Optical disk apparatus with pickup tilt adjusting mechanism and entertainment apparatus

• US 6,667,944 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Amemiya, Hironobu, Monden, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Watko, Julie Anne
• Application Number:
  US09/939,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 369/249, 369/247, 369/219, 369/244, 369/215, 369/176, 369/75.1, 369/258, 369/263, 369/255, 369/44.21
• US Class Current: 720/674
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/24 Head support adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/082 Aligning the head or the light source relative to the record carrier otherwise than during transducing, e.g. adjusting tilt set screw during assembly of head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49025 Making disc drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49027 Mounting preformed head/core onto other structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

A relative adjustment between an optical disc rotating mechanism and an optical pickup is adjusted by rotating a rotary member against a biasing force of an engaging projection. As the rotary member is rotated, the projection is slid for movement on an inclined surface, changing a relative position between the rotary member and a bottom wall of a subsidiary chassis, causing the subsidiary chassis to have a varied inclination relative to a main chassis. An adjusted condition is maintained by an engaging force between an engaging groove and the engaging projection biased toward the rotary member.

Claims

1. An optical disc apparatus comprising:

a main chassis;

an optical disc rotating mechanism mounted to the main chassis;

a rotary member having

a rotation axis held in a fixed position relative to the main chassis, and

a plurality of first engagement parts arrayed on a circular arc about the rotation axis;

a subsidiary chassis rotatably connected to the main chassis, the subsidiary chassis having an operating part disposed between the main chassis and the rotary member;

an optical pickup supported by the subsidiary chassis, to be slidable for movement;

an elastic member disposed between the main chassis and the subsidiary chassis, the elastic member biasing the operating part of the subsidiary member toward the rotary member;

a projection provided to one of the operating part of the subsidiary chassis and the rotary member, to project toward the other thereof;

a helical inclined surface provided to the other of the operating part of the subsidiary chassis and the rotary member, the inclined surface receiving a biasing force from the elastic member, to be brought into pressing contact with the projection, the inclined surface being configured, as the rotary member is rotated, to slidingly contact the projection, changing a position of the operating part relative to the rotary member; and

a second engagement part provided to one of the subsidiary chassis and the elastic member and biased toward the rotary member, the second engagement part being configured for engaging with an arbitrary one of the plurality of first engagement parts to prevent rotation of the rotary member, so that, once the rotary member is rotated against a biasing force of the second engagement part, having the projection relatively slid to move on the inclined surface, with a changed relative position between the rotary member and the subsidiary chassis, the relative position between the rotary member and the subsidiary chassis is held by an engaging force between the second engagement part and the arbitrary first engagement part.

2. The optical disc apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a hole formed in the operating part of the subsidiary chassis; and

a shaft body extending from the main chassis and inserted into the hole, the shaft body supporting the rotary member to be rotatable.

3. An entertainment apparatus provided with an optical disc apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The optical disc apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the rotary member has a substantially annular gear and a cam,

the plurality of first engagement parts are consecutively ring-like disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear, and

the cam is integrally extended from the gear to form the inclined surface.

5. An entertainment apparatus provided with an optical disc apparatus according to claim 3.

6. The optical disc apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the elastic member comprises a plate spring, and the second engagement part is integrally formed with the plate spring.

7. An entertainment apparatus provided with an optical disc apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The optical disc apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second engagement part is integrally formed with the subsidiary chassis.

9. An entertainment apparatus provided with an optical disc apparatus according to claim 8.

10. An entertainment apparatus provided with an optical disc apparatus according to claim 1.