Abstract: An automated, optical-mechanical apparatus includes a laser, a series of lenses for focusing a measuring beam generated by the laser to a precise focal distance and dispersion angle, a lead screw for linearly translating the beam and a spindle for aligning the optical discs to be scanned and counted. The beam is focused to the edge of the stacked discs and propagates through the gaps between adjacent discs to an optical detectors where the beam is transformed to an electronic waveform, which is interpreted by a digital counting network. Counting accuracy is not dependent upon precise control of manufacturing variations in the thickness and weight of the discs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a graphical image on an optical recording disc are described. The method includes the steps of storing a digital image in a first coordinate system as a first array of bits in a digital memory, transforming the digital image from the first coordinate system to an angular coordinate system such as polar coordinates to generate a second array of bits, and then using the second array of bits to modulate a writing beam in an optical disc mastering process to write the transformed digital image onto an optical recording disc. The digital image can be obtained alternately from an optical scanner or conventional image preparation software. The method can also include the step of editing an initial array of bits to form the first array of bits.