Tracking mirror device for a video disc player

• US 4,063,287 A
• Filed: 02/23/1976
• Issued: 12/13/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: VAN Rosmalen, Gerard Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): Konick, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faber, Alan
• Application Number:
  US05/660,498
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 350/7, 360/77, 179/100.3 V, 179/100.3 H, 250/202, 250/203, 250/570, 358/128, 346/109
• US Class Current: 369/44.13
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/09 with provision for moving the light beam or focus plane for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the light beam relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following

Abstract

A tracking mirror device, in particular for a video disc player, in which for following an information track on a video disc with a beam of radiation, use is made of a mirror which oscillates at a high frequency, which causes the beam of radiation, which serves for scanning the information track, to oscillate transversely to the information track at a high frequency and a small amplitude, while the filtered out high-frequency signal, as a function of its amplitude and its phase relationship with the high frequency voltage which is applied to the oscillating mirror, yields a control signal for following the information track. In accordance with the invention, use is made of an oscillating mirror which is driven electromagnetically and which is connected to oscillation compensation elements by means of springs which elements oscillate in phase opposition to the mirror. Thus, an oscillator mirror is obtained which can readily be excited to natural resonance and thus requires little power. On the mirror a piezo-electric miniature acceleration transducer can be mounted, which can provide a feedback signal so that the oscillating mirror can be included in a self-oscillating circuit.

Claims

1. A tracking mirror device for a track centering system of a video disc player, said centering system being of the type comprising deflection means including said mirror device for receiving a radiation beam and for reflecting it onto a radially selectable track of a rotating video disc in response to a deflection signal, and deflection signal generating means for sensing the position of the radiation beam with respect to said track and for providing said deflection means with a signal that periodically oscillates the radiation beam about a center position on the track;

said tracking mirror device comprising a reflecting surface, electromagnetic drive means for positioning and oscillating the reflective surface at a high frequency in response to the deflection signal from the deflection signal generating means, at least one oscillation compensation element oscillating at the frequency of said mirror surface and in phase opposition therewith, and means for resiliently connecting the mirror surface to the oscillation compensation element.

2. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a base attached to the reflecting surface, wherein the base, the oscillation compensation means and the resilient connecting means consists of a single homogenous integral unit.

3. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 2, wherein said integral unit comprises a plate of quartz having notches removed therefrom at portions separating the base from the compensation element.

4. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is pivotally supported for oscillations about an axis of oscillation, and wherein two oscillation compensation elements are provided on opposite sides of said reflecting surface, the resilient connecting means comprising torsion springs having a torsion axis that coincides with said axis of oscillation.

5. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface is pivotal about a pivotal axis of oscillation, and wherein said resilient connecting means comprises a flat spring having a bending axis extending parallel to said axis of oscillation.

6. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic drive means comprises a permanent magnet connected to the reflecting surface and a stationary electromagnetic coil magnetically coupled to the magnet.

7. A tracking mirror as recited in claim 6, further comprising an electrical acceleration transducer on one of said oscillating mirror or said oscillation compensation element and means connecting an output of said acceleration transducer to an input of said deflection signal generating means.

8. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 7, wherein the acceleration transducer comprises a piezo-electric crystal and an auxiliary mass attached to the piezo-electric crystal.

9. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface and the oscillation compensation element have a natural frequency of 30 kHz.

10. A tracking mirror device as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface, said oscillation compensating means and said deflection signal generator comprise an interconnected feedback path for generating a periodically oscillating portion of the deflection signal.