Abstract: Proposed is an optical disk device capable of optimally adjusting a current value of a direct current and a high frequency superimposed current for driving a laser diode. This optical disk device includes a laser driver for superimposing a high frequency current on a direct current to obtain a drive current and supplying the drive current to the laser beam source and driving the laser beam source, and a control unit for adjusting a current value of the direct current and/or the high frequency superimposed current supplied by the laser driver to the laser beam source based on the servo signal or the reproduction signal.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for controlling an access means for accessing a recording medium containing at least one area so that the access means accesses the at least one area. The apparatus comprises a means for determining whether or not at least one first recorded area storing data is included in the at least one area, and a means for controlling the access means. When it is determined that the at least one first recorded area is included in the at least one area, the control means controls the access means based on a result of accessing the at least one first recorded area.

Abstract: An optical disk writing method including determining a writing scheme for recording information on the optical disc based on received tracking error signals. The method also includes moving an optical pickup across tracks of the optical disc while the optical pickup emits a laser beam, counting a number of the tracking error signal, and determining a storage capacity of the optical disc based on the counted number of tracking error signals.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information on a multi-layered optical information recording medium having a recording material, which has light reaction property and which changes quality due to heat generated by an irradiated light, and having an altered layer in which the recording material is already altered and a non-altered layer in which the recording material is not yet altered alternately existing in plurals is provided. The information processing device includes a light source for emitting a recording light having a predetermined wavelength; a focal position control unit for controlling a focal position of the recording light emitted from the light source; and an objective lens, arranged at a post-stage of the focal position control unit, for collecting the recording light; wherein the recording material at the focal position is altered through heat by the recording light to record information on the recording medium as a recording mark.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a center error creation circuit and a center error offset injection circuit. The center error creation circuit may be configured to generate a center error signal in response to light from a main laser reflected from a surface of an optical disc. The center error offset injection circuit may be configured to (i) determine a value of the center error signal when a lens in a sled housing is at a mechanical center and (ii) generate an offset signal based upon the value. The center error offset injection circuit generally measures an average value of the center error signal over a predetermined amount of time when a lens suspension which holds the lens in place is in a mechanical equilibrium state.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator for a pickup, in which end parts of a plurality of suspensions (550A to 550F) of five or more are positioned on a virtual circle (X) formed on a plane by being projected onto the plane including both a focusing direction and a tracking direction. A rolling center (O) defined as a center of the virtual circle (X) is made to coincide with all three, two, or one of a center (Os) of the gravity of a lens holder (600), a center (Os) of the drive force of the lens holder (600), and a center (Os) of the translational force of the suspensions (550A to 550F). Since the rolling center (O) coincides with all three, two, or one of those centers (Os), a rotational moment is not generated on the lens holder (600) and, therefore, generation of unnecessary resonance can be prevented.

Abstract: A disc device capable of achieving a slimming down of a tilt adjusting portion is provided. A tilt adjusting member 404 of a tilt adjusting portion 400 moves an optical pickup driving portion 307 along a guide face 401a to adjust a light beam 303b emitted from an optical pickup 303 such that an optical axis 303c is set perpendicularly to a disc 200. Since the tilt adjusting member 404 is moved in a direction oblique to the guide face 401a and a direction perpendicular to the optical pickup driving portion 307, an amount of movement of the tilt adjusting member 404 can be reduced smaller than a necessary amount of tilt adjustment of the optical pickup driving portion 307 and also a slimming down of the tilt adjusting portion 400 can be achieved.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a polarization diffraction grating to diverge an optical beam reflected from an optical disc and an optical detector to receive the optical beam diverged by the polarization diffraction grating, a polarization of 0 order diffracted light diffracted through the polarization diffraction grating is substantially perpendicular to that of a +1 order diffracted light diffracted therethrough, and a polarization filter having a plurality of domains is mounted between the polarization diffraction grating and the optical detector.

Abstract: In an optical disk apparatus, an optical pickup includes an actuator for driving an object lens, and a sensed signal output part for making it possible to generate a tracking error signal and a lens error signal by addition/subtraction, and a signal processor includes a servo signal generator for generating a tracking error signal and a lens error signal on the basis of a signal supplied from the sensed signal output part, and a tracking offset correction quantity signal generator supplied with the lens error signal to output a tracking offset correction quantity signal. DC (direct current) offset correction is conducted by conducting addition/subtraction between the tracking error signal and both the lens error signal and the tracking offset correction quantity signal.

Abstract: A servo processor for an optical disk drive is provided that includes: an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a light source for emitting laser light, a light source drive unit for driving said light source, an optical element for splitting the laser light into a plurality of light fluxes, an optical element drive unit for controlling the optical element, an element for focusing the laser light onto the optical disc, and a detection unit for detecting the laser light reflected by the optical disc. Reproduction of the optical disc is performed by switching effectiveness and ineffectiveness of a function of splitting the light flux of the optical element, and adjustment of an outgoing laser power is performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a disk sync mark are provided. The systems and methods for detecting the disk sync mark rely on a detecting the disk sync mark on at least one timing interval. A window of data read bits from a particular disk sector are examined to determine whether they match the disk sync mark. The disk sync mark may be differentiated from expected versions of the disk sync mark using a calculated set of thresholds.

Abstract: In optical recording and/or reproduction using an SIL optical system that performs a tilt servo using light for recording and/or reproduction, the SIL and an optical recording medium have a high probability of colliding with each other before the tilt servo is started. To prevent the collision, an optical recording/reproduction method performs a gap servo that controls a gap between a surface of an optical recording medium and a bottom surface of an SIL using reflected light that is generated from light traveling from the bottom surface of the SIL and reflecting on the optical recording medium, a focus servo that controls a distance between a focal point of the light and the bottom surface of the SIL, and a tilt servo that controls a tilt of the bottom surface of the SIL relative to the surface of the optical recording medium using the reflected light.

Abstract: A driver circuit for use with a variety of OPU circuits has both a single-ended input and a differential input. The single-ended input is coupled to a single-ended signal path having a variable gain stage and a variable level shifter. The differential input is coupled to a differential signal path having a variable gain stage and a variable level shifter. The single-ended signal path and the differential signal path may be selectively coupled to an output. The respective variable gain stages and variable level shifters can be adjusted so that an output signal at the output has a desired dynamic range.

Abstract: A method for controlling focus on a label side of a light-scribe disc divides the label side into several zones, finds the maximum SBAD and the corresponding focus volt and spoke during focusing on each zone, approaches a primary focus volt level curve, compensates a predetermined volt to focus on the label side, checks the maximum SBAD and the corresponding focus volt and spoke between the primary focus volt level curve and the compensation volt on each zone, and approaches a calibrating focus volt level curve to reduce errors.

Abstract: An adjusting system for adjusting a tilt of an optical pickup head includes a collimator, a processing device, and a controller. The collimator receives reflected light beams from the optical pickup head and generating images from the reflected light beams. The processing device processes the images and generates an adjust signal. The controller receives the adjust signal and adjusting a position of the optical pickup head based on the adjust signal.

Abstract: A tracking servo method of an optical video disc player and its special device which accomplish angle adjustment in a simple, time-saving and effort-saving manner and improve the tracking servo capability of the optical video disc player. In the tracking servo method of an optical video disc player, a laser beam is split into a main beam and two sub beams, and tracking error signal generated from the two sub beams are subtracted from tracking error signal generated by the main beam; light spot of the main beam is circular in shape, and light spots of the two sub beams are elliptical in shape. The special device has an effective grating region (1). The effective grating region (1) has a middle zone (2) and two side zones (3, 4); the middle zone (2) has two side edges which are parallel and equal in length, and the two side edges has a distance therebetween which is 10-90% of diameter of the effective grating region (1), and the middle zone (2) and the two side zones (3, 4) have different grating pitches.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a blue laser source; a red laser source; an infrared laser source; a blue light objective lens focusing blue light emitted from the blue laser source onto an optical storage medium; and a red and infrared light objective lens focusing red light emitted from the red laser source and infrared light emitted from the infrared laser source onto the optical storage medium. The optical pickup contains a blue light startup mirror separating the blue light from the red and infrared light. The blue light startup mirror is disposed along optical paths extending from the blue laser source, the red laser source, and the infrared laser source to the blue light objective lens and the red and infrared light objective lens. The optical pickup also contains a low blue light transmittance plane and low blue light reflectance plane along an optical branch path extending from the blue light startup mirror to the red and infrared light objective lens.

Abstract: A disc device capable of achieving a slimming down of a tilt adjusting portion is provided. A tilt adjusting member 404 of a tilt adjusting portion 400 moves an optical pickup driving portion 307 along a guide face 401a to adjust a light beam 303b emitted from an optical pickup 303 such that an optical axis 303c is set perpendicularly to a disc 200. Since the tilt adjusting member 404 is moved in a direction oblique to the guide face 401a and a direction perpendicular to the optical pickup driving portion 307, an amount of movement of the tilt adjusting member 404 can be reduced smaller than a necessary amount of tilt adjustment of the optical pickup driving portion 307 and also a slimming down of the tilt adjusting portion 400 can be achieved.

Abstract: A microprocessor performs preliminary tracking servo control of an objecting lens by moving the objective lens in a radial direction of an optical disc so as to allow a laser beam reflected by the optical disc to be equally divided and received by first and second light receiving sections PD1, PD2 of the photodiode PD before the microprocessor starts tracking servo control of the objective lens. This makes it possible to perform preliminary tracking servo control of the objective lens before tracking pull-in, and thereby to obtain an appropriate tracking error signal for performing stable tracking pull-in, even when an optical disc with an offset center of gravity is mounted on an optical disc apparatus.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for an optical disk drive is provided. The recording apparatus includes a driver, a servo signal generator, a filter, and a counter. The driver controls a recording speed of the optical disk drive. The servo signal generator generates at least a servo signal. The filter with a specific bandwidth filters the servo signal to generate a filtered servo signal. The counter generate a count value according to the filtered servo signal and instructs the driver to decrease the recording speed of the optical disk drive when the count value exceeds a trigger value, so as to record with the decreased recording speed.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to improve stability of tracking control and improve recording and reproduction performance. The tracking control device comprises a main push-pull signal generation section, which generates a main push-pull signal based on a signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of return light of the main beam; a microcomputer, which detects an other-layer stray light signal component included in a signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of return light of the sub-beam; a signal correction section, which corrects the signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of the return light of the sub-beam, based on the other-layer stray light signal component; and a sub-push-pull signal generation section, which generates a sub-push-pull signal based on the corrected signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of the return light of the sub-beam.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for capturing encoded signals on a label surface. A pick-up head is utilized to detect all or predetermined codes on a control feature zone of a label surface of a Light Scribe disc so as to generate a sub-beam added signal. A calculation unit is used to calculate the average value of the sub-beam added signals. A dynamic slicer, which could dynamically set its standard value at a half of the average value of the sub-beam added signals, slices the sub-beam added signals and captures the encoded signals. A processor decodes the encoded signals and translates those into Light Scribe disc's information.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit includes a light source emitting a light beam, an objective lens focusing the light beam onto an information recording medium, a light detection part receiving the light beam reflected from the information recording medium, and a light blocking part selectively blocking a part of the light beam with respect to a radial direction. The light blocking part is provided in an optical path of the light beam centered on an optical axis.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention includes: a laser light source for emitting multiple light beams, of which the wavelengths are different from each other and include a first wavelength and a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength; an optical system for converging an arbitrarily selected one of the light beams on an optical disc that has a surface and at least one information storage layer; a focus control section for controlling the focus position of the light beam with respect to the optical disc; and a defect detecting section, which senses light reflected from the surface of the optical disc with the focus position of the light beam set on the surface, thereby determining, based on the intensity of the reflected light, whether or not there is a fingerprint on the optical disc.

Abstract: In an optical pickup driving apparatus and method, a moving device is controlled when an objective lens is moved toward a recording surface and it is detected that the voltage of the focus error signal has reached a slice level voltage H corresponding to displacement of predetermined magnitude from a reference potential E. The objective lens is moved toward the recording surface by a maximum of an upper limit of a predetermined amount of movement and when the amount of movement of the objective lens reaches the predetermined amount of movement, so as to move the objective lens away from the recording surface. And when it is detected during a period of backward movement of the objective lens, that the voltage of the focus error signal has reached the second slice level voltage H corresponding to displacement of predetermined magnitude from the reference potential E, control of beam spot positioning is performed so as to focus an optical spot.

Abstract: By inputting differential signals to transistors Tr21a to Tr21d and Tr22a to Tr21d, an addition operation is performed on the four differential signals, and a filter operation is performed by a capacitor C21 and resistors R21 and R22. An offset of a signal obtained as a result of an addition operation performed on the four differential signals is removed by transistors Tr1 and Tr2.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical waveguide, a grating for coupling light into the waveguide, and an optical element for splitting a light beam into a plurality of beams that strike the grating at different angles of incidence.

Abstract: A drive stoppage command unit commands a drive unit to stop driving a pickup head, and an objective lens of a pickup head, when it has decided that the power supply voltage of operating power which is being supplied by a first power supply unit to a servo control unit is less than or equal to a first voltage. Furthermore, the drive stoppage command unit also commands the drive unit to stop driving the pickup head and the objective lens, if stoppage of the driving of the pickup head and of the objective lens has been decided upon by a logic control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc device that is able to increase accuracy in reproducing information from an optical disc. The optical disc device 10 calculates a focus error signal SFE2 and a sum signal SS1 while reciprocating an objective lens 21 in a focus direction until a distance between a focal point FS and a focal point FM1 becomes close to the depth d of a target position PG at the time of a pull-in operation, and when a trigger signal ST1 generated on the basis of the sum signal SS1 is at low level, starts focus control on the basis of the focus error signal SFE2. Therefore, focus control can start in a state where the focus error signal SFE2 curves in an S shape with sufficient amplitude.

Abstract: A lens actuator is calibrated by inputting a signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to move a lens from a first location to a second location, sensing a focus error signal generated in response to the movement of the lens, determining a distance moved by the lens in going from the first location to the second location from a predetermined characteristic of the focus error signal, and determining a gain of the actuator from the input signal and the distance moved.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a lens holder holding an objective lens for converging a light beam on a signal recording layer of an optical disk; elastic support members supporting the lens holder such that the lens holder can freely move in three driving directions, i.e., a tracking direction, a focusing direction, and a tilting direction; a pair of coil units attached to two sides of the lens holder, the two sides being spaced in a tangential direction orthogonal to the focusing direction and tracking direction; and a pair of magnets arranged to face the corresponding coil units. Each coil unit includes a tracking coil, a focusing coil, and a tilting coil for driving the lens holder in the three driving directions. The focusing coil and the tilting coil are formed by winding a focusing conductor of the focusing coil and a tilting conductor of the tilting coil together in parallel.

Abstract: An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an optical pickup device including a first condensing member that condenses light from a first light source; a second condensing member that condenses light from a second light source; a holder that has the first and second condensing members attached thereto; a plurality of tracking coils that drive the holder in a tracking direction of an optical disk; and a plurality of focus coils that drive the holder in a focus direction of an optical disk. The plurality of focus coils are disposed in the holder such that virtual center axes for winding coil are set to be substantially perpendicular to the optical axes of the first and second condensing members, and are disposed in four direction such that the region in which the first and second condensing members are attached is surrounded in a rectangular shape.

Abstract: In a track offset adjusting method of an information recording medium, data are recorded onto first and second tracks of an information recording medium. No data are recorded on at least one of tracks adjacent to each of the first and second tracks. After the data recording onto the first and second tracks, data are recorded onto the third track adjacent to the inner circumferential side of the first track and onto a fourth track adjacent to the outer circumferential side of the second track. Thereafter, reproduction signal qualities of the first and second tracks are calculated on the basis of reproduction signals obtained by reproducing the data recorded on said first and second tracks. The track offset is adjusted on the basis of the reproduction signal qualities of the first and second tracks.

Abstract: To provide an optical recording method, optical recording apparatus and optical recording medium, capable of effective control of light irradiation position, such as focusing control or tracking control, at the time of recording or reproducing and efficiently adjusting the light irradiation position control according to variations in distance between layers in an optical recording medium or according to manufacturing errors in optical recording and reproducing apparatus, the method including applying at least one of an information light and a reference light to an optical recording medium for detection and control of focus positions of the information light and reference light in a thickness direction of the optical recording medium; and applying the information light and reference light to form an interference image to be recorded in a recording layer provided in the optical recording medium, wherein information is recorded in the recording layer by holography.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an optical recording medium and an optical information device that enable to improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal.

Abstract: An actuator system for use in an optical pick up unit is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of actuator drivers (301, 305, 309), each actuator driver being connected to a first end of a separate actuator coil (313, 315, 317), wherein a second end of each actuator coil is tied together to form a common end, said actuator drivers each being connected to a supply voltage Vcc and ground. A variable voltage supply (319) is connected to the common end of the actuator coils for varying the voltage applied to the common end of the actuator coils. A feed-back unit (303, 307, 311) is connected to each of the plurality of actuator drivers, wherein each of the feedback units measures the current voltage being supplied to the second ends of the actuator coils and compensates the voltage applied to the first end of the actuator coil by the actuator driver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage.

Abstract: An optical disc device recording method, which includes determining whether or not a recording process that records information on a label surface of an optical disc has failed, detecting a recording failure position at which the recording process has failed when the determining step determines the recording process has failed, and resuming the recording process from the detected recording failure position.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus in which processing time is shortened and processing accuracy is ensured upon focus offset processing for plural recording layers. Regarding each of mutually adjacent recording layers, based on a signal based on reflected light from a guide groove formed in a recording surface of the recording layer, a focus offset for an optical system with respect to the guide groove is learned, and based on the learned focus offsets for the respective recording layers, a focus offset for recording or reproduction is calculated and set. In an optical disc having three or more recording layers, a focus offset when the difference between the focus offset and the learned focus offsets for the respective recording layers is a value corresponding to the characteristic of the optical system is set as a focus offset for the respective recording layers or a common focus offset to the respective recording layers.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup actuator. The optical pickup actuator includes: a lens holder for holding an object lens; a focusing coil disposed at the lens holder; a tracking coil disposed at the lens holder; a radial coil wound at a coil holder at which the focusing coil is wound; and multipolar magnets disposed at positions facing the focusing coil, the tracking coil, and the radial coil.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus, medium, and method and a controlling apparatus, medium, and method thereof. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup actuator including a holder formed on a base, a blade connected to the holder with a plurality of elastic supporters, a pair of focus coils for operating the blade in a focus direction, track coils for operating the blade in a tracking direction, magnets, a memory for storing a lookup table for the height of the blade according to electric current, a lookup table for the tilt of the blade according to the electric current supplied to the focus coils, a lookup table for the actual tilt of an optical disk according to the height of the blade, and a controller for computing a tilt difference between the optical disk and the blade and controlling the electric currents supplied to the focus coils to compensate for the tilt difference.

Abstract: This optical disk device includes a pickup, an offsetting means, a focus servo means, a layer jump means, and a shift means. The pickup irradiates laser light upon an optical disk having a plurality of recording layers via a correction lens and an objective lens, and detects light reflected back from the optical disk. The offsetting means generates a focus error (FE) signal on the basis of the reflected light, and applies an offset voltage to the focus error signal. The focus servo means performs focusing servo on the basis of the FE signal. And, before layer jumping is executed by the layer jump means, the focus servo means displaces the correction lens to an intermediate position after having adjusted the offset voltage to a balance value. Then the layer jump means performs layer jumping.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling a stepping motor by employing a micro-step mode at deceleration or acceleration of the stepping motor, which moves an optical pickup head in a full step mode or a half step mode, to minimize lens vibration of the optical pickup head. The method includes setting an initial step of the stepping motor, applying a micro-step mode to the stepping motor at the set initial step to move the optical pickup head, and after the initial step, applying a full step mode or a half step mode to the stepping motor to accelerate the optical pickup head by a desired speed. Also, the method includes setting a late step of the stepping motor, applying a full step mode or a half step mode to the stepping motor to decelerate the optical pickup head by a desired speed, and applying a micro-step mode to the stepping motor at the set late step to move the optical pickup head.

Abstract: A method of determining whether an optical pick-up of an optical device passes through a data track of a storage device during track-seeking based on a radio frequency (RF) signal, a radio frequency zero cross (RFZC) signal radio and a track-seeking signal of the optical device. When the optical pick-up of the optical device passes through a data track of the storage device during track-seeking, a trigger signal is sent to a data phase locked loop of the optical device for frequency and phase adjustment. The method can activate the data phase locked loop of the optical device while the optical device is performing track-seeking.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a tilt of an optical pick-up head includes the steps of: moving the optical pick-up head to a first location and focusing on; obtaining a first focus control power and a first optimum tilt angle at the first location; moving the optical pick-up head to a second location and focusing on; obtaining a second focus control power and a second optimum tilt angle at the second location; calculating an optical sensitivity according to the first and second optimum tilt angles, and the first and second focus control powers; and when the head is moved to a specific location where the tilt of the head is to be adjusted, storing a focus control power corresponding to the specific location, and calculating a tilt angle corresponding to the specific location according to the focus control power and the optical sensitivity so that the tilt of the optical pick-up head can be appropriately adjusted.

Abstract: For providing a recording/reproducing apparatus, for recording/reproducing information through conduction of electricity upon contact of a probe, having large recording density and a large transfer speed, but less in deterioration of a probe chips thereof, and being long in the lifetime thereof, within the recording/reproducing apparatus, a multi-chip is formed, disposing probe chips in large numbers thereof at a tip of a cantilever, while the cantilever is of a double-sided beam type, and the multi-chip is disposed at a center of the beam, wherein recording/reproducing portions of the multi-chip are disposed to correspond to recording dots one by one, and the multi-chip forming surface is moved up and down in parallel with the surface of a recording medium, due to suction force, so as to bring it to be in contact with the recording dots, and electricity is conducted after the contact thereof, thereby conducting the recording, in the structure; wherein, since a large amount of data can be read/written at one

Abstract: A signal processing device for optical disks includes a reflected light process section configured to convert reflected light received by an optical pickup into an electric signal based on a first gain, wherein the optical pickup emits laser light to an optical disk and receives reflected light from the optical disk; a servo signal generation section configured to generate a servo signal by using the electric signal generated by the reflected light process section; a servo signal control section configured to control the servo signal so that a change in the amplitude of the servo signal, in response to an increase or decrease of the amount of the reflected light from the optical disk, is suppressed using an attenuator that attenuates the servo signal generated by the servo signal generation section by a factor of a second gain; and a gain setting section configured to set the first gain to the reflected light process section and the second gain to the servo signal control section substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A tracking error control system includes a tracking error signal generator in communication with an optical pickup head, a DC detector in communication with the tracking error signal generator and a comparator in communication with the DC detector and the tracking error signal generator. The operating optical signals received by the optical pickup head are operated with an offset signal to generate a tracking error signal. A direct current voltage of the tracking error signal is detected and compared with a reference voltage. The offset signal is adjusted according to the comparison result and fed back to the tracking error signal generator to adjust the tracking error signal.