Patent ID: 6058080
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An auto disc changer having disc removal and loading means for removing discs from and loading discs into the auto disc changer, disc storage means for storing a plurality of discs, disc carriage means for transferring said discs to and from specified disc storage positions in said disc storage means, a cabinet in which the disc storage means and the disc carriage means are located, the cabinet including a transparent window allowing a user to view the disc storage means, and a disc storage position indication apparatus for said disc storage means by which the user can visually identify the disc storage positions in said disc storage means, the disc storage position indication apparatus comprising:a transparent display plate inside the cabinet, the height of the transparent display plate being sufficient to cover all of the disc storage positions of said disc storage means;a plurality of light reflectors formed into said display plate, said reflectors being spaced apart over the height of the display plate and being located at positions corresponding to a plurality of said disc storage positions, each of said light reflectors being formed by a distinct reflective face of said transparent display plate, the plurality of reflectors being composed of first and second sets of reflectors, the reflectors of the first set being visually distinct from the reflectors of the second set, and there being a predetermined number of reflectors of the second set between each two adjacent reflectors of the first set; anda light emitting source inside the cabinet for emitting light to said light reflectors,and wherein the light reflectors are positioned to reflect light received from the light emitting source out of the cabinet through the transparent window so that the user can readily count the disc storage positions and determine by number which of the disc storage positions are vacant and which are occupied.