Controls and Operation

The following CD changer controls and features are available on the radio unit only when the Saturn optional remote CD changer is connected. These operating features are available only when ignition voltage is present and the radio power switch is on unless otherwise stated in the following paragraphs.


Remote Disc Changer Initialization and Play


The optional remote CD changer may be operated whenever ignition voltage is present and the radio power switch is on. The time of day clock will normally be displayed during the playing of a disc, but disc number, track number and track elapsed time are automatically or manually displayed under certain conditions.


Up to twelve compact discs may be loaded into the changer unit magazine. When the disc magazine is loaded, the radio and CD changer will communicate to initialize all discs and load directory data into the radio memory for use during CD player control operations. The radio and changer data bus structure must be operational to perform this task whether the ignition state is on or off. Initialization requires approximately 90 seconds when processing a full magazine.


Inserting the disc magazine will not automatically initiate disc playing. To play a disc, the ignition and radio must be on, the changer must be loaded with a magazine containing at least one disc, and directory initialization must be completed. The CD icon annunciator will be displayed to indicate that a magazine is loaded. The AX button can then be pressed to select the CD changer. Initialization is not complete, the CD annunciator will flash at the rate of approximately one cycle per second, and playing will commence only after initialization is complete.


When the CD changer is selected while the radio or tape is playing, the previous mode will be suspended. The CD annunciator will be turned on in addition to the CD icon annunciator to indicate that the disc is in and playing. The target track and disc number will be displayed. If a stopped tape is present, the tape icon annunciator will remain displayed. Approximately 5 seconds after CD play commences, the time of day will again be displayed.


The radio preset buttons 1 - 6 will change function upon the selection of the CD changer as identified by the alternate button legends. Upon initial loading of the

magazine and pressing CD, play will commence from the beginning of the first available disc and track (usually disc 1, track 1).


When a disc is playing the RDM, RPT and CMP status annunciators will become available and appear in the display if the corresponding feature is active.


The discs and disc tracks will normally be played in logical ascending order until completing the highest numbered disc and track. When the player reaches the end of a disc, play will continue from the lowest numbered available track on the next available disc. When entering a new disc or track, the LCD will show the target disc and track numbers and the audio will be muted. The display will revert to time of day approximately five seconds after playing of the new track commences. After the highest numbered disc and track are played, wraparound will occur and the lowest numbered disc and track will be played.


Compact Disc - AX Button


Pushing the AX button will have no action when the CD is playing. To change modes press either the AM/FM button or the TAPE button. The CD icon annunciator will remain displayed to indicate that discs are in the player, but stopped. Once in radio mode. pressing AX will cause the system to switch back from radio mode and resume playing the disc. Once in tape mode, pressing AX will cause the system to switch back from tape mode and resume playing the disc. When switching back to CD from either radio or tape, disc play resumes from the position prior to interruption provided that the magazine has not been ejected.


Display Recall - RCL Button


In CD mode, the RCL (Recall) pushbutton affects only the LCD display with no other changes to the operation of the unit. In the CD play mode. the LCD will indicate the time of day as the default.


When RCL is pressed, the current disc and track number will be displayed and the DISC and TRK annunciators will be shown. After approximately 5 seconds with no further action. the display will a0ain show time of day.


Disc Selection - SEEK Buttons


The (left arrow) SEEK (right arrow) buttons provide for forward and reverse disc selection.


SEEK (right arrow) directs the compact disc changer to find the beginning of the first available track on the next higher numbered available disc and resumes play from that point. Upon invoking this function, the designated disc and track will be displayed, the audio will be muted. and the search for the target track commences. When the player has found the target track, audio will be muted and play will resume. After approximately 5 seconds, the time of day will be returned to the display.


(left arrow) SEEK directs the compact disc changer to find the beginning of the first available track on the next lower numbered available disc and resume play from that point. Upon invoking this function. the designated disc and track will be displayed, the audio will be muted, and the search for target track commences. When the player has found the target track, audio will be muted and play will resume. After approximately five seconds, the time of day will be returned to the display.


The (left arrow) SEEK (right arrow) button must be pressed once for each increment or decrement of the disc number. Slewing of

the disc number is permitted.


The disc number can be incremented or decremented multiple times with wraparound at the lower and highest available disc number.


Actuation of the TAPE or AM/FM buttons before the search is completed will stop the disc and switch the system into the tape or radio mode respectively. The icon annunciator will remain displayed to indicate that the CD changer is available. A subsequent actuation of the CD button will cause the unit to return to the CD play mode, starting at the beginning of the target disc and track at the time of interruption, if the magazine has not been ejected.


Next Track - NEXT Button


The NEXT button is a momentary switch that provides for forward track changes.


NEXT directs the compact disc changer to find the beginning of the next selection and resume play from that point. The designated disc and track will be displayed, the audio will be muted and the next track is located. When the player has found the appropriate track, audio will be muted and play will resume. After approximately five seconds the time of the day will be returned to the display.


The first press of the NEXT button will increment the selection by one track. If the button is held down for more than one second the target track number will increment by one each approximately 0.5 seconds until the button is released. if track forward is pressed while in the last track on a disc the target track shall be the lowest numbered available track (usually track 1) of the same disc.


Actuation of the TAPE or AM/FM buttons before the search is completed will stop the disc and switch the system into the tape or radio mode respectively. The icon annunciator will remain displayed to indicate that the CD changer is available. A subsequent actuation of the AX button will cause the unit to return to the CD play mode, starting at the beginning of the target track at the time of interruption, if the magazine has not been ejected.


If the NEXT button is pressed during Random Play mode. the next track in the random sequence will be selected. The NEXT button must be pressed on for each additional random selection desired-


Previous Track - PREV Button


The PREV button is a momentary switch that provides for previous track changes.

PREV directs the compact disc changer to find the beginning of the previous selection and resume play from that point. The designated disc and track will be displayed. The audio will be muted and the previous track is located. When the player has found the appropriate track, audio will be muted and play will resume. After approximately five seconds the time of day will be returned to the display.

The first depression of the PREV button will decrement the selection by one track. If the button is held down for more than one second, the target track number will decrement by one each approximately 0.5 seconds until the button is released.

If the player has played fewer than eight seconds into the current selection, pressing the PREV button will cause the player to find the beginning of the previous selection and resume play from that point. If a player is eight or more seconds into the current selection actuation of the function will cause the player to find the beginning of the current track and resume play from that point. If the PREV button is pressed at the start of the lowest numbered available track on a disc the target trick shall be the highest available track on the same disc.


If the PREV button is pressed during Random Play mode, the previous track in the random sequence will be played. The PREV button must be pressed once for each previous random selection desired.


Forward Audible Search - FWD Button


When the FWD button is pressed and held in CD play mode, the player will play the disc at a rate of approximately six times the normal play speed. This feature allows the user to sample the disc audio at a fast rate to locate a desired passage. Note that because the disc is being sampled at an accelerated rate the audio will be distinguishable but not of normal listening quality.


Elapsed time is displayed while operating this feature. The maximum displayable time value is 19:5 9. If the actual elapsed time is 20 minutes or more, the LCD will display 19:59 until the value is again within display range. If a new track is encountered during the search the updated disc and track numbers will be displayed for approximately five seconds. When the end of the disc is encountered, operation is "frozen," and the ending elapsed time is displayed until the button is released and play mode resumes.


Upon release of the FWD button the system will return to play mode. The display will revert to time of day approximately five seconds after release of the FWD button unless recalled by a new stimulus.


Reverse Audible Search - REV Button


When the REV button is pressed and held while a disc is playing, the player will play in reverse at a rate of approximately six times the normal play speed. This feature allows the operator to sample the audio at a fast rate in reverse to locate a chosen passage. Because the disc is being sampled in reverse at an accelerated rate the audio will be distinguishable but not of normal listening quality.

Elapsed time is displayed while operating this feature. The maximum displayable time value is 19:5 9. if the actual elapsed time is 20 minutes or more, the LCD will display 19:59 until the value is again within display range. If a new track is encountered during the search, the updated disc and track numbers will be displayed for approximately five seconds. When the beginning of the disc is encountered, operation is "frozen" until the button is released and play mode resumes.


Upon release of the REV button, the system will return to play mode. The display will revert to time of day approximately five seconds after the release of the REV button unless recalled by a new stimulus.


Repeat Play - RPT Button


Pressing the RPT button alternately enables and disables the repeat track feature. When enabled, the RPT" annunciator will be displayed.


When the repeat feature is enabled, the current track will be repeated until the RPT button is pressed again.


The repeat feature is also canceled by pressing TAPE, RDM, NEXT or PREV and by cycling ignition voltage or the power switch.


Random Play - RDM Button


Pressing the RDM button in CD changer mode alternately enables and disables the random play feature. When enabled. the "RDM" annunciator will be displayed.


When the random play feature is enabled the player will immediately target and select a randomly chosen available disc and track selected by the system logic. After completing the first random selection, the player will continue to play tracks from various discs in a random order until the feature is cancelled. Each time a random track is chosen the display will be updated showing the target disc and track. The time of day will return to the display approximately five seconds after playing commences.


Random selection does not occur during FWD and REV audible searching modes. In these cases, the next or previous logical track number is targeted at each track boundary. Randomized selection continues after playing resumes and the current track is completed. NEXT and PREV can be used during random play mode to select forward and reverse randomized selections.


The random feature may be cancelled by pressing the RDM button a second time. It is also cancelled by ejecting and reloading the disc magazine.


Compression - NR Button


The NR button is used in CD changer mode to enable or disable the dynamic compression feature. The compression feature processes the audio signal and makes quieter passages louder, allowing them to be heard more easily in the automotive environment. When the feature is active the "CMP" annunciator will be displayed.

Tape - TAPE Button


The TAPE button is used in the CD changer mode to select tape play mode when a tape is present and stopped as indicated by the display of the tape icon annunciator. In this condition. the CD changer will stop and tape play will commence. The "CD" annunciator will turn off and the tape track arrow will be displayed. The CD icon annunciator will remain displayed to indicate that the CD changer is available. The LCD will display the time of day.


In CD mode. the TAPE button has no function when a tape is not present. and pressing this button will cause no action.


AM/FM Button


In the CD changer mode, pushing the AM/FM button will cancel the CD operation. and restore radio operation. The "CD" annunciator will be turned off, and the CD icon annunciator will remain displayed to indicate that the CD changer is available.


EJECT Button


The (arrow up) EJECT button is available in CD mode only if a tape cartridge is in the player and stopped. Pressing and releasing the (arrow up) EJECT button in this condition will cause the tape to be ejected with no other effect to system operation. If no tape is present, this button has no function, and pressing this button will cause no action.


The eject function is available when ignition is on or off. Error Detection


Several conditions will generate error conditions which prevent the CD changer from operating normally. These include upside-down disc loading, moisture impairment. damaged disc media, or mechanical malfunction during loading or unloading of a disc.


If a single disc is accidentally loaded into the magazine by the user upside-down initialization of that disc will not be completed. Except in random play mode, attempts to access the disc during play will result in the characters "ERR" being displayed in the LCD for approximately five seconds. The next higher available properly loaded disc will be automatically selected by the system. In random play mode, the "bad" disc is ignored as if no disc is in that slot.


"ERR" is also displayed for approximately five seconds if the disc or focusing mechanism is impaired by moisture. The system will automatically select the next available disc and try again. If no disc can be played, "ERR" remains in the display as continuous retries are attempted until the user cancels the CD mode by returning to radio or tape mode.


If a disc is damaged and cannot be played. 'ERR" is displayed for approximately five seconds, and the next higher available track or disc is automatically selected as appropriate.