TONE ARM AND RECORD PLAYER

Abstract

A tone arm according to an embodiment includes: a first arm configured to rotate around a rotation shaft in a horizontal direction of a record; a second arm configured to rotate around a free fulcrum of the first arm as the first arm rotates; a motor configured to rotatably drive the first arm; and a controller configured to control a phase angle of the motor so that the second arm is disposed with a longitudinal axis thereof extends in a tangent direction of a groove of the record at a contact position of a stylus attached to a tip portion of the second arm and the groove of the record.

Claims

1. A tone arm comprising: a first arm configured to rotate around a rotation shaft in a horizontal direction of a record; a second arm configured to rotate around a free fulcrum of the first arm as the first arm rotates; a motor configured to rotatably drive the first arm; and a controller configured to control a phase angle of the motor so that the second arm is disposed with a longitudinal axis thereof extends in a tangent direction of a groove of the record at a contact position of a stylus attached to a tip portion of the second arm and the groove of the record.

2. The tone arm according to claim 1, wherein the second arm includes a joint mechanism rotatably attached to the free fulcrum, the joint mechanism rotating in accordance with a rotation of the first arm and a movement of the stylus along the groove of the record.

3. The tone arm according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the phase angle of the motor so that a direction of a line segment connecting the contact position of the second arm and the free fulcrum is in parallel to the tangent direction of the groove while the record is being played.

4. The tone arm according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the phase angle of the motor so that no inside force or tracking angle error is generated at the contact position.

5. The tone arm according to claim 1, further comprising: a first angle detector configured to detect an angle of rotation of the first arm; and a second angle detector configured to detect an angle of rotation of the second arm, wherein the controller is configured to control the angle of rotation of the first arm by controlling the phase angle of the motor so that the longitudinal axis of the second arm is in the tangent direction of the groove at the contact position based on the angle of rotation of the first arm detected by the first angle detector and the angle of rotation of the second arm detected by the second angle detector.

6. The tone arm according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the phase angle of the motor so that the angle of rotation of the second arm detected by the second angle detector matches an angle of rotation calculated based on the angle of rotation of the first arm detected by the first angle detector, a distance from a rotation center of the turn table for rotating the record to the rotation shaft of the first arm, a distance from the rotation center of the turn table to the free fulcrum, a length of the first arm, and a length of the second arm.

7. The tone arm according to claim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed so that a line segment connecting the contact position and the free fulcrum does not cross a line segment connecting a rotation center of the turn table and the rotation shaft of the first arm.

8. The tone arm according to claim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed so that a line segment connecting the contact position and the free fulcrum crosses a line segment connecting a rotation center of the turn table and the rotation shaft of the first arm.

9. A record player comprising: a turn table configured to rotate a record; and a tone arm configured to cause a stylus to be in contact with a groove of the record rotating on the turn table, wherein the tone arm includes: a first arm configured to rotate around a rotation shaft in a horizontal direction of the record; a second arm configured to rotate around a free fulcrum of the first arm as the first arm rotates; a stylus that is attached to a tip portion of the second arm and in contact with a groove of the record; a motor configured to rotatably drive the first arm; and a controller configured to control a phase angle of the motor so that the second arm is disposed with a longitudinal axis thereof extending in a tangent direction of the groove of the record at a contact position of the stylus and the groove of the record while the record is being played.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 is an external view of a record player 2 including a tone arm 1 according to an embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a plan view around the tone arm 1.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tone arm 1.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a geometric arrangement of a control arm 1a and a pickup arm 1b.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing changes in angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b as the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a is changed in various ways.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a geometric arrangement of the tone arm 1 when the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b are arranged so that a line segment OS crosses the pickup arm 1b.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing changes in angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b as the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a is changed in various ways.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining tracking angle error.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows an example of a tone arm having a minimized tracking angle error.

[0049] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining inside force.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a linear tracking method.

S

[0051] An embodiment of a tone arm and a record player will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although main components of the embodiment will be mainly described below, components and/or functions that are not illustrated or explained may also be present. The descriptions given below will not exclude additional components or functions that are not illustrated or explained.

[0052] FIG. 1 is an external view of a record player 2 including a tone arm 1 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view around the tone arm 1.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the record player 2 includes the tone arm 1 and a turn table 3. The turn table 3 rotates a record 4 placed on the turn table 3 around a rotation axis at the center of the turn table 3. A stylus 5 is attached to a tip portion of the tone arm 1. The tone arm 1 causes the stylus 5 to be in contact with a groove of the record 4 rotating on the turn table 3. The stylus 5 is fixed to a phono cartridge 6 that is removably attached to the tone arm 1. A rotation mechanism of the turn table 3 and a rotation mechanism of the tone arm 1 are housed in a housing 7 of the record player 2. A power supply unit and a motor driver are also housed in the housing 7.

[0054] The tone arm 1 according to the embodiment includes a control arm (first arm) 1a and a pickup arm (second arm) 1b. The control arm 1a is disposed on a rear side of the tone arm 1, and the pickup arm 1b is disposed on a front side of the tone arm 1.

[0055] The control arm 1a rotates around a rotation shaft in a horizontal direction of the record 4. The rotation shaft of the control arm 1a is located near a rear end of the tone arm 1. As will be described later, the control arm is driven to rotate by a motor. The control arm 1a is rotated in the horizontal direction in accordance with the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the rotation shaft. A sensor for constantly detecting the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft, for example a rotary encoder, is disposed to the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a. The sensor may also be called “first angle detector” herein.

[0056] A free fulcrum Q is provided at an end of the control arm 1a opposite to the rear end, for rotatably supporting the pickup arm 1b. A joint mechanism 1c is disposed to the free fulcrum Q for supporting the pickup arm 1b so as to freely rotate in the horizontal direction of the record 4. The joint mechanism 1c includes a rotation shaft for rotating the pickup arm 1b in the horizontal direction, and a sensor (for example, a rotary encoder) for reading the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft. The sensor is capable of constantly detecting the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b. This sensor may also be called “second angle detector” herein. The joint mechanism 1c rotates the pickup arm 1b in accordance with the rotation of the control arm 1a and the movement of the stylus 5 along the groove of the record 4.

[0057] The pickup arm 1b rotates around the free fulcrum Q of the control arm 1a in accordance with the rotation of the control arm 1a. The free fulcrum Q is located on the rear side of the pickup arm 1b. The phono cartridge 6 with the stylus 5 is attached to the tip side of the pickup arm 1b. The pickup arm 1b rotates in the horizontal direction of the record 4 in sync with the rotation of the control arm 1a, with the stylus 5 being in contact with the groove of the record 4.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the tone arm 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the tone arm 1 includes a first angle detector 11, a second angle detector 12, a motor 13, a controller 14, a motor driver 15, and a power supply unit 16. The control system of the tone arm 1 is housed in, for example, the housing 7 that supports the turn table 3 in FIG. 1.

[0059] The first angle detector 11 detects the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a. As described above, the first angle detector 11 includes, for example, a rotary encoder. The second angle detector 12 detects the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b. As described above, the second angle detector 12 includes a rotary encoder, for example. The motor 13 drives the control arm 1a to rotate. The motor 13 drives the control arm 1a so that the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a is at a desired value. The motor 13 is driven and controlled by the motor driver 15. The controller 14 sends a command signal to the motor driver 15 to cause the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a to be at a desired value. The motor driver 15 controls and drives the motor 13 according to the command signal.

[0060] The controller 14 controls the phase angle of the motor 13 so that the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b is in the tangent direction of the groove at the contact position between the groove of the record 4 and the stylus 5 while the record 4 is being played. In other words, the controller 14 controls the phase angle of the motor 13 so that a line segment connecting the contact position P of the pickup arm 1b and the free fulcrum Q is in parallel with the tangent direction of the groove while the record 4 is being played. The controller 14 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU).

[0061] The controller 14 adjusts the phase angle of the motor 13 so that no inside force and no tracking angle error is generated at the contact position of the stylus 5 and the groove of the record 4. By adjusting the phase angle of the motor 13, the controller 14 also controls the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a around the rotation shaft in a first reference direction, and the controls the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b around the free fulcrum Q in a second reference direction. Furthermore, the controller 14 adjusts the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a by controlling the phase angle of the motor 13 so that the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b is in the tangent direction of the groove at the contact position P based on the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a detected by the first angle detector 11 and the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b detected by the second angle detector 12.

[0062] More specifically, the controller 14 controls the phase angle of the motor 13 so that the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b detected by the second angle detector 12 is equal to an angle of rotation calculated based on the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a detected by the first angle detector 11, the distance from the rotational center of the turn table 3 that rotates the record 4 to the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a, the distance from the rotation center O of the turn table 3 to the free fulcrum Q, the length of the control arm 1a, and the length of the pickup arm 1b.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a geometric arrangement of the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b. In FIG. 4, the rotation center of the turn table 3 is denoted as O, the contact position of the stylus 5 and the groove of the record 4 is denoted as P, the rotation axis at the free fulcrum Q of the pickup arm 1b is denoted as Q, the radius of the groove of the record 4 is denoted as R, the radius of the rotation of the control arm 1a is denoted as r, which is indicated by a line segment QS, the rotation shaft of the pickup arm 1b is denoted as S, the distance between the rotation center O of the turn table 3 and the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a is denoted as M, which is indicated by a line segment OS, and the distance between the contact position P and the rotation axis Q is denoted as L, which is indicated by a line segment PQ. Furthermore, in FIG. 4, the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a with respect to the line segment OS connecting the rotation center O of the turn table 3 and the rotation shaft S is denoted as O, and the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b with respect to the longitudinal axis of the control arm 1a, which is the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b, is denoted as φ.

[0064] The controller 14 sends a command to set a target rotation angle of the control arm 1a to the motor 13 so that the angle ∠OPQ formed by the line segment OP between the rotation center O and the contact position P and the line segment PQ between the contact position P and the rotation axis Q is 90 degrees, based on the value of the angle of rotation at the rotation axis Q of the pickup arm 1b detected by the second angle detector 12. In other words, the controller 14 sends a command to set the target rotation angle of the control arm 1a to the motor 13 so that the line segment PQ may be a tangent to the record 4 at the contact position P. Always making the right angle between the line segment OP and the line segment PQ while the record 4 is being played means that the stylus 5 may be moved in the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4.

[0065] If the angle between the line segment OP and the line segment PQ is controlled to be always the right angle while the record 4 is being played, the frictional force F applied to the stylus 5 is cancelled by the tensile strength F′ applied to the pickup arm 1b, as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, no inside force is generated. Furthermore, since the stylus 5 always moves in the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4, no tracking angle error is caused.

[0066] The geometrical relationship among the contact position P of the stylus 5 and the groove of the record 4, the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a, and the angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b will then be described with reference to FIG. 4. In the embodiment, the distance M from the rotation center O of the turn table 3 to the rotation shaft S of the tone arm 1 indicated by the line segment OS and the length L of the pickup arm 1b indicated by the line segment PQ, and the distance r from the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a to the rotation axis Q of the pickup arm 1b indicated by the segment line SQ have predetermined fixed values (design parameters). The radius R of the groove of the record 4 changes as the playing position of the record 4 changes, and may generally be approximately 60 mm<R<150 mm.

[0067] The following equation (1) holds, in which N is the length of a line segment OQ connecting the rotation center O of the turn table 3 and the rotation axis Q of the pickup arm 1b.

N=√{square root over (L.sup.2+R.sup.2)}  (1)

[0068] With respect to ΔOSQ, the following equations (2) hold from the cosine law of the trigonometry.

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\theta =\angle OSQ={\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+r^2-N^2}{2Mr}& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

[0069] With respect to ΔSQO, φ′=∠SQO may be obtained from the equations (3) from the cosine law, and φ″=∠OQP is obtained from the equations (4).

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}{\phi }^{\prime }=\angle \mathrm{SQO}=\pi -\theta -{\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+N^2-r^2}{2MN}& \left(3\right)\end{array}$$\begin{array}{cc}{\phi }^{″}=\angle \mathrm{OQP}={\cos }^{-1}\frac{L}{N}& \left(4\right)\end{array}$

[0070] Therefore, the angle of rotation φ of the rotation axis Q of the pickup arm 1b may be expressed as the following equations (5).

[00003]$\begin{array}{cc}\phi ={\phi }^{\prime }+{\phi }^{″}=\pi -\theta -{\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+N^2-r^2}{2MN}+{\cos }^{-1}\frac{L}{N}& \left(5\right)\end{array}$

[0071] By transforming the equations (5), the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a may be expressed by the following equation (6).

[00004]$\begin{array}{cc}\theta =\pi -\phi -{\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+N^2-r^2}{2MN}+{\cos }^{-1}\frac{L}{N}& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

[0072] It can be understood from the equation (1) that N=line segment OQ is a function of the radius R of the groove of the record 4. It can be understood from the equations (2) and the equations (5) that the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a and the angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b are also functions of the radius R of the groove of the record 4. Since the relationship between R and θ, the relationship between R and φ, and the relationship between θ and φ may be approximated by using secondary expressions, they may be obtained easily.

[0073] The control arm 1a of the tone arm 1 is rotated around the rotation shaft S, so that the pickup arm 1b is disposed with its longitudinal axis (extending in the direction of the line segment PQ) is in the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4 by means of the joint mechanism 1c for the pickup arm 1b. The length of the pickup arm 1b is always the same.

[0074] Therefore, the stylus 5 may be moved in the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4 if the angle of rotation (the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b) φ of the pickup arm 1b and the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a are appropriate angles calculated by the equations (1) to (6).

[0075] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing changes in angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b when the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a is changed in various ways. FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b at a play start position of the record 4, an intermediate playing position of the record 4, and a play end position of the record 4. In FIG. 5, when the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a is θ.sub.1, θ.sub.2, and θ.sub.3, which correspond to the play start position, the intermediate playing position, and the play end position of the record 4, respectively, the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b is shown as φ.sub.1, φ.sub.2, and φ.sub.3, the radius of the groove of the record 4 is shown as R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3, the contact position of the stylus 5 and the groove of the record 4 is shown as P.sub.1, P.sub.2, and P.sub.3, and the rotation center of the pickup arm 1b is shown as Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, and Q.sub.3, respectively.

[0076] When the record 4 is played, first the stylus 5 of the phono cartridge 6 is brought into contact with a point P.sub.1 in the groove around the periphery of the record 4. At this time, in order to cause the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b (in the direction of the line segment PQ) to match the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4, the rotation axis of the pickup arm 1b needs to be located at a point Q1. The angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a is θ.sub.1, and the angle of rotation of the rotation axis of the pickup arm 1b (the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b) is φ.sub.1.

[0077] When the stylus 5 reaches a point in the groove at the intermediate playing position of the record that is being played, the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a is θ.sub.2, and the angle of rotation at the rotation axis of the pickup arm 1b is φ.sub.2. When the stylus 5 reaches a point in the groove at the play end position of the record 4 that is being played, the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a is θ.sub.3, and the angle of rotation at the rotation axis of the pickup arm 1b is φ.sub.3.

[0078] As may be understood from FIG. 5, as the play of the record 4 continues, the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a changes like θ.sub.1-θ.sub.2-θ.sub.3, and the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b changes like φ.sub.1-φ.sub.2-φ.sub.3. The angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a decreases like θ.sub.1>θ.sub.2>θ.sub.3, and the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b increases like φ.sub.1<φ.sub.2<φ.sub.3.

[0079] Thus, as the play of the record 4 continues, the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a gradually decreases while the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b gradually increases. The controller 14 controls the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a so that the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b (in the direction of the line segment PQ) always matches the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4 while the record 4 is being played. More specifically, the controller 14 causes the rotary encoder to always detect the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a and the angle φ between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b, in order to control the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a to meet the equations (5) and (6).

[0080] As described above, the equations (5) and (6) may be easily calculated by setting the design parameters such as the length r of the control arm 1a, the length L of the pickup arm 1b, and the distance M between the rotation center O of the turn table 3 and the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a.

[0081] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b of the tone arm 1 are arranged so that the line segment OS connecting the rotation center O of the turn table 3 and the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a does not cross the pickup arm 1b. However, the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b may be arranged so that the line segment OS crosses the pickup arm 1b.

[0082] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a geometric arrangement of the tone arm 1 when the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b are arranged so that the line segment OS crosses the pickup arm 1b. In the tone arm 1 shown in FIG. 6, a line segment connecting the rotation center O of the turn table 3 and the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a crosses the control arm 1a. The equations (1) and (2) described above also hold in the case of FIG. 6.

[0083] The angle φ′=∠QOS may be expressed by the equations (7), and the angle φ″=∠OQP may be expressed by the equations (8).

[00005]$\begin{array}{cc}{\phi }^{\prime }=\angle \mathrm{QOS}={\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+N^2-r^2}{2MN}& \left(7\right)\end{array}$$\begin{array}{cc}{\phi }^{″}=\angle \mathrm{OQP}={\cos }^{-1}\frac{L}{N}& \left(8\right)\end{array}$

[0084] With respect to ΔQOS, the equations (9) hold.

[00006]$\begin{array}{cc}\phi =\pi -\theta -{\phi }^{\prime }-{\phi }^{″}=\pi -\theta -{\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+N^2-r^2}{2MN}-{\cos }^{-1}\frac{L}{N}& \left(9\right)\end{array}$

[0085] By transforming the equations (9), the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft S of the control arm 1a may be expressed by the following equation (10).

[00007]$\begin{array}{cc}\theta =\pi -\phi -{\cos }^{-1}\frac{M^2+N^2-r^2}{2MN}-{\cos }^{-1}\frac{L}{N}& \left(10\right)\end{array}$

[0086] It may be understood from the equation (1) that N=line segment OQ is a function of the radius R of the groove of the record 4. It may be understood from the equations (2) and the equation (10) that the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a and the angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b are also functions of the radius R of the groove of the record 4. Since the relationship between R and θ, the relationship between R and φ, and the relationship between θ and φ may be approximated by using secondary expressions, they may be obtained easily.

[0087] Also in the tone arm 1 shown in FIG. 6, the controller 14 controls the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a so that the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b is in the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4. More specifically, the controller 14 controls the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a and the angle φ between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b so as to always meet the equations (9) and (10).

[0088] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing changes in angle of rotation φ of the pickup arm 1b when the angle of rotation θ of the control arm 1a is changed in various ways. FIG. 7 shows the positional relationship between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b at a play start position of the record 4, an intermediate playing position of the record 4, and a play end position of the record 4. In FIG. 7, when the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a is θ.sub.1, θ.sub.2, and θ.sub.3, which correspond to the play start position, the intermediate playing position, and the play end position of the record 4, respectively, the angle of rotation of the pickup arm 1b is shown as φ.sub.1, φ.sub.2, and φ.sub.3, the radius of the groove of the record 4 is shown as R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3, the contact position of the stylus 5 and the groove of the record 4 is shown as P.sub.1, P.sub.2, and P.sub.3, and the rotation center of the pickup arm 1b is shown as Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, and Q.sub.3.

[0089] As may be understood from FIG. 7, as the play of the record 4 continues, the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a changes like θ.sub.1-θ.sub.2-θ.sub.3, and the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b changes like φ.sub.1-φ.sub.2-φ.sub.3. The angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a decreases like θ.sub.1>θ.sub.2>θ.sub.3, and the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b increases like φ.sub.1<φ.sub.2<φ.sub.3.

[0090] Like the tone arm 1 shown in FIG. 5, as the play of the record 4 continues, the angle of rotation of the control arm 1a gradually decreases while the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b gradually increases. The controller 14 controls the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a so that the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b (in the direction of the line segment PQ) always matches the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4 while the record 4 is being played. More specifically, the controller 14 causes the rotary encoder to always detect the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a and the angle φ between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b, in order to control the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a to meet the equations (9) and (10).

[0091] As described above, the tone arm 1 according to the embodiment includes the control arm 1a that rotates around the rotation shaft, and the pickup arm 1b that rotates around the free fulcrum Q of the control arm 1a. The angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a is controlled so that, when the stylus 5 attached to the pickup arm 1b is brought into contact with the groove of the record 4 while the record 4 is being rotated, the longitudinal axis of the pickup arm 1b is always in the tangent direction of the groove of the record 4. As the angle of rotation of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a is controlled, the angle between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b is also changed so that the angle of rotation θ of the rotation shaft of the control arm 1a and the angle φ between the control arm 1a and the pickup arm 1b are controlled to meet either the equations (5) and (6) or the equations (9) and (10). As a result, no tracking angle error or inside force may be caused.

[0092] The aspects of the disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may have a variety of other forms embodied by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the effects of the disclosure are not limited to those described above. Thus, various additions, changes, and partial omissions may be made without departing from the conceptual spirit of the disclosure derived from the accompanying claims and their equivalents.