Video recorder-playback machine

Claim 2

A video recorder-playback machine for recording and/or playing back video information from a video information disc, comprising: a machine base; a "write" laser secured to said machine base, said "write" laser being for generating a first light beam directed along a first path for use in recording video information upon the disc; means for supporting the disc for rotation relative to said machine base; an optics carriage movably mounted with respect to said machine base; an optical record-playback head mounted on said carriage for movement therewith; a "read" laser mounted on said carriage for movement therewith, said "read" laser being for generating a second light beam directed along a second path in fixed alignment with said head for passage of said second light beam through said head and for focusing thereof by said head upon the disc for use in playing back video information from the disc; means for moving said carriage with respect to said disc generally in parallel with said first path; and means on said carriage in optical alignment with said first light beam for reflecting said first light beam through said head regardless of the position of said carriage for focusing of said first light beam by said head upon the disc.

Claim 3

2- A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 1 including modulator means mounted on said machine base along said first path for interrupting said first light beam to allow passage of a modulated light beam representative of the video information.

Claim 4

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said modulator means comprises an acousto-optic modulator.

Claim 5

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 2 including a first condensing lens for focusing said first light beam upon said modulator means, and a second condensing lens for focusing said modulated light beam along said first path to said carriage.

Claim 6

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second condensing lenses and said modulator means are mounted in fixed relation to each other on a subassembly plate, and wherein said subassembly plate is mounted in a fixed position with respect to said "write" laser upon said machine base.

Claim 7

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 2 including a first mirror mount assembly for redirecting said first light beam to said modulator means, and a second mirror mount assembly for redirecting said modulated light beam from said modulator means along said first path.

Claim 8

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second mirror mount assemblies are mounted on said machine base in fixed relation thereto.

Claim 9

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 1 including track means for mounting said carriage upon said machine base for movement of said carriage .generally along a linear path corresponding substantially with a radius of the disc when the disc is supported upon said support means.

Claim 10

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said record-playback head includes an objective focusing lens for passage of said first and second light beams and for focusing thereof upon the disc.

Claim 11

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said "read" laser is mounted on said carriage for generating said second light beam along said second path substantially in parallel with said first path.

Claim 12

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 10 including mirror means mounted on said carriage for reflecting said second light beam along said second path.

Claim 13

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for reflecting said first light beam through said head comprises a dichroic mirror oriented for reflection of said first light beam through said head, and including a reflection mirror mounted on said carriage adjacent to said dichroic mirror for reflecting said second light beam through said dichroic mirror and further through said head, said dichroic mirror being oriented to allow passage of said second light beam.

Claim 14

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein said reflection mirror is oriented to reflect said second light beam through said head for focusing of said second light beam by said head upon the disc at a point slightly downstream from the point of focus of said first light beam.

Claim 15

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 12 including a focusing subassembly mounted on said carriage for movement therewith, said subassembly including a first lens along said first path for conditioning said first light beam for passage through said head, and a second lens along said second path for conditioning said second light beam for passage through said head.

Claim 16

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said focusing subassembly further includes means along said second path for passing said second light beam in a direction toward the disc, and for reflecting in a generally lateral direction light reflected from the disc along said second path in a direction away from the disc.

Claim 17

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 15 including light sensitive means mounted on said focusing subassembly for generating an electrical signal representative of the video information in response to the light reflected from the disc along said second path.

Claim 18

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 15 including means along said second path for allowing passage of any portion of said second light beam reflected from the disc along said second path, and for blocking passage of any portion of said first light beam reflected from the disc along said second path.

Claim 19

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said focusing subassembly further includes means for detecting the focus of said second light beam upon the disc.

Claim 20

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said modulator means comprises means for splitting said first light beam into said modulated light beam for passage along said first path, and an auxiliary light beam comprising the complement of said modulated light beam and directed along a third path, and including light responsive means along said third path for generating an electrical signal in response to said auxiliary light beam for use in monitoring the characteristics of said modulated light beam.

Claim 21

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 19 including means along said second path for responding to any portion of said second light beam reflected from the disc along said second path for generating an electrical signal in response to said reflected portion for use in playing back the video information from the disc.

Claim 22

A video recorder-playback machine as set forth in claim 20 including comparator means for comparing the electrical signal generated by said light responsive means along said third path with the electrical signal generated by said light responsive means along said second path.

Claim 23

22 . A video recorder-playback machine for recording and/or playing back video information from a video information disc, comprising: a machine base; a "write" laser secured to said machine base, said "write" laser being for generating a first light beam directed along a first path for use in recording video information upon the disc; a modulator subassembly mounted on said machine base and including modulator means along said first path for interrupting said first light beam to allow passage along said first path of a modulated light beam representative of the video information; means for supporting the di.sc for rotating relative to said machine base; an optics carriage; track means for movably mounting said optics carriage with respect to said machine base for movement along a path generally in parallel with said first path and generally along a radius of the disc when the disc is supported by said support means; drive means for controllably positioning said carriage along said track means; first reflecting means on said carriage in optical alignment with said modulated light beam for reflecting said modulated light beam toward the disc regardless of the position of said carriage; an optical record-playback head mounted on said carriage in association with said first reflecting means for passage of said modulated light beam and to focus said modulated light beam on the disc; a "read" laser mounted on said carriage for generating a second light beam along a second path for use in playing back video information from the disc; second reflecting means on said carriage in optical alignment with said second light beam for reflecting said second light beam through said head toward the disc for focusing of said second light beam by said head on the disc at a point slightly downstream of the point of focus of said modulated light beam; and means responsive to any portion of said second light beam reflected from the disc along said second path for generating an electrical signal representative of the video information.

Claim 24

22 . A video recorder-playback machine for recording and/or playing back video information from a video information disc, comprising: a machine base; a "write" laser secured to said machine base, said "write" laser being for generating a first light beam directed along a first path for use in recording video information upon the disc; a modulator subassembly mounted on said machine base and including modulator means along said first path for interrupting said first light beam to allow passage along said first path of a modulated light beam representative of the video information; means for supporting the di.sc for rotating relative to said machine base; an optics carriage; track means for movably mounting said optics carriage with respect to said machine base for movement along a path generally in parallel with said first path and generally along a radius of the disc when the disc is supported by said support means; drive means for controllably positioning said carriage along said track means; first reflecting means on said carriage in optical alignment with said modulated light beam for reflecting said modulated light beam toward the disc regardless of the position of said carriage; an optical record-playback head mounted on said carriage in association with said first reflecting means for passage of said modulated light beam and to focus said modulated light beam on the disc; a "read" laser mounted on said carriage for generating a second light beam along a second path for use in playing back video information from the disc; second reflecting means on said carriage in optical alignment with said second light beam for reflecting said second light beam through said head toward the disc for focusing of said second light beam by said head on the disc at a point slightly downstream of the point of focus of said modulated light beam; and means responsive to any portion of said second light beam reflected from the disc along said second path for generating an electrical signal representative of the video information.