GB2299699A

GB2299699A - Damping vibrations of a compact disc during playing thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2299699A
Application number: GB9506889A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Yung Chih Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-03
Filing date: 1995-04-03
Publication date: 1996-10-09
Also published as: GB9506889D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a compact disc accessory which is adapted to improve the sound quality during playback of a compact disc. The accessory (1) has a planar member (2) having an outer periphery conforming to that of a compact disc, a central hole (3) for accommodating a compact disc player's drive shaft and one or more annular peripheral rings (5) on the operative underside of the accessory. In use, the accessory is placed on top of a compact disc in a compact disc player and the compact disc is played in the normal way. The accessory operates as a gyro-stabiliser and as a mechanical damping member to enable the laserhead to track signals with greater accuracy than in the absence of the accessory.

Description

COMPACT DISC ACCESSORY FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a compact disc (or as they are more commonly known CD) accessory, and, more particularly, an accessory which is adapted to improve the sound quality during playback of a CD.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION CD players, to greater or lesser extents, do suffer from a certain measure of read-out errors in reading the digital information embodied in a CD surface due primarily to vibration generated in, or transmitted to, the CD player.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide an accessory for association with a CD whilst it is being played which will have the effect of decreasing the read-out errors of this nature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a CD accessory comprising a planar member having an outer periphery conforming substantially to that of a CD and a central hole for accommodating a CD player's drive shaft therethrough, the member being adapted for releasable location over an operatively inactive face of a CD and being manufactured of a material capable of exhibiting a damping effect on vibrations transmitted to the CD during playing thereof.

Further features of the invention provide for the member to be made of a sheet of plastic or a suitable paper product; for the central hole to have a reinforcing ring surrounding the edge thereof; for the operative underside of the accessory to be of a material which reduces slip between the accessory and a CD; for the face of the member adapted to contact the CD, in use, to have an annular peripheral ring extending therearound adapted to form an airspace between a major part of the upper surface of a CD and the planar member on the inside of the peripheral annular ring; and, for the annular peripheral ring to consist of a number of subsidiary rings which number can be varied to vary the overall weight of the accessory as desired.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of an accessory according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation thereof; and, Figure 3 is an exploded isometric view of the accessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings a planar member (1) is die cut from a suitable thin sheet of plastics material such that its outer periphery (2) conforms substantially to that of a CD and a central inner hole (3) is simultaneously formed for receiving, in use, the drive shaft of a CD player.

On the opposite surface of the planer member are bonded a series of one, two or three annular rings (5) extending around the outer periphery of the surface and forming, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, a built-up peripheral annulus. The function served by the annulus is to contact the peripheral region of a CD, when the accessory is located thereon and forms an air-space (6) between the upper surface of the CD and the planar member (1). This has been found to cause an additional and beneficial dampening effect which can be altered to suit particular conditions and a particular CD player by adding subsidiary rings or removing subsidiary rings..

In use, the accessory is simply located on top of a CD which is then played in the usual way. As a result of the fact that the accessory only contacts the surface of the CD not carrying the digital information, no damage to the CD is caused and also no damage to the CD player.

In consequence of the fact that the accessory operates both as a gyro-stabiliser and mechanical damping member the laserhead is able to track the signal with greater accuracy than in the absence of such accessory. Jitters present in the digital domain are reduced and less errors are encountered in the error correction circuit with the result that the demand on such circuit is diminished and the analogue part of the CD play-back system receives more accurate signals.

From an observer's point of view the improvements noted include less high frequency noise which thus reduces sharpness and the over bright character of typical digital sound; better focuses; better stereo images; less harmonic distortions; and, tighter base control and better extension in the low frequency ranges.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular the operative underside of the accessory or indeed the entire planar member or the operative lowermost ring can be of a material which reduces slip between the accessory and a CD.

Claims

1. A CD accessory comprising a planar member having an outer periphery conforming substantially to that of a CD and a central hole for accommodating a CD player's drive shaft therethrough, the member being adapted for releasable location over an operatively inactive face of a CD and being manufactured of a material capable of exhibiting a damping effect on vibrations transmitted to the CD during playing thereof.

2. A CD accessory as claimed in claim 1 in which the member is made of a sheet of-plastic.

3. A CD accessory as claimed in claim 1 in which the member is made of a suitable paper product.

4. A CD accessory as claimed in claim 2 or in claim 3 in which the operative underside of the accessory is of a material which reduces slip between the accessory and a CD.

5. A CD accessory as claimed in claim 2 or in claim 3 or in claim 4 in which the central hole has a reinforcing ring surrounding the edge thereof.

6. A CD accessory as claimed in claim 5 in which the face of the member adapted to contact the CD, in use, has an annular peripheral ring extending therearound adapted to form an airspace between a major part of the upper surface of a CD and the planar member on the inside of the peripheral annular ring.

7. A CD accessory as claimed in claim 6 in which the annular peripheral ring oonsists of a number of subsidiary rings which number can be varied to vary the overall weight of the accessory as desired.