Compact-disc changer using the same optical pickup device used for playing disc for sensing roulette position

A roulette-type disc changer comprising:

• a tray;
• a roulette rotatably mounted on said tray, said roulette having an upper surface distal from said tray for loading a plurality of discs thereon, having a lower surface opposite its said upper surface and proximate to said tray, and having a rim at a circumference thereof;
• a pickup portion installed below said tray and having a deck on which moves an optical pickup for emitting a laser beam and sensing the laser beam reflected back thereto as from one of said plurality of discs, for reproducing information from the discs;
• and
• a reflector positioned above the upper surface of said roulette, wherein a plurality of throughhole groups each having at least one light throughhole therein are formed in a predetermined pattern along a circular path near the circumference of said roulette and separate from where said plurality of disks are loaded, wherein each light throughhole in said throughhole groups extends between the upper and lower surfaces of said roulette at a prescribed distance from its rim, wherein an light throughhole is formed in said tray at a position corresponding to that of the throughholes of said roulette, wherein the deck of said pickup portion is extended such that said optical pickup can move sufficiently close to the rim of said roulette as to be positioned beneath the additional light throughhole in said tray, and wherein said reflector is positioned such that the laser beam emitted from said optical pickup can pass through the additional light throughhole in said tray and one of the groups of throughholes of said roulette and be reflected by said reflector back to said optical pickup, thereby allowing a disc number or a disc stopping position or both to be sensed by said optical pickup.