Patent ID: 6512731
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus for selectively accommodating at least two differently sized disc cartridges as recording/reproducing mediums, the cartridges containing respective differently sized discs, the apparatus comprising:a case forming an interior space; a tray mounted to the case and insertable into and withdrawable from the interior space, the tray accommodating a selected one of the at least two different sizes of disc cartridges; supporting means for supporting the selected disc cartridge on the tray, so as to prevent movement of the selected disc cartridge relative to the tray; detecting means for detecting the size of the selected disc cartridge positioned on the tray, and states of the respective disc accommodated therein; rotating means for rotating the respective disc of the selected disc cartridge positioned on the tray; and information transfer means for recording information on and/or reproducing the information from the disc rotated by the rotating means; a movable deck base on which the rotating means and the information recording/reproducing means are mounted being positioned in the case; wherein the rotating means and the information transfer means are movable into an operative position in response to insertion of the tray into the case, and movable to an inoperative position in response to withdrawal of the tray from the case; the detecting means comprising: a first detector for detecting whether a first of the different sized disc cartridges is on the tray and a state of the disc accommodated therein, and a second detector for detecting whether a second of the disc cartridges is on the tray and a state of the disc accommodated therein; wherein the first disc cartridge has a plurality of sensor holes; the first detector comprising: a plurality of first detecting holes formed on the tray corresponding to the sensor holes of the first disc cartridge; and a plurality of sensor switches attached to the deck base, to be inserted into the sensor holes of the first disc cartridge through the first detecting holes; the sensor holes of the first disc cartridge comprising a cartridge detecting sensor hole, and a plurality of disc state detecting sensor holes, the sensor switches comprise a first sensor switch arranged to correspond to the cartridge detecting sensor hole, and a plurality of second sensor switches arranged to correspond to the disc state detecting sensor holes.