Development of a DIN size 4 + 1 Type Mini Disc Changer 950185
The Mini Disc System (thereafter abbreviated MD) was recently announced as a new recording media. MDs have various new features, and are a widely anticipated music media for home, portable and automotive use. In accordance with the wide acceptance of CD changers for automotive use, the compactness of MD cartridges allow the development of a single DIN size MD changer which can be installed in a car dashboard. (Figure 1)
The MD changer described in this paper does not use magazines like a CD changer. Instead, four discs are loaded one by one and stored in the MD changer enabling either continuous or select playback. An even greater feature of this MD changer is it's capacity to allow users to load an additional disc for direct playback while the other four discs are stored in the changer.
This paper outlines the mechanisms used in the 4 + 1 MD changer, and explains in detail the drive unit/carriage suspension and the disc sensor systems that were key developments to create such a product.
