DE29920125U1 - Image plate - Google Patents

Description

LEUNG, Ching-Yuen F63 001 U-DE

SHEK, Hiu-Hung 29.11.99/sh/tk

Image plate

This invention relates generally to storage disks used to store digital data. In particular, the present invention relates to optical disks carrying audio, video or data information.

Conventional storage disks have a standard circular shape with an outer diameter of 120 mm or 80 mm. For example, a 120 mm CD (compact disc) can hold up to 650 MBytes of data. The storage capacity is essentially the same for the other data formats, such as CD-DA, CD-I, CD-ROM XA, CD-Extra, CD-ROM Mode 1 and Mode 2 and VCD. The storage capacity of a DVD disk is approximately twenty times this storage capacity. The official worldwide productivity or production for video disks in 1997 was about 10,000,000,000 (10 billion) units and the current figure may be twice or even three times this value.

Each image disc is read from the inner circle to the outer circle. The inner sections of the discs remain unaffected even if the outer section is partially removed, altered or damaged. In this case, the outer layer of the disc merely provides a support for positioning the disc during

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their rotation. As an industry standard, all optical disk readers are designed to read standard disks (120 mm) and minidisks or minifloppy disks (minidisks) where the outer diameter of the disk is only 80 mm. Typically, disk readers have an inner table (or tray) with a diameter of 80 mm for correct positioning of the minidisk.

Viewed from one aspect, the invention provides an optical disk capable of storing data and readable by optical disk reading devices having an inner tray, comprising a substantially annular data ring capable of storing data, an outer profile formed outside the data ring, and at least one projecting portion disposed in the outer profile, the projecting portion projecting in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the optical disk for receipt in the inner tray so that the optical disk is centrally positioned in the optical disk reading device.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides an optical disk capable of storing data and being readable by optical disk reading devices having an internal tray, comprising:

a substantially circular central ring containing no data;

a substantially annular ring outside the central ring, the data ring capable of storing data;

an outer profile outside the data ring; and

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at least one protruding portion arranged in the outer profile, the protruding portion extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the image plate, for receiving in the inner tray, so that the image plate can be positioned centrally in the image plate reading device.

With such an arrangement, the image disc can be centered in the reading device by at least one projection located or arranged in the inner tray of the reading device. As a result, the disc does not have to have sections which engage with the outer tray for centering the disc. Thus, the shape and size of the disc can be designed without the restriction of a necessary engagement with the outer tray. The outer profile can extend beyond the width of the inner tray, but does not have to have the same width extension as the outer tray. It can also have sections which do not extend to the inner tray.

The data embedded in the data ring is not affected in terms of data access. The present invention thus reduces the size and shape limitations of optical disks which heretofore had to engage either the outer tray of 120 mm diameter or an inner tray of 80 mm diameter.

The invention enables numerous new applications in the use of image discs in various market sectors, such as multimedia card production, management or monitoring for exhibitions, conferences, theme parks, multimedia business cards, interactive

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membership cards, interactive product catalogs, multimedia corporate incentives, and music entertainment and distribution, etc. The invention provides a completely new marketing and advertising medium that gives a "new look" to the popular or common technological product. The video disc can be in the form of a calendar, a promotional item or a gift.

The outer profile may actually be circular, but the diameter may be smaller than that of the outer tray. Preferably, the outer profile has a non-circular shape, for example rectangular, square or irregular.

In preferred embodiments, the distance between the projecting portions (or the projecting portion) and the center of the plate is approximately 40 mm. Preferably, it is not greater than 41 mm.

Preferably, the image plate has a surface, wherein the at least one projecting portion has a height relative to that surface, the height being not greater than 3 mm.

In certain embodiments, the image plate comprises a number of projecting portions. At least one of these may form or have a point contact with the inner tray during use. Such a projecting portion may be in the form of a nub or a knot. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the image plate comprises a number of pairs of projecting portions, the projecting

adjacent portions of a pair have a closer or smaller circumferential spacing to one another than the circumferential spacing between two circumferentially adjacent pairs. In one embodiment, four such pairs are provided.

At least one of the mentioned number of protruding projections may have an arcuate or curved outer edge corresponding to the profile of the inner tray. Such a protruding portion may be in the form of a curved strip or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, a protruding portion is provided which forms a complete ring.

In a preferred embodiment, the data ring has substantially the same thickness as the at least one projecting portion. Outside the projecting portion, the outer profile typically has a thinner portion. It is therefore to be understood that the projecting portion projects in the axial direction relative to the thinner portion, whereby a greater thickness of the image disc can be maintained in the region within the thinner region, which may include both the data ring and preferably also the central ring. Such a thicker portion may be arranged to have point contact with the inner tray at a plurality of locations.

The shape of the protruding portions (or the protruding portion) can be cylindrical, pyramidal or spherical. The protruding portions

(or the protruding portion) may be hollow, for example when formed by stamping, or filled, for example when an additional element is attached or glued to the plate.

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of an image disc according to the invention, the disc having an irregular shape;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of an image disc, the disc having the shape of a membership card;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the picture plate of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of the image plate of Figure 1 positioned in a tray of a reading device;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment of an image plate;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of an optical disk;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a fifth embodiment of an optical disk;

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Figure 8 is a plan view of a sixth embodiment of a video disc;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a seventh embodiment of an optical disk;

Figure 10 is a plan view of an eighth embodiment of a video disc;

Figure 11 is a front view of the image plate of Figure 10 positioned in the tray of a reading device;

Figure 12 is a plan view of a ninth embodiment of a video disc; and

Figure 13 is a plan view of a tenth embodiment of a video disc.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like or similar parts, an optical disk according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

As shown in Figure 1, the optical disk is a disk of any (or irregular) non-standard shape and comprises a central ring 1, a data ring 2, an outer profile 3 and one or more studs 4. The central ring 1 has an opening 5 in its center with a diameter of 15 mm, which corresponds to that of all conventional circular optical disks. The rotational axis of the reading device uses this opening 5 to engage and drive the disk.

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The area 6 between the middle ring 1 and the inner edge of the data ring 2 has no use and therefore no data is present. All data is stored in the data ring 2, the maximum data storage capacity of which is determined by the diameter D of the data ring 2 and the format, for example CD-DA, CD-ROM Mode 1 and Mode 2, CD-Extra, CD-ROM XA or DVD, in which the data is stored. For a DVD formatted disc, the capacity can be twenty times greater than the other standards. The remaining area outside the data ring 2 is the outer profile.

The size and shape of the outer profile 3 can be varied as required according to any particular use of the disk 10. The outer profile 3 completely surrounds the data ring 2 and thus ensures the integrity of the data storage. The studs 4 are positioned within the outer profile 3. At least one stud 4 must be provided to center the disk prior to engagement of the rotational axis of the reader in the central opening 5. Apart from this requirement, there are no restrictions on the shape, size and number of the studs 4. The studs 4 use the edge 7 of the inner tray 8 (Figure 4), which is intended for 80 mm mini-diskettes, as a supporting edge for centering the disk 10. The distance R between the center 9 of the opening 5 and the center of the studs 4 should be less than 41 mm, so that the distance L between the centers of the oppositely arranged studs 4 has a diameter of less than 82 mm.

The image disk 10 can be used for numerous applications and can take on numerous configurations. For example, according to Figure 2, the disk 10 is used as an identification card (ID card). As shown in Figure 2, the outer profile 3 of the ID card 10' can have a rectangular shape. Alternatively, the outer profile 3 can have a shape associated with the person's name or organization. The ID card 10' shown in Figure 2 has the same diameter D of the data ring 2 as the disk 10 shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the storage capacities are the same (assuming the same data formats are used). Figure 3 illustrates the thickness of the studs 4.

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 13 show that all the studs 4 should preferably lie within a locus of a distance R of 40 mm from the centre 9 of the opening 5, or on a circle with a diameter L of 80 mm, which is the diameter of the tray 8 for a miniature disc. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each stud may be in the form of a node 11, each node 11 being of any shape and size. Each node may have substantially point contact with the inner tray. At least one node 11 must be provided.

In the embodiment of Figure 13, the studs 11 are arranged in four pairs, the studs of each pair having a closer circumferential spacing to one another than the circumferential spacing between circumferentially adjacent pairs. The image plate is quadrangular or square, and each stud pair is arranged in the region of a corner of the square.

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As shown in Figure 7, the studs 4 may be in the form of a strip or block 12. Again, the size of the strip or block 12 is not limited. The number of strips or blocks 12 should be greater than or equal to 2. Each strip or block may have a curved outer edge corresponding to the profile of the inner tray.

Referring to Figure 8, the stud 4 may be in the form of a ring 13. The studs 4 may be formed partially as nodes 11 and strips or blocks 12 as shown in Figure 9. In addition, the studs 4 may be either hollow or solid as this does not affect the plate rotation. The studs 4 may be formed by means of a mechanical stamp. If glue is used to attach the studs, the presence of the studs 4 would not be detectable from the pressure side (top side) of the plate.

As shown in Figure 4, the image disk 10 is arranged on the drive tray 14 such that the studs 4 fit into the 80 mm mini-disk section 8 of the tray 14. The studs do not prevent or affect disk rotation, but provide an aid in alignment. The maximum height H of the studs 4 below the surface 15 of the disk 10 should be less than 3 mm. There are no special requirements for the shape of the studs 4. They can be cylindrical, pyramidal, spherical, etc.

The embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 is an image plate with an arbitrary (or irregular)

gen) non-standard shape and has a middle ring 1, a data ring 2, a thicker inner layer 30 and a thinner outer layer 4 0. The area outside the data ring 2 is the outer profile, which consists of the inner layer 30 and the outer layer 40. The data ring 2 has the same thickness as the inner layer 3 0. The inner layer has a circumference or an outer boundary along a locus of a diameter of 80 mm. The remaining area outside the inner layer 3 0 is the outer thinner layer 40 with a reduced thickness.

The size and shape of the inner layer 30 and the outer layer 40 can be changed as needed according to a particular use of the disk 10. The inner layer 30 completely surrounds the data ring 2, thus ensuring the integrity of the data storage. In a certain possible configuration, the data ring 2 can exactly overlap the layer 3. The thicker inner layer 3 must have at least one point that touches the locus (or circle) with a diameter of 80 mm in order to center the disk. However, except for this requirement, there are no restrictions on the shape, size and number of sections (or section) of this layer 30. There are no restrictions on the shape and size of the thinner outer layer 40. The thicker inner layer 30 uses the edge of the inner tray 8 (Fig. 11), which is designed for 80 mm mini-floppy disks, as a supporting edge for central positioning or centering of the disk 10. Figure 11 shows the thickness of the inner layer 30 and the thickness J of the outer layer 40. The inner layer 30 projects from the outer layer 40 in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

The maximum thickness J of the outer layer 4 0 should preferably be less than 2 mm.

In the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the outer edges of the inner layer are partially circular. In the embodiment of Figure 12, the inner layer 30 has a polygonal shape, the corners of the polygon forming or having essentially a point contact with the inner tray. In both cases, the outer boundary of the thicker inner layer 30 should lie within the locus at a distance of 40 mm from the center 9 of the opening 5, or on a circle with a diameter L of 80 mm, which corresponds to the diameter of the inner tray 8 for a miniature disk. As shown in Figure 12, the inner layer 30 can have any shape or size. At least one corner 31, preferably at least two, must be provided. There are no restrictions on the size and shape of the thinner outer layer 40, except that it should fit into the outer tray of the disk reader. Portions of the outer layer 40 may be joined or separated from each other, but will always be joined to the inner layer 30.

Optical disk 10 combines traditional printed material with computer storage media. It breaks the size and shape limitations of traditional optical disks and creates new opportunities in developing new applications of optical disks in various business areas.

Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and sub-

institutions without departing from the scope of the invention. It should therefore be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example and not in a restrictive manner.

Claims (18)

1. An optical disk capable of storing data and being readable by optical disk reading devices having an internal tray, comprising: - a substantially circular central ring containing no data; - a substantially annular data ring outside the central ring, the data ring being able to store data; - an outer profile outside the data ring; and - at least one protruding portion provided on the outer profile, the protruding portion extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the image plate, for receiving in the inner tray for centering or centric positioning of the image plate in the image plate reading device. 2. A picture disc according to claim 1, not in the form of a business card. 3. A picture disc according to claim 1, in the form of a calendar, advertising item or gift. 4. A picture disc according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outer profile has a non-circular shape. 5. A picture plate according to claim 4, wherein the outer profile is quadrangular or square. 6. An optical disk according to any preceding claim, wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of the disk and the radially outermost point of the at least one projecting portion is not greater than 41 mm. 7. An optical disk according to any preceding claim, wherein the optical disk has a surface and the at least one projecting portion has a height relative to the surface, the height being no greater than 3 mm. 8. An optical disk according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of projecting portions. 9. An optical disk according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the projecting portions is arranged to provide point contact with the inner tray. 10. An optical disk according to claim 9, comprising a plurality of pairs of protruding portions, the protruding portions of a pair having a closer circumferential spacing to one another than the circumferential spacing between circumferentially adjacent pairs. 11. An optical disk according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the projecting portions has a curved outer edge for conforming to the profile of the inner tray. 12. An optical disk according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having a projecting portion forming a complete ring. 13. An optical disk according to any preceding claim, wherein the data ring has substantially the same thickness as the at least one projecting portion. 14. An optical disk according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the protruding portion has a cylindrical, pyramidal or spherical shape. 15. An optical disk according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the projection is hollow. 16. Image plate according to one of claims 1 to 14, in which the projection is solid. 17. An optical disk capable of storing data and readable by optical disk reading devices having an inner tray, comprising a substantially annular data ring capable of storing data, an outer profile outside the data ring, and at least one projecting portion disposed in the outer profile, the projecting portion projecting in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the optical disk for receiving in the inner tray for centric positioning or centering of the optical disk in the optical disk reading device. 18. An optical disk substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 4 or Figures 2 and 3 or Figure 5 or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 or Figure 9 or Figures 10 and 11 or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.