Abstract: A calibration processing unit executes a calibration when calibration operative conditions are satisfied. Irrespective of satisfaction of the calibration operative conditions during the processing of sequential data, a calibration invalidation unit temporarily invalidates the execution of the calibration and permits the execution thereof after termination of the sequential data processing. Upon the occurrence of an error, an error recovery unit makes a recovery for canceling the error and then a retry, allowing the execution of the calibration when the error recovery is normally terminated. If the sequential data processing is in process at that time, then the execution of the calibration is temporarily invalidated.

Abstract: A read retry of an MSR medium is executed while changing a setting of a reproducing magnetic field. Parameter set values of a successful read retry are stored as statistic information. When changes of the set values for defaults increase, the defaults are updated. The parameter set information of a retry success is stored as statistic information. In a new read retry, the parameter set information of a high success ratio is selected from the statistic information and the retry is executed.

Abstract: A defective sector is processed so that a mark can be normally read in a sector adjacent to a defective sector. A recording state of a sector determined as a defective sector (step S102: Yes) is changed to another recording state in which a level of cross talk is low (step S103).

Abstract: The present invention provides an information storage apparatus which at least records information by applying a magnetic field to a recording medium with a smaller power consumption. A default value of a recording magnetic field is set to a minimum value of the apparatus. Through a learning process, the default value of the recording magnetic field is changed to a value in the vicinity of the minimum value.

Abstract: This invention relates to a servo-control method and servo-controller of a memory storage device, as well as the memory storage device, for positioning the reading position of a head on a target position. It suppresses phase lag in the high region while preventing a decrease in follow-ability. This invention comprises a storage medium 72, head 76, actuator 60, detection circuit 48, and control circuit 16. The detection circuit 48 detects the amount of shift between the reading position of the head 76 and a target position. The control circuit 16 performs PID calculation for the shift amount and outputs an instruction value for the actuator 60. There is a limiter 121 for limiting the calculated result of the differential component of this PID calculation to a specified value. Only the high region is limited and the low region is not limited, thus it is possible to suppress phase lag in the high while maintaining follow-ability.

Abstract: A data read method includes a steps of reading identical data from one region on a recording medium a plurality of times, a step of comparing the data read the plurality of times in units of one or a plurality of bits to obtain comparison results, and generating read data made up of data values having a highest frequency for each unit based on the comparison results, and a step of carrying out an error detecting and correcting process with respect to the read data.

Abstract: A division test write processing unit is provided and a test writing process for deciding an optimum light emitting power by executing a test writing on a medium is divided into a plurality of division test writing processes. When an upper command is received, in the division test write processing unit, a division control unit skips to a division executing unit locating at the head of the processes which are not yet executed among a plurality of division executing units and allows the dividing processes of the test writing to be executed for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A servo control apparatus of an optical pickup in which an offset and a gain can be adjustable for each servo control apparatus, and influences caused by changes in environmental conditions and changes with time are reduced without a decrease in operational speed, and increase in size and an increase in cost is disclosed. The servo control apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory for storing compensatory values which correspond to differences of servo characteristics of each servo apparatus and which are measured with the assistance of external measurement instruments, and a compensation portion for compensating an optical pick-up servo signal according to the compensatory values stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A reproducing magnetic field correcting unit is provided, a reproducing state is monitored while increasing a reproducing magnetic field by using a predetermined reproducing magnetic field as an initial value H1, and a reproducing magnetic field when a reproducible state is obtained is determined as an optimum magnetic field. A reproducing magnetic field obtained by adding a predetermined value to the reproducing magnetic field in the reproducible state is used as an optimum reproducing magnetic field. A change in reproducing magnetic field is started from the low magnetic field in which a predetermined value is subtracted from the initial value. A shoulder portion is certainly detected and the optimum magnetic field is set.

Abstract: When a migration is predicted and judged of continuous recording and regeneration to an adjacent next optimum condition effective area in the course of data sequential processing for recording or regenerating data continuous in a certain optimum condition effective area, a setting control unit performs optimum condition setting processing (erase, recording, regeneration) of the next optimum condition effective area under the control of an optimum condition setting processing unit, to thereby previously determine the optimum emission power and the optimum magnetic field.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information storage apparatus with a low current consumption in a spindle motor or the like. A spindle motor driver 38 and spindle motor 40 serve as both a driver for driving a disk-like information storage medium in a predetermined direction and a brake for forcibly stopping rotation of the information storage medium, and by appropriately inputting, to the spindle motor driver 38, a spindle-on signal SPDLON for operating the spindle motor driver 38 and spindle motor 40 as the driver and a brake signal BRAKE for operation as the brake, MPU selectively uses a forced stop operation for stopping driving the information storage medium to forcibly stop the information storage medium, and a natural stop operation in which the spindle motor 40 simply stops driving the information storage medium.

Abstract: A tracking control method carries out a tracking control based on a tracking error signal which indicates an error of a beam spot formed on a recording medium by a light beam from a light source with respect to a track. The tracking control method includes detecting a change in a light emission power of the light source, calculating a correction quantity which is used to correct a shift and/or fluctuation of the tracking error signal generated due to the change in the light emission power, and carrying out a correction by adding the correction quantity to the tracking error signal when the change in the light emission power is detected.

Abstract: A predetermined electric current is supplied to an inductance device by changing a pulse width of a voltage applied to the inductance device according to a current instruction value. An electric current which flows through the inductance device is detected; the thus-detected current value is compared with the current instruction value; the voltage applied to the inductance device is turned on/off according to the comparison result; and an off time for which application of the voltage to the inductance device is interrupted is controlled according to the current instruction value.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention limits, via a predetermined current limiting means, the bias current applied to a bias coil during seek, when a seek current is applied to a carriage. In accordance therewith, it is possible to reduce the peak of the sum current, which is the total of the seek current and the bias current, and the current consumption of the entire apparatus can also be curbed. Current limiting means, for example, sets a bias current that is smaller than the specified value of the bias current required at media access time, and sets a bias current value such that the total of the seek current and bias current does not exceed an allowable current.

Abstract: A tracking control method measures an optimum offset by measuring a light beam irradiation state of a light beam while offsetting a tracking target position of the light beam on a recording medium so that an optimum light beam irradiation state is obtained at the tracking target position, and carries out a tracking control by setting the measured optimum offset.

Abstract: A write and/or erase method is adapted to a storage apparatus having a function of changing a write and/or erase power of a light beam with respect to a recording medium. The write and/or erase method sets a write and/or erase slice level for detecting an off-track of the light beam with respect to a track on the recording medium depending on the write and/or erase power.

Abstract: A seek control method carries out a seek to a target position on a recording medium by moving a light beam spot which is irradiated on the recording medium. The recording medium has a first region in which information recording is made as variations in optical or magneto-optical properties and a second region in which information recording is made as variations in geometrical configuration, and the first and second regions are provided in different areas on a recording surface of the recording medium. The seek control method includes the step of carrying out a control so that a seek operation from a seek start position within the first region to a seek target position within the second region and a seek operation from a seek start position within the second region to a seek target position within the first region differ.

Abstract: A storage apparatus uses a light beam to reproduce information from a recording medium having an information region with a recording format which includes a header including position information and a recording field including a data field for recording data. The storage apparatus is provided with a light source for emitting the light beam, and a control section for controlling a power L2 of the light beam in a vicinity of a start of the recording field to become higher than a power L3 at the data field of the recording field.

Abstract: In a data reproducing apparatus, a monitor edge sample value is generated based on a second sample value at a trailing edge of the reproduction signal and a change amount of the monitor edge sample value is generated as an offset amount in a first processing part. Then, the offset amount is supplied to a second processing part where the second sample value is obtained by sampling the reproduction signal at the trailing edge. Then, the second processing part restores data based on the reproduction signal and the offset amount.

Abstract: A track servo control perform follow-up control of an optical beam to a track of an optical disk, and control the vibration of the optical beam due to the ID pit noise of the optical disk. The control system is comprised of a feedback control block for feedback-controlling the actuator by the track error signal from the actuator and the learning control block. Since the optical disk ID pit noise is periodic noise, the learning control block learns this, inputs the learning result to the feedback control system. The learning result is subtracted from the learning input, and the signal after subtraction is learned in order to converge the learning. Therefore even if the periodic ID pit noise is applied, this noise can be removed from the control loop and the vibration of the actuator due to periodic noise can be decreased, making a stable track follow-up operation possible.