h a l f b a k e r yThe leaning tower of Piezo
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I can't tell you how many times I have had a CD in the tray of a drive in a computer that isnt turned on. It is a pain to power it up just to hit eject. Likewise, sometimes I need to put a CD into the computer before turning it on (when booting from a CD). It would be very useful to have a batter in
the CD drive that can power the tray when the computer is turned off.
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Most CD drives (audio as well as computer) have a little hole into which can be inserted a straightened-out paper-clip. Doing so ejects the disc. Theoretically. I've just tried it and it doesn't work. Ignore me. Have a pastry. |
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I don't think this needs to be battery powered. It could still draw power from the computer's power supply. |
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// still draw power from the computer's power supply // |
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<Waits in awed silence as Zen Master [Waugs] explains how to get power from a machine that is powered off> |
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Unless you've unplugged it, there's still power running to the machine. |
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As Angel pointed out, most drives have a manual overide to open them in case of an emergency. Purchase equipment with this option, and then learn how to use it. I have given you a crescent just because this is the kind of idiotic labor saving device that appeals to the couch potato world in which we live and I'm sure it will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams. |
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How about " The CD Draw Crow-bar™ " for when the battery runs out or stops functioning? Useful for clockwork computers too! |
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About the manual eject: I know about those, I am not stupid. But, many drives don't have them these days. And, besides, it would just be cool. And, as for drawing from the power supply, I want this to work with the computer unplugged as well. Or, even, with the CD-Drive out of the computer completely. I _hate_ installing a CD-ROM on a machine just so i can boot it up and hit eject to see if that damn CD is in there or not. |
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...Although I don't think a battery is the best solution. How about just externalizing the mechanical eject button, so you don't need a paperclip to use it? Of course you wouldn't want people mechanically ejecting while a CD is spinning, so a locking pin held in place by a solenoid could lock (disable) the mechanical button whenever power is present. Solenoids automatically revert to their normal state in absence of power; hard shutdowns would not be an issue. |
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Instead of a battery, how about a capacitor that charges while the system is on? That way there are no parts to replace. |
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Alternatively, you could put an itsy-bitsy hand crank on the front connected to a clutch... |
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A charged capacitor would effectively be a battery. I was thinking it would be rechargable anyway. |
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"I love it when a plan comes together" |
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custard filled dampening mechanism? |
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i could not resist but mention this: there is a CD stuck in a drive here and ther is no physical eject mechanism. boo-yah. |
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A man after my own heart. |
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Actually, I think a battery powered CD-R isn't a bad idea. Some external devices draw too much peak power for the USB/whatever. |
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As CD-ROMs use more power when spinning up, I'd put in a capacitor, a current limiter and a motor management controller to prevent the device draining more than 500mA at any one time. If the PC requests a read/write and the capacitor has insufficient remaining charge to support for the required load, the controller sets max motor acceleration to suit. |
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// Unless you've unplugged it, there's still power running to the machine // |
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...not if there's been a power cut. |
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What if I need to retrieve information from this CD in a bit of a hurry? There's usually no way of telling when I'll have electricity again, at least if I can get hold of the disk I can run it over to a friend (or to another office if I'm at work) and finish the job on their machine. |
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Here's something wacky... How about... (drumroll) a KNOB? I agree it could look funny, but a long thin one disguised as part of the design could work. |
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How about having a spring which pushes the drive open, and a motor/cam mechanism which closes and locks it? In that case, the release button would merely have to nudge the cam a little bit and the drive would then slide out by itself. This might simplify electronics somewhat by eliminating the need for a bidirectional motor drive. |
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You can just turn the computer back on and eject the disc, then Shut Down; I do that. |
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I like the idea but why build an entirely new device when an existing one is already in place. ( pin-hole mechanism) I think another why to accomplish the powerless eject is to produce an external button (affixed to the drive front ) with an adjustable length pin at the other end. First of all it would be cheaper then a electronic system an the consumers would not need to completely replace or tear apart their current drives. |
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