Abstract: A hardware status detecting circuit for detecting a hardware status of a target apparatus includes a plurality of hardware status detectors operating in response to the hardware status of the target apparatus, and a signal processing unit coupled to the hardware status detectors for generating a hardware status detecting signal having information of operational statuses of the hardware status detectors embedded therein.

Abstract: A detector is scanned across an optical storage medium having groove tracks and land tracks, each track having a wobble structure, to detect light reflected from the optical storage medium. A wobble signal and a tracking error signal are generated based on an output of the detector, and the wobble signal is sampled according to the tracking error signal. A determination about whether the detector is at the groove track or the land track is made based on the tracking error signal and a comparison of sampled values of the wobble signal.

Abstract: A detector is scanned across an optical storage medium having groove tracks and land tracks, each track having a wobble structure, to detect light reflected from the optical storage medium. A wobble signal and a tracking error signal are generated based on an output of the detector, and the wobble signal is sampled according to the tracking error signal. A determination about whether the detector is at the groove track or the land track is made based on the tracking error signal and a comparison of sampled values of the wobble signal.

Abstract: A light beam is scanned on a track of a recording medium, the track having a first track region and a second track region, each track region having a physical property that has recurring deviations. A wobble signal is derived from the light beam, the wobble signal having information associated with the recurring deviations. Whether the light beam is at the first track region or the second track region is determined based on a frequency, a period, or a pulse width of the wobble signal.

Abstract: A detector is scanned across an optical storage medium having groove tracks and land tracks, each track having a wobble structure, to detect light reflected from the optical storage medium. A wobble signal and a tracking error signal are generated based on an output of the detector, and the wobble signal is sampled according to the tracking error signal. A determination about whether the detector is at the groove track or the land track is made based on the tracking error signal and a comparison of sampled values of the wobble signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are detecting apparatus for detecting statuses of an optical disc and methods thereof, which can avoid or reduce erroneous status decisions at the edge of a blank region. The detecting apparatus includes a blank detector, for detecting a blank region of the optical disc to generate a blank detection signal; an edge detector, for detecting a transition of the blank detection signal to generate an edge detection signal; a control circuit, in response to the edge detection signal for outputting control signals; and a defect detector in response to the control signals for detecting defect region of the optical disc to generate a defect decision signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data search system for searching the data sync pattern by using a physical address or by detecting the falling edge of the blank area end. The data search system comprises a first data start indicator, a second data start indicator, a decision circuit, a window generator and a data sync pattern search circuit. The first data start indicator generates a first start search signal indicating a first start position. The second data start indicator generates a second start search signal indicating a second start position. The decision circuit selects to output one of the start search signals. The window generator generates a window interval starting from the start position. The data sync pattern search circuit searches a data sync pattern of the data in the window interval to determine the data following the data sync pattern.

Abstract: An optical data accessing apparatus and method for changing the access from a first data layer to a second data layer of an optical storage medium are provided. The first data layer corresponds to a first SAC value, while the second data layer corresponds to a second SAC value. A processor of the optical data accessing apparatus is adapted for: (1) generating and sending a focus off signal to a pickup control unit to disable focus control; (2) generating a target value for an SAC to adjust an SAC value from the first SAC value to the target value, wherein the target value is between the first SAC value and the second SAC value; and (3) generating and sending a focus activation signal to the pickup control unit to re-enable the focus control to focus on the second data layer while the SAC value reaches the target value.

Abstract: Disclosed are detecting apparatus for detecting statuses of an optical disc and methods thereof, which can avoid or reduce erroneous status decisions at the edge of a blank region. The detecting apparatus includes a blank detector, for detecting a blank region of the optical disc to generate a blank detection signal; an edge detector, for detecting a transition of the blank detection signal to generate an edge detection signal; a control circuit, in response to the edge detection signal for outputting control signals; and a defect detector in response to the control signals for detecting defect region of the optical disc to generate a defect decision signal.

Abstract: A light beam is scanned on a track of a recording medium, the track having a first track region and a second track region, each track region having a physical property that has recurring deviations. A wobble signal is derived from the light beam, the wobble signal having information associated with the recurring deviations. Whether the light beam is at the first track region or the second track region is determined based on a frequency, a period, or a pulse width of the wobble signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data search system for searching the data sync pattern by using a physical address or by detecting the falling edge of the blank area end. The data search system comprises a first data start indicator, a second data start indicator, a decision circuit, a window generator and a data sync pattern search circuit. The first data start indicator generates a first start search signal indicating a first start position. The second data start indicator generates a second start search signal indicating a second start position. The decision circuit selects to output one of the start search signals. The window generator generates a window interval starting from the start position. The data sync pattern search circuit searches a data sync pattern of the data in the window interval to determine the data following the data sync pattern.

Abstract: A data search system for searching a data sync pattern stored in an optical disc by using a physical address is disclosed. The data search system comprises a physical address decoder, a data start indicator and a data sync pattern search circuit. The physical address decoder decodes a physical address signal read from the optical disc to obtain the physical address of a current position. The data start indicator generates a start search signal when the pickup head indicates a predetermined physical address to decide a start position. The data sync pattern search circuit searches the data sync pattern of the data from the start position to determine a cluster area of the data following the data sync pattern. The data search system further comprises a window generator, generating a window interval starting from the start position to search the data sync pattern therein.

Abstract: An optical disc drive with reduced startup time. The optical disc drive includes an instruction-receiving interface, a type-discriminating unit, and a controller. The instruction-receiving interface receives a user instruction from a user, wherein the user instruction indicates the type of an optical disc loaded into the optical disc drive. The type-discriminating unit discriminates the type of the optical disc according to the user instruction. The controller controls the optical disc drive to access the optical disc according to the discriminated type of the optical disc.

Abstract: A detector is scanned across an optical storage medium having groove tracks and land tracks, each track having a wobble structure, to detect light reflected from the optical storage medium. A wobble signal and a tracking error signal are generated based on an output of the detector, and the wobble signal is sampled according to the tracking error signal. A determination about whether the detector is at the groove track or the land track is made based on the tracking error signal and a comparison of sampled values of the wobble signal.

Abstract: A light beam is scanned on a track of a recording medium, the track having a first track region and a second track region, each track region having a physical property that has recurring deviations. A wobble signal is derived from the light beam, the wobble signal having information associated with the recurring deviations. Whether the light beam is at the first track region or the second track region is determined based on a frequency, a period, or a pulse width of the wobble signal.

Abstract: This invention provides a laser power control system to control the power of the emitted laser from an optical pick-up head. The system comprises a temperature sensor and a calculating unit. The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the optical pick-up head and to generate a temperature signal accordingly. The calculating unit, storing a control relation of the optical pick-up head, is used to receive the temperature signal. According to the control relation, the calculating unit calculates and outputs a power control signal under the temperature signal and the setting power. The power control signal, converted from digital into analog by a digital to analog converter, is transmitted to the optical pick-up head, so as to control the optical pick-up head to emit the laser according to the setting power.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calibrating focus positions of a pickup head. The pickup head is in a focus position of a predetermined distance from an optical recording medium for producing a recording light beam of a predetermined power for recording corresponding data onto the optical recording medium. A predetermined position adjustment procedure is performed to adjust the focus position of the pickup head during data recording. The procedure comprises the steps of sensing a reflected light beam from the optical recording medium by means of a sensor to generate a corresponding write RF signal; searching an extreme value of the write RF signal and obtain a target focus position corresponding to the searched extreme value; and adjusting the pickup head to the target focus position, so as to enable further data recording onto the optical recording medium by the pickup head in the target focus position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calibrating focus positions of a pickup head. The pickup head is in a focus position of a predetermined distance from an optical recording medium for producing a recording light beam of a predetermined power for recording corresponding data onto the optical recording medium. A predetermined position adjustment procedure is performed to adjust the focus position of the pickup head during data recording. The procedure comprises the steps of sensing a reflected light beam from the optical recording medium by means of a sensor to generate a corresponding write RF signal; searching an extreme value of the write RF signal and obtain a target focus position corresponding to the searched extreme value; and adjusting the pickup head to the target focus position, so as to enable further data recording onto the optical recording medium by the pickup head in the target focus position.