JPH07122056A - Illumination method for disk changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an erroneous operation and to avert unnecessary illumination so as to prevent the consumption of electric power by illuminating operating switches even if a disk changer is arranged in a dark place, such as in the trunk of a vehicle. CONSTITUTION:This changer has a changer mechanism for stocking the plural disks, the select switches 3 to 9, a dustproof cap 15 for closing the inlet and outlet port of the disks, a detecting switch 11 for detecting the open/close state of the dustproof cap and an illuminating means 10 for illuminating the operating switches. The changer is so constituted that the illuminating means is lighted in synchronization with the operating operation of the dustproof cap and that the illuminating means is automatically put out if the operation is not performed for the prescribed time thereafter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial applications]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a disc changer, and more particularly, to an on / off operation of illumination which is performed in conjunction with the action of a dustproof cover covering an operation panel including an inlet / outlet of a tray for setting a disc.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most of conventional changers, particularly those for automobiles, have a system in which a magazine for storing a plurality of discs is set in a changer body.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present application, a stocker corresponding to a disk storage magazine is arranged inside, and when storing a disk in the stocker or taking out a disk from the stocker, a tray that can project from a panel is used. It is intended for disc changers that are configured to operate. When such a disc changer is set in, for example, the trunk of an automobile, there is a problem with lighting when the disc is taken in and out. The present application is intended to perform illumination so as not to hinder the mounting and dismounting of the disc, and to avoid wasteful illumination.

[0004]

There is a stocker in a disc changer capable of stocking discs at a plurality of positions, and the discs are provided at respective positions of the stocker and an eject position which can be loaded and unloaded by an operator. Between the disc changer for transporting through the opening of the disc changer and one of the plurality of positions, and operated to transport the disc between the eject position and the selected position. It comprises a switch means, a dustproof cover for closing the opening, a detector for detecting the open / closed state of the dustproof cover, and an illumination means for illuminating at least the switch means in a distinguishable manner.

[0005]

The illuminating means is lit in synchronization with the opening operation of the dustproof cover, and the illuminating means is automatically turned off on condition that the switch means is not operated for at least a predetermined time after opening.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a CD changer showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 indicates a CD changer main body. An operation panel 2 includes seven select switches 3 to 3 which are operated when the CD is stored.
9, an illuminator 10, a detection switch 11 for detecting the open / closed state of the dustproof cover 15, and a lock magnet 12 are respectively arranged, and an opening 14 is formed so that a front surface 20 of a tray for mounting a CD, which will be described later, is flush with the tray. Has been done. The illuminator 10 has a triangular prism shape arranged along the select switches arranged in a line, but when the lighting device 10 is turned on, light is radiated approximately evenly from the whole, illuminates each select switch, and will be described later. Illuminating the upper surface of the ejected tray facilitates the loading and unloading of CDs in the dark.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the dust-proof lid 15 is open. The dust-proof lid has a surface facing the operation panel in order to maintain the state when the dust-proof lid is closed in cooperation with the lock magnet 12. The opening / closing magnet 16 is arranged and a long groove 17 for accommodating the illuminator 10 is formed. 18
Is a holding plate which is integrally or integrally formed with the operation panel 2 and which holds the dustproof lid 15 rotatably between the open state of FIG. 1 and the closed state of FIG. Reference numeral 19 shown in FIG. 2 is an opening / closing handle used when the operator opens the closed dustproof lid 15.

3 to 5 are schematic views for explaining the basic operation of a changer mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a changer mechanism) 37 housed in the changer body 1. Reference numerals 2 and 20 in FIG. , The front surface of the operation panel and the front surface of the tray 21 described in FIG. 1, respectively. The tray 21 is slidably held by a chassis (not shown) between the load position shown in FIG. 3 and the eject position shown in FIG. On the other hand, the stocker 25 capable of accommodating the seven carriages 26 to 32 is capable of moving up and down in the directions of arrows A and B so that each carriage is brought to a predetermined entry / exit position P near the slide plane of the tray 21. It shall be held by Shi.

Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the uppermost carriage 26 is in the entry / exit position P and each carriage is held at a predetermined carriage stock position in the stocker. The carriage brought to this entry / exit position P is
The transfer means (not shown) transfers between the carriage stock position and the carriage mounting position of the tray 21 at the load position. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the carriage 26 stocked at the top of the stocker 25 has been transferred to the carriage mounting position of the tray 21, and this position is also the CD reproducing position as described later.

Next, the operator selects the switches 3 to 3.
The operation of the changer mechanism 37 when 9 is pushed will be described. When all the carriages are in the stopped state in which they are housed in the respective carriage stock positions in the stocker 25, and the select switch 3 labeled "1" in FIG. 1 is pressed, this number is assigned as shown in FIG. The carriage 26 is brought to the entry / exit position P, and the ejection state shown in FIG. 5 is entered via the state of FIG. 4 described above. In this state, the operator pushes the select switch again after placing the CD on the carriage 26 or removing the placed CD.

At this time, when the same select switch 3 is pressed again, the tray 21 moves to the load position in FIG. 4, and then the carriage 26 is stored in the carriage stock position of the stocker 25 as shown in FIG. To stop. On the other hand, while the tray 21 on which the carriage 26 is placed is in the eject position shown in FIG. 5, another select switch,
For example, when the select switch 9 indicated by "7" is pressed, the carriage 26 is similarly stored in the carriage stock position of the stocker 25, and then the stocker 25 corresponds to the pressed select switch 9 in the direction of arrow A. The carriage 32 moves upward until it is brought to the entry / exit position.

After the carriage 32 is transferred to the carriage mounting position of the tray 21, the carriage 32 is stopped in the eject state shown in FIG. Similarly, when the select switch displaying a desired number from 1 to 7 is pressed, the carriage corresponding to the number among the plurality of carriages stocked in the stocker 25 is brought to the eject position and the desired number is selected. To the carriage corresponding to the number of
D is taken in and out.

Inside the changer main body 1, the roller shown in FIG.
C mounted on the carriage on the tray 21 in the drive position
The spindle motor 33 and the optical pickup device 34 necessary for reproducing D are held by the holding member 23, and the clamper 36 is held by the holding member 22 so that desired operations can be performed. Since these operations have no direct relation to the present application, they will be briefly described.

When the reproduction operation of the CD mounted on the carriage corresponding to the desired number is started by operating the operation switch 41 (see FIG. 6) in the stop state described above, the carriage is moved from the stocker. Move to the playback position shown in FIG. Then, the holding member 23 moves in the A direction so that the CD on the carriage is held by the disk table 35 and the clamper 36 which are rotationally driven by the spindle motor 33 and the CD is rotatable. Then, the optical pickup device 34 makes the known just focus and the on-tracking state to perform the reproduction. At this time, the optical pickup device 34 moves on the holding member 23 in the radial direction of the CD as needed for the tracking operation. The disc detector 24 detects the presence / absence of a disc when each carriage passes over it, and a control circuit 42 (see FIG. 6) described later causes the CD of each carriage to be detected.
It is provided to understand the placement status.

The operation of the changer mechanism 37 has been described above. Next, the operation when the entire changer body 1 is installed in the trunk of the automobile, including the opening / closing state of the dust-proof lid 15 and the lighting conditions of the illuminator 10. , A circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the control means, and FIG. 7 showing the flow chart thereof.

In FIG. 6, each of the switches 3 to 9 of the select switch group 40 corresponds to a select switch arranged on the operation panel 2, and a select signal s indicating the operation status of these switches.
1 is output to the control circuit 42. The operation switch group 41 is
A group of operation switches for instructing playback, stop, search, etc. of the above-mentioned CD, and an operation signal s indicating the operation status thereof.
2 is also output to the control circuit 41. Also switch 11
Corresponds to the open / close detection switch 11 for detecting the open / closed state of the dust-proof lid 15 arranged on the operation panel 2, and the detection signal s4
Is output to the control circuit. The control circuit 42 inputs these signals, inputs the ACC power supply signal s3 of the automobile, and outputs a changer control signal s6 and a lighting control signal s5 for controlling the changer mechanism 37 and the illuminator 10, respectively. .

The contents of the control program executed by the control circuit 42 in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the program starts, the control circuit 42 monitors the open / closed state of the dustproof lid 15 in step 1. At this time, the control circuit 42 is in a standby state in which only the circuit that monitors the open / closed state of the dust-proof lid 15 operates to suppress power consumption. When the lid is opened by the operator, the illuminator 10 of the operation panel 2 is turned on in step 2, the built-in timer-W1 is started from zero in step 3, and then the select switches 3 to 9 in step 4.
Monitor whether or not was operated. If no operation is performed here, the open / close status of the dustproof lid 15 is checked again in step 5, and then the state of ACC is determined in step 7. If it is off, the time t2 of the built-in timer-W1 is set in step 8. Monitor for 30 seconds.

Therefore, if the dustproof cover 15 is opened and the built-in timer W1 is started, and if the ACC is off and the select switches 3 to 9 are not operated for 30 seconds, the process goes to step 9 to illuminate. Is turned off, but if the dust-proof lid 15 is closed in the middle, the lighting is turned off in step 6 to return to the initial state of step 1, and if ACC is on, the built-in device starts from the time it is turned off. Timer-W1
Zero-starts. However, during this period, if any of the select switches 3 to 9 is operated, the process reaches step 13, and the carriage corresponding to the operated switch as described above enters the eject state shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when step 9 is reached, the lighting is turned off here, and then a stand-by state for executing steps 10 and 11 is entered. In the standby state, as described above, in the control circuit 42, only the circuit that monitors the open / closed state of the dust-proof lid 15 and the circuit that monitors the operating state of the select switch are in the operating state in order to suppress power consumption. When the operator closes the dustproof cover 15 in the standby state, the process returns to step 1 and returns to the initial state, and when the operator operates any of the select switches 3 to 9, the illumination is turned on in step 12. To step 13. In step 13, the carriage corresponding to the switch operated as described above enters the eject state shown in FIG.

In the next step 14, the built-in clock W2 is set to zero start in order to monitor the leaving time in the eject state, and then in step 15, it is checked whether any of the select switches 3 to 9 is operated. . If no switch is operated for 30 seconds or more, the process goes to step 19 through step 18
Is executed. By this load, the tray 21 is
The carriage is brought to the load position shown in FIG. 3, and the carriage is stored in the stocker 25 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the select switch is pressed within 30 seconds after the ejection in step 13, the process reaches step 16 and the switch pressed now is the same as the switch pressed before the built-in clock W2 is zero-started. Check if it is a switch. If the switches are the same,
In step 17, the load is performed to store the ejecting carriage in the stocker, and then the process returns to step 3. On the contrary, if the switch pressed now is different from the switch pressed before the built-in clock W2 is zero-started, step 20 is reached, the carriage being ejected is stored in the stocker, and then the selected switch is pressed. Select the carriage to be used from the stocker and
The eject state is shown in. Then, in step 21, the built-in clock W2 is zero-started again, and then in step 15
Return to and monitor the operation status of the select switch.

FIG. 8 is a CD adopting another embodiment of the present invention.
The perspective view of a changer is shown. In this case, the difference from the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that, instead of the seven select switches 3 to 9, a select switch 45, an eject switch 47, and a number indicator 46 are provided.
Each time 5 is pressed by the operator, the number indicator 4
The numerical value of 6 is sequentially displayed from 1 to 7, and by further pressing the eject switch 47, the carriage corresponding to the displayed numerical value is ejected. Further, in this eject state, the eject switch 47 is pressed again. The point is that the loading is carried out when it is performed. In this case, the number indicator 46 may be a self-illuminating type, or may be a type such as a liquid crystal whose numeric value is recognized by the illuminator 48.

Among the above operations, the characteristic ones are summarized below. (1) When ACC is off with the dustproof lid 15 open,
If the select switches 3 to 9 (select switch 45 and eject switch 47 in FIG. 8) are left without being operated for 30 seconds or longer, the illuminator 10 (45 in FIG. 8) disappears and the standby state is set. (2) When any of the select switches 3 to 9 (eject switch 47 in FIG. 8) is pressed in the standby state of (1) above, the illuminator 10 (48 in FIG. 8) lights up and responds. The carriage to be ejected is ejected. (3) If left in the eject state for 30 seconds or longer, it automatically loads and all the carriages are stored in the stocker 25.

In the above embodiment, the illuminator 10 is arranged near the select switch to illuminate them, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the switch itself may be of the self-illuminating type. In this case, each select switch is configured to be turned on at each "lighting ON" step in the flow chart of FIG. 7 and turned off at each "lighting OFF" step. Further, in FIG. Step 13 and Step 1
"Blink the pressed select switch" in front of 6
By providing the step, the carriage being ejected can be identified.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in the description of the changer mechanism, it is explained that the CD is transferred between the eject position on the tray and the stock position in the stocker while being mounted on the carriage. Instead of requiring a carriage, the CD may be configured to be directly transferred between the two positions, and further, unlike the slot-in type, without using a tray, a disc may be loaded. Various modes are conceivable, such as a structure in which the structure is inserted into a predetermined opening.

[0026]

When the CD changer according to the present invention is set in a dark place such as in the trunk of an automobile,
Since it is possible to illuminate the operation switches and the disc when the disc loading / unloading position is needed, not only the workability of the disc replacement is improved, but also unnecessary illumination can be avoided. It avoids straining the battery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a CD changer adopting an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a CD changer adopting an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a changer mechanism used to explain an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a changer mechanism used to explain an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a changer mechanism used to explain an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
To

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a CD changer adopting another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CD changer body 2 Operation panel 3 Select switch 4 Select switch 5 Select switch 6 Select switch 7 Select switch 8 Select switch 9 Select switch 10 Illuminator 11 Detection switch 12 Locking magnet 14 Opening 15 Dust cover 16 Opening / closing magnet 17 Long groove 18 Holding Plate 19 Opening / Closing Handle 20 Tray Front Surface 21 Tray 22 Holding Member 23 Holding Member 24 Disk Detector 25 Stocker 26 Carriage 27 Carriage 28 Carriage 29 Carriage 30 Carriage 31 Carriage 32 Carriage 33 Spindle Motor 34 Pickup Device 35 Disk Table 36 Clamper 37 Changer mechanism 40 Select switch group 41 Operation switch group 42 Control circuit 5 selection switch 46 number - display 47 eject switch 48 illuminator

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A disc changer has a stocker capable of stocking discs at a plurality of positions, and the discs are provided between each position of the stocker and an eject position which can be loaded and unloaded by an operator. A disc change means for transferring through the opening of the changer, a switch means for selecting one of the plurality of positions and operated for transferring the disk between the eject position and the selected position, A dustproof lid for closing the opening, a detector for detecting the open / closed state of the dustproof lid, and an illumination means for illuminating at least the switch means in a distinguishable manner, and an illumination means in synchronization with the opening operation of the dustproof lid. Is turned on, and the lighting means is automatically turned off on condition that the switch means is not operated for at least a predetermined time after opening. A method for illuminating a disc changer characterized by the above. 2. A stocker capable of stocking discs at a plurality of positions, and a second stop position at which a disc can be transferred between a first stop position at which the disc can be loaded and unloaded by an operator and the stocker. A disc changing means having a movable tray, and a plurality of select devices respectively corresponding to the plurality of positions and selectively operated to transfer the disc between the first stop position and the desired position. A switch, a dust-proof lid that is closed at least when the tray is in the second stop position and can shield the tray and the outside, and a detector that detects an open / closed state of the dust-proof lid, The select switch has an illuminating means for illuminating in a distinguishable manner, and the illuminating means lights up in synchronization with the opening operation of the dustproof lid, and after the opening, at least a predetermined time period An illumination method for a disc changer, wherein the illumination means is automatically turned off on condition that the recto switch is not operated.