Rca Inc.

James C Rustman

Michael J Mindel

Richard C Palmer

Michael E Miller

The invention describes a method and apparatus for reconditioning a video disc signal pickup stylus electrode to prevent electrode-disc electrical shorts. An AC or DC potential is repetitively applied during a predetermined period between the stylus electrode and the disc to produce electrical breakdown at the electrode-disc interface and vaporize a portion of the electrode material. In the capacitive type video disc system, the capacitance sensing pickup circuitry is repetitively tuned to couple excessive amounts of rf potential to the stylus electrode.

Apparatus for video disc stylus electrode reconditioning

In a system for correcting tracking errors in a video disc player, digital information, corresponding to field numbers is encoded on the video signal during one horizontal line of the res ective vertical blanking interval. Tracking errors, such as a locked track condition or a skipped track condition are detected by noting improper sequence of two or more decoded field numbers. A kicker apparatus is provided to move the signal pickup device in a direction so as to reduce the tracking error.

Track error correction system as for video disc player

A video disc playback system for detecting field number information recorded on a sectored video disc and representing stylus location, and for correlating presently received field number information with previously received field number information. Presently received field number data is correlated to previously received field number data to determine whether or not the presently received data indicates the playback stylus to be playing back from a predicted sector of the disc and within a predicted range of radius from the center of the disc. These range and sector checks are used to reduce the probability of data errors passing undetected during playback.

Video disc player system for correlating stylus position with

The quality of the low frequency signals recovered by a playback stylus may be improved by removing non-electrode metal deposits. A stream slurry lapper with a slurry of alumina in water can be used.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

James C Rustman