Optical Disc Drive Tray Protection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical discs are prone to scratching during use in conventional optical disc drives due to external shocks and improper handling, leading to data loss as the data area can come into contact with the tray or protecting cover, which existing designs fail to adequately protect.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a protruding structure on the protecting cover or tray surface corresponding to the non-data area of the optical disc, or using a pad, to prevent the data area from being scratched, either by forming a protruding structure on the protecting cover or tray adjacent to the protecting cover, or employing an anti-wear pad to mitigate contact and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a concentric circle rib is added on the tray surface to protect the optical disc from scratching during rotation, then the data area protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a concentric circle rib across the entire tray surface, the patent applies local quality by placing protruding structures only at specific locations on the protecting cover where the optical disc makes contact during insertion/removal operations. This localized approach provides protection where needed without unnecessarily complicating the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces protruding structures on the protecting cover as intermediary elements that mediate between the optical disc and the tray/protecting cover contact points. These protrusions act as protective intermediaries that prevent direct contact between the data area and the tray surface, thereby preventing scratches without requiring a complete structural redesign.
2Device complexity
If no protruding structure is added on the protecting cover, then the device complexity remains low, but the optical disc data area can still be scraped by the protecting cover during shock impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning protruding structures on the protecting cover at locations that correspond to the optical disc's contact areas during insertion and removal. These protrusions are already in place before any shock impact occurs, creating a protective barrier that preemptively prevents the data area from contacting the tray or protecting cover during subsequent shock events.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding structures are pre-formed on the protecting cover during manufacturing, creating a protective configuration before the optical disc is inserted or removed. This preliminary action ensures that when the optical disc is handled or subjected to shock during operations, the protective protrusions are already positioned to prevent data area contact, eliminating the need for additional protective measures during operation.
3Reliability
If the optical disc is properly handled and secured, then the data area protection is maintained, but the user convenience and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding structures on the protecting cover provide self-service protection by automatically guiding and protecting the optical disc during insertion and removal operations without requiring user intervention or special handling procedures. The protrusions naturally direct the disc into the correct position and prevent contact with the tray surface, making the protection mechanism autonomous and transparent to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding structures serve as intermediaries that mediate between the user's handling actions and the optical disc, providing a protective interface that simplifies the interaction. Instead of requiring users to be careful about how they handle the disc, the protrusions on the protecting cover automatically protect the data area during normal insertion and removal operations, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving protection.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical disc drive including a case, a tray, a turntable, a pickup head, a transmission mechanism, and a protecting cover is provided. The tray is movably set inside the case. The turntable is embedded in the tray. The pickup head is movably embedded in the tray. The transmission mechanism is embedded in the tray and connected to the pickup head. And the protecting cover is set on the tray and covers the transmission mechanism. The protecting cover has a protruding structure located on the surface of the protecting cover that corresponds to a non-data area of an optical disc. Moreover, the tray has a protruding structure located on the surface of the tray adjacent to the protecting cover. Furthermore, pads could be substituted for the abovementioned protruding structures.