Abstract: A disk drive suspension and method has a metal load beam and an electrical interconnect assembly. The interconnect assembly has an insulative layer, a read pair of forward and return path conductive traces, a write pair of forward and return path conductive traces that are supported by the insulative layer, preferably in offset relation across the insulative layer, and a metal layer for grounding and mounted on the insulative plastic layer in fixed spaced relation to the conductive traces to be between the interconnect assembly and the load beam. The metal layer shields the conductive traces from variations in impedance occasioned by varying distances between said electrical interconnect and said load beam.

Abstract: A digital signal processor (1045) arithmetically determines a comparison level for comparing each signal component by determining a comparison level of comparators (1033 and 1034) for comparing a fine clock mark signal such that a larger weight is assigned to the comparison level of the signal component already compared. The comparators (1033 and 1034) compare the fine clock mark signal with reference to a level set on a peak side and a level set on a bottom side. When digital signal processor (1045) receives the comparison signal from one of the comparators (1033 and 1034) prior to the comparison signal sent from the other, the digital signal processor produces a fine clock mark detection signal FCMT based on the comparison signal sent from a comparator (1047). Thereby, the clock can be accurately produced based on the fine clock mark signal even when a signal component having a larger amplitude than that of the fine clock mark signal is detected.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is disclosed for stabilizing a track jumping operation of an objective lens. The disk drive apparatus includes a detection section for detecting the direction that object lens is being moved by a tracking operation, and a discrimination section for discriminating the direction of the track jumping operation. A track jump movement then performed based on the detection of movement and discrimination of the track jump operation. Therefore, the track jump is stabilized without being influenced by the movement of the objective lens by the tracking operation.

Abstract: An object is to drive a plurality of types of disc cartridges, in different formats but with similar external dimensions. A disc drive apparatus is configured to use a single spindle motor 32 to drive a first disc cartridge 1, having a first cartridge 1a housing a first disc 10 and a first pair of positioning holes 1c, 1d in the first cartridge 1a, as well as a second disc cartridge 2 having a second cartridge 2a housing a second disc 13 with the same outer diameter as the first disc 10 and a second pair of positioning holes 2c, 2d in the second cartridge 2a; positioning shaft location means 40, 41 are provided; when the first disc cartridge 1 is driven, these positioning shaft location means 40, 41 position the positioning shafts 40a, 41a in positions corresponding to the first pair of holes 1c, 1d, and when the second disc cartridge 2 is driven, the positioning shaft means 40, 41 position the positioning shafts 40b, 41b in positions corresponding to the second pair of holes 2c, 2d.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning disk and a magneto-optical disk drive apparatus being simple in structure, adaptable to cleaning disks having various specifications, low in power consumption, low in electromagnetic noise, and preventing damage to the magnetic head and the optical head; the cleaning disk comprises a magneto-optical disk having an information layer, and a head-cleaning member, provided on the magneto-optical disk, for cleaning the magnetic head of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus, wherein information regarding a magnetic head cleaning condition for setting the operation condition of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus during cleaning of the magnetic head has been recorded in advance on the information layer of the magneto-optical disk. The magneto-optical disk drive apparatus reads the information regarding the magnetic head cleaning condition so as to set the operation condition properly.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical disk effective in both precision and productivity, and to a process for the manufacture thereof. The optical disk allows reading of the information recorded on each information-recording surface of the two or more information-recording surfaces by varying the focal position of a playback laser beam incident on and passing through said light transmitting substrate; and the optical disk is provided with a transparent layer that is laminated onto the light transmitting substrate and is constituted of a thermoplastic resin sheet of uniform thickness and the transparent layer has an information-recording surface other than the surface of said light transmitting substrate formed thereon.

Abstract: A recording medium storing a write protection information, and a write protection method for protecting data recorded on a recordable and/or rewritable disc from unwanted overwriting or erasing. In order for write protection of a disc in a bare state that is usually used in a cartridge having a recognition switch for write-protection, such as a DVD-RAM, write protection information is recorded in a Lead-in area, a Lead-out area or a recording information area other than a user data area of the disc, and the data is protected from unwanted overwriting or erasing using the write protection information. Also, even though the write protection information stored on a disc does not match the state of a recognition switch of a case for write-protection, the data can be prevented from unwanted overwriting or erasing. Thus, the write protection can be ensured when a recordable and/or rewritable recording medium, such as DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW, is used in a bare state.

Abstract: A circuit and a method of detecting a mirror signal for an optical disc apparatus, the method includes detecting a bottom envelope from a radio frequency signal and providing a bottom envelope signal thereof, amplifying the bottom envelope signal according to a center level of the bottom envelope signal, and comparing the amplified bottom envelope signal with a predetermined comparison voltage to detect the mirror signal.

Abstract: A digital servo system of an optical disk drive with a calibrated inverse non-linearity function is disclosed. A look-up table is determined, for example, with a focus error signal gain corresponding with a focus error signal offset so that the response of the focus servo system is substantially linear. Additionally, the look-up table can include tracking error signal gain, tracking error signal offset, or tracking loop gain parameters corresponding with the focus error signal offset.

Abstract: An information recording medium for reproducing information by irradiation with a laser beam condensed by an objective lens with a numerical aperture NA includes a disk-shaped substrate and a recording layer disposed on the substrate. On the surface of the substrate, a plurality of prepit regions and a plurality of data regions are disposed alternately along spiral or concentric virtual track centers. Each prepit region includes a pair of wobble pits for tracking servo, and a length L (?m) of the wobble pit along the virtual track center, a wavelength ? (?m) of the laser beam, and a numerical aperture NA satisfy a relationship: 0.3?L. NA/??0.65.

Abstract: An optical disk of the present invention includes a pre-recorded region in which pre-recorded data is recorded; a recordable region in which a first clock synchronization mark and first address information are recorded; and a synchronization region having a prescribed length which is positioned between the pre-recorded region and the recordable region.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording medium in which the spot size of incident laser beam, focused on the medium by a far-field optic system characterized by ? and NA, is further reduced and maintained below the diffraction-limited size by means of material characteristics of the medium while reproducing from and recording on the information layer of the recording medium, thus making it possible to record and reproduce a high density of information exceeding the resolution limit of the optic system. A high density optical recording medium according to the present invention adopts a combination of two different super-resolution layers of mutually complementary optical characteristics with increasing light power.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a magneto-optical reading device for multi-track magnetic tapes, including a flat large incident beam directed onto the active part of a magneto-optical read head and reflected by this head onto an array of sensors, characterized in that it includes a correction device able to move the zone of incidence of the beam on the read head in order to keep the beam optimally positioned on the active part of the read head as the latter suffers progressive wear. The invention increases the useful working life of such a reading device.

Abstract: The present invention is a multilayer optical disc formed of a plurality of information recording sections having a phase change recording layer. A first information recording section provided at a laser-incident side uses, as a recording material, a phase change recording material which uses Sb and Te as major components and satisfies their ratio of 2.3<Sb/Te?4.0 according to the atomic ratio. Since this phase change recording material provides a fast crystallization speed, it is possible to stably record, reproduce, and rewrite an information signal at a high transfer rate.

Abstract: A phase change optical information recording medium including: a substrate; and a recording layer which is located overlying the substrate and in which marks are to be formed to store information, wherein the substrate includes plural sessions including a first session in which pits are formed and which includes a RAM region including a groove and a wobble signal, and a program memory area in which pits are formed and which includes position information of the first session and does not include disc ID information of the phase change optical information recording medium.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus is provided for reproducing information stored on an optical medium. The apparatus includes a light source for illuminating the optical medium, the optical medium having at least one surface containing information stored thereon; a focusing arrangement operable to focus the light source on the at least one surface containing information thereon; and a detection arrangement operable to detect the information stored on the optical medium. The optical medium includes a first substrate having a first information surface; a semitransparent reflection film formed on the first information surface of the first substrate; a second substrate having a second information surface; a reflection film formed on the second information surface of the second substrate; and an adhesive layer for adhering the first substrate and the second substrate so that the first information surface and the second information surface face each other, wherein the thickness of the first substrate is at least 0.

Abstract: A digital signal recording/reproducing apparatus having a mode for recording a compressed input signal on a recording medium and a mode for recording a non-compressed input signal on the recording medium. The apparatus include input circuits which input a digital compressed signal and an analog non-compressed signal, an A/D converter, a data compressor, a mode change-over circuit which changes-over the mode, and a selector which selects either a digital compressed signal from the data compressor or a digital compressed signal from the input circuit. A recorder records a recording signal to a recording medium and a reproducer.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, is provided with a first light source for emitting first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive portion, and a photo detector; wherein in case that the first light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux, and in case that the second light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted

Abstract: A desktop sound producing device for playing audio recordings from pre-recorded media having a plurality of individual selections recorded thereon. The device has a pyramid shaped housing having four side walls extending upward from a bottom wall to an apex forming a cavity therein. A playback mechanism is positioned within the cavity, and includes a means for storing pre-recorded media, and a processing means capable of providing an audio output signal from the pre-recorded median and amplifying the audio output signal for reproduction of the pre-recorded media through a speaker. The processing means can include an optical scanning system for reading pre-recorded media located on a compact disk. A control panel extends outwardly from one of the walls and includes a plurality of depressable keys electrically coupled to the processing means, wherein at least one of the keys is available for playing a single selection from the pre-recorded media.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reproducing MPEG-compressed video data and compressed audio data from an optical disk having a diameter less than 140 mm and, a thickness of 1.2 mm±0.1 mm, with a plurality of record tracks having data recorded thereon as embossed pits representing information and exhibiting a track pitch in the range between 0.646 ?m and 1.05 ?m; with the tracks being divided into a lead-in area, a program area and a lead-out area. The data includes table of contents (TOC) information recorded in a plurality of sectors in at least one TOC track and user information recorded in a plurality of sectors in user tracks. The user information is comprised of MPEG-compressed video data, which may exhibit any one of difference MPEG formats, and compressed audio data, which likewise may exhibit an MPEG format, a PCM format or the like.