American Multimedia, Inc.

Concept Design Electronics and Manufacturing, Inc.

Other

Monster Cable International, Ltd.

Concept Design

Autosound 2000, Inc.

Richard L Clark

Robert I Farrow

David Navone

Charles C Watson

David W Kincheloe

Paul Eugene DeMint

Howard Hoyt

Diane Kewley-Port

Carl V Miller

An optical disk of the type rotated by a spindle positioned in a centrally-located hole, and including a disk body including an annular data area, and a centrally-located, integrally-formed annular web positioned radially inward from the annular data area and covering a hole formed in the disk body. The annular web is formed sufficiently thin to be deflected upwardly out of the plane of the disk body by the spindle during placement on the spindle and during rotation. The web may be broken away from the disk, or made sufficiently thin and resilient that it will deform upwardly when placed on the spindle and resume its former position when removed.

Optical disk label and method

An apparatus for the automated profiling the edge of successive optical disks, and including an optical disk supply assembly for holding a supply of optical disks to be profiled, a turntable for receiving an optical disk to be profiled, and for reciprocating between an optical disk loading position and an optical disk profiling position. A clamping assembly is provided for clamping the optical disk in a stationary condition to the turntable during movement between the loading position and the profiling position. A profiling cutter profiles the edge of the optical disk into a predefined shape when the turntable is in the profiling position. A profiled optical disk accumulating assembly is provided for holding optical disks which have been profiled, and a vacuum pickup assembly is mounted for rotation on a shaft between a plurality of positions under automated control of an electronic controller for applying a lifting vacuum force to an optical disk on the optical disk supply assembly for removing an optical disk from the supply assembly, moving the optical disk to the turntable and interrupting the lifting force of the vacuum to place the optical disk on the turntable, applying a lifting vacuum force to the profiled optical disk to remove it from the turntable, and moving the optical disk to the profiled optical disk accumulating assembly for storage.

Apparatus and method for profiling optical disks

A cable for conducting electronics signals in proximity to a source of electromagnetic interference, the cable has at least one longitudinally extending conductive wire having a diameter and an outer surface and a spacing member substantially coaxially disposed around the at least one wire and having a diameter and an outer surface, wherein the ratio of the diameters of the spacing member and the wire is about 4:1 and the spacing member contains no EMI shielding constituent.

Delta magnetic de-fluxing for low noise signal cables

A label for an optical disk of the type having a hole therethrough for being positioned onto a rotatable spindle by which the optical disk is rotated. The label is formed of a sheet having a size and shape for being positioned on and adhered to the optical disk and overlying the hole. The sheet includes a plurality of slits formed therein for being positioned in registration with the hole in the disk when the label is positioned on the disk and defining between the slits a plurality of adjacent sheet segments for normally residing in the plane of the sheet and being deformable from the plane of the sheet in response to an object being extended into the hole, whereby the plurality of sheet segments can be provided with visual material while not interfering with the utility of the hole in the disk.

A home hearing test for use with a conventional home audio system comprising an audio player and a set of headphones connected to the audio player. The home hearing test includes an audio medium such as a compact disc playable in the audio player and containing a calibration tone recorded at a predetermined decibel level and a number of prerecorded sequences of tones. Each sequence has tones recorded at different decibel levels and decreasing by a step value. In a first sequence for obtaining a rough estimation of hearing threshold level, the tones start at 70 dB HL and decrease by 10 dB steps to 0 dB HL. In secondary sequences, tones start and end with tones from the first sequence and decrease in 2 dB steps. The home hearing system includes a calibration device for calibrating the output of the audio system to the ears of a person wearing the headphones against the predetermined decibel level of the calibration tone.

Home hearing test system and method

A circuit for coupling a 2- or 4-channel audio deck to 2- or 4-speakers in a car stereo audio system to increase the signal level output without raising the supply voltage or increasing the noise. The circuit comprises unity gain inverting and non-inverting amplifiers each connected in one of four channels, with the outputs combined to provide left and right channel outputs for series connection, respectively, to the left and right channel speakers.

Car audio system with high signal output

As tape moving at high speed through a closed loop tape transporter (10) is conveyed into a storage bin (64) the tape is directed against a curved tape deflecting surface opposite and in spaced-apart relation to the bin entrance (63). A plurality of vacuum ports (96) are positioned in spaced-apart relation generally along the path of tape movement on the tape deflecting surface (64A). As the tape moves along the tape deflecting surface (64A), vacuum-induced drag is applied to the tape to create a progressive breaking force which slows the tape and causes the tape to form into loops. The loops assist the tape is accumulating in the bottom of the bin in a controlled manner.

Apparatus and method for controlling tape speed and tape pack formation

A closed loop, high-speed tape transporter (10) includes a vacuum supply (11A), a first vacuum column (40) operatively connected to the vacuum supply (11A) and positioned upstream from a pick-up head (100) and downstream from a tape bin (64) for receiving the loop of tape and exerting a vacuum-induced holdback tension thereon, a second vacuum column (50) operatively connected to the vacuum supply (11A) and positioned downstream of head (100) and upstream of the tape bin (64) for exerting a vacuum-induced pull forward tension on the tape in opposition to the holdback tension exerted on the tape by the first vacuum column (40). A motor-driven capstan (60) is positioned intermediate the pick-up head (100) and the second vacuum column (50). Capstan (100) is driven at a constant speed equal to the ideal reference tape duplication speed. Tape drive capstans (62A) and (70A) cooperate with the first and second vacuum columns (40) and (50) for moving the tape. A servo-control (42 ), (45), (48) senses changes in the position of the tape within the first vacuum column (40) and sends a signal to tape drive (70A) and a servo-control (58), (55), (56) senses changes in the position of the tape within the second vacuum column (50) and sends a signal to tape drive (62A). The speed of the tape is varied as it moves through the first and second vacuum columns (40), (50) thereby minimizing tension induced speed variation in the tape in the region of the pickup head (100).

Dual-column tension and speed controller for high speed tape transporter

As tape moves through a closed loop, high-speed tape transporter (10) loops of the tape are accumulated and stored in a tape bin (64). The capacity of the tape bin (64) is increased by extracting air from and lowering the air pressure in the region of the bin (64) occupied by the loops of accumulated tape and inside the loops of tape sufficient to cause the accumulated tape to compress into tighter loops which occupy less space in the tape bin (64). Air extraction takes place through a vacuum port (95) which communicates with the interior of the tape bin (64) and which is connected to a vacuum supply (11A).

Method and apparatus for increasing density of an accumulation of tape

A vacuum column (34) is used in a closed loop, high-speed tape transporter (10) to maintain constant tension on a moving loop of tape as it is delivered to a pick-up head (20) of the transporter (10). A motor driven capstan (35) intermediate a tape storage bin (23) and the vacuum column (34) pulls the loop of tape from bin (23) and delivers it to the vacuum column (34). A servo-control (39), (40), (41) senses changes in the position of the tape within the vacuum column (34) caused by tension changes of the tape within the bin (23) and sends a signal responsive to the change of position of the tape in the vacuum column (34) to the capstan motor (31), thereby changing its speed sufficient to maintain the position of the tape within capstan (34) at a relatively constant level. Sensing can be by means of a vacuum slot (34), an ultrasonic proximity indicator (42) or a series of photo-optical sensors (44), (45).

Method and apparatus for servo-control of tape tension in high speed

An integrally formed ratchet (90) and star wheel (95) is disclosed which rotates in unison with a tape applicator wheel (85). Eccentrically formed fingers (96a-d) cooperate with a downwardly facing wall to align and position applicator wheel (85) into correct position after each reciprocation of the splicer (30). Correct alignment is essential because a cutter blade 127 cuts the tape on the applicator wheel into pre-determined lengths by passing through a notch (104) in applicator wheel (85). Misalignment of the applicator wheel (85) may cause blade (127) to impact the applicator wheel (85) itself, damaging or destroying it.

Aligning means for tape splicer

An audio tape cassette winder (10) is disclosed which includes a splicer (30) which winds splicing tape ('T') onto a cassette ('C'). Tape ('T') is applied by means of a square applicator wheel 85 which simultaneously translates and rotates into and out of tape applying contact with two tape ends ('L' and 'A') to be spliced. Application of tape ('T') to tapes to be spliced ('L' and 'A') is assisted by positive air pressure through ports (106a-d) on respective tape carrying surfaces (85a-d) as each tape carrying surface successively applies tape ('T') to the tapes to be spliced ('A' and 'L'). The positive air pressure is applied only for a very short period of time concurrent with physical impact of successive tape carrying surfaces (85a-d) with the tapes to be spliced ('A' and 'L'). The invention proceeds substantially as described above with reference to the apparatus.

Method and apparatus for applying splicing tape with positive air

A tape splicing apparatus (30) is disclosed of the type wherein splicing tape ('T') is applied to a splicing tape applicator wheel (85) having planar, tape carrying surfaces (85a-d). The applicator wheel (85) moves to and from two tape ends ('A' and 'L') to be spliced whereby a tape carrying surface (85a) contacts the two tape ends ('A' and 'L') and applies the splicing tape ('T') thereto. The improvement disclosed maintains the splicing tape ('T') in lateral and longitudinal alignment with each tape carrying surface (85a-d). The applicator wheel (85) is mounted between two spaced-apart walls of a splice block (51) define first and second supports which lie flush with and overlap the tape carrying surfaces (85a-d) of applicator wheel (85) on both its axial sides.

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, NC, United States of America

Richard L Clark