Pioneer Electronic Corporation

Naoki Masaki

Koji Yamagishi

Naomi Amemiya

Kunio Matsumoto

Nobuaki Hisamatsu

Masayuki Yoshida

Osamu Hira

Naoki Shimada

Miho Ota

An information reproducing system plays back a group of recording mediums each having recording information to be reproduced and TOC information with respect to the recorded information, so that the recorded information of the recording mediums can be reproduced according to the TOC Information. The TOC information of the recording mediums before the recording mediums are played back, playback operation of the recording mediums is controlled based on the read TOC information. Since it is not necessary to read TOC information each time a recording medium is replaced or a group of recording mediums is replaced, the recording mediums can smoothly be played back.

Information reproducing system identifying previously stored playback

When information to be registered is produced with respect to a new group of recording mediums, such new information is shifted and stored successively in old storage areas of a memory. Therefore, the information can be stored in the memory on a time-series bases. The times at which the information is registered can easily be determined without relying on any counter or the like. When the registered information of the recording mediums which is stored in the memory is to be used again, registered information which is newer than the registered information to be used again is shifted successively into the old storage areas, and the registered information to be used again is transferred to a newest storage area. The registered information can be stored in the order of frequency of use, and registered information which is of higher frequency of use can be stored in a newer storage area. The remaining storage capacity of the storing areas is determined, and if the remaining storage capacity is not sufficient, registered information to be erased, of the entire registered information, is determined. Registered information which is less required to be registered can be determined, and can be erased when the storage capacity is not sufficient.

Information reproducing system for reproducing a group of recording

A compact disk player has a magazine containing a plurality of disks. Identification data, about a last disk which has been played before the stop of the playing of the disk, is detected. A memory is provided for storing the detected identification data. The last disk, data of which is stored in the memory, is played at the next time by operating a stop key.

Control system for a compact disk player

An information reproducing system plays back a group of recording mediums each having recording information to be reproduced and TOC information with respect to the recorded information, so that the recorded information of the recording mediums can be reproduced according to the TOC information. The TOC information of the recording mediums are read before the recording mediums are played back, playback operation of the recording mediums is controlled based on the read TOC information. Since it is not necessary to read TOC information each time a recording medium is replaced or a group of recording medium is replaced, the recording mediums can be smoothly played back.

Information reproducing system for playing back recording mediums

A front loading disc player including two trays that can carry respective discs and having a selectable automatic disc ejection feature. When the automatic ejection mode is selected and scheduled play is completed, there is an interchanging of a playing operation from a first disc to a second disc and automatically ejecting of the first disc from a player housing. An interchanging of a playing operation from the first disc to the second disc and automatically ejecting the first disc from the player housing, are not conducted until a program of all selected tunes on the first disc is completed playing.

Disc player having automatic disc ejection, and method of providing same

Table of contents (TOC) information is read before a plurality of recording mediums, such as compact disks, each having recorded information to be reproduced and TOC information, with respect to the recorded information are played back. Playback operation of the recording mediums is controlled based on the read TOC information. Programmed information which indicates a sequence according to which the recorded information of the recorded mediums is to be reproduced is read from a programmed information memory based on the result of checking of the recording mediums. The playback operation of the recording medium is controlled by a playback control unit based on the programmed information thus read. The playback operation can immediately be controlled based on the stored programmed information. If there is new programmed information relative to the recording mediums, the playback operation of the recording mediums can be controlled according to the new programmed information by employing only the stored TOC information. Therefore, even when new programmed information is established, the playback operation can quickly be controlled.

Information reproducing system and method

Program editing method and apparatus for an information recording medium playing apparatus for playing an information recording medium carrying a plurality of music pieces and playing time information representing a playing time required for playing each of the plurality of music pieces. The plurality of music pieces are selected in order and a computing process is executed for adding up the playing time of each of the selected music pieces. Then, a provisional combination is produced by editing the selected music pieces excluding one of the selected musical programs when the total playing time obtained by the computing process exceeds a time period previously designated. Furthermore, a combination whose total playing time is the nearest to but shorter than the designated time period is derived by alternately replacing each of the music pieces in the provisional combination with each of music pieces other than the music pieces in the provisional combination. The derived combination is finally determined to be a playing program.

Program editing method and apparatus for an information recording medium

A data reproducing method, such as may be used with a compact disk player or video disk player, in which data can be reproduced between any two designated points without disagreeable rapid cut-in or cut-off of the reproduced signal. During the reproduction of the disk in a first mode, address data for first and second positions is inputted. Then, in a second reproducing mode, the main data is faded in at the first position and faded out at the second position.

Method for fading in and out reproduced digitally recorded data

A data reproducing method in which abrupt sound transitions as the end of a recorded tape is reached are eliminated. A predetermined time period corresponding to the length of the tape is inputted, and a time instant earlier by a predetermined period of time than the end of the time period at which the end of the tape is encountered is calculated. While plural pieces of music are being reproduced in a specified order for recording on the tape, a sum of the total time from the start of reproduction is iteratively calculated. When the sum reaches the calculated period of time, the total output level is gradually reduced to zero.

Method for fading out recorded data at end of predetermined period

In an optical disk player including a focus servo system for forming a data detection light spot on a recording disk and a tracking servo system for producing a tracking error signal to control the position of the light spot relative to a recording track, an address search method is provided in which the movement of the light spot is controlled according to a track pulse formed according to the level of the tracking error signal. When it is determined that no track pulse has been produced for a predetermined period of time, the track jumping operation of the light spot is suspended and the abnormal condition of the focus servo system corrected. Track jumping can then be recommenced.

Track pulse controlled address search method for optical disk player

A disk player providing random disk or piece selection upon turning on of the power supply. According to one aspect of the invention, a piece on an available disk is randomly selected as soon as the disk player is turned on. According to another aspect of the invention, particularly applicable to multi-disk players, the random number is formed by a counter running at a fast rate. When the power is turned on, the counter is started and a mechanical component begins movement toward another position. Only when the component is detected to have arrived, is the counter read to provide the random number for disk or piece selection.

Random reproducing system for disk player

A method for playing tunes from a plurality of disks stored in a magazine in random order and without repeating any one tune. Three memories are provided. In the first there are recorded the identities of disks which have already been played, in the second, the identities of already-played tune S on each disk, and, in the third, an incremental count of the number of already-played tunes on each disk. The tunes are selected in terms of random numbers limited by the number of as-yet-unplayed disks derived from the data stored in the first memory.

Disk playing method for multi-disk player

In a data playback system in which multiple disks are stored in a magazine, a first random number is generated to select one of the disks believed to be present in the magazine, or temporarily, on the turntable. A disk fetch is attempted and it is determined from the success of the fetch whether or not the disk is present. If not, a memory is updated to eliminate such disk from a catalog and disk selection is repeated. Then a table of contents is read, either from the disk or from a previously written random access memory. A second random number selects a block of data on the selected disk for playback. If the table of contents is stored in random access memory, it is completed as the information becomes available. Then the process is repeated for other randomly selected disks and data blocks.

Data playback system for random selections

A method for operating a disk player to eliminate jammed disks and allow continued playing. When it is sensed that a disk after completing playing has not been returned to its magazine, the disk moving mechanism is operated to try to move the disk in the direction so as to pull it out of the magazine. This usually frees the disk and allows playing of the next disk in sequence. If, however, the disk is not then returned to the magazine, the player is disabled.

Growing community of inventors

Tokorozawa, Japan

Naoki Masaki