Abstract:
An optical access apparatus is provided. The optical access apparatus includes a mounting plate, characterized in that the mounting plate has a bent portion acting as a balance plate of the optical access apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This Application claims the right of priority based on Taiwan Patent Application No. 093117190 filed on Jun. 15, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an optical access apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a disc player with a mounting plate.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Disc players are a kind of important data access apparatus among computer-related devices. A disc player has fast access ability as well as large storage capacity. For the reason of convenience, some people even use it as a solution of data backup. Besides, in other aspects, such as entertainment, disc players also play an important role.  
         [0004]     When a disc player runs imbalancedly, it vibrates due to spinning. In order to compensate this imbalance, at least one balance plate is therefore attached onto a mounting plate of the disc player.  
         [0005]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , each of the three balance plates  11  is mounted on the mounting plate  10  as an individual element when disc player (not shown) is being assembled, usually by way of screws or rivets. This requires additional steps of the assembly process. In addition, a hole  13  is required on mounting plate  10  for a reading/writing head to operate. Accordingly, in order to form the hole  13 , a portion of the material needs to be cut off and discarded.  
         [0006]     Therefore, it is preferable that an optical access apparatus has a specially designed mounting plate that requires a simple manufacturing procedure and reduces the waste material, thereby lowering the cost thereof.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An object of the present invention is to provide an optical access apparatus. The optical access apparatus has a mounting plate and one or more balance plate(s) thereon is/are fixed without using screws or rivets. This arrangement simplifies the manufacturing procedure of the balance plate(s).  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical access apparatus with at least one mounting plate. The mounting plate incurs less waste material and it accordingly reduces the total discarded material in manufacturing the optical access apparatus.  
         [0009]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an optical access apparatus with at least one mounting plate. The optical access apparatus is advantageous in lowering production cost and labor time.  
         [0010]     An optical access apparatus is disclosed. The optical access apparatus has a mounting plate, characterized in that the mounting plate has a bent portion acting as a balance plate of the optical access apparatus, and the bent portion and the mounting plate are integrally formed.  
         [0011]     Persons skilled in the art will understand the present invention from the following drawings, which are incorporated herein, illustrating embodiments of the invention, together with a general description of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a conventional mounting plate.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the mounting plate of the present invention at a given stage during the manufacturing process.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the mounting plate of the present invention at another given stage during the manufacturing process.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view showing the optical access unit and the guide bar combined together with the mounting plate of the optical access apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present invention provides a mounting plate for use in an optical access apparatus. The optical access apparatus is useful in many devices, such as computers, audio-video systems, DVD players, and the like. Moreover, the optical access apparatus are also useful in any other devices that perform data access, preferably with reading/writing functions.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the mounting plate  20  of the optical access apparatus in accordance with the present invention at a certain stage during the manufacturing process. The mounting plate  20  includes at least one of parts  21   a ,  21   b , and  21   c , and a hole  23 . The hole  23  defmes the shape and the location of at least one of the balance plates  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c  on the mounting plate  20  in  FIG. 2B . The balance plates  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c  and the mounting plate  20  are integrally formed. The hole  23  can be formed by various methods, such as stamping and shearing, well known to persons skilled in the art.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the mounting plate  20  in the optical access apparatus of the present invention at another stage during the manufacturing process. Parts  21   a ,  21   b  and  21   c  are optionally bent to form balance plates  25   a ,  25   b  and  25   c  in order to functionally balance the apparatus. Additionally, the hole  24  is formed by bending balance plates  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c , which are not necessarily to be similarly shaped like those shown in  FIG. 2B . Preferably, the balance plates  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c  are independently bent, optionally similarly or differently oriented.  FIG. 2B  is for illustrative purpose only.  
         [0019]     In addition, the mounting plate  20  is used for further supporting an optical access unit  27  and a guide bar  29  for gurding the optical access unit. The guide bar  29  may be located as shown in  FIG. 2C , in the vicinity to the hole  24 , in accordance with the operation of the optical access unit  27  on the mounting plate  20  to keep the optical access unit  27  freely movable in the hole  24 . The balance plates  25   a ,  25   b , and  25   c  in one aspect may be helpful in both balancing the optical access apparatus and the mounting plate  20 , and in another aspect do not limit the cooperation of the optical access unit  27  and the guide bar  29 .  
         [0020]     It should be noted that the size, shape, location of the balance plates are all variable according to different conditions and not limited to what is shown in the drawings. That the balance plates  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c  and the mounting plate  20 , which are integrally formed, not only produce less waste but also simplify the processing process of assembling the balance plates, but also reduce the cost of manufacturing and assembling the optical access apparatus, thereby making the optical access apparatus more cost-effective.  
         [0021]     Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.