# US 4,398,278 A · Record player program selector

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- Number: US 4,398,278 A
- Document ID: US4398278A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/331,074
- Filed: 1981-12-16
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1980-12-27
- Assignees: Sony Corporation
- Inventors: Kiyoshi Suzuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398278A

## CPC

- G11B 33/121: {the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device}
- G11B 3/08512: {using optical detecting means}
- G11B 3/0957: {using optical means for detecting the end of the recording or the desired point thereof}
- G11B 19/022: {Control panels}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A program selector for a record player of the type having a turntable supported on a movable carrier which is actuable to move the turntable into and out of a housing, and having a tone arm which is movable across the surface of a record and controllable to play back at least a selected one of plural programs recorded on the record in separate segments which are spaced apart from each other by respecting inter-program gaps. An inter-program gap detector detects the location of each inter-program gap on the record and produces an inter-program gap signal representing that location as the carrier moves the turn-table into the housing. A selector is provided for selecting a prgram to be played by selecting a particular inter-program gap signal which represents the location on the record of the desired program. A tone arm position detector detects the position of the tone arm as it moves across the surface of the record and produces a tone arm position signal representing the relative position of that tone arm. A control circuit compares the tone arm position signal to the selected inter-program gap signal and produces a control signal when the tone arm position signal corresponds to the selected inter-program gap signal so as to cause the tone arm to play back the selected program.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Program selector apparatus for a record player of the type having a turntable supported on a movable carrier which is actuable to move the turntable into and out of a housing, and having a tone arm which is movable across the surface of a record on said turntable and controllable to play back a selected one of plural programs recorded on said record in separate segements spaced apart from each other by respective inter-program gaps, said apparatus comprising:
inter-program gap detecting means for detecting the location of each inter-program gap on said record and for producing an inter-program gap signal representing said location as said turntable is moved into said housing;
selecting means for selecting a program to be played back, said selecting means selecting an inter-program gap signal representing the location on said record of said selected program;
tone arm position detecting means for detecting the position of said tone arm as said tone arm moves across the surface of said record and for producing a tone arm position signal representing the position of said tone arm along said record; and
control means for comparing said tone arm position signal to said selected inter-program gap signal and for producing a control signal in response to said comparison to cause said tone arm to play back the selected program.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inter-program gap detecting means comprises counting means for generating counts as said turntable is moved into said housing; sensing means for sensing the inter-program gaps on said record; and storage means for storing the count generated by said counting means when an inter-program gap is sensed; the stored count representing the location of a respective inter-program gap.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising reference means on said carrier and sensible by said sensing means when said carrier moves said turntable to a reference position; and reset means for resetting said counting means to a predetermined count when said reference means is sensed by said sensing means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said sensing means comprises photodetecting means fixedly mounted on said housing for discriminating between recorded program information and inter-program gaps on said record, and for producing a sense signal when an inter-program gap is sensed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said photodetecting means further produces a sense signal when the leading edge of said record is sensed thereby as said carrier moves said turntable into said housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said counting means comprises an index having indicia thereon; pick-up means for sensing said indicia and for generating a counting pulse in response to each sensed indicium; one of said index and pick-up means being mounted on said housing and the other being mounted on said carrier so as to be relatively movable with respect to each other; and a pulse counter coupled to said pick-up means for counting the count pulses generated thereby.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pick-up means comprises an optical pick-up for optically sensing said indicia.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said tone arm position detecting means comprises an index having indicia thereon; pick-up means for sensing said indicia and for generating a count pulse in response to each sensed indicium; one of said index and pick-up means being coupled to and movable with said tone arm and the other being fixed with respect to said tone arm; and a pulse counter coupled to said pick-up means for counting the count pulses generated thereby to provide a tone arm position signal.

### Claim 9

Program selector apparatus for a record player of the type having a turntable supported on a movable carrier which is actuable to move the turntable into and out of a housing, and having a tone arm which is movable substantially radially across the surface of a record on said turntable and controllable to play back a selected one of plural programs recorded on said record in separate segments spaced apart from each other by respective inter-program gaps, said apparatus comprising:
a sensor fixedly disposed relative to said carrier for sensing said inter-program gaps on a record as said carrier moves said turntable into said housing;
first count pulse generating means for generating first count pulses as said carrier moves said turntable into said housing, each first count pulse representing a predetermined distance of movement of said turntable;
first counter means for counting said first count pulses to produce a changeable count representing distances along a radius of said record on said turntable;
storage means for storing the count of said first counter means when each inter-program gap on said record is sensed, each stored count representing the radial location of a respective inter-program gap;
selecting means for selecting a program to be played back by selecting a stored count;
second count pulse generating means for generating second count pulses as said tone arm moves across said surface of said record, each second count pulse representing a predetermined radial distance of movement of said tone arm;
second counter means for counting said second count pulses to produce a changeable count representing distances along a radius of said record; and
control means for detecting when the count of said second counter means corresponds to said selected stored count to produce a control signal for causing play back of the program recorded at the location on said record which has been reached by said tone arm.