Abstract: A method for generating a center error signal in an optical storage system, as well as an optical storage system, is disclosed. Through the use of the method and system in accordance with the present invention, a decrease in manufacturing costs is achieved since very precise and expensive mirrors and/or photo detectors are not needed. A first embodiment of the invention includes a method for generating a center error signal in an optical storage system, the optical storage system comprising a tracking coil and an optical pick up unit, the optical pick up unit including a light beam. The method comprises the steps of sensing a voltage by a tracking coil, providing the voltage to a center error generation circuit, generating a center error signal from the center error generation circuit based on the voltage and utilizing the center error signal to center the light beam. A second embodiment of the invention includes an optical storage system.

Abstract: A method for generating a center error signal in an optical storage system, as well as an optical storage system, is disclosed. Through the use of the method and system in accordance with the present invention, a decrease in manufacturing costs is achieved since very precise and expensive mirrors and/or photo detectors are not needed. A first embodiment of the invention includes a method for generating a center error signal in an optical storage system, the optical storage system comprising a tracking coil and an optical pick up unit, the optical pick up unit including a light beam. The method comprises the steps of sensing a voltage by a tracking coil, providing the voltage to a center error generation circuit, generating a center error signal from the center error generation circuit based on the voltage and utilizing the center error signal to center the light beam. A second embodiment of the invention includes an optical storage system.

Abstract: A method and system for searching in a track in an optical storage system is disclosed. The optical storage system includes an optical pick up unit (OPU) coupled to a carriage. The method and system comprises receiving a command to indicate that the OPU is to move to a target position of the track. The method and system includes providing first and second output signals, each of the output signals having a rising edge and a falling edge. The rising and falling edges indicate movement of the carriage. The method and system further includes counting each of the rising edges and the falling edges of each of the first and second output signals and providing a sensor count for each of the rising and falling edges; a plurality of sensor counts are provided by movement of the carriage. The method and system finally includes utilizing the plurality of sensor counts to determine the distance the carriage has moved and moving the OPU to the target position based upon the plurality of sensor counts.

Abstract: A servo system intermittently samples servo sectors from a data disk to obtain the position of the read/write head and to maintain an on-track alignment. A glass scale measures the movement of the transducer head and provides a velocity signal. An integrator integrates the velocity signal to produce a fill-in position signal. This fill-in position signal is added to the position signal from the last sampled servo sector to provide a position compensator with position information when the head is in between servo sectors. An on-track detector circuit and a damping circuit heavily damp movement of the transducer head when the head is in the on-track position. A gain circuit modifies the signal going to the position compensator in order to compensate for misclamping and imperfections in the data disk. The position compensator includes a tilt circuit which compensates for tilting of the disk drive from a non-horizontal position.