


The Basic principle of the optical cartridge


First, We will explain the difference of detection principle between the optical cartridge and MM / MC cartridge.
Both the MM / MC cartridge and the optical cartridge read the record groove through the needle, but the usual MM / MC cartridge detects the music signal by vibrating the magnet (or coil) in the magnetic field.
On the other hand, optical cartridges detect music signals by capturing shadow changes (brightness changes) using LEDs and PD (photo cells).
Because MM / MC cartridges generate electricity by cutting off the magnetic field, magnetic resistance always occurs when the magnet (or coil) moves.
However, the optical cartridge detects only the change in brightness (shadow movement), so no magnetic resistance is generated when the vibration system moves.
Since there is no magnetic resistance applied to the vibration system, the tip of the needle can move smoothly.
This is the primary advantage of optical cartridge technology
To detect music signals, the MM / MC cartridge must move the magnet or the core and the coil. However, in the case of optical cartridges, it is only necessary to move a light shading plate with a thickness of only 100 microns, so the moving mass is very low.
This is an additional advantage of optical cartridge technology
What is the detection principle of the optical cartridge?
We will explain the detection principle of the optical cartridge in more detail.
The optical cartridge detects movement of the needle using infrared LED, light shielding plate and two PD (photo cells).
The operating principle is simple, the shading plate vibrates in front of the LED, and the PD (photo cells) behind it detects the change in brightness.

We will explain how to independently detect L and R channel signals from one shading plate.
The photo on the right is a view of the light shielding plate and the photo cells from the position where the LED is located.
When the groove of the record vibrates (oblique 45 degrees), the vibration is transmitted from the tip of the needle to the cantilever, and the shading plate also vibrates together.
Since the shading plate vibrates in such a way as to block the light of the front LED, the brightness entering PD (photo cells) changes continuously from bright → dark → bright → dark.
As the photo cells detect changes in brightness created by record groove movement, the output voltage changes accordingly
The movement of the shielding plate will be read as 2 separate stereo channels, by 2 independent photo detectors.
The angular movement of the shielding plate ensures that each photo detector can only pick up information from its corresponding channel. Information from the parallel movement of the opposite channel will not be read, ensuring accurate channel balance and channel separation.
※Since the brightness of the photo cell does not change because the motion of the light shielding plate becomes a parallel movement on the side of the reverse PD (photo cells) side, it is possible to detect audio signals of the left and right channels with one light shielding plate.
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