Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an engine unit to perform an image forming job; an engine control unit to control the operation of the engine unit; a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor to drive the engine unit; a sensor unit to sense electric angle information and driving velocity information of the BLDC motor; a communication interface to receive a digital control command with respect to the BLDC motor from the engine control unit; a driving signal unit to generate a driving signal to control the BLDC motor; and a digital control unit to control the operation of the driving signal unit in a digital phase locked loop (PLL) manner for feedback controls the BLDC motor, based on the received digital control command, the detected electric angle information and the driving velocity information and a digital gain value as a control factor with respect to the BLDC motor.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, a head, and control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to actuate the head over the disk. When an access command is received to access a target data track, a seek operation is initiated to seek the head toward the target data track, wherein the seek operation includes integrating a first state of the servo control system and limiting an output range of the integrating. The output range of the integrating is increased during the seek operation, for example, if an error occurs during the seek operation.

Abstract: In an optical pickup driving mechanism using a stepping motor, a feeding operation of an optical pickup can be stabilized even in a broad operating temperature environment. In executing an optical axis correction feeding operation in response to an amount of lens shift of an objective lens of an optical pickup, a stepping motor controlling portion drives a stepping motor in a microstep drive mode to move a base of the optical pickup in a radial direction of an optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes: an optical pickup; a sled drive section that moves the optical pickup in a radial direction of an optical disc; and position control means for controlling, after bringing the optical pickup to an end of a moving range of the sled drive section, the sled drive section to move the optical pickup a predetermined distance in the opposite direction to place the optical pickup at a predetermined reference position.

Abstract: In an optical pickup driving mechanism using a stepping motor, a feeding operation of an optical pickup can be stabilized even in a broad operating temperature environment. In executing an optical axis correction feeding operation in response to an amount of lens shift of an objective lens of an optical pickup, a stepping motor controlling portion drives a stepping motor in a microstep drive mode to move a base of the optical pickup in a radial direction of an optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a pickup head, a servo circuit, and a controller. An optical disk has a first area and a second area for which different tracking methods are to be used. The controller may cause the pickup head to make a seek for a target address in the first area from a position in this area that is farther from the boundary between the two areas than the address. If the controller cannot perform tracking servo control after the seek is made, and if the calculated address is located in a critical region, the controller immediately causes the pickup head to make a seek by a specified number of addresses toward the position farther from the boundary. After the seek is made, the controller performs tracking servo control again.

Abstract: In an optical disc device that records information on a recordable optical disc having a power calibration area (PCA), recording operation is started with an input of a recording command. If an operating environment changes largely along with the recording operation, in order to perform an optimum recording power control, an optical pickup is shifted to the PCA, and the amount of an unused area in the PCA is determined. If an unused area in an amount to perform an optimum power control five times is not left, the optimum recording power control is stopped, and the recording operation is stopped. If left, the optimum recording power control is executed. Then, if a finalizing process is instructed, the finalizing process is performed. This avoids that, when performing a finalizing process of an optical disc after being subjected to recording, the finalizing process cannot be completed because the amount of an unused area remaining in the PCA is small.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for data accessing of an optical disk drive. The optical disk drive has a motor for rotating an optical disk and a pickup head. The pickup head is capable of writing data onto the optical disk according to a write-in clock. The method includes: when the pick-up head is seeking to a target position and a rotation speed of the motor is still being adjusted and unstable, making the pickup head slide back and forth within a predefined range, and making the pickup head slide toward the target position when the rotation speed of the motor becomes stable.

Abstract: An apparatus to remove periodic disturbances in a recording medium having large eccentricity and deflection mass includes an actuator to change a position of a pickup in response to a combination of first and second compensation signals, an error detector to detect an error between positions actuator and the recording medium, a first compensator to receive the detected error and to output the first compensation signal that the actuator uses to actuate the pickup along the recording medium in upper and lower directions, and right and left directions; and a second compensator to output the second compensation signal from which the disturbance has been removed, to combine the compensated error and previous first and second compensation signals, and to filter the combined result at a predetermined bandwidth.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a DSP (digital signal processor), and the DSP controls respective circuit components under instructions of a MCU. During a track jump, a DSP core detects a zero-cross cycle of a TE (Tracking Error) signal just before. If a detected zero-cross cycle is delayed than a target value, the DPS core applies an acceleration pulse of a first predetermined level to a driver, and if the zero-cross cycle is faster than the target value, the DPS core applies a deceleration pulse of a second predetermined level to the driver, whereby an objective lens can be controlled to move at approximately constant speed between adjacent tracks. However, if the zero-cross cycle is considerably delayed than the target value, the DSP core forestalls a reverse rotation of a moving direction of the objective lens against the disk by greatly accelerating the objective lens. Therefore, the number of tracks to have been jumped is not to be counted erroneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending the operation of a rotating optical media player that uses simplified and efficient logic circuitry is described. When an operator initiates a pause operation, for example, by pressing a pause key, the current location of an optical pickup (e.g., a value of the current track ID) is stored. Then, a tracking servo loop is opened and a near zero offset is provided to the input of the tracking actuator. The condition of the optical disk system is then maintained in a “wait” state until the operator decides to end the pause process by selecting an alternate operation, such as “Play”, “Search”, or some other functions. When an alternate operation is received, the tracking servo loop is closed. The system then enters a search mode to reposition the optical head to the position indicated by the track ID, which was previously saved. Finally, the selected function command is activated.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is disclosed for stabilizing a track jumping operation of an objective lens. The disk drive apparatus includes a detection section for detecting the direction that object lens is being moved by a tracking operation, and a discrimination section for discriminating the direction of the track jumping operation. A track jump movement then performed based on the detection of movement and discrimination of the track jump operation. Therefore, the track jump is stabilized without being influenced by the movement of the objective lens by the tracking operation.

Abstract: An optical disk device starts movement of a thread in a track-on state, and releases the track-on state when the thread moves by a certain amount, and gives a driving kick signal to an actuator. The movement of the thread and actuator can be placed in sufficiently good balance so that failure of track jump is prevented, thereby improving the reliability of the device body and suppressing the cost-up of the device body.

Abstract: A brake signal generating circuit and method for improving the efficiency of a lens brake in an optical disc reproducing system are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an adaptive brake force setting system. Every time when a pickup head with a predetermined mass crosses a plurality of recording tracks in an optical recording media, the system is used for selling brake force to make the pickup head stop from a predetermined initial brake position to a target recording track. The system comprises a detecting module and an estimating module. The detecting module is for detecting a final velocity and an acceleration of the pickup head when the pickup head arrives at the initial brake position. The estimating module is for, according to the final velocity and the acceleration, using a predetermined brake force estimating process to estimate the brake force exerted on the pickup head at each time for making the pickup head stop to the target recording track in a predetermined braking time. Therefore, the pickup head stop exactly to the target-recording track.

Abstract: Optical disk device, in which tracking adjustment systems and a sled adjustment system are controlled independently, has offset value acquisition capability, which detects drive signals output from tracking adjustment systems and acquires tracking drive offset values. Such disk also has an offset value comparison capability, which compares the acquired tracking offset value and the offset center value in the state in which no tracking adjustment control is done, a search direction acquisition capability, which acquires the search direction of optical pickup from the control instruction that is output from the control system and sled drive decision capability, which decides whether to drive sled adjustment system based on the comparison result and the acquired search direction.

Abstract: A track jump apparatus for accessing an optical record medium and the position detection method thereof. The track jump apparatus moves the light spots of the laser beam from the current track to the object track. The track cross velocity and position are stably and precisely controlled during the track jump operation. When pulling in, the track cross velocity is controlled within the control band of the track servo loop, and the stability of the track servo loop is not affected. With track position detection, the apparatus adopts a hybrid track detection method, which generates the track position according to the linear area of a tracking error signal and a focus sum signal.

Abstract: A method of braking control in rapid track seeking for an optical drive. The optical drive has a pickup head for reading information from an optical disc therein. According to the method, a tracking error signal is obtained in the rapid track seeking motion of the pickup head. A seeking velocity is obtained by calculation according to the tracking error signal. Since the seeking velocity varies, a braking force is determined according to the seeking velocity for braking the pickup head.

Abstract: When a lens 4a reaches a position which is a half track short of an objective track in a track jump, a servo processor 7 conducts a braking operation of an amount corresponding to the movement velocity of the lens 4a at the timing when the lens crosses the immediately preceding track. The movement velocity of the lens 4a is detected from the period of a tracking error signal. Therefore, a phenomenon in which a braking operation is not effective and the lens overshoots the objective track is prevented from occurring, and a track-on in the objective track can be surely attained.

Abstract: A method for preventing contact between a pickup head and an optical disc. First, a voltage is provided to the pickup head, thereby repositioning the pickup head closer to the optical disc from an initial position to a biased position. A track-seeking motion is executed to move the pickup head to a predetermined information track. The pickup head starts a vibration in the direction away from the disc when a focus error occurs during the track-seeking motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc apparatus which solves a problem that the tracking control takes off when an objective lens is displaced in the tracking direction due to its weight. In this optical disc apparatus, a spot position detector 108 generates a spot position signal which indicates a position of a light spot on a light receiving element 105, and supplies the signal to a traverse loop filter 111 and a spot position loop filter 109. A controller 115 supplies an output from the spot position loop filter 109 to a tracking actuator 104, before supplying an output from the traverse loop filter 111 to a traverse motor 113, previously moves the light spot near the center of the light receiving element 105, and starts the traverse control in a state where a value of the spot position signal at starting of the traverse control is reduced.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for data accessing of an optical disk drive. The optical disk drive has a motor for rotating an optical disk and a pickup head. The pickup head is capable of writing data onto the optical disk according to a write-in clock. The method includes: when the pick-up head is seeking to a target position and a rotation speed of the motor is still being adjusted and unstable, making the pickup head slide back and forth within a predefined range, and making the pickup head slide toward the target position when the rotation speed of the motor becomes stable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc apparatus which solves a problem that the tracking control takes off when an objective lens is displaced in the tracking direction due to its weight. In this optical disc apparatus, a spot position detector 108 generates a spot position signal which indicates a position of a light spot on a light receiving element 105, and supplies the signal to a traverse loop filter 111 and a spot position loop filter 109. A controller 115 supplies an output from the spot position loop filter 109 to a tracking actuator 104, before supplying an output from the traverse loop filter 111 to a traverse motor 113, previously moves the light spot near the center of the light receiving element 105, and starts the traverse control in a state where a value of the spot position signal at starting of the traverse control is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc apparatus which solves a problem that the tracking control takes off when an objective lens is displaced in the tracking direction due to its weight. In this optical disc apparatus, a spot position detector 108 generates a spot position signal which indicates a position of a light spot on a light receiving element 105, and supplies the signal to a traverse loop filter 111 and a spot position loop filter 109. A controller 115 supplies an output from the spot position loop filter 109 to a tracking actuator 104, before supplying an output from the traverse loop filter 111 to a traverse motor 113, previously moves the light spot near the center of the light receiving element 105, and starts the traverse control in a state where a value of the spot position signal at starting of the traverse control is reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides an adaptive brake force setting system. Every time when a pickup head with a predetermining mass crosses a plurality of recording tracks in an optical recording media, the system is used for setting brake force to make the pickup head stop from a predetermining initial brake position to a target recording track. The system comprises a detecting module and an estimating module. The detecting module is for detecting a final velocity and an acceleration of the pickup head when the pickup head arriving the initial brake position. The estimating module is for according to the final velocity and the acceleration, using a predetermined brake force estimating process to estimate the brake force exerted on the pickup head at each time for making the pickup head stop to the target recording track at a predetermining braking time. Therefore, the pickup head stop exactly to the target-recording track.

Abstract: CD playback apparatus for reproducing information from unfinalized CD-R disks which have no index information stored in a table of contents (TOC) area which scans a disk coarsely to detect the end of the recorded area approximately and scans the disk finely in the area of the detected approximate end, to detect the end of the recorded area with greater accuracy. The apparatus has an optical pick-up unit which jumps across a disk with predetermined intervals, to detect partial index information for the disk during the coarse scanning, analyses the partial index information, performs the fine scanning, jumps to an area in which missing index information is judged to exist as a result of the analysis, and reads out data in the jumped-to area to detect the missing index information.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a method of compensating for the seek errors of a pickup assembly. The method includes the steps of calculating a target track number to read data stored in an optical disc by transferring a pickup assembly across the optical disc; determining whether a seek error has to be compensated for in a radially outward direction of the optical disc; if the seek error has to be compensated for in a radially inward direction, compensating for the seek error; transferring the pickup assembly in the radially inward direction, reading an address of a current position of the pickup assembly, and determining whether the current position of the pickup assembly coincides with a target position; if the current position of the pickup assembly coincides with the target position, calculating the seek error in a radially inward direction and calculating an error compensation value in a radially inward direction; and storing the calculated error compensation value and using it to perform a next seek operation.

Abstract: When an optical disk apparatus 1 determines that it is timing of switching a recording layer for reading data from one recording layer to the other recording layer with respect to an optical disk 10, regardless of the amount of data stored in buffer memory 6 at this point in time, the optical disk apparatus 1 moves a pickup head 2 in a radial direction of the optical disk 10, and acquires a waveform of a tracking error signal, and also moves an objective lens in a direction going toward the optical disk 10, and acquires a waveform of a focus error signal, and readjusts tracking servo gain and focus servo gain based on these signal waveforms.

Abstract: A track seeking and track locking method in an optical storage device capable of computing protection intervals such that any state transition of the TEZC signal and the RFZC signal within the computed protection interval is prohibited. The method is also capable of preventing the interference of the TEZC and the RFZC signal due to glitches in the TE signal and the RFRP signal, thus reducing track errors and speed computational errors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending the operation of a rotating optical media player that uses simplified and efficient logic circuitry is described. When an operator initiates a pause operation, for example, by pressing a pause key, the current location of an optical pickup (e.g., a value of the current track ID) is stored. Then, a tracking servo loop is opened and a near zero offset is provided to the input of the tracking actuator. The condition of the optical disk system is then maintained in a “wait” state until the operator decides to end the pause process by selecting an alternate operation, such as “Play”, “Search”, or some other functions. When an alternate operation is received, the tracking servo loop is closed. The system then enters a search mode to reposition the optical head to the position indicated by the track ID, which was previously saved. Finally, the selected function command is activated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a reproducing apparatus for performing an actuator jump operation so as to move a pick-up means (1) from one track to another track (the target track) over a number of tracks. A braking signal for stopping the movement of the pick-up means (1) is composed of a first component measured during a preceding velocity control period and used for maintaining the pick-up means (1) at a constant velocity and a second component for stopping the movement of the pick-up means (1) at the target track. The duration of an active brake period is the same for each braking action and the calculation of parameters for controlling a braking signal is simplified.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disk device that reduces a track lead-in time associated with a seek time. A switching means 50 includes a multiplier A 11 for multiplying an output of a speed control means 5 by &agr; and a multiplier B 12 for multiplying an output of a position control means 6 by (1−&agr;), and an adder 13 for adding an output of the multiplier A 11 and an output of the multiplier B 12 to output a result of the addition as control input to an actuator driving means 8. At the time of movement of an optical pickup 3 toward a target track, the multiplier factor &agr; for the multipliers A 11 and B 12 is set at 0, thereby performing control of the actuator driving means 8 by means of the position control means 6.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is disclosed wherein a track jumping operation of an objective lens is stabilized. The disk drive apparatus includes a detection section for detecting in which one of a radially inward direction and a radially outward direction the object lens is being moved by a tracking operation, and a discrimination section for discriminating which one of the radially inward direction and the radially outward direction the direction of the track jumping operation is. When the moving direction of the objective lens and the direction of the track jump coincide with each other, a track jumping pulse signal including a moving pulse signal of a comparatively low level and a braking pulse signal of a comparatively high level is selected.

Abstract: An apparatus to remove periodic disturbances in a recording medium having large eccentricity and deflection mass includes an actuator to change a position of a pickup in response to a combination of first and second compensation signals, an error detector to detect an error between positions actuator and the recording medium, a first compensator to receive the detected error and to output the first compensation signal that the actuator uses to actuate the pickup along the recording medium in upper and lower directions, and right and left directions; and a second compensator to output the second compensation signal from which the disturbance has been removed, to combine the compensated error and previous first and second compensation signals, and to filter the combined result at a predetermined bandwidth.

Abstract: The disk player is capable of preventing a shift of an object lens in an optical pickup and a poor action caused by the shift. In the disk player, a first servo mechanism drives a motor, which moves an optical pickup in a radial direction of a disk. A second servo mechanism moves an object lens in a radial direction in the optical pickup so as to trace tracks of the disk. A control unit controls the first and second servo mechanisms so as to move the optical pickup from a current track to an object track. The control unit moves the optical pickup to the object track by the steps of: driving the motor without driving the second servo mechanism so as to move the optical pickup to a track near the object track; driving the second servo mechanism after the optical pickup reaches near the object track; stopping the second servo mechanism; and driving the first servo mechanism and the second servo mechanism after the laps of a prescribed time so as to move the optical pickup to the object track.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive apparatus which has a manual search function with improved operability. Upon manual search for information TNO(n+1) recorded on the outer periphery of a information write/read medium to information TNO(n) recorded on the inner periphery, there may be an gap (no sound) portion in the information between the outer and inner peripheries. In this case, the information is searched by the front-end position Pb on the outer periphery. Thereafter, no search is performed on the gap (no sound) portion through skipping from the front-end position Pb to the terminal end position Pc of the information TNO(n). Thus, only necessary information is continuously searched upon the manual search without searching the gap (no sound) portion which is not necessary for the user. Thus, the user is provided with improved operability.

Abstract: The long seek control system and method include a reference velocity mapping unit that obtains a reference velocity when the dual actuator is moved by the residual track count; a velocity estimator for outputting an estimated velocity and obtaining a sled control effort by subtracting the estimated velocity from the reference velocity; and an electrical damper for receiving the sled control effort and simultaneously receiving the displacement of the dual actuator to output a damping control effort to the fine actuator, and reduce the vibration of the fine actuator during the long seek operation. In the reference velocity mapping unit, a reference velocity curve is used to describe the mapping relation between the residual track count and the reference velocity. The reference velocity curve includes a linear part and several quadratic parts with different quadratic functions.

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 tracking access control method for an optical storage medium drive is used for reading data stored in an optical storage medium. The optical storage medium drive has a sled capable of sliding in a radial direction of the optical storage medium. The method is capable of exerting a brake force on the sled according to a sliding speed of the sled relative to the optical storage medium when the sled is located at an intermediate position in a sliding course from an initial position to a target position on the optical storage medium.

Abstract: A servo system with a multi-track seek algorithm with an accelerated servo function for regaining a closed tracking loop is presented. Upon completion of a multi-track seek operation, a gain of a tracking servo system is increased for a predetermined number of cycles. In some embodiments, the increased gain leads to a more aggressive track closing operation.

Abstract: A close tracking algorithm for a tracking servo system is disclosed. The track crossing rate of an optical pick-up unit positioned over an optical media is determined. When the track crossing rate is below a threshold value, then a tracking servo algorithm is enabled. The tracking servo algorithm provides control signals to control an actuator arm that controls the position of the optical pick-up unit over the tracks of the optical media. In some embodiments, the track crossing rate can be determined by monitoring the zero crossings of a tracking error signal derived from optical signals measured in the optical pick-up unit.

Abstract: Even if an assumed value of a track pitch and an actual value thereof are different from each other, an optical pickup (2) can be positioned at a target position at high speed, which can realize higher-speed access.

Abstract: Optical disk device, in which tracking adjustment systems and a sled adjustment system are controlled independently, has offset value acquisition capability, which detects drive signals output from tracking adjustment systems and acquires tracking drive offset values. Such disk also has an offset value comparison capability, which compares the acquired tracking offset value and the offset center value in the state in which no tracking adjustment control is done, a search direction acquisition capability, which acquires the search direction of optical pickup from the control instruction that is output from the control system and sled drive decision capability, which decides whether to drive sled adjustment system based on the comparison result and the acquired search direction.

Abstract: A boundary position search method and an information recording apparatus are provided for rapidly transferring a recording/reproducing head to a boundary position between a recorded region and an unrecorded region of a recording disc when new information data is recorded on the recording disc. In response to a recording start instruction, the recording/reproducing head is first forcedly transferred in a radial direction of the disc, while confirmation is made as to the presence or absence of an RF signal carrying an information signal in a read signal. A slider unit is controlled to stop a transfer operation of the recording/reproducing head when a transition is detected from a state in which an RF signal exists to a state in which no RF signal exists.

Abstract: When a lens 4a reaches a position which is a half track short of an objective track in a track jump, a servo processor 7 conducts a braking operation of an amount corresponding to the movement velocity of the lens 4a at the timing when the lens crosses the immediately preceding track. The movement velocity of the lens 4a is detected from the period of a tracking error signal. Therefore, a phenomenon in which a braking operation is not effective and the lens overshoots the objective track is prevented from occurring, and a track-on in the objective track can be surely attained.

Abstract: When setting a recording power for use in recording optical information on a DVD-R, by using any one of sectors provided on the DVD-R as a PCA, whether a predetermined special detected signal is detected or not in the sectors is checked (Step S2), a non-used sector where no special detected signal is detected, of the sectors, is retrieved, based on the check result (Step S3), a mark signal for obtaining the special detected signal is recorded in the retrieved non-used sector (Step S5), a setting signal for setting a recording power is recorded in the non-used sector excluding the area where at least the mark signal is recorded (Step S6), and the recorded setting signal is optically detected to set the recording power (Step S13).

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive apparatus which has a manual search function with improved operability. Upon manual search for information TNO(n+1) recorded on the outer periphery of a information write/read medium to information TNO(n) recorded on the inner periphery, there may be an gap (no sound) portion in the information between the outer and inner peripheries. In this case, the information is searched by the front-end position Pb on the outer periphery. Thereafter, no search is performed on the gap (no sound) portion through skipping from the front-end position Pb to the terminal end position Pc of the information TNO(n). Thus, only necessary information is continuously searched upon the manual search without searching the gap (no sound) portion which is not necessary for the user. Thus, the user is provided with improved operability.

Abstract: The invention provides an adaptive brake force setting system. Every time when a pickup head with a predetermined mass crosses a plurality of recording tracks in an optical recording media, the system is used for selling brake force to make the pickup head stop from a predetermined initial brake position to a target recording track. The system comprises a detecting module and an estimating module. The detecting module is for detecting a final velocity and an acceleration of the pickup head when the pickup head arrives at the initial brake position. The estimating module is for, according to the final velocity and the acceleration, using a predetermined brake force estimating process to estimate the brake force exerted on the pickup head at each time for making the pickup head stop to the target recording track in a predetermined braking time. Therefore, the pickup head stop exactly to the target-recording track.