Abstract: A system and method for handling events issued as a result of error conditions in the operation of an optical disc drive include suspending processing of commanded operations in the disc drive while attempting to recover from the error condition. The recovery attempt can include increasing levels of recovery effort, such as dynamically recalibrating various components in the disc drive. The system can also determine whether a previous notice was received for the same error condition. If so, the system can determine whether excessive recovery attempts have been initiated based criteria such as the time between the notices, and/or the number of notices, for the same error condition. The recovery attempts are aborted when they become excessive. If the recovery attempt is successful, the interrupted operation is resumed at the point where the processing was suspended, such as during a write or read command.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus of measuring axial vibration of a rotating disk. The present axial vibration measuring method selects a plurality of equally-spaced (45°˜120°-spaced) angular positions of a disk recording medium to conduct focusing operation at, conducts focusing operation at each selected position, measures focusing time from each start of the focusing operation to exactness in focus, and calculates axial vibration of the disk recording medium based on a deviation of the measured focusing times. The present method can measure exactly how much a rotating disk vibrates axially.

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

Abstract: A position control method, which positions the relative position of an optical disk and an optical pickup to a position that provides the optimum value of the jitter value of the detection signal obtained by detecting the reflected light of an optical spot, has a jitter value acquisition procedure, which carries out multiple feed operations within the adjustment range of the relative position and obtains the jitter value at each feed position, an edge position setting procedure which sets as the edge positions relative positions that exceed a prescribed preset jitter threshold value, an optimum position computation procedure, which computes the optimum position that yields the optimum value for the jitter value, and an edge position setting procedure that sets the edge positions on the condition that there are at least two relative positions that yield a jitter value that exceeds the jitter threshold value.

Abstract: A method of controlling recording of data with respect to each track of a once-writable optical disc, includes: detecting whether a shock error occurs during recording of track information; if the shock error is detected, stopping the recording of the track information and estimating a position where the recording of the track information has stopped; recording dummy data from a backward position behind the estimated position as much as a predetermined period of time, for a predetermined period of time; and defining an error track from a start position of a track to a position where the recording of the dummy data has ended.

Abstract: In a method of adjusting a disk apparatus, if adjustment processing has to be performed prior to processing which the user expects to be performed soon, the adjustment processing can be finished in a short time and thus the processing requested by the user can be performed at once enough to meet the user's expectation. A database concerning the adjustment processing is created at the time when the user of the disk apparatus accepts the much time taken to perform the processing requested by the user. Then, when the user makes a request to perform processing, which the user expects to be performed at once, the adjustment processing which has to be performed prior to the performance of the processing requested by the user is performed based on the database to speed up the adjustment processing, thus making it possible to perform the processing requested by the user at once.

Abstract: A driving device for an optical storage medium, includes: an optical pickup for reading out information from an information track on the optical storage medium; a tracking error signal generator for generating a tracking error signal from the information read out by the optical pickup; a tracking controller for controlling the optical pickup to follow the information track on the optical storage medium based on the tracking error signal generated by the tracking error signal generator; a disturbance detector for detecting a magnitude of a disturbance of the tracking error signal caused by impediments existing on the optical storage medium; a correction signal generator for generating a correction signal corresponding to the magnitude of the disturbance of the tracking error signal detected by the disturbance detector; and a limiting unit for limiting an operation of the tracking controller in accordance with the correction signal generated by the correction signal generator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a track access apparatus and a method by which an optical pick-up unit quickly accesses a destination track of an optical disc by controlling a tracking actuator using a back electromotive force by detecting the vibration of an objective lens, the position variation, and the distortion of an actuator which occur when the optical pick-up unit is moved across the tracks of the optical disc at a high speed.

Abstract: The data recording and reproducing device includes a cantilever 11 having a probe h and extending so as to locate the tip of the probe h in the vicinity of a recording film 20, a piezo driving unit 12 for vibrating the cantilever 11, an optical lever 13 for detecting a displacement due to the vibration of the cantilever 11, a Z feedback circuit 33 for performing feedback control for the driving in a direction vertical to the table 21, a write circuit 18 for supplying a recording voltage to the cantilever 11 in response to a recording signal IN, a voltage circuit 16 and a variable bias circuit 17 for applying anAC voltage to the cantilever 11, and a V feedback circuit 34 for performing the feedback control for the bias voltage applied to the cantilever.

Abstract: There is disclosed a head positioning control system in which when internal vibration including a frequency component different from a frequency of disturbance such as a higher harmonic occurs by a nonlinear element, the system effectively suppresses the internal vibration. The system has a nonlinear filter 11 to generate a higher wave as an input of an adaptive filter for performing feed forward control.

Abstract: A shock absorber used for absorbing shock energy generated by a vibrator positioned on a connecting plate is disclosed. The shock absorber has a column, a support plate and a cover plate. The column has an upper damper, a neck zone, a lower damper and a through hole. The neck zone is connected to the connecting plate. The cover plate is positioned above and covered the upper damper and the support plate is located below the lower damper for holding the column. A cylinder is connected to the support plate via the through hole so as to secure the column and the vibrator with the support plate. Furthermore, the neck zone has at least one groove to reduce a contacting area between the neck zone and the connecting plate so as to reduce a horizontal vibration frequency of the column in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for an optical disc used for eliminating the vibrations in the propagating direction when a rotation mechanism rotates. The slider controller 40 and the spindle controller 41 of the exposure apparatus 1 are activated, and the then the optical disc begins to be rotated by an AC synchronized motor. Through a condensing device 9, laser beams emitted form the laser source 6 are irradiated on the optical disc for exposure. At this time, the optical disc is eccentrically chucked on the rotation mechanism, resulting a rotational vibration of the whole rotation mechanism. A measurer 17 is used for detecting a propagating component of the rotational vibration, and a vibrator controller 42 controls the vibrator 20 as the output of the measurer 17 approaches zero. Therefore, the vibration in the propagating direction of the base 2 is cancelled, and the propagation accuracy is increased and the exposure quality is enhanced.

Abstract: An OPU burnout protection circuit and a optical drive utilizing the same. The OPU burnout protection circuit monitors power status of an OPU driver of the optical drive to prevent burnout of an OPU when an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip or central processing unit (CPU) chip malfunctions.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data area for recording data; and a drive information area for recording at least one piece of drive information. The data area is divided into a plurality of segmented areas in a radial direction of the information recording medium. Each at least one piece of drive information includes a recording and reproduction condition corresponding to at least one of the plurality of segmented areas.

Abstract: A reproducer provided with a vibration value measuring means which has functions of, prior to data reproducing, detecting vibration of, and determining vibration value for, a disc, and which measures a vibration value obtained when the disc with a known mass eccentricity is mounted on the reproducer and is rotated, characterized in that values relating to the measured vibration value are stored in a storage in the reproducer as threshold values indicating allowable limits of the vibration value, thereby preventing unstable vibration detection due to differences between individually manufactured reproducers when a disc with a large mass eccentricity is reproduced at high speed, and permitting a reproducing operation that will not give a user an unpleasant feeling.

Abstract: A method of controlling a disk writing operation based on a currently remaining electric power capacity of a battery is disclosed. This method is applicable to a portable device such as an electronic notebook or a disk drive using a battery as a power source. This method detects a remaining electric power capacity of the battery, compares the detected remaining electric power capacity with a reference capacity required for completing a writing operation, and then, if the detected remaining capacity is lower than the reference capacity, stops the current writing operation and conducts a data writing closing operation for properly closing or terminating the current writing operation. As a result, the present invention prevents effective disk damages caused from an abnormal writing termination due to the complete discharge of the battery.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a optical disc driving apparatus for driving an optical disc having a central axis, comprising: a turntable having a central axis, said turntable being adapted to retain an optical disc under the condition that said central axis of said turntable is axially aligned with said central axis of said optical disc; an optical pickup unit movable toward and away from said central axis of said turntable, said optical pickup unit being adapted to write or retrieve information from said optical disc retained by said turntable; a stepping motor having a plurality of coils; a detecting unit for detecting an exterior vibration while being vibrated in response to said exterior vibration; a driver IC for controlling said stepping motor to have said stepping motor assume two different operation states consisting of a first operation state to drive said stepping motor to ensure that said optical pickup unit is moved toward and away from said central axis of said turntable, and a second operation state to d

Abstract: A signal recording apparatus including a battery voltage detecting circuit. The battery voltage detecting circuit detects the voltage value of a battery. When a record button provided on an operation panel is pressed, a syscon detects, for 160 ms, voltage values given from the battery voltage detecting circuit. The detected voltage values are stored to a DRAM. An average calculated of the voltage values of for 160 ms by using the DRAM. The syscon compares the averaged voltage value with a threshold A that makes it possible for recording for one disk. When the averaged voltage value is equal to or higher than the threshold A, the syscon directly starts recording. When the averaged voltage value is lower than the threshold A, an insufficient remaining capacity of the battery is displayed on a liquid crystal panel by a display controller.

Abstract: A radial vibration detection apparatus for detecting the radial vibration value of an optical assembly of an optical disc drive. The radial vibration detection apparatus includes a cover, a magnet, a plurality of clamping structures and a base. The cover has a cover body, a plurality of engaging elements and a circumferential flange. The engaging elements are disposed on the lower surface of the cover body in an equiangular manner. The circumferential flange is formed on the cover body. The cover body has a magnet accommodating portion formed on the center thereof. The magnet is disposed in the magnet accommodating portion. The clamping structures are disposed in the engaging elements, respectively. The base is disposed under the cover and has a bottom, a circumferential wall and a second positioning element. The second positioning element is disposed on the circumferential wall to engage the first positioning element of the cover.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus having a high reliability by evading collision between a condensing lens and an optical disk regardless whether the focus control is in the operative state or in the inoperative state, thereby preventing damage to the condensing lens and the optical disk. When the focus control is in the inoperative state, by using a reflection light amount from the optical disk (1), it is ascertained that the focus of the light beam is in the vicinity of the information surface and the condensing lens (15) is driven to be apart from the optical disk (1).

Abstract: A blank writable disc contains a lead-in area followed by a program area, followed by a lead-out area. When the disc is inserted into a recorder, the disc is initialized by recording control data in a lead-in area. The control data defines a general purpose area (GPA) within the program area of the disc. Then user data is recorded within a user portion of the program area, the user portion being outside of the GPA. After the user data is recorded formatting of the disc begins. The formatting includes recording format data in the user portion of the program area. Then, prior to ejecting the disc from the recording apparatus, if the formatting of the disc is not yet complete, then the disc is finalized by recording additional control data in the lead-in area and in a lead-out area without completing the formatting of the entire disc.

Abstract: An optical disc drive is used to read and/or write data from/on an optical disc having a data storage layer. The drive corrects electrical offset while reading and/or writing data. The drive updates a correction value based on an electrical offset detected at correcting operation or a value derived using electrical offset values that has been detected and stored, without detecting an electrical offset at correcting operation. Therefore, the optical disc drive can correct the electrical offset less often.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus using an information recording medium, having: a unit for identifying and detecting a WO type information recording medium and a rewritable type information recording medium; a control unit for each of the WO type information recording medium and the rewritable type information recording medium; and a display apparatus for displaying a detection result of the detecting unit. In the video signal recording apparatus using the information recording medium, file management information to form a directory is recorded as intermediate information onto the information recording medium.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for an optical disc used for eliminating the vibrations in the propagating direction when a rotation mechanism rotates. The slider controller 40 and the spindle controller 41 of the exposure apparatus 1 are activated, and the then the optical disc begins to be rotated by an AC synchronized motor. Through a condensing device 9, laser beams emitted form the laser source 6 are irradiated on the optical disc for exposure. At this time, the optical disc is eccentrically chucked on the rotation mechanism, resulting a rotational vibration of the whole rotation mechanism. A measurer 17 is used for detecting a propagating component of the rotational vibration, and a vibrator controller 42 controls the vibrator 20 as the output of the measurer 17 approaches zero. Therefore, the vibration in the propagating direction of the base 2 is cancelled, and the propagation accuracy is increased and the exposure quality is enhanced.

Abstract: A disk device in which at the recovery job of a focus pull-in operation, a CPU supplies servo control means with the respective correction values of the rotational speed of an optical disk and the moving speed of a lens which are described in the data table of a RAM, and performs the focus pull-in operation and determines whether or not the focus pull-in operation is successfully performed at the respective adjustment steps, and if the focus pull-in operation is successfully performed, the servo control means changes the amount of movement of the lens in response to a surface swing of the optical disk.

Abstract: Prior to actual reproduction of an optical disk, test reproduction is performed with respect to a plurality of testing radial locations of the optical disk. In the test reproduction, waveform-equalization-characteristic parameters of the waveform equalization section are adjusted to optimal settings so as to optimize jitter of a reproduced RF signal detected at each of the testing radial locations of the optical disk. In the actual reproduction of the optical disk, the waveform-equalization-characteristic parameters of the waveform equalization section are adjusted to optimal settings that are predicted, from the optimal settings determined by the test reproduction, in accordance with a radial position or address, on the optical disk, of each location to be reproduced.

Abstract: A recording and reproduction apparatus, for irradiating a recording medium having a track with an optical beam to record information on and reproduce information from the recording medium, includes a tracking error detection section for detecting a positional offset between the optical beam and the track and outputting a tracking error signal corresponding to the positional offset; an amplification section for amplifying, based on a prescribed value of a gain, the tracking error signal to be output, wherein the prescribed value of the gain is adjustable; a tracking control section for controlling a position of the optical beam based on the tracking error signal amplified by the amplification section; and a control section for adjusting the prescribed value of the gain of the amplification section. The control section adjusts the prescribed value of the gain of the amplification section based on a linear velocity of the recording medium.

Abstract: A storage unit with shockproof function and accessing method thereof is provided. The storage unit includes a storage media, a speed sensing device or a vibration sensing device and a control unit. The storage unit is capable of operating in an environment with strong vibration and avoiding most read/write errors at a reduced production cost.

Abstract: A temperature inside the information reproducing and recording apparatus is always monitored and it is judged whether the temperatures is a proper operation start temperature, a stop temperature or a restart temperature or not. Based on this judgement, the start and the like of the reproducing and recording operation is properly controlled. Further, with respect to the reproducing and the recording of the information, their respective proper operation temperature ranges are set individually.

Abstract: A method and device for retrieving data in low-power is provided. More specifically, it relates to a method and device for minimizing power consumption while retrieving the continuous media data from a disk drive for the purpose of real-time playback. The data reproducing device reproduces multimedia data by a determined playback strategy after it computes power consumption values according to various playback strategies and retrieves data from a storage medium by a playback strategy having the least power consumption by means of comparing respective power consumption values.

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 optical disc system and a method of managing shock while recording or playing data in the optical disc system are provided. The optical disc system includes an optical pick-up unit for applying a laser beam to a track of an optical disc and detecting reflected light, a servo unit for controlling tracking and focus of the optical pick-up unit and a monitoring unit for comparing a monitoring signal, which is output from the optical pick-up unit and the servo unit, with a reference signal and generating a blocking signal and a blocking release signal. Recording or playing of data on the optical disc is stopped in response to the blocking signal, and recording or playing of the data on the optical disc is resumed in response to the blocking release signal based on a state of the optical disc system when recording or playing was stopped.

Abstract: As pit patterns a pattern A and a pattern B are prepared. The adjacent tracks are made to have different embossed pit patterns.

Abstract: A recording condition setting method includes the steps of: a) obtaining identification information from an information recording medium; b) searching through a table including history information indicative of temperature information detected in the vicinity of a light source and corresponding optimum recording power; c) extracting history information corresponding to the identification information; d) detecting temperature information detected in the vicinity of the light source; e) acquiring an optimum recording power by referring to the temperature information detected in step d) and the history information extracted in step c); and f) setting the optimum recording power acquired in step e) as a recording condition.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether a rotating disk in an optical disk reading device is unbalanced. According to the method, the disk is first rotated at a preset rotational speed, and a lens is then located to a first position. Then, as the lens is moved towards a second position at a predetermined speed, a time duration during which a preliminary signal is generated is determined. The disk is determined to be unbalanced if the time duration exceeds a preset value.

Abstract: A method of detecting an imbalanced disk in a disk drive apparatus detects an imbalanced disk at a relatively reasonable cost with high accuracy. In a disk drive apparatus configured to read a signal recorded in a disk by using an optical pickup, the method includes a step of determining whether or not the disk is an imbalanced disk based on a signal component of a tracking error signal, which is detected in accordance with push-pull method, depending on a status of the optical pickup.

Abstract: In order to minimize potential damage to a rewritable storage media, and to consequently extend the life of the media, the laser power is carefully controlled in order to avoide sharp power transitions. Rather than simply turning the laser power on to its full power level, the power utilized during writing dedicated sections of data sectors is transitioned from 0 to its full power level over a desired period of time. In this way, the thermal shock caused by repeated rewriting in these areas can be minimized, thus extending the life of the rewritable media.

Abstract: An optical disc recording apparatus 100 comprises a temperature detecting circuit 141 for detecting a temperature of an optical disc 200 and corrects a laser power for discolorating a discoloration layer of the optical disc 200 in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detecting circuit 141 in order to cancel a change in the temperature of the optical disc 200. The optical disc recording apparatus 100 can record a high quality visible image on an optical disc without a printer.

Abstract: In a case where there occurs an even of interrupting recording operation such as a power cut out or a communication error, while creating a library in the hard disk by a recording/reproducing section 3, a system control microprocessor 31 controls to automatically delete a halfway file that is not completely recorded, thereby preventing the halfway recorded file from being accumulated in the hard disk B.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method of temperature control for an optical storage and retrieving apparatus. When the internal temperature of the optical storage and retrieving apparatus reaches a predetermined temperature, the temperature control device is able to bid the optical storage and retrieving apparatus steadily retrieve data by lowering the rate of a carry device of the optical storage and retrieving apparatus, or by instructing a servo control device to lower the tracking loop gain, or by lowering the velocity and the braking slope of a data read/write device of the optical storage and retrieving apparatus.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for removing vibration due to the imbalance of weight of a disc in a disc drive, in which the allowable high multi-speed of a disc is determined based on the allowable amount of vibration in the disc drive and the disc drive is actuated within a range of the allowable high multi-speed. The method includes detecting the amount of vibration corresponding to the degree of imbalance of the weight of a disc inserted into the disc drive and increasing a set high multi-speed of the disc drive until the amount of vibration reaches an allowable amount of vibration with respect to the disc drive. Accordingly, vibration in a disc drive can be controlled such that a user cannot perceive it and damages to the disc drive due to the vibration can be minimized.

Abstract: In a digital audio signal player having a simulated analogue record, a voltage dividing circuit is provided that consists of a first, and a second leads connected to a respective one of two separate wound wires of a control element; the control element can be turned to simulate an analogue record being moved by hands on the turntable for the player to play music with speed and speed changing according to movement of the control element. The microprocessor can decide that users' hands have touched the control element to complete the voltage dividing circuit, which is normally open, on detecting a voltage drop in order to make music played in the special mode. Music is played in an original normal way when the hand is removed from the control element for disappearance of the voltage drop.

Abstract: A method of recording digital information signals on a removable rewritable disc like recording medium, the method comprising a short initialization step whereafter a blanc, unformatted medium is ready to receive user data. The initialization step comprises defining a general purpose area on the recording medium which is not intended for recording user data but for defect management and special application programs.

Abstract: A media player permits multiple compressed media files to be concurrently stored in memory interval to the media player. By concurrently buffering more than one compressed media file at a time, any mechanical disturbance that occurs during the playing of a file or between files will not cause a cessation of audio. Further, skipping ahead or in reverse is advantageously expedited.

Abstract: An information recording method records information in an information recording medium by acquiring driving power supply information related to a driving power supply of an information recording apparatus which records the information in the information recording medium, in response to a request for a process which accompanies recording of dummy data in the information recording medium, and determining whether to permit or prohibit the process which accompanies recording of the dummy data, based on the driving power supply information.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing noise and vibrations in a personal computer having at least one disk data-storage device (disk drive), e.g., CDROM drive. The disk drive operation (data reading from or writing to the disk) is afforded by rotation of the disk at a steady rate that is prescribed by a command drawn from related processing block of the computer. The apparatus integrates a disk drive, control program, and data file. For a disk drive under control, the data file lists for each logical operation mode an optimum rotational rate for the drive motor, the optimal value being the lowest value of rotation rate for the drive to provide a sufficient rate of data exchange between the drive and corresponding data processor. In accordance with the optimal disk drive rotation rate value, the program generates necessary control commands to set the disk drive motor to the required rotation rate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling high-speed rotation of optical disc, wherein the amount of disc vibration caused by disc rotation is calculated, and the disc rotation speed is increased based on the calculated amount of disc vibration in order to maximize the data transfer rate under a given amount of disc vibration. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a pickup for retrieving data recorded on an optical disc, a drive unit for driving motors, an R/F unit for equalizing and shaping signals reproduced from the optical disc, a servo unit for controlling the drive unit and detecting sync signals from the output signal of the R/F unit, a digital signal processing unit for retrieving original digital data from the output signal of the R/F unit, a timer for measuring the elapsed time between specific events, and a microprocessor for controlling the rotation speed of the optical disc based on the amount of elapsed time measured by the timer.

Abstract: An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.

Abstract: A method for reading data from an unbalanced disk in a disk drive is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring a degree of unbalance of the disk while starting up a rotation of the disk, determining a suitable rotating speed for error-free reading (e.g., a maximum error-free reading speed) corresponding to the measured degree of unbalance, based on a previously stored relationship between degree of unbalance and suitable rotating speed, and beginning a reading operating while rotating the disk at the determined rotating speed. In accordance with the method, it is possible to suppress an unbalanced disk from vibrating, thereby achieving a stable data reading from the disk.

Abstract: In a playback apparatus which plays back music in a plurality of audio formats, a control unit detects a voltage level of a power supply unit and restricts a playback of music in one of the audio formats, which requires power consumption whose amount exceeds a given value, when the detected voltage level is lower than a threshold value. Alternatively, the control unit restricts a playback of one of a plurality of pieces of music, which requires power whose amount exceeds a given value, when the detected voltage level is lower than a threshold value.