What is claimed is:
1. In an apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, a buffing element comprising:
a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
a foam pad fixedly engaged with said plate surface; and
a buffing pad in fixed relation with said foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said foam pad, and said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc.
2. A buffing element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foam pad is a closed cell foam pad.
3. A buffing element as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an open cell foam pad juxtaposed between and coupled to said closed cell foam pad and said plate surface of said stabilizer plate.
4. A buffing element as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closed cell foam pad is a silicone based closed cell foam pad.
5. A buffing element as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closed cell foam pad is a silicone coated closed cell foam pad.
6. A buffing element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foam pad is an open cell foam pad having a silicone coated surface to which said buffing pad removably adheres.
7. A buffing element as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said foam pad exhibits a first diameter; and
said buffing pad exhibits a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter.
8. A buffing element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first surface of said buffing pad includes an adhesive layer that removably adheres to said foam pad.
9. A buffing element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a turntable for rotating said buffing element and said buffing pad includes radial projections along a perimeter of said buffing pad for imparting a sloped edge on a border between an unconditioned portion and a reconditioned portion of said protective surface of said disc when said buffing element rotates upon said turntable.
10. A buffing element as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
said foam pad is a first foam pad;
said plate surface of said stabilizer plate is a first plate surface;
said stabilizer plate further includes a second plate surface on an opposite side of said stabilizer plate from said first plate surface; and
said buffing element further comprises a second foam pad coupled to said plate surface of said stabilizer plate.
11. A buffing element as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second foam pad is an open cell foam pad.
12. A buffing element in an apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, said apparatus including a turntable for rotating said buffing element, said buffing element comprising:
a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
an open cell foam pad coupled to said plate surface;
a closed cell foam pad coupled to said open cell foam pad; and
a buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to couple to said closed cell foam pad, said second surface being configured to contact and recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc, and said buffing pad including projections along a perimeter of said buffing pad for imparting a gradually sloped edge on a border between an unconditioned portion and a reconditioned portion of said protective surface of said disc when said buffing element rotates upon said turntable.
13. A buffing element as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first surface of said buffing pad includes an adhesive layer that removably adheres to said foam pad.
14. A buffing element as claimed in claim 12 wherein said closed cell foam pad is a silicone based closed cell foam pad to which said buffing pad removably adheres.
15. A buffing element as claimed in claim 12 wherein:
said open cell foam pad exhibits a first diameter; and
said buffing pad exhibits a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter.
16. A buffing element as claimed in claim 12 wherein:
said plate surface of said stabilizer plate is a first plate surface;
said stabilizer plate further includes a second plate surface on an opposite side of said stabilizer plate from said first plate surface; and
said buffing element further comprises a third foam pad coupled to said second plate surface of said stabilizer plate.
17. An apparatus for reconditioning a protective surface of an optically-read digital recording disc, said apparatus comprising:
a turntable configured to receive a center section of said optically-read disc, said center section being located about a center hole of said optically-read disc;
a first motor, coupled to said turntable, for rotating said turntable and said optically-read disc at a first rotational speed;
a buffing element for removing an amount of material from said protective surface as said turntable rotates said optically-read disc through at least one revolution, said buffing element including:
a substantially rigid stabilizer plate having a plate surface;
a foam pad fixedly engaged with said plate surface; and
a buffing pad in fixed relation with said foam pad, said buffing pad having first and second surfaces on opposing sides of said buffing pad, said first surface being configured to face said foam pad, and said second surface being configured to recondition said protective surface of said digital recording disc;
a second motor, coupled to said buffing element, for rotating said buffing element at a second rotational speed; and
a timing element, in communication with each of said first and second motors, for synchronizing said first and second motors to substantially simultaneously cease rotation of said turntable and said buffing element following removal of said amount of material.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein:
said foam pad of said buffing element exhibits a first diameter; and
said buffing pad of said buffing element exhibits a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said buffing pad of said buffing element includes projections along a perimeter of said buffing pad for imparting a gradually sloped edge on a border between an unconditioned portion and a reconditioned portion of said protective surface of said disc when said buffing element rotates upon said turntable.
20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said foam pad includes a closed cell silicone foam pad to which said buffing pad removably adheres.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process to prevent the overturning of a vehicle around its longitudinal axis when rounding a curve, in which the danger of overturning is evaluated, and braking is automatically applied as required, comprising the following steps:
a) applying a first braking force to at least one first wheel of said vehicle, wherein said at least one first wheel is on the inside of said curve,
b) applying a second braking force to at least one second wheel of said vehicle, wherein said at least one second wheel is on the outside of said curve, to prevent said vehicle from overturning,
c) wherein said first braking force is weaker than said second braking force.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein said first and second braking forces are terminated when a rotational speed of said at least one first wheel on the inside of said curve accelerates in a predetermined characteristic manner.
3. The process of claim 2, further comprising the following steps:
d) determining a transverse acceleration level of said vehicle,
e) comparing said transverse acceleration level to a predetermined threshold level of said transverse acceleration,
f) using the difference between said transverse acceleration level and said predetermined threshold level to indicate a potential overturning of said vehicle.
4. The process of claim 3, wherein said indication of a potential overturning of said vehicle further requires that said at least one first wheel on the inside of said curve is subjected to said first braking force, said first braking force being weaker than a highest possible braking force, and that a characteristic reduction of said rotational speed of said at least one first wheel on the inside of said curve is achieved.
5. The process of claim 4, wherein a verification is made to ascertain whether a rotational speed of said at least one second wheel on the outside of said curve remains essentially unchanged.
6. The process of claim 5, wherein anti-lock braking system slippage signals for said at least one first wheel on the inside of said curve are disabled.
7. The process of claim 6, wherein said predetermined threshold level of said transverse acceleration is varied as a function of said vehicle’s reaction to said first braking force.
8. The process of claim 6, wherein said predetermined threshold level of said transverse acceleration is varied as a function of said vehicle’s transverse acceleration.
9. The process of claim 6, wherein said first braking force is initiated only when said predetermined threshold level of said transverse acceleration is exceeded.
10. The process of claim 9, wherein a plurality of transverse acceleration signals derived from corresponding wheel rotational speeds are used to improve the validity of said vehicle transverse acceleration determination.