Recording-medium holder insertion detection apparatus

An apparatus for detecting an insertion of a recording-medium holder in a recording/reproducing system, comprising:

• a motor which is engaged with the recording-medium holder, placed at a first position within the recording/producing system, the motor moving the holder in an insertion direction from the first position when the motor is rotated by a drive voltage, and the motor generating an alternating voltage when the motor is rotated by a manual insertion of the holder so as to reach a second position;
• a detection circuit for outputting a pulsed signal in response to the alternating voltage generated by the motor,
• wherein the detection circuit includes a differential amplifier having inputs connected to the motor, a comparator having an input connected to an output of the amplifier, and a waveform shaping circuit having an input connected to an output of the comparator and
• wherein the detection circuit supplies a pulsed signal from an output of the waveform shaping circuit to a determination unit when the alternating voltage generated by the motor is received at the inputs of the differential amplifier;
• and
• the determination unit for calculating a distance of the holder away from the first position in the insertion direction based on the pulsed signal output by the detection circuit, and for outputting a drive-start signal when the calculated distance has reached a predetermined distance between the first position and the second position.