Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to the writing of a label on a disc are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical medium recording apparatus includes an optical medium support including a support surface, a first light source that projects a first recording light beam focused at a first position relative to the support surface, and a second light source that projects a second recording light beam focused at a second position relative to the support surface, the second position different from the first position, wherein the first recording light beam and the second recording light beam are both projected to the support surface in a single direction.

Abstract: An optical printhead for a medium including material that forms an optically visible spot in response to energy of a predetermined wavelength, the optical printhead includes a laser configured to impart energy of the predetermined wavelength to the material through a fixed-focus lens arrangement.

Abstract: A series of signals is applied to a lens actuator of a disc media marking device to respectively position a lens at a series of distances from an optical disc. A mark is formed on the optical disc at each of the distances of the lens from the optical disc by passing a light beam through the lens and onto the optical disc. The darkest of the marks is determined. The signal applied to the actuator corresponding to the darkest mark is determined.

Abstract: Optically visible marks are disposed on a medium by exposing at least a portion of a coating disposed on the medium to thermal energy from a thermal print head in an optical disc drive.

Abstract: A lens actuator is calibrated by inputting a signal to the actuator to cause the actuator to move a lens from a first location to a second location, sensing a focus error signal generated in response to the movement of the lens, determining a distance moved by the lens in going from the first location to the second location from a predetermined characteristic of the focus error signal, and determining a gain of the actuator from the input signal and the distance moved.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical disk writing and printing apparatus comprising; a motor operatively connected to an optical pickup unit and an optical print head such that the motor is engagingly connected to the optical pickup unit for assisting the optical pickup unit in writing data on one side of an optical disk and engagingly connected to the optical print head for assisting the optical print head in printing markings on another side of the optical disk.

Abstract: A method for error detection and correction comprising performing a first modulation error scan of said modulation symbol, marking data that fails to comply with a predetermined criteria, demodulating said modulation symbols, computing a first error syndrome using said demodulated symbols, and correcting errors using said error syndrome computation.

Abstract: A processor-readable medium comprises processor-executable instructions. The instructions are configured for scanning a reference pattern on a disc to determine a first radial position of the laser, wherein the reference pattern is located at a first nominal distance from a center of the disc and extends to a second nominal distance from the center of the disc, wherein the first and second nominal distances are accurate to within a nominal runout tolerance. The instructions are also configured for reading media ID data on the disc only when the radial position is greater than or equal to the first nominal distance plus the nominal runout tolerance and is less than or equal to the second nominal distance minus the nominal runout tolerance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading an index mark pattern. The pattern may be formed on an optical disc medium. The optical disc medium may include a set of data arranged in a data field, and an index mark pattern for identifying a relative location of the data field.

Abstract: A method for data modulation comprising identifying an N-bit block of data bits and modulating said block into an (N+1)-bit codeword.

Abstract: A method comprising; installing a written media that contains marks and un-written areas, scanning the written marks and un-written areas concurrently, and determining the quality of the marks by determining a delta optical density.

Abstract: An optical system configured for optical data processing is disclosed. In one example of the system, a photodetector array is configured to obtain an image of light modulated by reflection off a data track defined on optical media. In this example, the image contains at least one framing mark and at least one data region. A post-processor is configured to analyze the image and to recognize the framing mark and data within the data region.

Abstract: An array-based optical head is configured for read and/or write operations to optical media. In one implementation, a polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct laser light to optical media. A photo-detector array is configured to receive light modulated by reflection off a checkered pattern on the optical media and to create an output signal corresponding to the modulated light.

Abstract: A control circuit creates a self-sensing active-damping voice coil. The control circuit includes a current sensor coupled to a voice coil. A first filter is coupled to the current sensor to create an error voltage that is proportional to the integral of an external acceleration applied to the voice coil. A second filter with a lead-lag component is coupled to the error voltage to create a voltage applied to the voice coil that substantially cancels the external acceleration below a pole defined by a lead-lag component thereby damping the external accelerations.

Abstract: A method for interacting with a disc includes sensing movement of a disc interaction device on a data side of the disc to obtain a sensed value and controlling movement of the disc interaction device on a label side of the disc based upon the sensed value.

Abstract: An error correction circuit for determining an error in rotational speed of a recordable disk of a disk drive includes a sinusoidal error calculation portion adapted to generate a true oscillation error signal, and a summation portion adapted to combine the true oscillation error with a spindle error signal to generate a total error signal. The sinusoidal error calculation portion is adapted to generate a new true oscillation error based on the total error signal.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a spindle motor to turn an optical disk and an OPU configured to apply an image to a coating within a label region of the optical disk. An encoder is configured for tracking disk speed features on the optical disk in a region distinct from the label region defined on the disk. By tracking the disk speed features, the encoder obtains disk speed data for use in applying the image to the label region.

Abstract: A system, for providing an actuator control signal to an actuator within an optical pickup unit of an optical disk drive, focuses optics on an optical disk. In one implementation, an error term is obtained by sampling the FES (focus error signal) signal. The error term is scaled by an adaptation coefficient, which regulates a rate at which the error term modifies the actuator control signal. An actuator control signal generator generates the actuator control signal to control movement of the actuator, wherein the actuator control signal is a function of a prior actuator position, the error signal and the adaptation coefficient.

Abstract: A method of using electromagnetic radiation to control exposure of media to electromagnetic radiation is presented. The method includes rotating the media and sensing a frequency of electromagnetic radiation radiating from a rim of the media with a stationary detector. Exposure of the media to electromagnetic radiation with a movable source is controlled with the sensed frequency to provide increased accuracy.