Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for transferring storage media between storage units comprising an expandable multi-unit storage system. The expandable storage apparatus comprises a first and second storage unit comprising media support locations. The support locations are capable of supporting at least one storage media element. At least one storage device is adapted to store and retrieve data to and from the storage media element associated with at least one of the storage units. At least one robotic system is associated with each of the storage units. A media pass-through transfer device is substantially disposed in the first storage unit and is adapted to transfer the storage element between the first and second storage units wherein the media pass-through transfer device is capable of temporarily extending into the second storage unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method of polynomial power control for optical drives, which is capable of controlling the laser power discharged from the optical pickup head basing on a quadratic curve fitted on a profile of constant linear velocity values and laser powers of optical pickup head. In addition, the present invention can prevent the burning failure caused by the track width of DVD disc is narrower than that of VCD disc.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for controlling two optical pickups in an optimized way in response to operation modes for rotating the optical disk. When receiving a request for seeking one optical pickup from a HOST, a CPU judges whether to move the other optical pickup synchronously to satisfy positional restriction of the two optical pickups. Furthermore, when operating one optical pickup upon, for example, a read request. from the HOST, the CPU judges whether to move the other pickup to follow.

Abstract: “The present invention discloses an adjusting method applicable to tray-in and tray-out speeds in optical disk drives. Firstly, a number of control profiles are set up, a tray-out operation is executed by an initial control profile, and the tray speed measured by means of sensors. If the tray speed is not acceptable, then an optimal control profile is selected from the present control profiles according to the unacceptable tray speed.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for testing a removable storage media drive device are disclosed. According to teachings of the present disclosure, a simulated storage media may be disposed within a removable storage media drive device. In the event removable storage media is not present in the drive device when testing of the device is desired, the simulated storage media may be substituted for at least purposes of testing the operability of one or more device components. In one embodiment, the simulated storage media may be in the form of an annular ring of CD-ROM material. In a further embodiment, the simulated storage media may be in the form of a hologram designed to mimic one or more removable storage media characteristics.

Abstract: An optical disk drive including a sliding portion, which moves a sub frame upward or downward against a main frame; a sensor, which includes tension members which are provided in both sides of the sliding portion so that the tension members are elastically deformed to apply an additional load to the sliding portion when the sliding portion slides, and stopper members which contact the tension members and elastically deform the tension members when the sliding portion slides; and a controller, which senses a current change of a driving motor when the additional load is applied to the sliding portion, recognizes whether the tray is loaded or unloaded onto or from the main frame, and controls the driving motor.

Abstract: An optical disc reproducing apparatus including: a reading unit which reads audio data recorded in an optical disc; a storage unit which stores the audio data read by the reading unit; an operation disc unit disposed turnably; a first detection unit which detects the turning speed and the turning direction of the operation disc unit and outputs a first signal indicating the turning speed and the turning direction; a second detection unit which detects that the outer circumference of the operation disc unit is pushed, and outputs a second signal indicating the pushing; and a controller which controls the reading speed and the reading sequence of the stored audio data from the storage unit, on the basis of the first signal when inputted the first signal and the second signal are outputted, and which controls the reading speed of the audio data stored in the storage unit, on the basis of the first signal when inputted only the first signal is outputted.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain editing effects using an optical disc in the same sense as an analog record disc is manipulated. An audio editing apparatus for playing back an optical disc such as a CD is provided with a rotatable jog dial, detecting device for detecting the amount of rotation of the jog dial, and sensing device for sensing the presence or absence of a pressing force on the jog dial. When the jog dial is rotated while being depressed with a predetermined pressing force, processing for providing sound effects is performed on the playback data to be played back from the optical disc in response to the amount of rotation detected by the detecting device. It is thereby possible to provide the same feeling of operation as provided by rotating an analog record disc through hand operations to produce playback sounds.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording a program including video and/or audio information on a removable recording medium includes an interface, a recording unit, a reproducing unit, and a controller. The interface is configured to receive reservation information for recording the selected program. The reservation information includes maximum bit rate information. The recording unit is configured to record the reservation information on the removable recording medium. The reproducing unit is configured to reproduce the reservation in formation from the recording medium when the removable recording medium is loaded. The controller is configured to record the selected program on the removable recording medium based on the reservation information.

Abstract: An information medium apparatus for performing at least one of a recording operation and a reproduction operation for the information medium, includes: a determination section for determining whether or not a cartridge for accommodating the information medium has been previously opened; and a control section for performing a start processing procedure corresponding to the information medium. When it is determined that the cartridge has not been previously opened, the control section performs a first start processing procedure for starting the information medium by using a blue laser. When it is determined that the cartridge has been previously opened, the control section determines whether or not the information medium is an information medium for which a start processing procedure is to be performed by using a laser other than the blue laser.

Abstract: A method of tray ejecting force control for a tray-type optical drive is disclosed. A preliminary input voltage is provided to a DC motor of the tray-type optical drive to perform a preliminary ejection of a tray-type optical drive tray during a preliminary time period. When the preliminary time period is shorter than a predetermined time period, a first voltage smaller than the preliminary input voltage is provided to the DC motor to eject the tray. Alternately, when the preliminary time period is longer than the predetermined time period, a second voltage greater than the first voltage is provided to the DC motor for to eject the tray.

Abstract: A laser imagible apparatus includes a lens, a media tray, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is configured to determine a voice coil gain for substantially all locations on a media.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus records information onto plural disc shaped mediums of different standards or reproduces information from the plural disc shaped mediums. The optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup equipped with a spherical aberration correcting unit using a movable lens, and a disc insertion unit for inserting and ejecting the disc shaped mediums. The spherical aberration correcting unit starts the movement of the movable lens to an initial position while the disc insertion unit inserts or ejects the disc shaped medium. As such, the present invention discloses the optical disc apparatus with a reduced disc recognition time for improving user convenience and a driving method thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for locking a tray to prevent a tray from being broken by an abnormal operation are provided. The tray-locking apparatus for a disc drive comprising a motor, a power supply unit, and a control unit. The motor is driven to move the tray into or out of the disc drive. The power supply unit supplies power supply to the motor. The control unit controls the power supply unit to cut off the power supply supplied to the motor, if a tray-locking command is input. The tray can be prevented from being opened and broken by carelessness of a user. Further, a current consumption of the disc drive is reducable by cutting off the power supply supplied to the loading motor.

Abstract: Methods, system and computer program product are provided for managing and tracking on-demand removable, serialized data resources, such as storage frames, storage drives and media, in an automated data storage library. Storage frames, data storage drives and media are tracked by the automated data storage library to prevent use or misappropriation until authorized. Alternatively, or additionally, the data storage drives may be prevented from being used until instructed to do so. In addition, the media may be prevented from being used until modification is made to the medium or cartridge memory of the data storage media.

Abstract: A drive for a changeable data carrier is described. The drive has a reading unit for the read-out of data stored on the changeable data carrier, and has an integral reference surface, separate from the changeable data carrier, which can be scanned by the reading unit for reference purposes.

Abstract: A reading apparatus and method for reading data from a digital versatile disc includes a specification section configured to specify a predetermined position of content. A controller generates information indicating a predetermined portion from a position specified by the specification section. A storage section reads the predetermined portion from the digital versatile disc on the basis of the information generated by the generation section and stores the predetermined portion on a storage medium. A reading controller controls reading of data from the storage medium and the digital versatile disc.

Abstract: When an action for turning off the power of a host computer is performed, the host computer transmits control information to a disk drive to the effect that chucking should be canceled. Accordingly, the disk drive cancels chucking of a disk and transmits information to the host computer to the effect that cancel has been completed. Receiving the information to the effect that chucking has been canceled, the host computer terminates a disk drive application, confirms that all of the started applications are completed, and then terminates OS (Operating System).

Abstract: The control section determines the rotational direction and the rotational speed of the operation discal unit based on the first pulse signal from the first optical sensor section. When determines that the operation discal unit starts rotating in the reference rotational direction after a pause of at least predetermined period of time, the control section controls the motor to rotate the discal unit temporarily at a speed higher than the reference rotational speed.

Abstract: A method is for simultaneously operating the tray of an optical disk system and the front panel of the computer cabinet wherein the optical disk system is housed. In the method, the tray of the optical disk system is ejected immediately after the front panel of the computer case is completely opened when a tray operation instruction is issued and the front panel is currently at a close state. Additionally, the tray is retracted into the optical disk system before the front panel of the computer case is closed when a tray operation instruction is issued again and the front panel is currently at an open state so that the optical disk system may been closed inside a computer cabinet of the computer including HI-FI stereo. In the embodiment, the tray operation instruction is delivered via an output pin of the computer including HI-FI stereo and one of the reserved output pin of the optical disk system.

Abstract: A disc drive to control a home-in mode and method thereof includes a pickup unit irradiating a light beam on a disc loaded in the disc drive, a motor moving the pickup unit along a radius direction of the disc, and a control unit detecting and storing position information of the pickup unit based on driving pulses of the motor. The control unit controls a generation of the driving pulses of the motor using information of a home-in position based on the stored position information of the pickup unit and the driving pulses of the motor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drive device comprising an electromechanical transducer (25) attached to one end of a drive shaft (24) and adapted to be expanded and contracted in the axial direction of the drive shaft (24) in accordance with drive voltage to thereby allow the drive shaft (24) to undergo displacement in the axial direction thereof, and an optical pick-up (14) movably supported in the axial direction of the drive shaft (24) and moved along the drive shaft (24) as the result of the fact that the drive shaft (24) is caused to undergo displacement by the electromechanical transducer (25) to apply a drive voltage higher than that at the time of steady transfer to the electromechanical transducer (25) at the time of starting.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing continuous uninterrupted playback of a dual sided optical disk during side-to-side changing of the optical disk. The point at which a dual-sided optical disk will be switched between sides is determined. At some point prior to the switching of sides of the disk, a portion of the data at the end of the first side of the disk is transferred to a memory. During the switching of the disk to the second side, the stored data is read out from the memory to provide uninterrupted continuous playback of the optical disk.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of operating a multi-changer of an optical disc player which restricts an initial operation of the multi-changer of the optical disc by referring to a disc chucking and tray open/close states. According to the method, it is determined whether a type of a disc, which is currently mounted in the disc mounting unit, has been determined before, if a tray open or close key is inputted. If it is determined that the type of the disc has not been determined before, the tray is opened or closed. Then, if the tray is closed, the type of the disc is determined after chucking the disc which is currently mounted in the disc mounting unit. According to the method, it is possible to stabilize a player by restricting an initiating operation of the multi-changer of the optical disc, which occurs needlessly due to a tray open/close key, when a disc is not yet chucked.

Abstract: An information recording medium reproducing system has an insertion opening, a recording medium storing portion and a medium carrying device. Photodetectors are provided for detecting passing of the recording medium and for producing a passing signal when the medium passes. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the medium carrying device. The controller applies a discharge signal to the medium carrying device when the passing signal is not produced within a predetermined time, whereby the medium carrying device is actuated in discharge operation.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus for a disk having helically-formed or concentric circle-like formed tracks includes a spindle motor for controlling a rotation of the disk; a pick-up device for recording or reproducing information on or from the disk; a stepping motor for moving the pick-up device in a radial direction of the disk in accordance with a drive current; a system controller for tracking a rotation speed of the spindle motor and for outputting command signals according to the rotation speed of the spindle motor; and a stepping motor controller for controlling the stepping motor by changing a slope of a rising part and a falling part of a waveform of the drive current of the stepping motor according to the command signals.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a pick-up for reading/writing signals from/on a disk; a pick-up base provided with the pick-up; a traverse motor for moving the pick-up in a radial direction of said disk; a feed screw rotated by the traverse motor and provided with a thread groove on its periphery; a rack having a fixing portion fixed to the pick-up base and a nut portion engaged with the thread groove; a guiding mechanism for guiding the pick-up movably in a radial direction of the disk; and a cantilever parallel spring for connecting the fixing portion to the nut portion of the rack, displaceably in a radial direction of the feed screw.

Abstract: A data player or a method in which a reading and/or writing head is positioned according to anyone of 3 methods or combinations thereof: Calculating a desirable speed curve to position the head from a first to a second position and adjust the speed of the head's movement to the desirable speed, calculating and outputting an amount of energy to a driving mechanism to move the head a determined number of steps, increasing the power applied to a driving mechanism until the head is moved for one step. The positioning may additionally be used to perform coarse positioning while the head is positioned on a track of a data medium using a fine positioning mechanism.

Abstract: A recording medium loading apparatus. When the position detection of the carrier unit 70 capable of loading different types of recording medium 11, 12, 13 is performed, switches SW1˜3 are installed on the carrier unit 70 and carrier position detecting cam 140 is installed on the holder 40 for selectively operating the switches SW1˜SW3 in response to the move of the carrier unit 70. Then, the position detection of the carrier unit 70 is performed by the combination of on/off of the switches SW1˜SW3. Therefore, the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus for clearing of an obstacle if the smooth transfer of a head is interfered with in an apparatus for reproducing data recorded in a recording medium having address information. If an obstacle is detected, the head, which is frictionally engaged in a movable manner with a drive shaft secured to an oscillation actuator that expands and contracts in response to the application of a drive signal, is transferred by driving the oscillation actuator such that it expands and contracts at different speeds.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which can provide a sound which sounds natural by controlling an abrupt change in a tempo in the case of random access playback. When a cue point is registered, audio data which makes seamless playback possible is stored into a cue point memory, and further, the beat density of a playback sound being played when the cue point is registered is measured and stored. When the cue point is specified to start random access playback later, a ratio of the beat density (?×DBPM) of a playback sound being played when the cue point is specified and the beat density (DBPMreg) stored in advance is found. Then, the random access playback is started after the beat density of a playback sound to be played after random access playback is started is corrected to be equal to the beat density when a start of the random access playback is specified.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing continuous uninterrupted playback of a dual sided optical disk during side-to-side changing of the optical disk. The point at which a dual-sided optical disk will be switched between sides is determined. At some point prior to the switching of sides of the disk, a portion of the data at the end of the first side of the disk is transferred to a memory. During the switching of the disk to the second side, the stored data is read out from the memory to provide uninterrupted continuous playback of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a case, a tray which is slidably provided to the case and receives an optical disk, and a ground member which is electrically connected to the case and contacts one side of the optical disk as the tray slides in or out of the case. In the optical disk drive, by removing a static electricity remaining on the optical disk through the ground member, where the tray is loaded, foreign materials such as dust can be prevented from adhering to the optical disk. Accordingly, a stable and accurate optical signal processing can be guaranteed, thereby improving the reliability of the optical disk drive and the optical disk.

Abstract: This invention relates specifically to a method for controlling the disc tray of a data reproducing device, in which the data reproducing device comprises at least a tray motor for driving the disc tray. The method comprises the following steps, including: a step for disposing a detection circuit electrically connected with the motor for detecting a back emf, which is generated when the motor is driven to rotate by an external force; a step for outputting from the detection circuit a signal of moving disc tray when the back emf is sensed; a step for a servo-controller to receive a signal of moving disc tray; and a step for the servo-controller to move the disc tray into the data reproducing device after the signal reception is completed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc drive sharing switching device, method and associated application system. The optical disc drive sharing switching device integrates a personal computer and an optical disc player together inside an information-processing appliance. The personal computer and the optical disc player share the use of an optical disc drive. The user is free to switch connections between the personal computer and the optical disc player with the optical disc drive. The device uses a simple switching program and the computer functions normally even if the optical disc drive is not under its control.

Abstract: When a medium is stored or removed manually, all slots must be checked to find any change in medium information, and as a result, updating medium storage information takes a long time. A medium controller, having a plurality of media and a medium transfer unit to take a medium in and out of storage and move the medium for reading or writing information, includes slots in which media are stored, sensors each mounted in a slot for detecting whether there is a medium in the slot; a sensor manager for holding a log of the status transitions of the sensors in a period when media are likely to be stored or removed manually and deciding the status transitions; and a part for reading information. Only when it is decided from a decision result of the sensor manager that the medium has been replaced, the media controller causes the part for reading medium information to read medium information in order to update the medium storage information.

Abstract: a data player or a method in which a reading and/or writing head is positioned according to anyone of 3 methods or combinations thereof: Calculating a desirable speed curve to position the head from a first to a second position and adjust the speed of the head's movement to the desirable speed, calculating and outputting an amount of energy to a driving mechanism to move the head a determined number of steps, increasing the power applied to a driving mechanism until the head is moved for one step. The positioning may additionally be used to perform coarse positioning while the head is positioned on a track of a data medium using a fine positioning mechanism.

Abstract: When a circuit that is likely to cause noise is enabled, a control circuit turns on a switch so that an inverter will be formed by one P-channel MOSFET and two parallel-connected N-channel MOSFETs. This helps enhance the current capacity of the inverter on its N-channel MOSFET side, and thereby lower the threshold voltage of the inverter.

Abstract: An information recording medium reproducing system has an insertion opening, a recording medium storing portion and a medium carrying device. Photodetectors are provided for detecting passing of the recording medium and for producing a passing signal when the medium passes. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the medium carrying device. The controller applies a discharge signal to the medium carrying device when the passing signal is not produced within a predetermined time, whereby the medium carrying device is actuated in discharge operation.

Abstract: A recording medium apparatus has a storage section for storing a plurality of recording media, an ejection slot for ejecting the recording media stored in the storage section to the outside of the apparatus, a designation section (an user operation section and a OSD) to designate recording media which is to be ejected through the ejection slot out of the plurality of recording media stored in the storage section, and a control section (a system controller) for consecutively executing ejection of the recording media designated through the designation section in sequence.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a plurality of optical heads corresponding to a plurality kind of disks, and a disk distinction device for distinguishing whether a set disk is a first disk or a second disk when a disk is set on a disk tray, a first disk tray conveying mechanism for the first disk and/or the second disk tray conveying mechanism for the second disk conveys the disk tray to a first tray position in which recording and/or reproducing is performed on the first tray or the second tray position in which recording and/or reproducing is performed on the second tray, according to a result distinguished by the disk distinction device, thereby, an optical head corresponding to a disk set to the disk tray is selected correctly and a recording or reproducing operation is performed on the disk.

Abstract: A portable optical compact disk drive has a casing, a tray, an image capture unit and a control circuit. The casing has a tray-receiving cavity formed therein. The tray is capable of be accepted in the tray-receiving cavity via a free end of the casing, and, alternatively, being ejected from and placed into the casing. The tray has a disk-receiving window formed therein to carry the optical compact disk. The image capture unit is arranged in the casing, and records data stored on the surface of the optical compact disk loaded in the tray, while the tray is located in the tray-receiving cavity. The control circuit electrically connects the image capture unit to receive image information, and is capable of decoding the image information and transmitting the decoded image information to the peripheral circuit.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus comprising a control dial unit having a jog dial and a shuttle dial which is concentrically mounted outside the jog dial is provided to solve the problem that when operating the jog dial, the shuttle dial in proximity of the jog dial is also rotated thereby preventing its optical pickup to access to a precise target position to be reproduced. The control dial of the invention is comprised of an outer control dial and an inner control dial which has a smaller diameter than the outer control dial and is arranged within a circumference of the outer control dial, wherein a peripheral corner of an upper surface of the inner control dial protrudes from an upper surface of the outer control dial, and its distance of protrusion is larger than 2 mm and smaller than 90 mm.

Abstract: A push-button speed change device for CD ROM drive is included in a CD ROM drive having a system casing and a front panel, and the front panel has indicating light, CD loader, and a plurality of control buttons. By means of each control button, it individually controls the play, pause, fast forward, fast reverse, of the optical disk drive, or when the user simultaneously presses any two of the control buttons, it can control the optical disk drive to rotate the motor in different speeds.

Abstract: A control system for a compact disc jukebox detects skips in the compact disc by reading an apparent elapsed time signal from the compact disc that is encoded on the compact disc. A timer is simultaneously started and outputs a real elapsed time signal. A comparison is made between the real elapsed time signal and the apparent elapsed time signal. If the difference between these two signals exceeds a predetermined amount of time, a skip is recorded. The detection of a skip may be recorded as to a particular selection on a particular CD, along with the time of the skip. Appropriate action may be taken in response to the recording of a skip, such as cancelling the selection or stopping the CD.

Abstract: An audio reproduction apparatus capable of modulating an audio signal with at least one of reproduction factors, including the speed and direction of reproduction, and the sound pressure of the audio signal, an audio reproduction method used by the audio reproduction apparatus, a remixing apparatus employing the audio reproduction apparatus, and a remixing method used by the remixing apparatus are provided. The audio reproduction apparatus for reproducing a first audio signal recorded in a predetermined first recording medium includes: a reproduction control unit for generating a reproduction control signal by analyzing at least one of first and second displacement values, which are varied by a user, and outputting the generated reproduction control signal; and an audio reproduction unit for modulating and reproducing the first audio signal according to the reproduction control signal. The audio reproduction apparatus can modulate an audio signal in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A disc drive to control a home-in mode and method thereof includes a pickup unit irradiating a light beam on a disc loaded in the disc drive, a motor moving the pickup unit along a radius direction of the disc, and a control unit detecting and storing position information of the pickup unit based on driving pulses of the motor. The control unit controls a generation of the driving pulses of the motor using information of a home-in position based on the stored position information of the pickup unit and the driving pulses of the motor.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprising a means for reading and reproducing a program recorded on a first recording medium such as a CD; a means for recording the reproduced program on a second recording medium such as an MD having at least a program area to record programs and a management area to manage the positions of the recorded programs and the program names; a means for inputting character data representative of the program name; a means for settling the program of one unit inputted by the character input means; a means for generating a partition code; a means for storing the program name as a character string after attaching a partition code to the program name inputted by the character input means; and a control means for extracting, from the character strings stored in the storage means, the program name of the relevant program with reference to the partition code, and updating the data in the management area of the second recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for reproduction of double-sided recording media without any reversal of the direction of rotation or changing or turning over of the recording medium. A reproduction apparatus is disclosed where one side of the double-sided recording medium is reproduced continuously by being read backwards section by section. A data stream corresponding to the continuous reading is provided by bit-by-bit reversal of the data read.

Abstract: A recording medium reproduction apparatus is provided, which apparatus includes: a reproduction instruction unit which inputs instructions on a direction and a rate of a scratch reproduction of a recording medium; a data storage unit which stores data read out from the recording medium, the data being separated by a reference position at which the scratch reproduction is started into first and second halves each having a predetermined time length; and a scratch reproduction system which reads and reproduces the data stored in the data storage unit in accordance with the instructions input by the reproduction instruction unit.