for directly detecting intensity of the current passing through said laser diode, said current detecting means being connected between said electric source and said current supplying means; and comparing means for comparing the current intensity detected by said current detecting means with a predetermined value, said comparing means outputting a predetermined signal when the current intensity is greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A life span detector for a laser diode, comprising: an electric source for supplying electric current, which passes through said laser diode to emit light; current supplying means for supplying the current from said electric source to said laser diode, said current supplying means being connected between said electric source and said laser diode; current detecting means for directly detecting intensity of the current passing through said laser diode, said current detecting means being connected between said electric source and said current supplying means; and comparing means for comparing the current intensity detected by said current detecting means with a predetermined value, said comparing means outputting a predetermined signal when the current intensity is greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The life span detector for a laser diode according to claim 1, wherein said current detecting means is a resistance, which is capable of converting the current intensity to the voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The life span detector for a laser diode according to claim 2, wherein said comparing means is a comparator, which compares the voltage converted by said resistance with a standard voltage through a variable resistance which, when varied, adjusts the standard voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The life span detector for a laser diode according to claim 3, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the standard voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The life span detector for a laser diode according to claim 1, further comprising indicating means for outputting an indicating signal to indicate completion of a life span of said laser diode when said comparing means outputs said predetermined signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The life span detector for a laser diode according to claim 5, wherein said indicating means is a display unit, which is capable of showing characters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A compact disc player comprising: an optical pick-up having a laser diode, a life span detector for detecting a life span of said laser diode, said life span detector includes: an electric source for supplying electric current, which passes through said laser diode to emit light; current supplying means for supplying the current from said electric source to said laser diode, said current supplying means being connected between said electric source and said laser diode; current detecting means for directly detecting intensity of the current passing through said laser diode, said current detecting means being connected between said electric source and said current supplying means; and comparing means for comparing the current intensity detected by said current detecting means with a predetermined value, said comparing means outputting a predetermined signal when the current intensity is greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A compact disc player comprising: an optical pick-up having a laser diode, a life span detector for detecting a life span of said laser diode, said life span detector includes: an electric source for supplying electric current, which passes through said laser diode to emit light; current supplying means for supplying the current from said electric source to said laser diode, said current supplying means being connected between said electric source and said laser diode; current detecting means for directly detecting intensity of the current passing through said laser diode, said current detecting means being connected between said electric source and said current supplying means; and comparing means for comparing the current intensity detected by said current detecting means with a predetermined value, said comparing means outputting a predetermined signal when the current intensity is greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The compact disc player according to claim 7, wherein said current detecting means is a resistance, which is capable of converting the current intensity to the voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The compact disc player according to claim 8, wherein said comparing means is a comparator, which compares the voltage converted by said resistance with a standard voltage through a variable resistance which, when varied, adjusts said standard voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The compact disc player according to claim 9, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the standard voltage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The compact disc player according to claim 7, further comprising indicating means for outputting an indicating signal to indicate completion of a life span of said laser diode when said life span detector detects completion of a life span of said laser diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The compact disc player according to claim 7, further comprising indicating means for outputting an indicating signal to indicate completion of a life span of said laser diode when said comparing means outputs said predetermined signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The compact disc player according to claim 11, wherein said indicating means is a display unit, which is capable of showing characters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The compact disc player according to claim 12, further comprising control means for controlling said indicating means when said comparing means outputs said predetermined signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The compact disc player according to claim 12, further comprising releasing means for temporarily releasing the indicating means from outputting said indicating signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |