Abstract: A method of determining the type of disk loaded on an optical disk drive, and an optical disk drive using the method are provided. The disk decision method includes operations of detecting a change in the magnitude of a focus error signal generated during a focus search for a recording layer of a disk closest to an outermost layer of the disk, wherein the change in the magnitude of the focus error signal depends on a change in a recording layer of the disk for which aberration correction is performed, and determining a recording layer architecture of the disk according to the detected change in the magnitude of the focus error signal.

Abstract: An optical pickup and an information storage medium system using the same. The optical pickup includes a light source that emits light having a plurality of different wavelengths. The optical pickup includes a diffraction device having a plurality of diffraction patterns corresponding to the plurality of different wavelengths to divide the light incident from the light source unit into main light and sub light. The optical pickup further includes a photo-detector having a first main light reception unit that receives the main light and a first sub light reception unit that receives the sub light so as to detect an information signal and/or an error signal by receiving reflected light. The first sub light reception unit of the photo-detector is shaped so as to reduce reception of noise sub light due to diffraction based on an undesired diffraction pattern of sub light generated the diffraction device.

Abstract: A flexible cable is provided. The flexible cable includes a base film having a band shape, a plurality of wiring layers disposed on the base film and extending in one direction, and a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film and partially adjusting the elasticity of the flexible cable.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus to prevent reproducibility of data with respect to an optical information storage medium. The method includes recording patterns with respect to the optical information storage medium using irradiated light so as prevent reproduction of the data. The patterns may cause an error or a malfunction when attempting to access the data of the optical information storage medium so as to prevent the reproduction of the data.

Abstract: A method of generating a 1-beam tracking error signal (TES), an optical pickup device, and an optical disc drive device adopting the method. A light-receiving element receives a single reflection beam and detects an alternating current (AC) component and a direct current (DC) component from each of areas formed on two sides of a data track. A servo unit generates a TES by adding and subtracting the AC component and the DC component.

Abstract: A disc device that includes a loading unit configured to load an storage medium into the disc device, a chucking unit configured to accommodate the loaded storage medium thereon, an ejection unit configured to eject the storage medium, and a controller configured to control the loading unit, the chucking unit, and the ejection unit. The ejection unit moves the storage medium to a loading position for loading the storage medium onto the chucking unit when the storage medium is initially inserted.

Abstract: A spindle structure for an optical disc and an optical disc drive employing the spindle structure are provided. The spindle structure includes a spindle motor having a rotation axis, a spindle that is coupled to the rotation axis, and a sliding cone coupled to the spindle and inserted into a center hole of the optical disc. The sliding cone includes a plurality of hook-shaped guide rods extended toward the spindle, and the spindle includes guide holes, to which the plurality of hook-shaped guide rods are inserted into and coupled.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus having a label printer for printing labels on an optical disk and a method for printing labels on an optical disk. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical disk drive unit recording and reproducing information on a recording surface of an optical disk, a label printer module printing labels on a label surface of the optical disk using thermal transfer, and a controller controlling a label printing operation of the optical disk drive unit and the label printer module, wherein the label printer module includes a ribbon cartridge in which a thermal transfer ribbon to which dyes are attached is wound and which is disposed to face the label surface of the optical disk mounted in the optical disk drive unit, and a thermal printhead transferring the dyes attached to the thermal transfer ribbon onto the label surface of the optical disk using thermal transfer.

Abstract: An optical pickup device, an optical drive using the same, and a method of forming a beam spot are provided. The optical pickup includes a light source system that includes a light source corresponding to at least one of a digital versatile disc (DVD) and a Blu-ray disc (BD). The light source forms a beam spot having an oval shape with a long axis and a short axis on an information recording track of the disc, and the light source is disposed such that the long axis is maintained at an angle ranging from 0° to 30° with respect to a radial direction passing through a rotation center of the disc.

Abstract: Provided are an optical disc drive and method for driving the optical disc drive. The method includes transporting a disc to a chucking position where a spindle is positioned using a loading roller, blocking power transferred from a loading motor to the loading roller, and chucking the disc on the spindle using power from the loading motor. Accordingly, damages to the disc caused by chucking may be prevented.

Abstract: Provided is a photodetector unit including a photodetector integrated circuit (PDIC). The photodetector may reduce a height of a conventional optical pickup by improving the input/output terminals of the PDIC and accordingly improving the contact points and wires of a corresponding printed circuit board (PCB).

Abstract: Provided are an optical pickup and an optical system employing the optical pickup. The optical pickup includes a twin light source. In various aspects, a length between the two light sources of a twin light source is reduced while the magnification of the optical pickup is increased, in comparison to a conventional optical pickup. Accordingly, a manufacturing cost of the optical pickup may be reduced.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling a driving current with respect to an optical source of an optical disc drive are provided. The method includes changing a characteristic of a high frequency component based on a change in the peripheral temperature of on optical pickup device, modulating the driving current using the high frequency component, and applying the modulated driving current to the optical source.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pickup and an optical system using the same. The optical pickup may include an aperture that is disposed at a side where a light beam is incident on an objective lens. The aperture may limit a range of the light beam such that a width of the light beam incident on the objective lens in a first direction is less than a width in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A disk drive that includes (i) a main chassis, (ii) a tray that is configured to have a disk removably mounted thereon and that is installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and that includes a pickup transporting unit configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a radial direction of the disk, and (iii) a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, that is driven by the pickup transporting unit, and that releases a lock of the tray from the main chassis.

Abstract: Provided are a method of optical writing on a disc and a device adopting the method. The method of optical writing includes initially driving a laser diode (LD) at a preset reference value corresponding to a target output, detecting an actual output power by monitoring light output by the LD, and comparing the actual output power to the target output power. The method further includes compensating the reference value and writing data to the optical disc using the compensated reference value.

Abstract: A disc drive including a tray, a housing configured to receive the tray, a pickup device installed on the tray, and a spindle motor including a rotator having built therein a permanent magnet, a stator including a magnetic coil, and a rotation axis supporting portion that is configured to support a rotation axis of the rotator and fixed to the tray.

Abstract: A disk drive including a main chassis; a tray on which a disk is to be removably mounted, the tray being installed to slide into/out of the main chassis, and including a pickup transporting unit that is configured to move a pickup base back and forth in a straight line in a radial direction of the disk. The pickup base includes an optical pickup installed thereon, The disk drive also includes a lock releasing unit that is arranged on the tray, is driven by receiving a driving force of the pickup transporting unit, and releases lock of the tray from the main chassis. The disk drive drives a lock releasing unit by using driving force of a pickup transporting unit.

Abstract: An optical pickup, photodetector, and optical drive adopting the optical pickup are provided. The optical pickup may include a light emitting system having a plurality of light sources corresponding to a plurality of mediums a light receiving system including a photodetector for converting light reflected from a medium into an electrical signal. The photodetector may include first and second light receiving sensors corresponding to the plurality of mediums, each of the first and second light receiving sensors comprising a plurality of regions, each region comprising a plurality of sectors. The plurality of regions of the first and second light receiving sensors may include shared sectors that are shared by the first and second light receiving sensors and exclusive sectors that are exclusively used in the first light receiving sensor or the second light receiving sensor.

Abstract: An optical pickup device corresponding to an optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, and an optical drive using the device are provided. The optical pickup device includes a collimator lens disposed between an object lens and a light source. The collimator lens adjusts a focal length with respect to the optical recording medium, and the object lens focuses light passing through the collimator lens, on the optical recording medium. The object lens is optically optimized for an upper or second-upper recording layer of the optical recording medium.