Optical Disk Device Manual Ejection Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slot-in type optical disk devices lack a mechanism for manual ejection of optical disks, making them inconvenient for use in scenarios like defective disk handling, system malfunction, or battery depletion in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A slot-in type optical disk device with a main support unit, slider, and releasing unit that allows manual ejection by disengaging the slider from its driving source using a pin, enabling the optical medium to be uncoupled from the turn-table for easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a slot-in type optical disk device is designed without a manual ejection mechanism, then the device structure remains simple and compact, but manual ejection capability is lost making the device inconvenient for use in defective disk handling, system malfunction, or battery depletion scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the manual ejection function from the main drive mechanism by introducing a separate releasing unit with a releasing lever and elastic member. This allows the optical disk to be ejected manually through a pin insertion hole without requiring the main drive system to be activated, thus adding ejection capability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The releasing unit utilizes an elastic member that automatically returns the releasing lever to its initial position after manual activation. This self-service mechanism allows the user to manually eject the optical disk by simply inserting a pin, without requiring complex control systems or additional power sources, thereby achieving ease of operation with minimal added complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the optical disk device uses a conventional cassette or tray design, then the device can accommodate optical disks, but the device size becomes larger and insertion/ejection becomes inconvenient for portable use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical disk device into distinct functional modules: a main support unit for holding the optical pickup and turntable, a slider for movement, and a releasing unit for ejection. This segmentation allows the device to maintain a compact form factor while providing convenient manual ejection capability, as each module can be optimized independently for space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional tray design that operates in a horizontal plane to a vertical ejection mechanism where the slider moves along the Z-axis (depth direction). This dimensional change allows the optical disk to be ejected through the bottom of the device, significantly reducing the front-facing depth and making the device more portable while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a manual ejection mechanism is added to the slot-in type optical disk device, then manual ejection capability is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like the releasing unit and elastic member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic member as an intermediary element that connects the releasing lever to the frame. This elastic member serves as a mediator that stores and releases mechanical energy to automatically return the releasing lever to its initial position, thereby achieving the manual ejection function with minimal additional complexity and without requiring complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient manual ejection of optical disks, improving usability in portable devices by allowing users to easily unload disks without power, addressing the inconvenience of conventional devices.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member applying an elastic force to the gear, such that when the pin is removed from the optical device, the releasing lever and the gear are elastically forced to return to an original position by the elastic force of the elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
An optical disk device with release, with the optical disk device including a main unit which having an optical pickup unit to recording/reproducing data on/from an optical disk, wherein the main unit is lifted/lowered for coupling/uncoupling the optical disk on/from a turn-table, a main slider including a rack connected by a gear to a driving source and moving linearly to lift/lower the main unit, and a releasing unit, when a pin is inserted in the optical disk device, to disengage the gear from the rack and allow the main slider to move manually. Thus, the optical disk can be manually unloaded from the optical disk device.