US2320879A

US2320879A - Phonograph reproducing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2320879A
Application number: US361319A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oran T Mcilvaine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-10-15
Filing date: 1940-10-15
Publication date: 1943-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 1960-06-01

Description

June 1, 1943.

o. T. MCILVAINE 2,320,879

PHONOGRAPH REPRODUC ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 15, 1940 Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT orri'c PHONOGBAPH REPRODUCING APPARATUS Oran T. Mcllvaine, St. Charles, Ill.

Application October 15, 1940, Serial No. 361,319

6 (Haims.

This invention'relates to an improvement in phonograph reproducing apparatus.

Heretofore, apparatus used to reproduce vibrations that have been recorded on a tablet or other record surface, have been usually either magnetic or crystal. The crystal reproducers are materially better than the magnetic type, and are more frequently used. However, such crystal reproducers have several objections, particularly a typical crystal whine on high notes, and are susceptible to needle scratch.

The object of this invention is to improve the reproducing qualities, obtaining much better fidelity, and substantially eliminating needle scratch without sacrificing any of the musical range. At the same time, the vibrating mechanism may be constructed very light in weight with greater high frequency response and less wear on the record, increasing the life of the latter very materially.

This object is accomplished by controlling the operation of the reproducing apparatus from a light sensitive cell, such as a photo-electric cell and controlling the light thereto directly by means of the needle operating from the record, moving laterally in response to the vibrations recorded thereon.

The accompanying drawing illustrates diiierent embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figs. 1 to 5 are diagrammatic views showing needle controlled light valves associated with lamps.

The invention is shown in difierent embodiments in Figs. 1 to 5, in which the sound record needle or stylusis adapted to engage a sound record groove in the usual way, and has an extended portion thereof projecting into a lamp. The needle is mounted for freedom of movement relative to the lamp, thereby moving the extended portion and the light controlling means connected therewith. In some forms, the extended portion constitutes one of the leads of the filament thereof, in which event it may be constructed of suitable hard conducting metal, such as tungsten.

In Fig. l, the lamp l5 has a filament l6 therein with one side thereof connected directly to an end of the needle ll, th latter extending movably through a side wall of the lamp. Vibration of the needle ll controls the path of light through a slot l8 to a photo-electric cell l9 since the filament will be vibrated by the needle and will thereby cause a variation of the light on the cell.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, except that the filament is arranged to project a beam of light through the end of the lamp.

In Fig. 3, the needle 2! is connected with a slotted light shutter 22 which is movably mounted in the lamp 23, so that vibrations from the needle 2| will move the shutter sufliciently to vary the light on the cell, while the filament in the lamp 23 remains-stationary.

In Fig. 4, the lamp 25 has a stationary filament 26 therein, while the needle 21 has a slot 28 formed directly therein to vary the position thereof in response to vibration of the needle.

Fig. 5 shows another form of lamp 39 having a filament 3! connected directly with the needle 32, while the latter extends through a metal diaphragm 38 of Kovar or other metal that will seal to the glass or other material and through the center of which the needle extends.

By thus utilizing th reproducing needle that moves in response to the recorded vibrations, the reproduction from the phonograph record may be obtained with very improved results, greater fidelity, lightness in weight with much less wear on the record greatly lengthening its period of use and also eliminating needle scratch without sacrificing different frequencies or tones.

I claim:

1. In a pick-up device adapted to be associated with a light responsive device, a stylus adapted to be actuated by a sound record and having an extended portion, an enclosed lamp receiving said extended portion of the stylus therein, said extended portion of the stylus having means connected therewith in the lamp for varying the light on the light responsive device.

2. In a pick-up device adapted to be associated with a light responsive device, a stylus adapted to be actuated by a sound record and having an extended portion, an enclosed lamp receiving said extended portion of the stylus therein, said extended portion of the stylus having a filament connected therewith and movable by the stylus for varying the light on the light responsive device.

3. In a pick-up device adapted to be associated with a light responsive device, a stylus adapted to be actuated by a sound record and having an extended portion, an enclosed lamp receiving said extended portion of the stylus therein, said extended portion of the stylus having a filament connected therewith and movable by the stylus for varying the light on the light responsive device, and a lead connected with said stylus for supplying current therethrough to said filament.

4. In a pick-up device adapted to be associated with a light responsive device, a stylus adapted to be actuated by a sound record and having an extended portion, an enclosed lamp including an envelope and a light source therein, said envelope receiving said extended portion oi the stylus therein, and means actuated by the extended portion of the stylus in the envelope for varying the light on the light responsive device.

5. In a pick-up device adapted to be associated with a light responsive device, a stylus adapted to be actuated by a sound record and having an extended portion, an enclosed lamp receiving said extended portion of the stylus therein, means mounting said stylus and extended portion for movement relative to said lamp, said lamp including a filament therein having one end thereof connected directly with said extended portion of the stylus for varying the light on the light responsive device in response to movement 01' the stylus,

6. In a pick-up device adapted to be associated with a light responsive device, a stylus adapted to be actuated by a sound record and having an extended portion, an enclosed lamp receiving said extended portion of the stylus therein, means mounting said stylus and extended portion for movement relative to said lamp, said lamp including a filament mounted therein, and means connected with said extended portion of the stylus and having an opening therein for the passage of light from the filament to the light responsive device and for varying the light thereto in response to movement of the stylus.

ORAN T. MCILVAINE.