Abstract: There is provided an optical disk drive capable of appropriately effecting recording and reproducing operations without being affected by offset values and a laser output value, which are set at startup of the disk drive, even when changes have arisen in the internal temperature of the disk drive because of changes in ambient temperature. In an optical disk drive, a temperature sensor provided on a pickup measures a temperature. When changes in temperature are greater than a predetermined level, a focus offset value, a tracking offset value, and a value of laser output from the pickup are reset.

Abstract: A rotation number control device for a disk signal reproduction apparatus that reproduces information using a disk on which the information is recorded along a spiral track, such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk. The rotation number control device includes a drive unit which rotates a disk, a rotation number detection unit which detects the rotation number of the disk, a rotation number control unit which controls the rotation number of the disk rotated by the drive unit, a vibration detection unit which detects vibration due to rotation of the disk, and a rotation number storage unit which, for each disk, stores a rotation number of the disk at a time when maximum vibration in a disk allowable vibration range is produced during rotational acceleration of the disk, as a maximum allowable rotation number. The rotation number of the disk is controlled so as not to exceed the maximum allowable rotation number of the disk which is stored in the rotation number storage unit.

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: There is disclosed an information storage apparatus in which even when a remaining power of a battery or a galvanic cell is little, an information recording medium can safely be taken out. An MPU 12, a spindle motor driver 38, and a spindle motor 40 constitute a decelerator for decelerating rotation of the information recording medium, and as a deceleration mode, a first deceleration mode with a relatively large power consumption and a second deceleration mode with a relatively small power consumption are disposed. The MPU 12 monitors a voltage of a power supply line 13 via a DSP 16, decelerates the rotation of the information recording medium in the first deceleration mode when the voltage exceeds a predetermined level, and decelerates the rotation of the information recording medium in the second deceleration mode when the voltage indicates the predetermined level or less.

Abstract: When a deviated gravity disc is reproduced at a higher rate with the disc reproducing apparatus, an excessive vibration is generated and this vibration gives adverse effect on the disc reproducing apparatus and peripheral components/apparatuses, and/or may represent an annoyance to a user. A vibration information detector for detecting vibration of the disc reproducing apparatus or a deviated gravity information detector for detecting amount of gravity deviation of disc is provided, and as a result of such detection of an imbalance (i.e., excessive vibration or mass eccentricity), and a reproducing rate switching control controls sets and limits the reproducing rate of the disc reproducing apparatus to a substitute speed which is lower or higher than a normal reproducing speed.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus capable of stably moving an optical head is provided. The apparatus includes an optical head for recording data to or reproducing data from a disk, a first guide member having an axis substantially parallel to the disk for supporting the optical head in such a manner that the optical head is moved along the axis, a second guide member for limiting rotation of the optical head about the axis, a rack mounted on the optical head and having a reference pitch line substantially parallel to the axis, a pinion for moving the optical head by the pinion being engaged with the rack and being rotated, and a pressing member for pressing the rack toward tie pinion. The vector of a force exerted by the pinion on the rack in response to the pressing member pressing the rack toward the pinion substantially intersects the axes.

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: To stably perform optical recording and optical reproducing under optimum conditions, in an optical recording medium having a writable recording layer on a substrate and having a maker recording area in which recording is performed by a maker on the recording layer, individual drive control information of the optical recording medium is recorded in the maker recording area, and, in optical recording and optical reproducing, optical recording and optical reproducing are performed by the drive control information under optimum conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus having a control circuit which comprises a feedforward filter arrangement (1) and a controller (3). The invention is characterized in that an adaptation of the parameters (Pff) of the feedforward filter arrangement (1) and the parameters (Pc) of the controller (3) is effected during operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: While a control portion changes the laser power stepwise with a laser power control portion, the optical disk apparatus of the present invention compares a predetermined level with an output by a detector that detects the correlation between a pattern to be recorded on the optical disk and the reproduction signal of the recording pattern detects as the minimum recording power the recording power when the originally smaller of the predetermined level and that output by the detector becomes larger than the other, and sets the optimum recording power to a power obtained by multiplying the detected minimum recording power by a certain factor.

Abstract: A rotation number control device for a disk signal reproduction apparatus that reproduces information using a disk on which the information is recorded along a spiral track, such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk. The rotation number control device includes a drive unit which rotates a disk, a rotation number detection unit which detects the rotation number of the disk, a rotation number control unit which controls the rotation number of the disk rotated by the drive unit, a vibration detection unit which detects vibration due to rotation of the disk, and a rotation number storage unit which, for each disk, stores a rotation number of the disk at a time when maximum vibration in a disk allowable vibration range is produced during rotational acceleration of the disk, as a maximum allowable rotation number. The rotation number of the disk is controlled so as not to exceed the maximum allowable rotation number of the disk which is stored in the rotation number storage unit.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus includes recording means for recording information onto a recording medium; detection means for detecting vibrations or possibilities of vibrations of the apparatus; and recording control means for prohibiting or suspending recording of the information onto the recording medium in accordance with a detection result of the detection means.

Abstract: An eccentric disk detection apparatus for an optical disk device is provided. The eccentric disk detection apparatus detects eccentricity, as well as determines whether the eccentricity is high or low, by sensing and analyzing the reverse electromotive force. Upon detection of eccentricity, the eccentric disk detection apparatus can adjust the maximum number of revolutions of the disk in accordance to the sensed reverse electromotive force, thereby compensating for the eccentricity of the disk.

Abstract: A device for recording information on an optical disc so as to improve the recording quality of the information when a recording operation has just started. The recording device includes a luminous element radiating a light for recording information on the optical disc; a radiation intensity controller constantly controlling an intensity of radiation of the light radiated by the luminous element; a constant outputting unit providing a constant energy to the luminous element; a selector selectively selecting one of the outputs of the intensity of radiation controller and the constant outputting unit; wherein, the selector selects the output from the constant outputting unit during a predetermined duration from a starting time of recording the information on the optical disc, and selects the output from the intensity of radiation controller afterward.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium, a laser beam is irradiated to and reflected from the medium. A photodetector detects the light quantity of the irradiated or reflected light beam, and the detected laser beam is subjected to the signal processing. Then, a sampler samples it at the timing of a sampling pulse supplied from a sampling pulse generator. Then, a controller controls the laser power according to the sampled laser beam. A pulse timing setting unit sets and adjusts the timing of the sampling pulse by taking into account the response time in the propagation path of the laser beam from the start of the irradiation to the sampling. Thus, the laser power can be monitored correctly, and it can be optimized so as to stably and reliably reproduce an address signal and to generate a servo signal while data is recorded.

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: 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 carriage servo apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a carriage for supporting a pickup that records or reproduces information relevant to an information recording face; and a carriage motor for moving the carriage in a direction parallel to the information recording face based on a motor drive signal. This carriage servo apparatus further comprises a microcomputer for detecting a minimum value of a motor drive signal required for moving the carriage from its still state, and setting a motor drive signal when recording or reproducing information, based on the detected minimum value.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for reading and writing information to a storage medium includes a power supply control circuit that selectively inhibits and enables power to individual circuits of the signal processing apparatus in order to achieve maximum power conservation. The signal processing apparatus looks ahead to determine a next operation to be performed and, using either read or write information of the next operation, along with information concerning how long it takes to power up individual circuits, determines the optimal time to switch power on to the individual circuits. Power is then supplied to the individual circuits of the signal processing apparatus only when it is required by the individual circuits.

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: A disk reading apparatus for reading data recorded on a disk medium is disclosed. The disk reading apparatus comprises a motor for rotating the disk medium, a vibration sensor section for detecting vibrations generating inside the disk reading apparatus and for converting the vibrations into a signal, a binarized signal generation section for extracting only a frequency component corresponding to the rotary speed of the disk medium from the signal outputted from the vibration sensor section, and for outputting a signal in which a binaraization is performed, a vibration judgement section for measuring a period of the binarized signal outputted from the binarized signal generation section and for outputting a vibration detection signal when the period of the binarized signal corresponds to the rotary speed of the disk medium, and a rotation control section for lowering the rotary speed of the disk medium when the vibration detection signal is inputted.

Abstract: A driving method and apparatus for a light source element of an optical pickup for reading and writing data from and to an optical data includes generating an error signal when a tracking error signal is higher than a first level or is lower than a second level and, if the error signal is active, supplying the light source element with a driving signal suitable for data read operations independent of whether the user selects read mode or write mode. As a result, when there is a tracking error the power of the device signal corresponds to that normally presented during a read mode, and this power is insufficient to write data onto the disc. Thus, data is not written over other desired data when an abnormal tracking error occurs.