Abstract:
A cleaning disc for a media reading device having a laser lens. The cleaning disc includes a first surface configured to face the laser lens, a brush extending outwardly from the first surface, and a recess in the first surface configured to receive at least a portion of the brush when the brush contacts the laser lens during a cleaning operation. Each brush is defined by a strand of material that includes opposite ends. A first end of the material extends through a first aperture to define a first brush and a second end extends through a second, spaced apart aperture to define a second brush. A middle portion of the strand of material extends along a second surface of the cleaning disc between the first and second apertures, and is covered by a cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/973,593, filed Sep. 19, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lens cleaner disc for cleaning the lens of an optical media player or optical media reading or writing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Several types of media players exist in today&#39;s market place for reading and/or writing to various types of media discs. For example, reading and writing devices are known for reading from and writing to compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs), and other disc-based media formats. Each of these devices includes a laser lens for reading or writing electronic data on the media discs. Such laser lenses get dirty over time and require cleaning. Lens cleaning discs are insertable into the media player to clean the laser lens and may include one or more brushes that are configured to contact the laser lens as the disc rotates in the player. Cleaning disc brushes generally extend away from a surface of the disc that faces the laser lens and contact the laser lens when the disc is rotated by the device. The brushes thereby perform a wiping operation on the lens that cleans debris from the lens. In many instances, the brushes of the cleaning disc become pinched or jammed between the surface of the disc and the laser lens. This problem is notably prevalent in situations where the clearance between the disc and the laser lens is particularly small, such as in a high definition video disc player. Pinching and jamming of the brushes may scratch or otherwise damage the lens or the cleaning disc, or may prevent the disc from rotating, thereby reducing or altogether eliminating the ability of the cleaning disc to effectively clean the lens. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some aspects, a cleaning disc for a media reading device having a laser lens is provided. The cleaning disc includes a first surface configured to face the laser lens, a brush extending outwardly from the first surface, and a recess in the first surface configured to selectively receive at least a portion of the brush. 
     In other aspects, a cleaning disc for a media reading device having a laser lens is provided and includes a first surface configured to face the laser lens and defines a recess therein, and a brush extending outwardly from the first surface and being deflectable upon engagement with the laser lens, wherein at least a portion of the brush is receivable in the recess upon deflection of the brush. 
     In yet other aspects, a method of cleaning a laser lens of a media reading device is provided and includes inserting a cleaner disc into the media reading device, the cleaner disc including a brush protruding from the disc and a recess defined adjacent to the brush, operating the media reading device to rotate the cleaner disc, contacting the laser lens with the brush, and deflecting the brush at least partially into the recess. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a media reading device and associated media disc. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lens cleaner disc. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the lens cleaner disc of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the lens cleaner disc of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the lens cleaner disc of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the lens cleaner disc taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , the lens cleaner disc shown positioned relative to a laser lens of the media reading device. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the lens cleaner disc similar to  FIG. 6 , shown with one of the brushes of the lens cleaner disc engaging the laser lens. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a media player, media reading device, and/or media writing device (referred to hereinafter as the player  20 ) and a media disc  24  for use in the player  20 . The illustrated player  20  is a portable compact disc “CD” player, but the invention is applicable to other media reading and/or writing devices such as, for example, digital video players (“DVD players”) and the like. Also, the media disc  24  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an audio CD, but other types of media discs such as, for example, data CDs, CD-ROMs, digital video discs or “DVDs”, or the like, may be read by the player  20 . The player  20  receives the media disc  24  so that electronic media or data stored on the media disc  24  is readable by a reader assembly  28  of the player  20 . The reader assembly  28  includes a non-contact reading element, such as a laser lens  32 , which reads the electronic media or data stored on the media disc  24 . The laser lens  32  is capable of moving along a path  34  to read the data stored at various locations on the disc  24 . The player  20  is further operable to output a signal indicative of the stored media or data read from the media disc  24  to an output and/or storage device (e.g., a television, speakers, computer hard drive, etc.). 
     When the media disc  24  is in an operable position within the player  20 , a small clearance is provided between the laser lens  32  and a surface (not shown) of the media disc  24  facing the laser lens  32 . A motor (not shown) drives a spindle  40  of the player  20  about its axis A, and the media disc  24  rotates with the spindle  40  about the axis A (coincident with an axis of the media disc  24 ). 
     Over time, the laser lens  32  can become dirty, which can degrade the quality of the reading operation and/or prevent proper operation of the player  20 .  FIGS. 2-7  illustrate a lens cleaner disc  50 , which is insertable into the player  20  to clean the laser lens  32 . The lens cleaner disc  50  is shaped similarly to the media disc  24  of  FIG. 1  which has a standardized size and shape. The lens cleaner disc  50  includes a substantially annular body  60  having first and second sides. A plurality of brushes  54  ( FIGS. 2-4 ,  6 , and  7 ) protrude outwardly from a first surface  58  that extends along the first side of the disc  50 . In the illustrated construction, each brush  54  is formed of an array of bristles, however monofilament or unitarily formed brushes  54  may also be provided. When the cleaner disc  50  is inserted in the player  20 , the first surface  58  faces the laser lens  32 , and the bristles of the brush  54  extend from the first surface  58  toward the laser lens  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the disc  50  includes ten brushes  54  and each of the brushes  54  projects substantially perpendicularly from the first surface  58  of the lens cleaner disc  50 . As shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 , the brushes  54  are arranged in a generally spiral array. The radial distance from the center of the lens cleaner disc  50  and also the circumferential spacing between adjacent brushes  54  increases from an innermost brush  54 A towards an outermost brush  54 B. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  further illustrate one possible construction for mounting the brushes  54  of the lens cleaner disc  50 . Two circumferentially adjacent brushes  54  are illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The material strands that form the bristles of both sets of brushes  54  are continuous and extend behind the body  60  of the lens cleaner disc  50  and along a second surface that faces in an opposite direction as the first surface  58  (e.g. away from the laser lens  32  when the cleaner disc  50  is inserted into the player  20 ). First ends of the material strands extend through and are snugly received by one of the apertures  62 , and second, opposite ends of the material strands extend through and are snugly received by the other of the apertures  62 . The apertures  62  normally hold the brushes  54  in substantially upright positions (e.g., extending substantially normal to the first surface  58 ) as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Middle portions of the material strands extend between the apertures  62  and along a second surface  61  of the body  60 . A cover  63  overlies the middle portions of the material strands and holds the material strands against the body  60  of the lens cleaner disc  50 . In the illustrated construction, the cover  63  is in the form of a felt ring that is adhesively coupled to the second surface  61  of the lens cleaner disc  50 . Other suitable materials or constructions may also be utilized to hold the material strands of the brushes  54  in a substantially fixed orientation adjacent the second surface  61  of the lens cleaner disc  50 . For example, materials other than felt may be used, and coupling methods other than adhesives may be used. Furthermore, in some constructions, the disc  50  may be molded over and/or around the material strands that form the brushes  54  such that the cover  63  and the body  60  are unitarily formed. 
     When inserted into the player  20 , a central opening  64  of the lens cleaner disc  50  is fitted onto the spindle  40 , and the lens cleaner disc  50  is rotated by the motor in a manner similar to that of the media disc  24  described above. As the lens cleaner disc  50  is rotated inside the player  20 , the brushes  54  sequentially contact the outer surface of the laser lens  32  to thereby clean the laser lens  32 . The lens cleaner disc  50  may store some electronic data (i.e., a “track”) to provide at least one of an indication to a user regarding the status of the cleaning operation, an audio or visual instruction to the user, and/or instructions that direct the player  20  to move the laser lens  32  to different positions during the cleaning operation. The electronic data can also instruct the player  20  to rotate the lens cleaner disc  50  for a predetermined amount of time, predetermined number of rotations, etc., to sufficiently clean the laser lens  32 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  6 , and  7 , the lens cleaner disc  50  includes a plurality of recesses  66 , each of which is positioned adjacent a respective brush  54 . In the illustrated construction, each recess  66  is positioned to substantially surround the respective brush  54 , with a majority of the recess positioned to trail the brush  54  during rotation of the lens cleaner disc  50  in the player  20 . Each recess  66  has a depth D and a length L ( FIG. 6 ) sufficient to receive an entire brush  54  when the brush is deflected away from the upright position toward a folded position (see  FIG. 7 ). The length L may be measured along an arc length when the recesses  66  extend along an arc concentric with the circumference of the lens cleaner disc  50  as illustrated. Alternatively, the recesses  66  can be straight (i.e., not defined along an arcuate path) and the length can be measured linearly. 
     The brushes  54  are preferably constructed of a material that does not damage the laser lens  32 , and deflects upon contact therewith. For example, in one construction, the brushes  54  are made of polyester. Upon contact with the lens  32 , the brushes  54  may deflect partially or fully into the recesses  66  (see  FIG. 7 ). The amount of deflection of the brushes  54  depends not only upon the material of the brushes  54 , but also upon a clearance distance C ( FIG. 6 ) between the first surface  58  of the lens cleaner disc  50  and the laser lens  32 . For example, a high definition video player, such as one that accepts BLU-RAY™ discs, may be configured to provide a very small clearance distance (e.g., 0.1 mm), thereby resulting in a greater degree of deflection of the brushes  54 . Other high definition video players and standard definition video players may provide larger clearance distances (e.g., 1.0 mm), thereby resulting in a lesser degree of deflection of the brushes  54 . Common audio CD players may include even larger clearance distances (e.g., 1.2 mm), thereby resulting in an even lesser degree of deflection of the brushes  54 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lens cleaner disc  50  is illustrated in two conditions occurring during its cleaning operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the laser lens  32  is shown having a clearance distance C that is relatively small (i.e., as found in a high definition video disc player). Even with a very small clearance distance C, the lens cleaner disc  50  is effective in cleaning the laser lens  32  with one or more brushes  54 . When a brush  54  contacts the laser lens  32  ( FIG. 7 ), the brush  54  deflects toward and into the associated recess  66 . The brushes  54  can deflect any amount necessary up to a full deflection into the recess  66  (corresponding to a theoretical zero clearance distance C). The deflection of the brushes  54  into the recesses  66  allows for effective cleaning contact of the brushes  54  with the laser lens  32  without pinching the brushes  54  between the laser lens  32  and the first surface  58  of the disc  50 , thereby reducing the amount of drag and/or jamming that might otherwise occur during cleaning operations, particularly in devices with particularly small clearance distances C. When used in devices with larger clearance distances, the brushes  54  may deflect only slightly towards the recesses  66 , but still make effective cleaning contact with the laser lens  32 . In this way, the lens cleaner disc  50  is capable of cleaning the lenses of media reading devices having a wide range of clearance distances C, such as standard definition and high definition DVD players, and audio disc players. 
     It should be understood that a large variety of alternatives and variations exist to the embodiments discussed above and illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to recognize such alternatives and variations from the disclosure herein and, therefore, such alternatives and variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.